Forklift Liquid Cooler Positioning for Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing counterbalanced forklift trucks face challenges in achieving sufficient cooling capacity while maintaining a high-mass counterweight and simplifying maintenance and cleaning of the liquid cooling system, particularly due to the placement of the liquid cooler between the internal combustion engine and the counterweight, which reduces accessibility and increases dust intake.
Innovation Solution
The liquid cooler device is arranged at least partially above the internal combustion engine between the driver's workplace and the counterweight, eliminating the need for an air duct in the counterweight, allowing for a larger cooling air duct and improved accessibility through a foldable design that includes a separate fan device and drive, enabling enhanced cooling capacity and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid cooler device is arranged vertically between the internal combustion engine and the counterweight, then the cooling capacity is sufficient, but the accessibility for maintenance and cleaning is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid cooler device is changed from a vertical arrangement to a horizontal arrangement, transitioning the cooling system to a different spatial dimension. This dimensional change allows the cooler to be positioned in front of the counterweight where it is easily accessible for maintenance while still providing sufficient cooling capacity through optimized horizontal airflow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the conventional vertical arrangement by placing the liquid cooler horizontally in front of the counterweight rather than between the engine and counterweight. This inversion of the arrangement strategy enables improved accessibility without compromising cooling performance.
2Reliability
If a large cooling air duct is provided to achieve sufficient cooling capacity, then the cooling performance is improved, but the mass of the counterweight is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct for the cooling system is extracted from the counterweight structure and relocated to the vehicle body. This separation allows the counterweight to maintain its full mass without openings, while the cooling air duct is provided separately in the vehicle body to achieve the required cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is segmented into separate components: the liquid cooler device, the air duct, and the counterweight. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the counterweight maintains high mass, while the air duct provides sufficient cooling capacity through separate routing in the vehicle body.
3Reliability
If the air inlet is formed in the floor area near the ground, then the cooling air flow is sufficient, but dust-laden air is sucked in
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet position is changed from a low horizontal position near the ground to a high vertical position above the drive axle. This dimensional change in air intake location enables sufficient cooling air flow while avoiding dust-laden air near the ground.
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 increased cooling capacity to meet stricter emissions regulations, maintains a high-mass counterweight, and simplifies maintenance and cleaning by providing better access to the liquid cooler, reducing dust intake and extending the service life of the cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid cooling device for cooling the drive system is provided
Implementation Method 2
a fan device being driven by the internal combustion engine directly or via a V-belt
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The lorry (1) has a counter weight (4) arranged at a rear sided end of a vehicle body (2). An incineration-motor drive system is arranged within the vehicle body in an aggregate space. The drive system comprises a combustion engine and a gear box propelled by the combustion engine. A liquid radiator device is provided for cooling the drive system. The liquid radiator device is partially arranged above the combustion engine and between a driver operating place (7) and the counter weight in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The liquid radiator device is designed as a fluid-air-heat exchanger.