Battery Cooling Fan Layout for Electric Working Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery-operated construction machinery faces inefficiencies in cooling the battery and converter, particularly when the drive motor is not running, leading to potential overheating and reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

A separate fan motor drives a cooling air flow over the battery and converter, controlled independently of the drive motor, using air ducts and ventilation control to ensure effective cooling, even when the drive motor is off.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the drive motor is used to drive the fan for cooling, then the cooling system is simple and integrates with the drive motor, but the battery and converter cannot be cooled when the drive motor is not running

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling system structureVSAvoidcooling availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cooling system by separating the fan motor from the drive motor. The fan motor is provided as an independent component specifically for driving the cooling fan, while the drive motor solely powers the working device. This segmentation ensures that the cooling system can operate independently of the drive motor status, maintaining cooling availability even when the drive motor is not running.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the battery and converter are located at a distance from the drive motor, then the layout is flexible and components are well-distributed, but the cooling airflow reaches them minimally through long air ducts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent layout flexibilityVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces air ducts as intermediary components to transport cooling airflow from the fan to the battery and converter. The air ducts are specifically designed to guide the cooling air flow generated by the fan over the battery and converter, ensuring that even distant components receive adequate cooling. The ducts act as mediators that bridge the gap between the cooling source and the components needing cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a single drive motor controls both the working device and cooling fan, then the control system is simple, but the cooling cannot be activated independently when only the battery or converter needs cooling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol systemVSAvoidcooling control flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control systems by providing separate control mechanisms for the drive motor and the fan motor. The fan motor can be controlled independently based on thermal conditions of the battery or converter, allowing selective cooling activation without requiring the drive motor to be running. This independent control enables adaptive cooling responses to specific thermal needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution maintains optimal cooling, preventing overheating and extending the service life of the battery and converter by ensuring continuous airflow, even in varying operating conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The cooling device comprises at least one fan device for generating a cooling air flow that can be guided over the energy storage device and the converter device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

The airflow can then be directed not only over the drive motor, but also over the battery and converter to ensure appropriate cooling during operation of the construction machine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4174235B1Electric working machine with battery cooling
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 WACKER NEUSON PRODUKTION GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4174235B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A working machine is described, comprising a working device for producing a working movement and a drive for powering the working device. The drive includes an electric drive motor (5), an electric energy storage device (10) for supplying the drive motor (5) with electric current, and a converter device (11) for converting the current from the energy storage device (10) and supplying the current to the drive motor (5). A cooling device is provided for cooling the energy storage device (10) and the converter device (11). The cooling device includes at least one fan device (15) for generating a cooling airflow (16) that can be directed over the energy storage device (10) and the converter device (11). The fan device (15) includes a fan and a fan motor driving the fan, and the fan motor is provided separately from the drive motor (5).