Steering Wheel Heat-Conducting Device for Control Unit Cooling
Solution Overview
Problem
Steering wheels with heating functions face issues as the electronic control unit overheats due to supplied current, potentially causing damage.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel design that recycles waste heat from the electronic control unit using a heat-conducting member and a base, connected through a heat dissipation wire, to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the electronic control unit supplies current to the heating device, then the heating function is activated, but the electronic control unit overheats and may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the waste heat generated by the electronic control unit into a beneficial resource by directing it to the heating device. The heat-conducting member transfers waste heat from the electronic control unit to the heating device, reducing the electronic control unit's temperature while providing heating functionality, thus converting a harmful thermal effect into a useful heating source
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat-conducting member as an intermediary component between the electronic control unit and the heating device. This intermediary transfers thermal energy from the electronic control unit to the heating device, enabling heat recycling while protecting the electronic control unit from overheating damage
2Ease of operation
If a heating device is disposed in the handle, then heating function is provided, but the electronic control unit temperature increases due to waste heat accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers waste heat that would otherwise be discarded from the electronic control unit. By capturing and redirecting this waste heat to the heating device, the system eliminates thermal waste while maintaining the heating function, thus recovering energy that would have been lost
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
Effectively reduces the risk of damage to the electronic control unit by dissipating waste heat, ensuring optimal operating temperatures and enhancing the longevity of the component.
Implementation Method 1
the heat-conducting member and the heating device are located at different locations in the handle... connected to the heat-conducting member through a heat dissipation wire to transfer the waste heat to the heat-conducting member
Implementation Method 2
the heating device generates heat according to a current provided by the electronic control unit
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel and a heat-conducting device are provided. The steering wheel includes a body, a handle, a heating device, an electronic control unit, a heat-conducting member and a base. The handle is adjacent to the body, and the heating device is disposed in the handle and receives a driving signal to generate heat accordingly. The electronic control unit is electrically connected to the heating device through a driving wire, and provides the driving signal to the heating device. The heat-conducting member forms a waste heat path, and the heat-conducting member and the heating device are located at different locations in the handle. The base is connected to the electronic control unit, collects waste heat from the electronic control unit, and is connected to the heat-conducting member through a heat dissipation wire to transfer the waste heat to the heat-conducting member.