Vehicle Charge Control Device for Airflow Separation Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air resistance reduction technologies for vehicles, such as those using corona discharge and silicon rubber sheets, often cause turbulence, disfigurement, and electrostatic issues, leading to airflow separation and compromised aerodynamic characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A charge control device that uses a network of pipes with air holes to deliver negative ions to the inner surfaces of separation points on a vehicle, reducing positive potential and attracting airflow, thereby preventing separation without external modifications or disfigurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If an air resistance reducing device is buried in the roof with air holes, then negative ions are generated to reduce air resistance, but turbulence is created on the vehicle surface causing airflow separation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair resistanceVSAvoidairflow attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the ionization function from the external air resistance reducing device and relocates it inside the vehicle body. The ionization device is positioned within the passenger compartment, and ions are delivered through air holes in the roof panel to the outer surface, separating the ionization source from the airflow-critical external surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The roof panel air holes serve as intermediaries that transport ions from the internal ionization device to the external vehicle surface. This mediator approach allows ion delivery without direct exposure of the ionization source to the airflow, preventing turbulence while maintaining ionization effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If an air resistance reducing device is installed on the vehicle surface, then negative ions are generated, but the vehicle surface is disfigured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair resistanceVSAvoidvehicle surface appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the ionization function from external visible surfaces and relocates it inside the vehicle body. The ionization device is positioned within the passenger compartment, and ions are delivered through air holes in the roof panel to the outer surface, separating the ionization source from the airflow-critical external surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The roof panel incorporates air holes that allow ion transport from the interior to the exterior surface. This porous approach enables the vehicle surface to maintain its original appearance while facilitating the delivery of negative ions to reduce air resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If a silicon rubber sheet with uneven surface is attached to prevent airflow separation, then airflow attachment is improved, but the vehicle surface is disfigured and electrostatic charging occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow attachmentVSAvoidelectrostatic charging
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical approach (silicon rubber sheet with uneven surface) with an electrical approach (negative ion generation). Instead of using physical surface modifications to prevent airflow separation, the system uses electrostatic attraction through negative ions to achieve the same effect without mechanical intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The roof panel air holes serve as intermediaries that transport ions from the internal ionization device to the outer surface, enabling electrostatic control of airflow without direct contact between the ionization source and the external environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively reduces airflow separation, maintaining desired aerodynamic characteristics and preventing deterioration, ensuring improved rolling, yawing, and turning performance without altering the vehicle's appearance.

Implementation Method 1

blowing negative ions onto the inner surface of the separation point... repulsive force acting between the positively charged airflow flowing from the outer surface of the vehicle and the outer surface of the vehicle can be reduced to attract the airflow thereto

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon attraction: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

the corona discharge occurs between a needle electrode and a plate electrode in each circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorona discharge: Corona Discharge

Data Source

PatentEP3067255B1vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3067255B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3067255B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3067255B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A vehicle in which separation of airflow from a vehicle surface can be prevented without causing disfigurement is provided. A vehicle body is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a charge control device (5, 6, 11, 12, 13) adapted to decrease the positive potential of a separation point at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates from the vehicle surface during propulsion by applying negative ions to an inner surface of the separation point.