Spark Plug Access Openings in Wheel Housing Back Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

The replacement of spark plugs in existing cars is complex, time-consuming, and expensive due to the limited space between the engine and the drive wheel housing compartments, requiring the removal of the entire engine.

Innovation Solution

The car design includes accessible openings in the back wall of the drive wheel compartments allowing direct access to spark plugs by removing only the wheel and suspension, enabling spark plug replacement without disassembling the engine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the engine is positioned close to the drive wheel housing compartments to save space, then the car layout is optimized, but the replacement of spark plugs becomes complex and time-consuming requiring engine removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidspark plug replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The back wall of the drive wheel housing compartment is segmented with a specific opening that provides direct access to the spark plugs. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and replace spark plugs without removing the entire engine, thus resolving the contradiction between compact space utilization and ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the engine is mounted parallel to the forward moving direction in a rear area, then the car achieves optimal weight distribution and performance, but the spark plugs become inaccessible without extensive disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecar performanceVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary opening is created in the back wall of the drive wheel housing compartment, positioned to provide direct access to the spark plugs. This intermediary structure allows maintenance personnel to reach the spark plugs without disassembling the engine or removing the entire engine assembly, thus reducing maintenance time while preserving the optimal engine mounting configuration for car performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4446202B1Car with quick replacement of the spark plugs
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 FERRARI SPA
  • EP4446202B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4446202B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4446202B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A car has an engine (5) provided with a plurality of spark plugs (11) and connected to two drive wheels (8), and a support frame (2) defining a pair of housing compartments (9), each of which houses on the inside a relative drive wheel (8), and is delimited by a back wall (10), which faces at least part of the spark plugs (11) of the engine (5), and is provided with at least one opening (13) configured to allow a tool (14) to remove at least one spark plug (11) from the engine (5) and to allow at least one spark plug (11) to be mounted on the engine (5).