Variable Pitch Heating Wire for Windshield Washer Fluid Defrosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for heating and transporting windshield washer fluid in vehicles face challenges in maintaining optimal heating power across different environmental zones, leading to overheating in warmer areas and inadequate defrosting in colder areas, which affects the efficiency and protection of the heating pipes.
Innovation Solution
A heating conductor wire element with a helical design featuring varying pitch values in different sectors to generate distinct linear heating powers for specific zones, ensuring efficient heating in cold areas while preventing overheating in warmer areas, and optionally incorporating a third sector for enhanced control and detection during manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a uniform heating conductor wire is used throughout the pipe, then the heating power is consistent across all zones, but this causes overheating in warm zones (under the bonnet) and insufficient heating in cold zones (outside the bonnet)
Solution Approach 1:
The heating conductor wire is designed with variable pitch along its length, creating different heating zones. The pitch between helical turns is smaller in cold zones (outside the bonnet) to provide higher heating power, and larger in warm zones (under the bonnet) to reduce heating power. This local variation in geometric parameters enables each zone to receive appropriate heating according to its thermal requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating conductor wire is divided into multiple sectors with different pitch characteristics. At least a first sector has a first pitch value for producing a first linear heating power, while at least a second sector has a second pitch value for producing a second linear heating power. This segmentation allows independent optimization of heating parameters for different environmental zones along the pipe.
2Temperature
If the heating power is increased to ensure defrosting in cold zones, then adequate heating is provided outside the bonnet, but overheating occurs in the bonnet area
Solution Approach 1:
The heating conductor wire implements local quality variation through different pitch values in different sectors. The first sector (for cold zones) has a smaller pitch to generate higher linear heating power for defrosting, while the second sector (for warm zones) has a larger pitch to generate lower linear heating power and prevent overheating. This resolves the contradiction by providing high heating power only where needed.
3Temperature
If the heating power is decreased to prevent overheating in the bonnet area, then overheating is avoided, but insufficient heating occurs in cold zones outside the bonnet
Solution Approach 1:
The variable pitch design enables the heating conductor wire to provide high heating power in cold zones (first sector with smaller pitch) while providing reduced heating power in warm zones (second sector with larger pitch). This local differentiation ensures adequate defrosting in cold areas without causing overheating in the bonnet area.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating conductor wire is segmented into at least a first sector and at least a second sector with different pitch values. The first sector provides higher linear heating power for cold zone defrosting, while the second sector provides lower linear heating power to prevent bonnet area overheating, thus resolving the contradiction through spatial segmentation of heating intensity.
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 solution allows for tailored heating power distribution across different vehicle zones, ensuring effective defrosting in cold areas while preventing overheating, thus optimizing the performance and longevity of the heating pipes.
Implementation Method 1
a heating conductor wire element (18, 32) comprising a heating conductive strand (16) arranged in a helix around a central fiber (17), the pitch of which between each strand in at least a first sector of said wired element (18, 32) is of a first value for the production of a first linear heating power, and whose pitch between each strand in at least a second sector of said wired element (18, 32) is of a second value less than the first value for the production of a second linear heating power greater than the first linear heating power
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The invention relates primarily to a heating wire element essentially characterized in that it comprises a heating wire (16) arranged helix-style around a central fiber (17), the pitch of which between each wire (16) in at least a first zone (A1) of said wire element (18) is of a first value (P1) for the production of a first linear heating power (PL1), and the pitch of which between each wire (16) in at least a second zone (A2) of said wire element (18) is of a second value (P2) lower than the first value (P1) for the production of a second linear heating power (PL2) greater than the first linear heating power (PL1). The invention also relates to a heating and windshield washer fluid transport conduit comprising at least one fluid circulation channel located near a heating wire made from the aforementioned wire element (18).The invention further relates to a vehicle window wiping device incorporating at least one such conduit and to a method for manufacturing a conduit.