Excavator Inverter Layout Between Hydraulic Tank and Floor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing construction machines face challenges in securing space for electric devices like inverter devices due to restrictive layouts, particularly in compact excavators, limiting the freedom and efficiency of device placement.
Innovation Solution
The construction machine incorporates an electric device, such as an inverter device, positioned apart from the hydraulic oil tank and supported on a pedestal, with a fan placed between an open part of the tank's housing space, and a drive part with a seat mount on the floor, allowing for a high degree of freedom in layout and efficient placement in limited spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the electric device is placed in a staircase-shaped component case in front of the tank, then the controller and storage are housed, but the position on the swing frame is easily restricted and space is difficult to secure in compact excavators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar placement (staircase-shaped component case on the swing frame) to a three-dimensional configuration by placing the electric device in the vertical space between the hydraulic oil tank and the floor part. This utilizes the height dimension of the swing frame, thereby increasing layout freedom without requiring additional horizontal space on the swing frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the swing frame space into distinct functional zones: the hydraulic oil tank occupies the upper space, the electric device is positioned in the intermediate vertical space, and the floor part with drive seat occupies the lower space. This segmentation allows each component to be independently positioned and optimized without restricting the layout freedom of other components.
2Device complexity
If a staircase-shaped component case is used to house the electric device, then the controller and storage are contained, but the restriction on the position of placing the electric device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electric device from the restrictive staircase-shaped component case configuration and positions it independently in the vertical space between the hydraulic oil tank and the floor part. This extraction eliminates the positional restrictions imposed by the component case while maintaining the housing function through the swing frame structure itself.
3Volume of moving object
If the electric device is placed in a compact excavator with restricted swing frame space, then space utilization is challenged, but layout freedom is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the space utilization challenge in compact excavators by utilizing the vertical dimension between the hydraulic oil tank and the floor part. This three-dimensional positioning allows the electric device to be accommodated in the limited swing frame space without compromising layout freedom, as the device can be positioned independently in the vertical space rather than being constrained to horizontal planar arrangements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention makes it possible to, in a configuration provided with electrical components such as an inverter device for controlling an electric motor, obtain a high degree of freedom with regard to the layout of the electrical components and efficiently place the electrical components in a limited space. An excavator comprises: an electric motor; a hydraulic fluid tank in which hydraulic fluid is stored; a hydraulic pump that is driven by the electric motor and supplies the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic fluid tank to an actuator; and an inverter device that, with respect to the hydraulic fluid tank, is provided at a position away from a left-side surface part of the hydraulic fluid tank.