Snow Door Integrated in Adapter for Heavy-Duty Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medium and heavy-duty vehicles used as snow plows face issues with snow and ice accumulation in engine air intakes, leading to restricted airflow and potential no-start conditions, due to the integration of snow doors and motors within the air cleaner assembly, which complicates maintenance and increases risk of damage to the air intake system.

Innovation Solution

The Snow Door Integrated in Adapter design separates the snow door from the air cleaner assembly by using an auxiliary air inlet with a hinged door adapter connected to a base in the lower hood duct, actuated by an electric or pneumatic system, allowing for easy access and replacement without compromising the air intake system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the snow door and motor are integrated into the air cleaner assembly, then the air intake system can bypass snow blockages, but the complexity of the air cleaner assembly increases and the risk of damage to the air intake system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to bypass snow blockagesVSAvoidcomplexity of air cleaner assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the air intake system into separate functional modules: the air cleaner assembly and the snow door assembly. The snow door assembly is further segmented into the door itself, the motor, and the adapter coupling. This segmentation allows the snow door system to be independently serviced and replaced without affecting the air cleaner assembly, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to bypass snow blockages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The snow door assembly is extracted from the air cleaner assembly and positioned externally in the hood ductwork. The motor is extracted from the air cleaner housing and mounted separately on the adapter. This extraction eliminates the complexity of integrating multiple subsystems into a single housing and reduces the risk of damage to critical air intake components during snow door failures or maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the snow door and motor are integrated into the air cleaner assembly, then the air intake system can bypass snow blockages, but failure requires removal and replacement of the entire air cleaner assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to bypass snow blockagesVSAvoidease of servicing snow door

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The snow door assembly is segmented as a separate serviceable unit from the air cleaner assembly. The adapter coupling provides a defined interface that allows the snow door assembly to be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation enables mechanics to service the snow door system without disassembling or risking contamination of the air cleaner assembly and engine intake system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The snow door assembly is extracted from the air cleaner housing and repositioned in the hood ductwork where it can be accessed independently. This extraction allows the snow door, motor, and adapter to be serviced as a separate module, dramatically improving ease of repair while maintaining the snow bypass functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the opening of the air intake is relatively large and oriented vertically to maximize airflow, then airflow to the engine is maximized, but snow and ice accumulate to completely block the air intake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow to engineVSAvoidsnow and ice accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air intake system is segmented into a primary air intake path and a secondary snow bypass path. The primary path maintains its large vertical opening for maximum airflow under normal conditions. The secondary bypass path, equipped with the snow door, provides an alternative route when the primary path is blocked by snow accumulation, thus maintaining engine productivity in snowy conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The snow door assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the primary air intake and the engine. When snow blocks the primary vertical opening, the snow door opens to activate the bypass path, mediating the flow of air around the obstruction. This intermediary system allows the primary intake to maintain its optimal large vertical opening for airflow while providing protection against snow blockage through the alternative bypass route.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11479111B2Snow door integrated in adapter

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 INT ENGINE INTPROP CO LLC

AI summary

A vehicle has an upper hood duct with an air intake adjoining a hood air intake structure. A lower hood duct is connected to the upper hood duct. An on-engine air cleaner is connected to the lower hood duct. An auxiliary air inlet is arranged in the lower hood duct. The auxiliary air inlet may have an auxiliary air inlet door connected to an auxiliary air inlet door adapter by way of a hinge. The auxiliary air inlet door adapter may be connected to an auxiliary air inlet door adapter base attached to the lower hood duct. An electric or pneumatic actuator may be connected to the auxiliary air inlet door by way of an actuator door connection, and to the auxiliary air inlet door adapter by way of an actuator adapter connection.