Steering Wheel Thermal Management Spacer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering wheels with temperature adjusting functions face inefficiencies in heat transfer to the outer covering and increased costs due to the addition of heater elements.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel design featuring a core, a spacer member around the rim, and a resin layer covering the temperature adjusting element, which keeps the element away from the heat-conductive core, allowing efficient heat transfer to the outer covering while minimizing cost increases through simplified manufacturing and potential omission of separate heater elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the temperature adjusting element is arranged close to the core, then the structure is simplified, but heat is efficiently conducted away from the steering outer covering
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer member acts as an intermediary component positioned between the temperature adjusting element and the core. It provides thermal insulation to prevent heat conducted from the temperature adjusting element from being rapidly conducted away by the high heat conductivity core, while still maintaining a simplified overall structure through integration with the resin layer molding process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate heater element is added, then temperature adjusting function is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resin layer is molded in one step to simultaneously cover both the spacer member and the temperature adjusting element. This integration eliminates the need for separate assembly steps and reduces manufacturing complexity, thereby minimizing cost increases despite adding the temperature adjusting function.
3Loss of energy
If the resin layer covers the temperature adjusting element, then heat transfer to outer covering is improved, but manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resin layer serving both as structural coverage and thermal insulation is molded in one step together with the spacer member and temperature adjusting element. This simultaneous molding approach improves heat transfer efficiency by providing complete coverage while avoiding additional manufacturing steps that would reduce productivity.
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 efficiently transfers heat to the steering wheel's outer covering while reducing material and manufacturing costs, enabling effective warmth or cooling with reduced electric power consumption and simplified production steps.
Implementation Method 1
the spacer member keeps at least a part of the temperature adjusting element away from the core, allowing avoidance of a situation where most of heat generated by the temperature adjusting element is conducted toward the core, which has a high heat conductivity
Implementation Method 2
A current may be passed through the frame structure to generate heat. The frame structure itself may be used as a heater element.
Data Source
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AI summary
An object is to provide a steering wheel that enables heat to be efficiently conducted to a steering outer covering. A steering wheel according to the present invention includes: a core; a spacer member arranged around an outer periphery of a rim portion of the core; a temperature adjusting element provided on the spacer member; and a resin layer formed to cover an outside portion of the spacer member. The spacer member keeps at least a part of the temperature adjusting element away from the core.