Vehicle Exhaust Line Assembly with Nested Sensor Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of exhaust systems in vehicles, particularly agricultural machines, leads to increased installation space requirements and vulnerability to mechanical and thermal damage, complicating assembly and maintenance, while existing solutions that relocate components outside the engine compartment can impair the operator's view and expose sensors to heat.

Innovation Solution

An exhaust line arrangement with components positioned outside the engine compartment, supported by a housing with cooling openings and a support element, incorporating sensor devices within the support element or housing for protection and easy access, and using fastening elements to shield sensors from heat, allowing for efficient assembly and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If exhaust line components are arranged outside the engine compartment, then installation space is improved, but sensors are exposed to heat and mechanical damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidthermal and mechanical damage to sensors
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor device is nested within the support element, which provides both mechanical protection and thermal insulation. The housing encloses the first exhaust line component, creating a protective structure that shields sensors from external harmful factors while maintaining compact arrangement outside the engine compartment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The support element acts as an intermediary structure between the exhaust line component and the sensor device. It provides thermal insulation and mechanical protection, mediating the exposure to heat and mechanical damage while enabling the sensor to function in the externally arranged exhaust system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If multiple exhaust line components are fastened together for space-saving arrangement, then installation space is improved, but mechanical damage to components or sensors can occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation spaceVSAvoidmechanical damage to components
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing encloses the first exhaust line component, creating a protective structure that prevents mechanical damage during assembly and operation. This nested arrangement allows compact positioning outside the engine compartment while maintaining component integrity through protective enclosures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If sensors are arranged outside the engine compartment, then assembly and maintenance are simplified, but sensors are exposed to thermal and mechanical influences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly and maintenanceVSAvoidthermal and mechanical influences
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor device is arranged within the support element, which provides protective enclosure while maintaining external accessibility. This nested configuration enables simplified assembly and maintenance operations outside the engine compartment while simultaneously protecting sensors from thermal and mechanical harmful factors through the protective structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 arrangement optimizes space usage, protects sensors from mechanical and thermal damage, maintains operator visibility, and simplifies assembly and maintenance by housing sensors within a support structure that provides cooling and thermal protection.

Implementation Method 1

a housing which encloses at least the first exhaust line component on the outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

problems due to the heat radiated by the exhaust system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

a support element fixed on the vehicle side for accommodating at least the first exhaust line component and/or the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3569837B1Vehicle with exhaust gas line assembly
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 CLAAS TRACTOR
  • EP3569837B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3569837B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3569837B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An exhaust system assembly (16) for a vehicle, particularly an agricultural vehicle, with an internal combustion engine (12) comprises at least one first exhaust system component (20), wherein the first exhaust system component (20) is arranged outside an engine compartment (14) of the vehicle (10), in particular substantially vertically, a housing (28) which encloses at least the first exhaust system component (20) externally, a vehicle-mounted support element (26) for receiving at least the first exhaust system component (20) and/or the housing (28), and an exhaust outlet (36) arranged on the vehicle side of the first exhaust system component (20) for directing the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine (12) to the first exhaust system component (20). According to the invention, the exhaust system assembly (16) has at least one first sensor device (32) which is arranged at least partially inside the housing (28) and/or the support element (26).