Engine cooling system having a low speed cooling package fan

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016305307-A1
Application number	US-201615130278-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 15, 2016
Priority date	Apr 17, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A machine engine enclosure arrangement that has sound reducing elements allows for the overall sound rating of the machine to be decreased. The engine enclosure includes a housing that has a housing length and a housing width. The housing defines a housing axis that extends along the housing length and the housing axis defines a vertical reference plane. The vertical reference plane is perpendicular to a ground surface on which machine is resting. The engine enclosure further includes a radiator fan that is configured to provide air flow across the radiator. The radiator fan has a diameter greater than the housing width and defines a fan plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the radiator fan. The radiator fan is positioned between the side walls of the housing so that the fan plane is at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the vertical reference plane.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An engine enclosure comprising:
a housing having a housing length and a housing width, the housing defining a housing axis that extends along the housing length, the housing axis defining a vertical reference plane, the vertical reference plane being perpendicular to a ground surface on which the engine enclosure is resting, the housing further including a plurality of side walls that extend along the housing length, the housing width being defined between the side walls; an internal combustion engine positioned within the housing; a radiator positioned within the housing and proximate the internal combustion engine; and a radiator fan configured to provide air flow across the radiator, the radiator fan having a diameter greater than the housing width, the radiator fan further defining a fan plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the radiator fan, and wherein the radiator fan is positioned between the side walls of the housing so that the fan plane is at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the vertical reference plane.

2 . The engine enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the radiator has a width substantially equal to the housing width.

3 . The engine enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the radiator fan is positioned at an angle between about 35 degrees and 45 degrees with respect to the vertical reference plane.

4 . The engine enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the radiator fan is positioned at an angle of about 36 degrees with respect to the vertical reference plane.

5 . The engine enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the radiator fan has a diameter at least 1.05 times larger than the width of the housing.

6 . The engine enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the radiator fan has a diameter at least 1.25 times larger than the width of the housing.

7 . The engine enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the radiator is configured to cool at least one of a hydraulic fluid and an engine coolant.

8 . The engine enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the radiator fan is configured to pull air across the radiator.

9 . The engine enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the radiator fan has a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade having a fan blade pitch of between about 37 degrees and about 39 degrees with respect to the fan plane.

10 . A method of reducing noise in an engine compartment housing comprising:
providing a housing having a housing length and a housing width, the housing defining a housing axis that extends along the housing length, the housing axis defining a vertical reference plane, the vertical reference plane being perpendicular to a ground surface on which the engine compartment housing is resting, the housing further including a plurality of side walls that extend along the housing length, the housing width being defined between the side walls; positioning a radiator within the housing; positioning a radiator fan proximate to the radiator, the radiator fan defining a fan plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the radiator fan, wherein the radiator fan is positioned between the side walls of the housing so that the fan plane is at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the vertical reference plane; and operating the radiator fan at no more than a maximum blade pass frequency of about 220 hertz providing air flow across the radiator.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the radiator fan has a diameter greater than the housing width.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the radiator fan has a diameter at least 1.05 times larger than a width of the radiator.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the radiator fan is arranged in a manner so as to pull air across the radiator.

14 . A cooling system comprising:
an internal combustion engine, the engine using a coolant fluid; a radiator, the radiator being in fluid communication with the coolant fluid of the engine; a radiator fan configured to provide air flow across the radiator, wherein the radiator fan is configured so as to rotate at a maximum blade frequency of about 220 hertz or less; a motor coupled to the fan, the motor being configured to control the speed of the fan; and a controller being in communication with the motor, wherein the controller is configured to use the temperature of the engine coolant fluid to control the operation of the motor.

15 . The cooling system of claim 14 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor further including a valve configured to control the output of the hydraulic motor by altering the flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic motor, and wherein the controller is configured to use the temperature of the hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic fluid reservoir and the temperature of the engine coolant fluid to control the operation of the valve

16 . The cooling system of claim 15 , wherein the valve is a solenoid relief valve.

17 . The cooling system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to use a charge air cooler outlet air temperature to adjust the speed of the fan.

18 . A horizontal directional drilling machine comprising:
a drive member adapted to be coupled to a proximate end of a drill string and generally configured for applying a thrust and rotational force to the drill string; a housing having a housing length and a housing width, the housing defining a housing axis that extends along the housing length, the housing axis defining a vertical reference plane, the vertical reference plane being perpendicular to a ground surface on which the horizontal directional drilling machine is resting, the housing further including a plurality of side walls that extend along the housing length, the housing width being defined between the side walls; an internal combustion engine positioned within the housing and coupled to the drive member; a radiator positioned within the housing; and a radiator fan configured to provide air flow across the radiator, the radiator fan having a diameter greater than the housing width, the radiator fan further defining a fan plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the radiator fan, wherein the radiator fan is positioned between the side walls of the housing so that the fan plane is at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the vertical reference plane.

19 . The horizontal directional drilling machine of claim 18 , wherein the housing has a front and a rear portion, the front portion housing the internal combustion engine and the rear portion housing the radiator and radiator fan, the rear portion also including a plurality of louvers, the louvers being positioned to deflect air flow in a direction toward the front of the housing.

20 . The horizontal directional drilling machine of claim 19 , wherein the radiator fan is configured to pull air across the radiator and expel air past the louvers.

21 . A horizontal directional drilling machine comprising:
a drilling assembly adapted to be coupled to a proximate end of a drill string and generally configured for applying a thrust and rotational force to the drill string; a housing having a housing length and a housing width, the housing defining a housing axis that extends along the housing length, the housing further including a plurality of side walls that extend along the housing length, the housing width being defined between the side walls, the housing further including a convertible hood being pivotable between an open and closed position along a hinge, the hinge being positioned at a compound angle with respect to the housing axis; and an

Assignees

• Vermeer Mfg Co

Inventors

• Shue Christopher Glen
• Whitcomb Timothy Jon
• Downing Benjamin Kenneth

Classifications

• F01P11/12

  Filtering, cooling, or silencing cooling-air · CPC title

• B60K11/02 Primary

  with liquid cooling · CPC title

• F01P7/12

  by thermostatic control · CPC title

• B60K11/04

  Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds · CPC title

• F01P5/06 Primary

  Guiding or ducting air to, or from, ducted fans · CPC title