Construction Machine Engine Bracket Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing construction machine designs face issues with air flow being hampered in the exhaust duct due to the engine bracket's reinforcement plate, which is inclined and extends from the base end to the front end, causing obstruction in the air flow path between the support legs.

Innovation Solution

The engine bracket is redesigned with a reinforcement plate that connects the engine support legs and projects outward from the exhaust duct, allowing the air to flow smoothly by closing the notched portion of the exhaust duct and ensuring rigidity without traversing the duct, thus preventing air leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the reinforcement plate of the engine bracket is inclined and extends from the base end portion to the front end portion, then the rigidity of the engine bracket is improved, but the air flow path in the exhaust duct is closed and air flow is hampered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverigidity of engine bracketVSAvoidair flow through exhaust duct
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful part (the portion of the reinforcement plate that closes the air flow path) is extracted or removed from the system. The reinforcement plate is redesigned to extend only from the base end portion to a position before the front end portion, so that it connects the support legs and provides rigidity without traversing through the exhaust duct and blocking the air flow path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement plate is positioned in a different spatial arrangement - it extends in a direction that connects the support legs laterally rather than extending forward along the exhaust duct. This dimensional repositioning allows the reinforcement plate to provide structural rigidity while existing outside the air flow path of the exhaust duct.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the base end portion of the engine bracket is welded to the cross beam in the exhaust duct, then the engine bracket is securely mounted, but the air flow in the exhaust duct is hampered by the engine bracket structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting security of engine bracketVSAvoidair flow through exhaust duct
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The engine bracket structure is extracted or modified to remove the portion that interferes with air flow. The reinforcement plate is designed to extend only to a position before the front end portion, so that while the base end portion remains welded to the cross beam for secure mounting, the bracket structure does not traverse through and block the exhaust duct air flow path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the reinforcement plate connects the pair of support legs, then the structural stability is improved, but the air flow path between the support legs is closed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stability of engine bracketVSAvoidair flow through exhaust duct
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful extension of the reinforcement plate is extracted or removed. The reinforcement plate is redesigned to connect the pair of support legs only up to a position before the front end portion, so that it provides structural stability by connecting the support legs without extending forward to close off the air flow path between them in the exhaust duct.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2792524B1Construction machine
Publication Date: 2018.01.03 KOBELCO CONSTR MASCH CO LTD
  • EP2792524B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2792524B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2792524B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Base end portions of a pair of engine support legs are welded to an upper frame in an exhaust duct. The pair of engine support legs extends to a notched portion of the exhaust duct from the base end portions to front end portions thereof. The front end portions project to the outside of the exhaust duct. The pair of engine support legs is connected to each other by a reinforcement plate arranged to close the notched portion of the exhaust duct.