Wheel Loader Radiator Rear Fuel Tank Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wheel loaders face challenges in increasing the cooling capacity of their radiators without obstructing the rear view and compromising cooling performance, as existing designs require upward extension of the radiator, which interferes with the fuel tank and limits airflow.
Innovation Solution
The radiator is positioned rearward of the fuel tank with its bottom surface lower than the tank's top surface, creating a clearance for airflow and allowing the radiator to be extended downward without upward extension, while a fan is offset to ensure efficient wind circulation and maintenance access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the radiator is upwardly extended to increase cooling capacity, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the rear view from the operator seat is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator is repositioned from a vertical extension above the fuel tank to a horizontal arrangement behind the fuel tank, with part of it extending downward. This dimensional transformation allows the radiator to increase its cooling capacity without obstructing the operator's rear view, as the extension occurs in the back-and-forth and up-and-down directions rather than upward from the original position.
2Volume of moving object
If the radiator is downwardly extended to increase capacity, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the lower part of the radiator cannot be easily cooled due to overlap with the fuel tank
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator is designed with an asymmetric configuration where the rear end surface is slanted obliquely rearwards from up to down, creating a clearance between the radiator and fuel tank. This asymmetric arrangement allows cooling wind to access the lower part of the radiator through the clearance, ensuring proper cooling performance while maintaining increased cooling capacity.
3Volume of moving object
If the rear end surface of the fuel tank is shifted forward to create space, then the radiator capacity can be increased, but the lower part of the radiator overlapped with the fuel tank cannot be cooled effectively
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply shifting the fuel tank to create horizontal space, the radiator is positioned to utilize the vertical space behind the fuel tank, with its bottom surface extending lower than the top surface of the fuel tank. This vertical arrangement in the back-and-forth direction creates both the needed capacity and the clearance for cooling airflow.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than having the fuel tank shift forward to create space above it, the design inverts the approach by positioning the radiator behind the fuel tank and extending it downward, allowing the radiator to occupy the space that would traditionally be reserved for other components while maintaining proper cooling airflow.
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 enhances cooling capacity without obstructing the rear view, maintains effective airflow to the radiator, and facilitates easier maintenance, while maintaining structural strength and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling device (14), which releases heat of a coolant flowing through an inside thereof
Implementation Method 2
the rear end surface, opposed to the cooling device, of the fuel tank is slanted obliquely rearwards from up to down. Therefore, cooling wind can be easily introduced to the clearance between the rear end surface of the fuel tank and the cooling device
Data Source
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AI summary
A wheel loader is provided whereby the capacity of a cooling device including a radiator can be increased without deteriorating a rear view, and additionally, without deteriorating cooling performance. The present wheel loader includes: a vehicle body frame (1) ; an engine (12) installed in the vehicle body frame 1; a working unit (3) including a boom (6) and a bucket (7); a fuel tank (13) ; and a cooling device (14) . The fuel tank (13) is attached to the bottom surface of the rear part of the vehicle body frame 1 while a rear end surface (13a) thereof is slanted obliquely rearwards from up to down. The cooling device (14) is supported by the rear part of the vehicle body frame (1) and is disposed while the bottom end portion thereof is opposed to and separated away from the rear end surface (13a) of the fuel tank (13) at a predetermined distance in a back-and-forth direction and while the bottom surface thereof is positioned lower than the top surface of the rear end portion of the fuel tank (13).