Air conditioning unit for the cabin of a construction machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance of outdoor air filters in construction machines, such as hydraulic excavators, is labor-intensive and prone to moisture issues, leading to reduced filter lifespan and potential indoor unit nonconformity due to rainwater or carwash water penetration.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor air duct is configured to pass between the cab box side face and the operator's seat, with a filter accommodation portion inside the cab box, allowing easy attachment and removal of the outdoor air filter without external access, and featuring an inverted U-shape to prevent moisture adhesion and penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the outdoor air filter is arranged at the outdoor air inlet port on the rear side of the cab box, then the filter can effectively trap dusts in outdoor air, but maintenance work requires workers to go around the outside of the cab box causing increased labor and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor air filter is relocated from the rear exterior position to the interior of the cab box, changing the spatial dimension of filter placement. The filter accommodation portion is formed in the outdoor air duct inside the cab box, allowing maintenance to be performed from the interior space rather than requiring exterior access.
Solution Approach 2:
The cab box interior space is utilized for dual purposes: as the operator's room and as the accommodation space for the outdoor air filter. This multi-functional use of the cab box interior eliminates the need for separate exterior filter housing and simplifies maintenance access.
2Reliability
If the outdoor air filter is provided at the outdoor air inlet port, then the filter can trap dusts, but rainwater or carwash water may adhere to the filter reducing its lifespan and potentially causing moisture penetration to the indoor unit
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor air filter is extracted from the outdoor air inlet port position and relocated to the interior of the cab box. This separation removes the filter from the direct path of rainwater and carwash water, eliminating the harmful moisture adhesion while maintaining the filter's dust-trapping function through the indoor-accessible accommodation portion.
3Ease of operation
If the outdoor air duct is configured to pass between the cab box side face and operator's seat with an inverted U-shape, then the filter accommodation portion can be positioned inside the cab box for easy maintenance, but the duct configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor air duct is designed with an inverted U-shape configuration that dynamically adapts to the cab box interior space constraints. The duct rises from the outdoor air inlet port, bends upward to position the filter accommodation portion inside the cab box, and then descends to connect to the indoor unit, flexibly navigating around the operator's seat and cab box structure.
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 simplifies maintenance, extends filter life, and protects the indoor unit from moisture, enhancing workability and reliability by allowing easy filter access and positioning the filter away from the outdoor air inlet port to prevent moisture adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
an outdoor air filter for trapping dusts in outdoor air flowing through the outdoor air duct
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
An upper revolving structure (3) is provided with a revolving frame (5), a floor member (10), and a cab box (20). On this, an indoor unit (21) for an air conditioner is provided on the floor member (10), and an outdoor air inlet port (16) is provided by being opened to the outside of the cab box (20). An outdoor air duct (24) is provided for supplying outdoor air introduced through the outdoor air inlet port (16) toward the indoor unit (21). In this duct (24), an intermediate portion (24A) is arranged at a high position on the side of an operator's seat (17), and on this intermediate portion (24A), a filter accommodating portion (26) is provided by being opened into the cab box (20). In the filter accommodating portion (26), an outdoor air filter (28) for trapping dusts in the outdoor air flowing through the outdoor air duct (24) is accommodated capable of being attached and removed.