Air handling system for engines

Details Air handling system for engines Air handling system for engines

1999-06-28

2001-07-10

Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)

Motor vehicles

Power

With means to guide and/or control air for power plant cooling

C165S051000, C180S068400

Reexamination Certificate

active

06257359

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air handling system for engines, in particular diesel engines, which provide openings in an engine compartment fan housing to direct cooling air onto surfaces of the engine to reduce temperatures from such surfaces.
An engine compartment air handling system for a skid steer loader is typically shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,550. Typically, a fan housing is mounted in the engine compartment and has an inlet which will draw air from the engine compartment, and a second inlet which will withdraw air from a heat exchanger compartment. A radial fan is used to withdraw heated air from the connected compartment and then discharge it to atmosphere. A desired fan shroud has the radial fan in the center portions and is a closed housing except for the inlets and outlets. By withdrawing the warm air from the compartment, cool replacement air comes into the engine compartment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to providing a pressurized flow of air onto hot surfaces of an engine to maintain such surfaces at a lowered temperature than they normally would attain without direct application of forced air. Providing openings in the fan housing in a proper location so that the pressurized air in the housing generated by the radial fan that is used will blow air onto the correct surfaces. As part of this, the inlet openings in the engine compartment fan inlet plate are enlarged a desired amount so that there will be adequate airflow through the engine compartment, because the air that is being added from the holes in the fan housing has to be removed as well. This forms a type of partial recirculation.
In the prior art, there were automobiles and other vehicles which used a fan which drew air through a radiator, which was then warm air, and discharged it into the engine compartment and through openings in the bottom of the engine compartment or other locations. The present device, which is a skid steer loader, is an off-road vehicle that operates at a lower speed. It is desirable to withdraw heated air from the engine compartment, while cool air is drawn into the compartment from appropriate openings.
Usually the incoming air is air from the operator's compartment, so the flow of air first acts to keep the operator cool. It is in this context that the present invention finds an advantage in that the fan can be used for directing air under pressure onto selected parts of the engine without discharging all of the air from the fan into the engine compartment. The present arrangement of withdrawing heated air from the engine compartment can be continued.
The invention relates specifically to skid steer loaders, in its preferred form, but it is applicable to other types of equipment where engines that have hot areas onto which oil may drop are used, and where an evacuating airflow is discharged from the engine compartment with a forced air fan. The housing for the fan is provided with outlet openings that will cause air under pressure to be blown across components of the engine, while limiting the amount of air that is blown into the engine compartment so an adequate airflow is maintained. The limitation in the amount of air passing into the engine compartment will ensure that the engine compartment itself does not become overly warm because an adequate flow of air will be exhausted out. Replacement fresh air will come in through provided openings in the engine compartment.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 5613564 (1997-03-01), Rhines
patent: 5848652 (1998-12-01), Bennett

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