Fuel Line Clamping Assembly for Vibration Strain Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard double tube clamps on fuel rails create assembly strain due to part tolerances, leading to intolerance of vibrational loads and detrimental fuel rail fatigue life, as they fail to accommodate the resonant responses caused by engine vibrations effectively.
Innovation Solution
A clamping assembly comprising a first clamp rigidly securing a first fuel tube to a bracket and a second clamp, spaced vertically, allowing movement in the direction of assembly strain, with a bent clip and spacer, to accommodate vertical and horizontal components of strain, thereby reducing assembly stress and fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If standard double tube clamps are used to secure fuel lines, then the fuel lines are rigidly clamped to the bracket, but assembly strain and stress increase due to part tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping system is divided into two separate clamps instead of one double tube clamp. The first clamp rigidly secures the first fuel line, while the second clamp accommodates the second fuel line with movement capability. This segmentation allows each clamp to have optimized characteristics for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between rigid stability and stress reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The second clamp is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move or flex in response to vibrational loads and assembly strain. This dynamic capability enables the second clamp to accommodate tolerances and reduce stress while still maintaining secure clamping, unlike the static rigid clamping of traditional double tube clamps.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid clamping is used for both fuel lines, then assembly stability is improved, but intolerance to vibrational loads increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different clamping characteristics are applied to different fuel lines based on their local requirements. The first fuel line receives rigid clamping for stability, while the second fuel line receives flexible clamping for vibration tolerance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing stability where needed and vibration tolerance where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping parameters (rigidity, movement freedom) are changed between the two clamps to optimize performance. The first clamp uses fixed parameters for rigid clamping, while the second clamp uses variable parameters that allow movement. This parameter variation enables the system to achieve both stability and vibration tolerance.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional clamping methods are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but fuel rail fatigue life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping system is segmented into two independent clamps with different functions, allowing each to be manufactured and assembled separately. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while improving fatigue life by reducing assembly strain through the specialized design of each clamp type.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping assembly and components, systems, and methods thereof can comprise a first clamp adapted to be provided around a first fuel line for an internal combustion engine to rigidly clamp the first fuel line to a bracket arrangement; and a second clamp adapted to be provided around a second fuel line for the internal combustion engine, which is spaced from the first fuel line, to clamp the second fuel line to the bracket arrangement such that the second fuel line is movable according to a degree of freedom in a direction of assembly strain. The second clamp can include a bent clip, and the first and second clamps can be aligned with each other or offset by no more than a body length of either the first clamp or the second clamp.