Vehicle Temperature Sensor Placement via Fan Suction Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature sensors in rail vehicles often provide inaccurate temperature measurements due to incorrect air flow and temperature changes en route to the sensor, affecting the air conditioning system's ability to maintain a target temperature.

Innovation Solution

An additional flow channel is introduced with its inlet in the passenger compartment and outlet on the negative pressure side of a fan, allowing the temperature sensor to be placed within the channel, ensuring it measures air that accurately represents the compartment's temperature, and can be flexibly installed to minimize interference from supply air inlets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the temperature sensor is permanently mounted in the passenger compartment, then the installation location is fixed, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to exposure to ambient air and temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor installation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible hose is introduced as an intermediary element to transport air from the passenger compartment to the temperature sensor. The hose acts as a mediator that isolates the sensor from direct exposure to ambient air while still allowing it to measure the compartment's temperature, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and installation complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The air measurement function is segmented from the sensor mounting location. The flexible hose creates a separate air transport path that divides the measurement function from the sensor's physical position, allowing the sensor to be mounted in a stable environment while still measuring the passenger compartment temperature accurately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the temperature sensor is positioned to measure ambient air, then the installation is simple, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to temperature changes from sunlight and surface exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor installation easeVSAvoidtemperature measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible hose serves as an intermediary that connects the passenger compartment air to the temperature sensor, allowing simple sensor installation in a protected location while maintaining accurate temperature measurement of the compartment air, thus resolving the contradiction between installation ease and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the temperature sensor is placed in the air duct, then the measurement reflects the duct air temperature, but the accuracy deteriorates due to air heating or cooling en route from the passenger compartment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactual temperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidairflow channel configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the dynamic pressure differential created by the fan to drive air flow through the flexible hose to the sensor. This dynamic approach allows the sensor to be positioned in the low-pressure area while still receiving fresh air from the passenger compartment, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by leveraging the pressure differential generated by the fan to move air through the flexible hose. This pneumatic approach enables accurate temperature measurement without requiring complex active pumping or additional airflow channels, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 configuration enhances the reliability of temperature measurement, reducing errors and allowing the air conditioning system to maintain a consistent target temperature by providing unadulterated room air to the sensor, thus improving the overall thermal control within the vehicle.

Implementation Method 1

the outlet end of which is located on a low-pressure side of the fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3700765B1Vehicle having temperature control for the passenger interior
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH DE
  • EP3700765B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3700765B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3700765B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle for passenger transport, comprising a passenger interior (1) which is temperature-controlled and is fitted with at least one supply air inlet (2, 3) for conditioned supply air and at least one outlet (4) for discharging air from the passenger interior (1), wherein the air is conveyed out of the passenger interior (1) into an air channel (5; 20, 21) using a fan (6, 12, 13) and a temperature sensor (7; 18, 19) is provided to detect an actual temperature in the passenger interior (1), characterised in that an additional flow channel (8) is provided, the inlet end (9) of which opens into the passenger interior (1) and the outlet end (10; 22, 23) of which is arranged on a vacuum-side of the fan (6, 12, 13), and the temperature sensor (17; 18, 19) is arranged in a longitudinal section (11) of the additional channel (8, 17).