SE533313C2 - Cooling system intended for cooling at least one circulating fluid, and a machine comprising the cooling system - Google Patents

Description

25 30 2 the machine or vehicle and where sediment settles on cooling elements etc. These sedimented particles contaminate the interior of the system and / or the machine which significantly impairs the efficiency of the system and significantly increases the risk of accidents. The cooling system must also be dimensioned with an overcapacity ßr to avoid breakdowns when the cooling system's capacity deteriorates.

There is thus a need for an improved cooling system which increases the reliability of the machines or vehicles where it is installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has for its object to solve the problems described above.

The object is achieved by a cooling system intended for cooling at least one circulating vilket uid which is defined in the independent patent claim.

The problems described above are solved by means of a cooling system intended for cooling at least one circulating fl uid. The cooling system comprises at least one cooling unit comprising: - an air inlet; - an air outlet; a cooling device intended to generate an air flow through the unit from the air inlet to the air outlet - a cooling element through which a flow flows and which is placed in the air flow through the unit, The invention being characterized in that the cooling unit is arranged at least partially enclosed by a housing a second side surface, the air inlet being located in the first side surface and the air outlet being located in the second side surface so that the air flow in to, and out of, the cooling unit is kept separate.

By separating the air flow into and out of the cooling unit, the performance of the cooling unit is improved as already heated air flowing out of the cooling unit is prevented from mixing with the air which is about to flow into the cooling unit, which means that the temperature of the inflowing unit the air becomes lower and the cooling effect in the unit is thereby improved. In addition, a controlled fl fate is obtained that is not hindered by other components.

At the air inlet is an inlet slat arranged in an embodiment of the invention which partially covers the air inlet. The purpose of these is to reduce the amount of noise emitted from the cooling unit, as well as to prevent the ingress of water and reduce the amount of particles etc. sucked into the cooling unit.

In an embodiment of the invention, outlet chambers are arranged at the air outlet which at least partially cover the air outlet in order to control the air flow from the cooling unit in the desired direction and reduce the amount of sound emitted from the cooling unit.

Both the inlet slats and the outlet slats can be provided with sound-insulating coating to further reduce the sound emitted from the unit. the inlet slats as well as the outlet slats can also be replaced with suitable contact protection such as, for example, nets or the like.

In an embodiment of the cooling system, the cooling device comprises a mounting wheel placed parallel to the first side surface of the cooling unit in connection with the air inlet of the cooling unit. This location provides a satisfactory air flow through the unit and means that service and cleaning work is facilitated when the drive wheel is arranged near one of the openings in the unit. 10 15 20 25 30 4 In an embodiment of the cooling system, the fl device comprises a fl wheel located parallel to the air outlet of the cooling unit in connection with the second side surface of the cooling unit. This location also provides a satisfactory air flow through the unit and means that service and cleaning work is facilitated when the drive wheel is arranged near the second opening in the unit.

In an embodiment of the cooling system, the cooling element is placed inside the inlet slats in connection with the air inlet. This placement of the cooling element is very advantageous as the air flow will pass the cooling element immediately after it has placed the slats at the air inlet and thereby still has a low temperature which is important for good cooling effect on the í uid in the cooling element.

In an embodiment of the cooling system, a control wall is arranged in the cooling unit which guides the air flow between the air inlet and the air outlet.

The guide wall reduces the flow losses in the unit. The guide wall suitably has an even curvature adapted to the change in appearance that takes place in the unit.

In one embodiment of the cooling system, deflection plates are arranged in the cooling unit to reduce the flow losses in the air.

The use of deflection plates means that the scattering losses in the air gap are considerably reduced as the deflection plates can be placed in selected places in the unit and thereby facilitate the direction of the air change direction and reduce the vortex formation in the unit.

In one embodiment of the cooling system, the inlet slats are pivotally arranged at the air inlet. This embodiment is very advantageous when a lot of dirt and particles after a period of use accumulate on the inlet slats and they become very easy to clean, for example by rinsing them with running water when they are swung out outside the cooling unit.

In one embodiment of the cooling system, the cooling unit comprises rotary actuators so that then. the inlet slats are unfolded, the cooling element can also be turned out outside the first side surface of the cooling unit where the inlet is located. Since a lot of dirt and particles after a period of use also accumulate on the cooling elements, which reduces its cooling effect on the current flowing through the cooling element, it is advantageous if the cooling elements can also be easily cleaned, for example by rinsing them with running water. the cooling unit.

In one embodiment of the cooling system, the cooling element comprises one, or fl era, pipe loops for one, or more fl uides. If the cooling surface is to be used for cooling several fl uids, each of these must circulate in a separate pipe loop in the cooling unit.

In one embodiment of the cooling system, the cross-sectional area of the air inlet, the air outlet and the duct extending between the air inlet and the air outlet is substantially constant.

In one embodiment of the cooling system, it comprises at least a pair of cooling units according to any of the embodiments described above.

The cooling system is at least partially enclosed by a housing which has at least two side surfaces and an upper side, the air inlets of the cooling units being located in the same, or different, side surfaces in the housing and the air outlets being located in the upper side of the housing. If a cooling unit cannot satisfy the entire cooling demand present from the cooling system, it is advisable to expand the system with additional cooling units. These are then suitably placed as defined above to ensure that the air fl fats are kept separate. 10 15 20 25 30 IUJ ... a Lil 6 In the above embodiment of the cooling system, the casing is substantially in the form of a straightening block where the air inlets are located in two of the side surfaces facing away from each other. This embodiment ensures that unheated air is sucked into the cooling units and the required cooling effect can be satisfied from the cooling system.

The invention as defined in the claims is intended to be used, for example, in machines suitable for earthworks, drilling or the like.

These machines then comprise one or more cooling systems according to one of the definitions above, wherein the air inlet, or air inlets, are located adjacent to one of the sides of the machine, and the air outlet, or air outlets, are located on the top of the machine. A cooling system installed and arranged in this way has the opportunity to satisfy even large machines with sufficient cooling. The orientation of the air inlets at the sides of the machine, the rear side and / or the longitudinal sides, also reduces the amount of contaminants and particles sucked into the cooling system as the amount of contaminants and particles in this area is usually low as it is far from the machine placed. Due to the location of the air outlet on the top of the machine, the outgoing air flow does not contribute to any vortex formation near the ground, which in turn would lead to additional particles in the immediate area at the air inlet.

In one embodiment of the machine, the air inlet, or air inlets, are located at the longitudinal sides of the machine where the contaminants are usually low.

In the machine comprising the cooling system described above, at least one fl uíd circulating in the cooling system is used to cool heat generating components belonging to the machine. 10 15 20 25 30 §ïšl3 Switching 7 In the machine that includes the cooling system described above, the air flow from the air outlet, or air outlets, is directed away from a control cab belonging to the drilling rig. This embodiment is very advantageous in that it partly improves the working conditions of the machine operator by directing heated air away from the place where the operator is usually located, but also in that the casing surrounding the cooling system, in combination with the slats at the air outlet, reduces the amount of noise generated from the cooling system. which further improves the operator's working conditions as well as the surrounding environment.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a complete drilling rig schematically.

Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a pair of cooling units.

Figure 3 shows a schematic cooling unit.

Figure 4 shows selected parts of an embodiment of the cooling unit.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of selected parts in a cooling unit. The description in Fig. 1 shows a schematic drilling rig 10 which is used for different types of ground and construction work and in which the present invention can be used, for example.

The drilling rig comprises, among other things, an elongate, movable arm 11 in the end of which drilling device 12 is arranged, caterpillar feet 13 for propelling the rig, a driver's cab 14 for the operator and an engine body 15.

The drilling rig's engine body 15 houses olika your various components and systems for the rig to function satisfactorily, such as a motor that delivers the required power to the drilling rig. The motor is thus used, for example, for propelling the rig, movement of the elongated arm and for driving the drill. The motor and fl era of the various systems and components of the drilling rig generate a a lot of heat and therefore requires cooling to avoid breakdowns and ensure continuous operation for long periods.The need for cooling increases at high loads on the drilling rig and if the ambient air temperature is high, which means that the drilling rig needs to be equipped with an efficient and reliable cooling system.

Figure 2 shows a cooling system comprising a pair of cooling units 20 according to the present invention. The two cooling units 20 of the cooling system, which are shown separated in Figure 3, are positioned so as to substantially form the shape of a straightening block. Initially, one cooling unit of the cooling system is described when the cooling units are identical.

The cooling unit 20 comprises a partially enclosing housing 2 l whose shape is substantially in the form of a straight block with slightly rounded corners.

The housing can also have other shapes to fit the design of the machine where the cooling system is used. The cooling unit 20 comprises an air inlet 22 located in one side surface 35 of the cooling unit and an air outlet 23 located in its upper side 36. The sides of the cooling unit adjacent to the side where the air inlet is located are solid and in the unit a guide plate 24 is arranged to form a passage from the air inlet 22 to the air outlet 23. The guide plate 24 extends from the lower edge of the air inlet 22 to the edge of the air outlet 23 facing the air inlet and has a curved shape so that the air flow through the cooling unit 20 changes flow direction in the cooling unit 20. The air inlet 22 is partially covered by lamellae 26 which reduce the amount of particles sucked into the unit, and act as a protection which prevents any penetrating objects from damaging the unit. The air outlet 23 is also provided with slats 27 which partially cover the air outlet. However, these have the main task of guiding the air flow out of the cooling unit 20 in a desired direction, suitably away from the drilling rig driver's cab 14, and any other sensitive parts of the drilling rig. Both the slats 26 at the air inlet 22 and the slats 27 at the air outlet 23 lower the sound level emitted from the cooling unit.

The slats can be replaced by other profiles or sound-absorbing elements.

The cooling element of the cooling unit is located inside the inlet slats.

The cooling unit may comprise one or more cooling elements, alternatively a cooling element divided into sections for different fl uids. The cooling element (s) to be cooled through one or more pipe loops arranged in the air flow through the cooling unit flows through the cooling element. The cooling unit may have tubular loops for one or fl era fl uides as different fl uids circulate in separate loops to cool the respective components for which they are intended.

For example, one fl uid can be used for cooling the engine and another for cooling the compressor or pump included in the drilling rig's hydraulic system. The cooling element can be designed in different ways, but it is advantageous if the surface of the pipes through which the flow flows has a large exposure surface to the flowing air in order to ensure a good cooling of the flow in the pipe loop.

The slats 26 at the air inlet 22 are arranged in a slat frame 28 which is suspended with a guide located near the outer corner of the housing 21 of the cooling unit, not shown, so that they are thereby foldable from their ordinary location. The cooling element 30 is also rotatably arranged in its suspension in the cooling unit 20 so that the cooling element with its pipe loops can be rotated out outside the cooling unit and thereby be cleaned in a simple manner.

This is illustrated in Figure 4 and is made possible by the cooling element 30 being fastened with a hinge 31 to the housing of the cooling unit. The pipe loop of the cooling unit is connected via an elastic pipe 32 to the cooling system. A section of the tube 32 is freely suspended between the connection to the cooling element 30 and the cooling system so that the tube 32 can follow the cooling element 30 as it is rotated out outside the cooling unit 20 without damaging the connections of the tube 32.

The cooling element needs to be cleaned after a period of use to ensure that sufficient cooling element is obtained as the particles and dirt that accumulate on the cooling element after a time deteriorate the cooling effect in the cooling element 30 considerably. The figure also shows in broken lines the positions which the cooling element 30 and the inlet liners then occupy. they are in their recessed regular position.

The cooling unit 20 also comprises a mating device intended to generate a forced air flow through the unit and thereby improve the cooling unit in the unit 20. The fan device comprises a mating motor (not shown) and a mating ring 51, shown in Figure 5, placed parallel to the cooling unit side surface inside the air inlet 22. bracket 29. This location makes inspection, cleaning and servicing of the fan easy. However, the fan wheel can also be placed in other places along the air passage in the cooling unit 20.

Under the guide plate 24 a space is formed through which the air flow does not flow. This space is suitably used for, for example, the pipes through which the cooling fluid flows and which are to be connected to the cooling element. The motor, included in the fl mating device, can also be placed here if the shaft is guided in a suitable way to the fl gear wheel. Cables that are part of the various systems in the drilling rig can also pass through this space where they are well protected by the guide plate.

In the cooling system comprising a pair of 40 cooling units, the air inlets of the two cooling units 20 are turned away from each other. The two air outlets are located in the upper side of each cooling unit so that the air to the respective air inlet 22 is kept separate from the heated air flowing up from the air outlets 23. , or separate the air outlets from the respective outlet 23 and guide them in different directions. 10 15 20 25 30 11 To maximize the air flow through the cooling unit, guide rails 50, shown in Figure 5, can be arranged in the cooling unit. These consist of curved plates that facilitate the change of direction of the air flow, which in turn leads to reduced flow losses in the cooling unit. The number of guide rails is adjusted depending on the size of the cooling unit and the expected air flow through the unit. The air fate to and from the unit is illustrated with arrows.

Figure 5 also shows an alternative design of the inlet slats 26, which here have a slightly v-shaped cross-section, as well as a fl driving wheel 51.

The fan wheel can have different designs depending on which fl capacity is required.

To further reduce the amount of sound emitted from the cooling unit, the inside of the surrounding housing can be insulated with suitable sound-insulating material.

In machines where the cooling unit 20, or the cooling module 40 is used, the inlet, or the inlets 22 are located at the sides of the machine where the amount of contaminants is small while the air outlet 23, or the air outlets 23, are arranged on the upper side of the machine. This location facilitates the separation of the air flow to the cooling unit or cooling module as the heated air flows upwards from the top of the machine and continues in this direction which means that it does not mix with the cooler air at the sides of the machine.

The invention has been described above on the basis of the embodiments shown.

However, several modifications are conceivable without departing from the invention. For example, can: 10 5323 Eli? The shape of the cooling unit can be varied, for example by bending some of the sides, as long as the air flows to and from the unit or module are kept separate. - the cooling unit can be designed in different ways to facilitate cleaning and service, for example by making certain parts of the housing, air inlet, air outlet detachable or openable and thereby easier to clean in an efficient way. - different types of k castors can be used to generate the desired air flow through the unit and the module. Although the invention has been described on the basis of some exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited to these but is defined on the basis of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

Pans. 0802650-2 PATENT REQUIREMENTS A cooling system for cooling at least one circulating fluid, the cooling system comprising at least one cooling unit (20) comprising: - an air inlet (22); - an air outlet (23); - a fan device intended to generate an air genom through the unit from the air inlet (22) to the air outlet (23); and - a cooling element (30) through which at least one fl flows and which is placed in the air flow through the unit (20), the cooling unit (20) being arranged at least partially enclosed by a housing (21) comprising a first side surface (35) and a second side surface (36), the air inlet (22) being located in the first side surface (35) and the air outlet (23) being located in the second side surface (36) so that the air flow into, and out of, the cooling unit (20) is kept separate , wherein the cooling system is characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the air inlet (22), the air outlet (23) and a passage extending between the air inlet (22) and the air outlet (23) and through which the air flow flows are substantially equal. Cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling device of the cooling unit comprises a gear wheel (51) placed parallel to the first side surface (35) of the cooling unit in connection with the air inlet (22) of the cooling unit. Cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling device of the cooling unit comprises a sliding shaft located parallel to the air outlet (23) of the cooling unit in connection with the second side surface (36) of the cooling unit. 313 iH Cooling system according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that inlet slats (26) are arranged at the air inlet (22) which partially cover the air inlet (22) in order to prevent particles etc. from being sucked into the cooling unit (20) and to reduce the amount. Skin released from the cooling unit (20) to the environment. Cooling system according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that outlet slats (27) are arranged at the air outlet (23) which at least partially cover the air outlet (23) in order to control the air flow and reduce the amount of sound emitted from the cooling unit (20). ) to the surroundings. Cooling system according to claim 4, characterized in that the cooling element (30) is located inside the inlet slats (26) in connection with the air inlet (22). Cooling system according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a guide wall (24) is arranged in the cooling unit (20) which guides the air flow between the air inlet (22) and the air outlet (23). Cooling system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that deflection plates (50) are arranged in the cooling unit (20) in order to reduce the flow losses in the air. Cooling system according to one of Claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the inlet slats (26) are arranged pivotably at the air inlet (22). Cooling system according to claim 9, characterized in that the cooling unit comprises rotating means (31) so that when the inlet slats (26) are unfolded, the cooling element (30) can be rotated outside the first side surface (35) of the cooling unit (20) where the air inlet (22) is located. a i l It- J Cooling system according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cooling element (30) comprises one, or fl era, pipe loops for one, or fl era fl uider. A cooling system comprising at least one pair (40) of cooling units (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 1, wherein the cooling system is at least partially enclosed by a housing (21) which has at least two. side surfaces (35) and an upper side (36), the air inlets (22) of the cooling units (20) being located in the same, or different, side surfaces (35) of the housing (21) and the air outlets (23) being located in the upper side of the housing (21) (36). Cooling system according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing (2 1) is substantially in the form of a straightening block where the air inlets (22) are located in two of the side surfaces (35) facing away from each other. A machine (10) suitable for earthworks, drilling or the like comprising one or more cooling systems according to any one of claims 1-13, wherein the air inlet (22), or the air inlets (22), are located adjacent to one of the sides of the machine, and the air outlet (23), or the air outlets (23), are located on. top of the machine (10). A machine (10) according to claim 14, wherein the air inlet, or air inlets, are located at the longitudinal sides of the machine. A machine (10) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the at least one id uid circulating in the cooling system is used to cool heat generating components belonging to the machine.