Work Vehicle Air Conditioner Top-Mounted Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for attaching an air conditioner main body in a work vehicle are cumbersome due to the need for screwing bolts from the side and rear, with the rear ceiling piece acting as an obstacle, and require handling refrigerant and drain pipes, which is complicated by the high ground clearance.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner main body is attached from above to a main body support member with horizontally protruding attachment stays, allowing for easy and stable attachment, and a space is formed between the support member and the air conditioner main body for rainwater and washing water discharge, while outside air is supplied through a long passage to prevent dust from entering the blower fan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the air conditioner main body is attached using traditional methods with bolts screwed from the side and rear, then the air conditioner can be fixed to the bracket, but the rear ceiling piece becomes an obstacle and the attachment process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidattachment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional attachment approach by providing attachment holes in the top surface of the air conditioner main body instead of the side and rear surfaces. This allows bolts to be screwed from above using a screwing tool inserted through the top, completely avoiding the obstacle problem caused by the rear ceiling piece and simplifying the attachment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the attachment function by providing multiple attachment holes (first and second attachment holes) in different locations on the top surface. This segmentation allows for stable fixation while enabling the screwing tool to access each hole independently from above, avoiding interference from the rear ceiling piece.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the rear ceiling piece is attached beforehand to close the space, then the cabin structure is complete, but it becomes an obstacle that prevents easy attachment of the air conditioner main body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabin structure completenessVSAvoidease of air conditioner attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the attachment direction from the rear (which would be blocked by the rear ceiling piece) to the top surface. By providing attachment holes in the top surface and allowing bolting from above, the rear ceiling piece can be attached first to close the cabin space without interfering with the air conditioner attachment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of manufacture

If the air conditioner main body is attached from below while holding refrigerant and drain pipes, then the air conditioner can be connected to the bracket, but the high ground clearance of the rear ceiling piece makes the work troublesome and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of air conditioner attachmentVSAvoidattachment work efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the attachment direction from below to above. By providing attachment holes in the top surface of the air conditioner main body, the attachment work can be performed from above using a screwing tool, completely avoiding the problem of high ground clearance making the work troublesome and improving attachment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If attachment holes are provided in the top surface of the air conditioner main body, then the air conditioner can be easily attached from above, but the structure of the air conditioner main body becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidair conditioner structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the top surface into multiple attachment holes (first and second attachment holes) positioned at different locations. This segmentation provides stable attachment points while keeping each hole simple in structure, allowing easy attachment from above without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3305630B1Work vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.05.04 YANMAR POWER TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide a work-machine that can facilitate attachment of an air conditioner main body. In a work vehicle, an air conditioner main body arrangement part for arranging therein an air conditioner main body is provided in a ceiling part of a cabin covering a driver unit, in such a manner that the air conditioner main body arrangement part protrudes rearward from a pair of left and right rear strut pieces of the cabin. The air conditioner main body arrangement part includes a main body support member protruding rearward, which is provided to an upper rear beam piece laterally bridged between upper end portions of the pair of left and right rear strut pieces. The main body support member has support rigidity to support the air conditioner main body from below. The main body support member enables attachment of the air conditioner main body from above.