Filler Neck Bracket for Wheel House Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle body structures with exhaust gas purifying systems face challenges in protecting the filler neck from damage due to pebbles and muddy water splashed by the wheel, particularly when the filler neck is routed through the side space of the vehicle, leading to a high risk of damage and the need for additional components to secure it.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure that includes a side member with a tank arranged inwardly, a filler inlet on the outer side, and a holding member fixed to the side member to secure the filler neck, which is routed along the inner wall of the wheel house with a bend portion, utilizing a combination of upper and lower members to firmly attach the filler neck assembly without increasing the number of required elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the filler neck is routed through the side space of the side member, then the installation space is utilized efficiently, but the filler neck is easily damaged by pebbles and muddy water splashed by the wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member acts as an intermediary protective structure between the wheel and the filler neck. It is fixed to both the side member and the filler neck, creating a protective barrier that prevents direct contact between debris (pebbles, muddy water) and the filler neck, while still allowing the filler neck to be routed through the side space for efficient space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding member is installed beforehand to cushion and absorb the impact of pebbles and muddy water before they can reach and damage the filler neck. This protective structure is positioned in advance to intercept harmful factors, preventing damage to the filler neck while maintaining the routing through the side space.
2Reliability
If the filler neck is routed distantly from the wheel to avoid contact, then the filler neck is protected from wheel contact, but additional holding components are required to secure it
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is designed with multi-functionality: it simultaneously serves as a protective barrier against wheel contact, a mounting structure for the filler neck, and a space-efficient routing guide. By integrating these multiple functions into a single component, the solution protects the filler neck from wheel contact without requiring multiple separate holding components, thus reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding member combines multiple protective and securing functions into a single integrated component. Instead of using separate brackets, mounts, and protective shields, the holding member merges these functions, providing both structural support and protection while maintaining a compact design that routes the filler neck away from the wheel area.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the filler neck is firmly held on the vehicle body, then the filler neck is securely positioned, but the routing becomes more complex and requires additional elements
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member provides localized stabilization at the critical bending portion of the filler neck where it passes through the side space. Instead of complex routing throughout the entire filler neck, the solution applies local quality by providing targeted support and positioning only where needed (at the bend portion), simplifying the overall routing while maintaining stability where it matters most.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle body structure includes: a side member (13); a tank (9); a filler inlet (7) for an additive that is arranged on an outer side from the side member (13); a filler neck (1) that connects the filler inlet (7) to the tank (9); and a holding member (20) that is mounted on the filler neck (1) and that is fixed to the side member (13) at least one point to hold the filler neck (1) to a vehicle (10). The filler neck (1) is arranged along an inner wall (15a) of a wheel house (15) from the filler inlet (7) and includes a bend portion (1a) that is bent from a point under the wheel house (15) and on a side of the side member (13) to a point under the side member (13). The holding member (20) extends between a wheel (19) and the bend portion (1a).