Pipe Bracket Flange Structure for Vibration-Induced Stress Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vibration in moving objects can cause stress concentration at the bracket, leading to breakage of attached pipes.

Innovation Solution

A pipe attachment structure with a bracket that includes a flange portion formed by bending the end portion of the bracket away from the pipe's outer surface, reducing stress concentration and enhancing structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bracket is used to attach a pipe to a predetermined component, then the pipe can be securely mounted, but vibration of the moving object causes stress concentration at the bracket leading to pipe breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipe mounting securityVSAvoidresistance to stress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket's end portion is bent into a curved flange shape rather than remaining straight, creating a smooth transition that distributes stress along the curved surface. This curvature eliminates sharp corners where stress would concentrate, thereby preventing pipe breakage while maintaining secure mounting capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket is designed with different structural characteristics at different locations: the main body remains straight for attachment purposes, while the end portion is bent into a flange shape specifically to distribute stress. This localized structural modification addresses the stress concentration problem without compromising the overall mounting function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the bracket end portion is bent into a flange shape to reduce stress concentration, then pipe breakage is suppressed, but the bracket structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuppression of pipe breakageVSAvoidbracket structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flange shape is created by bending the bracket's own end portion rather than adding a separate flange component. This integrates the stress-distributing flange structure into the bracket itself, achieving breakage suppression without increasing overall device complexity or requiring additional parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If the end portion is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the pipe, then stress is distributed more evenly, but the attachment area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestress distributionVSAvoidattachment area

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The bent flange shape creates a curved surface that distributes stress over a larger area through its geometry, compensating for the reduced direct contact area. The curvature allows stress to be distributed along the arc of the flange rather than concentrated at a single attachment point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20250043900A1Pipe attachment structure and bracket

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 ISUZU MOTORS LTD

AI summary

Provided are a pipe attachment structure (1) and a bracket (20) that minimize breakage of a pipe (10). This pipe attachment structure is mounted on a moving body and a pipe through which a fluid flows is attached to a predetermined component via a bracket, wherein the bracket has a flange part (23) formed into a flange by bending the bracket such that of the portion that attaches to the outer peripheral surface of the pipe, the end part in the flowing direction of the fluid separates from the outer peripheral surface of the pipe.