Integrated engine preheating and air-conditioning heat management system and off-highway mine truck
By integrating engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management systems, the problems of difficult engine starting and tight system layout in off-highway mining vehicles under extremely cold conditions have been solved. The integration of engine preheating and cooling/heating has been achieved, improving the system's energy efficiency and overall vehicle performance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520206026.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-02-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing off-highway mining vehicles have difficulty starting their engines in extremely cold conditions, and their integrated thermal management and air conditioning systems have numerous components, are poorly arranged, have a high failure rate, and are costly to maintain.
The design incorporates an integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system. The engine preheating unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket, and the cab air conditioning shares the compressor and condenser of the integrated thermal management system. This achieves the integration of engine preheating and cooling/heating functions, reducing the number of components and the complexity of piping.
Ensuring smooth engine start-up under extremely cold conditions reduces wear, lowers procurement and maintenance costs, improves energy efficiency, simplifies pipeline layout, and reduces the risk of failure.
Smart Images

Figure CN223839248U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of off-highway mining vehicles. More specifically, this utility model relates to an integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system and an off-highway mining vehicle. Background Technology
[0002] Existing off-highway mining vehicles have the following drawbacks: First, in extremely cold conditions, the engine is difficult to start, and the engine needs to run for a long time to reach normal operating temperature, which not only shortens the engine life but also increases fuel consumption. Second, the integrated thermal management system and air conditioning system both have compressors, condensers, and evaporators, resulting in a tight layout of vehicle components and a chaotic and numerous pipeline route, which not only increases the difficulty of layout but also easily leads to failures and high maintenance costs.
[0003] Therefore, it is necessary to design a technical solution to comprehensively overcome the above-mentioned defects. Utility Model Content
[0004] One objective of this invention is to provide an integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system for off-highway mining vehicles, overcoming the problem of engine starting difficulties in extremely cold conditions, optimizing pipeline layout, reducing malfunctions, and lowering costs.
[0005] To achieve these objectives and other advantages of this utility model, according to one aspect of this utility model, an integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system for off-highway mining vehicles is provided. The integrated thermal management system includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, comprising: an engine preheating unit connected in series with the engine's cooling water jacket for preheating the engine; and a cab air conditioner that shares the compressor and condenser of the integrated thermal management system, so that the indoor unit is cooled by the integrated thermal management system, and the indoor unit is also connected in series with the engine's cooling water jacket so that the indoor unit is heated by the engine.
[0006] Furthermore, the engine preheating unit includes a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) element and a water pump. The engine preheating unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket through a preheating circulation pipeline, and an electronic water valve is installed on the preheating circulation pipeline.
[0007] Furthermore, a manual valve is installed on the preheating circulation pipeline.
[0008] Furthermore, the engine preheating unit also includes an integrated housing, a mounting bracket, a hose, and a PTC junction box. The PTC element, the water pump, the mounting bracket, and the PTC junction box are all disposed within the integrated housing. The PTC element and the PTC junction box are disposed on the mounting bracket. The surface of the integrated housing is provided with holes. The hose passes through the holes to connect the water pump to the preheating circulation pipeline. The wiring harness of the PTC junction box also passes through the holes.
[0009] Furthermore, the indoor unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket via a heating circulation pipe, and an electronic water valve is installed on the heating circulation pipe.
[0010] Furthermore, it includes at least a preheating mode, a cooling mode, and a heating mode. In the preheating mode, the PTC element and the water pump operate to preheat the engine. In the cooling mode, the integrated thermal management system operates to cool the indoor unit. In the heating mode, the engine heats the indoor unit.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, an integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system for off-highway mining vehicles is also provided. The off-highway mining vehicle has an integrated thermal management system comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The system includes: an engine preheating unit comprising a PTC element and a water pump, wherein the engine preheating unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket via a preheating circulation pipeline, and an electronic water valve is provided on the preheating circulation pipeline; the engine preheating unit is used to preheat the engine; and a cab air conditioner, wherein the cab air conditioner shares the compressor and condenser of the integrated thermal management system, so that the indoor unit is cooled by the integrated thermal management system, and the indoor unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket via a heating circulation pipeline, and an electronic water valve is provided on the heating circulation pipeline, so that the indoor unit is heated by the engine.
[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, an off-highway mining vehicle is also provided, including the aforementioned integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system.
[0013] This utility model has at least the following beneficial effects:
[0014] This invention addresses the problem of difficult starting in extremely cold conditions by using an integrated engine preheating unit to preheat the engine electrically. It integrates the thermal management system and air conditioning system, sharing a refrigeration cycle, reducing the number of components, lowering procurement costs, alleviating the constraints of vehicle layout, simplifying piping, and reducing the risk of malfunctions and maintenance costs. Simultaneously, it utilizes waste heat from the engine for heating and leverages the integrated thermal management system for cooling, efficiently combining heating and cooling cycles without affecting overall vehicle performance, thus improving energy efficiency.
[0015] Other advantages, objectives and features of this invention will be partly apparent from the following description, and partly understood by those skilled in the art through study and practice of this invention. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a framework diagram of the present utility model;
[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;
[0018] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the engine preheating unit of this utility model. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can implement it based on the description.
[0020] It should be understood that terms such as "having," "comprising," and "including" used in the embodiments of this application do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements or combinations thereof. All directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly. When an element is referred to as "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or may have an intervening element present. When an element is referred to as "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or indirectly connected to the other element through an intervening element. Descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., in the embodiments of this application are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features.
[0021] It should be noted that the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this application.
[0022] The off-highway mining truck originally had an integrated thermal management system 2, which included a compressor, condenser, and evaporator. This system was mainly used to control the battery temperature, ensuring that the battery could be maintained within the ideal operating temperature range under various environmental and usage conditions, thereby guaranteeing battery performance, safety, and lifespan. The mining truck also had its own air conditioning system, which also had an independent compressor, condenser, and evaporator. This resulted in numerous vehicle components and a chaotic piping layout, which not only increased the difficulty of layout but also made it prone to failure and high maintenance costs. In addition to the engine preheating structure, which was intended to address the problem of difficulty in starting the engine under extremely cold conditions, the above problems might be further aggravated.
[0023] Based on this, this embodiment provides an integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system, see [link to documentation]. Figure 1 It includes: an engine preheating unit 1, which is connected in series with the cooling water jacket of the engine 3 for preheating the engine; a cab air conditioner, which shares the compressor and condenser of the integrated thermal management system 2 so that the indoor unit 4 is cooled by the integrated thermal management system 2, and the indoor unit 4 is also connected in series with the cooling water jacket of the engine 3 so that the indoor unit 4 is heated by the engine.
[0024] Specifically, the engine preheating unit 1 is connected in series with the cooling water jacket of the engine 3. Its core function is to preheat the engine under harsh conditions such as extreme cold, to ensure its smooth start, reduce the wear caused by low temperature start-up, and extend the engine's service life.
[0025] The cab air conditioning system fully utilizes the resources of the integrated thermal management system 2, sharing its compressor and condenser. During cooling, the integrated thermal management system 2 can directly cool the indoor unit 4 to meet the cooling needs of the cab in summer. At the same time, the indoor unit 4 is connected in series with the cooling water jacket of the engine 3 (the connection pipes between the integrated thermal management system and the indoor unit, and between the cooling water jacket and the indoor unit are independent). When heating is required in winter, it can use the heat generated by the engine to achieve heating, effectively utilizing energy and improving the system's energy efficiency. This design breaks the independent nature of engine preheating, cooling, and heating functions, achieving system integration and high efficiency, reducing the number of components, lowering procurement and manufacturing costs, alleviating the tight layout of the vehicle, simplifying the piping layout (the integrated layout of the vehicle piping reduces four water lines), and reducing the risk of failure and maintenance costs.
[0026] In another embodiment, the engine preheating unit 1 includes a PTC element 105 and a water pump 102. The engine preheating unit 1 is connected in series with the cooling water jacket through a preheating circulation pipeline, and an electronic water valve is provided on the preheating circulation pipeline.
[0027] Specifically, the PTC element 105, acting as a heat source, can quickly generate heat during the vehicle's preheating phase to heat the coolant in the cooling water jacket. The water pump 102 is responsible for driving the coolant to circulate in the preheating circulation pipe, ensuring that heat is evenly distributed to all parts of the engine and guaranteeing comprehensive and efficient engine preheating. The electronic water valve can automatically control the opening and closing of the preheating circulation pipe according to the system's preset program or signals from sensor feedback. When the vehicle starts in preheating mode, the electronic water valve automatically opens, allowing the preheating circulation system to start working. When the engine reaches the appropriate preheating temperature or enters other operating modes, the electronic water valve can close in time to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.
[0028] See Figure 2 The hot and cold water lines are connected via a preheating hose 15 from the engine preheating unit 1 to a manual water valve 13, then to an electronic water valve 11, and finally through inlet pipe 9 and outlet pipe 10 to the hot and cold water interfaces of the engine 3 for preheating circulation. The thermal management system 2 is connected to the driver's cab air conditioning indoor unit 4 via a steam-heat hose assembly 7 and a heat-steam hose assembly 8 for cooling circulation. The engine 3 is connected to the driver's cab air conditioning indoor unit via inlet pipe 9 and outlet pipe 10 for heating circulation. The frame mounting bracket 5, mounting bolt assembly 6, mounting plate 13, and U-shaped clip 15 are used to fix and support the various pipes.
[0029] In another embodiment, a manual valve is provided on the preheating circulation pipeline for shutting off the pipeline during maintenance.
[0030] In another embodiment, see Figure 3 The engine preheating unit 1 further includes an integrated housing 101, a mounting bracket 104, a hose 103, and a PTC junction box 106. The PTC element 105, the water pump 102, the mounting bracket 104, and the PTC junction box 106 are all disposed within the integrated housing 101. The PTC element and the PTC junction box 106 are all disposed on the mounting bracket 104. The surface of the integrated housing 101 is provided with holes. The hose 103 passes through the holes to connect the water pump 102 to the preheating circulation pipeline. The wiring harness of the PTC junction box 106 also passes through the holes.
[0031] Specifically, the PTC element 105, water pump 102, mounting bracket 104, and PTC junction box 106 are all housed within the integrated housing 101. This integrated design helps protect the internal components from harsh external environments such as dust and mud, improving component lifespan and system stability. The integrated housing 101 has holes through which the hose 103 passes, connecting the water pump 102 to the preheating circulation pipeline. This ensures that the coolant can circulate smoothly under the drive of the water pump 102. At the same time, the wiring harness of the PTC junction box 106 also passes through the holes, facilitating connection to the vehicle's electrical system to provide power to the PTC element 105 and achieve precise heating control.
[0032] In another embodiment, the indoor unit 4 is connected in series with the cooling water jacket via a heating circulation pipe, and an electronic water valve is provided on the heating circulation pipe;
[0033] Specifically, the indoor unit 4 is connected in series with the cooling water jacket of the engine 3 through a heating circulation pipe, and an electronic water valve is installed on the heating circulation pipe. When it is necessary to heat up the driver's cabin in winter, the heat generated by the engine will be transferred to the coolant in the cooling water jacket. At this time, the electronic water valve on the heating circulation pipe opens, and the coolant circulates in the pipe, transferring heat to the indoor unit 4. The indoor unit 4 dissipates the heat to the driver's cabin through a heat exchanger, thus realizing the heating function.
[0034] In another embodiment, at least a preheating mode, a cooling mode, and a heating mode are included. In the preheating mode, the PTC element 105 and the water pump 102 operate to preheat the engine. In the cooling mode, the integrated thermal management system 2 operates to cool the indoor unit 4. In the heating mode, the engine heats the indoor unit 4.
[0035] Specifically, when in preheating mode, the PTC element 105 and water pump 102 in engine preheating unit 1 start to work. The PTC element 105 heats up rapidly, heating the coolant, while the water pump 102 drives the coolant to flow in the preheating circulation pipeline to preheat the engine. This process can effectively solve the problem of difficult engine starting for off-highway mining vehicles under extremely cold conditions, reduce engine wear during starting, and extend engine service life.
[0036] In cooling mode, the integrated thermal management system 2 starts working, with its internal compressor and condenser working together to cool the indoor unit 4 of the cab air conditioner; by controlling the circulation and heat exchange process of the refrigerant, the temperature in the cab is quickly reduced, creating a comfortable working environment for the driver and meeting the cooling needs in high-temperature environments in summer.
[0037] In heating mode, the engine heats the indoor unit 4. The heat generated by the engine is transferred to the indoor unit 4 through the heating circulation pipe connected in series with the indoor unit 4, so as to achieve effective utilization of heat.
[0038] This embodiment, based on the design of switching working modes under different operating conditions, fully leverages the functional advantages of each part of the system, achieving efficient thermal management without affecting the overall vehicle performance, and improving the vehicle's applicability and energy utilization efficiency.
[0039] Embodiments of this application also provide an integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system for off-highway mining vehicles. The off-highway mining vehicle has an integrated thermal management system 2, which includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The system includes: an engine preheating unit 1, which includes a PTC element 105 and a water pump 102. The engine preheating unit 1 is connected in series with the cooling water jacket via a preheating circulation pipeline, and an electronic water valve is installed on the preheating circulation pipeline. The engine preheating unit is used to preheat the engine. A cab air conditioner shares the compressor and condenser of the integrated thermal management system 2, so that the indoor unit 4 is cooled by the integrated thermal management system 2. The indoor unit 4 is connected in series with the cooling water jacket via a heating circulation pipeline, and an electronic water valve is installed on the heating circulation pipeline, so that the indoor unit 4 is heated by the engine.
[0040] Specifically, the system includes an engine preheating unit 1, comprising a PTC element 105 and a water pump 102, which is connected in series with the cooling water jacket of the engine 3 through a preheating circulation pipeline. An electronic water valve is installed on the preheating circulation pipeline to accurately preheat the engine in low-temperature environments, ensuring smooth engine start-up under harsh operating conditions. The cab air conditioning section continues to use the design concept of the compressor and condenser of the shared integrated thermal management system 2 to realize the cooling function of the indoor unit 4. The indoor unit 4 is connected in series with the cooling water jacket through a heating circulation pipeline, and the electronic water valve on the heating circulation pipeline controls the process of using the engine's waste heat for indoor heating.
[0041] Embodiments of this application also provide off-highway mining vehicles, including the aforementioned integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system. In extremely cold weather, the engine preheating unit 1 can preheat the engine in advance, ensuring smooth engine start-up, reducing wear during startup, extending the service life of the engine 3, and reducing maintenance costs. During daily operation, the cab air conditioning efficiently switches between cooling and heating functions. When cooling, the compressor and condenser of the integrated thermal management system 2 quickly cool the cab. When heating, the engine's waste heat is utilized, achieving both a comfortable driving environment and improved energy efficiency. The application of the integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system makes the vehicle's thermal management more scientific and efficient, reducing the number of parts and significantly lowering the overall vehicle manufacturing cost. The integrated layout of the vehicle's piping reduces the number of water lines, achieving a simplified effect.
[0042] The number of devices and processing capacity described herein are for simplification. Applications, modifications, and variations of the integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0043] Although the embodiments of this utility model have been disclosed above, they are not limited to the applications listed in the specification and embodiments. They can be applied to various fields suitable for this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other modifications can be easily made. Therefore, without departing from the general concept defined by the claims and their equivalents, this utility model is not limited to the specific details and the illustrations shown and described herein.
Claims
1. An integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system, the integrated thermal management system comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, characterized in that, include: An engine preheating unit, which is connected in series with the engine's cooling water jacket, is used to preheat the engine; The cab air conditioner shares the compressor and condenser of the integrated thermal management system, so that the indoor unit is cooled by the integrated thermal management system. The indoor unit is also connected in series with the engine's cooling water jacket, so that the indoor unit is heated by the engine.
2. The integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The engine preheating unit includes a PTC element and a water pump. The engine preheating unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket through a preheating circulation pipeline, and an electronic water valve is installed on the preheating circulation pipeline.
3. The integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A manual valve is installed on the preheating circulation pipeline.
4. The integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The engine preheating unit also includes an integrated housing, a mounting bracket, a hose, and a PTC junction box. The PTC element, the water pump, the mounting bracket, and the PTC junction box are all disposed within the integrated housing. The PTC element and the PTC junction box are disposed on the mounting bracket. The surface of the integrated housing is provided with holes. The hose passes through the holes to connect the water pump to the preheating circulation pipeline. The wiring harness of the PTC junction box also passes through the holes.
5. The integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The indoor unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket via a heating circulation pipe, and an electronic water valve is installed on the heating circulation pipe.
6. The integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system as described in claim 5, characterized in that, It should include at least preheating mode, cooling mode, and heating mode. When in the preheating mode, the PTC element and the water pump operate to preheat the engine; When in the cooling mode, the integrated thermal management system operates to cool and lower the temperature of the indoor unit; When in heating mode, the engine heats the indoor unit to raise its temperature.
7. An integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system for off-highway mining vehicles, wherein the off-highway mining vehicle has an integrated thermal management system, the integrated thermal management system comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, characterized in that, include: The engine preheating unit includes a PTC element and a water pump. The engine preheating unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket through a preheating circulation pipeline, and an electronic water valve is installed on the preheating circulation pipeline. The engine preheating unit is used to preheat the engine; The cab air conditioner shares the compressor and condenser of the integrated thermal management system, so that the indoor unit is cooled by the integrated thermal management system. The indoor unit is connected in series with the cooling water jacket through a heating circulation pipe. An electronic water valve is installed on the heating circulation pipe so that the indoor unit is heated by the engine.
8. A non-highway mining vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the integrated engine preheating and air conditioning thermal management system as described in any one of claims 1-7.