Modular Vehicle Cooling Control for Compact Drive Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous driving vehicles with separable and connectable vehicle cabin and traveling units face challenges in providing effective heat dissipation for the drive device due to dimensional limitations, making it difficult to incorporate sufficient heat dissipation mechanisms without increasing the size of the traveling unit.
Innovation Solution
A control device that determines the connection between the vehicle cabin unit and the traveling unit and supplies a fluid, such as clean water, through a designated path to absorb heat generated by the drive device, utilizing a jacket in the traveling unit to cool the drive motor and a circulation system to reuse the heated water for energy savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a traditional heat dissipation mechanism is incorporated in the traveling unit, then heat dissipation effectiveness is improved, but the size of the traveling unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat dissipation function with the vehicle cabin unit by routing coolant from the cabin's cooling system through the traveling unit's drive device. This combines two separate systems (cabin cooling and drive device cooling) into a unified thermal management system, eliminating the need for dedicated cooling equipment in the traveling unit while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle cabin unit's cooling system is designed to serve multiple functions: it cools both the vehicle cabin environment and the drive device in the traveling unit. The coolant circulation system is configured to route fluid through both the cabin heat exchanger and the drive device heat exchanger, making the single cooling system universally applicable to multiple thermal management needs.
2Temperature
If cooling equipment is added to the traveling unit, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat dissipation function with the vehicle cabin unit by routing coolant from the cabin's cooling system through the traveling unit's drive device. This combines two separate systems (cabin cooling and drive device cooling) into a unified thermal management system, eliminating the need for dedicated cooling equipment in the traveling unit while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle cabin unit's cooling system is designed to serve multiple functions: it cools both the vehicle cabin environment and the drive device in the traveling unit. The coolant circulation system is configured to route fluid through both the cabin heat exchanger and the drive device heat exchanger, making the single cooling system universally applicable to multiple thermal management needs.
3Temperature
If the traveling unit is designed with sufficient space for heat dissipation mechanisms, then heat dissipation effectiveness is improved, but adaptability of the separable vehicle system is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic thermal management system where the coolant flow path can be flexibly configured based on the connection state. When the traveling unit is connected to the vehicle cabin unit, the cooling system automatically routes coolant through the drive device. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain effective heat dissipation regardless of the traveling unit's size or configuration, preserving system adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle cabin unit's cooling system is designed to serve multiple functions: it cools both the vehicle cabin environment and the drive device in the traveling unit. The coolant circulation system is configured to route fluid through both the cabin heat exchanger and the drive device heat exchanger, making the single cooling system universally applicable to multiple thermal management needs.
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
This solution accelerates heat dissipation of the drive device while maintaining a compact design for the traveling unit, utilizing the vehicle cabin unit's resources to manage heat dissipation and energy usage, thereby enhancing the vehicle's efficiency and reducing the need for additional cooling devices.
Implementation Method 1
supplying the fluid in the first path to a second unit side to absorb heat generated from the drive device
Implementation Method 2
a circulation system to reuse the heated water for energy savings
Data Source
AI summary
A control device includes a controller that executes determining a connection between a first unit that has a boarding space which allows a user to board and is provided with a predetermined facility and that is provided with a first path through which a fluid used in the predetermined facility passes and a second unit that is configured to be separated from and connected to the first unit and that has a drive device of a vehicle that is formed by being connected to the first unit, and supplying the fluid in the first path to a second unit side to absorb heat generated from the drive device.