Horizontal Heat Exchanger Layout for Low-Cab Commercial Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional truck designs with vertically oriented radiators and air conditioning condensers limit installation space, restrict ground clearance, and hinder the design of a driver's cab close to the ground, as they require significant vertical space and obstruct the approach angle.
Innovation Solution
A truck with a heat exchanger arranged in a substantially horizontal or angled orientation within an air duct that extends between a front inlet opening and an underside outlet opening, allowing for a compact design that does not restrict installation space or ground clearance, and enables a driver's cab to be positioned close to the ground without compromising air flow or performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat exchanger is arranged in a vertical orientation in front of the radiator, then the heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the ground clearance is reduced and the driver's cab cannot be positioned close to the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the heat exchanger from vertical to substantially horizontal, rotating it by 90 degrees around the flow direction axis. This dimensional reorientation allows the heat exchanger to be positioned without compromising ground clearance, enabling the driver's cab to be placed close to the ground while maintaining effective heat exchange surface area.
2Productivity
If the heat exchanger is arranged in a vertical orientation, then the air flow through the heat exchanger is optimized, but the installation space at the front of the vehicle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By reorienting the heat exchanger from vertical to horizontal arrangement, the patent redistributes the spatial footprint of the component. This allows the heat exchanger to extend in the lateral direction rather than vertically, thereby optimizing installation space at the front of the vehicle while maintaining adequate air flow paths for efficient heat exchange.
3Ease of operation
If the driver's cab is positioned close to the ground, then the comfort is improved and installation space is increased, but the heat exchanger arrangement becomes constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal reorientation of the heat exchanger provides the necessary spatial flexibility to position the driver's cab close to the ground for improved comfort. This dimensional change decouples the heat exchanger arrangement from vertical space constraints, allowing the cab to be lowered without compromising heat exchanger functionality or increasing system complexity.
4Length of stationary object
If the heat exchanger is arranged horizontally, then the ground clearance is maintained and cab positioning is improved, but the air flow path length is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the air duct system to accommodate the horizontal heat exchanger arrangement. By adjusting the duct cross-sectional dimensions and flow path configuration, the air flow path length is optimized to minimize pressure losses while maintaining the horizontal orientation that preserves ground clearance and enables low cab positioning.
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 a more compact and efficient heat exchanger arrangement that does not limit installation space at the front of the vehicle, maintains ground clearance, and enables a driver's cab design with reduced height, improving comfort and reducing the need for additional structural support, while ensuring effective air flow and heat exchange.
Implementation Method 1
The motor vehicle (10) has a heat exchanger (26) which is in a substantially horizontal orientation or in an orientation at an angle to a horizontal (horizontal axis) less than or equal to 45° (e.g. less than or equal to 25° (e.g. less than or equal to 10° or 5°)), arranged in the air duct (18) for heat exchange with air that flows through the air duct (18)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle (10), preferably a commercial vehicle, with an air duct (18) extending between an inlet opening (22) at the front of the motor vehicle (10) and an outlet opening (24) at the underside of the motor vehicle (10). A heat exchanger (26) is arranged in the air duct (18) in a substantially horizontal orientation or at an angle to the horizontal of less than or equal to 45°, preferably less than or equal to 25°, for heat exchange with the air flowing through the air duct (18). In particular, such an orientation of the heat exchanger (26) allows the driver's cab (12) to be arranged close to the ground, since hardly any installation space is required for the heat exchanger (26) in the vertical direction.