Zigzag Resistive Wire for Vehicle Interior Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brittle resistive heating elements in vehicles' interior parts, such as armrests and seats, are prone to damage due to deformation from passenger use, leading to disrupted heat distribution and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A zigzag-shaped resistive wire with varying amplitudes and frequencies is used, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptability to deformation, combined with a device for attaching the wire to the textile using toothed wheels and stitching, ensuring even heat distribution without material crossing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a straight resistive wire is used in the textile, then the manufacturing is simple, but the wire is prone to damage due to brittleness when the textile deforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by transforming the straight wire into a sinusoidal shape with varying amplitude and frequency. This curved configuration allows the wire to flex and deform with the textile without breaking, directly resolving the brittleness issue while maintaining heating functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the wire by using a sinusoidal pattern with varying amplitude and frequency along its length. This parameter variation enables the wire to adapt to different deformation levels in the textile, improving reliability without excessive complexity
2Temperature
If the resistive element is arranged in a meander or serpentine fashion, then the evenness of temperature distribution is improved, but the material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the amplitude and frequency of the sinusoidal wire pattern at different locations. This allows optimized heat distribution in critical areas while reducing material consumption in less critical areas, balancing temperature evenness with material efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a sinusoidal pattern that provides sufficient coverage for even heat distribution without the excessive material consumption of traditional meander patterns. The varying amplitude and frequency ensure adequate heat coverage where needed while minimizing overall material use
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wire is made with high flexibility to adapt to deformation, then the adaptability to textile deformation is improved, but the manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the wire into a sinusoidal shape with specific amplitude and frequency variations before installation. This pre-configured flexibility allows the wire to naturally adapt to textile deformation while maintaining manufacturability through standardized forming processes
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 significantly reduces the risk of damage to the heating element, enhances stretchability, and maintains even temperature distribution across the interior part, while using less material and ensuring effective heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
The heat generated by the electric resistance is used to heat the interior part
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heating element (10, 10') for a textile (30) of an interior part of a means of passenger transport, in particular a vehicle, the heating element (10, 10') comprising a resistive element in form of wire (12) being arranged in a sinusoid-shape fashion with a first amplitude (A1) and/or a first frequency (f1), the wire (12) being a zigzag wire with a second amplitude (A2) and a second frequency (f2), the second amplitude (A2) being smaller than the first amplitude (A1) and/or the second frequency (f2) being smaller than the first frequency (f1). Beyond that the present invention relates to a textile (30) and an interior part, each comprising such a heating element (10, 10') and to a means of passenger transport comprising such an interior part.