Header Hydraulic Cooler Assembly With Pre-Cleaned Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic cooler systems in agricultural harvesters face issues with air filtration, as conventional filter screens clog, break easily, are ineffective against smaller debris, and restrict airflow, necessitating frequent user intervention to maintain system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic cooler assembly incorporating an air pre-cleaner and rotary fan, with a heat exchanger, designed to receive and clean air before cooling hydraulic fluid, utilizing angled fins and rotatable blades to divert debris and a baffle to adjust airflow, minimizing the need for user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional filter screens are used to filter debris from outside air, then larger debris is blocked, but the filters clog completely, break easily, are ineffective against smaller debris, and restrict airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is segmented into multiple stages: a first filter screen for larger debris, a second filter screen for smaller debris, and a cyclone separator for particulate matter. This multi-stage segmentation allows each component to handle specific particle sizes, preventing complete clogging while maintaining airflow through the hierarchical filtration approach
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclone separator acts as an intermediary device between the filter screens and the hydraulic cooler. It mediates the airflow by using centrifugal force to separate heavier particulate matter from the air stream, reducing the load on filter screens and preventing them from clogging completely while maintaining effective filtration
2Reliability
If filter screens are made finer to block smaller debris, then filtration effectiveness improves, but airflow restriction increases and clogging occurs more rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system divides debris removal into segments: the first filter screen captures larger debris, the second filter screen captures smaller debris, and the cyclone separator removes particulate matter. This segmentation allows each component to operate at optimal filtration levels without excessive airflow restriction
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses multiple filtration stages rather than relying on a single fine filter. By distributing the filtration action across multiple components with different filtration levels, the system achieves comprehensive debris blocking without the excessive airflow restriction that would result from using only fine filtration
3Productivity
If filter screens are cleaned or replaced frequently to maintain airflow, then system efficiency is maintained, but user intervention time and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclone separator performs self-cleaning through centrifugal force, which throws particulate matter against the walls and collects it in a removable container. The filter screens are designed to be self-supporting and require minimal intervention, reducing the need for frequent user cleaning and maintenance while maintaining cooling efficiency
4Device complexity
If a single-stage filtration system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but filtration effectiveness against various debris sizes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is divided into multiple stages: a first filter screen for larger debris, a second filter screen for smaller debris, and a cyclone separator for particulate matter. This segmentation achieves comprehensive debris blocking effectiveness across different particle sizes while keeping each individual component relatively simple in structure
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 system effectively cleans air, reducing debris entry into the hydraulic system, maintaining airflow and cooling efficiency, thereby minimizing damage and extending system lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
One method of cooling hydraulic fluid is through convection by using air extracted from outside the header
Implementation Method 2
a air pre-cleaner upstream the rotary fan configured to receive air and output a flow of air
Data Source
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AI summary
A header (200) for an agricultural harvester (100) is disclosed. The header (200) comprises a frame (104), a cooler assembly (300) supported by the frame for cooling a hydraulic system of the header, and a hydraulic system (350). The cooler assembly (300) includes an air pre-cleaner (400) for receiving air (304) and outputting a flow of air (306), a rotary fan (500, 700) downstream the air pre-cleaner, and a heat exchanger (302) downstream and in fluid communication with a first air output (506, 706) of the rotary fan (500, 700). The rotary fan (500, 700) includes an air intake (504, 704) in fluid communication with the air pre-cleaner (400) for receiving the flow of air (306), a first air output (506, 706) in fluid communication with the air intake, and a second air output (508, 708) in fluid communication with the air intake and spaced from the first air output. The hydraulic system (350) is downstream the heat exchanger (302) and receives an output flow of air (324) from the cooler assembly (300).