Motor vehicles – Power – Hoods
Utility Patent
1998-07-30
2001-01-02
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Motor vehicles
Power
Hoods
C180S068100, C180S068200, C060S316000, C060S320000, C123S041490, C123S041560
Utility Patent
active
06167976
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to vehicles having liquid cooled engines, and more specifically to an engine enclosure which is adapted to direct cooling air to and through the radiator while also serving to contain noise emitted by the engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicles such as lawn tractors commonly utilize liquid cooled gas or diesel engines with air cooled radiators. Since these vehicles are often used in cutting grass and other vegetation, the air used to cool the radiator is frequently contaminated with dust, grass clippings and similar debris. A further problem can occur when the cooling air is drawn in and around the engine. This air can become heated by the engine and cooling of the radiator can become more difficult. When ducting structures are used to keep the air cool by guiding it around the engine and to the radiator, they can interfere with access to engine components for service and/or maintenance.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide an engine enclosure for a liquid cooled engine which can provide a sufficient supply of air to cool the radiator and engine coolant circulating through it. It would also be desirable to provide the supply of air without the flow being interrupted or compromised due to blockages caused by dust, grass clippings or similar debris. It would further be desirable to prevent the air supply from being heated by the engine as it is drawn to and passed through the radiator. Also, it would be desirable that the air heated by passing through the radiator be exhausted in a manner that would not affect the operator or lawn being cut. It would be desirable as well to provide an air intake structure that would not interfere with servicing and/or maintenance of the engine and its components. Lastly, it would be desirable to provide an air intake structure that would serve to minimize the engine noise escaping from the engine compartment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Towards these ends, there is provided an engine enclosure module which directs air from an inlet opening to the radiator of a liquid cooled engine. The module is comprised of a hood and baffle joined together to provide air passages between their adjacent surfaces. The air inlet is sized to provide a low flow rate that will minimize the buildup of dust, grass clippings and similar debris on the inlet screen. The inlet is located behind the operator station and substantially above the ground to reduce its exposure to dust and debris and it is positioned in a generally vertical orientation to minimize the entry of rain, leaves and/or related debris. Through locating the inlet opening adjacent to the operator station, any blockages can quickly be observed and the operator can brush any buildup from the screen without leaving the operator station.
The air passages between the surfaces of the hood and baffle structure separate the air from the engine as it is directed to the radiator. Air warmed after passing through the radiator is then exhausted out the back of the engine enclosure, away from the operator and parallel to the lawn being cut.
The spaced apart hood and baffle surfaces form acoustic air passages between them that serve to contain the engine noise within the compartment, and the modular one piece enclosure assembly allows it to be raised or easily removed to allow access to the engine and its components for service and/or maintenance. Noise reducing acoustic form panels are provided to selected hood surfaces to further reduce the engine noise escaping from the engine compartment.
With the present invention there is provided a modular engine enclosure that provides a high volume of air for cooling the radiator of a liquid cooled engine at a low flow rate to minimize the buildup of debris on the intake screen. The enclosure further provides cool air to the radiator, exhausts the used air out the back of the engine compartment and away from the operator, minimizes engine noise escaping from the engine compartment and permits quick, easy and unobstructed access to the engine compartment and its components.
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O'Neill Michael Jerome
Peters Michael Dennis
Deere & Company
Mai Lanna
To Toan
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