Radar Antenna Anti-freezing Apparatus Vertical Heating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radar antenna heating systems are inefficient in concentrating heat at the junction of the rotating and support parts, leading to potential freezing issues that can hinder antenna rotation in extreme cold environments.

Innovation Solution

A radar antenna anti-freezing apparatus with sheathed heating wires arranged in a vertically stacked double-wire configuration around the cylindrical holder, providing intensive heating and high heat utilization efficiency by directing heat flow vertically to the junction of the rotating and support parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a conventional heater device with horizontal plane arrangement is used, then heat spreads in lateral direction effectively heating the top surface of the support, but heat is not concentrated on the neck portion or junction where freezing generally occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat concentration at junctionVSAvoidheat utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heater arrangement transitions from a horizontal plane configuration to a vertical plane configuration. The heating wires are arranged in a vertically stacked double-wire configuration around the cylindrical holder, with wires positioned at different vertical levels. This dimensional change directs heat flow vertically to concentrate thermal energy at the neck portion and junction areas where freezing occurs, rather than spreading heat laterally across the top surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating system employs localized heating zones by positioning heating wires at specific vertical locations around the cylindrical holder. The double-wire configuration with wires at different heights creates concentrated heat sources at the critical junction and neck portion areas. This localized approach ensures that thermal energy is delivered precisely where freezing occurs, improving both heat concentration and energy utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If sheathed heaters are arranged around rotating parts to prevent freezing, then antenna performance is maintained in cold environments, but the heating system becomes complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-freezing performanceVSAvoidheating system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is divided into discrete, modular heating wire elements arranged in a vertical configuration. Each heating wire is independently positioned at specific vertical levels around the cylindrical holder, creating segmented heating zones. This segmentation allows for simplified installation and maintenance while maintaining effective anti-freezing performance at critical locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heating wires are arranged to utilize the natural vertical orientation of the cylindrical holder and gravity-assisted heat conduction along the holder surface. The vertical arrangement allows heat to naturally conduct downward along the holder, reducing the need for additional insulation or complex heat distribution mechanisms. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system design while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 apparatus effectively prevents freezing at the junction, ensuring efficient antenna operation in freezing temperatures and reducing manufacturing costs while facilitating easy attachment and detachment.

Implementation Method 1

a radar antenna anti-freezing apparatus with sheathed heating wires arranged in a vertically stacked double-wire configuration around the cylindrical holder, providing intensive heating and high heat utilization efficiency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4224626A1Radar antenna Anti-freezing apparatus and Anti-freezing radar antenna apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 FURUNO ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4224626A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4224626A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4224626A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The disclosure provides an anti-freezing radar antenna (140), which includes a rotatable antenna with a rotating shaft (105), a cylindrical holder (120) rotatably supporting the rotating shaft (105), an electrical motor (160) that rotates the rotating shaft (105) and an anti-freezing apparatus. The anti-freezing apparatus is a heating device attached to the radar antenna housing by a detachable mechanism (185), and includes a plurality of sheathed heating wires (110) configured to be disposed in a plurality of stages around the cylindrical holder (120) in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, and a current supply cable that supplies current to the heating wires (110) as shown in the reference Fig. 7.