Amphibious Vehicle Cooling System Water Intake Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Amphibious vehicles face challenges in stabilizing the cooling of power components during various movement modes, including water and land travel, where high power is required and exposure to seawater can lead to corrosion.
Innovation Solution
The amphibious vehicle incorporates a dual cooling system with an air-cooled and water-cooled type cooler, featuring a second cooling source introducing portion that takes in water from the rear side of the vehicle body, allowing continuous cooling even when inclined and facilitating easy cleaning, and an independent passage from the water jet channel to prevent corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a water-cooled heat exchanger is used to cool the power portion, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to corrosion from seawater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into separate functional components: a water-cooled heat exchanger for cooling and a water jet mechanism for propulsion. The water intake for cooling is positioned separately from the water jet channel, allowing the cooling system to access water without exposing the power portion to corrosive seawater environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a draft shield as an intermediary structure that positions the water intake for the heat exchanger in a protected location. The shield creates a draft portion that guides water flow to the cooling intake port while preventing direct exposure of the power portion to seawater, thus mediating between cooling requirements and corrosion prevention.
2Productivity
If the water intake opening is positioned on the front side of the vehicle body, then water intake efficiency is improved, but the opening becomes exposed to seawater causing corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the water intake opening from the traditional front side to the rear side of the vehicle body, utilizing the draft portion created by the vehicle's motion. This dimensional repositioning allows the opening to be located at a position where water is naturally drawn in by the vehicle's movement, maintaining intake efficiency while reducing direct seawater exposure.
3Device complexity
If the cooling intake port is located in the water jet channel, then structure is simplified, but cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling intake port from the water jet channel, creating a separate water intake opening on the rear side of the vehicle body. This separation allows the cooling system to function independently from the propulsion system, enabling easier access for cleaning and maintenance without disrupting the water jet mechanism.
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 ensures stable cooling of power components across different operational modes and prevents corrosion from seawater, enhancing the vehicle's performance and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a water-cooled heat exchanger... water from the cooling water passage, engine cooling water, hydraulic oil, or the like is cooled by a water-cooled heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
The impeller of the propeller is provided in the water jet channel... The impeller is driven by the power of the engine, and takes in water from the inlet and discharges the water as a water jet from the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An amphibious vehicle according to the present invention includes a vehicle body, a traveling portion which causes the vehicle body to travel on land, a propulsion portion which causes the vehicle body to travel on water, a power portion which provides power to the traveling portion and the propulsion portion, and a cooling portion which cools the power portion. The cooling portion includes a first cooling source introducing portion which takes in air from the outside and a second cooling source introducing portion which takes in water from the outside. The second cooling source introducing portion includes an opening which takes in water. The opening is opened on a rear side of a center of gravity of the entire vehicle body and in a draft portion in an outer surface of the vehicle body.