Underfloor Cable and Pipe Retainer With Thermal Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for securing and thermally protecting longitudinal elements, such as electrical cables and fuel pipes, near the exhaust duct of motor vehicles are inadequate, particularly in the compact and high-temperature 'crank' zone, where they are exposed to risks of fire and deformation due to the vehicle's movement.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a support base with an angled wedging blade that forms a thermally insulated housing for the elements, equipped with retaining members like staples or clips, and a stud for secure fixation to the floor, ensuring safe passage and protection without modifying existing installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If thermal protection screens are installed in the crank area of the exhaust duct, then thermal protection is improved, but the screen would be deformed under impact when the vehicle passes through a ford
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the thermal protection function from a traditional screen structure and relocates it to a support base positioned away from the crank area. The support base provides thermal protection for longitudinal elements without being located in the impact zone of the exhaust duct crank, thereby avoiding deformation while maintaining protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a support base with retaining elements as an intermediary structure between the longitudinal elements and the exhaust duct. This mediator provides both thermal protection and secure retention without requiring direct attachment to the exhaust duct, eliminating the deformation problem while maintaining protective function.
2Volume of moving object
If the corridor under the floor is used for main longitudinal elements, then space utilization is improved, but there is no room for additional longitudinal elements of the heating system
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the retention function by providing a support base with multiple retaining elements that can accommodate both existing longitudinal elements and additional heating system elements. This segmentation allows the same structural space to serve multiple functions without requiring additional corridors or modifying existing element paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The support base structure serves multiple functions: it provides thermal protection, secures existing longitudinal elements, and accommodates additional heating system elements. This multi-functional design allows the vehicle to gain auxiliary heating capability without requiring additional space or modifying the paths of main longitudinal elements.
3Device complexity
If additional longitudinal elements are passed along the crank of the exhaust duct, then avoidance of specific interfaces is achieved, but the elements are exposed to very high temperatures of 400°C
Solution Approach 1:
The support base acts as an intermediary structure that provides thermal protection to longitudinal elements without requiring complex interface modifications. By positioning the support base near the crank area rather than directly on it, the invention achieves thermal protection while maintaining simple installation that avoids creating specific interfaces.
4Ease of manufacture
If the fuel supply pipe and wiring harness are allowed to move freely, then installation ease is improved, but their position cannot be controlled and they may contact the exhaust pipe over time
Solution Approach 1:
The support base with pre-positioned retaining elements provides preliminary positioning for longitudinal elements during installation. This preliminary action ensures that elements are correctly positioned and secured from the start, preventing future contact with the exhaust pipe while maintaining installation simplicity through the intuitive retain-and-secure mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides reliable thermal protection and secure attachment of additional longitudinal elements in the high-temperature 'crank' zone, preventing contact with the exhaust duct and maintaining integrity during vehicle movement, thus enabling additional heating functions without additional interfaces or costs.
Implementation Method 1
a stud forming a spacer through which is made a bore opening, on its other face, into a welded nut cooperating with the floor fixing elements
Implementation Method 2
a right-angled shim blade delimiting with said base a thermally insulated housing for the longitudinal elements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to: – a device (1) for keeping flexible filamentary longitudinal elements (F) and/or semi-rigid tubular elements (A) secured and thermally protected under the floor of motor vehicles in the vicinity of the exhaust pipe, characterized in that it comprises a support base (11) collaborating with members for fixing to the floor and extending upwards in the form of a bracing plate (12) set at a right-angle and which together with the said base (11) delimits a thermally insulated housing for the longitudinal elements (A, F), the said base and/or the said plate bearing members (2) for retaining the said elements, – to a method for fitting the said device, and – to a motor vehicle equipped with the said device.