Vehicle Drive Component Cooling via Integrated Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for vehicle drive components, such as gearboxes, are inefficient and prone to overheating due to dirt contamination and increased costs associated with additional radiators and hydraulic circuits, which limits the power output and requires more space and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An active cooling system where a heat exchanger is integrated or mounted directly onto the component to be cooled, utilizing the existing oil cooling circuit to transport heat to a radiator, ensuring efficient heat dissipation without direct contact with the component's oil, thus maintaining optimal oil levels and reducing power losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a separate cooling system with additional radiator and hydraulic circuit is installed, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function for additional components with the existing drive line cooling circuit by integrating a heat exchanger that utilizes the same hydraulic circuit and radiator. This eliminates the need for a separate cooling system while maintaining effective cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing drive line cooling circuit is made universal by enabling it to cool both the main drive line and additional components through the integrated heat exchanger. The same hydraulic circuit and radiator serve multiple cooling purposes, reducing overall system complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If passive cooling system with ribs is used on gearbox, then cooling surface area is increased, but cooling efficiency deteriorates when dirty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary component that transfers heat from the component's oil to the existing cooling circuit's hydraulic fluid. This mediator approach allows efficient heat transfer without exposing the component surface directly to the environment, preventing dirt-related cooling efficiency loss.
3Temperature
If additional radiator is installed near engine radiator package, then cooling capacity is increased, but available space is reduced and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling capacity needs of additional components with the existing engine cooling system by integrating a heat exchanger into the current radiator circuit. This eliminates the need for additional radiators and preserves valuable space under the hood while maintaining adequate cooling capacity.
4Power
If higher installed power is provided, then vehicle performance is improved, but heat generation and cooling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing cooling circuit universal by enabling it to handle heat from both the main drive line and additional high-power components through the integrated heat exchanger. This allows the system to support higher installed power without requiring proportionally larger cooling infrastructure.
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 solution enhances cooling efficiency, increases maximum power output without overheating, reduces maintenance, and minimizes additional parts and space requirements, while maintaining system performance even when dirty, by integrating the heat exchanger into the primary drive line oil circuit.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger is disposed directly on the component to be cooled... the heat exchanger is arranged to be included in the at least one oil cooling circuit... for transporting the heat from the drive line of the vehicle to a radiator
Implementation Method 2
a radiator mounted on the vehicle and cooled by natural or forced air flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
An active cooling system for drive components (1) of vehicles comprising at least one oil cooling circuit transporting the heat from a drive line of the vehicle to a radiator mounted to the vehicle and cooled by natural or forced air flow. The active cooling system comprises a heat exchanger system for additional drive components of the vehicle wherein in use heat is produced, said heat exchanger system including a cavity (9; 29; 39) connected into said at least one oil cooling circuit of the drive line and in fluid isolation from any fluids within a housing (2; 20; 30) of the additional drive component (1), said cavity (9; 29; 39) being arranged in heat exchanging relationship with the component (1) to be cooled.