Vehicle Air Compressor Layout for Compact Cooling Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air compression apparatuses with adjacently arranged scroll air compressors face inefficiencies in heat removal due to the compact design, which hinders effective cooling of the compressors and after-coolers.

Innovation Solution

The air compression apparatus aligns air compressors in a direction intersecting with the cooling fan's airflow, allowing for efficient cooling by minimizing interference and pressure loss, with separate cooling fans for each compressor and after-cooler to ensure effective heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If air compressors are adjacently arranged to downsize the apparatus, then the dimensional values are reduced, but heat removal efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus sizeVSAvoidheat removal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent arranges air compressors in an adjacent configuration along the width direction (second direction) rather than solely in the airflow direction (first direction). This dimensional arrangement allows compressors to be positioned closer together while maintaining cooling efficiency by directing cooling wind from opposite directions, thus reducing apparatus size without compromising heat removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the cooling function into multiple independent cooling fans, with each compressor having its own dedicated cooling fan. This segmentation ensures that each compressor receives sufficient cooling wind independently, even when compressors are adjacently arranged, thereby maintaining heat removal efficiency in a compact configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If air compressors are adjacently arranged, then the apparatus is downsized, but cooling wind interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus sizeVSAvoidcooling wind flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By arranging compressors along the width direction and providing cooling wind from the longitudinal direction, the patent creates orthogonal cooling pathways that minimize interference between adjacent compressors while maintaining compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

Each compressor is provided with its own dedicated cooling fan that directs cooling wind specifically at that compressor. This localized cooling approach ensures that cooling wind is delivered efficiently to each compressor without being significantly interfered with by adjacent compressors, maintaining ease of cooling operation in a compact arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If cooling fans are added for each compressor, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of cooling fans
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling fans serve dual functions: they cool the air compressors and also contribute to cooling the after-coolers through their airflow. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve improved cooling efficiency while limiting the increase in device complexity, as the same cooling fans perform multiple cooling tasks rather than requiring separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables efficient cooling of air compressors and after-coolers, maintaining performance while allowing for a compact design, thus addressing the inefficiencies in heat removal and supporting the downsizing of the apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

a first cooling fan configured to send first cooling wind in a first direction to cool the first air compressor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a first air compressor configured to generate first compressed air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2944820B1Air compression apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 NABTESCO CORP
  • EP2944820B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2944820B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2944820B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses an air compression apparatus mounted on a vehicle. The air compression apparatus includes a first air compressor configured to generate first compressed air, a first cooling fan configured to send first cooling wind in a first direction to cool the first air compressor, and a second air compressor aligned with the first air compressor in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The second air compressor generates second compressed air.