Internal-combustion engines – Combined devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-08
2001-05-15
Argenbright, Tony M. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Combined devices
C123S19800E, C123S041010, C290S00100C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230667
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention deals generally with engine generator sets and more specifically with the layout of the various engine generator components to reduce the size of the enclosure within which an engine generator may be operated.
Engine generator sets are much more common in our society than one would first suspect. Recreational vehicles frequently have them aboard in order to generate the power to run appliances and entertainment devices without running the much larger vehicle engine. Furthermore, virtually all emergency vehicles, other than police cars, also have independent engine generators for lights and other necessary equipment.
Because all equipment aboard such vehicles is actually competing for space, there is continuing effort to reduce the size of on-board engine generators, but such equipment has unique requirements. First, because the engine of the combination produces significant audible noise, they are usually installed in a sound insulated enclosure which limits access to the equipment inside. However, since the engine requires combustion air and generates exhaust gases and heat, there must be openings into the enclosure for cool air inlet and hot air and exhaust outputs.
Furthermore, particularly with fire department pumper trucks, such engine generator sets are frequently installed on the top of vehicles where the engine generator must be covered for protection from the precipitation and where bottom access to the engine and generator is restricted. This leaves only the sides and ends of the enclosure for access for cooling. Standard engine generator sets therefore continue to use axially air flow through a front mounted radiator but this configuration adds considerably to the length of the enclosure and requires substantial clearance around the enclosure to maintain free air flow.
There is substantial benefit to be derived from an engine generator installation with a reduced length and cooling access limited to the ends and sides, provided there is no substantial increase in height or width of the enclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention furnishes a significant reduction in the length of an engine generator set by relocating the radiator of the internal combustion engine. The radiator is moved from the conventional location in front of the engine driven fan to an otherwise unused space above the generator. This relocation reduces the overall length of the engine generator assembly by five to twelve inches, but adds nothing to either the height or the width of the assembly.
The engine cooling radiator is mounted horizontally above the generator, where, because the generator has less height than the engine, there is substantial space between the top of the generator and the top of the sound reducing enclosure. In fact, the radiator is separated from the top of the enclosure by sufficient space to accommodate ducts which redirect the vertical flow of air leaving the radiator into a horizontal flow pattern so that it exits the enclosure through the sides of the enclosure. This permits the top of the enclosure to remain a solid sheet and thereby protect the engine generator assembly from exposure to rain and snow. When the original engine fan is used the resulting air flow path within the enclosure not only cools both the engine and the generator, but also furnishes combustion air for the engine.
An alternate embodiment of the invention uses an independently driven cooling fan, such as one powered by an electrical or hydraulic motor, in place of the conventional engine driven fan. This independent fan is placed in an opening of a smaller enclosure which contains only the generator, but the enclosure has its air discharge above the horizontal radiator as in the preferred embodiment. For such an embodiment, the air flow path into the generator enclosure can be through air intakes regardless of their location, because the independent fan draws the air into the generator enclosure and supplies high quality ambient temperature air for the generator and out past the radiator. However, for this embodiment the preferred location for the air intake would be in an accessible side wall of the generator enclosure.
Since the height and depth of the generator is less than the height and depth of the engine and it accessories, the independent fan can be located beside the generator with no increase in the height or depth of the assembly. Thus, since both the radiator and the engine driven fan are removed from in front of the engine, the overall length of an engine generator set using the alternate embodiment of the invention is several inches less than the reduced overall length afforded by the preferred embodiment which still includes the fan in front of the internal combustion engine.
The present invention thereby reduces the length, and, of course, the volume of the compartment required for an engine generator set installed on a vehicle, and the alternate embodiment furnishes the very shortest possible length.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5014660 (1991-05-01), Westerbeke, Jr.
patent: 5125378 (1992-06-01), Westerbeke, Jr.
patent: 5908011 (1999-06-01), Stauffer et al.
Stauffer E. Tony
Stauffer Travis J.
Argenbright Tony M.
Fruitman Martin
Huynh Hai
Stauffer Diesel, Inc.
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