Tiltable Tail Pipe Exhaust System for Construction Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing exhaust gas systems for construction equipment, such as pavers, face challenges in maintaining functionality and efficiency during tilting positions, particularly in reducing height for transportation while ensuring proper gas distribution and cooling.

Innovation Solution

An exhaust gas system design featuring a tiltable tail pipe with an air inlet between the exhaust pipe and tail pipe, where an exhaust gas conveyor collects and transfers exhaust gases past the air inlet, allowing for cooling and separating the tilting function from gas conveyance, eliminating the need for a gas-tight seal and simplifying the design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the tail pipe is made tiltable to reduce height during transportation, then the adaptability for different positions is improved, but the complexity of the exhaust gas conveying system increases due to the need for gas-tight seals and large hinges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiltability between raised and tilted positionsVSAvoidcomplexity of exhaust gas conveying system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust gas conveying system is segmented into a fixed exhaust pipe and a tiltable tail pipe that are separated rather than rigidly connected. The exhaust pipe remains stationary while the tail pipe can be tilted independently, allowing the gas conveying function to be separated from the tilting function. This reduces the complexity of requiring gas-tight seals in moving joints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gas-tight sealing function is extracted from the tilting mechanism. Instead of requiring the hinge connection to be gas-tight, the system uses a simple tiltable tail pipe that can be positioned independently, with the exhaust pipe remaining fixed. This separates the sealing requirement from the moving joint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a large hinge is used to connect the exhaust pipe and tail pipe for tilting, then the tiltability is achieved, but the restriction on exhaust gas transportation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiltability of tail pipeVSAvoidexhaust gas transportation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the exhaust gas flow path into a fixed exhaust pipe portion and a tiltable tail pipe portion. The exhaust pipe maintains a direct, unrestricted path for gas flow, while the tail pipe can be tilted independently. This segmentation ensures that the exhaust gas transportation path is not restricted by the tilting mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the exhaust pipe tiltable with the tail pipe, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the exhaust pipe fixed and allowing only the tail pipe to tilt. This inversion ensures that the main exhaust gas conveying path remains stable and unrestricted, while the tail pipe's tilting capability is achieved through a simpler connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Length of moving object

If the tail pipe is tilted to a horizontal position for transportation, then the height is reduced, but the cooling of exhaust gases becomes less effective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight of paver during transportationVSAvoidcooling efficiency of exhaust gases
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides preliminary cooling action by positioning the exhaust pipe to allow air intake into the exhaust stream before the gases reach the tail pipe. This preliminary cooling ensures that even when the tail pipe is tilted horizontally for transportation, the exhaust gases have already been cooled by mixing with ambient air drawn in through the exhaust pipe's positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Ambient air acts as an intermediary cooling medium. The exhaust pipe is positioned to draw in ambient air that mixes with the hot exhaust gases, providing cooling before the gases enter the tiltable tail pipe. This intermediary cooling mechanism ensures effective heat dissipation regardless of the tail pipe's orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enhances cooling efficiency, reduces complexity and bulk, and minimizes transportation restrictions, resulting in a cost-effective system that maintains functionality in both upright and tilted positions.

Implementation Method 1

an exhaust gas conveyor is located such that in the second tilted position the exhaust gas conveyor conveys exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe to the tail pipe past the air inlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

the exhaust gas conveyor conveys exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe to the tail pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

an air inlet is provided between the exhaust pipe and the tail pipe... air to enter into the tail pipe for cooling the exhaust gases which passes there through

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3622165B1An exhaust gas system
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
  • EP3622165B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3622165B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3622165B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an exhaust gas system (1, 1') for conveying exhaust gas from an engine (2, 2') to the ambient (3, 3'). The exhaust gas system (1, 1') has an exhaust pipe (10, 10') and a tail pipe (20, 20') wherein the tail pipe (20, 20') is disposed downstream the exhaust pipe (10, 10'). The tail pipe (20, 20') in use is tiltable between a first raised position (A) and a second tilted position (B) such that the tail pipe (20, 20') in both the first raised position (A) and the second tilted position (B) is adapted to convey exhaust gas there through. An air inlet (30, 30') is provided between the exhaust pipe (10) and the tail pipe (20, 20'), and an exhaust gas conveyor (40, 40') is located such that in the second tilted position (B) the exhaust gas conveyor (40, 40') conveys exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe (10, 10') to the tail pipe (20, 20') past the air inlet (30, 30'). The present disclosure further relates to an engine (2, 2') and a vehicle (4, 4') having such an exhaust gas system (1' 1').