Covered Dolly Layout With Central Air Intake for Cooling and Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dollies for vehicle combinations, such as those used in road trains, face limitations in maneuverability and component protection due to wind drag and exposure to environmental elements, which affect the efficiency and reliability of the drive and battery systems.
Innovation Solution
The dolly is designed with a steerable axle, a drive unit, a fifth wheel, and a cover featuring a front compartment with radiators, where the air intake is positioned adjacent to the drawbar to reduce wind drag and protect components, utilizing separate cooling circuits for the drive unit and battery, and a wind deflector to optimize airflow and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the dolly is provided with a cover to protect components, then component protection from environmental influences and dirt is improved, but wind drag and cooling efficiency may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a cover (shell) structure that encloses the dolly components while incorporating air openings and radiators to manage airflow and cooling, demonstrating how flexible shell structures can provide protection without compromising functional requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The radiators act as intermediary elements between the covered components and the external environment, facilitating heat dissipation while the cover maintains component protection, thus mediating between protection and cooling requirements
2Temperature
If the air intake is positioned at the front of the dolly, then cooling efficiency is improved, but exposure to road spray and dirt from other vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions air openings and radiators at the central location adjacent to the drawbar, transitioning from traditional front/side positioning to a central vertical arrangement that exploits the airflow pattern between the vehicle in front and the semitrailer, reducing exposure to road spray while maintaining cooling efficiency
3Device complexity
If the dolly is made longer to accommodate more components, then component integration is improved, but maneuverability and turning radius worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components (drive unit, battery, radiators, air openings) into a centralized arrangement around the drawbar area, merging previously separate or distributed components into a compact integrated system that reduces overall dolly length and improves maneuverability
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 design enhances maneuverability by reducing wind resistance and environmental exposure, improves component protection, and optimizes cooling efficiency, leading to reduced energy loss and increased reliability of the drive and battery systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first radiator, where the air intake to the radiator is arranged adjacent the drawbar
Implementation Method 2
a first radiator, where the air intake to the radiator is arranged adjacent the drawbar
Implementation Method 3
the dolly is provided with a cover that will reduce wind drag
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A dolly (1) adapted to be coupled to a semitrailer (33), where the dolly (1) comprises a first steerable axle (2) and a second axle (3) provided with a drive unit (4), and where the dolly (1) comprises a fifth wheel (5) and a drawbar (6), where the dolly (1) further comprises a cover (7) having a front compartment (8) in front of the first axle (2), where the front compartment (8) comprises a first radiator (9), and where the cover (7) comprises a first air opening (11) adjacent the drawbar (6). In this way, a dolly with integral cooling is provided.