Electric Working Machine Vent Layout for Cooling Without Water Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically powered working machines face challenges in cooling their prime mover arrangements effectively, particularly in larger vehicles, where conventional air cooling is insufficient to prevent overheating and water ingress can cause damage.
Innovation Solution
The working machine incorporates an enclosure with strategically positioned inlet and outlet apertures on the sidewall, oriented to inhibit precipitation ingress, combined with a duct and blower system to maximize airflow for efficient cooling, and includes heatsinks and grills to protect electrical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical components are housed within an enclosure and cooled via air passing over the exterior surface, then water contact is prevented, but cooling may be insufficient to prevent overheating in larger vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is segmented with multiple apertures (inlet and outlet) strategically positioned on different surfaces. This segmentation allows airflow to be divided into multiple paths, increasing the total cooling surface area while maintaining water protection through the enclosed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system transitions from a single-surface exterior cooling approach to a multi-dimensional airflow system with inlet apertures on vertical surfaces and outlet apertures on horizontal surfaces. This dimensional change enables more comprehensive air circulation around electrical components while maintaining enclosure integrity for water protection.
2Temperature
If inlet aperture is positioned on a front facing wall for optimal cooling airflow, then cooling efficiency improves, but precipitation ingress risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture positioning employs asymmetric placement where inlet apertures are located on vertical sidewalls rather than horizontal front surfaces, and outlet apertures are positioned on horizontal surfaces. This asymmetric configuration optimizes both cooling airflow patterns and precipitation shedding, preventing water ingress while maintaining effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure itself acts as an intermediary structure between the electrical components and the external environment. By positioning apertures on the enclosure rather than directly exposing components, the system mediates between the need for cooling airflow and the need to prevent precipitation ingress, allowing air to pass through while blocking water.
3Device complexity
If conventional air cooling is used for larger vehicle prime mover arrangements, then device simplicity is maintained, but overheating prevention becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent airflow paths through the enclosure, with separate inlet and outlet apertures. This segmentation increases cooling capacity for larger prime mover arrangements while maintaining relative simplicity by using the existing enclosure structure rather than adding complex external cooling components.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure serves multiple functions: it protects electrical components from water damage, provides a structured pathway for cooling airflow, and acts as a mounting structure for the aperture system. This multi-functionality allows the system to handle larger prime mover cooling requirements without adding separate complex cooling infrastructure.
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 prevents overheating and water damage to the prime mover arrangement, improving packaging and cooling efficiency while maintaining operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
ambient air that passes through the inlet aperture, then passes over said at least part of the prime mover arrangement for cooling one or more electrical components thereof
Implementation Method 2
The first external surface may be configured so as to inhibit precipitation ingress to the cooling path via the inlet aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A working machine comprising: a machine body; a ground engaging propulsion structure supporting the machine body; a working arm pivotable relative to the machine body between raised and lowered positions; and an electrically powered prime mover arrangement configured to provide motive power to the ground engaging propulsion structure and/or the working arm. The machine body comprises: a working arm housing for receiving the working arm in its lowest position, the working arm housing comprising a sidewall; and an enclosure in which at least part of the prime mover arrangement is housed. Said at least part of the prime mover arrangement in the enclosure is adjacent the sidewall. The sidewall comprises an inlet aperture. The working machine is configured such that ambient air that passes through the inlet aperture, then passes over said at least part of the prime mover arrangement for cooling one or more electrical components thereof.