Cover Member Airflow Design for Electric Component Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hydraulic excavators, the narrow vehicle body space and high temperatures around post-treatment devices pose a risk of failure or malfunction for electric components due to thermal influences, as conventional technologies do not adequately address the placement and cooling of these components.
Innovation Solution
A cover member is designed to efficiently direct cooling air towards electric components near the post-treatment device, narrowing the space between the cover and the device to increase airflow speed and prevent deposits from being ignited, while being easily mountable and cost-effective.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If electric components are disposed near the post-treatment device to save space, then the vehicle body space utilization is improved, but the electric components are exposed to high temperatures causing failure or malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the space into two functional zones: a high-temperature zone around the post-treatment device and a cool zone for electric components. The cover member acts as a physical separator that segments the thermal environment, allowing space-efficient arrangement while protecting sensitive components from thermal damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member serves as an intermediary structure between the heat source (post-treatment device) and the heat-sensitive components (electric components). It actively manages thermal transfer by directing cooling air flow through the space between itself and the post-treatment device, thereby mediating the thermal interaction and protecting electric components.
2Reliability
If a cover member is added to protect electric components from heat, then the thermal protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it protects electric components from heat, directs cooling air flow, and structurally supports the electric components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving thermal protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the protective function, cooling function, and support function into a single integrated cover member structure. By combining these functions that could have been separate components, the overall device complexity is minimized while still achieving comprehensive thermal protection for electric 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
This configuration effectively cools electric components, maintains their functionality, and prevents deposits from being ignited, minimizing the necessary vehicle body space and production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan (16) that generates cooling air
Implementation Method 2
the inflow side guide section (32) expands toward the upstream side of the flow of the cooling air with respect to the space formed between the cover member (21) and the post-treatment device (17)... to bring the cooling air generated by the cooling fan (16) into contact with the electric components (20) at a high speed to efficiently cool the electric components (20)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A construction machine according to the present invention includes electric components 20 and a cover member 21, and includes an inflow side opening 25 that allows cooling air generated by the cooling fan 16 to flow therein, and an outflow side opening 26 that allows the cooling air flowing in from the inflow side opening 25 to flow out, in which the cover member 21 is formed such that the inflow side opening 25 expands toward an upstream side of a flow of the cooling air with respect to a space formed between the cover member 21 and the post-treatment device 17, and having the electric components 20 therein, and a space between the post-treatment device 17 and the cover member 21 narrows from the inflow side opening 25 toward the outflow side opening 26.