Conductive Exhaust Support Rubber for Charge-Free Sensor Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
The charging of engine peripheral structures due to insulating supporting members leads to decreased sensitivity of sensors and vehicle performance, as observed in existing exhaust system support devices.
Innovation Solution
A supporting device comprising a first suspension member attached to the engine peripheral structure, a conductive support rubber, and a second suspension member grounded to the vehicle body, forming a grounding path to prevent charging and maintain sensor sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electric insulator is used as the supporting member, then the supporting member is easily charged, but the sensitivity of sensors decreases and vehicle performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is divided into multiple segments: an upper support portion, a lower support portion, and intermediate portions connecting them. This segmentation allows different portions to have different electrical properties - the intermediate portions are made of electric insulator material to provide stability, while the upper and lower support portions are made of electric conductor material to prevent charging and maintain sensor sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the supporting member are assigned different electrical properties based on their functional requirements. The intermediate portions use electric insulator material for stability, while the upper and lower support portions use electric conductor material to discharge accumulated charge and prevent sensitivity degradation.
2Ease of operation
If an electric insulator is used as the supporting member, then the structure is easily supported, but charge accumulation occurs and sensor sensitivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is segmented into insulating intermediate portions for easy support and conductive upper/lower portions for charge discharge, allowing both functions to coexist without compromising either supporting ease or preventing charge accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portions act as intermediaries that connect the conductive upper and lower support portions while providing electrical insulation. This allows the supporting structure to maintain ease of operation through insulating materials while the conductive portions serve as intermediaries to discharge accumulated charge.
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 device maintains sensor sensitivity and vehicle performance by preventing charge accumulation, reducing back pressure and traveling resistance, and enhancing sensor responsiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a supporting member that is connected to the first suspension member, the supporting member being an elastic body and being an electric conductor
Implementation Method 2
a supporting member that is connected to the first suspension member, the supporting member being an elastic body
Data Source
AI summary
A lower-side support rod is attached to an exhaust pipe that is an example of a structure at the periphery of an engine. A support rubber is an elastic body, is an electric conductor, and is connected to the lower-side support rod. An upper-side support rod is connected to the support rubber and a vehicle body, and is grounded to the vehicle body. The exhaust pipe is supported by the vehicle body, through the lower-side support rod, the support rubber, and the upper-side support rod. Further, a grounding path is formed by the lower-side support rod, the support rubber, and the upper-side support rod.