Golf Cart Cooling Assembly With Nested Accessory Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf vehicles do not adequately address the comfort of operators and passengers while maintaining the ability to store equipment, particularly in terms of temperature regulation and accessory storage.
Innovation Solution
A golf vehicle equipped with a cooling assembly that includes a housing, heat exchangers, fans, pumps, and sensors to provide cooled airflow and coolant based on the presence of an operator, along with accessory storage areas for equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling assembly is added to the golf vehicle, then operator comfort through temperature regulation is improved, but device complexity and storage capacity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling assembly is positioned within the accessory storage area, nesting the cooling system components (housing, heat exchanger, fan, pump) inside the existing storage structure. This allows the cooling function to be integrated without adding external complexity or reducing storage capacity, as the cooling components occupy space that would otherwise be used for storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory storage area serves dual purposes: it functions as storage for golf equipment while simultaneously housing the cooling assembly. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the same space serve both storage and temperature regulation functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cooling space.
2Temperature
If a cooling assembly is added to the golf vehicle, then operator comfort through temperature regulation is improved, but storage capacity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling assembly is positioned within the accessory storage area, nesting the cooling system components (housing, heat exchanger, fan, pump) inside the existing storage structure. This allows the cooling function to be integrated without adding external complexity or reducing storage capacity, as the cooling components occupy space that would otherwise be used for storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory storage area serves dual purposes: it functions as storage for golf equipment while simultaneously housing the cooling assembly. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the same space serve both storage and temperature regulation functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cooling space.
3Temperature
If the fan and pump operate continuously to provide cooled airflow, then operator comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor detects the presence of the operator and provides feedback signals to control the operation of the fan and pump. When the operator is present, the sensor activates the cooling assembly; when absent, it deactivates the system. This feedback-based control ensures the cooling function operates only when needed, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining operator comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling assembly transitions between different operational states (on/off) based on real-time conditions detected by the sensor. This dynamic operation allows the system to adapt its energy consumption to actual needs, providing cooled airflow only when an operator is present rather than operating continuously.
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
Enhances operator comfort through temperature regulation and provides efficient storage solutions for golf equipment, improving overall user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger, a fan proximate the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
The fan is configured to selectively provide air through the heat exchanger to facilitate providing a cooled airflow to the operator
Implementation Method 3
The pump is fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger. The pump is configured to selectively provide the coolant to the first heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a first opening and a housing volume configured to receive a coolant, a heat exchanger, a fan proximate the heat exchanger, a pump positioned within the housing volume, and a sensor configured to detect a presence of an operator. The fan is configured to selectively provide air through the heat exchanger and out the opening to facilitate providing a cooled airflow to the operator of the vehicle. The pump is fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger. The pump is configured to selectively provide the coolant to the heat exchanger. The sensor provides a signal when the presence of the operator is detected that causes the fan and the pump to operate.