Engine-Mounted Radiator Layout for Vibration-Stable Vehicle Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicles with liquid-cooled engines face design and manufacturing challenges due to the need for customized frames and layouts, and mechanical stress issues from differing engine and frame vibrations, which complicates the installation of different cooling systems and increases the risk of mechanical stress and breakdowns.

Innovation Solution

Integrating the radiator and expansion vessel with the engine body, allowing them to be part of the suspended mass connected to the frame, enabling the installation of various cooling systems on a common frame and reducing mechanical stress to engine vibrations alone, thus simplifying vehicle design and assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the radiator and expansion vessel are installed separately on the frame, then the cooling system can be independently positioned, but the frame design must be customized for each cooling system type and the components are subjected to different vibrations from the frame causing mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with various cooling systemsVSAvoidframe design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the radiator and expansion vessel with the engine assembly by integrating them into the same suspended mass. This combination allows the entire cooling system to move together with the engine, eliminating the need for customized frame designs for different cooling systems while reducing mechanical stress from differential vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the radiator and expansion vessel are installed separately on the frame, then the cooling system components can be independently positioned, but the differing vibrations of engine and frame cause mechanical stress and increase breakdown risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidmechanical stress resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the radiator and expansion vessel into the engine's suspended mass, ensuring they experience the same vibrations as the engine. This merging eliminates mechanical stress caused by differential vibrations between engine and frame, thereby improving reliability while maintaining installation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If a liquid cooling system is implemented with separate frame mounting, then adequate engine cooling is ensured, but the design and manufacturing process becomes more complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine cooling efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the radiator and expansion vessel with the engine assembly, allowing the entire cooling system to be manufactured and assembled as a single unit. This merging simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces costs while maintaining adequate engine cooling efficiency through the liquid cooling system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 allows for the use of different cooling systems on a single vehicle frame, reducing the risk of mechanical stress and breakdowns by synchronizing the vibration of cooling system components with the engine, facilitating production and maintaining compatibility with various engines.

Implementation Method 1

the coolant is cooled following a heat exchange with an airflow directed against the radiator and usually generated by means of a fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

an airflow directed against the radiator and usually generated by means of a fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAirflow generation: Fan

Implementation Method 3

the coolant is caused to circulate in defined channeling through the head and/or the cylinder, where therefore the heat generated by the combustion is yielded to the coolant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4025446B1Motor vehicle with radiator on board the engine
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 PIAGGIO & C SPA
  • EP4025446B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4025446B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4025446B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A motor vehicle (100) comprising a front wheel (101), two rear wheels (102) arranged along a common rotation axis and a frame, said vehicle (100) comprising a powertrain connected to said frame in a back part so as to be like a mass suspended from said frame, where said powertrain comprises a thermal engine (201) and a mechanical transmission for transmitting the torque generated by said thermal engine (201) to at least one of said wheels (101, 102), where said thermal engine (201) and said mechanical transmission are accommodated in a crankcase (204), and where said powertrain comprises a liquid cooling system including a radiator (301) and a fan (310) adapted to generate, by rotation, an airflow through said radiator (301).