Heating systems – Heat and power plants – Vehicle
Patent
1993-03-24
1994-10-04
Bennet, Henry A.
Heating systems
Heat and power plants
Vehicle
B60H 102
Patent
active
053518845
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heating apparatus for use in a cabin of a construction machine or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a cabin of a construction machine, farm machine, industrial vehicle or the like or an automobile, a blower type heating apparatus is provided to make a comfortable environmental condition for an operator or driver in winter. For example, a heating apparatus to be installed in a cabin of a construction machine is such that, as shown in FIG. 3, a heater 12 is installed on a floor behind the operator's seat 11 to introduce air from the cabin through both sides of the heater 12, to heat air in the heater 12 and to supply heated air from the front side of the heater and, as shown in FIG. 4, an air conditioner unit 1 is installed on a floor behind the operator's seat to introduce air from the cabin through an inlet 13, to heat it in the air conditioner unit 1 and to supply heated air to the front side of the operator's seat 11 through a space below the operator's seat and to the upper corner of the cabin from the rear side of the operator's seat 11.
In case of a cabin heating apparatus as shown in FIG. 3, however, heated air outlets are provided only at the front side of the heater 12, and therefore the heated air is immediately collected at the upper part of the cabin and a temperature distribution in the cabin is not likely to attain an optimum condition such as a head-cool and feet-warm environment. Also in case of an air conditioner unit as shown in FIG. 4, the environmental condition in the cabin is similar to the above and the air conditioner unit is unlikely to provide such head-cool and feet-warm condition even though the heated air is blown out upwardly from the heated air outlets behind the operator's seat 11 to promote air circulation in the cabin. Such conventional heating apparatuses as described above also have a problem that the operator or driver cannot be relieved from a feeling of coldness at the front part, particularly the parts below the knees, of his body.
An object of the present invention made in view of the above conventional problems is to provide a cabin heating apparatus capable of obtaining an optimum temperature distribution even under winter environmental conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A cabin heating apparatus in accordance with the present invention is provided with a central duct extended to the side of the operator's seat through a front-to-rear changeover damper connected to an air conditioner unit, a rear duct extended to the rear of the operator's seat through the front-to-rear changeover damper and outlets formed at the extreme end part of the rear duct. The heating apparatus is further provided with a lower outlet for supplying an air flow along the floor through an above-to-below changeover damper connected to the extreme end part of the central duct, a front duct rising from the above-to-below changeover damper and a front outlet provided at the extreme end part of the front duct.
In use for heating, an air flow distribution ratio by means of the front-to-rear damper is determined to be `front:rear`=0.95.about.0.85:0.05.about.0.15 and that by means of the above-to-below damper to be `above:below`=0.25.about.0.35:0.75 .about.0.65. The air flow distribution ratios by means of these front-to-rear damper and above-to-below damper are variable within the ranges shown above or can be fixed to specific values within the above ranges.
According to the construction as described above, the heated air flow supplied from the air conditioner unit is divided into optimum air flow ratios through two changeover dampers and therefore an air flow supplied to the feet of the operator is approximately 63% of the overall heated air flow. When an air flow supplied downwardly from the front outlet is added to the above air flow, as much as approximately 90% of the overall heated air flow forms an air flow which can surround the feet of the operator. The operator's feet and the cabin floor are continuously heated by suc
Kadotani Kan-ichi
Matsuki Teruyuki
Nakanishi Hiroki
Bennet Henry A.
Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
LandOfFree
Heating apparatus in cabin does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Heating apparatus in cabin, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Heating apparatus in cabin will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-576335