Vehicle Wheel Water Detection and Inflation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tyre inflation systems fail when water is present, leading to safety risks and potential damage, especially in agricultural vehicles traveling at high speeds, as water can compromise the pneumatic circuit and existing practices like introducing water into wheels are unsafe and illegal.
Innovation Solution
A wheel with a detecting device, including humidity, pressure, and temperature sensors, that monitors the presence of water and ensures the tyre inflation system operates optimally by preventing activation if water is detected, and automatically adjusts pressure while ensuring the vehicle does not exceed safe speed thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If water is introduced inside the wheel chamber to increase vehicle weight and improve adherence, then adherence to ground is improved, but vehicle safety is compromised and pneumatic circuit damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The humidity sensor is installed in advance within the wheel chamber to detect water presence before it can enter the pneumatic circuit and cause damage. This preliminary detection enables the control unit to prevent activation of the tyre inflation system, thereby avoiding water-related failures while still allowing the farmer to use water weighting practice.
Solution Approach 2:
The humidity sensor acts as an intermediary between the water introduced by the farmer and the pneumatic circuit. By detecting water presence and communicating this information to the control unit, the sensor mediates to prevent water from reaching and damaging the pneumatic components, thus resolving the contradiction between allowing water weighting and preventing damage.
2Stress or pressure
If the tyre inflation system is activated when water is present in the chamber, then pressure adjustment can be performed, but the pneumatic circuit is damaged and system functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The humidity sensor performs preliminary detection of water presence before the tyre inflation system is activated. This advance warning allows the control unit to prevent system activation when water is detected, thereby avoiding damage to the pneumatic circuit while still enabling pressure control when conditions are safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The humidity sensor provides continuous feedback about water presence in the wheel chamber to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the control unit to make informed decisions about whether to activate the tyre inflation system, ensuring that pressure adjustment operations are only performed when no water is present, thus protecting the pneumatic circuit.
3Reliability
If a detecting device is installed inside the wheel chamber to detect water presence, then safety and system protection are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detecting device is designed to serve multiple functions: detecting water presence, monitoring tyre pressure, and potentially monitoring temperature. By combining multiple detection capabilities into a single integrated device, the patent reduces the overall complexity that would result from installing separate sensors for each function, while still achieving comprehensive system protection.
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
Enhances safety by preventing unsafe vehicle operation and maintaining proper tyre inflation system functionality, even with non-standard practices, by accurately detecting water presence and managing pressure within the wheel chamber.
Implementation Method 1
the detecting device comprises a humidity sensor by means of which presence of water inside the wheel can be detected
Implementation Method 2
the detecting device comprises a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in the chamber defined between the tyre and the rim
Implementation Method 3
the detecting device may further comprise a temperature sensor for detecting temperature in the above mentioned chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel for a vehicle includes a tyre and a rim for supporting the tyre. A chamber is defined between the tyre and the rim for receiving pressurized air. The wheel further includes a detecting device located inside the chamber for detecting presence of water in the wheel.