Four-Link Cooling Unit Swing Mechanism for Work Vehicle Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for work vehicles require complex and space-consuming mechanisms to create clearance for maintenance, with slide mechanisms prone to foreign material lodging and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A four-link mechanism is used to connect the cooling unit and coolant fluid radiator, allowing for adjustable distance and swingable movement to facilitate maintenance, featuring a pair of upper and lower links that enable the cooling unit to be swung relative to the radiator, creating space for inspection and reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a slide mechanism with long hole and pin is used to connect radiators, then the radiators can be separated for maintenance, but manufacturing costs increase and foreign materials easily lodge in the long hole
Solution Approach 1:
The link mechanism is divided into multiple link members (first link members and second link members) connected by pivotable joints, creating a segmented structure that achieves the same maintenance accessibility function without requiring a single complex slide mechanism with long holes
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a slide mechanism that requires inserting components into long holes (prone to foreign material lodging), the invention uses a pivotable link mechanism with joints that connect at peripheral portions, effectively inverting the connection approach to eliminate the long hole problem
2Ease of operation
If a swing link mechanism with slide mechanism is used to attach radiators, then clearance for maintenance is created, but the attachment structure becomes complicated and occupies large space
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is segmented into multiple smaller link members that can be arranged in a compact configuration, reducing the overall volume occupied by the attachment structure while still providing the necessary maintenance clearance through the pivotable joints
Solution Approach 2:
The link members are designed to be pivotable rather than fixed, allowing the structure to dynamically adjust and provide maintenance clearance when needed while maintaining a compact form factor during normal operation, effectively reducing the volume occupied by the moving attachment structure
3Ease of operation
If a slide mechanism with long hole and pin is used, then radiators can be separated, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into multiple simple link members with standard pivotable joints rather than a single complex slide mechanism, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to separate radiators for maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The link members are designed as simpler, more easily manufactured components that can be produced at lower cost, effectively replacing expensive precision slide mechanisms with more economical pivotable linkages that achieve the same functional outcome
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A work vehicle includes an engine (20) mounted to a vehicle body frame (10). A cooling fan unit (4) is arranged on one side of the engine. A coolant fluid radiator (5) is arranged on an opposite side of the cooling fan unit. A cooling unit (6) is arranged on an opposite side of the coolant fluid radiator. A link mechanism (7) connects the cooling unit such that a distance between the cooling unit and the coolant fluid radiator can be changed. The link mechanism can utilize a four-link mechanism having a left/right pair of upper links (71) and a left/right pair of lower links (72).