Vehicle Brake Protective Cover with Dynamic Airflow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing braking apparatuses with protective covers for air-cooled brake disks face challenges in balancing ventilation and protection, as the protective covers can impede airflow to the brake disks even when cooling is not necessary, potentially leading to reduced braking performance due to contamination and spray water exposure.
Innovation Solution
A braking apparatus featuring a protective cover with airflow control mechanisms that open and close air flow openings and adjust the gap between the brake disk and wheel rim, utilizing temperature-sensitive actuators to automatically regulate airflow based on brake disk temperature, ensuring efficient cooling and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the protective cover includes a continuous air flow opening to cool the brake disk, then the brake disk cooling efficiency is improved, but the protective cover's ability to protect against spray water and contamination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow opening in the protective cover is made dynamically controllable through an airflow control mechanism that can open, close, or restrict the opening based on braking conditions. This allows the system to adapt between cooling mode (opening open) and protection mode (opening closed or restricted), resolving the contradiction between continuous cooling efficiency and contamination protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow state parameter of the air opening from static to dynamic by introducing an airflow control mechanism. This parameter change enables the opening to transition between fully open (for cooling), fully closed (for protection), and partially restricted (for controlled cooling) states, allowing optimization of both cooling and protection functions under different operating conditions.
2Temperature
If cooling air is continually fed into the brake disk, then the brake disk remains cool under low loading conditions, but energy is wasted through unnecessary cooling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous cooling, the airflow control mechanism implements periodic or conditional cooling by opening the air flow opening only when braking generates excessive heat. Under normal low-loading conditions, the opening remains closed, eliminating energy waste from unnecessary cooling while maintaining the capability for rapid cooling when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature-sensitive actuators that detect brake disk temperature and provide feedback to the airflow control mechanism. When the temperature exceeds a threshold, the actuator triggers the opening to allow cooling air flow; when temperature is acceptable, the opening closes. This feedback-based control prevents energy waste from continuous cooling while ensuring adequate temperature management.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the protective cover fully covers the brake disk surface, then protection against contamination is maximized, but ventilation and cooling airflow to the brake disk is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover transitions from a static fully-covered design to a dynamic design with a controllable air flow opening. The airflow control mechanism can open the covering to allow ventilation and cooling airflow to reach the brake disk when thermal management is needed, while maintaining full coverage for contamination protection when cooling is not required.
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 solution allows for optimal ventilation and cooling of the brake disk when needed while maintaining protection against contamination and spray water, enhancing braking performance and maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
an air flow opening feeding cooling air to the brake disk
Implementation Method 2
utilizing temperature-sensitive actuators to automatically control airflow based on the brake disk's temperature
Implementation Method 3
Brake disks generate thermal energy during braking dissipated by ventilating the brake disks
Implementation Method 4
Centrifugal force occurring because of rotational movement of the brake disk initiates air flow through the radial flow ducts
Data Source
AI summary
A braking apparatus for a vehicle including a wheel suspension part attached to a body of the vehicle and a wheel hub attached to the wheel suspension part. An attached air-cooled brake disk rotates relative to the wheel suspension part. A protective cover arranged on a side of the brake disk that at least partially covers the brake disk. The protective cover fastened in a stationary manner to the wheel suspension part. The protective cover including an air flow opening feeding cooling air to the brake disk. An airflow control mechanism opens and closes the air flow opening along with reducing and increasing a gap between a radial end side of the brake disk and an inner side of a wheel rim of a vehicle wheel.