Engine Compartment Heat Exchanger Layout for Compact Cooling Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in motor vehicle engine compartments is optimizing space while ensuring safe positioning of flexible elongated bodies like pipes and cables, which are prone to damage from vibrations and proximity to hot engine parts, particularly with increasing heat exchange demands that reduce the available space for safe placement.
Innovation Solution
An interconnection device with rigid tubing and a rotation locking mechanism is fixed to a heat exchanger's water box, using an interfacing plate to secure the cooling circuit, allowing for reduced tubing length and section, and incorporating assembly flanges for easy connection, which enhances mechanical strength and reduces assembly time, while avoiding leaks and mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat exchanger bundle is increased to meet heat exchange demands, then thermal efficiency is improved, but the space available for safe positioning of flexible elongated bodies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat exchanger assembly with the support frame by integrating mounting brackets and connection elements directly into the frame structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate positioning components and optimizes the use of available space while maintaining safe clearance for flexible pipes.
2Reliability
If flexible elongated bodies are positioned with sufficient distance from hot elements and vibrations, then reliability is improved, but space optimization is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rigid conduits and protective sleeves as intermediary elements between the flexible pipes and the engine compartment components. These intermediaries provide mechanical protection, maintain safe thermal clearance, and prevent vibration-induced damage while allowing compact arrangement of all components.
3Strength
If rigid tubing is used instead of flexible tubing, then mechanical strength is improved, but adaptability to vibration and position variation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid transport system into rigid sections for structural strength and flexibility sections for adaptability. The rigid tubing provides mechanical strength and precise positioning, while flexible couplings and expansion joints are strategically placed to accommodate vibration and thermal expansion, combining the advantages of both rigid and flexible materials.
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 optimizes space under the engine hood, reduces the risk of leaks, and enhances thermal efficiency by allowing closer placement of heat exchangers to the support frame, while maintaining structural integrity and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the components to be cooled are hydraulically connected to heat exchangers so that a cooling fluid passing through the component to be cooled is capable of entering into heat exchange with a cooling fluid, particularly air
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns an arrangement of an engine compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a support frame, at least one heat exchanger and a cooling circuit, the support frame being arranged at least partly around the heat exchanger, characterised in that an interconnection device connecting at least one heat exchanger to the cooling circuit is arranged partly through a passage delimited by the heat exchanger and the support frame.