Heated Wheel Well Liner for Snow Ice Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snow and ice buildup in vehicle wheel wells is a persistent issue in certain climates, leading to potential damage and operational problems.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wheel housing system with a heated wheel well liner, equipped with a heating element, weight sensors, and a controller that activates the heating element based on ambient temperature and load weight, ensuring efficient melting of snow and ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heating element is added to eliminate snow and ice buildup, then the wheel well remains clear and functional, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the heating element is embedded within the wheel well liner itself, and the controller integrates sensor data from both weight sensors and temperature sensors to make a unified decision about when to activate heating. This merging reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses weight sensors to detect when snow or ice is present on the wheel well liner, and automatically activates the heating element in response. This self-monitoring and self-actuating capability eliminates the need for manual intervention or complex external control systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Loss of energy
If heating is activated based on multiple sensor inputs, then energy is used efficiently, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates both weight sensors to detect the presence of snow/ice and temperature sensors to monitor ambient conditions, creating a feedback loop that informs the controller when heating should be activated. This multi-sensor feedback approach optimizes energy usage by heating only when necessary, while the controller integrates these inputs using predetermined thresholds to manage complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses predetermined temperature thresholds and weight thresholds to determine when to activate heating, converting continuous sensor inputs into discrete on/off decisions. This parameter-based control strategy simplifies the control logic compared to more complex algorithms, achieving energy efficiency without excessive system complexity.
3Productivity
If the heating element is embedded in the wheel well liner, then heating is targeted and effective, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into modular components: the heating element, the wheel well liner, and the control system. The heating element can be embedded in the liner as an integrated component or as a separate removable module, allowing manufacturing flexibility. This segmentation reduces the precision requirements compared to requiring perfect integration of all components in a single manufacturing process.
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 effectively eliminates snow and ice buildup by providing targeted heating, ensuring the wheel well remains clear and functional, even in harsh weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element in contact with the wheel well liner and operable to heat the wheel well liner
Implementation Method 2
The heated wheel well liner may be activated to melt the load
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a vehicle with a wheel housing includes a wheel well liner secured to the wheel housing and disposed in a wheel well defined by the wheel housing. The system further includes a heating element in contact with the wheel well liner and operable to heat the wheel well liner. A method of heating a wheel well liner includes determining whether an ambient temperature around the wheel well liner is less than a predetermined temperature, determining whether a weight of a load on the wheel well liner is greater than a predetermined weight, and activating a heating element in contact with the wheel well liner if the ambient temperature is less than the predetermined temperature and the weight on the wheel well liner is greater than the predetermined weight.