COOLING STRUCTURE FOR CONSTRUCTION MACHINE

• US 20120285757A1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Atarashi, Takayuki, Terakado, Shuichi, Funabashi, Shigehisa, Okumura, Shinya, Kieda, Shigekazu, Ota, Yasunori
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/412 Excavators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/61 Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/08 Superstructures; Supports for superstructures arrangements for travelling gear, e.g. undercarriages for wheels, crawlers, caterpillars E02F9/02; for motor vehicles B62D25/00, B62D33/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/18 Counterweights for cranes B66C23/72, for tractors B62D49/085
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

[Object]

To provide a cooling structure for a construction machine which can efficiently discharge heat generated in batteries and prevent exhaust air of an engine room from being sucked in the batteries.

[Solution Means]

In a cooling structure for a construction machine, the construction machine including an engine room 5 having an engine 4, a radiator 11 for cooling the engine 4, and a hydraulic pump 7 which are arranged therein, and a counterweight area 6 which is located adjacent to the engine room 5 and in which batteries 27 are installed, a ventilation passage 23 for cooling the engine room 5 and a ventilation passage 34 for cooling the batteries 27 are formed separately and independently in the substantially same direction, and a flowing direction of cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage 23 for cooling the engine room 5 and a flowing direction of cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage 34 for cooling the batteries 27 are substantially parallel to each other.

Claims

1. A cooling structure for a construction machine, the construction machine comprising:

an engine room installing therein an engine, a radiator for cooling the engine, and a hydraulic pump; and

a counterweight area installing therein batteries,

wherein;

a ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and a ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are formed separately and independently; and

an air exhaust port of the ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and an air intake port of the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are formed in different surfaces to each other.

2. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein the different surfaces are mutually opposite side surfaces of the construction machine.

5. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein a blower that generates cooling air for the batteries is installed at a downstream portion of the flowing direction of the cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries.

6. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein a blower that generates the cooling air for the batteries is installed at a middle portion of the flowing direction of the cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries.

7. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1,

wherein:

a ventilation duct that connects an air intake port and an air exhaust port for the cooling air for cooling the batteries to form the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries is provided in the counterweight area; and

the batteries are installed in the ventilation duct.

8. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein a guide part that guides a flow of the cooling air is installed in the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries.

9. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein a thermal insulating member is installed in the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries.

10. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein the batteries are installed at spaces for ventilating the cooling air along the flowing direction of the cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries.

11. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein the batteries are installed at spaces for ventilating the cooling air along a direction perpendicular to the flowing direction of the cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries.

12. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein shelf plates are installed in the counterweight area in a multiple step manner, the batteries are fixed on the respective shelf plates, and the spaces for ventilating the cooling air are formed between the batteries and shelf plates above the batteries.

13. The cooling structure for a construction machine, according to claim 1, wherein the batteries are batteries selected from a group including lead batteries, lithium ion batteries, and nickel-hydrogen batteries.

3. A cooling structure for a construction machine, the construction machine comprising:

an engine room installing therein an engine, a radiator for cooling the engine, and a hydraulic pump; and

a counterweight area installing therein batteries,

wherein;

a ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and a ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are formed separately and independently; and

a flowing direction of cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and a flowing direction of cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are substantially the same.

4. A cooling structure for a construction machine, the construction machine comprising:

an engine room installing therein an engine, a radiator for cooling the engine, and a hydraulic pump; and

a counterweight area installing therein batteries,

wherein;

a ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and a ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are formed separately and independently;

an air intake port of the ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and an air intake port of the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are formed in the same side surface of the construction machine; and

an air exhaust port of the ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and an air exhaust port of the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are formed in the same side surface, which is opposite to the side surface with the air intake ports formed, of the construction machine.