Construction Machine Cooling Structure Soundproofing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cooling structure of construction machines, such as hydraulic excavators, has low soundproof performance on the air intake side due to inadequate sound attenuation and airtightness, leading to noise leakage and space constraints for other equipment.
Innovation Solution
An improved cooling structure is implemented with an air intake chamber partitioned by a shield member and a duct, which intercepts direct sound and provides enhanced sound reflection-attenuation, preventing leakage through clearances and encasing the heat exchanger to maintain airtightness without enlarging the space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the air intake chamber is extended toward the front of the machine to improve soundproof performance, then sound attenuation is enhanced, but the installation space for other equipment is encroached upon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the air intake chamber inside the engine room, nesting it within the existing structural space. The chamber is formed by utilizing the engine room's boundaries (cover member, heat exchanger, shield member) rather than extending outward, thus nesting the soundproofing function within the existing volume without encroaching on external installation spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending the air intake chamber in the front-back direction (length dimension), the patent utilizes the vertical and lateral dimensions within the engine room. The chamber is positioned between the heat exchanger and the cover member, effectively using the available three-dimensional space without requiring additional length that would conflict with other equipment.
2Device complexity
If a simple air intake chamber structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but soundproof performance is insufficient due to sound leakage through clearances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different parts of the air intake chamber structure. The cover member provides the outer boundary, the heat exchanger serves as one wall, and the shield member specifically addresses sound leakage through clearances. This localized functional assignment achieves effective soundproofing without requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield member acts as an intermediary element between the heat exchanger and the cover member. It specifically addresses the sound leakage problem through clearances by providing an additional barrier, mediating the soundproofing function without requiring complete redesign of the entire chamber structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the air intake chamber is made airtight to prevent sound leakage, then soundproof performance is improved, but the space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air intake chamber is nested within the existing engine room structure, utilizing the space between the heat exchanger and the cover member. This nesting approach achieves airtightness for soundproofing without requiring additional external space, as the chamber is formed by arranging existing components rather than adding new volume.
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 significantly increases soundproof effectiveness on the air intake side, reducing noise leakage and allowing for efficient air intake while preserving space for other equipment, making it applicable to existing machines without the need for structural enlargement.
Implementation Method 1
a shield member having a face opposing the core surface of the heat exchanger is provided in the front side of the core surface so as to partition the air intake chamber disposed between the core surface and the first air intake port into two chambers
Implementation Method 2
a sound reflection-attenuation effect is also obtained through the long, bent air intake passage
Implementation Method 3
a sound reflection-attenuation effect is also obtained through the long, bent air intake passage
Implementation Method 4
outside air is sucked by rotation of the cooling fan to be passed through the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
To improve soundproof performance on an air intake side of a cooling structure of a construction machine without enlarging an air intake chamber. An air intake chamber is provided on the air intake side of a heat exchanger in an engine room, and a first air intake port is formed in a top face of the air intake chamber. In the air intake chamber, a duct independently formed as a shield member is disposed so as to partition the air intake chamber into two chambers, and also such that the core surface of the heat exchanger is enclosed airtightly from the surrounding atmosphere. A second air intake port is formed in the duct; thereby, the air intake chamber is constituted in a doubled duct structure, and air sucked from the first air intake port is guided through an air intake passage to the core surface of the heat exchanger, the air intake passage being bent so as to be roughly L-shaped.