Vehicle Fueling Pipe Holder With Metal Resin Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pipe holders for fueling pipes in vehicles limit the piping shape due to the need for bolting to the lower surface of the vehicle body, which complicates the fixation of protection members that need to remain covering the pipes during fires.
Innovation Solution
A pipe holder comprising a metallic clamp and a resin clamp with engagement pawls that securely attach to the vehicle body, allowing the protection member to remain in place even if the resin clamp melts, eliminating the need for bolting and maintaining the protection of the fueling pipe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pipe holder is fastened to the lower surface of the vehicle body with a bolt, then the pipe holder can be securely fixed, but the piping shape for the fueling pipe is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe holder is divided into two functional parts: a clamp portion that secures the protection member to the fueling pipe, and a fixing portion that attaches to the vehicle body. This segmentation allows the clamp to conform to the pipe while the fixing portion provides secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between secure fixation and piping flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fastening the pipe holder directly to the vehicle body with bolts as in conventional designs, this invention inverts the approach by using a clamp mechanism that grasps the protection member and attaches to the vehicle body through engagement protrusions fitting into engagement holes, eliminating the need for bolting and enabling flexible piping shapes
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protection member is used to cover the fueling pipe, then the pipe is protected from fire damage, but the protection member cannot remain covering the pipe if the clamp is made of resin only
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe holder uses a composite structure combining resin and metal materials. The clamp portion is made of resin to maintain flexibility and avoid fire-related issues, while the fixing portion incorporates metal engagement protrusions that provide heat resistance and reliable attachment to the vehicle body, ensuring the protection member remains covered even in fire conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the pipe holder are made from different materials with appropriate properties: the clamp portion uses resin for flexibility and fire safety, while the fixing portion uses metal for heat resistance and secure attachment. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between fire protection and reliable retention
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe holder for holding a pipe member at a vehicle body comprises a metallic member including a metallic clamp part that grasps and holds a portion of a fueling pipe to which a protection member is attached, and a metallic fixing part with a metallic engagement pawl part; and a resin clamp that, surrounds and holds the fueling pipe in a peripheral direction with the fueling pipe being grasped by the metallic member. The resin clamp comprises: a first resin member including a first clamp part; and a second resin member including a second clamp part facing the first clamp part and a resin fixing part with a resin engagement pawl part. The metallic engagement pawl part and the resin engagement pawl part are overlaid on each other to form an engagement unit. The engagement unit is engaged with an engagement opening of the vehicle body. When the engagement unit and the engagement opening are in engagement, a vertical lower end of a portion of the metallic engagement pawl part inserted into the engagement opening is located below a lower end of the engagement opening.