Segmented Fuel Tube Protector for Vehicle Engine Room

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steel protectors for fuel tubes in vehicle engine rooms are costly, heavy, and difficult to apply, especially in complex or hard-to-reach areas, increasing the risk of fuel tube damage and leakage during vehicle collisions.

Innovation Solution

A fuel tube protector comprising a protective member that surrounds the fuel tube, with fixing members featuring tapered parts and latching protrusions for secure attachment, allowing for easy installation and flexibility in complex paths, and a coil spring design for bendability, reducing the need for separate mounting on the vehicle body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional steel protectors are installed at various positions to protect the fuel tube, then the fuel tube is protected from damage, but the cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel tube protectionVSAvoidprotector weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective structure is divided into multiple separate protectors positioned at different locations along the fuel tube path. Each protector is a discrete component that can be independently installed and removed, allowing selective protection at critical points rather than continuous coverage, thus reducing overall weight while maintaining protection where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protectors are strategically positioned at specific high-risk locations such as the upper portion, lower portion, and central portion of the engine room where the fuel tube is most vulnerable to damage from pail movement during collision. This localized protection approach provides reliable coverage at critical points without the weight penalty of continuous protection along the entire fuel tube path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conventional steel protectors are installed at various positions to protect the fuel tube, then the fuel tube is protected from damage, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel tube protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protective system uses multiple simple, discrete protector components rather than a single complex continuous structure. Each protector is a standardized, easily manufactured piece that can be produced cost-effectively through simple molding or forming processes, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining protection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protectors are designed as simple, inexpensive components that can be easily replaced if damaged, rather than investing in a single expensive complex protective system. This approach reduces initial manufacturing cost and allows for economical maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If conventional steel protectors are mounted on the vehicle body, then the fuel tube is protected, but it is difficult to apply to positions where the fuel tube path is complicated or mounting is impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel tube protectionVSAvoidmounting adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protectors are extracted from the vehicle body mounting system and instead attached directly to the fuel tube itself. This extraction from the traditional mounting approach allows the protectors to follow the fuel tube's complicated path anywhere it goes, eliminating the limitation of requiring fixed vehicle body mounting positions and enabling protection in previously inaccessible areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective system transitions from a static vehicle body-mounted configuration to a dynamic fuel tube-following configuration. The protectors move with the fuel tube along its complicated path, adapting automatically to the tube's position and orientation, thereby providing continuous protection regardless of the fuel tube's routing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If multiple steel protectors are installed along the fuel tube path, then comprehensive protection is achieved, but the number of components and installation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel tube protectionVSAvoidprotector system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective system is segmented into multiple identical or similar simple protector units rather than one complex continuous structure. Each segment is a standardized component with the same basic design, simplifying manufacturing, inventory management, and installation procedures while providing comprehensive protection through strategic placement at multiple locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11473540B2Fuel tube protector for vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A fuel tube protector for a vehicle includes a protective member configured to surround a circumferential surface of a fuel tube disposed between a fuel tank and an internal combustion engine, and a fixing member provided at both distal ends of the protective member to fix the protective member to the fuel tube, wherein each fixing member includes a body surrounding and holding the circumferential surface of the fuel tube, and first fixing legs protruding from a side surface of the body and fastened to the respective distal end of the protective member.