Fuel connection unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel-operated vehicle heaters face challenges in easily and reliably connecting the burner area to a fuel source, requiring improved methods for fuel line connections that are manufacturable and secure.
Innovation Solution
A fuel connection unit with a connection unit body featuring a fuel delivery line connection area and a fuel supply line connection area, including protruding delivery and supply connectors that are offset for easy interaction, along with sealing elements and a funnel-like design to prevent fuel leakage, allowing for fluid-tight connections both inside and outside the heater body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fuel line penetrates the circumferential wall of the heater body directly, then the connection is simple, but the connection reliability and fuel-tightness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel connection is divided into separate components: a connection unit with fuel delivery line connection area and fuel supply line connection area, allowing independent optimization of each connection point while maintaining overall reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The connection unit body acts as an intermediary component between the fuel supply line and the fuel delivery line, providing a reliable fuel-tight connection while simplifying the overall assembly process
2Ease of operation
If the fuel delivery line and fuel supply line connections are positioned close together, then the structure is compact, but the interaction with fuel lines is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit provides spatial separation of fuel supply line connection area and fuel delivery line connection area in different directions, allowing easy access and interaction with fuel lines while maintaining a compact overall structure
3Reliability
If sealing elements are added to ensure fuel-tight connection, then the fuel-tightness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing elements are integrated into the connection unit body structure, combining the sealing function with the connection structure itself, which improves fuel-tightness while maintaining ease of manufacture through unified production
Data Source
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AI summary
A fuel connection unit for a fuel-operated vehicle heater comprises a connection unit body (12) to be attached to a heater body (78) with a fuel delivery line connection area (16) to be positioned engaging in or facing an interior (80) of the heater body (78) for connecting a fuel delivery line (104) running in the interior (80) and a fuel supply line connection area (20) to be positioned exposed on an outside of the heater body (78) for connecting a fuel supply line.