FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] This invention relates to reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle. The provision of said reinforcement avoids high stress 5 concentration on the panel of battery tray supporting the fuel filter holder constituting a cantilever mass.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART
[002] In the vehicle, the fuel is supplied to engine through fuel filter. 10 Said fuel filter is usually placed in the rear of the engine room. So that even when external force is applied from front side of the vehicle, the rear portion of the engine compartment does not undergo large deformations.
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[003] In conjunction with the above, other auxiliary means such as battery and accessories are also housed in the engine compartment. For the convenience of layout, the battery is sometimes disposed near to front of the fuel filter positioning.
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[004] The battery tray holding the batteries is secured to a fuel filter holder by means of spot welds, wherein one of vertical outer surfaces of the panels is implemented for that.
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[005] Battery tray is a heavy structure carrying a plurality of batteries, under load of which the tray is susceptible to vibration in 5 dynamic condition of vehicle. This vibration is transferred to the mounting area of mounted structure i.e. fuel filter holder. This gives rise stress concentration at/around mounting area. Hence, under the cantilever weight of fuel filter, High stress or cracks are developed at/near the spot weld/sheet crack under fatigue loading. 10
[006] The countermeasure to the above issue constitutes provision of increased thickness of the L-type panel (2) mounted with fuel filter holder (1) as in Figure 1. Thus, thickness of L-type panel (2) is kept very high and layout of the fuel filter is such that the L-type panel (2) 15 is mounted on a load bearing member of vehicle body.
[007] However, it is expensive and time consuming countermeasure.
[008] Additional structure in diagonal direction to the fuel filter 20 loading can be added to neutralize the overall vibration on fuel filter area. However it is an expensive option.
[009] Alternatively, the fuel filter mounting bracket can be extended to provide extra support to fuel filter overhang loading. However, this 25 countermeasure leads to addition of part which is expensive and time consuming countermeasure.
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[0010] According to another alternative, radius of panel (2) can be increased which leads to distribution of stress in radius area. 5 However, this countermeasure is not feasible due to layout constraint.
[0011] In order to provide an effective and cost effective solution to the above issue, the instant invention has been proposed which will be 10 discussed herein below.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An object of the invention is to propose a reinforcement for fuel 15 filter on battery tray of vehicle which obviates shortcomings of the known art(s).
[0013] Another object of the invention is to propose a reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle which is very simple in 20 construction.
[0014] Still another object of the invention is to propose a reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle which prevents high stress/ cracks in fuel filter mounting/nearby areas. 25
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[0015] Further object of the invention is to propose a reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle which is cost effective and also effective.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION 5
[0016] According to this invention, there is provided a reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray in vehicle wherein said tray is having multitude of vertical panels including a back panel and atleast two side panels connected to each other. Out of which one side panel is 10 mounted with fuel filter holder for fuel filter, wherein said reinforcement having substantially L-section is interposed between said side panel mounted with fuel filter holder and back panel.
[0017] The reinforcement is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the 15 side panel. Said reinforcement is disposed along upper edge of the side panel, surface of which is in contact with that of the side panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
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[0018] Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments of invention and wherein:
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Fig. 1 shows: Conventional reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle.
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Fig.2 shows: Isometric view of reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray in vehicle from right hand side according to present invention.
Fig. 3 shows: Isometric view of reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray in vehicle from left hand side 5 according to present invention.
Fig. 4 shows: Exploded view in accordance with present invention.
Fig. 5 shows: Fuel filter mounted on the battery tray of present invention. 10
Fig.6A shows: Stress concentration on the L-panel in prior art.
Fig. 6B shows: Stress concentration on the L-panel in present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE 15 TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
[0019] The present invention makes a disclosure in respect of reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray in automobile.
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[0020] Now reference may be made to figure 2-4. The battery tray (1') comprises a base plate (2') which is connected to a plurality of vertical panels.
[0021] Here, said vertical panels include two side panels (3') and one 25 back panel (4'). Said side panel is having substantially L-section, which can be called as L-bracket.
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[0022] In this particular embodiment of invention, one of the side panels is utilized for mounting fuel filter holder. The fuel filter holder includes fuel filter mounting bracket (5') for mounting fuel filter (6').
[0023] The fuel filter mounting bracket (5') holds the vertical surface of 5 fuel filter (6') from one side as shown in the fig.5.
[0024] In order to stiffen the corner area of L-panel (L-Bracket) of battery tray, a novel reinforcement has been introduced by the present invention. Said reinforcement (7') as illustrated in the figure 4 10 forms a single piece having substantially L-section, which is interposed between side panel (3’) and back panel (4’) of the tray.
[0025] The reinforcement is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the side panel (3’).Said reinforcement (7’) is disposed along upper edge of 15 the side panel, surface of which is in contact with that of the side panel (3’).
[0026] The aforesaid reinforcement (7’) of invention protects the corner area of panel (3’) from developing cracks under cantilever weight of 20 fuel filter by providing full support to the same, which in turn adds strength to the fillet part of the side panel.
[0027] Thus, the reinforcement (7’) strengthens the local area of fuel filter mounting leading to significant stress reduction serving the 25 purpose thereby.
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[0028] The reinforcement of invention being substantially L-in shape comprises of two parts, out of which the part (7A) disposed in parallel 5 to the fuel filter mounting bracket (5') possesses a rectilinear section with a rib at an intermediate portion aligned in longitudinal direction thereof. The rib sustains fuel filter loading at mounting area of fuel filter holder. The other adjacent part (7B) of reinforcement is having a substantially rectilinear section with a fillet part (F) therebetween as 10 in fig. 4.
[0029] The reinforcement can be made of sheet metal by the method of blanking/stamping without limiting scope of the invention to the same. Thus, other materials and methods readily apparent to a 15 person skilled in the art are understood to be within purview of the invention.
[0030] The filter holder can be secured to any of the faces of the L-panel i.e. alternatively it can be fixed to the face (5) of the L-panel 20 disposed in parallel to the back panel (4') of battery tray. In that case, filter loading is perpendicular to the face (5) and parallel to the other face (4) of battery tray.
[0031] Thus, the filter loading always acts orthogonal to the mounting 25 surface of the L-panel on which filter holder is mounted.
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[0032] An exemplary embodiment of invention was put to test, which leads to decrease in overall stress in local weak area by 83%. For the same, reference may be made to fig. 6 depicting stress concentration at various spots across the side panel of the battery tray, in which fig. 6A and 6B indicates stress concentration on the L-panel in prior art 5 and present invention respectively.
[0033] From the same, it can be observed that, there is substantial decrease in the stress concentration. Hence, the present invention constitutes a very effective countermeasure to the existing problem. 10
[0034] The advantageous features of the invention can be briefly summarized hereinbelow:
- Cost effective 15
- Less time consuming assembly
- No requirement of additional counter measure on base fuel filter mounting bracket
- Significant stress reduction at the corner area of the L-panel of battery tray during fatigue loading. 20
[0035] It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present 25 invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:-

WE CLAIM:
1. A reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle wherein said tray is having multitude of vertical panels including a back panel and atleast two side panels connected to each other, out of which one side panel is mounted with fuel filter holder for 5 fuel filter, wherein said reinforcement having substantially L-section is interposed between said side panel mounted with fuel filter holder and back panel.
2. A reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle as 10 claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcement is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the side panel.
3. A reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said reinforcement is disposed 15 along upper edge of the side panel, surface of which is in contact with that of the side panel.
4. A reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the 20 reinforcement comprises of two parts, out of which the part disposed in parallel to the fuel filter mounting bracket possesses a rectilinear section with a rib at an intermediate portion aligned in longitudinal direction thereof and the other adjacent part of reinforcement is having a substantially 25 rectilinear section with a fillet part there between.
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5. A reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding claims is associated with the advantageous features such as herein described.
6. A reinforcement for fuel filter on battery tray of vehicle 5 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.