Corrugated Fuel Pipe Mounting Section Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing corrugated pipes for fuel supply systems in motor vehicles are inflexible due to a rigid mounting section, which requires a sharp bend in the shaft section, especially in low fuel tanks, limiting their usability.
Innovation Solution
A corrugated pipe design with a wavy mounting section that mimics the flexibility of the corrugation portion, featuring a stiffener for axial stability to facilitate assembly and a uniform wall thickness for ease of manufacturing, allowing for greater flexibility and reduced complexity in force introduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mounting section is designed to be rigid to enable compressive forces to be introduced into the corrugated pipe, then assembly is facilitated, but the corrugated pipe becomes inflexible and requires sharp bends
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting section incorporates localized stiffening elements (ribs or thicker wall sections) at specific positions to provide axial stiffness for assembly, while the rest of the shaft section maintains flexibility through corrugations. This local quality differentiation allows the mounting section to resist compressive forces during assembly while the corrugated shaft section can bend to accommodate installation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated pipe is divided into distinct functional sections: a rigid mounting section for assembly operations and a flexible corrugated shaft section for adaptation. The mounting section is separated from the flexible shaft section, allowing each to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the mounting section is made rigid to maintain axial stability, then assembly tool application is enabled, but the overall pipe structure becomes inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting section features localized axial stiffening through ribs or increased wall thickness specifically oriented to resist compressive forces, while maintaining flexibility in other directions. The corrugated shaft section provides bending flexibility without compromising the axial stability of the mounting section.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting section combines rigid structural elements (ribs, thicker walls) with the flexible corrugated material to create a composite structure that exhibits both axial stiffness and bending flexibility. This composite design allows simultaneous achievement of axial stability and overall flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
The corrugated pipe (5) has a stiff tail, a flexible shaft section (10) having shafts and an assembly section (11) having an elevation (13) and formed for arrangement of an assembly tool. The elevation of the assembly section is designed in shaft form and has a recess (15) directed in axial direction of the assembly section.