Vehicle Self-Discharge Device for Aerodynamic Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle designs face issues with positively charged airflow separating from the vehicle surface due to static electricity, leading to degraded aerodynamic characteristics and driving performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of conductive sheets or self-discharge devices attached to specific points on the vehicle body to neutralize positive static charges, preventing airflow separation by discharging static electricity and reducing positive potential, thereby improving aerodynamic stability and control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a silicon rubber sheet with uneven surface is attached to the vehicle surface, then air current separation is reduced, but the vehicle appearance is disfigured and static electricity accumulates easily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair current separationVSAvoidvehicle appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

A conductive sheet is introduced as an intermediary layer between the vehicle body and the airflow. This conductive sheet neutralizes positive static charges through corona discharge, preventing air current separation without affecting the vehicle's external appearance, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing harmful factors and maintaining shape integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ionized air is supplied to the vehicle interior using discharge needles, then air quality is improved, but static electricity accumulates on the vehicle surface causing aerodynamic degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair qualityVSAvoidaerodynamic characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive sheet is selectively applied only to specific regions of the vehicle body where static charge accumulation occurs, rather than treating the entire vehicle uniformly. This localized approach maintains aerodynamic characteristics while still improving air quality through targeted ionization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the vehicle body is insulated from the road surface, then static charge accumulation is prevented, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates due to repulsive force between positively charged airflow and vehicle surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatic charge controlVSAvoidaerodynamic performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive sheet converts the harmful effect of static electricity into a beneficial one by using corona discharge to neutralize positive charges. The same mechanism that causes static charge accumulation is harnessed to create negative ions that neutralize the positive charges, thereby improving aerodynamic performance while maintaining the insulated structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 effectively prevents airflow separation, enhancing aerodynamic characteristics, driving stability, and reducing air resistance, without increasing vehicle weight or altering its design, thus improving acceleration, steering, and riding comfort.

Implementation Method 1

the self-discharge device adapted to decrease a positive potential of a specific point at which positively charged airflow flowing along the vehicle surface deviates therefrom during propulsion of the vehicle, by discharging static electricity to produce negative ions according to the positive potential of the specific point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorona discharge: Corona Discharge

Data Source

PatentEP3064416B1Vehicle, and method of manufacturing same
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3064416B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3064416B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3064416B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof is provided in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented. A vehicle body 30 is insulated from a road surface, and positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion. The vehicle comprises a self-discharge device 12, 31 that is adapted to decrease a positive potential of at least any one of specific points at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom, during propulsion of the vehicle, by discharging static electricity to produce negative ions according to the positive potential of the specific point.