Vehicle Component Temperature Modeling for Reliability Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining the operational safety and longevity of motor vehicle components, particularly those affected by temperature variations, is challenging due to the need for comprehensive temperature profiling across varying usage conditions, which is costly and impractical with existing methods.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based system that acquires and processes data on vehicle usage patterns, thermal inertia, and temperature profiles to estimate the evolution of component temperatures over time, allowing for precise determination of component reliability and longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are installed in each component to measure temperature during vehicle use, then measurement precision of component temperature is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the temperature measurement system through software simulation. Instead of installing physical sensors in each component, the system uses a computer model that replicates temperature behavior based on usage profiles, thermal characteristics, and environmental conditions. This virtual copying approach achieves the measurement objective without the hardware complexity and cost of deploying actual sensors throughout the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical temperature sensing system with a computational/software-based system. The physical sensors, wiring, and data acquisition hardware are substituted by algorithms that calculate temperature based on usage data, thermal models, and environmental parameters. This substitution eliminates the need for complex physical measurement infrastructure while maintaining the ability to obtain temperature information.
2Reliability
If comprehensive temperature profiling is conducted for all components across all usage scenarios, then reliability determination accuracy is improved, but loss of time and resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining usage profiles and thermal characteristics for components before actual reliability assessment is needed. The system stores standardized usage scenarios, thermal models, and environmental conditions in advance, allowing rapid generation of temperature profiles when reliability assessment is required. This pre-preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming real-world testing of every possible usage scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by focusing computational resources on the most critical usage scenarios and components rather than exhaustively testing every component in every possible condition. The system identifies and prioritizes significant usage profiles and environmental conditions that have the greatest impact on reliability, performing detailed analysis only where necessary while using simplified models for less critical cases.
3Measurement precision
If real-world usage data is collected from all vehicles to determine temperature profiles, then reliability assessment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and data management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual representations of usage data through synthesized usage profiles that replicate real-world driving conditions without requiring actual data collection from every vehicle. These virtual usage profiles capture the essential characteristics of real usage patterns while avoiding the complexity of deploying and managing physical data collection infrastructure across the entire vehicle fleet.
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
The system provides a cost-effective means to accurately assess the reliability and longevity of motor vehicle components by simulating real-world usage scenarios, facilitating safer design and development phases.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring data characterizing at least one thermal inertia value with respect to at least one segment; determining data characterizing a point value of the temperature of the component during a current segment as a function of the stabilized temperature during the preceding segment, the temperature difference, and the ratio of elapsed time to thermal inertia value
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining data characterizing at least one change in the temperature of a motor vehicle component during a time interval, using a computer system, and to a system (100) using such a method.