Ring Heat Exchanger Module for Axial Gear Temperature Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Construction machines, especially tunnel boring machines, face challenges in efficiently cooling and heating their drive and transmission units due to high thermal loads, with traditional air cooling being insufficient for long-duration operations and external liquid cooling systems being complex and inadequate for axially longer gear designs.
Innovation Solution
A modular, ring-shaped heat exchanger module is designed to be inserted between drive and transmission sections, featuring a central through-hole for drive elements and connecting flanges for precise fitting, with a liquid jacket for efficient heat transfer and a robust structure to withstand harsh conditions, allowing for easy retrofitting and integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If front-side cooling of the gear is used, then cooling is sufficient for shorter or single-stage gears, but gear stages arranged axially spaced further from the front side overheat
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent heat exchanger modules that can be distributed at different axial positions along the gear. Each module handles cooling for its local region, allowing comprehensive cooling of multi-stage gears without requiring a single complex cooling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling approach transitions from single-point front-side cooling to distributed cooling along the axial dimension. By placing heat exchanger modules at multiple axial positions, the system effectively cools gear stages throughout the entire axial length of the transmission unit.
2Temperature
If transmission oil circulation with external cooling is used, then comprehensive cooling of the transmission is achieved, but the system becomes complex and requires strict boundary conditions for circulation speed and pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger modules are integrated directly into the transmission unit structure, merging the cooling function with the transmission housing. This eliminates the need for separate external cooling systems and complex oil circulation circuits, while maintaining effective cooling through direct thermal coupling with the gear stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission oil itself serves as the cooling medium by flowing through channels in the heat exchanger modules. The system utilizes the existing lubrication oil without requiring separate cooling circuits, simplifying the overall system while maintaining comprehensive cooling capability.
3Reliability
If a robust temperature control device is required for harsh construction site conditions, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature control system is segmented into multiple independent heat exchanger modules. This modular structure improves reliability by isolating potential failure points to individual modules, while each module maintains a simple robust structure suitable for harsh construction site conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger modules are designed with universal mounting capabilities that allow them to be integrated into various transmission configurations. The modules can be attached to different gear stages and adapt to various housing geometries, providing reliable temperature control across different application scenarios without requiring complex custom designs.
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 modular heat exchanger module effectively dissipates heat across a large area, providing robust and efficient temperature control, even in harsh environments, and can be easily integrated into existing transmission units, enhancing heat transfer efficiency and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid jacket through which cooling liquid can flow
Implementation Method 2
liquid cooling is practiced in various forms... cool the gearbox via the front side with which the gearbox is connected to the drive motor, by integrating a water flow in the motor flange for cooling
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to the cooling and/or heating of drive and/or transmission units of construction machines and similar equipment. The invention relates to the temperature control device for cooling and/or heating such a drive and/or transmission unit with at least one heat exchanger module having a liquid jacket through which flow is possible. The invention also relates to a drive and/or transmission unit having at least two transmission and/or drive sections, which are cooled and/or heated by such a temperature control unit. The invention further relates to a tunnel boring machine, the transmission of which is cooled and/or heated by such a temperature control device. According to the invention, the at least one heat exchanger module of the temperature control device forms a ring body for fitting in a sandwich-like manner between two transmission and/or drive sections, said ring body having a central through-cutout for a drive element to pass through and has, on each opposite end face, a connection flange for precision-fit end-face connection to the two transmission and/or drive sections. A driveshaft, for example, or a driving wheel or another driving element which connects, for example, two transmission stages or two transmission sections and/or drive sections in a force-transmitting or torque-transmitting manner can be guided through said through-cutout.