Oscillating Cooler Screen Assembly for Rectangular Radiator Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machinery cooling systems face issues with radiator screens becoming clogged by contaminants, such as dust and sugary liquids, leading to reduced cooling capacity, and existing cleaning systems are inefficient for rectangular screens, disrupt airflow, and risk leaks.
Innovation Solution
A cooler screen assembly with a frame surrounding a screen chamber, featuring a cleaning unit with translationally displaceable runner units and an oscillating drive mechanism, including a coupling lever and suction unit, to effectively clean the screen while minimizing airflow disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cleaning unit with rotary suction is used, then the screen can be cleaned, but the rectangular screen cannot be adequately cleaned and airflow is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a stationary or rotary suction unit to a translationally movable cleaning unit that oscillates across the screen surface. The runner unit is guided along guide rails and driven by an oscillating mechanism, allowing it to dynamically traverse the entire rectangular screen area while maintaining optimal positioning for cleaning different zones without disrupting overall airflow patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning unit is segmented into a modular runner unit that can be independently positioned and moved across the screen. This segmentation allows the cleaning function to be separated from the airflow path, with the runner unit covering only a small portion of the screen at any given time, thereby minimizing interference with cooling air flow while still enabling complete screen coverage through oscillating motion.
2Ease of operation
If the suction unit covers a large area, then cleaning is more effective, but airflow is excessively restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by designing the runner unit to cover only a small portion of the screen surface at any given time. The suction unit is sized to clean a limited area, and the oscillating mechanism ensures that this small cleaning zone progressively covers the entire screen through repeated passes, rather than attempting to clean the entire screen simultaneously with a large suction unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic oscillating motion of the runner unit allows a small suction unit to achieve complete screen coverage over time. The unit translates back and forth along guide rails, systematically cleaning different zones of the screen in sequence, thereby maintaining effective cleaning coverage while minimizing instantaneous airflow restriction.
3Ease of operation
If drive or suspension components are added to the cleaning unit, then the screen can be cleaned, but gaps form that allow contaminated air to bypass the screen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drive mechanism from the runner unit itself and places it externally on the frame structure. The oscillating mechanism is mounted on the frame rather than being integrated into the runner unit, and the runner unit is guided along external guide rails. This separation removes potential leakage paths from within the sealed screen chamber, preventing contaminated air from bypassing the screen through drive component gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rails act as an intermediary structure that enables the runner unit's translational motion while maintaining seal integrity. The runner unit slides along the externally mounted guide rails, which provide a controlled interface between the moving cleaning unit and the fixed frame, preventing uncontrolled gaps and ensuring that the screen chamber remains sealed during the cleaning operation.
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
The assembly ensures thorough cleaning of the radiator screen without significantly reducing cooling capacity, maintaining airflow efficiency, and preventing contaminants from entering the cooler.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit that uses negative pressure to remove contaminants from the cooling screen
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cooler screen assembly (10) for an agricultural machine (1), comprising a frame (11) that at least partially surrounds a screen chamber (17) through which cooling air (A) can be passed in a direction (D) from an ambient side (U) to a cooler side (K) and in which a screen (63) extending along a screen surface (E) can be received, a cleaning unit (70) for cleaning the screen (63), comprising at least one runner unit (20, 30) which is mounted on the frame (11) so as to be translationally displaceable along a direction of travel (L) and extends transversely to the direction of travel (L) in a width direction (B), and a drive unit (40) which has an actuator (41) and by which at least one runner unit (20, 30) can be driven in an oscillating manner in the direction of travel (L).To optimize the cleaning of a cooling screen of an agricultural machine, the invention provides that the drive unit (40) has a coupling lever (44) which is pivotable about a coupling pivot axis (S) which is stationary with respect to the frame (11) and which is coupled to the actuator (41) at least indirectly, wherein at least one runner arm (45, 55) of the coupling lever (44) is coupled to a runner unit (20, 30) at least indirectly.