Motor vehicle component displacement limiting system and method

An ancillary system for a motor vehicle, the ancillary system comprising:

• a housing;
• a duct for carrying a fluid to or from the housing, wherein the duct comprises a duct portion and a connector portion connecting the duct to the housing, wherein the duct portion is spaced apart from the housing in a first direction;
• and
• a spacer, the spacer being coupled to one of the duct and the housing and arranged between the duct and the housing to reduce a dimension of a gap between the duct and the housing in the first direction, and thereby reduce a displacement of the duct in the first direction during a collision,
• wherein the spacer comprises a body portion and a first flange coupled to the body portion, wherein the first flange is arranged between the duct and the housing to reduce the dimension of the gap between the duct and the housing in the first direction,
• wherein the spacer comprises a second flange coupled to the body portion, wherein the second flange extends from the body portion in a direction with a component parallel to the first flange, such that the duct portion is arranged between the first and second flanges.

A method of reducing displacement of a duct in an ancillary system of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a duct for carrying a fluid to a housing, the duct including a duct portion and a connector portion connecting the duct to the housing, the duct portion is spaced apart from the housing in a first direction;
• and
• providing a spacer coupled to one of the duct and the housing and arranged between the duct and the housing, the spacer reduce a dimension of a gap between the duct and the housing in the first direction, the spacer configured to reduce a displacement of the duct in the first direction during a collision;
• and
• abutting an abutment face of the spacer against the other of the duct and the housing when the duct is displaced in the first direction during the collision, the abutment face angled relative to the first direction so as to encourage the duct to be displaced in a direction with a component perpendicular to the first direction during the collision.