Swirling Flow Air Cleaner for Haulage Vehicle Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cooling units for haulage vehicles, such as dump trucks, are complex and costly to assemble, and require filters for dust removal, which need maintenance and can reduce cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
A simplified cooling air supply assembly with an air cleaner that uses a swirling flow generator and separator to remove dust from cooling air, reducing fabrication steps and costs, and minimizing the number of components by arranging the air cleaner only in the ducts where direct cooling is necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dust collector with filter is used to remove dust from cooling air, then dust removal effectiveness is improved, but maintenance requirements increase and cooling performance may be reduced due to filter clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the filter component from the dust collection system, replacing it with a cyclone separator that uses centrifugal force to separate dust from cooling air. This eliminates the maintenance issues associated with filters while maintaining effective dust removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical filter system with a cyclone separation system that uses aerodynamic forces and centrifugal separation. The cooling air enters the cyclone chamber and creates a swirling motion, causing dust particles to be separated from the air stream through centrifugal force and deposited in the collection chamber.
2Reliability
If the cooling unit with strata tubes and helical blades is used for dust removal, then dust removal capability is improved, but the number of components increases and fabrication cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the complex strata tube structure and helical blade components from the cooling unit, retaining only the essential cyclone chamber and outlet structure. This simplification maintains dust removal capability while dramatically reducing the number of components and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The simplified cooling unit with cyclone chamber serves multiple functions: it provides dust removal capability, maintains cooling air flow, and integrates directly into the existing cooling system without requiring separate strata tubes or helical blade assemblies. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If the cooling unit with strata tubes and helical blades is used for dust removal, then dust removal capability is improved, but fabrication steps and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for precision-fabricated strata tubes and helical blades, replacing them with a simple cyclone chamber that can be manufactured as a single integrated component or simple assembly. This dramatically reduces fabrication steps and manufacturing cost while maintaining dust removal effectiveness.
4Reliability
If air cleaner is installed in all cooling ducts, then dust protection is maximized, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies dust removal capability selectively only to the alternator cooling duct where direct cooling occurs, rather than installing air cleaners in all cooling ducts. This localized approach provides adequate dust protection for the most vulnerable component while minimizing the number of air cleaners and overall system complexity.
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 solution provides a cost-effective and easily assembled air cleaner that effectively removes dust from cooling air, reducing pressure loss and maintaining cooling performance while protecting the alternator and electric motor from dust damage.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of guide blades (29) attached at one ends thereof to the fixed shaft (28) and at opposite ends thereof to the outer cylindrical casing (25) and arranged and shifted from one another over a predetermined angle in a direction in which the guide blades (29) rotate about the fixed shaft (28), whereby by the plurality of guide blades (29), the swirling flow of the cooling air is generated in a direction of the central axis of the outer cylindrical casing (25)
Implementation Method 2
The separator has a flange attached on and along an inner peripheral wall of the outer cylindrical casing with an inner cylindrical member arranged extending from an outer edge of a center bore of the flange toward an upstream side as viewed in the direction of the central axis of the outer cylindrical casing, and a collection pocket disposed at a position of the outer cylindrical casing, where the outer cylindrical casing faces the inner cylindrical member. It is configured that the dust contained in the cooling air, which has been drawn by the one of the cooling fans, is taken by the swirling flow into a space between the inner cylindrical member and the outer cylindrical casing and is allowed to accumulate in the collection pocket
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a haulage vehicle having an air cleaner that is realistic from the viewpoints of fabrication steps and cost aspect. An air cleaner (24) arranged in a haulage vehicle is provided with a swirling flow generator (26), a separator (27) and an outer cylindrical casing (25). The swirling flow generator has a fixed shaft (28) and a plurality of guide blades (29) arranged and shifted from one another over a predetermined angle in a direction in which the guide blades rotate about the fixed shaft, and by the plurality of guide blades, a swirling flow of cooling air is generated. The separator has a flange (32) attached on and along an inner peripheral wall of the outer cylindrical casing (25), an inner cylindrical member (30) arranged on an outer edge of a center bore of the flange, and a collection pocket (31). Dust contained in the cooling air is taken by the swirling flow into a space between the inner cylindrical member and the outer cylindrical casing and is allowed to accumulate in the collection pocket.