Housing Element Connection via Contiguous Bearing Area
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger systems for motor vehicles face challenges with complex structures, high fabrication and assembly costs, and a limited installation space for connections, leading to inadequate form-closure connections that can fail under high pressure and pressure pulse loading.
Innovation Solution
A system for connecting housing elements using an auxiliary means-free engagement mechanism with latching elements and shapings that provide a contiguous bearing area for form closure, allowing for elastic deformation and interlocking, thereby enhancing stability and resistance to fatigue without altering the inner volume or increasing material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bearing area of latching elements is widened in the direction toward the interior of the housing to achieve greater depth, then the connection stability under high pressure is improved, but the installation space and inner volume of the housing are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction by changing the direction in which the bearing area is extended. Instead of widening the bearing area in the direction toward the interior of the housing (which would reduce inner volume), the bearing area is extended in a direction parallel to the front face of the housing element. This dimensional change allows the latching elements to achieve greater bearing area and improved connection stability without encroaching on the inner volume of the housing.
2Device complexity
If auxiliary means-free latching connections are used to simplify assembly, then the device complexity is reduced, but the connection may release under high pressure pulse loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved or contoured bearing areas on the latching elements rather than flat surfaces. This curvature design allows for better distribution of contact forces and improved form closure, enabling the auxiliary means-free connection to maintain reliability under high pressure pulse loading while keeping the structure simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes geometric parameters of the latching elements, including the depth, width, and angle of the bearing areas, to achieve adequate form closure without requiring additional auxiliary means. The bearing area is designed with specific dimensional relationships that ensure sufficient contact pressure distribution to prevent connection release under operational loads.
3Strength
If welding or adhering is used to connect housing elements, then the connection strength is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the latching elements to achieve self-locking through form closure alone, without requiring additional welding, soldering, or adhering processes. The geometric design of the bearing areas creates sufficient mechanical interlocking and friction to maintain connection strength, allowing the housing elements to be manufactured and assembled using simpler, more cost-effective processes.
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 ensures a robust, compact, and cost-effective connection that prevents undesirable release under high stress conditions, maintaining the inner volume and reducing the risk of connection failure, while simplifying assembly and minimizing material expenditures.
Implementation Method 1
During the process of joining, one of the latching elements is elastically deformed which, at the end of the process, interlocks with the other yielding a form closure
Data Source
AI summary
A system for connecting housing elements of a device for heat transfer having a housing with a first housing element and a second housing element which are connectable with one another with face sides oriented toward one another and via a connection under form closure. Housing elements are herein in contact on another with side margins developed in proximity of front faces. The first latching elements are implemented as recesses each with a flat surface oriented in parallel to front face. On an outer side of side margin of first housing element between each first latching element and front face, a shaping is developed protruding from side margin, which comprises on a side facing first latching element a flat surface disposed in the plane spanned by flat surface of first latching element. Flat surfaces of first latching element and the shaping form a contiguous bearing area for second latching element.