Conductive Lubricant for Vehicle Charge Neutralization Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for improving control stability in vehicles often conflict with ride comfort, with measures to enhance stability potentially compromising drainage performance on wet roads or leading to weight increases and design issues with aerodynamic components.

Innovation Solution

A lubricant comprising a base oil and a conductive additive, such as carbon black, applied to sliding portions like axle shaft rolling bearings, which includes polytetrafluoroethylene and a discharging member for self-ionizing air discharge, to neutralize positive electric charges and enhance control stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional lubricants without conductive additives are used, then the lubricant maintains good lubrication properties, but the vehicle body accumulates positive electric charges during driving, deteriorating control stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol stabilityVSAvoidpositive electric charge accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces conductive additives (carbon black, metal powder, or conductive polymer) as intermediaries in the lubricant composition. These additives act as charge carriers that neutralize the positive electric charges accumulated on the vehicle body during driving, thereby improving control stability without affecting the lubrication function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the electrical conductivity parameter of the lubricant by incorporating conductive additives. This parameter change enables the lubricant to perform an additional function of charge neutralization while maintaining its lubrication properties, resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful charge accumulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If damper is set hard to improve control stability, then control stability is improved, but ride comfort is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol stabilityVSAvoidride comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of adjusting damper hardness with an electrical approach using conductive lubricants. By neutralizing electric charges that affect vehicle aerodynamics and control, the system achieves improved control stability without mechanical adjustments that would compromise ride comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If block area on tire tread surface is enlarged to improve control stability, then control stability is improved, but drainage performance on wet road surface is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol stabilityVSAvoiddrainage performance deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses conductive additives in the lubricant as intermediaries to address control stability issues, eliminating the need to modify tire tread geometry. This approach improves control stability through electrical charge neutralization without affecting the mechanical drainage function of the tire tread

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 lubricant significantly improves control stability by reducing positive electric charges on vehicle surfaces and tires, as demonstrated by increased responsiveness and reduced electric potential variations during driving, thereby enhancing steering performance and aerodynamic efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a lubricant comprising a base oil and an additive containing a carbon black

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a discharging member including a protrusion that performs a self-discharging by air-ionizing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir ionization: Ionisation

Data Source

PatentEP3916075B1Use of lubricant for a vehicle having the vehicle body charged by driving
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3916075B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3916075B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3916075B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3(b)

AI summary

The present invention provides a lubricant that enables to improve control stability of an automobile or the like having a vehicle body charged by driving. One aspect of the present invention relates to a lubricant for improving control stability of an automobile, comprising a base oil and an additive containing a carbon black. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a kit for improving control stability of an automobile, comprising a discharging member including a protrusion that performs a self-discharging by air-ionizing and the lubricant of the one aspect of the present invention. Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for improving control stability of an automobile.