Work Vehicle Air Intake Pipe Coupling and Rainwater Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of coupling the air intake pipe and hose member in work vehicles, particularly in confined engine rooms, leads to challenging and inefficient processes, and poses a risk of rainwater intrusion.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a supporting member with specific opening parts and lid members that allow for easier coupling of the air intake pipe and hose member, while utilizing water stop sheets and fastening members to prevent rainwater intrusion, optimizing the surface area for coupling and reducing water entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the air cleaner is installed in the engine room with the air intake port facing horizontally, then the air cleaner can be installed in the confined engine room space, but the coupling work between the air intake pipe and hose member becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is divided into multiple functional parts: a first attachment part for mounting to the upper plate, a side part with a second opening part for coupling access, and a horizontal part for supporting the air intake pipe. This segmentation allows the coupling operation to be performed through the second opening part while maintaining compact installation in the engine room.
2Ease of operation
If the second opening part is provided on the supporting member for coupling access, then the coupling work becomes easier, but rainwater can intrude into the supporting member through the opening
Solution Approach 1:
A lid member is introduced as an intermediary component that covers the second opening part of the supporting member. The lid member includes a body part that covers the opening and a second attachment part that fastens to the horizontal part, thereby preventing rainwater intrusion while allowing coupling work to be performed through the opening when needed.
3Area of stationary object
If the first fastening member is disposed to extend in the perpendicular direction, then the surface area occupied by the fastening member in the second opening part is reduced, but the fastening strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The first fastening member is oriented to extend in the perpendicular direction (vertical orientation) rather than horizontally. This dimensional change allows the fastening member to engage through the second opening part with minimal surface area occupation, while the perpendicular orientation provides adequate fastening strength through the thickness of the supporting member and horizontal part.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel loader includes an upper plate, a hose member, an air intake pipe, a supporting member, a first lid member, and a first fastening member. The hose member extends upwardly through a first opening part formed in the upper plate. The air intake pipe is removably coupled to an upper end part of the hose member. A horizontal part of the supporting member extends horizontally from the side part and is fixed to a side surface of the air intake pipe. A first body part of the first lid member covers a second opening part in a side part of the supporting member. A second attachment part of the first lid member extends horizontally from the first body part to be disposed on the horizontal part. The first fastening member attaches the first lid member to the supporting member by fastening the second attachment part and the horizontal part.