External Blower Layout for Pressurized Service Truck Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressurized storage systems for service truck bodies face issues such as space occupancy, safety concerns, and complex maintenance due to the internal placement of blowers, which also have limited lifespan and require separate maintenance locations.
Innovation Solution
A pressurized storage system with a dual inlet centrifugal blower mounted externally on the truck body, utilizing a circular profile air duct and blower-hold-down/air-filter-locator weldment to secure and align components, allowing airflow into the compartment while minimizing internal space usage and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the blower is positioned inside the truck body compartment, then the pressurized storage system can prevent contaminants from entering the storage compartment, but the blower occupies valuable storage space and requires additional guarding for operator safety
Solution Approach 1:
The blower is extracted from the interior of the truck body compartment and repositioned to mount on the exterior surface of the compartment. This extraction eliminates the space occupation problem while maintaining the pressurization function through an extended air duct that delivers pressurized air to the interior through a ceiling opening.
Solution Approach 2:
An air duct serves as an intermediary element, connecting the exterior-mounted blower to the interior space that needs pressurization. The duct transmits pressurized air from the external blower location to the internal compartment, resolving the spatial conflict between blower placement and storage space availability.
2Reliability
If the blower is positioned inside the truck body compartment, then the pressurized storage system can maintain static pressure to prevent contaminant entry, but maintenance requires access to two separate locations (inside and outside the compartment)
Solution Approach 1:
The blower is extracted from the interior compartment and repositioned externally, consolidating all maintenance activities to a single exterior location. This eliminates the need to access both interior and exterior locations for maintenance, significantly improving ease of repair while preserving the pressurization function.
3Reliability
If a single inlet centrifugal blower is used inside the truck body compartment, then the system can prevent contaminant entry, but the operator safety is compromised due to exposure to the impeller
Solution Approach 1:
The blower is extracted from the interior compartment and mounted externally, removing the hazardous impeller from the operator's workspace. This eliminates the safety hazard of operator contact with rotating impeller blades while maintaining the contaminant prevention function through the extended air duct system.
4Reliability
If standard blowers are used in the pressurized system, then the system can function to prevent contaminant entry, but the blower lifespan is limited to 1,000 hours which is much shorter than the 10,000 hour truck body warranty
Solution Approach 1:
The operating parameters of the blower are changed by relocating it to an exterior position with improved airflow conditions and reduced thermal accumulation. This environmental parameter change extends the blower's operational lifespan beyond the standard 1,000 hours, aligning it with the 10,000 hour truck body warranty period while maintaining effective contaminant prevention.
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 frees up internal space, reduces maintenance complexity, enhances safety by eliminating internal guarding needs, and extends the system's lifespan by allowing single-location maintenance and improved airflow management.
Implementation Method 1
A service truck body pressurized storage system is described for use for a service truck body having one or more selectively closable body compartments provided thereon which have an upper wall. The upper wall of the body compartment has an air inlet opening formed therein. An air blower including a dual air inlet and a single air discharge is positioned on the upper wall exteriorly of the body compartment so that the air being discharged therefrom is in communication with the air inlet opening in the upper wall of the body compartment so that the blower will force air into the body compartment.
Data Source
AI summary
A pressurized storage system for a service truck body or the like which pressurizes the storage compartment thereof by means of an air blower located above the storage compartment.