Wheel Torque Component Air Cooling for Brake Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy-duty vehicles, especially electric vehicles, face challenges with braking systems that generate excessive heat, straining the cooling system, which can lead to overheating and reduced braking capacity.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a pressurized air flow controlled by a temperature comparison between the air and the wheel torque generating component, allowing selective direction of the air flow to manage temperature effectively, reducing the strain on the cooling system and enabling downsizing of cooling components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If braking energy is placed in the cooling system, then the braking capacity is improved, but the cooling system becomes strained and overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the braking energy dissipation function from the cooling system by introducing a separate air flow system. The air flow is directed to the wheel torque generating component to cool it directly, removing the thermal load from the cooling system while maintaining braking capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pressurized air flow as an intermediary cooling medium between the wheel torque generating component and the cooling system. This mediator transfers heat away from the brake component without requiring the cooling system to handle the thermal load, thus protecting the cooling system from strain.
2Reliability
If the cooling system is dimensioned to manage brake cooling, then the braking reliability is improved, but the vehicle weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the brake cooling function from the main cooling system and creates a separate air flow-based cooling system. This allows the cooling system to be downsized since it no longer needs to handle the full thermal load of the brakes, reducing vehicle weight and complexity.
3Temperature
If continuous air flow is directed to the wheel torque generating component, then the temperature control is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or conditional air flow activation based on temperature sensors. The air flow is directed to the wheel torque generating component only when the temperature exceeds a threshold, rather than continuously. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective temperature control when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses temperature sensors to provide feedback on the temperature of the wheel torque generating component. This feedback controls the activation of the air flow system, ensuring it operates only when necessary for cooling, thereby optimizing energy consumption while maintaining temperature control.
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 efficiently controls the temperature of wheel torque generating components, reducing overheating, extending braking capacity, and allowing for the downsizing of cooling system components, while also enabling heating of frozen brakes, thus improving the overall braking system performance and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a flow creating device configured to provide a pressurized air flow trough said fluid conduit, a flow directing device enabling the pressurized air flow to be directed from the fluid conduit to the wheel torque generating component so as to control the temperature of the wheel torque generating component
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for use in connection with a wheel torque generating component in a heavy-duty vehicle, comprising a fluid conduit, a flow creating device configured to provide a pressurized air flow through said fluid conduit, a flow directing device enabling the pressurized air flow to be directed from the fluid conduit to the wheel torque generating component so as to control the temperature of the wheel torque generating component, and a control unit configured to compare a determined first temperature of the pressurized air flow with a determined second temperature of the wheel torque generating component, wherein the control unit is configured to, based on the comparison of the first temperature and the second temperature, selectively control the flow directing device to direct the pressurized air flow to the wheel torque generating component. The invention also relates to a method.