Electric Work Vehicle Airflow Layout to Prevent Cooling Air Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric work vehicles have suboptimal cooling performance due to the proximity of the air intake and discharge ports of the cooling fan, which allows reheated air to be recirculated, and the intake is prone to dust and debris ingestion.
Innovation Solution
The electric work vehicle is designed with a longer air flow space that extends as far as the battery, featuring a rear air inlet and a front air outlet, which prevents reheated air from being recirculated and positions the intake to avoid dust and debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the air inlet and air outlet of the cooling fan are positioned close to each other, then the structure is compact, but the cooling performance deteriorates due to recirculation of discharged air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the air flow space in the front-rear direction (longitudinal dimension) to create sufficient distance between the air inlet at the rear end and air outlet at the front end. This dimensional extension prevents recirculation of discharged air while maintaining overall vehicle compactness through efficient space utilization along the longitudinal axis.
2Device complexity
If the air inlet is positioned at the front end region, then the cooling fan can be compactly arranged, but the inlet takes in dust or cut grass
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the air inlet at the rear end region and the air outlet at the front end region of the air flow space. This reversal allows the air inlet to be positioned away from dust-generating areas while the air outlet at the front can discharge air without exposing the inlet to contaminants.
3Temperature
If the air flow space is extended in the front-rear direction, then cooling performance improves by preventing recirculation, but the vehicle length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extended air flow space serves multiple functions: it provides adequate distance between inlet and outlet to prevent recirculation, houses the battery in its longitudinal space, and accommodates the electric motor for traveling. This multi-functional design achieves improved cooling performance without proportionally increasing vehicle length.
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 enhances cooling performance by ensuring that discharged air is not recirculated, while also protecting the intake from hot air, dust, and debris, resulting in improved comfort and efficiency for the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling fan is adjacent to the air outlet... for allowing air to pass through the air flow space with use of the cooling fan
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An electric work vehicle includes: a body having a frame structure including a front part and a rear part, the front part providing for a power section (4), the rear part providing for a drive section (5); a battery (27) in the power section (4); an electric motor (29) for traveling configured to receive electric power from the battery (27); and a cooling fan (32). The electric motor (29) for traveling is in an air flow space (41) formed in the power section (4), and the cooling fan (32) is adjacent to an air outlet (45) formed in a front end region of the air flow space (41).