Wireless Wheel Well Heating for Snow and Ice Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel well heating devices lack a wireless actuation mechanism, limiting their effectiveness in preventing snow and ice accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wheel well heating system with integrated heating assemblies that can be remotely actuated via a wireless control, maintaining a temperature above 0°C to prevent snow and ice buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wheel well heating device is equipped with wireless actuation capability, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with wireless electronic actuation. The heating device is controlled remotely via wireless signals (such as RF or other wireless communication protocols), eliminating the need for physical connection or manual switching. This substitution improves ease of operation while the integrated design manages the added electronic complexity.
2Reliability
If the heating assembly maintains temperature above 0°C continuously, then the reliability of preventing snow and ice buildup is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating assembly operates periodically rather than continuously, cycling between active heating and standby states. The wireless control system can activate heating when snow or ice detection indicates it's needed, and deactivate when conditions are favorable, maintaining reliability while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensing and wireless communication to provide feedback control. The heating element receives wireless commands based on detected conditions (temperature, presence of snow/ice), allowing the system to maintain reliability by activating only when necessary while optimizing energy usage through condition-based operation.
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
Effectively prevents snow and ice accumulation in vehicle wheel wells by maintaining a temperature above 0°C, enhancing vehicle functionality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the heating assemblies is configured for remotely actuating by a remotely positioned control and retaining a temperature of an associated one of the wheel wells above 0° C. to inhibit snow and ice from building up
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle wheel well heating system for being actuated by a wireless device includes a vehicle transporting a user including a car body having a plurality wheel wells and a plurality of wheels being attached to the car body. Each of the wheels is positioned in one of the wheel wells and each of the wheel wells has one of a plurality of heating assemblies mounted therein. Each of the heating assemblies remotely actuates by a remotely positioned control and retains a temperature of an associated one of the wheel wells above 0° C. to inhibit snow and ice from building up in the wheel well and on a corresponding one of the wheels.