Height-Adjustable Fan Mount for Compact Elastic V-Ribbed Belt Drives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engine fan drive systems are costly, require significant installation space, and impose additional bearing loads due to complex structures and additional components, such as slip clutches and pulleys, which complicate assembly and increase component costs.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a height-adjustable fan console into the cylinder crankcase and cylinder head, allowing direct attachment of fan attachments, pulleys, and fan bearings, utilizing T-slot guide grooves and screws for adjustable positioning and tensioning of elastic V-ribbed belts, thereby reducing overall engine length and component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If additional pulleys and belt drives are used to drive the fan, then the fan can be driven at higher speeds, but the device complexity increases and bearing loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fan drive function with the existing coolant pump belt drive system. The fan is driven through a third pulley on the coolant pump shaft that forms a second belt drive with a fourth pulley on the crankshaft, merging the fan drive into the existing pump drive architecture rather than adding completely separate drive mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The coolant pump shaft serves multiple functions: it drives the coolant pump through the first belt drive and simultaneously drives the fan through the second belt drive. This multi-functionality allows the fan to be driven without adding a dedicated shaft, reducing overall device complexity
2Speed
If additional pulleys and belt drives are used to drive the fan, then the fan can be driven at higher speeds, but the bearing loads on auxiliary units increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fan drive is merged with the coolant pump drive system, allowing both components to be driven from the same shaft. This sharing of the drive system distributes the mechanical loads across existing bearing structures rather than concentrating additional loads on separate auxiliary units
3Adaptability or versatility
If a slip clutch is used to drive the fan via V-belt drive, then the fan can be driven dependent on engine speed, but the bearing loads on auxiliary units increase and additional components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the slip clutch component from the fan drive system and replaces it with direct belt drive connections. The elastic V-ribbed belts provide the necessary slip and speed dependency without requiring mechanical clutch mechanisms, eliminating complex components while maintaining adaptability to engine speed variations
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical slip clutch system is replaced with elastic V-ribbed belts that provide speed dependency through their elastic properties and friction characteristics. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical clutch components while maintaining the ability to drive the fan dependent on engine speed
4Volume of stationary object
If the fan is mounted on the cylinder crankcase and cylinder head with integrated height-adjustable fan attachment, then the installation space is minimized, but the positioning precision must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The fan attachment system incorporates height-adjustable mechanisms that allow the fan position to be dynamically adjusted during assembly and maintenance. This adjustability compensates for manufacturing tolerances and ensures precise positioning without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision, while maintaining compact installation space
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
This configuration minimizes installation space, reduces component costs, and simplifies assembly by allowing for compact design and efficient fan drive operation with reduced bearing loads, achieving a cost-effective and space-efficient fan drive system.
Implementation Method 1
elastic V-ribbed belts
Implementation Method 2
friction between the belt and pulley surfaces enables power transmission
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
1. Internal combustion engine with a cylinder crankcase and a cylinder head with integrated height-adjustable fan attachment for elastic V-ribbed belts 2. The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising: a crankcase (1); at least one device for driving a fan, in particular of a vehicle, in particular of a utility vehicle, comprising a fan bracket (3) and a bearing arrangement (5), via which the fan is arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the crankshaft of a combustion engine of the drive assembly; and a belt drive, via which the fan can be driven, having a first belt pulley and a second belt pulley which are drive-connected via a belt (8), the first belt pulley being arranged on the bearing arrangement (5).