Fuel Delivery Pipe Flange Structure for Collision Leak Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel supply apparatuses for vehicles, which include injectors and delivery pipes, are prone to deformation and fuel leakage during collisions due to the lack of effective countermeasures against impact forces.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating fixed flanges with fragile portions in the delivery pipes that deform before the pipes do, preventing the deformation of connection parts and thus minimizing fuel leakage during vehicle collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the delivery pipe is fixed rigidly to vehicle components, then the fuel supply apparatus is stable during normal operation, but the delivery pipe and connection parts may deform during vehicle collision causing fuel leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer member positioned between the delivery pipe and the vehicle component to absorb impact energy before it reaches the delivery pipe and connection parts. This beforehand cushioning prevents the harmful effects of collision from transmitting to the fuel supply components, thereby maintaining connection integrity and preventing fuel leakage during vehicle collision.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the delivery pipe is made more flexible to absorb impact, then collision damage is reduced, but the pipe may deform during normal operation affecting fuel supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shock absorption function from the fuel delivery function by introducing a separate buffer member. The buffer member is specifically designed to deform and absorb impact energy, while the delivery pipe maintains its rigid structure for stable fuel supply during normal operation. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer member acts as an intermediary element between the rigid delivery pipe and the vehicle component. It mediates the impact forces by deforming in a controlled manner, protecting the delivery pipe from direct impact while not interfering with the pipe's structural integrity during normal operation. The buffer member absorbs the shock without causing permanent deformation to the fuel delivery system.
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel supply apparatus to be mounted in a vehicle includes an injector, a rear delivery pipe and a front delivery pipe connected to the injector, and a fixed flange that is provided in the rear delivery pipe to fix the rear delivery pipe to a PCU. The fixed flange includes a cutout.