# US 11,079,042 B2 · Motor vehicle component displacement limiting system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,042 B2 - Document ID: US11079042B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/546,779 - Filed: 2019-08-21 - Published: 2020-03-05 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-21 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Matthew David George Shynn; Joel Lopez Berthier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079042B2 ## CPC - F16L 3/00: Supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets (anchors for holding pipes on or under the ground F16L1/06; noise absorbers in the form of specially adapted hangers or supports F16L55/035; arrangements specially adapted for supporting insulated bodies F16L59/12) - B60H 1/00521: {Mounting or fastening of components in housings, e.g. heat exchangers, fans, electronic regulators} - B60H 1/00571: {of liquid ducts, e.g. for coolant liquids or refrigerants} - B60K 11/00: Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units - F04B 39/121: {Casings} - F16L 57/00: Protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear ({protection under water F16L1/123;} supporting of pipes inside other pipes or sleeves F16L7/00; used in connection with end fittings of hoses F16L35/00; protection of pipes or pipe fittings against corrosion or incrustation F16L58/00; protection thereof during transport B65D59/00) - F16L 57/005: {specially adapted for the ends of pipes} - F16L 57/02: against cracking or buckling - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) ## Abstract An ancillary system for a motor vehicle is provided. The system comprises 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. A motor vehicle assembly comprising the air ancillary system is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 an abutment face arranged to abut the other of the duct and the housing when the duct is displaced in the first direction, wherein the abutment face is 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein the spacer is integrally formed with the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises a rib integrally formed on the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein the spacer protrudes from a surface of the housing towards the duct in a direction with a component towards a front of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein the spacer is coupled to the connector portion of the duct. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ancillary system of claim 6, wherein the body portion extends between the first and second flanges in a direction with a component in the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein the connector portion of the duct is connected to a front face of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein the duct extends across the spacer in a direction with a component in the lateral direction of the motor vehicle, wherein the duct is a refrigerant duct. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the spacer is aligned with the duct portion of the duct in the lateral direction of the motor vehicle, wherein the duct is a refrigerant duct. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein the system is an air conditioning system and wherein the duct is a refrigerant duct. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A motor vehicle assembly comprising the ancillary system of claim 1 and further comprising: a displaceable component, the displaceable component being spaced apart from the duct in the first direction, wherein the displaceable component is displaceable in the first direction during the collision of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle assembly of claim 12, wherein the spacer is aligned with a pinch point between the displaceable component and the housing in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle assembly of claim 12, wherein the displaceable component is a radiator. ### Claim 15 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising reducing displacement of the duct during a collision by contacting the duct against the spacer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising moving a radiator to cause the displacement of the duct in the first direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The ancillary system of claim 1, wherein the abutment face is spaced a distance from the other of the duct and the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the abutting includes directly contacting the abutment face of the spacer against the other of the duct and the housing, the abutment face spaced from the other of the duct and the housing prior to the abutting.