Vehicle Brake Cooling System with Active Coolant Spray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle brakes are prone to overheating during prolonged or vigorous braking, leading to diminished braking capability or complete failure, due to ineffective cooling methods such as simple airflow, which can result in material melting, warping, boiling of brake fluid, and potential ignition.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle brake cooling system that delivers a stream of coolant fluid onto brake elements, activated either manually or automatically by a temperature sensor, to cool the elements during active braking, comprising a reservoir, pump, nozzle, and temperature sensor to manage the coolant delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If simple airflow cooling is used during non-braking periods, then brake elements are cooled effectively during idle time, but braking capability is markedly diminished during prolonged or vigorous braking due to insufficient active cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system transitions from a static airflow cooling approach to a dynamic liquid coolant spray system that can be activated on-demand during braking events, allowing the system to adapt its cooling intensity and mode based on real-time braking requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a hydraulic/liquid-based cooling system using pressurized coolant delivery through nozzles, replacing the insufficient pneumatic (airflow) cooling method to achieve effective heat removal during high-friction braking operations
2Temperature
If no active cooling system is used, then device complexity remains low, but brake elements overheat leading to material melting, warping, boiling of brake fluid, and potential ignition
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively applies liquid coolant spray to brake elements during braking events before critical overheating occurs, preventing material damage and fluid ignition rather than reacting after failure modes begin
Solution Approach 2:
A liquid coolant serves as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the hot brake elements and the environment, efficiently absorbing and removing heat that cannot be dissipated by airflow alone
3Reliability
If liquid coolant spray is applied during vigorous braking, then braking capability is maintained through effective cooling, but system complexity and cost increase due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic activation capability where the cooling system monitors brake conditions and activates the coolant spray automatically during braking events, reducing reliance on manual operator intervention and enabling self-regulated thermal management
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the cooling system based on braking conditions, activating liquid coolant spray only during high-friction braking events rather than continuously, optimizing the balance between cooling effectiveness and system complexity
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
Effectively prevents overheating of brake elements, mitigating risks of brake failure, material damage, and fires by actively cooling brake components during high-friction braking periods, ensuring safer and more reliable vehicle operation.
Implementation Method 1
delivers a stream of coolant fluid onto a brake element... to cool the brake element
Implementation Method 2
stream of coolant fluid... sprayed through the nozzle... onto the brake element
Implementation Method 3
a pump coupled to the reservoir... moving coolant fluid from the reservoir through the nozzle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle brake cooling system is provided. The vehicle brake cooling system is configured to actively cool brake elements affecting one or more wheels of the vehicle during the periods of vigorous or prolonged application of a vehicle's brakes to prevent overheating. The system is filled with a suitable coolant fluid which is pressurized to flow through a nozzle or a system of nozzles onto a brake element during active braking, cooling the brake element. Manual or automatic operation is disclosed, including use of temperature or pressure sensors. A method of use of a vehicle brake cooling system is also disclosed.