Soil Compaction Device Cooling via Superstructure Air Duct

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Solution Overview

Problem

Soil compaction devices face inefficiencies in heat dissipation due to passive convection methods, which limit the placement and number of vibration exciter units and require additional space for fans, and do not effectively prevent dirt and dust ingress.

Innovation Solution

A soil compaction device with a vibration-decoupled undercarriage and superstructure, featuring an air flow generator that directs cooled air through a closed floor passage into the undercarriage for active heat dissipation, eliminating the need for additional cooling components and reducing dust ingress by creating local overpressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If passive convection cooling is used for the undercarriage, then the structure remains simple, but heat dissipation efficiency is insufficient and limits the number of exciter units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air flow generator in the superstructure serves dual purposes: cooling the superstructure components and cooling the undercarriage exciter units through the air duct system. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate cooling systems for each compartment, improving heat dissipation efficiency without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

An air duct system acts as an intermediary mechanism to transfer cooled air from the superstructure to the undercarriage. This mediator enables efficient heat dissipation in the undercarriage without requiring direct integration of cooling components there, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving improved thermal management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If additional fans are installed in the undercarriage for cooling, then heat dissipation improves, but space requirements and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of cooling components
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single air flow generator in the superstructure performs the cooling function for both the superstructure and undercarriage components, eliminating the need for additional fans in the undercarriage. This reduces the number of cooling components while maintaining effective temperature control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling functions for the superstructure and undercarriage are merged into a single air flow generation system. The air duct system combines the cooling pathways, allowing one fan to serve multiple cooling needs and reducing overall component count

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the undercarriage is open for natural convection cooling, then heat dissipation is passive and simple, but dirt and dust can ingress into the undercarriage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust ingress preventionVSAvoidheat dissipation rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The air duct system serves as a controlled intermediary pathway for air flow between the superstructure and undercarriage. This mediator allows cooling air to enter the undercarriage in a controlled manner while preventing uncontrolled ingress of dirt and dust, achieving both thermal management and contamination prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The passive natural convection system is replaced with an active mechanical air flow generation system that provides controlled air circulation. This substitution enables directed air flow that cools components while maintaining a positive pressure differential to prevent dust ingress

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If the superstructure has a closed housing for protection, then component protection improves, but waste heat removal becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoidwaste heat removal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The air duct system acts as a thermal intermediary pathway through the closed superstructure housing. It provides dedicated channels for waste heat air to travel from internal components to the external environment, enabling effective heat removal while maintaining the protective enclosed structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The air flow paths are segmented into separate ducts that isolate the waste heat removal function from the general enclosed space. This segmentation allows thermal management to occur through specific controlled pathways without compromising the overall protective function of the closed housing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution enables faster and more extensive heat dissipation, allowing for more compact and efficient arrangement of exciter units, reduces space requirements, and minimizes dust and dirt entry by using a single air flow generator for both superstructure and undercarriage components.

Implementation Method 1

an air flow generator (not shown here) for generating an air flow (8), which passes through an air passage opening (LD1) into the superstructure (4) and from there into the covered, is guided through a first passage (BD1) for cooling the excitation units (7) arranged in the undercarriage (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

at least one vibration exciter, by means of which at least the base plate of the undercarriage can be set into vibration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4269697A1A soil compaction device provided with cooling
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 AMMANN SCHWEIZ AG
  • EP4269697A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4269697A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4269697A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to the cooling of a soil compaction device (1) for compacting a subsoil, wherein the soil compaction device (1) has a chassis (2) with a base plate (3), a superstructure (4) which is vibration-isolated and force-transmitting and connected to the chassis (2), and at least one vibration exciter (5) by means of which at least the base plate (3) of the chassis (2) can be set into vibration.According to the invention, the soil compaction device (1) has an airflow generator for generating an airflow (8), wherein the superstructure (4) has a substantially closed floor (9) with at least one first passage BD1 (10), the superstructure (4) has an air duct OWLK1 (12) for directing the airflow (8), and the airflow (8) is directed from the superstructure (4) via the air duct OWLK1 (12) at least for cooling the at least one excitation unit (7) through the at least one first passage BD1 (10) into the undercarriage (2).