Engine Wire Harness Layout to Prevent Foot and Heat Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large-sized engines, maintenance workers often unintentionally damage electric wire harnesses due to their placement, and these harnesses are also vulnerable to heat damage from high-temperature components.
Innovation Solution
The electric wire harnesses are routed below the intake pipe and along the side surface of the engine, with the high-voltage wire separated downward from the intake pipe to prevent foot damage and positioned away from heat sources, reducing the risk of both accidental and heat-induced damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electric wire harness is attached to components for easy access during maintenance, then ease of operation is improved, but the wire harness becomes vulnerable to foot damage and reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The wire harness is extracted from its conventional attachment location on engine components and rerouted to run along the outer peripheral surface of the engine casing. This separation removes the wire harness from the hazardous zone where maintenance workers might place their feet, while still maintaining accessibility for electrical connections and inspections.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine casing serves as an intermediary structure that carries the wire harness along its outer surface. This intermediary placement provides physical protection and elevation, creating a buffer between the wire harness and the ground level where foot traffic occurs during maintenance activities.
2Device complexity
If the wire harness is positioned close to engine components for compact layout, then device complexity is reduced, but the wire harness becomes exposed to heat damage from high-temperature components
Solution Approach 1:
The wire harness routing transitions from a conventional two-dimensional layout on engine components to a three-dimensional path along the outer peripheral surface of the engine casing. This dimensional change allows the harness to maintain proximity to the engine for compactness while simultaneously achieving thermal separation by running on the exterior surface away from hot internal components.
3Strength
If the wire harness is routed through the center of the engine for structural support, then mechanical strength is improved, but the wire harness becomes accessible to foot damage during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The wire harness is extracted from the central engine structure and relocated to the outer peripheral surface of the engine casing. This removal from the center eliminates exposure to foot traffic hazards while the engine casing itself provides the necessary structural support and protection for the routed harness.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide a technique capable of suppressing damage of an electric wire disposed in an engine. [Solution] An exemplary engine includes an engine body including at least one cylinder row in which a plurality of cylinders are arranged in a front-rear direction, an intake pipe disposed on one side surface of the engine body and extending in the front-rear direction, and a first electric wire disposed below the intake pipe and along the one side surface.