Riding Lawn Mower Fan Layout for Engine Cooling and Radiator Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional riding lawn mowers face challenges in achieving sufficient engine cooling, leading to potential airflow stagnation and inadequate cooling performance.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a bonnet with an engine fan and radiator fan configuration that allows for efficient airflow and cooling, with the engine fan blowing air into the engine room and the radiator fan drawing air to prevent heated air stagnation, and includes a control system to reverse fan directions for effective dust removal during exhaust gas purification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If a radiator and radiator fan are attached to an inner side of a cover that opens and closes an engine room, then accessibility to the radiator for maintenance and assembly is improved, but air flow may stay and sufficient cooling performance for the engine cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to radiatorVSAvoidengine cooling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is divided into a first cover portion and a second cover portion that can rotate relative to each other. The first cover portion provides accessibility to the radiator when opened, while the second cover portion maintains proper air flow paths for engine cooling. This segmentation allows the cover to fulfill both maintenance accessibility and cooling performance requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the cover is designed to open for maintenance access, then ease of maintenance is improved, but air flow stability may be compromised leading to cooling issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessVSAvoidair flow stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover employs a dynamic design where the second cover portion can rotate between different positions. During normal operation, it maintains a position that ensures stable air flow for cooling. During maintenance, it can be rotated to an open position that provides access to the radiator. This dynamic adjustability allows the system to adapt to different operational states while maintaining both reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 ensures the engine is sufficiently cooled, maintaining stability and preventing grass or debris from entering the engine room, while allowing for efficient operation and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

an engine fan for blowing air into the engine room

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a radiator fan for drawing air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

a radiator fan for drawing air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3819151B1Riding lawn mower
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 ISEKI & CO LTD
  • EP3819151B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3819151B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3819151B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a working vehicle in which an engine can be sufficiently cooled. A riding lawn mower 1 includes a running vehicle body 2 which has front wheels 31 and rear wheels 32 and to which a mower device 3 as a working machine can be connected, an engine 4 mounted on the running vehicle body 2, and a radiator 6 provided on the side of the engine 4. A radiator fan 61 for blowing air to the radiator 6 is arranged near the radiator 6, and an engine fan 41 for blowing air to the engine 4 is arranged above the engine 4.