Retarder Heat Exchanger Coupling Plane for Compact Hose-Free Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited installation space in motor vehicles poses challenges in routing pipes or hoses from the cooling circuit to the heat exchanger in retarder systems, increasing planning and implementation effort.
Innovation Solution
A compact retarder unit design with integrated oil channels and a coupling level on the retarder housing allows direct fluid-conducting connections between the heat exchanger and both the oil and cooling circuits, eliminating the need for hose connectors and simplifying the installation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the heat exchanger is mounted directly on the retarder with separate hose connectors, then the heat exchanger can be fluidly connected to both the oil and cooling circuits, but the hose routing becomes complex and installation space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fluid connection interfaces for both the oil circuit and cooling circuit into a single coupling plane on the heat exchanger. This coupling plane contains integrated connection elements that allow both fluid circuits to be connected simultaneously without requiring separate mounting locations or complex hose routing, thus simplifying the overall structure and reducing installation complexity
2Reliability
If separate hose connectors are used for oil and cooling circuit connections, then fluid connection is achieved, but additional planning and implementation effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling plane on the heat exchanger is designed as a universal interface that serves multiple functions: it provides fluid connection for the oil circuit, fluid connection for the cooling circuit, and structural mounting for the heat exchanger itself. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate hose connectors and reduces installation effort while maintaining reliable fluid connections
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 design simplifies the structure and installation of the retarder unit, improves cooling efficiency by integrating cooling channels, and enhances braking performance by ensuring the oil is cooled before subsequent braking operations.
Implementation Method 1
the primary side of a heat exchanger, which is used to dissipate the retarder's waste heat when the retarder is switched to braking mode
Implementation Method 2
The heat exchanger is attached directly to the retarder housing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a retarder unit (1) for a motor vehicle, said unit having a particularly compact construction. The retarder unit comprises a hydrodynamic retarder (2) having a retarder housing (3) which is made up of a rotor housing part (4), a stator housing part (5) and a housing cover (6). Oil ducts (19) are integrated into the retarder housing. Furthermore, the retarder unit comprises a heat exchanger (7). A coupler plane (8), via which the primary side of the heat exchanger can be fluidically connected to the oil ducts, is provided on the retarder housing, the heat exchanger being fastened directly to the retarder housing. According to the invention, the fluidic connection of the secondary side of the heat exchanger to a cooling circuit of the motor vehicle takes place via the coupler plane. By the direct coupling of all fluidic connections between the retarder and the heat exchanger via the coupler plane on the retarder housing, the construction is significantly simplified and the tube connectors on the heat exchanger can be omitted, which improves the installation conditions in the region of the heat exchanger.