Wheel Loader Engine Room Vertical Device Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of peripheral devices in engine rooms of industrial vehicles, such as wheel loaders, due to exhaust gas regulations, makes it difficult to perform maintenance and inspections with high workability, especially in narrow spaces where space is limited and existing solutions like gas springs increase costs and hinder access.
Innovation Solution
A wheel loader engine room structure featuring a frame structure with a coupling mechanism that creates a peripheral device installation space above the engine, dividing it into exhaust and intake systems, allowing for improved access and maintenance through side openings, with a muffler that discharges exhaust gases to facilitate upward airflow for easy inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If peripheral devices are arranged in the engine room according to conventional layouts, then the engine room can accommodate existing components, but the workability of inspections and maintenances becomes low due to narrow space and limited access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by moving peripheral devices from the conventional horizontal arrangement within the engine room to a vertical arrangement above the engine room. The peripheral device installation space is formed by the upper portions of front and rear frame structures coupled together, allowing devices to be installed vertically above the engine rather than horizontally within the confined engine room space. This vertical relocation significantly improves accessibility and workability for inspections and maintenances while accommodating the increasing number of peripheral devices required by exhaust gas regulations
2Quantity of substance
If the engine room space is increased to accommodate more peripheral devices, then more devices can be installed, but the vehicle overall dimensions and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical space above the engine room to accommodate additional peripheral devices, effectively adding a third dimension to the available installation space. By coupling the upper portions of front and rear frame structures and installing peripheral devices in the resulting vertical space, the design accommodates more devices without increasing the horizontal footprint or overall vehicle dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure serving as the peripheral device installation space performs multiple functions: it provides structural support for the frame, creates mounting points for peripheral devices, and facilitates access for maintenance. This multi-functional design allows the same structural elements to serve both structural and设备安装 purposes, accommodating more devices without proportionally increasing complexity or cost
3Ease of operation
If side covers are opened for maintenance access, then peripheral devices become accessible, but components like gas springs are required which increase cost and may obstruct access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the peripheral devices from the confined engine room space and relocates them to the vertical installation space above the engine room. This extraction eliminates the need for complex supporting components like gas springs to maintain cover positions, as the peripheral devices are now accessible from the side through opened covers without requiring additional mechanical support systems
Solution Approach 2:
By relocating peripheral devices to a vertical arrangement above the engine room, the design changes the access dimension from reaching into a narrow horizontal space to accessing devices that are positioned higher and more accessible when side covers are opened, reducing the need for additional supporting components
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 configuration enables collective maintenance and inspection of peripheral devices at the upper portion of the engine room with high workability, reducing the need for costly gas springs and improving access without obstructing the side cover, thus enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a muffler (41) configured to discharge the exhaust gas, wherein the muffler (41) includes an opening portion (45) through which air in the exhaust system peripheral device installation space (31) is discharged to an outside by an upward flow generated by the exhaust gas discharged from the muffler (41)
Data Source
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AI summary
A wheel loader (1) includes: a driver's cab (4); an engine (5); a chassis (3), at sides of which tires (2) are provided; an engine room (11) in which the engine (5) is mounted on the chassis (3), the engine room (11) being provided behind the driver's cab (4); front portion structures (12) respectively standing at left and right positions of a surface of the engine room (11), the surface being located at the driver's cab side; rear portion structures (13) respectively standing at left and right positions of a surface of the engine room (11), the surface being opposite to the surface located at the driver's cab side; and a coupling structure (14) that couples upper portions of the front portion structures (12) to upper portions of the rear portion structures (13) and forms a peripheral device installation space (30) at an upper portion of the engine. Thus, an engine room structure of an industrial vehicle is configured, in which a plurality of peripheral devices can be provided in the engine room, and the maintenances and inspections of those peripheral devices can be performed with high workability.