One-way vented screen assembly for a work vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9579968-B2
Application number	US-201314013785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2013
Priority date	Nov 30, 2012
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A screen assembly for a work vehicle is disclosed. The screen assembly may generally include a screen defining a plurality of screen openings for receiving an airflow therethrough. In addition, the screen may define a flap opening. The screen assembly may also include a flap pivotally coupled to the screen at the flap opening. The flap may be configured to be moved to a closed position when the airflow through the screen is in a first direction and to an opened position when the airflow through the screen is in a second direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A screen assembly for a work vehicle, the screen assembly comprising:
a screen defining a plurality of screen openings for receiving an airflow therethrough, the screen further defining a flap opening;
a flap pivotally coupled to the screen at the flap opening, the flap being configured to be moved to a closed position when the airflow through the screen is in a first direction and to an opened position when the airflow through the screen is in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction,
wherein an outer edge of the flap is configured to contact at least a portion of the screen around a perimeter of the flap opening when the flap is in the closed position.

2. The screen assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a hinge coupled between the screen and the flap at a top edge of the flap opening.

3. The screen assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flap is dimensionally larger than the flap opening in at least one direction.

4. The screen assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing mechanism coupled to the flap, the biasing mechanism being configured to bias the flap into the closed position.

5. The screen assembly of claim 4 , wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled to the flap at a location spaced apart from a pivot point defined between the flap and the screen.

6. The screen assembly of claim 1 , wherein the screen is configured as a front screen or an auxiliary screen of the work vehicle.

7. A work vehicle, comprising:
a hood enclosure extending between a forward end and an aft end;
a front screen disposed at the forward end of the hood enclosure;
a heat exchanger positioned behind the front screen;
a fan configured to generate an airflow in both a first direction, wherein air is drawn into the hood enclosure through the front screen and flows through the heat exchanger, and a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein air is directed through the heat exchanger and out of the hood enclosure through the front screen; and
a flap movable relative to the front screen between a closed position and an opened position, the flap configured to be in the closed position when the airflow is directed in the first direction and in the opened position when the airflow is directed in the second direction, the flap moving in a direction away from the heat exchanger as the flap transitions from the closed position to the opened position,
wherein the front screen defines a flap opening, the flap being pivotally coupled to the front screen at the flap opening.

8. The work vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a hinge coupled between the front screen and the flap at a top edge of the flap opening.

9. The work vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the flap is dimensionally larger than the flap opening in at least one direction such that the flap overlaps at least a portion of the screen around a perimeter of the flap opening when the flap is in the closed position.

10. The work vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a biasing mechanism coupled to the flap, the biasing mechanism being configured to bias the flap into the closed position.

11. The work vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the biasing mechanism is coupled to the flap at a location spaced apart from a pivot point defined between the flap and the screen.

12. A work vehicle, comprising:
a hood enclosure extending between a forward end and an aft end;
a front screen disposed at the forward end of the hood enclosure;
a heat exchanger positioned behind the front screen;
a fan configured to generate an airflow in both a first direction, wherein air is drawn into the hood enclosure through the front screen and flows through the heat exchanger, and a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein air is directed through the heat exchanger and out of the hood enclosure through the front screen;
a flap movable relative to the front screen between a closed position and an opened position, the flap configured to be in the closed position when the airflow is directed in the first direction and in the opened position when the airflow is directed in the second direction, the flap moving in a direction away from the heat exchanger as the flap transitions from the closed position to the opened position;
an auxiliary screen spaced apart from the front screen in the direction of the aft end of the hood enclosure; and
an auxiliary flap movable relative to the auxiliary screen, the auxiliary flap configured to be in an opened position when the airflow is directed in the first direction and a closed position when the airflow is directed in the second direction.

13. A work vehicle, comprising:
a hood enclosure extending between a forward end and an aft end;
a screen assembly coupled to the hood enclosure, the screen assembly including:
a screen defining a plurality of screen openings for receiving an airflow therethrough;
a flap movable relative to the screen;
a hinge coupled between the flap and the screen; and
a biasing mechanism coupled to the flap at a location spaced apart from the hinge, the biasing mechanism being configured to bias the flap into a closed position; and

a fan configured to generate an airflow in both a first direction, wherein air is drawn into the hood enclosure through the screen and a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein air is expelled from the hood enclosure through the screen,
wherein the flap is configured to be in the closed position when the airflow is directed through the screen in the first direction and an opened position when the airflow is directed through the screen in the second direction.

14. The work vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the screen assembly is disposed at the forward end of the hood enclosure.

15. The work vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the screen assembly is disposed aft of the forward end of the hood enclosure.

16. The work vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the screen defines a flap opening, the flap being pivotally coupled to the screen at the flap opening.

17. The work vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the hinge is coupled between the front screen and the flap at a top edge of the flap opening.

18. The work vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the flap is dimensionally larger than the flap opening in at least one direction such that the flap overlaps at least a portion of the screen around a perimeter of the flap opening when the flap is in the closed position.

Assignees

• Cnh America Llc
• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Rizzon Dominick
• Fay Ii Jeffrey B

Classifications

• B60K11/08 Primary

  Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor · CPC title

• B60Y2200/221

  Tractors · CPC title