Patent Application
20110277961
The present invention relates to a vehicle cooling system.
Typically, heavy equipment such as motor graders and wheel loaders are powered by one or more diesel or gasoline powered internal combustion engines. Generally, these engines are liquid cooled, however, air or air/oil cooled engines may also be used. Most liquid cooled engines include a heat exchanger system, the heat exchanger system including a coolant pump and a fan cooled heat exchanger. The term cooler can be used interchangeably with heat exchanger. Coolant passes through the heat exchanger and is cooled by air flow created by the fan. The fan may be driven directly off of the engine or may be powered by any other suitable means such as electrically or hydraulically. Generally, the heat exchanger and fan are positioned relatively close to the engine to reduce the distance coolant is required to flow.
Most heavy equipment includes a hydraulic system having a hydraulic pump and at least one hydraulic cylinder used to actuate a component of the machinery such as a boom and/or a bucket. The hydraulic pump may also supply other components of the machinery such as the transmission and/or the cooling fan. The hydraulic system may also include a heat exchanger to cool the hydraulic fluid. This heat exchanger may be placed adjacent to or integral with the engine coolant heat exchanger described above. Generally, the engine cooling fan or a supplemental fan provides airflow over the heat exchanger to cool the hydraulic fluid.
Traditionally, manufacturers design systems that have heat exchangers stacked in front of each other, and/or placed next to each other in a side-by-side configuration. Today's cooling loads have greatly increased with the use of sophisticated transmissions, more air conditioners, and highly turbocharged engines. Vehicle space is at a premium because the number and size of components have increased, while the size of the enclosure has not changed. Some solutions have required manufacturers to increase the length of the heat exchanger system and have required service personnel to climb on the machine to service the heat exchanger system.
A vehicle cooling system must be capable of cooling all necessary circuits to prevent overheating. It is desirable to keep the cooling system as compact as possible, and the coolers should be able to be cleaned easily, as many kinds of debris can build up on the cooler cores causing the cooling system to be less efficient. This could lead to a potential overheating issue.
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a compact cooling system for a vehicle.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a cooling system wherein both sides of the various coolers can be cleaned.
These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, wherein a cooling system includes a frame having a front, a rear, a left side and a right side. A non-fixed fan is pivotally coupled to the frame between the left and right sides thereof. A front horizontal liquid flow engine radiator extends between the left and right sides of the frame. A left side vertical liquid flow oil cooler extends between the fan and the radiator. A right side vertical liquid flow hydraulic oil cooler extends between the fan and the radiator. A hydraulic reservoir is spaced apart from the front heat exchanger. A non-fixed fuel cooler is mounted between the radiator and the hydraulic reservoir. The non-fixed fuel cooler is pivotal about a first vertical pivot axis. A non-fixed AC condenser cooler is mounted between the radiator and the hydraulic reservoir. The non-fixed AC condenser cooler is pivotal about a second vertical pivot axis. The hydraulic reservoir has angled walls to accommodate pivoting of the non-fixed coolers.
Referring to
A front heat exchanger 30, such as an engine radiator, is supported by the front end 14 of the frame 12 and extends between the left and right sides of the frame 12. The radiator 30 is spaced apart from the fan door 22. Heat exchanger 30 includes a left fluid tank 29 and a right fluid tank 31 on opposite sides thereof. Preferably, the liquid coolant (not shown) flows predominantly horizontally in the front heat exchanger 30.
A left side cooler 32, such as an oil cooler, is supported by the left side of the frame 12 and extends between the fan door 22 and the radiator 30. Cooler 32 includes top and bottom tanks 33 and 35. A right side cooler 34, such as an hydraulic oil cooler, is supported by the right side of the frame 12 and extends between the fan door 22 and the radiator 30. Cooler 34 includes a top tank 37 and a bottom tank 39. Preferably, the liquid coolant (not shown) flows predominantly vertically in the side coolers 32 and 34. Vehicle engine compartment side doors (not shown) may be opened to allow access to clean the outer surface of the side coolers 32 and 34.
A hydraulic reservoir 36 is spaced apart forwardly from the front heat exchanger 30. The hydraulic reservoir 36 has a pair of rear walls 38 and 40 which are angled with respect to the front wall 42 of the radiator 30 and which are joined to form an apex 44 which projects rearwardly towards the radiator 30.
A first or left non-fixed cooler 50, such as a fuel cooler, is mounted between the radiator 30 and the wall 38 of hydraulic reservoir 36. The first non-fixed cooler 50 is pivotally supported at a first vertical pivot axis by a bracket 52 which is attached near to a middle front portion of the frame 12.
A second or right non-fixed cooler 60, such as an AC condenser cooler, is mounted between the radiator 30 and the wall 40 of hydraulic reservoir 36. The second non-fixed cooler 60 is pivotally supported at a second vertical pivot axis by a bracket 62 which is attached near to a middle front portion of the frame 12. The angled walls 38 and 40 of the hydraulic reservoir 36 accommodate pivoting of the non-fixed coolers 50 and 60.
This cooling system 10 meets cooling requirements while being as compact as possible and having the ability to be easily cleaned. It utilizes cross-flow coolers on a front plane and vertical flow coolers on the side planes. This allows the tanks on the front plane to overlap the coolers on the side so the tanks do not blocking any airflow, thus optimizing the core area and making the layout as compact as possible. The cooling system has a fan door that opens to allow cleaning access to the inside of the cooling system. Opening the side doors allows for cleaning access to the fronts of the side coolers. Two smaller coolers are mounted on the front side of the front plane coolers. These coolers rotate about the vertical axis and allow cleaning access to both sides of these coolers and the front side of the front plane coolers when the side doors are open. The rotating coolers can rotate up to 10 degrees. The hydraulic reservoir has angled back walls to allow these coolers to rotate.
While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
