Auxiliary Power Generator Housing with Segmented Compartments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Military vehicle auxiliary power generators are vulnerable to water ingress, heat damage, and component failures, which can disrupt electrical systems and limit vehicle functionality.

Innovation Solution

A housing design with separate compartments for the generator, energy storage, and cooling systems, allowing independent sealing, temperature control, and thermal insulation, along with ballistic protection, to enhance the reliability and availability of the auxiliary power generator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If components are arranged in separate compartments, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailability of auxiliary power generatorVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into separate compartments (generator space, energy storage space, cooling system space) that are spatially separated. Each compartment can be independently sealed, temperature-controlled, and protected against external influences. This segmentation allows independent protection and maintenance of each component, improving overall system reliability while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If separate sealing is implemented for each component, then protection against water and gas improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against water ingressVSAvoidhousing manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into separate sealed compartments for the generator, energy storage, and cooling system. Each compartment has its own sealing arrangement, allowing independent protection against water and gas ingress. This modular sealing approach simplifies manufacturing by enabling separate assembly and testing of each compartment before final integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Temperature

If independent temperature control is implemented for each component, then thermal protection improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control of componentsVSAvoidenergy consumption for cooling
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing includes separate cooling system spaces for each component (generator cooling space, energy storage cooling space). Each compartment has independent temperature control capabilities, allowing optimized cooling strategies for each component based on its specific thermal requirements, thereby improving thermal protection while managing energy consumption through targeted cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2864732B1Housing for an auxiliary power generator, auxiliary power generator, and vehicle
Publication Date: 2017.09.20 KRAUSS MAFFEI WEGMANN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2864732B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a housing (20) for an auxiliary power generator (10) of a military vehicle (1), having a generator compartment (21) for arranging a generator (11) which is coupled to an auxiliary motor (14), having an energy store compartment (22) for arranging an energy store (12) for starting the auxiliary motor (14) and/or for buffer-storing the energy which is generated by the generator (11), and having a cooling system compartment (23) for arranging a cooling system (13) for cooling the generator (11) and/or the auxiliary motor (14), wherein the generator compartment (21), the energy store compartment (22) and the cooling system compartment (23) are formed separately from one another, and also relates to an auxiliary power generator (10) having a housing (20) of this kind. A further subject of the invention is a military vehicle (1) having an auxiliary power generator (10) of this kind.