Vehicle Tank End Fixing Structure Without a Second Neck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tank fixing mechanisms require a neck at both ends or a usable neck at one end, leading to increased costs due to the need for high-precision necks that can withstand internal pressure, and do not effectively address cases where a neck is absent or unusable at one end.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design that uses a bracket for neck mounting at one end and a fixing device with an elastic covering portion at the other end to grip and fix the tank to the vehicle body without relying on a neck, incorporating an expanding graphite layer for thermal insulation and fire resistance, and a manufacturing method that attaches this fixing device to the vehicle body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a neck is provided at both ends of the tank to enable fixing at both ends, then the tank can be securely fixed to the vehicle body, but the manufacturing cost increases due to the need for high-precision necks that can withstand internal pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing function is segmented between two different mechanisms: neck mounting at one end and the covering portion with arms at the other end. This allows each fixing mechanism to be optimized independently, with the covering portion using simpler, lower-cost materials and manufacturing processes compared to high-precision pressure-resistant necks.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using neck mounting at both ends (symmetric approach), the invention uses neck mounting at one end and an inverted/different approach (covering portion gripping from outside) at the other end. This asymmetric strategy eliminates the need for expensive precision necks at both locations while maintaining secure fixing.
2Ease of manufacture
If a neck is provided only at one end of the tank, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but the tank cannot be securely fixed at both ends
Solution Approach 1:
The covering portion with elastic arms serves multiple functions simultaneously: it grips and fixes the tank at the second end, absorbs impact through elastic deformation, prevents rotation via the expanding graphite layer, and provides thermal insulation. This multi-functional design compensates for the absence of a neck at this location.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms act as intermediaries between the covering portion and the tank surface, providing a compliant gripping mechanism that can adapt to positional variations and absorb impacts without requiring precise manufacturing tolerances.
3Strength
If the covering portion uses rigid structure to grip the tank, then fixing strength is improved, but impact applied to the tank cannot be absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The arms are designed as elastic (dynamic) elements rather than rigid structures. They can deform elastically under impact loads to absorb energy, then return to their original position to maintain gripping force. This dynamic behavior provides both impact absorption and sustained fixing strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms are pre-configured to provide cushioning against future impacts. Their elastic properties allow them to absorb impact energy before it reaches the tank, protecting the tank from damage while maintaining the fixing function.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the arms are made long to reach the middle of the tank for fire resistance, then thermal insulation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The arms serve dual purposes: mechanical gripping/fixing and thermal insulation/fire resistance. By extending some arms to the middle of the tank, they provide fire protection without requiring separate insulation components, thus avoiding increased device complexity while improving fire resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms are made of heat-resistant materials that provide both structural function (gripping) and thermal protection. This composite approach combines mechanical and thermal functions in a single component, eliminating the need for additional insulation layers or complex multi-component systems.
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
Enables secure fixation of the tank to the vehicle body without a neck at one end, absorbs impact, prevents tank rotation, and provides thermal insulation and fire resistance, while reducing costs and positional errors during assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of arms that has elasticity and that is configured to grip the second end of the tank main unit from an outer circumferential side
Implementation Method 2
an expanding graphite layer configured to cover at least the second end may be bonded to the tank main unit
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a tank having a cylindrical tank main unit, and a neck provided at a first end in an axial direction of the tank main unit, a bracket that fixes the tank main unit to a vehicle body of the vehicle by neck mounting, using the neck, and a fixing device. The fixing device has a covering portion that grips and holds, at a second end in the axial direction of the tank main unit, the tank main unit so as to surround an outer circumferential face of the tank main unit, and a fixing portion that is integrally provided with the covering portion and that is fixed to the vehicle body.