Excavator Equipment Room Partitioning for Separate Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power-operated hydraulic excavators face challenges in efficiently cooling electrical and hydraulic equipment due to differing temperature bands, as they are accommodated in the same space and cooled by a single cooling system.

Innovation Solution

The excavator is partitioned into separate electrical and hydraulic equipment rooms, each with dedicated cooling devices, including fans and radiators, to individually manage the distinct temperature requirements of electrical and hydraulic components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If electrical equipment and hydraulic equipment are accommodated in the same space and cooled by a single cooling system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling efficiency for each equipment type deteriorates due to differing temperature requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling system structureVSAvoidcooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the equipment accommodation space into separate electrical equipment room and hydraulic equipment room, and provides dedicated cooling devices for each room. This segmentation allows independent temperature control for electrical equipment (requiring lower temperatures) and hydraulic equipment (tolerating higher temperatures), thereby resolving the contradiction between simplified structure and effective cooling by applying structural division at the equipment layout level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If electrical equipment and hydraulic equipment are cooled together by cooling wind supplied into the machine room, then the ease of operation is improved, but the temperature control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling operationVSAvoidtemperature control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements separate cooling zones by partitioning the machine room into electrical equipment room and hydraulic equipment room, each with its own cooling fan. This allows independent temperature management for each equipment type while maintaining ease of operation through automated cooling systems. The partition structure enables differentiated temperature control precision for each zone without requiring complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration allows for efficient cooling of both electrical and hydraulic equipment, maintaining optimal operating temperatures and enhancing the reliability of the excavator by preventing direct heat transfer and optimizing cooling efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The cooling fan is disposed in the machine room, and the electrical equipment and the hydraulic equipment are cooled by cooling wind caused by this cooling fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

the power-operated hydraulic excavator is provided with a cooling device including a heat exchanger and a cooling fan mounted thereon, wherein the electrically powered equipment and the hydraulic equipment are cooled by the cooling device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4129730B1Electric construction machine
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY TIERRA CO LTD
  • EP4129730B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4129730B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4129730B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An upper revolving structure (4) of an electric hydraulic excavator (1)includes a revolving frame (7), an operator's seat (10), an electric motor (15), a hydraulic pump (17) driven by the electric motor (15), an oil tank (18), and an exterior cover (20) disposed in the revolving frame (7) to cover electrical equipment including the electric motor (15) and hydraulic equipment including the hydraulic pump (17) and the oil tank (18). A partitioning member (25) that is disposed in the revolving frame (7) to partition an inside of the exterior cover (20) into an electrical equipment room (28) and a hydraulic equipment room (29) . An electrical equipment cooling device (31) including an electrical equipment cooling fan (34) is disposed in the electrical equipment room (28), and a hydraulic equipment cooling device (35) including a hydraulic equipment cooling fan (37) is disposed in the hydraulic equipment room (29).