Wheel Loader Reducing Agent Tank Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wheel loaders face inconvenience due to the difficulty in accessing the reducing agent tank for replenishment, as it is often located in a hard-to-reach position, necessitating a solution to facilitate easier maintenance and refilling of the reducing agent.

Innovation Solution

The reducing agent tank is positioned behind the ladder of the wheel loader, allowing easy access from the ground, with the injection device and other components strategically aligned to minimize pipe lengths and enhance accessibility, and a retaining member with a supporting frame is used to stabilize and facilitate the tank's movement for easy replenishment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the reducing agent tank is disposed in a conventional location (not accessible from ground), then the structural space is optimized, but the ease of operation for replenishment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of reducing agent tankVSAvoidstructural arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reducing agent tank is positioned behind the ladder, utilizing the vertical and lateral space created by the ladder structure. This spatial reconfiguration allows ground-level access to the tank while maintaining compact overall machine dimensions, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and structural compactness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the reducing agent tank is disposed behind the ladder, then the ease of operation for replenishment is improved, but the space arrangement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplenishment accessibilityVSAvoidspace arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining member is disposed within the space between the ladder and the front wheel, utilizing otherwise wasted space. This nesting approach allows the tank support structure to occupy minimal additional space while providing full accessibility benefits, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Length of moving object

If the injection device is disposed on the same side as the reducing agent tank, then the pipe length is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereducing agent pipe lengthVSAvoidcomponent arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The injection device is specifically positioned on the right side of the vehicle body to match the reducing agent tank location. This localized arrangement minimizes pipe length and reduces fluid transport resistance, while the overall system complexity remains manageable due to the straightforward unilateral positioning strategy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 convenient and efficient replenishment of the reducing agent, reduces pipe lengths for improved functionality, and ensures stable retention of the tank, enhancing operational ease and effectiveness in nitrogen oxide reduction.

Implementation Method 1

a selective catalyst reduction device, an injection device, and a reducing agent tank for removing the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

the injection device injects the reducing agent into the exhaust gas upstream from the selective catalyst reduction device. As a result, the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas exhausted from the engine are reduced to nitrogen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reduction: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP2886816B1Wheel loader with reducing agent tank
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 KOMATSU LTD
  • EP2886816B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2886816B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2886816B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wheel loader (1) comprises an engine (18), a selective catalyst reduction device (23), a cab (7), a ladder (12), a urea aqueous solution tank (13), and an injection device (24). The selective catalyst reduction device (23) treats exhaust gas from the engine (18). The ladder (12) is provided on the right side of the cab (7) and is used for ascending to and descending from the cab (7). The urea aqueous solution tank (13) is disposed behind the ladder (12) and stores a urea aqueous solution. The injection device (24) injects the urea aqueous solution into the exhaust gas fed from the engine (18) toward the selective catalyst reduction device (23).