Hinge-Coupled Bracket for Refrigerant Pipe Rotation Constraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing DC-DC converters in automobiles face heat-related failures due to arbitrary rotation of refrigerant pipes, which can cause overheating and malfunction, necessitating a solution to firmly couple refrigerant pipes to prevent rotation and ensure stable refrigerant flow.
Innovation Solution
A converter design featuring a bracket system with arc-shaped bodies and hinge-coupled components that include protruding parts and screw holes to securely attach the refrigerant pipe to the housing, preventing arbitrary rotation and ensuring stable refrigerant inflow and discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the refrigerant pipe is simply inserted into the housing without a bracket, then the assembly is simple and quick, but the refrigerant pipe can rotate arbitrarily causing heat dissipation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is divided into two separate bodies (first body and second body) that are hinge-coupled together. Each body encompasses a different portion of the refrigerant pipe's outer surface, allowing the bracket to be segmented into manageable parts that collectively prevent rotation while maintaining simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket extends in multiple spatial dimensions by having two bodies that wrap around different portions of the cylindrical refrigerant pipe. This multi-dimensional approach provides comprehensive rotational constraint without requiring a complex single-piece structure
2Reliability
If a rigid bracket structure is used to prevent rotation, then the refrigerant pipe is firmly coupled, but the bracket cannot adapt to different pipe positions
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates a hinge joint between the first and second bodies, transforming it from a static rigid structure to a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the bracket to adapt to different refrigerant pipe positions while maintaining firm coupling and preventing rotation when properly positioned
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge-coupled bracket can change its geometric parameters (angle and position) to accommodate different refrigerant pipe locations. This parameter adjustability enables the same bracket structure to adapt to various configurations while still providing reliable rotational constraint
3Ease of manufacture
If the refrigerant pipe is allowed to rotate freely, then the assembly process is simple, but heat dissipation efficiency decreases due to improper refrigerant flow
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed to preliminarily constrain the refrigerant pipe's orientation during assembly, ensuring that the refrigerant inlet and outlet are properly positioned before the system operates. This preliminary positioning action prevents energy loss from improper refrigerant flow while maintaining assembly simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A converter comprises: a housing; refrigerant pipes which are coupled to the housing and which each have an end portion protruding from the outer surface of the housing; and brackets coupled to the outer surfaces of the refrigerant pipes, wherein the bracket includes: a first body encompassing a portion of the outer surface of the refrigerant pipe; and a second body which is hinge-coupled to the first body and which encompasses the other portion of the outer surface of the refrigerant pipe, and the first body or the second body includes a protruding part protruding from the outer surface thereof.