Work Vehicle Exhaust Pipe Segmentation for Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing configurations for lowering engine exhaust temperature in work vehicles, such as tractors, face challenges in increasing the boundary surface area for air mixing without increasing exhaust back pressure or complicating the structure.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle configuration featuring a first exhaust pipe with a partition that divides its cross-section into multiple regions, increasing the boundary surface area for air mixing, and a second exhaust pipe with a larger inlet diameter, allowing for efficient mixing of outside air with the engine exhaust.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the outlet of the first exhaust pipe is squeezed to increase flow speed, then the temperature reduction effect is improved, but the exhaust back pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine exhaust temperatureVSAvoidexhaust back pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet of the first exhaust pipe is divided into multiple outlets using partitions, creating multiple separate exhaust streams. This segmentation increases the total boundary surface area between exhaust and outside air without requiring excessive squeezing of individual outlets, thereby improving temperature reduction while controlling back pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If the boundary surface area for air mixing is increased, then the temperature reduction effect is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine exhaust temperatureVSAvoidexhaust pipe structure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust outlet is segmented into multiple smaller outlets using simple partition walls. This segmentation dramatically increases the boundary surface area for air mixing while maintaining a relatively simple structural form, avoiding excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition structure extends into the exhaust flow in the depth dimension, creating multiple dividing regions. This three-dimensional arrangement increases the mixing boundary surface area without significantly increasing the lateral footprint or overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Speed

If the outlet of the first exhaust pipe is squeezed excessively, then the flow speed is increased, but the exhaust flow becomes unstable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexhaust flow speedVSAvoidexhaust flow stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the single outlet into multiple outlets, the exhaust flow is segmented into multiple streams. This prevents excessive squeezing of a single outlet while collectively achieving high flow speeds through the multiple channels, maintaining flow stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each divided outlet maintains appropriate local dimensions for stable flow, while the collective arrangement of multiple outlets achieves the desired overall flow speed. The local quality of each outlet is optimized independently to prevent flow instability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively increases the boundary surface area for air mixing, reducing engine exhaust temperature while minimizing increases in exhaust back pressure and maintaining a simpler structure.

Implementation Method 1

When engine exhaust exits from the outlet of the first exhaust pipe and enters the interior of the second exhaust pipe from the inlet of the second exhaust pipe, outside air is drawn into the flow of the engine exhaust due to an ejector effect, brought into the interior of the second exhaust pipe from the inlet of the second exhaust pipe, and mixes with the engine exhaust.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEjector effect: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP4361410B1Work vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4361410B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4361410B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4361410B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

[Problem] In a work vehicle, to lower the temperature of engine exhaust when an outlet of a first exhaust pipe and an inlet of a second exhaust pipe are disposed in close proximity. [Resolution Means] A first exhaust pipe from which engine exhaust is sent and a second exhaust pipe provided with an inlet 14 having a larger outer diameter than an outlet 13 of the first exhaust pipe are provided, wherein the outlet 13 of the first exhaust pipe and the inlet 14 of the second exhaust pipe 12 are disposed in close proximity such that the outlet 13 of the first exhaust pipe is disposed in the interior the inlet 14 of the second exhaust pipe 12. Seen from the direction of flow of exhaust discharged from the outlet 13 of the first exhaust pipe, partition members 16, 17 are provided dividing a region of the outlet 13 of the first exhaust pipe into a plurality of divided regions B 1 and partitioning adjacent divided regions B 1 at intervals.