Off-Road Vehicle Intercooler Cover Opening for Better Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
In off-road vehicles, air flow into the intercooler is difficult, hindering effective cooling of intake air for the internal combustion engine.
Innovation Solution
The intercooler is positioned above the internal combustion engine with a window opening in the engine room cover allowing air to flow directly onto the intercooler core, enhancing air intake cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the intercooler is covered by a cover from above, then the engine room structure is enclosed and protected, but air flow to the intercooler is hindered and cooling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The engine room cover is segmented with a window opening that exposes the intercooler core, allowing the cover to simultaneously enclose the engine room and permit air flow to the intercooler. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by dividing the cover into covered and uncovered portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The engine room cover has different properties in different locations: most of the cover encloses the engine room for protection, while a specific local area (the window opening) allows air flow to the intercooler. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between enclosure and cooling.
2Strength
If air flows along the upper surface of the cover, then the cover structure is maintained, but air is difficult to lead to the intercooler and cooling efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented with a window opening that creates a direct air flow path to the intercooler core, preventing air from merely flowing along the upper surface. This segmentation enables both structural integrity and effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The window opening acts as an intermediary that facilitates air flow from the engine room to the intercooler, enabling effective heat exchange while maintaining the cover's structural function.
3Volume of moving object
If the intercooler is positioned above the engine, then space utilization is improved, but air intake to the intercooler becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The engine room cover is segmented with a window opening that enables air intake to the intercooler positioned above the engine. This segmentation allows the intercooler to be located in the space above the engine while maintaining effective air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The window opening provides a vertical air flow path from below the cover to the intercooler core, utilizing the vertical dimension to enable effective cooling despite the intercooler's elevated position above the engine.
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 improves the intercooler's performance by ensuring better airflow contact with the intercooler core, leading to enhanced cooling of intake air.
Implementation Method 1
The intercooler includes an intercooler core that exchanges heat with ambient air
Implementation Method 2
air is guided along the upper surface of the engine room cover and is more likely to contact the intercooler core as a whole through the window opening
Data Source
AI summary
An off-road vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a cabin, an engine room, an internal combustion engine, and an engine room cover. The engine room is provided behind the cabin. The engine is provided in the engine room and supported by the frame. The intercooler includes an intercooler core and is provided along an intake conduit extending toward the engine and provided above the engine. The engine room cover includes an upper surface exposed to outside the vehicle, is provided above the engine, and defines an upper boundary of the engine room. The engine room cover is provided above the intercooler and includes a window opening through which the intercooler core is exposed to outside the vehicle. The window opening includes a circumferential edge portion that faces an upper surface of the intercooler from above. The window opening is provided along an outer circumferential edge of the intercooler core.