Combined Fuel Line Connector Structure to Prevent Line Interchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional quick connectors for vehicle fuel feed and return systems often lead to interchange of fuel supply and return lines during maintenance, causing potential engine misfires, stalling, decreased power, and fuel leaks, posing risks to vehicles and occupants.
Innovation Solution
A combined quick connector structure featuring a cover assembly with lever and pawl mechanisms, actuator pads, and a rib locking mechanism, which securely connects and disconnects both fuel feed and return lines without manual force, preventing line interchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate housing units are used for fuel supply and return lines, then ease of connection is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of line interchange
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fuel supply line connector and fuel return line connector into a single integrated housing unit. The cover assembly simultaneously engages both lines through integrated lever mechanisms, ensuring they are connected or disconnected together, eliminating the risk of interchange while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If manual force is required to unlock retainer element, then ease of operation deteriorates, but device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lever mechanism is designed to automatically actuate the pawl-ratchet mechanism and release the locking engagement when the cover assembly is removed. The system uses the movement of the cover itself to trigger the unlocking action, eliminating the need for separate manual unlocking operations while adding minimal complexity through the automated mechanism.
3Device complexity
If conventional locking mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to potential line interchange
Solution Approach 1:
The housing unit features asymmetric design elements including positioned lever mechanisms and pawl-ratchet configurations that are specific to each line's connection geometry. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the cover assembly can only be properly positioned and engaged in the correct orientation, preventing interchange between fuel supply and return lines while maintaining reasonable complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A combined quick connector structure for fuel feed and return system may include a cover assembly; a lever mechanism along the inside walls of the fuel feed and fuel return openings of the cover assembly; a pawl and ratchet mechanism on either side of the cover assembly; a rib on either side of a connector assembly; the connector assembly with retainer elements for engine feed and engine return lines and fuel feed and return lines; actuator pads provided on the external and internal circumference of the openings of connector assembly; a locking mechanism on the inside circumference of the retainer elements for the fuel feed line and fuel return line; and a lever mechanism configured for hinging the cover assembly together with the connector assembly.