Vehicle Support for Electronic Box and Heat Shield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fixing assemblies for electronic boxes and heat shields in motor vehicles face issues such as vibration damage, entanglement with other vehicle components, and inability to accommodate different vehicle types, leading to potential damage and inefficiencies in pollutant control systems.

Innovation Solution

A support assembly comprising a spar and crosspiece with a central portion and end portions, allowing for secure fixation of electronic boxes, heat shields, and external elements like electrical harnesses and fuel hoses, while maintaining a constant gap to prevent contact and damage, and being easy to manufacture and mount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the support is fixed on the heat shield, then the electronic box can be secured, but the heat shield will vibrate or move during vehicle operation causing the electronic unit to hit the tunnel walls and potentially be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of electronic boxVSAvoidvibration damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a support structure as an intermediary element between the heat shield and the electronic box. This support is fixed to the vehicle body at multiple points (first end portion to crosspiece, second end portion to spar) and provides a stable mounting surface for the electronic box, thereby isolating it from vibrations and movements of the heat shield while maintaining proper positioning and protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the support only allows fixing of the electronic box, then the structure remains simple, but external elements such as electrical harnesses, cables, and fuel hoses are free to move and rub against the vehicle body causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidprotection of external elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed with multiple attachment points and features that enable it to perform multiple functions: securing the electronic box, anchoring the heat shield, and providing attachment points for external elements like electrical harnesses, cables, and fuel hoses. This multi-functional design protects these elements from movement and damage while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the support is designed for specific vehicle types, then it can be optimized for those vehicles, but it cannot be used on different types of vehicles such as private vehicles and utility vehicles with different characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimization for specific vehicleVSAvoidcompatibility with different vehicle types
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure incorporates standardized mounting features including a first end portion for fixing to a crosspiece and a second end portion for fixing to a spar, with configurable configurations (such as different lug arrangements) that allow adaptation to various vehicle types including both private vehicles with exhaust tunnels and utility vehicles without tunnels, thereby achieving both optimization and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure allows for configurable arrangements of lugs and attachment points that can be adjusted or selected based on the specific vehicle type being assembled, enabling the same basic support design to be optimized for different vehicle characteristics through flexible configuration rather than requiring completely different designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3164300B1Assembly for securing an electronic unit and heat screen
Publication Date: 2018.10.31 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3164300B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3164300B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembly for securing an electronic unit (4), this assembly comprising a longitudinal member (6) and a cross member (7) of a body shell (2) of a motor vehicle (1), the cross member (7) and the longitudinal member (6) forming a body shell plane (8), and also to a support mounted on the cross member (7) and the longitudinal member (6), the support comprising a central portion, a first end portion and a second end portion secured to the longitudinal member (6), characterized in that the electronic unit (4) is intended to be secured to an upper face of the central portion, the first end portion comprising a first tab (14) having a first soleplate (14B) that comes into contact with the cross member (7) at a distance (d), measured between the upper face of the central portion and the body shell (2) plane (8), strictly greater than a thickness (e) of the electronic unit (4).