Excavator Support Member Reduces Weight via Heat Exchanger Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic excavators face challenges in workability, size reduction, and weight reduction due to the complex mounting process and weight increase caused by multiple leg parts in the support member for the upper revolving structure.
Innovation Solution
The support member is redesigned with a housing support base that has a free end mounted on the frame member of the heat exchanging device, allowing only two leg parts to be used, which improves workability and reduces the number of installation steps and weight by utilizing the frame member's rigidity to support the oil-cooler and radiator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If four leg parts are provided in the support member, then the housing is stably supported, but the weight increases and the upper revolving structure size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates two of the four leg parts from the support member, retaining only the necessary leg parts while using the heat exchanging device frame member to provide support functionality. This reduction directly decreases the weight of the upper revolving structure while maintaining adequate housing support stability through the combined support of remaining leg parts and the frame member.
2Stability of the object's composition
If four leg parts are provided in the support member, then the housing is stably supported, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the support function with the heat exchanging device by utilizing its frame member as a structural support element. This integration reduces the number of separate leg parts needed in the support member from four to two, simplifying the overall support structure while maintaining stability through the combined support system of leg parts and frame member.
3Stability of the object's composition
If four leg parts are provided in the support member, then the housing is stably supported, but the mounting workability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes two leg parts from the support member configuration, reducing the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This reduction from four leg parts to two directly improves mounting workability by decreasing the number of installation steps and fastening operations required, while the heat exchanging device frame member compensates for the removed support functionality.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the support member is mounted on the revolving frame, then the housing is supported, but the upper revolving structure size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the support function with the heat exchanging device by utilizing its frame member as a structural support element. This integration allows the support structure to share space with the heat exchanging device, reducing the overall size of the upper revolving structure compared to having a separate four-leg support member extending across the entire structure.
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 enhances the assembling workability, reduces the size of the upper revolving structure, and decreases the overall weight of the hydraulic excavator by eliminating unnecessary leg parts while maintaining stability through the frame member's support.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanging device including an oil-cooler provided on the revolving frame on one side in the left-right direction of the engine and cooling hydraulic oil and a radiator for cooling the engine
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanging device (17) has a frame member (18) to be mounted on a revolving frame (5), and this frame member (18) supports an oil-cooler (22) and a radiator (24). A support member (26) is to support a canopy (34) and the like. The support member (26) is composed of a housing support base (27) provided by extending in the left-right direction on an upper side of the engine (16) and a left front leg part (28) and a left rear leg part (29) each having an upper end mounted on a left-side position in the left-right direction of the housing support base (27) and a lower end mounted on the revolving frame (5) by straddling an engine (16). The housing support base (27) of this support member (26) has a right side in the left-right direction formed as a free end (27F). Further, the free end (27F) of the housing support base (27) is configured to be mounted on the frame member (18) of the heat exchanging device (17).