Work Vehicle Duct Cooling for Diesel Particulate Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

The temperature inside the engine compartment of work vehicles rises due to heat generated by the engine and other devices, necessitating effective cooling for components that cannot withstand high temperatures.

Innovation Solution

A work vehicle configuration featuring an engine compartment, a cooling compartment partitioned by a wall, with a duct system and a cooling fan that creates negative pressure to draw outdoor air through an intake port and direct it over a cooling object member, such as a diesel particulate filtering device, to enhance airflow and cooling efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If members are installed inside the engine compartment, then the engine compartment can accommodate more components, but the temperature inside the engine compartment rises due to heat generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine compartment space utilizationVSAvoidengine compartment temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The engine compartment is segmented into multiple cooling zones using partition walls and plate-like members. These partitions divide the space into regions with different airflow patterns, allowing some areas to have higher temperatures while maintaining cooler zones for heat-sensitive components. This segmentation enables better temperature management without reducing the overall space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A duct system acts as an intermediary to deliver cooled air from the cooling compartment to the engine compartment. The duct includes a cooling air blowing hole that directly delivers cooled air to the first member, serving as a mediator between the cooling system and the components requiring cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If a cooling system is added to cool members in the engine compartment, then cooling effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemember cooling effectivenessVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is merged with the existing engine compartment structure. The partition wall serves dual purposes: it divides the engine compartment for spatial organization and simultaneously acts as a cooling air passage to deliver cooled air to components. The plate-like member also serves dual functions as a structural element and a flow control component that directs airflow to specific areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall is designed with cooling air passages that allow it to function both as a structural divider and as a cooling air delivery system. The cooling fan in the cooling compartment serves the dual purpose of cooling the engine compartment and the cooling compartment simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cooling components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If outdoor air intake ports are positioned to cool members, then cooling efficiency improves, but rainwater may enter the engine compartment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemember cooling efficiencyVSAvoidrainwater entry
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The plate-like member is positioned to extend forward from the partition wall and is disposed below the outdoor air intake port. This creates a localized protective structure that directs airflow while preventing rainwater entry. The plate-like member's position and orientation are specifically optimized to provide cooling airflow to the first member while acting as a shield against rainwater.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Temperature

If a duct system is used to direct airflow to cooling objects, then cooling precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling object temperature controlVSAvoidduct system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The duct system is merged with the partition wall structure. The partition wall incorporates cooling air passages that serve as the duct system, eliminating the need for separate duct components. This integration provides precise airflow direction to cooling objects while avoiding the complexity of additional ductwork.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall with its integrated cooling air passages serves its own structural function while simultaneously providing the cooling airflow path. The system uses its own structural elements to perform the cooling function, rather than requiring separate dedicated cooling infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 effectively cools components within the engine compartment by utilizing outdoor air and increasing airflow rates through the use of a duct and plate-like member design, preventing rainwater entry and ensuring effective cooling of critical devices like diesel particulate filtering devices.

Implementation Method 1

The cooling compartment is a space in which negative pressure is produced when the cooling fan is operating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 2

The cooling fan exhausts air from the cooling compartment to the outside of the cooling compartment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2837516B1Utility vehicle
Publication Date: 2016.05.11 KOMATSU LTD
  • EP2837516B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2837516B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2837516B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A wheel loader (100) is provided with a top plate (81), a plate-like member (17), a diesel particulate filtering device (121), and a first duct (18). The top plate (81) has a first outdoor air intake port (84). The plate-like member (17) is disposed below the first outdoor air intake port (84). The diesel particulate filtering device (121) is disposed below the plate-like member (17) . A first end part (181) of the first duct (18) is positioned to the rear of the diesel particulate filtering device (121). A second end part (182) of the first duct (18) is positioned inside the cooling compartment (3). A connector (1211) is disposed in an air flow generated between a gap (33) and the first end part (181).