Engine-Driven Generator Cooling via Integrated Fuel Tank Air Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Engine-driven working machines face challenges in reducing the opening of the outer case while minimizing the number of components to suppress noise, as existing designs require separate intake ports for cooling the inverter and fuel tank, leading to increased noise and component count.
Innovation Solution
A design where a cooling fan is placed inside the outer case, with the inverter at its suction side and the fuel tank positioned over it, featuring a single intake port on the fuel tank's lower side and an air guide passage formed by the fuel tank's inclined bottom portion to efficiently direct cooling air to both the fuel tank and inverter, eliminating the need for an additional shroud.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If separate intake ports are formed for cooling the inverter and fuel tank, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the opening of the outer case becomes large, increasing noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling functions for the inverter and fuel tank into a single integrated air guide passage structure. The air guide passage is formed by the bottom portion of the fuel tank itself, which directs cooling air from a single intake port to both the fuel tank and inverter, eliminating the need for separate intake ports and reducing the outer case opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom portion of the fuel tank serves multiple functions: it contains fuel, forms part of the air guide passage structure, and directs cooling air to both the fuel tank and inverter. This multi-functional design allows a single structure to perform multiple cooling-related tasks, reducing the need for additional components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the opening of the outer case is reduced to be small to suppress noise, then noise is reduced, but an exclusive shroud is required to guide cooling air, increasing the number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel tank's bottom portion is designed to serve as the air guide passage, combining the fuel storage function with the air guidance function. This eliminates the need for a separate exclusive shroud component, as the fuel tank itself performs the air guiding role through its inclined bottom portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fuel tank structure with the air guide passage function. By forming the air guide passage using the bottom portion of the fuel tank, the design integrates two previously separate functions into a single component, reducing the total number of parts.
3Temperature
If separate intake ports are formed for the inverter and fuel tank, then each component can be cooled independently, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling pathways for the inverter and fuel tank into a single integrated air guide passage. The bottom portion of the fuel tank forms this passage, which directs cooling air from one intake port to both components, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining effective cooling of both components.
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 reduces the outer case opening, decreases the number of components, and effectively cools both the fuel tank and inverter, thereby minimizing noise and simplifying the machine's structure.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan 17 is provided in an inside 13 of an outer case 12... outside air which is sucked from the intake port 36 is guided to the air guide passage 61 as cooling air
Implementation Method 2
the bottom portion 38 of the fuel tank 25 is inclined with a falling gradient toward the inverter 27 from the intake port 36, and an air guide passage 61 is formed by the bottom portion 38
Data Source
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AI summary
An engine-driven working machine capable of reducing an opening of an outer case to be small, and decreasing the number of components is provided. An engine-driven working machine 10 is a generator in which an inverter 27 is provided at a suction side of a cooling fan 17, and a fuel tank 25 is provided over the inverter 27. The generator 10 includes an intake port 36 that is formed in an outer case 12, and a first air guide passage 61 that is formed by a tank bottom portion 38 of the fuel tank 25. The intake port 36 is formed in a lower side part 12b of a tank front wall 37, in the outer case 12. The first air guide passage 61 is formed by the tank bottom portion 38 that is inclined with a falling gradient toward the inverter 27 from the intake port 36.