Fuel Tank Component Mounting Structure Anti-Looseness Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing snap-fitting mounting structure for fuel tank components is prone to looseness due to elastic deformation caused by vehicle vibrations, leading to assembly challenges and potential disengagement issues.
Innovation Solution
A mounting structure featuring a weld clip with an engaging portion, an engagement base with snap-fitting arms and a lock member that switches from a temporary holding to a lock position, preventing elastic deformation of the snap-fitting arms, and utilizing multiple snap-fitting arms arranged along the periphery for enhanced stability and assembly ease.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If snap-fitting mounting is used for the integrated component on the fuel tank, then the assembly process is simplified and manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the component becomes prone to looseness due to elastic deformation from vehicle vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The lock member is pre-installed on the engagement base before assembly, positioned at a temporary holding position where it allows elastic deformation during assembly. After the snap-fitting arms engage with the engaging portion, the lock member is moved to the lock position to prevent elastic deformation, thus securing the connection against vibrations while maintaining assembly ease
Solution Approach 2:
The lock member is designed to switch between two states: temporary holding position (allowing elastic deformation for easy assembly) and lock position (preventing elastic deformation for vibration resistance). This dynamic switching capability resolves the contradiction between assembly ease and vibration resistance
2Reliability
If multiple snap-fitting arms are arranged along the periphery of the engaging portion, then the anti-looseness is enhanced through multiple engagement points, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement base is divided into multiple snap-fitting arms arranged along the periphery of the engaging portion. Each arm independently engages with the engaging portion, providing multiple engagement points that enhance anti-looseness. The segmentation distributes the mechanical load and prevents single-point failure while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
3Reliability
If the lock member is designed to prevent elastic deformation of the snap-fitting arm, then the anti-looseness is improved, but the ease of operation during assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lock member is pre-positioned at the temporary holding position before assembly operations. This preliminary positioning allows the snap-fitting arms to engage with the engaging portion through elastic deformation without resistance from the locked state. After engagement is achieved, the lock member is then moved to the lock position to prevent elastic deformation and secure the connection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively suppresses looseness of integrated components by preventing elastic deformation of snap-fitting arms, facilitating easier assembly and reducing the risk of disengagement, while ensuring a secure and stable connection through multiple engagement points.
Implementation Method 1
has a snap-fitting arm to be engaged with the engaging portion by elastic restoring force
Implementation Method 2
a base end part to be welded to an inner surface of a fuel tank
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a mounting structure for an integrated component to be mounted by snap-fitting on a fuel tank so that it is possible to suppress looseness. This mounting structure for an integrated component of a fuel tank includes: a weld clip which has a tip part having an engaging portion and a base end part to be welded to an inner surface of the fuel tank; an engagement base which is provided to the integrated component to be integrated into the fuel tank, and has a snap-fitting arm to be engaged with the engaging portion by elastic restoring force; and a lock member which is attached to the engagement base so as to be capable of switching from a temporary holding position to a lock position, the temporary holding position allowing an elastic deformation of the snap-fitting arm in a direction to release the engagement with the engaging portion, the lock position preventing the elastic deformation.