Commercial Vehicle Air Deflector for Engine Cooling and Side Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The air flow around commercial vehicle corners is disrupted by other air flows due to the engine's location below the superstructure, leading to increased air resistance and reduced cleaning effect, resulting in higher fuel consumption and limited side cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A redirecting means is placed in the transition region between the vehicle's corner and side sections, specifically on the boarding stairway, to guide the air flow close to the side, reducing leakage and enhancing the cleaning effect while minimizing air resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the engine is located below the superstructure in the chassis, then the vehicle can accommodate the engine in a compact space, but the air flow round the corner is disrupted causing increased air resistance and reduced cleaning effect
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow path is segmented into distinct zones: the engine space air flow and the corner cleaning air flow. The redirecting means creates a separation between these two air flows, allowing the engine cooling air to be directed away from the corner region while preserving the cleaning air flow path along the vehicle side.
Solution Approach 2:
The redirecting means acts as an intermediary element between the engine space and the corner air flow. It intercepts the air flow leaking from the engine space and redirects it away from the corner region, preventing disruption to the cleaning air flow while maintaining engine cooling functionality.
2Temperature
If the radiator is placed in front of the engine, then cooling air flow through the engine space is improved, but air leaks from the engine space disrupt the corner air flow and increase fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The redirecting means serves as an intermediary that captures the cooling air flow exiting the engine space and redirects it away from the corner region. This prevents the cooling air from disrupting the corner air flow and increasing fuel consumption, while still allowing effective engine cooling to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful aspect of the engine cooling air flow (its tendency to leak and disrupt corner air flow) is extracted and separated from the useful aspect (engine cooling). The redirecting means extracts the air flow from its disruptive path and redirects it to a non-disruptive location.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a curved shield air deflector is used to guide air flow round the corner, then air resistance is reduced and cleaning effect is improved, but the air flow is still disrupted by leakage from the engine space
Solution Approach 1:
The redirecting means acts as a protective intermediary between the engine space air flow and the corner air deflector system. It prevents the engine air flow from interfering with the carefully designed corner air deflector, ensuring the reliability and stability of the cleaning air flow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The redirecting means performs a preliminary action by intercepting and redirecting the engine air flow before it can reach and disrupt the corner air deflector. This preliminary intervention protects the air deflector system from interference and maintains air flow stability.
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 redirecting means effectively reduces air resistance and fuel consumption by ensuring the air flow is not pushed away from the side, allowing it to pass close to the vehicle and counteract spray and dirt particles, thereby improving aerodynamic characteristics and side cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
an air flow generated by the moving vehicle is converted
Implementation Method 2
a swirl generator which converts an air flow generated by the moving vehicle to a swirling flow which follows a side of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
a turbulence generator which converts an air flow generated by the moving vehicle to a turbulent flow which follows a side of the vehicle which adjoins a corner of its cab, and hinders fouling of the side from below
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
On a moving vehicle (1) an air flow (f1) generated by the draught caused by the moving vehicle is guided round the corner section (4) of the vehicle and along the latter's side section (8) in order to reduce the air resistance and cause the side section (8) to be cleaned by an air flow (f1) which counters its fouling from below by spray and dirt particles. The air flow (f) passes also through an engine space in order to cool an engine. The engine space being relatively cramped means that the air flow (f) is subjected to flow resistance and pressure drop. This leads to part of the air flow (f3) leaking from the engine space, e.g. in the region round a boarding stairway (16). The leaking air flow (f3) may weaken and alter the direction of the air flow (f1), thereby reducing the latter's cleaning effect and increasing the air resistance and the fuel consumption. A redirecting means (50) adapted to redirecting the air flow (f3) in a direction such as not to affect the air flow (f1).