Cooling Unit Partition Wall Noise Reduction via Cushioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling units with partition walls facing cooling fins are prone to noise generation when the partition wall warps and comes into contact with the fins, as the direct contact creates noise sources.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a cushioning material, such as a closed-cell sponge, between the partition wall and the cooling fins to absorb any contact and prevent direct contact noise, while maintaining efficient cooling by ensuring the fluid flows around the fins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a partition wall is used to convey fluid efficiently, then cooling efficiency is improved, but noise generation increases when the partition wall warps and contacts the cooling fins

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidnoise generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A cushioning material is introduced as an intermediary element between the partition wall and the cooling fins. This cushioning material absorbs the contact when the partition wall warps, preventing direct contact between the partition wall and cooling fins, thereby eliminating the noise generation source while preserving the fluid conveyance function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning material is pre-installed between the partition wall and cooling fins to provide advance protection against warping-induced contact. This prior cushioning ensures that even if the partition wall warps during operation, the noise-generating direct contact is prevented

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 cushioning material reduces noise generation by absorbing contact points and allows for efficient cooling by directing fluid flow around the fins, even when the partition wall warps, thus enhancing the overall cooling efficiency and reducing noise.

Implementation Method 1

The cushioning material is disposed between the partition wall and the plurality of cooling fins and fixed to the partition wall. Therefore, when the partition wall warps, the cushioning material comes into contact with the cooling fins. This prevents the partition wall from directly coming into contact with the cooling fins.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCushioning: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The duct is fixed to the member-to-be-cooled, includes a partition wall facing the plurality of cooling fins, and conveys a fluid to around the plurality of cooling fins

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

the contact portions do not form noise generation sources. This specification proposes a technique for reducing noise generation in a cooling unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS11808533B2Cooling unit

Publication Date: 2023.11.07 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A cooling unit has a member-to-be-cooled, a duct, and a cushioning material. The member-to-be-cooled has a plurality of cooling fins. The duct is fixed to the member-to-be-cooled, has a partition wall facing the plurality of cooling fins, and conveys a fluid to around the plurality of cooling fins. The cushioning material is disposed between the partition wall and the plurality of cooling fins and fixed to the partition wall.