Abstract:
A system of alternate hose line bundling allows for exclusion of a higher pressure hose line from fasteners directly attached to a vehicle body. Alternatively to mounting to the vehicle body, the higher pressure hose line is coupled to a lower pressure hose line via fasteners which lack mounting features. Eliminating attachment of higher pressure hose lines to the vehicle body reduces noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) experienced by passengers in the vehicle.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present application relates to a hose line coupling system, such as a fuel line coupling system, within a structure such as an automotive body. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Vehicle component hose lines, such as fuel lines, brake oil lines, a fuel return and/or vapor lines, may be bundled together to form line bundles. The line bundle may be secured to a structure of a vehicle, such as an automotive body, via a plurality of plastic fasteners positioned at various locations along the line bundle. One or more of the lines in a line bundle may experience high pressure pulsations, generated by a fuel pump, for example. These pressure pulsations may be transmitted, through the fasteners, to the vehicle body, thereby increasing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) experienced by passengers in the vehicle. 
         [0003]    In one approach, described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-250517, insulating strategies are employed within a single fastener directly attaching a fuel line to a body. Specifically, insulation is achieved by combining a flexible plastic material such as rubber with a rigid plastic material. In another example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,468, a hollow pulse dampener may be included in the fuel line. Specifically, blow-mold technology is employed to produce a pulse dampener. 
         [0004]    The inventors herein have recognized that the insulation technique may require two plastic materials, which increases cost and still may not sufficiently reduce NVH. Further, even with the pulse dampener, pressure pulsations may still exist and thus transmit unacceptably high levels of NVH to the automotive body. 
         [0005]    The above issue may be at least partly addressed by a system for a vehicle having a body, comprising: a first bundle fastener secured to the body; a second bundle fastener not secured to the body; a lower pressure-hose line coupled to the first bundle fastener at a first location and the second bundle fastener at a second location; and a higher pressure-hose line coupled to the second bundle fastener at the second location and not coupled to the first bundle fastener. 
         [0006]    In this way, it is possible to secure the higher pressure-hose line to the body via an indirect coupling to the body through the lower pressure-hose line. For example, because the high pressure-hose line is not directly coupled to the vehicle body through either of the fasteners, it is possible to reduce NVH transmitted to the body, while still retaining the line bundle of the higher and lower pressure hose lines by securing the line bundle with clips that are floating relative to the vehicle body. The second fastener mechanism, coupling the higher pressure-hose line to the lower pressure-hose line thus allows for the higher pressure-hose line to be secured within the automotive body, yet without a direct transmission source from the higher pressure-fuel line to the vehicle body, for example. 
         [0007]    While such an approach can significantly reduce NVH, of course it may be combined with other approaches, such as the pulse dampener, or specially designed fasteners, if desired. For example, inclusion of an integrated fuel line dampener at a highest pressure pulsation area relative to a fuel pump further reduces NVH caused by fuel line bundling within an automotive body. 
         [0008]    It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows an example embodiment of a fuel line bundling system in a diesel direct injection fuel system with NVH reducing features. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows an angled view of the fuel line bundling system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a back view of the fuel line bundling system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows an example embodiment of an open-top fastener with mounting features. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows an example embodiment of a lidded-top fastener with mounting features. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows an example embodiment of an open-top fastener lacking mounting features. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows an example embodiment of an open-side fastener with mounting features. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following description relates to a system of alternative fuel line coupling for reduction of NVH. As shown in  FIG. 1 , NVH reducing features may include two spacer clips/straps that couple the higher-pressure fuel line to the lower-pressure fuel return line via a fastener that lacks mounting features, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 . The fuel return line may be further bundled with two brake oil lines and secured to the vehicle body via fasteners with mounting features, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  and  4 . NVH reducing features also include a pressure pulse dampener shown in  FIG. 1 , which is incorporated into the fuel pump outlet valve at the highest pressure pulsation area of the fuel line. Thus, vibration of the fuel line may be reduced as well as transmission of vibration to the vehicle body 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic illustration of fuel line bundling system  100  in a diesel direct injection fuel system. In general, fuel line bundling system  100  may direct fuel  118  from fuel supply  108  to fuel pump  110 . Within fuel pump  110  positive pressure may be generated to force fuel  118  into an engine. Fuel  118  may be directed from fuel supply  108  to fuel pump  110  via lower pressure-fuel line  104   a  connected at fuel pump inlet valve  130 . Hose lines up stream of fuel pump  110  in the direction of fuel  118  flow may be considered to be located in a lower pressure area. 
         [0018]    Within fuel pump  110  high pressure may be generated via a pumping system. The rearmost side of fuel pump  110  may be secured to the vehicle body  160  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). For example, a bracket may be attached to the rearmost side of the fuel pump and may be further mounted to the vehicle body with threaded bolts. Alternatively, the body of the fuel pump may be designed with mounting features so that it may be directly attached to the body of the vehicle. The vehicle body  160  may be a vehicle rail, such as in a body-on-frame vehicle configuration. Alternatively, vehicle body  160  may be a portion of a uni-body construction element of the vehicle. 
         [0019]    Fuel  118  may be expelled from fuel pump  110  creating a high pressure pulsation area downstream of fuel pump  110  in the direction of fuel  118  flow. High pressure pulsations may generate oscillations of higher pressure-fuel line  104   b , which may then be transferred to the vehicle body  160  as NVH. Integrated fuel line dampener  112  may be incorporated into fuel pump outlet valve  132  and may extend upward in a perpendicular orientation from higher pressure-fuel line  104   b . Integrated fuel line dampener  112  may be a short hollow pipe connected via an open-end to higher pressure-fuel line  104   b . It may relieve pressure pulsations by expansion and contraction of an air pocket at an opposing closed end in response to fluctuations in fuel  118  flow. In an alternate embodiment, integrated fuel line dampener  112  may include a flexible membrane at a closed end, which may also expand and contract in response to pressure pulsations. Hose lines upstream of fuel pump  110  in the direction of fuel  118  flow may be considered to be located in a high pressure pulsation area, as compared to the lower pressure area noted above. 
         [0020]    Fuel return line  102  may be a lower pressure-hose line, as compared to the higher pressure-fuel line  104   b  described above. Fuel return line  102  may direct unused fuel  118  back from the engine through fuel pump  110  and into fuel supply  108 . Fuel line  104  ( 104   a  and  104   b ) and fuel return line  102  may traverse a common pathway  150  within the vehicle body. Pathway  150  may also be shared with other low pressure-hose lines, as compared to higher pressure-fuel line  104   b  described above. Other lower pressure-lines that share pathway  150  may include brake oil lines  114  and  116 , which may be smaller in diameter than fuel line  104  and fuel return line  102 . 
         [0021]    Pathway  150  is shown to be generally linear but may advance in various directions in 3-dimensional space so as to accommodate other vehicle parts, the shape of vehicle body  160 , or curvature of the hose lines. Specifically, curvature  206  and  208  of  FIG. 2  show that fuel line  104  and fuel return line  102  may extend inward to connect to both left and right sides of fuel pump  110  relative to the rearmost side attached to vehicle body  160 , while brake oil lines  114  and  116  may extend straight behind the fuel pump  110 . In addition, lower pressure-fuel line  104   a  may curve inward in the region between fasteners  120 A and  122  (curvature  204  of  FIG. 2 ). Pathway  150  may extend a minimum length, which to direct hose lines to their points of diversion. As is shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, brake oil lines  114  and  116  may diverge away from pathway  150  inwardly toward the wheel brake system (curvature  210 ), while higher pressure-fuel line  104   b  and fuel return line  102  may continue forward toward the engine. 
         [0022]    Fuel line  104 , fuel return line  102 , and brake oil lines  114  and  116  may comprise a bundle of hose lines  140 , which may be secured via plastic bundle fasteners, upstream of fuel pump  110 , directly to vehicle body  160 . Herein, bundle of hose lines  140 , including fuel return line  102  and brake oil lines  114  and  116 , and lower pressure-fuel line  104   a , may be secured directly to vehicle body  160  via fasteners  122  and  120 A, upstream of fuel pump  110  in the lower pressure area. Fastener  122  may be positioned proximate to fuel pump  110 , while fastener  120 A may be positioned further upstream than fastener  122 . 
         [0023]    Fasteners  122  and  120 A may be fabricated from at least one type of plastic and may have at least four adjacent hose holding portions. From top to bottom, hose lines  104   a ,  102 ,  114 , and  116  may be secured into hose holding portions of fasteners  122  and  120 A. Hose holding portions of fastener  122  may have a lidded-top design and fasten lines in an encompassing manner so that hose lines are reversibly affixed (further depicted in  FIG. 5 ). Hose holding portions of fastener  120 A may have an open-side design and may fasten lines in a non-encompassing manner so that hose lines may be reversibly affixed (further depicted in  FIG. 4 ). Fasteners  122  and  120 A may each be secured to vehicle body  160  by the mechanism shown in  FIG. 3  (discussed later). 
         [0024]    Higher pressure-fuel line  104   b  may be excluded from bundle of hose lines  142 , so that bundle of hose lines  142  may include fuel return line  102  and brake oil lines  114  and  116 . Bundle of hose lines  142  may be secured via fastener  120 , which may be secured directly to vehicle body  160 . Fastener  120  may be fabricated from at least one type of plastic and may have four adjacent hose holding portions. From top to bottom, wherein the first hose holding portion is empty, hose lines  102 ,  114 , and  116  may be secured into fastener  120  in a non-encompassing manner. In this embodiment, fastener  120  may have an open-top design so that hose lines may be reversibly affixed. 
         [0025]    Fastener  120  may be secured to vehicle body  160  (mechanism shown in  FIG. 3 ) downstream of fuel pump  110 , on the opposing side from fasteners  122  and  120 A. The distance between fastener  120  and fuel pump  110  may be greater than the distance between fastener  120  and fuel pump  110 , and may be approximately equal to the distance between fastener  120 A and fuel pump 110 . 
         [0026]    Exclusion of higher pressure-fuel line  104   b  from bundle of hose lines  142  may enable attachment of solely lower pressure-hose lines directly to vehicle body  160  via fastener  120 . Therefore, oscillations that occur in higher pressure-fuel line  104   b  may not be transmitted to the vehicle body via fastener  120  and NVH may be reduced. 
         [0027]    However, higher pressure-fuel line  104   b  may still be coupled within pathway  150  in order that it may maintain proper function in transfer of fuel  118  to the engine, and so that it may not disrupt other automotive parts. For this purpose, fuel line bundling system  100  may include one or more fasteners  124  ( 124   a  and  124   b ), which may couple fuel line  104   b  to fuel return line  102 , creating secondary bundle of hose lines  144 , but remain unattached to vehicle body  160 . 
         [0028]    Fasteners  124   a  and  124   b  may be fabricated from materials such as plastic or nylon and may be affixed on the upstream and/or downstream sides of fastener  120 . In the present embodiment, wherein two fasteners  124  are shown,  124   a  is a fastener fabricated from at least one type of plastic and  124   b  is two linked cable ties fabricated from nylon. Fastener  124   a  may have two non-encompassing hose holding portions, wherein fuel line  104   a  may be held in the top hose holding portion and fuel return line  102  may be held in the bottom hose holding portion (shown in  FIG. 6  as  602  and  604 , respectively). In this embodiment, fastener  124   a  may have an open-top design so that hose lines may be reversibly affixed. Fastener  124   b  may be comprised of two permanently linked standard nylon cable ties, one encompassing fuel line  104   b  and one encompassing fuel return line  102 . Fasteners  124   a  and  b  float relative to the vehicle body. 
         [0029]    Fastener  124   a  may be affixed to hose lines  104   b  and  102  at a position in pathway  150  that is downstream and proximate to fastener  120 . Fastener  124   b  may be at a point in pathway  150  that is downstream and proximate to fuel pump  110 . Because higher pressure-hose line  104   b  may be excluded from fastener  120 , it may curve slightly inward toward the center of the vehicle body and away from bundle of hose lines  142  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). As is seen in  FIG. 2  angled-view  200  of fuel line bundling system  100 , curvature  202  may prevent contact of fuel line  104   b  with vehicle body  160  and may aid in diminishment of NVH. 
         [0030]    Brake oil lines  114  and  116  may be further secured to vehicle body  160  via two additional plastic fasteners  126 , which may lie closer-in on the upstream and downstream sides of fuel pump  110  than fasteners  122  and  124   b . Both fasteners  126  may be non-encompassing and may have an open-side design so that brake oil lines  114  and  116  may be reversibly affixed. Each fastener  126  may be directly attached to vehicle body  160  (mechanism shown in  FIG. 3 ) and may be fabricated from at least one type of plastic. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  includes back-view  300  of fuel line bundling system  100 , wherein mounting strategies for each fastener and fuel pump  110  are apparent. Fasteners  120 ,  122 , and  120 A may each be attached to the vehicle body via one unthreaded push-in fastener ( 120   a ,  122   a ,  120 Aa, respectively) and a holding pin ( 120   b ,  122   b , and  120 Ab, respectively). In all cases, the push-in fasteners may be disposed above the holding pins at opposing ends of the rearmost sides of fasteners. Brake oil line fasteners  126  may each be attached to the vehicle body via two threaded bolts  126   a  at opposing ends of the rearmost side of fasteners. In the present embodiment, the rearmost side of fuel pump may be attached to square-shaped bracket  310 , which may be further mounted to the vehicle body via four threaded bolts  310   a  at four corners of the bracket. Fasteners  124   a  and  124   b  may not be mounted to the vehicle body, and therein may lack studs or holding pins. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4-7  show detailed depictions of plastic fasteners that constitute one example embodiment of the fuel line bundling system  100 .  FIG. 4  includes a diagram of fastener  120 , which in this embodiment may have an identical structure as fastener  120 A. Fastener  120  may have four open-top hose holding portions: two larger that may accommodate fuel return line  102  and fuel line  104  ( 402  and  404 , respectively), and two smaller that may accommodate brake oil lines  114  and  116  ( 406  and  408 , respectively). Hose holding portions  402  and  404  may have a width greater than hose holding portions  406  and  408 , which correlates to the diameters of hose lines accommodated therein. Hose holding portions  402  and  404  may each have two overhanging flap portions and two under-hanging flap portions for securing hose lines  102  and  104 . Hose holding portion  406  may have two overhanging flap portions and one flap under-hanging portion for securing brake oil line  114 . Hose holding portion  408  may have two overhanging flap portions and may lack under-hanging flap portions for securing brake oil line  116 . 
         [0033]    Hose holding portions  402 - 408  may be supported by base  414  and a set of internal reinforcement walls  410 . Set of internal reinforcement walls  410  may extend inward from base  414  and may include a network of six vertical walls, seven angled walls, and one horizontal wall. Mounting features, stud  120   a  and holding pin  120   b  may extend from the opposing side of base  414  for mounting of fastener  120 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  includes a diagram of fastener  122 . Fastener  122  may have four open-top hose holding portions: two larger that may accommodate fuel return line  102  and fuel line  104  ( 502  and  504 , respectively), and two smaller that may accommodate brake oil lines  114  and  116  ( 506  and  508 , respectively). Hose holding portions  502  and  504  may have a width greater than hose holding portions  506  and  508 , which correlates to the diameters of hose lines accommodated therein. Hose holding portions  502  and  504  may each have two under-hanging flap portions for securing hose lines  102  and  104 . Hose holding portion  506  may have one under-hanging flap portion for securing brake oil line  114 . Hose holding lacks under-hanging flap portions for securing brake oil line  116 . 
         [0035]    In place of overhanging flap portions, fastener  122  may further include lid  512 . Lid  512  may be disposed over the tops of hose holding portions  502 - 508  for securing of hose lines. Lid  512  may be rotatable around a lower end of fastener  122  and may be latched to fastener  122  by clasp  518  on an opposing end. Lid  512  may have its own set of internal support walls  516 , which includes a base wall and a top wall extending the length of fastener  122 , and four shorter vertical walls. 
         [0036]    Hose holding portions  502 - 508  may be supported by base  514  and set of internal reinforcement walls  510 . Set of internal reinforcement walls  510  may extend inward from base  414  and may include a network of five vertical walls, seven angled walls, and one horizontal wall. Mounting features, stud  122   a  and holding pin  122   b  may extend from the opposing side of base  514  for mounting of fastener  122 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  includes a diagram of spacer clip  124   a . Spacer clip  124   a  may have two hose holding portions: two larger that may accommodate fuel return line  102  and fuel line  104   b  ( 602  and  604 , respectively). Hose holding portions  602  and  604  may have a width greater than hose holding portions  406 ,  408 ,  506 , and  508 , which correlates to the diameter of hose lines accommodated therein. Hose holding portions  602  and  604  may each have two overhanging flap portions and may lack under-hanging flap portions for securing hose lines  102  and  104   b.    
         [0038]    Hose holding portions  602  and  604  may be supported by base  614  and a set of internal reinforcement walls  610 . Set of internal reinforcement walls  610  may extend inward from base  414  and may include a network of four vertical walls and one horizontal wall. The opposing side of base  614  is flat, as it may lack mounting features. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  includes a diagram of one fastener  126 , which in this embodiment may have an identical structure as the other fastener  126 . Fastener  126  may have two open-side hose holding portions: two smaller that may accommodate brake oil lines  114  and  116  ( 406  and  408 , respectively). Hose holding portions  706  and  708  may have a width less than hose holding portions  402 ,  404 ,  502 ,  504 ,  602 , and  604 , which correlates to the diameter of hose lines accommodated therein. Hose holding portion  706  may have two overhanging flap portions and one under-hanging flap portion for securing brake oil line  114 . Hose holding portion  708  may have two overhanging flap portions and may lack under-hanging flap portions for securing brake oil line  116 . 
         [0040]    Hose holding portions  706  and  708  may be supported by base  714  and a set of internal reinforcement walls  710 . Set of internal reinforcement walls  710  may extend inward from base  414  and may include a network of four vertical walls, one angled wall, and one horizontal wall. Mounting features, threaded bolts  126   a , may extend from the opposing side of base  714  for mounting of fastener  126 . Because hose holding portions  706  and  708  may open to the sides, fastener  126  further includes a top wall  712 . 
         [0041]    It may be appreciated that in alternate embodiments, spacing of fasteners relative to each other and the fuel pump  110  may vary. For example, the distance between fastener  120 A and fuel pump  110  may be larger or smaller than distance between fastener  120  and fuel pump  110 . Also, the open-top, open-side, or lidded-top design of fasteners may be substitutable. 
         [0042]    Additionally, alternative bundling may be used, wherein lower pressure-fuel return line  102  may also be excluded from bundle of hose lines  142  and fastener  120  if a second set of fasteners, substantially similar to fasteners  124   a  and  b , are used to couple fuel return line  102  to brake oil lines  114  and  116 . This may be particularly true if other lower pressure or higher pressure-hose lines share pathway  150  and are incorporated into the fuel line bundling system. Accordingly, the number of fasteners and hose holding portions per fastener may vary to accommodate other hose lines that may traverse pathway  150 . 
         [0043]    Also, a gasoline direct injection (GDI) fuel system may have generally the same schematic as is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; however, the higher pressure pulsation area may be located at the fuel pump inlet valve  130 , and therefore fuel line dampener  112  (shown in  FIG. 1  only) may be incorporated therein, rather than at outlet valve  132 . In addition, fuel return line  102  may instead be a vapor line in a GDI fuel system, which, like fuel return line  102 , is a lower pressure-hose line. 
         [0044]    It will further be appreciated that the configurations and routines disclosed herein are exemplary in nature, and that these specific embodiments are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. For example, the above technology can be applied to V-6, I-4, I-6, V-12, opposed 4, and other engine types. The subject matter of the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various systems and configurations, and other features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. 
         [0045]    The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combinations regarded as novel and non-obvious. These claims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.