Portable Heating Jacket for Frozen Air Brake Couplers
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cold weather, the aluminum glad hands used in air brake systems of large transport vehicles tend to freeze, restricting air flow due to moisture accumulation, leading to reduced braking capacity and difficulty in connecting/disconnecting couplers, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A portable heating device with a jacket and heating assembly is used to warm and insulate the fluid coupling, preventing moisture from freezing and maintaining air flow through the passageways, making it easier to connect and disconnect the couplers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glad hands couplers are used in cold climates, then the air brake system can be connected between vehicles, but the aluminum glad hands get much colder than the air hoses, causing moisture to freeze in the narrow passageways and restrict air flow
Solution Approach 1:
A portable heating device is introduced as an intermediary between the cold environment and the glad hands coupler. The heating device includes a heating element that generates thermal energy and transfers it to the coupler, preventing moisture freezing in the passageways and maintaining reliable air flow for braking operations
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter of the glad hands coupler is actively changed from cold to warm by applying external heating. This parameter change prevents the phase transition of moisture from liquid to solid, thereby maintaining the internal passageway diameter and ensuring sufficient air flow for proper brake function
2Reliability
If glad hands couplers are used in cold weather, then the air brake system remains connected, but the frozen components make it difficult for operators to connect or disconnect the couplers
Solution Approach 1:
The portable heating device serves as a mediator that applies thermal energy to the glad hands coupler, preventing frozen components from bonding together. This thermal intervention maintains the mechanical freedom of the coupler parts, allowing operators to easily connect and disconnect them even in cold weather conditions
3Productivity
If the passageways in glad hands narrow due to frozen moisture, then air flow is restricted, but this leads to insufficient pressure buildup and brakes that do not release properly
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the temperature parameter of the glad hands coupler from cold to warm, the heating device prevents moisture freezing and maintains the internal passageway diameter. This ensures sufficient air flow quantity reaches the brake system, enabling proper pressure buildup and reliable brake release function
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 heating device ensures consistent air flow through the fluid coupling, maintaining normal braking function in cold weather and simplifying the connection/disconnection process, thereby enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heating assembly provided to heat the interior cavity
Implementation Method 2
The heating assembly includes a convective heater that is secured to an interior surface of the jacket and is provided to heat air in the interior cavity
Implementation Method 3
The jacket may include insulation
Data Source
AI summary
A portable heating device for a fluid coupling in large transport vehicles and a method of using the same. The coupling includes a first coupling member and a second coupling member which are selectively engageable with each other. The heating device includes a jacket having a bore within which at least a portion of the fluid coupling is selectively received. The ends of the jacket define openings to the bore and these openings are selectively closed by fasteners which are engaged with a locking member. A heating assembly is provided to heat the coupled first and second coupling members. When the openings to the bore are closed, the jacket retains heat therein. The jacket may include insulation and a door that is selectively openable to gain access to a shut-off valve on the coupling.