Resilient Clamping Sleeve Spacer for Engine Fluid Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drive units, such as internal combustion engines, face challenges in producing cost-effective fluid line arrangements that maintain a minimum distance between wall elements while ensuring reliable fluid flow and mechanical stability, particularly in cavities formed by camshafts.
Innovation Solution
A resilient clamping sleeve with a cylindrical shape, divided into a first length portion for the bore and a second length portion acting as a spacer, is introduced through a bore and expands to maintain the required distance, featuring notches and perforations for fluid flow and mechanical stability, and can be produced from sheet metal or tubes for cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a spacer element is used to maintain minimum distance between wall elements, then mechanical stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer element is merged with the clamping sleeve into a single integrated component. The clamping sleeve performs dual functions: it clamps the fluid line arrangement securely while simultaneously serving as the spacer element that maintains the minimum distance between wall elements. This eliminates the need for separate spacer components and reduces assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping sleeve is designed as a multi-functional component that combines clamping functionality with spacing functionality. By making the clamping sleeve universal for both securing and spacing purposes, the invention reduces the total number of parts required and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining mechanical stability.
2Reliability
If the cavity is made accessible for fluid via a bore, then fluid flow function is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to bore alignment and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping sleeve with integrated spacer element is designed to be self-aligning during assembly. The resilient nature of the clamping sleeve allows it to automatically position itself correctly relative to the bore and wall elements, reducing the need for high-precision manufacturing tolerances. The component essentially guides its own installation and ensures proper alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes parameter changes in the form of the resilient clamping sleeve's elastic properties. By changing the physical state of the material from rigid to resilient, the system can accommodate variations in manufacturing precision while maintaining reliable fluid flow function. The resilient material allows for slight misalignments and automatically adjusts to achieve proper positioning.
3Ease of manufacture
If a resilient clamping sleeve is introduced through the bore, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases due to the resilient component design
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a resilient clamping sleeve made from flexible material that can be easily formed and manufactured. The flexible shell design allows for simple molding and fabrication processes while the integrated spacer element functionality is achieved through the geometric design of the flexible component itself, not through additional parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping sleeve is designed as a composite structure combining resilient material properties with integrated geometric features. By using composite material approaches, the single component achieves both clamping and spacing functions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized resilient material selection and forming processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a cost-effective and reliable fluid line arrangement with minimal flow resistance and enhanced mechanical stability, suitable for mass production and retrofitting, while preventing material overload and corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient clamping sleeve which can be introduced through the bore, wherein the clamping sleeve has a first length portion which is provided in the bore in a manner remaining in contact with the bore wall, and a second length portion which is set back from the first length portion by at least one notch running transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the clamping sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A drive unit, in particular an internal combustion engine, has a fluid line arrangement, wherein the fluid line arrangement has a cavity accessible for a fluid via a bore in a first wall element. A spacer element for the fluid line arrangement has a resilient clamping sleeve which can be introduced through the bore. The clamping sleeve has a first longitudinal section which is provided so as to remain in the bore in contact with the bore wall and a second longitudinal section which is set back from the first longitudinal section by way of at least one notch which runs transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the clamping sleeve. The second longitudinal section is configured as an axially slotted tube which serves as the spacer element, the borders of the slot being bent radially outwards.