Electromagnetic Relay Cooling to Prevent Contact Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromagnetic relays experience conduction failures due to freezing of water vapor condensation on contacts, and existing solutions like vibration generation are costly and may not immediately prevent freezing-related failures.
Innovation Solution
A protection system comprising a temperature detector, a cooler, and a control unit that measures ambient temperature and activates the cooler to cool electric power lines when freezing is predicted, using a Peltier device to create a sharper temperature gradient and prevent condensation on the base end of the fixing terminal, thereby avoiding ice formation at contacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vibration generation means is used to remove frozen portions, then freezing-related conduction failures can be addressed, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical vibration generation means with a thermal field approach using a cooler that generates cold air flow. This substitutes mechanical action with thermal convection to achieve the same freezing prevention effect, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cold air flow as an intermediary medium between the cooler and the electric power line. The cold air flow serves as the mediator that transfers thermal energy to prevent freezing, eliminating the need for direct mechanical contact or vibration generation means
2Reliability
If cooler is activated to cool electric power line, then condensation is concentrated on base end preventing ice formation at contacts, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the cooling effect specifically at the base end of the fixing terminal where the electric power line connects. This localized cooling creates a sharp temperature gradient that directs condensation to the base end, preventing ice formation at the contacts while minimizing overall energy consumption compared to cooling the entire relay
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 prevents conduction failures by concentrating condensation and freezing on the base end of the fixing terminal, ensuring the electromagnetic relay can be turned on immediately without ice particles forming between contacts, thus enhancing reliability and performance.
Implementation Method 1
using a Peltier device to create a sharper temperature gradient and prevent condensation on the base end of the fixing terminal
Implementation Method 2
the water vapor is condensed on the entire faces of the contacts 40a. If the ambient temperature further drops below freezing, the condensations of the water vapor are frozen into ice particles
Implementation Method 3
the condensations of the water vapor are frozen into ice particles 42, which causes a conduction failure
Implementation Method 4
using a Peltier device to create a sharper temperature gradient
Data Source
AI summary
A protection system for an electromagnetic relay mounted on a vehicle is configured to protect the electromagnetic relay from causing a coupling failure due to freezing of the electromagnetic relay. The system includes a temperature detector, a cooler, and a control unit. The temperature detector sequentially measures an ambient temperature of a location in which the electromagnetic relay is disposed and outputs information on a change in the ambient temperature. The cooler cools an electric power line coupled to a fixing terminal of the electromagnetic relay. The control unit activates the cooler to cool the electric power line in a case where the control unit determines that the electromagnetic relay has a possibility of freezing on the basis of the information on the change in the ambient temperature from the temperature detector.