Scannable Coolant Hose Attachment Assembly for Verified Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of ensuring proper attachment of coolant hoses in vehicles, particularly in electric vehicles, to maintain effective cooling and prevent kinks or damage, is not adequately addressed by existing methods.
Innovation Solution
An attachment assembly with a scannable feature and a shield portion that transitions from an initial configuration to an attached configuration, revealing the scannable feature for verification, and includes locking mechanisms to secure the attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional attachment methods are used for coolant hoses, then installation is simple, but attachment reliability cannot be ensured and improper positioning may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment assembly includes a scannable feature that automatically indicates attachment status. When properly attached, the feature becomes visible through a window, providing self-verification without requiring additional inspection tools or procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical inspection methods with an optical scanning system. A scanner detects the scannable feature (such as a QR code or barcode) to verify attachment status, substituting manual mechanical checking with automated optical detection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If coolant hose attachment is not properly ensured, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful effects such as kinks and damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides immediate feedback on attachment status through the scannable feature. When the hose is improperly attached, the feature remains hidden or shows an incorrect pattern, providing real-time feedback that prevents harmful effects before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The scannable feature is designed to be visible only when the hose is correctly positioned and attached. This preliminary design ensures that proper attachment is achieved before the system operates, preventing kinks and damage from misalignment.
3Measurement precision
If attachment verification is implemented, then attachment status can be confirmed, but measurement and detection become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex sensors or detectors, the system uses a simple optical copy of information - a scannable feature that can be read by standard scanning devices. This copying approach simplifies detection while maintaining high measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Attachment assemblies, vehicles with attachments assemblies, and methods for ensuring attachment are disclosed. A method includes providing an attachment assembly in an initial configuration. The attachment assembly includes a first component having a scannable feature and a second component having a shield portion and a window. In the initial configuration, the scannable feature is received within the second component and the shield portion covers the scannable feature. The method further includes advancing the attachment assembly in a first direction into contact with an attachment feature such that the first component abuts the attachment feature while the second component continues moving in the first direction relative to the first component until the attachment assembly is in an attached configuration in which the scannable feature is revealed by the window; and scanning the scannable feature through the window with a scanner to confirm that the attachment assembly has been attached.