Funnel Air Accelerator for Agricultural Engine Fire Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural vehicles face a risk of engine fires due to the accumulation of potentially flammable organic materials on hot engine surfaces, which existing cooling systems do not adequately address without significant modifications.
Innovation Solution
A funnel-shaped member is integrated with the engine's cooling fan system to direct accelerated air flows onto hot surfaces, preventing organic material accumulation and reducing fire risk with minimal engine layout modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cooling apparatus with fan and funnel structure is used to clear inflammable debris, then fire risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function and debris removal function into a single integrated system. The existing cooling fan is used to generate air flow that passes through a funnel structure, simultaneously achieving engine cooling and clearing inflammable organic materials from hot surfaces. This merging eliminates the need for separate debris removal mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the waste energy from the cooling fan to perform the additional function of debris removal. The air flow generated for cooling purposes is redirected through the funnel structure to create a cleaning effect on hot surfaces, allowing the system to serve itself by utilizing its own operational byproducts.
2Productivity
If engine components are kept hot for efficient operation, then engine performance is improved, but fire risk from organic material accumulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of hot surfaces that attract and ignite organic materials into a beneficial cleaning mechanism. The same heat that causes the problem drives the cooling fan, and the fan's air flow is channeled through the funnel to actively remove organic deposits from hot surfaces, transforming the hazard into a self-cleaning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically responds to the presence of organic materials by using the cooling fan's air flow to actively clear surfaces. The continuous operation of the fan during engine operation maintains a constant cleaning action, adapting the cleaning function to the engine's operational state without requiring separate control systems.
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
The solution effectively prevents organic material accumulation on hot engine surfaces using wasted energy, reducing fire risk without impacting engine performance or requiring maintenance, and is cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
a flux of washing accelerated air (indicated by means of an arrow) is provided at the outlet aperture 13
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Agricultural vehicle (1) provided with an internal combustion engine (2) provided with fan (3) carried by a fan shroud (4) having an aperture (5) to accommodate rotating fan blades (6). It is provided a funnel shaped member (10) having a first end portion (10-a) defining an in inlet aperture (12) and a second end portion (10-b) with reduced section defining an outlet aperture (13); the first end portion (10-a) is designed to be connected with a portion (7) of the fan shroud (4) to face the blades (6) so that air blown by the fan blades (6) is supplied to the inlet aperture (12) and air flowing in the funnel shaped member (10) is accelerated so that a flux of washing accelerated air (15) is provided at the outlet aperture (13); the outlet aperture (13) is placed to face a surface (17) of a component (20) of the engine so that the flux of washing air (15) sweeps the surface (17) preventing the accumulation of organic components on the surface. The surface (17) is heated during the functioning of the engine (figures 1 and 2)