Vehicle Window Defrosting Liquid Quantity Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle window defrosting systems face challenges in maintaining consistent de-icing liquid delivery due to temperature-dependent viscosity and pump performance, leading to inefficiencies and excess liquid consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that adjust the quantity and speed of de-icing liquid projection based on external temperature, using a reservoir, pipe system, pump, wiper blades, and electronic control unit to optimize liquid delivery, ensuring a minimum quantity is sprayed regardless of temperature while preventing overconsumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If de-icing fluid is sprayed at high quantity to ensure effective defrosting in cold weather, then defrosting performance is improved, but liquid consumption increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefrosting performanceVSAvoidde-icing fluid consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the pump's rotational speed based on detected outside temperature. At lower temperatures, the pump operates at higher speeds to compensate for increased fluid viscosity and ensure adequate spray quantity. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain effective defrosting performance while avoiding excessive fluid consumption at milder temperatures where high spray quantities would be wasteful.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters (pump rotational speed) according to the outside temperature. By monitoring temperature and adjusting the pump speed accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between defrosting effectiveness and fluid consumption, ensuring sufficient spray quantity when needed while reducing consumption when temperatures are higher.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If pump speed is increased to maintain fluid flow rate in cold weather, then fluid delivery is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid flow rateVSAvoidpump energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pump's rotational speed is dynamically adjusted based on outside temperature detection. The control unit increases pump speed only when cold temperatures are detected and fluid viscosity would otherwise reduce flow rate. This dynamic control ensures adequate fluid delivery in cold weather while minimizing energy consumption during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses temperature sensors to provide feedback about outside conditions to the control unit, which then adjusts pump operation accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to optimize the balance between fluid delivery requirements and energy consumption by operating the pump at appropriate speeds based on actual environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If de-icing fluid viscosity increases at lower temperatures, then fluid projection capability is reduced, but defrosting effectiveness should be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefrosting effectivenessVSAvoidfluid flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system compensates for temperature-induced viscosity changes by adjusting the pump's rotational speed parameter. When outside temperature decreases and fluid viscosity increases, the control unit increases pump speed to maintain adequate flow rate through the nozzles. This parameter adjustment ensures that defrosting effectiveness is maintained despite the adverse effects of cold temperature on fluid properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 ensures efficient de-icing by optimizing liquid quantity and speed according to temperature, reducing waste and maintaining effective window defrosting without excessive liquid use.

Implementation Method 1

a pump for circulating said fluid through the piping system until its ejection through said orifices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

de-icing fluid has a viscosity that increases as the temperature decreases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP3144190B1Method and device for de-icing a vehicle window
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 VALEO SYST DESSUYAGE SAS
  • EP3144190B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3144190B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3144190B1 patent drawingFigure 4a

AI summary

Method for defrosting a vehicle window (10), said vehicle being equipped with a defrosting device comprising in particular at least one reservoir containing a defrosting liquid, at least one wiper blade, orifices through which said liquid is projected onto said window, and an outside temperature sensor, characterized in that it comprises a step consisting of ejecting liquid through said orifices and adapting the quantity Q of liquid projected according to the outside temperature, so that, when said outside temperature is equal to T1, a quantity of liquid is ejected, and, when the outside temperature is equal to T2, with T2 < T1, an identical or different quantity of liquid is ejected.