Drain Hose Hook and Notch Design to Reduce Dislodgment Risk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drain hose systems for vehicle air conditioners require multiple components, including a soft hose, a hard pipe, and a waterstop packing, which increases complexity and the risk of the hose falling off after securing, and lacks clear indication of securement completion.
Innovation Solution
A drain hose with an elastic body and a hard member featuring a hook that engages with the body panel's rim, providing a click and vibration feedback for securement confirmation, and a seal that conforms to the rim without the need for waterstop packing, reducing the number of parts and enhancing resistance to dislodgment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a waterstop packing is provided between the body panel and the hard part to prevent leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but the number of parts increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and the positioning function into a single integrated structure. The downstream end of the soft hose part is designed with a flared shape that directly contacts the rim of the through hole, eliminating the need for a separate waterstop packing. This merging of functions reduces the number of parts while maintaining reliable sealing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The downstream end portion of the soft hose part serves multiple functions: it provides sealing against the through hole rim, positions the hard part correctly, and prevents water infiltration. By making this single component multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate sealing components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the downstream end portion of the soft hose part is positioned using a hard part, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the risk of fall-off after fastening increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic retention mechanism where the hard part can elastically deform under pulling force and then return to its original shape. When the downstream end portion is pulled, the hard part deforms and allows temporary disengagement, but upon release, it springs back to its original shape, automatically re-engaging with the rim. This dynamic behavior provides both accurate positioning during installation and reliable retention during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in the physical state of the hard part under different loading conditions. Under normal conditions, the hard part maintains its rigid shape for precise positioning. Under pulling force, it undergoes elastic deformation, changing its shape temporarily to allow disengagement or re-engagement, thereby providing resistance to fall-off while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hard part is made rigid for stable positioning, then positioning stability is improved, but the ability to sense securement completion decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The hard part is designed to be elastically deformable rather than completely rigid. During securement, when the downstream end portion is inserted and engaged with the rim, the hard part undergoes elastic deformation and then springs back, producing a tactile click and vibration. This dynamic response provides clear feedback to the worker that securement is complete, while the overall structure remains stable during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes mechanical vibration as a feedback mechanism. When the hard part engages with the rim of the through hole, the elastic deformation and subsequent spring-back action produce a characteristic click and vibration that can be felt by the worker. This vibration provides unambiguous confirmation of proper securement, solving the problem of detecting securement completion while maintaining positioning stability.
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 allows for easy securement confirmation and increased resistance to dislodgment, while reducing the number of components and providing a reliable seal without the need for additional packing materials.
Implementation Method 1
a drain hose body made of an elastic member... when force is applied to the drain hose body in a direction to pull the drain hose body from the through hole, depressing an edge portion of the notch in a direction to expand the hard member in diameter
Data Source
AI summary
A drain hose (1) includes a drain hose body (10) and a hard member (20). The hard member (20) includes a notch (22) and hooks (21). The drain hose body (10) includes a protruding portion (14) provided to a part, of an outer periphery of the drain hose body (10), to which the hard member (20) is attached. The protruding portion (14) protrudes to be positioned in the notch (22), and, when force is applied to the drain hose body (10) in a direction to pull the drain hose body (10) from a through hole (P1), depresses edge portions (22a) of the notch (22) in a direction to expand the hard member (20) in diameter.