Shared-Wall Hydraulic Tank Cooler for Compact Leak-Resistant Layouts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydraulic drives in construction machinery face challenges with heat management due to friction and are prone to leaks, requiring efficient cooling systems and complex troubleshooting, while existing designs can be bulky and have numerous hydraulic lines that increase errors and costs.

Innovation Solution

A compact combination of a flat cooler and tank with a shared wall design, featuring a heat exchanger and integrated inlet and outlet channels, where the tank encloses the cooler on multiple sides, allowing for efficient heat transfer and reduced hydraulic line usage, and an optional electric fan for air flow generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate cooler and tank system is used with multiple hydraulic lines, then cooling function is achieved, but the number of failure points increases and troubleshooting becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cooler and tank into a single integrated unit where the cooler is arranged directly on the tank with common walls. This merging eliminates multiple hydraulic lines and connections between separate components, reducing failure points and simplifying troubleshooting while maintaining effective cooling function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of moving object

If traditional cooling systems with separate components are used, then cooling capability is provided, but space utilization is inefficient and assembly is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace efficiencyVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the cooler directly onto the tank with shared walls and common structural elements, the patent reduces the overall volume occupied by the cooling system and eliminates time-consuming assembly of multiple separate components, thereby improving both space efficiency and assembly productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of energy

If multiple hydraulic lines are used to connect separate cooling components, then cooling function is achieved, but pressure loss and friction increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure lossVSAvoidnumber of hydraulic lines
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated cooler-tank design eliminates the need for multiple hydraulic lines by providing direct thermal coupling through common walls. This single-unit approach removes intermediate connections, reducing pressure loss and friction while simplifying the hydraulic system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design enhances space efficiency, reduces assembly time and costs, minimizes error sources, and improves integration into construction machines by creating a unified, compact cooling system that can be easily integrated into limited spaces, while also reducing pressure loss and friction in the cooling system.

Implementation Method 1

the cooler has a heat exchanger (4) through which air can flow flatly in the depth direction between the front and rear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

air can flow flatly in the depth direction between the front and rear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4375515A1Cooler-tank-combination
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 AMMANN SCHWEIZ AG
  • EP4375515A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4375515A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4375515A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a combination 1, 101 of a tank 2, 102 and a cooler 3, 103 for collecting, cooling, and supplying hydraulic fluid for a hydraulic drive, wherein the cooler 3, 103 is designed as a flat cooler whose side dimensions exceed its depth by several times, wherein the cooler 3, 103 has a heat exchanger 4, 104 through which air flows in the depth direction between its front and rear sides, and wherein the cooler 3, 103 and the tank 2, 102 have at least one common wall 5 or are in contact with each other with at least one wall 53. According to the invention, the tank 2, 102 encloses the cooler 3, 103 on at least two sides. The invention also relates to a construction machine 100 with the aforementioned combination 1, 101 consisting of a tank 2, 102 and a cooler 3, 103.