DE102012103276A1 - Self-propelled vehicle, has cleaning apparatus cleaning air cooler and/or flow channel, and comprising cleaning flow device, which removes dirt that is collected at air cooler and in flow channel during operation, through cleaning channel - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle (100) has an air cooler (116) for cooling a liquid by air, and a flow channel (132) for supplying an air flow to the air cooler. A cleaning apparatus cleans the air cooler and/or the flow channel. The apparatus has a cleaning flow device, which removes dirt that is collected at the air cooler and/or in the flow channel during operation of the vehicle, together with a part of the air flow through a cleaning channel. The cleaning channel is provided with a valve such as flap. A flow device (134) comprises a ventilator or a fan for driving the air flow in the flow channel. The air cooler is designed as an engine air cooler, a hydraulic and/or a climate radiator of a motor, a hydraulic device and/or an air conditioning device of the vehicle. The cleaning channel is designed as a bypass pipe. The cleaning apparatus is designed as a dirt suction device. The dirt consists of grass cuttings or dusts such as flower dust.

Description

The present invention relates to a self-propelled vehicle comprising an air cooler for cooling a liquid by means of air and a flow channel for supplying an air flow to the air cooler.

Such a self-propelled vehicle is for example from the DE 10 2010 040 849 A1 known.

The present invention has for its object to provide a self-propelled vehicle, which is particularly low maintenance.

This object is achieved in that the vehicle comprises a cleaning device for cleaning the air cooler and / or the flow channel.

Because the vehicle comprises a cleaning device for cleaning the air cooler and / or the flow channel, dirt which collects during operation of the vehicle on the air cooler and / or in the flow channel can preferably be removed automatically from the air cooler and / or from the flow channel become. A manual intervention for cleaning the air cooler and / or the flow channel is then preferably unnecessary or must be made at least much less frequently. The vehicle according to the invention is thus particularly low maintenance.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the cleaning device comprises a cleaning flow device, by means of which dirt which accumulates during operation of the vehicle on the air cooler and / or in the flow channel, together with at least a part of the air flow, the means of the flow channel the air cooler is supplied, is removable from the air cooler and / or from the flow channel or removed.

It can be advantageous if, by means of the cleaning flow device, dirt which accumulates on the air cooler and / or in the flow channel during operation of the vehicle can be sucked off or sucked off the air cooler and / or out of the flow channel.

It may be favorable if the vehicle comprises a flow device for driving an air flow in the flow channel.

The flow device comprises in particular a fan or a fan.

It may be provided that the flow device comprises an air cooler flow device for driving an air flow through the air cooler and / or a cleaning flow device for removing dirt accumulating on the air cooler and / or in the flow channel during operation of the vehicle, from the air cooler and or from the flow channel.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the vehicle comprises a cleaning channel, through which dirt that accumulates in the operation of the vehicle to the air cooler and / or in the flow channel, is dissipated or discharged.

In particular, it may be provided that the vehicle comprises a cleaning channel, through which dirt which accumulates in the operation of the vehicle to the air cooler and / or in the flow channel, is discharged past the air cooler or is discharged.

The vehicle preferably comprises a flow device for driving an air flow through the air cooler and an air flow through a cleaning channel for removing dirt, which accumulates in the operation of the vehicle to the air cooler and / or in the flow channel. The flow device preferably comprises only a fan or a fan, in particular only a rotor, for driving the air flow.

It may be favorable if the cleaning channel is a bypass line, by means of which a part of the air flow, which is supplied to the air cooler by means of the flow channel or is supplied to the air cooler is passed past or passed over.

An inlet opening of the air cooler and an inlet opening of the cleaning channel and / or an outlet opening of the air cooler and / or an outlet opening of the cleaning channel are preferably arranged substantially next to each other.

The vehicle preferably comprises a flow device which comprises a fan or a fan. As a result, an air flow in the flow channel, an air flow through the air cooler and / or an air flow through the cleaning channel can be generated in a particularly simple manner.

The fan or blower is preferably arranged with respect to a flow direction of the air flow in the flow channel downstream of the air cooler and / or downstream of the cleaning channel.

It can be advantageous if the vehicle comprises a flow space arranged upstream of the air cooler with respect to a direction of flow of the air flow, the bottom wall of which comprises a collecting container for dirt. By means of such a collecting container dirt, which accumulates during operation of the vehicle on the air cooler and / or in the flow channel, can be selectively absorbed. In particular, when the vehicle is turned off and accumulates on the air cooler accumulated dirt and sinks in the flow space to the ground, this dirt is particularly easily absorbed by the collecting container.

For this purpose, the collecting container preferably adjoins the air cooler at a lower end of the air cooler with respect to the direction of the gravitational force.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that adjacent to the collecting container a cleaning channel for removing the dirt from the collecting container.

Furthermore, it can be provided that a cleaning channel for removing the dirt from the collecting container is arranged on the collecting container, in particular fixed.

The cleaning channel is preferably arranged below the air cooler, in particular carried out under the air cooler.

The cleaning channel preferably adjoins the collecting container such that the dirt received in the collecting container can be removed, in particular sucked, via the cleaning channel.

In one embodiment of the invention it is provided that a rotor of a flow device for driving the air flow in the flow channel extends in the vertical direction further down than the air cooler.

In particular, the rotor of the flow device extends into a region below the air cooler, in which a cleaning channel is arranged.

When looking at the rotor along an axis of rotation of the rotor, the rotor preferably at least partially covers the cleaning channel and / or the air cooler, in particular an outlet opening of the cleaning channel and / or an outlet opening of the air cooler. As a result, the air supplied to the air cooler and the cleaning channel via the flow channel can be conveyed, in particular sucked, particularly efficiently through the air cooler and / or through the cleaning channel.

It may be favorable if the vehicle comprises a cleaning channel through which dirt accumulating on the air cooler and / or in the flow channel during operation of the vehicle can be discharged or removed, and if the vehicle has a flow device for driving an air flow in the flow channel, which comprises a rotor and a housing surrounding the rotor, wherein the housing of the flow device and the cleaning channel are directly connected to each other and / or at least a portion of the cleaning channel forms a part of the housing or is a part of the housing.

In this way, targeted air can be conveyed through the air cooler and through the cleaning channel by means of the flow device.

The air cooler is in particular an engine, hydraulic and / or air conditioning radiator of an engine, a hydraulic device or an air conditioning device of the vehicle.

An intake of air, in particular ambient air of the vehicle, preferably takes place at an upper end of the flow space with respect to the direction of the gravitational force. In particular, the flow space for this purpose is covered by an air-permeable cover, in particular a perforated plate. By using such an air-permeable lid, the ingress of coarse dirt in the flow space can be prevented.

The sucked air preferably enters the flow space in the direction of gravity and is deflected in a substantially horizontal direction by means of the flow channel, in particular a flow guide element forming a rear wall of the flow space.

The air cooler and / or the cleaning channel are preferably flowed through substantially in the horizontal direction with air.

The air cooler and / or the cleaning channel form, for example, a substantially vertical wall of the flow space, in particular a front wall of the flow space.

It may be favorable if the cleaning channel is provided with a valve, in particular a flap, so that air does not flow continuously through the cleaning channel, but only when the valve, in particular the flap, is open. In this way, a pressure difference between the air pressure upstream of the air cooler and the air pressure downstream of the air cooler can be influenced. In particular, a pressure difference can be increased by closing the valve. Opening the valve then allows a stronger flow through the cleaning channel, whereby accumulated dirt on the air cooler and / or in the flow channel, in particular in the collecting container is easier to dissipate or is discharged.

Furthermore, it can be provided that with respect to a flow direction of the air flow downstream of the rotor of the flow device, a flow guide is arranged.

The vehicle according to the invention preferably enables automatic extraction of dirt which accumulates on the air cooler and / or in the flow channel during operation of the vehicle. In particular, the extraction in this case by means of a flow device, in particular a fan or blower, take place, which is required anyway for the operation of the air cooler.

It may be advantageous if the cleaning device comprises a cleaning device for cleaning the air cooler.

The cleaning device can be designed, for example, as a counter-flushing device, by means of which an air flow against the flow direction present in the operation of the vehicle can be generated on the air cooler so that dirt adhering to the air cooler separates from the air cooler. This can be done in particular by the use of a rotor of the flow device, when this rotor is provided with rotor blades, which are each mounted rotatably about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor axis, so that a flow direction of the air flow generated by the flow device is reversible.

It may be advantageous in particular when using a cleaning device, for example a counter-flushing device, if a cleaning channel is provided with a valve, in particular a flap. This can be prevented in particular that a strong air flow with the reverse flow direction flows through the cleaning channel, whereby dirt is fluidized in the flow channel.

Alternatively or additionally, a cleaning device may comprise a compressed air device. By means of such a compressed air device can be removed by compressed air surges on the air cooler adhering dirt from the air cooler. The removed from the air cooler dirt preferably falls in the direction of gravity to the ground and collects there in a collection container.

When the vehicle is restarted, an air flow is preferably generated by the air cooler on the one hand and by the cleaning channel adjacent to the collecting container on the other hand, so that dirt collected in the collecting container is automatically sucked off via the cleaning channel.

Preferably, with the exception of the cleaning channel, there is no possibility of flowing around the air cooler with air. The air supplied via the flow channel must therefore be guided either through the air cooler or through the cleaning channel.

In a further embodiment of the self-propelled vehicle, it may be provided that in addition to the flow device, by means of which an air flow is supplied to the air cooler or is supplied, that is. in addition to the air cooler flow device, another flow device, namely a cleaning flow device, is provided. By means of such a separate cleaning flow device, which can be controlled and / or regulated independently of the air cooler flow device in particular, dirt can be removed, in particular by suction, via a cleaning channel from the flow space, from the air cooler and / or from the flow channel.

Further preferred features and / or advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of an embodiment.

In the drawings show:

1 a schematic perspective view of a self-propelled vehicle;

2 a schematic perspective view of various components of a rear part of the vehicle 1 ;

3 an enlarged view of the area I in 2 ;

4 a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the region I of the rear part of the vehicle;

5 a schematic side view of the area I of the rear part of the vehicle;

6 a schematic plan view from above of the area I of the rear part of the vehicle;

7 a schematic plan view from the front of the area I of the rear part of the vehicle; and

8th a schematic perspective top view from above of the area I of the rear part of the vehicle.

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

One in the 1 to 8th shown, as a whole with 100 designated self-propelled vehicle includes a front part 102 and a rump 104 , which by means of a articulation device 106 movably connected to each other.

At the front part 102 of the self-propelled vehicle 100 is a driver's cab 108 arranged. The rump 104 of the vehicle 100 in particular serves to receive an engine (not shown) of the vehicle 100 ,

Both on the front part 102 as well as at the rump 104 Attachments, such as a mowing device, a snow blade or a salt shaker can be arranged. The self-driving vehicle 100 is then in particular a mowing vehicle or a scattering vehicle. Depending on the attachment used, the self-propelled vehicle 100 but also be used for other purposes.

At a top of the buttock 104 of the vehicle 100 is an engine compartment cover 110 arranged, which has an air-permeable lid 112 , For example, a perforated plate includes.

The engine compartment cover 110 forms part of an air intake 114 for supplying air to an air cooler 116 , in particular a cooler for liquid engine cooling or hydraulic fluid cooling.

In particular 2 can be seen, which occurs over the engine compartment cover 110 sucked air with respect to the direction of gravity g from above into a flow space 118 one.

The flow space 118 is of two regarding a direction of travel 120 of the vehicle 100 laterally arranged side walls 122 , a back wall 124 , the air cooler 116 which is part of a front wall 126 forms, a bottom wall 128 and the engine compartment cover 110 limited.

The back wall 124 and the bottom wall 128 are through a flow guide 130 formed, by means of which the inflowing air in the vertical direction is deflected in a horizontal direction.

The flow space 118 thus forms a flow channel 132 by means of which the over the engine compartment cover 110 sucked air to the air cooler 116 can be fed.

Regarding the direction of travel 120 of the vehicle 100 in front of the air cooler 116 is a flow device 134 , in particular a fan or blower arranged.

By means of the flow device 134 can air over the engine compartment cover 110 in the flow space 118 and through the air cooler 116 be sucked through.

To undesirable escape or supply of air between the flow device 134 and the air cooler 116 to prevent is an enclosure 137 , which is designed for example as a hood provided.

The flow device 134 includes a rotor 136 , which has several rotor blades 138 includes and around a substantially horizontal and parallel to the direction of travel 120 aligned axis of rotation 140 is rotatably mounted.

The rotor 136 the flow device 134 is in particular with a drive shaft 142 coupled to the rotor 136 to set in a rotary motion and to generate an air flow.

The flow device 134 in particular serves to generate an air flow through the air cooler 116 so that the flow device 134 as an air cooler flow device 144 serves.

The enclosure 137 especially surrounds the rotor 136 to ensure a targeted and efficient air flow.

In operation of the vehicle 100 can dirt, such as grass clippings or pollen or salt, in the flow space 118 arrive and in particular at the air cooler 116 and / or in the flow channel 132 accumulate. This dirt must be removed from the air cooler at regular intervals 116 and from the flow channel 132 be removed to ensure reliable operation of the vehicle 100 to be able to guarantee.

The dirt can be removed manually, for example. Preferably, however, is a cleaning device 146 provided by means of which dirt automatically from the air cooler 116 and/ or from the flow channel 132 can be removed.

The cleaning device 146 is especially as a dirt suction device 148 educated.

Preferably, the cleaning device 146 a cleaning channel 150 on, by what dirt, which is attached to the air cooler 116 and / or in the flow channel 132 has accumulated, is deductible.

The bottom wall 128 of the flow space 118 preferably comprises a collecting container 152 for catching dirt.

The collection container 152 it borders on a lower edge 154 of the air cooler 116 and allows in particular the inclusion of the air cooler 116 falling dirt, especially of dirt, which during operation of the vehicle 100 due to the air flow on the air cooler 116 clings and gets away from the air cooler 116 triggers when the vehicle is no longer used and thus no air flow through the air cooler 116 more is generated.

The in the container 152 Recordable dirt can in particular through the cleaning channel 150 be dissipated.

The cleaning device 146 for this purpose comprises a cleaning flow device 156 which in particular by the flow device 134 is formed.

Alternatively or additionally, however, it can also be provided that the cleaning flow device 156 one from the flow device 134 , in particular of the air cooler flow device 144 , is different flow device.

By means of the cleaning flow device 156 can be an air flow through the cleaning channel 150 be generated to remove dirt from the flow space 118 , in particular of the air cooler 116 and / or from the flow channel 132 to suck.

In particular 4 it can be seen that the enclosure 137 the flow device 134 integral with the cleaning channel 150 is trained. In this way, by means of the flow device 134 generated air flow targeted on the one hand by the air cooler 116 and on the other hand through the cleaning channel 150 be guided without additional air is sucked in an undesirable place.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the collecting container 152 integral with the cleaning channel 150 and / or with the enclosure 137 is trained.

The cleaning channel 150 the cleaning device 146 ends preferably on the one hand to the collecting container 152 and on the other hand, at the enclosure 137 of the rotor 136 the flow device 134 ,

The cleaning channel 150 is especially below the air cooler 116 arranged and forms a bypass for through the flow channel 132 guided and by means of the flow device 134 sucked air.

For efficient flow through the cleaning channel 150 with air and thus also for the efficient extraction of dirt from the collecting container 152 extends the rotor 136 in an area below the air cooler 116 ,

A with respect to the direction of gravity g lowest point 158 of the rotor 136 is preferably below the lower edge 154 of the air cooler 116 and / or below a top edge 160 an outlet opening 162 of the cleaning channel 150 ,

The by means of the flow device 134 through the air cooler 116 and the cleaning channel 150 sucked air passes after flowing through the flow device 134 in an engine compartment 164 of the buttock 104 of the vehicle 100 in which an engine (not shown) of the vehicle 100 is arranged, and there is the cooling of the engine.

That in the 1 to 8th illustrated self-propelled vehicle 100 works as follows:
The self-driving vehicle 100 For example, it can be equipped with a mowing device (not shown). The self-driving vehicle 100 is then in particular a mowing vehicle for mowing grass.

In the operation of such a self-propelled vehicle 100 Dirt, especially grass clippings or dust, such as pollen, whirled up.

This dirt partially reaches the air intake 114 in the flow channel 132 of the vehicle 100 and superimposed on the air cooler 116 at.

The function of the air cooler 116 namely by the air cooler 116 Cooling flowing liquid by means of air is thereby impaired.

The air cooler 116 must therefore be regularly freed of dirt, especially grass clippings or dust, such as pollen, to a reliable operation of the vehicle 100 to be able to guarantee.

In the in the 1 to 8th illustrated vehicle 100 this is a cleaning device 146 intended.

This works as follows:
If the vehicle 100 is turned off after its use and no air in the flow channel 132 and through the air cooler 116 is sucked, the dirt dissolves automatically or by means of a (not shown) cleaning device of the air cooler 116 and sinks in the flow space 118 to the ground.

The dirt is in particular in the collecting container 152 in the bottom wall 128 of the flow space 118 collected.

When restarting the vehicle 100 that is, when by means of the flow device 134 again air through the flow channel 132 is sucked, which is in the collection container 152 arranged dirt preferably not stirred up and therefore not again to the air cooler 116 attached.

Rather, the cleaning device allows 146 that the dirt in the collecting container 152 over the cleaning channel 150 on the air cooler 116 is sucked over.

The necessary for this suction air flow is with the same flow device 134 which also generates the air for flowing through the air cooler 116 sucks.

The flow device 134 , in particular a rotor 136 the flow device 134 , is arranged so that, in a viewing direction parallel to the axis of rotation 140 of the rotor 136 seen, the rotor 136 on the one hand and the air cooler 116 as well as the cleaning channel 150 on the other hand overlap at least in sections. As a result, a targeted air flow in the horizontal direction can be generated. In particular, this can efficiently dirt from the collection container 152 be sucked off.

The over the cleaning channel 150 sucked dirt is by means of the flow device 134 in the engine compartment 164 of the vehicle 100 moves and gets automatically from the engine compartment 164 For example, through an opening in the engine compartment 164 , outward.

Every time the vehicle is restarted 100 is thus previously on the air cooler 116 and / or in the flow channel 132 accumulated dirt automatically from the flow space 118 away.

The self-driving vehicle 100 is therefore particularly low maintenance.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

 self-driving vehicle

102

 front

104

 rump

106

 Articulated equipment

108

 cab

110

 Engine cover

112

 cover

114

 Air intake

116

 air cooler

118

 flow chamber

120

 direction of travel

122

 sidewall

124

 behind wall

126

 front wall

128

 bottom wall

130

 flow guide

132

 flow channel

134

 flow device

136

 rotor

137

 housing

138

 rotor blade

140

 axis of rotation

142

 drive shaft

144

 Intercooler-flow device

146

 cleaning device

148

 Schmutzabsaugungsvorrichtung

150

 cleaning channel

152

 receptacle

154

 Lower edge of the air cooler

156

 Cleaning flow device

158

 lowest point of the rotor

160

 top edge

162

 outlet opening

164

 engine compartment

G

 The direction of gravity

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102010040849 A1 [0002]

Claims (15)

Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ), comprising - an air cooler ( 116 ) for cooling a liquid by means of air and - a flow channel ( 132 ) for supplying an air flow to the air cooler ( 116 ), characterized in that the vehicle ( 100 ) a cleaning device ( 146 ) for cleaning the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or the flow channel ( 132 ). Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning device ( 146 ) a cleaning flow device ( 156 ), by means of which dirt, which occurs during operation of the vehicle ( 100 ) on the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or in the flow channel ( 132 ), together with at least a portion of the air flow, which by means of the flow channel ( 132 ) the air cooler ( 116 ) is supplied from the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or from the flow channel ( 132 ) is removable or removed. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that by means of the cleaning flow device ( 156 ) Dirt that occurs during operation of the vehicle ( 100 ) on the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or in the flow channel ( 132 ), from the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or from the flow channel ( 132 ) is sucked or sucked off. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vehicle ( 100 ) a flow device ( 134 ) for driving an air flow in the flow channel ( 132 ). Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the flow device ( 134 ) an air cooler flow device ( 144 ) for driving an air flow through the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or a cleaning flow device ( 156 ) for the removal of dirt arising during operation of the vehicle ( 100 ) on the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or in the flow channel ( 132 ), from the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or from the flow channel ( 132 ). Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the vehicle ( 100 ) a cleaning channel ( 150 ), by which dirt, which in the operation of the vehicle ( 100 ) on the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or in the flow channel ( 132 ) accumulates, is dissipated or is discharged. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the vehicle ( 100 ) a flow device ( 134 ) for driving an air flow through the air cooler ( 116 ) and an air flow through a cleaning channel ( 150 ) for the removal of dirt, which occurs during operation of the vehicle ( 100 ) on the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or in the flow channel ( 132 ). Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the cleaning channel ( 150 ) is a bypass line, by means of which a part of the air flow, by means of the flow channel ( 132 ) the air cooler ( 116 ) is supplied or is supplied to the air cooler ( 116 ) is passable or passed by. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the vehicle ( 100 ) a flow device ( 134 ) comprising a fan or a blower. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fan or the blower with respect to a flow direction of the air flow in the flow channel ( 132 ) downstream of the air cooler ( 116 ) is arranged. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the vehicle ( 100 ) with respect to a flow direction of the air flow upstream of the air cooler (FIG. 116 ) arranged flow space ( 118 ) whose bottom wall ( 128 ) a collecting container ( 152 ) for dirt. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to claim 12, characterized in that the collecting container ( 152 ) a cleaning channel ( 150 ) for removing the dirt from the collecting container ( 152 ) adjoins. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a rotor ( 136 ) a flow device ( 134 ) for driving the air flow in the flow channel ( 132 ) extends in a vertical direction further down than the air cooler ( 116 ). Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the vehicle ( 100 ) a cleaning channel ( 150 ), by which dirt, which in the operation of the vehicle ( 100 ) on the air cooler ( 116 ) and / or in the flow channel ( 132 ), is dissipated or discharged, and that the vehicle ( 100 ) a flow device ( 134 ) for driving an air flow in the Flow channel ( 132 ) comprising a rotor ( 136 ) and one the rotor ( 136 ) surrounding housing, wherein the housing of the flow device ( 134 ) and the cleaning channel ( 150 ) are directly connected to each other and / or at least a portion of the cleaning channel ( 150 ) is part of the enclosure. Self-propelled vehicle ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the air cooler ( 116 ) an engine, hydraulic and / or air conditioning radiator of an engine, a hydraulic device or an air conditioning device of the vehicle ( 100 ).

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