Compact Hydraulic Unit Cooling via Segmented Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact hydraulic units face challenges in cooling and integrating components within a small housing, especially in confined spaces, where efficient cooling and space optimization are crucial for reliable operation and protection from dust and water.
Innovation Solution
A compact unit design where the flow guide device creates partial air flows to efficiently cool the electric motor and heat exchanger, allowing for flexible component placement, overpressure generation, and increased IP protection, enabling reliable continuous operation and efficient energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If all components are integrated into a compact housing, then space utilization is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow generated by the fan is divided into multiple partial flows using flow guide devices. One partial flow cools the electric motor, another cools the heat exchanger, and a third cools the frequency converter. This segmentation allows each component to receive dedicated cooling airflow despite the compact housing integration.
2Temperature
If components are positioned to optimize cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but space utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guide device creates three-dimensional airflow paths that efficiently cool components in various orientations. The partial flows can cool components positioned in different spatial arrangements, allowing optimal cooling without sacrificing compact housing design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If housing is sealed for protection, then protection against dust and water is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger serves as an intermediary between the sealed housing interior and the external environment. It allows heat generated by the electric motor and other components to be dissipated to the surrounding air while maintaining the protective seal of the housing against dust and water.
4Temperature
If fan generates high airflow, then cooling efficiency is improved, but energy consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single fan's airflow is segmented into multiple directed partial flows that efficiently reach different components. This segmentation maximizes the cooling effectiveness of the airflow, reducing the need for excessive fan power while maintaining adequate cooling of all components.
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
The design achieves efficient cooling and protection of components, optimizing space usage, ensuring reliable operation and enhanced protection against dust and water, with the ability to maintain high operational reliability and energy efficiency even during continuous operation.
Implementation Method 1
a fan (19) which can be actuated to generate an airflow; a flow guide device (45, 55) which forms partial flows from the airflow generated by the fan
Implementation Method 2
an air-to-air heat exchanger (14, 15)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a compact unit, at least consisting of an electric motor, which is accommodated in housing parts (7, 55) of a unit housing (45) and which drives at least one hydraulic pump and gives off heat at the same time, an air heat-exchanging device, and a fan (19), which can be driven in order to produce an air flow. The compact unit is characterized in that a flow-conducting device (47, 55) that divides off from the air flow at least a first partial flow flowing around the electric motor and a second partial flow flowing to the heat-exchanging device is present in the unit housing (45), or that, arranged in series, the air flow first flows against the electric motor and then the heat-exchanging device, or that the incidence of the air flow occurs at least partially in the reverse direction.