Horizontal Slot Accessory Support for Engine Collision Load Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing accessory support structures for vehicle engines fail to effectively absorb collision loads without causing power transmission belts to flutter and destabilizing the positioning of engine accessories, leading to noise and variability in assembly.
Innovation Solution
A support structure featuring a pair of accessory-side and engine-side supports with a common support shaft and a horizontal slot on the engine-side supports, where an intermediate portion restricts movement until an external force exceeds a threshold, allowing the engine accessory to move towards the engine body and reducing belt flutter and stabilizing positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a slot is used to allow the engine accessory to move toward the engine body for collision load absorption, then the crush stroke is provided, but the vertical distance between engine accessories increases causing power transmission belt flutter and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the slot from vertical to horizontal. The horizontal slot allows the support shaft to move horizontally relative to the engine-side support when collision load is applied, providing crush stroke while maintaining vertical positioning stability. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by separating the collision absorption function (horizontal movement) from the belt stability function (vertical positioning).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic support shaft that can move within the horizontal slot rather than being fixed. The support shaft moves horizontally along the slot when external force exceeds a threshold, enabling the system to transition from a static fixed-position configuration to a dynamic configuration that absorbs collision loads while maintaining belt stability.
2Force
If a slot is used to allow movement of the engine accessory, then collision load can be absorbed, but the positioning of engine accessories varies due to unintentional bolt movement during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by providing a shaft hole in the engine-side support that guides the support shaft into a precise initial position before any collision occurs. The support shaft is preliminarily positioned in the shaft hole during assembly, ensuring accurate positioning. The horizontal slot then allows controlled movement from this pre-positioned state when collision load is applied, preventing unintentional movement during assembly while enabling movement during collision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate structure consisting of the shaft hole and horizontal slot that mediates between the fixed positioning requirement and the movement requirement. The shaft hole provides stable positioning during assembly, while the horizontal slot enables controlled movement during collision. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing different functions at different stages.
3Manufacturing precision
If the engine accessory is fixed rigidly to prevent positioning variation, then assembly quality is improved, but the ability to absorb collision loads is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamically adaptable support system where the support shaft is firmly fixed in the shaft hole during normal operation to ensure positioning precision, but can move horizontally along the slot when collision load exceeds a threshold. This dynamic behavior allows the system to switch between rigid fixation (for positioning accuracy) and flexible movement (for collision absorption) based on operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positional parameter of the support shaft from fixed to movable along the horizontal slot when external force is applied. The support shaft's position parameter remains constant during normal operation but can change horizontally when collision occurs, allowing the system to maintain positioning precision while gaining collision absorption capability through parameter change.
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory support structure for a vehicle engine includes a pair of accessory-side supports provided on the engine accessory, and a pair of engine-side supports provided on the engine body. The engine-side supports each have a shaft hole into which a bolt is inserted, a slot closer to the engine body than the shaft hole is, and extending substantially horizontally, and an intermediate portion interposed between the shaft hole and the slot to restrict movement of the bolt. The engine-side supports each remove a restriction imposed by the intermediate portion and guide the bolt from the shaft hole to the slot if an external force acting on the alternator toward the engine body exceeds a predetermined threshold.