Elastic Cooler Mounting Structure for Easy Work Machine Service

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work equipment faces challenges such as difficult cooler replacement, inadequate sealing of hydraulic pipes, cumbersome maintenance, poor cooling performance due to inadequate partitioning, and issues with dust accumulation and weld distortion, which affect the efficiency and ease of operation.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a support bracket with elastic members for mounting coolers, improved sealing of hydraulic conduits, enhanced partitioning for better cooling efficiency, and features like a swivel joint cover to prevent foreign matter from entering and a weight support system to maintain assembly accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If coolers are mounted rigidly on the support bracket, then mounting strength is improved, but replacement difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting strengthVSAvoidreplacement difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by using elastic mounting members instead of rigid fixed connections. The elastic members allow the cooler to be mounted securely with sufficient holding strength while enabling easy removal and replacement by simply detaching the mounting members, transforming a permanently fixed structure into a dynamically adjustable one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting system is segmented into separate components: the support bracket, the elastic mounting members, and the cooler. This segmentation allows the cooler to be independently removed from the support bracket by detaching the mounting members, facilitating easy replacement while maintaining secure mounting during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If hydraulic pipes are arranged without sealing structures, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sealing members as intermediary elements between the hydraulic pipes and the support structures. These sealing members act as mediators that prevent direct contact between the pipes and structural components, ensuring sealing performance while maintaining relative structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs flexible sealing members (such as grommets or rubber seals) to seal the hydraulic pipes where they pass through the support bracket or partition structures. These flexible thin film elements conform to the pipe surfaces and provide effective sealing without adding complex rigid sealing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Device complexity

If the prime mover room is not partitioned from the cooler area, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepartition structureVSAvoidcooling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the machine interior into distinct zones: the prime mover room and the cooler area. A partition structure physically divides these spaces, preventing hot exhaust gases from the prime mover from directly contacting the coolers, thereby maintaining optimal cooling performance through spatial separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition structure serves as an intermediary barrier between the hot prime mover environment and the cool cooler area. It blocks thermal transfer and directs cooling airflow appropriately, ensuring that the coolers receive sufficient cool air without direct exposure to prime mover heat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If coolers are cleaned by tilting the frame member, then cleaning access is improved, but foreign matter accumulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning accessVSAvoidforeign matter accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cooler from its fixed mounted position by providing detachable mounting members. This allows the cooler to be completely removed from the support bracket for cleaning, eliminating the problem of foreign matter accumulation that occurs when coolers are tilted in place, while still providing easy access for maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 allows for easy replacement and improved mounting strength of coolers, enhanced sealing and cleaning efficiency, reduced weld distortion, and improved assembly accuracy, leading to better cooling performance and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a first mounting member provided to the support bracket and formed of an elastic member; a second mounting member arranged between the fitting bracket and the first and second coolers and formed of elastic member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3815949B1Work machine
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3815949B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3815949B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3815949B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide a working machine (1) configured to ensure a mount strength of a plurality of coolers (R1, O1) and allowing the plurality of coolers (R1, O1) to be easily replaced. A working machine (1) includes a support bracket (18) attached to a machine body (2), a first mounting member (J1, J2, J3, J4) provided to the support bracket (18) and formed of an elastic member, a first cooler (R1) and a second cooler (R2) arranged in parallel to a horizontal direction and mounted on the support bracket (18) with the first mounting member (J1, J2, J3, J4), a fitting bracket (453) detachably fitted to upper portions of the first and second coolers (R1, O1), and a second mounting member (J5, J6, J7, J8) arranged between the fitting bracket (453) and the first and second coolers (R1, O1) and formed of elastic member.