Rotatable Muffler Mounting Assembly for Off-Road Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-road vehicles with vertically mounted mufflers obstruct the driver's vision, as existing solutions do not effectively address the need for a mounting system that adjusts to the muffler's shape and position to enhance visibility while securely supporting the muffler.
Innovation Solution
A horizontal muffler mounting assembly with rotatable mounting pads and a cradle system that automatically adjusts to conform to the muffler's shape, providing three-point contact and secure attachment using straps, allowing the muffler to be positioned out of the driver's line of sight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a vertical muffler mounting is used, then the muffler can be securely supported, but the driver's vision is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting pads are made rotatable about rotation axes, allowing them to dynamically adjust their orientation to conform to the muffler's shape and position, enabling secure support while accommodating horizontal positioning that improves driver visibility
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting pads can change their angular orientation parameter by rotating about their respective axes, allowing the system to adapt to different muffler positions and shapes, transitioning from fixed vertical mounting to adjustable horizontal mounting
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed mounting system is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate manufacturing variances in muffler shape and size
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable mounting pads provide dynamic adjustment capability that allows the simple mounting structure to adapt to manufacturing variances in muffler shape and size without requiring complex custom-fit components
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting pads serve multiple functions: they support the muffler weight, accommodate shape variations through rotation, and provide secure attachment across different muffler configurations, reducing the need for multiple specialized mounting components
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes a mounting assembly 30 for a muffler 24 of an off-road vehicle 10 including a first mounting pad 51 rotatably coupled to a first support 56. The first mounting pad 51 is configured to rotate in a first direction and in a second direction, opposite the first direction, about a first rotation axis 60. The mounting assembly also includes a second mounting pad 67 rotatably coupled to a second support 74. The second mounting pad 67 is configured to rotate in the first direction and in the second direction about a second rotation axis 76. Moreover, the first and second mounting pads (51, 67) are laterally offset from one another relative to a longitudinal axis of the muffler 24, the first and second mounting pads (51, 67) are configured to support the muffler 24, and the first and second mounting pads (51, 67) are configured to independently rotate relative to the respective supports (56, 74) about the respective rotation axes (60, 76).