Construction Machine Electrical Unit Cooling via Engine Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing construction machine designs face challenges in cooling electrical units within the hood space efficiently, leading to increased costs due to the need for additional components like compressors and heat insulating materials, and complex airflow path designs.
Innovation Solution
A construction machine design that utilizes an intake pipe connected to the engine's inlet port to create a cooling air path within the hood space, allowing outside air to flow through the intake pipe and intake duct to effectively cool the electrical unit, reducing the need for additional cooling components and simplifying airflow path design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a compressor is added to cool the electrical component, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the engine intake pipe serve dual functions: (1) supplying air to the engine, and (2) cooling the electrical component. The intake pipe is designed with a distal-end opening that directs air flow through the electrical component housing, allowing the same structure to perform both engine intake and cooling functions without adding a compressor or separate cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical component cooling is achieved using the engine's own intake air flow. The suction pressure generated by the engine during normal operation automatically draws air through the intake pipe and across the electrical component, eliminating the need for external power sources or additional cooling devices.
2Temperature
If heat insulating materials are used to protect the electrical component from high temperature, then the electrical component temperature is controlled, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical component from the high-temperature engine compartment environment by routing cooling air directly to it. The electrical component housing includes an air intake portion that receives cooled air from the engine intake system, effectively removing the component from the thermal influence of the engine without requiring heat insulating materials.
3Temperature
If the electrical component is placed far from the engine to reduce heat conduction, then the electrical component temperature is controlled, but the part shape becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cooling air as an intermediary medium between the engine and the electrical component. The air flow, driven by engine suction pressure, acts as a thermal barrier that transfers heat away from the electrical component. The housing includes air intake and exhaust openings that guide this intermediary cooling flow through the component housing.
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 reliably cools the electrical unit at a lower cost by leveraging the engine's intake system, reducing the requirement for heat insulating materials and simplifying the airflow path, thereby maintaining the electrical unit's temperature within a specified range while minimizing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a distal-end opening of an intake pipe connected to an inlet port of the engine is disposed in the placement space to cause outside air sucked into the intake pipe due to a suction pressure occurred in the intake pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A construction machine in which an electrical unit can be reliably cooled at low cost by effectively utilizing an intake pipe connected to an intake port of an engine. This construction machine includes: an engine; and a hood covering the engine, wherein a space inside the hood has a placement space in which an electrical unit is placed and which communicates with outside air, and a distal-end opening of an intake pipe connected to an inlet port of the engine is disposed in the placement space to cause outside air sucked into the intake pipe due to a suction pressure occurred in the intake pipe to pass through the placement space to form a cooling air path in the placement space.