DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of fuel lines of vehicles.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
For vehicles configured with a transversely mounted engine on chassis frame, the engine compartment generally occupies less space thereby, providing maximum comfort in the passenger compartment. However, the distance between the fuel injectors and the dash panel is reduced. As a result, in case of a crash, the engine moves and collides with the dash panel, thereby entangling the fuel lines in the available space and causing the fuel lines to be pinched. As a result, the fuel lines leak. The fuel leakage indicates violation of the vehicle regulatory requirements.
There is therefore, felt a need of an arrangement for protecting the fuel lines of a vehicle during a crash.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
One object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for protecting the fuel lines of a vehicle during a crash.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide the arrangement using optimum space.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide the arrangement that is cost-effective.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages an arrangement for protecting fuel lines of an engine of a vehicle. The arrangement comprises a pad and a bracket. The pad is configured to isolatedly encapsulate each of the fuel lines. The bracket is configured to receive the pad and to be fitted on a surface within the engine compartment of the body of the vehicle.
In an embodiment, the pad comprises a plurality of projections defining a plurality of channels therebetween. Each of the channels is configured to receive a fuel line.
In an embodiment, the pad is made of elastomeric material.
In an embodiment, the surface on which the bracket is fitted is a surface on the engine. Particularly, the surface is adjacent to a dash panel of the vehicle body.
Preferably, the bracket has a flange with a hole to facilitate mounting of the bracket.
In an embodiment, the engine is transversely mounted in the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
An arrangement, of the present disclosure, for protecting fuel lines of a vehicle during a crash will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an engine of the vehicle fitted with an arrangement of the present disclosure for protecting the fuel lines;
Figure 2 illustrates an isometric view of an arrangement, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the arrangement of Figure 2.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Arrangement
105 – Pad
105A – Projection
105B – Channel
110 – Bracket
110A – Flange
110B – Hole
115 – Fuel line
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
Figure 1 illustrates an engine 10 of a vehicle having fuels lines 115 supplying fuel to the engine 10. When the engine 10 is mounted in a transverse configuration, there is comparatively less space left between the frontal surface of the engine 10 and the dash panel of the body of the vehicle, thus putting the fuel lines 115 at a higher risk of rupture or entanglement in an event of a front-side collision of the vehicle, causing subsequent leakage of fuel therefrom.
An embodiment of an arrangement 100, of the present disclosure, to protect fuel lines 115 of a vehicle during a crash will now be described in detail with reference to Figure 1 through Figure 3. The preferred embodiment does not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure.
The arrangement 100 of the present disclosure comprises a pad 105 and a bracket 110.
The pad 105 is configured to be held in an operative inner portion of the bracket 110. A plurality of projections 105A are configured parallel to each other on an operative free surface of the pad 105 along the length of the pad 105 to define channels 105B therebetween. The channels 105B are configured to receive the fuel lines 115 so as to encapsulate one fuel line 115 in each channel 105B.
The bracket 110 is a plate with a U-shaped cross-section. At least one flange 110A is configured on an operative side of the bracket 110. A hole 110B is configured each flange 110A to enable fastening of the bracket 110 on a surface within the engine compartment (not specifically shown in figures) of the body of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the bracket 110 is fitted on a flat surface on the engine 10 which is adjacent to the dash panel (not shown specifically in figures) of the body of the vehicle.
The pad 105 and the bracket 110 are assembled to protect the fuel wires of the vehicle in the event of a crash of the vehicle. More specifically, the arrangement 100 secures the fuel lines 115 from the operative outer side to avoid entangling and pinching of the fuel lines 115. As a result, leakage of fuel from the fuel lines 115 is avoided in the event of a crash. The projections 105A of the pad 105 damp vibrations produced during movement of the vehicle to prevent any shock from propagating to the fuel lines, thereby, increasing the service life of the fuel lines 115.
In an embodiment, the material used for manufacturing the pad 105 is an Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber.
In an embodiment, the fasteners are selected from a group consisting of bolts, screws and rivets.
The arrangement 100 comprising the pad 105 and the bracket 110 is simple in configuration and cost-effective. Additionally, the arrangement 100 occupies optimum space.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of an arrangement to protect fuel lines of a vehicle during a crash, that:
• prevents damage to fuel lines in the event of a crash.
• occupies minimum space; and
• is cost-effective.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. An arrangement (100) for protecting fuel lines (115) of an engine (10) of a vehicle, said arrangement (100) comprising:
• a pad (105) configured to isolatedly encapsulate each of said fuel lines (115); and
• a bracket (110) configured to receive said pad (105), and to be fitted on a surface within the engine compartment of the body of the vehicle.
2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pad (105) comprises a plurality of projections (105A) defining a plurality of channels (105B) therebetween, each of said channels (105B) configured to receive a fuel line (115).
3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pad (105) is made of elastomeric material.
4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surface on which said bracket (110) is fitted is a surface on the engine (10).
5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said surface is adjacent to a dash panel of the vehicle body.
6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bracket (110) has a flange (110A) with a hole (110B) to facilitate mounting of the bracket (110).

7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said engine (10) is transversely mounted in the vehicle.