Lateral Cooling Arrangement for Commercial Vehicle Frame

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing frame support structures for commercial vehicles, such as trucks, face challenges in optimizing cooling arrangement space, particularly in the front area where space is limited, which hinders performance and requires additional space that is often unavailable.

Innovation Solution

The cooling arrangement is repositioned behind the center points of the front wheels and potentially outside the frame support structure, allowing for a compact or divided engine cooler and intercooler configuration, with air inlet nozzles and inclined positioning to enhance air intake, thereby freeing up space for other uses and improving the vehicle's turning circle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cooling arrangement is positioned at the front of the frame support structure, then the cooling performance is improved, but the available space is reduced and the turning circle is enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidavailable space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling arrangement is repositioned from the traditional front longitudinal position to a lateral position on the side of the frame support structure. This dimensional change allows the cooling system to occupy previously underutilized lateral space rather than competing for limited front longitudinal space, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining cooling performance and preserving available space for other vehicle components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the cooling arrangement is positioned at the front of the frame support structure, then the cooling performance is improved, but the turning circle is enlarged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidturning circle
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By relocating the cooling arrangement to the lateral side of the frame support structure rather than the front longitudinal position, the invention reduces the overhang distance from the front wheel center. This dimensional repositioning directly decreases the vehicle's turning circle while maintaining adequate cooling performance through the lateral placement of cooling components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the cooling arrangement requires more space to increase performance, then the cooling performance is improved, but the space availability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidspace availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes the lateral dimension of the frame support structure for cooling arrangement placement, rather than the limited front longitudinal dimension. This allows the cooling system to expand in size for improved performance while occupying space that would otherwise be unused, thereby maintaining versatility and adaptability of the vehicle's front area for other purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 distance between the front and rear wheels, enhancing the vehicle's turning circle and allowing for more efficient use of space, while maintaining effective cooling performance.

Implementation Method 1

the flow through the cooler through at reduced driving speed is increased by the heat dissipation of the cooler and the engine compartment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

the cooling arrangement, which includes the engine cooler and/or the intercooler, can be provided with at least one air inlet nozzle, preferably a NACA nozzle, the inlet opening of which can point at least slightly forward, which can expediently increase the intake air intake

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir intake enhancement: Aerodynamic Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2684724B1Frame support structure with cooling system
Publication Date: 2014.11.19 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP2684724B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2684724B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a frame support structure (1) for a commercial vehicle, preferably a truck, in particular a semi-trailer truck. The frame support structure (1) comprises a first longitudinal support structure (10) and a second longitudinal support structure (20), which are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (QR) of the frame support structure (1). The frame support structure (1) also comprises a cooling arrangement (K1, K2) comprising an engine radiator (K1) and an intercooler (K2). Furthermore, the frame support structure (1) comprises mounting points for the front wheels (Rv) of the commercial vehicle, wherein the mounting points comprise wheel centers (Rmv) about which the front wheels (Rv) are rotatable. The frame support structure (1) is characterized in particular by the fact that the cooling arrangement (K1, K2) is arranged in the longitudinal direction (LR) of the frame support structure (1) behind the wheel centers (Rmv) and/or the cooling arrangement (K1, K2) is arranged laterally on the frame support structure (1).