Hot Water Pipe Holding Structure for Quieter Vehicle HVAC

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vibration from hot water pipes in vehicle air conditioning devices is transmitted to the cabin, causing unpleasant noise due to the proximity of these pipes to vibrating components in the engine room and vehicle movement.

Innovation Solution

A holding structure for hot water supply and collecting pipes featuring a holder member with U-shaped holding portions and a fastening mechanism that encloses the pipes' peripheries, providing a gap for vibration isolation and using a grommet for shock absorption between the holder and dash panel, thereby reducing vibration transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hot water pipes are extended from engine room to vehicle cabin, then heater function is enabled, but vibration transmission to cabin increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheater functionVSAvoidvibration transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a holder member as an intermediary component between the hot water pipes and the vehicle cabin. This holder member includes vibration restricting portions that act as mediators to block vibration transmission paths from the engine room to the cabin, while still allowing the pipes to perform their heating function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the vibration transmission problem from the overall system by specifically addressing the vibration paths through the holder member. The vibration restricting portions are designed to selectively block vibration transmission while maintaining the normal function of hot water circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If holder member structure is simplified, then manufacturing cost decreases, but vibration restriction effectiveness reduces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidvibration transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holder member is segmented into multiple functional portions: a holding portion for supporting the pipes and vibration restricting portions for blocking vibration transmission. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The holder member is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs pipe holding and vibration restriction functions. This universality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby controlling manufacturing costs while achieving vibration restriction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If gap between first and second holding portions is increased, then vibration isolation improves, but holding strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidholding strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The holder member employs local quality differentiation where the gap between holding portions provides vibration isolation at critical locations, while other portions maintain sufficient structural integrity for holding strength. The vibration restricting portions are strategically positioned to maximize vibration blocking with minimal impact on overall strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 structure effectively reduces noise in the vehicle cabin by enhancing the holding strength and mass of the pipes, restricting vibration transmission, and using a labyrinth configuration to prevent noise from the engine compartment from entering the cabin.

Implementation Method 1

using a grommet for shock absorption between the holder and dash panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

using a grommet for shock absorption between the holder and dash panel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

restricting vibration transmission

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration isolation: Damping

Implementation Method 4

using a labyrinth configuration to prevent noise from the engine compartment from entering the cabin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNoise blocking: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS11951801B2Vehicle air conditioning device hot water pipe holding structure

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 VALEO JAPAN CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle air conditioning device includes a case, disposed inside a vehicle cabin separated from a forward compartment by a dash panel, in which an internal space (11a) is formed, a heater core that is disposed in the internal space, a hot water supply pipe that can supply hot water to the heater core, a hot water collecting pipe that can collect hot water that has passed through an interior of the heater core, and a holder member that holds the hot water pipes. The holder member includes a first holding portion that comes into contact with the hot water pipes, and a second holding portion that opposes the first holding portion, is provided across a gap, and comes into contact with the hot water pipes.