Air Cleaner Shielding Member Deflects Rainwater in Wheel Loader
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wheel loaders face issues with rainwater entering the air cleaner during storms, as it is blown in from the side or rebounds off the vehicle cover, leading to potential engine compartment flooding.
Innovation Solution
A wheel loader design featuring a vehicle cover with an opening section, a cover member, and a shielding member with inclined surfaces to direct rainwater away from the air cleaner intake, combined with a partition member and elastic member to prevent water ingress, and water draining holes to manage rainwater flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the intake pipe is exposed to take in air from outside the engine room, then air supply to the engine is ensured, but rainwater can enter the air cleaner during storms
Solution Approach 1:
A cover member is introduced as an intermediary structure between the external environment and the air cleaner. This cover member includes a shielding member with inclined surfaces that intercept rainwater before it reaches the intake port, while still allowing air to pass through to the air cleaner. The shielding member acts as a mediator that separates the harmful rainwater from the useful air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding member is positioned in a spatial arrangement above the intake port, creating a protective overhang structure. By extending the cover member outward from the vehicle body, the invention adds a spatial dimension that allows rainwater to be intercepted and directed away from the intake port while maintaining air flow paths at different vertical levels.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the intake pipe is covered to prevent rainwater entry, then rainwater protection is improved, but air intake is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is designed with differentiated regions: the shielding member with inclined surfaces provides rainwater protection in the upper region, while the lower region around the intake port remains open to allow air flow. The side plates and front/rear plates create localized protection zones without completely enclosing the intake area, ensuring that protection and air intake functions are distributed to different spatial locations.
3Device complexity
If a simple cap is used on the intake pipe, then the structure is simple, but rainwater can still enter during storms due to side wind or rebound
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding member incorporates inclined surfaces that curve or slope downward, creating a streamlined shape that efficiently directs rainwater away from the intake port. The curved or angled surfaces of the shielding member and cover member help deflect rainwater following natural flow patterns, improving protection effectiveness compared to flat or simple cap structures.
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 effectively prevents rainwater from entering the air cleaner, reducing the risk of engine compartment flooding and maintaining air quality for the engine.
Implementation Method 1
the shielding member has a first inclined surface which is inclined downward toward a first direction... it is possible for rainwater which is blocked by the shielding member to flow toward the first direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A wheel loader (1) is provided with a vehicle cover (2), an engine (4), an air cleaner (3), a cover member (5), and a shielding member (6). An intake tube (32) of the air cleaner (3) includes an intake port (321), which faces upward, and protrudes upward from a top plate (21) via an opening section (211). The shielding member (6) is arranged inside the cover member (5) above the intake port (321). In addition, the shielding member (6) has a first inclined surface (61) which is inclined downward to the front. The shielding member (6) is arranged at the front with a gap between the shielding member and the cover member.