Vehicle Window Self-Discharge Device for Static Airflow Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle surface treatments, such as silicon rubber sheets and conductive non-woven fabrics, cause disfigurement and degrade aerodynamic characteristics by allowing airflow separation due to static electricity, leading to poor driving performance.

Innovation Solution

A self-discharge device is integrated into the vehicle's window pane and surrounding structures to reduce positive potential through corona discharge, producing negative ions and preventing airflow separation by neutralizing static electricity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a silicon rubber sheet with uneven surface is attached to the vehicle surface to prevent airflow separation, then airflow separation is reduced, but the vehicle appearance is disfigured and static electricity accumulates causing repulsive force that separates airflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow attachmentVSAvoidvehicle appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

A conductive adhesive layer is introduced as an intermediary between the conductive non-woven fabric and the vehicle surface. This adhesive layer has intermediate conductivity that prevents static electricity accumulation while maintaining airflow attachment, solving the contradiction between airflow stability and appearance by mediating the electrical properties at the interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the electrical conductivity parameter of the surface treatment by using conductive materials (conductive non-woven fabric with conductivity 10^-6 to 10^-3 S/m and conductive adhesive with conductivity 10^-8 to 10^-5 S/m) instead of insulating materials, fundamentally altering how the surface interacts with static electricity and airflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If conductive non-woven fabric is attached to the vehicle surface to neutralize static electricity, then static electricity is reduced, but the vehicle appearance is disfigured and airflow separation occurs at desired sites

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatic electricityVSAvoidairflow attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies different properties to different locations: conductive non-woven fabric is applied only to specific sites where airflow separation needs prevention, while other areas use conventional treatments. The conductive adhesive is applied in a pattern that ensures electrical connectivity without covering the entire surface, creating local quality variations that satisfy both static electricity neutralization and airflow attachment requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

By controlling the conductivity parameter within specific ranges (conductive non-woven fabric: 10^-6 to 10^-3 S/m, conductive adhesive: 10^-8 to 10^-5 S/m), the invention achieves optimal balance between static electricity neutralization and airflow attachment, preventing both excessive charge accumulation and repulsive force generation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the vehicle body is insulated from the road surface to maintain electrical potential, then positive static charges accumulate on the vehicle body during propulsion, but this causes repulsive force that separates positively charged airflow from the vehicle surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical insulationVSAvoidairflow attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful repulsive force generated by positive static charge accumulation into a beneficial effect by introducing negative ions through corona discharge. The conductive non-woven fabric serves as a substrate for generating negative ions that neutralize the positive charges, transforming the harmful electrostatic repulsion into attractive forces that enhance airflow attachment

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

The solution effectively reduces airflow separation, maintaining aerodynamic characteristics and improving vehicle stability and turning performance without causing disfigurement.

Implementation Method 1

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

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCorona discharge: Corona Discharge

Data Source

PatentEP3037288B1vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3037288B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3037288B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3037288B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle in which separation of positively charged airflow from a positively charged surface of a vehicle body can be prevented 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 self-discharge device (9) adapted to decrease in positive potential of a window pane (7) at which positively charged airflow flowing along a vehicle surface deviates therefrom during propulsion by discharging the static electricity therethrough to produce negative ions according to the positive potential of the window pane (7).