#2175: Wheelwarmer

Racing cars sometimes have to have their tyres pre-heated in specially-designed, electrically-heated covers.

Today’s invention augments that process by using the engine exhaust flow to help warm the rubber.

Each exhaust pipe would have a nozzle, directable by use of a small motor, which could be rotated towards or away from the surface of whichever of the rear tyres it was pointed at.

This system could make use of a small thermal camera to gauge the tyre exterior temperature and then help divert the exhaust flow after the heating had had its effect.

A more advanced version could also warm the front tyres.

2 Comments:

  1. an even more advanced system would heat the spare tyre too 😉

    + preheating the air intake and fuel could optimize the fuel combustion
    + in the winter the hot exhaust air could help defrost the windows and mirrors and chairs etc

    I recall reading that some want to generate electricity from the exhaust heat.

    • Hi Rob
      There are probably F1 rules about spare tyres, not to mention passengers!
      Exhaust to electricity would probably lose 60% in the process, so this was probably proposed by a petroleum company 😉

      Cheers,
      p

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