Steering Wheel Heating Device Groove Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle steering wheel heating systems often create hot spots and excess thickness due to uneven heating power distribution, which can affect customer perception and lead to scrapping of parts.
Innovation Solution
A flexible heating device is integrated into the steering wheel with specific high-heating power areas housed in grooves within the rim's body, keeping them away from the outer surface and ensuring even heat distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a flexible heating device with uniform heating power is used, then the heating coverage is improved, but areas with higher specific heating power still create hot spots on the rim surface
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device incorporates areas with different specific heating powers to match the thermal characteristics of different rim zones. High heating power areas are strategically placed in regions that require more heat, while low heating power areas are used where less heat is needed, preventing hot spots while ensuring adequate heating coverage across the entire rim surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating device is inserted within a groove in the rim body, nesting the heating elements inside the rim structure. This allows the heating device to be concealed within the rim while still providing effective heating, and enables better thermal management by positioning high-power areas away from the outer surface where they would create noticeable hot spots.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the heating device is made flexible to conform to the rim, then the adaptability is improved, but folds in the heating device create excess thickness and affect perceived quality
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible heating device is nested within a groove in the rim body, which accommodates the device and its folds. This nesting approach allows the heating device to maintain its flexibility and conform to the rim shape while concealing any folds or thickness variations, preventing them from affecting the perceived quality of the outer surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove in the rim body is strategically designed to accommodate specific portions of the heating device at specific locations. This allows folds or thicker sections of the flexible heating device to be positioned in areas where they will not be visible or palpable on the outer surface, maintaining surface uniformity while preserving the flexibility needed for rim conformation.
3Power
If high heating power areas are concentrated in specific zones, then the heating efficiency is improved, but hot spots are created on the outer surface affecting customer perception
Solution Approach 1:
High heating power areas are nested within the groove structure in the rim body, concealing them from the outer surface. This allows these high-power zones to provide efficient heating without creating noticeable hot spots on the customer-facing surface, as the groove positions them away from direct contact areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating device features localized high-power areas that are strategically positioned within the groove rather than on the outer surface. This local differentiation allows concentrated heating power to be applied where needed for efficiency while the groove structure ensures these high-power zones do not create harmful hot spot sensations on the outer rim surface that customers would perceive.
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 design enhances the perceived quality by preventing hot spots and excess thickness, maintaining a uniform heat sensation and avoiding part scrapping.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible heating device inserted between the trim casing and the body of the rim, comprising at least one heating track
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle steering wheel having a rim to be gripped by a driver of the vehicle, a trim casing arranged to cover a body of the rim so as to at least partially form an outer surface of the rim, a flexible heating device inserted between the trim casing and the body of the rim, comprising at least one heating track, wherein the heating track is a surface track deposited on the flexible heating device, and in that the rim body comprises at least one groove arranged to house at least one part of the flexible heating device, said at least one part comprising a portion of the surface track.