Vehicle heating device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle heaters face challenges in achieving reliable and fluid-tight sealing at the first sealing formation area due to excessive stretching of the sealing formation when the fuel supply line is passed through the passage opening.

Innovation Solution

The fuel supply line has a larger cross-sectional dimension in the throughput length area than in the section between the external connection end area and the combustion chamber assembly connection end area, allowing the sealing formation to be prestressed and maintaining a tight seal without excessive stretching, with the basic opening cross-sectional dimension being at least 90% to 100% of the external connection end area's cross-sectional dimension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the fuel supply line has a larger cross-sectional dimension in the external connection end area to facilitate connection to hose-like fuel lines, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sealing formation experiences excessive stretching when the fuel supply line is passed through the passage opening, worsening the sealing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of connection to fuel lineVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel supply line is designed with different cross-sectional dimensions in different regions: a larger cross-sectional dimension in the external connection end area for easy connection to fuel lines, and a smaller cross-sectional dimension in the line area for minimal stretching of the sealing formation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the passage opening cross-sectional dimension is increased to accommodate the external connection end area of the fuel supply line, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sealing formation cannot be sufficiently prestressed on the fuel supply line, worsening the sealing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidsealing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel supply line has a larger cross-sectional dimension in the external connection end area and a smaller cross-sectional dimension in the line area. This allows the passage opening to be sized for easy assembly while the reduced line area cross-section ensures sufficient prestress of the sealing formation for effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from a uniform cross-sectional design to a variable cross-sectional design along the length of the fuel supply line. By changing the cross-sectional dimension along the longitudinal axis, the design accommodates both assembly ease and sealing effectiveness requirements at different locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the sealing formation is stretched excessively to accommodate the fuel supply line with larger cross-sectional dimensions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the sealing formation loses its prestress, worsening the sealing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel supply line features a larger cross-sectional dimension in the external connection end area and a smaller cross-sectional dimension in the line area. This local variation allows the sealing formation to be installed easily without excessive stretching, as the smaller line area cross-section requires less stretching, thereby maintaining sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This configuration ensures a reliable and tight seal by preventing excessive stretching of the sealing formation, maintaining the prestress on the fuel supply line, and preventing fuel or fuel vapors from escaping, thereby enhancing the sealing efficiency and preventing leakage during operation.

Implementation Method 1

The sealing formation made of elastic material rests under prestress on the outer surface of the fuel supply line in its throughput length area penetrating the passage opening and thus provides a tight connection to the fuel supply line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3859208A1Vehicle heating device
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 EBERSPAECHER CLIMATE CONTROL SYST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3859208A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3859208A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3859208A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A vehicle heater comprising a housing (10) with a circumferential wall (12) enclosing a combustion air flow chamber (14), a combustion chamber assembly (18) supplied with fuel and combustion air, a fuel supply line (28) adjoining the combustion chamber assembly (18) for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber assembly (18), wherein a fuel supply line opening (30) is provided in the circumferential wall (12), wherein the fuel supply line (28) comprises a combustion chamber assembly connection end region (54) adjoining the combustion chamber assembly (18), an external connection end region (58) located outside the circumferential wall (12), and a line section (56) extending between the combustion chamber assembly connection end region (54) and the external connection end region (58), passing through the fuel supply line opening (30), and a sealing formation (32) with a first Sealing formation area (34),wherein the first sealing formation area (34) is positioned to engage in the fuel supply line passage opening (30) to create a substantially fluid-tight seal between the circumferential wall (12) and the line section (56) of the fuel supply line (28), wherein the sealing formation (32) in the first sealing formation area (34) has a passage opening (52) penetrated by the line section (56) of the fuel supply line (28), is characterized in that the fuel supply line (28) has a larger cross-sectional dimension in a flow length section (60) penetrating the passage opening (52) in the first sealing formation area (34) than in a section of the line section (56) located between the flow length section (60) and the external connection section (58).