Assembled heatable media line comprising a media line having at least two heating elements arranged on the exterior thereof, and method for the production thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heatable media lines often experience excessive heating output at line connectors, particularly for short lines, due to the uniform distribution of heating elements, which can lead to inefficient power coupling and impaired vehicle operability at low temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A method for producing heatable media lines where only one heating element is used on the line connector, allowing for variable heating power distribution by adjusting the resistance and length of heating elements, and potentially using multiple heating elements along the media line, with the option to connect them in series or parallel for optimized heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If multiple heating elements are uniformly distributed along the media line including line connectors, then the media line is adequately heated along its entire length, but excessive heating output is generated at the line connectors particularly for short lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating outputVSAvoidexcessive power coupling
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the heating element configuration at line connectors versus along the media line. Specifically, fewer heating elements (one or two) are placed at line connectors compared to the media line section, creating non-uniform local heating characteristics that match the different thermal requirements of these components and prevent excessive heating at connectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system is segmented into distinct zones: heating elements along the media line and separate heating elements at line connectors. This segmentation allows independent control and optimization of heating output in each zone, enabling the media line to receive adequate heating while line connectors receive reduced heating output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If heating elements are uniformly distributed along the media line, then heating coverage is maximized, but power coupling efficiency decreases for short lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating coverageVSAvoidpower coupling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by creating different heating element densities in different locations. The media line receives heating elements along its length for adequate thermal coverage, while line connectors receive fewer or no heating elements, optimizing power coupling efficiency particularly for short lines where uniform distribution would cause excessive power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the same heating conductor configuration is used for both media line and line connector, then manufacturing is simplified, but heating output cannot be optimized for different locations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating conductor configurationVSAvoidheating power distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by specifying different heating conductor configurations for different locations. The media line section uses one heating conductor arrangement while line connectors use different heating conductor arrangements (fewer elements, different spacing), enabling optimized heating output for each location while maintaining a relatively simple overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables precise control of heating output at line connectors, reducing excessive heat introduction and allowing for application-specific configurations, thereby improving the operability of vehicles by maintaining media line functionality at low temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

The heating wire surrounds the connector piece on the outside, wound like a coil, with at least one further coil winding being arranged in the area of the flow channel in the inner area, so that the flow of current through the outer heating wire induces an induction in the inner coil winding to generate heat.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the flow of current through the outer heating wire induces an induction in the inner coil winding to generate heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2788692B1Assembled heatable media line comprising a media line having at least two heating elements arranged on the exterior thereof, and method for the production thereof
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 VOSS AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP2788692B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP2788692B1 patent drawingFigure 1d~2b
  • EP2788692B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembled heatable media line comprising a media line having at least two heating elements (2, 3) arranged on the exterior of the media line and at least one line connector. In order to heat the at least one line connector, only one of the heating elements (2, 3) is arranged at or on said line connector and at least partially surrounds the same. The invention also relates to a method for producing a heatable media line comprising the media line, at least one line connector and at least two heating elements (2, 3). The media line is pre-assembled, the heating elements (2, 3) being continuously wound around the media line. The heating elements (2, 3) are fastened or fixed on the media line by at least one fastener (16). According to the invention, the media line is cut to a first length depending on the desired used, said length corresponding to the desired media line length (IR) plus an allowance length (lz) which carries the heating element length (IM) required for winding the heating element around the at least one line connector and a transition region between the media line and the line connector, the fastener (16) is removed in the media line section (12, 13) corresponding to the allowance length (lz), the heating element (2, 3) is wound off from the media line section (12, 13) corresponding to the allowance length (lz), the media line is cut to the desired media line length (IR) to give a second media line section (14), one of the heating elements (2, 3) is shortened prior to or after the second cutting step performed on the media line, the second media line section (14) is connected to the at least one line connector, and the heating element (2, 3) that has not been shortened is wound around the at least one line connector.