Agricultural Cooling System Suction Element and Back Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for agricultural vehicles are complex and result in suboptimal cooling due to the use of dust screens, which obstruct airflow and require additional space for cleaning mechanisms, leading to reduced cooling capacity.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system that omits the dust screen by using an elongated suction element and a synchronized back plate to directly clean the heat exchanger apertures, allowing for improved airflow and increased cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dust screen is placed between the heat exchanger and air intake to stop contaminants, then the heat exchanger remains clean, but the system complexity increases and cooling capacity is reduced due to airflow obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the dust screen from the system entirely and replaces it with a suction element that actively removes contaminants. This extraction of the screening function and replacement with a different mechanism (suction-based cleaning) resolves the contradiction by eliminating the airflow obstruction caused by screens while maintaining heat exchanger cleanliness through direct contaminant removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction element with back plate creates a self-cleaning system that continuously removes contaminants from the heat exchanger apertures. The system serves itself by automatically cleaning the heat exchanger without requiring external intervention or complex screen cleaning mechanisms, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If a dust screen is placed in the cooling system to protect the heat exchanger, then contaminants are stopped, but the airflow resistance increases reducing cooling capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The dust screen is completely removed from the system. Instead of passively filtering contaminants, the invention uses a suction element that actively extracts contaminants from the heat exchanger apertures. This eliminates the airflow resistance inherent in screen-based systems while maintaining protective function through direct contaminant removal, thereby preserving cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a suction element connected to a vacuum source to create a pneumatic cleaning system. This pneumatic mechanism uses negative pressure to draw contaminants out of the heat exchanger apertures, providing effective protection without the airflow resistance problems associated with physical screens. The back plate enhances this pneumatic action by directing airflow and preventing contaminant escape.
3Reliability
If a screen cleaning mechanism is added to remove contaminants from the dust screen, then the screen can be cleaned, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the entire screen and its associated cleaning mechanism. By extracting the screening function and replacing it with a suction-based system, the invention eliminates the need for complex screen cleaning mechanisms. The suction element with back plate directly cleans the heat exchanger apertures through contaminant suction, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction element and back plate are combined into a single integrated cleaning assembly that works together to remove contaminants. The back plate serves multiple functions: it directs airflow, prevents contaminant escape, and works in conjunction with the suction element. This merging of functions into a compact assembly reduces overall system complexity and space requirements compared to separate screen and cleaning mechanism systems.
4Reliability
If a dust screen is installed in the cooling system, then contaminants are filtered, but the air passage area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dust screen is completely removed from the air passage. The invention replaces the screen-based filtration approach with a suction-based contaminant removal system. This extraction of the screening element eliminates the physical barrier that reduces air passage area, allowing full aperture openness while maintaining contaminant filtration through active suction and back plate containment.
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 system achieves higher cooling capacity and reduced complexity by eliminating the dust screen, allowing for easier airflow and more compact design, with the suction element and back plate working in sync to effectively remove contaminants from the heat exchanger apertures.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated suction element that is movable over the array of apertures
Implementation Method 2
at least one fan for forcing air to flow through the cooling system
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A cooling system for an agricultural vehicle (1) comprises an air intake (3), a heat exchanger (4) defining an array of apertures (24), and at least one fan (5). The cooling system further comprises an elongated suction element (8) that is moveable between the heat exchanger and the air intake over the array of apertures, and wherein an elongated back plate (18) is moveable between the heat exchanger and the at least one fan over the array of apertures, which back plate is operationally connected to the suction element (8) so that the back plate (18) moves together with the suction element (8).