CA1045651A - Combined airflow with front mounted fuel tank - Google Patents
Combined airflow with front mounted fuel tankInfo
- Publication number
- CA1045651A CA1045651A CA297,446A CA297446A CA1045651A CA 1045651 A CA1045651 A CA 1045651A CA 297446 A CA297446 A CA 297446A CA 1045651 A CA1045651 A CA 1045651A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- radiator
- fuel tank
- vehicle
- engine
- air flow
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
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- Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
Abstract
COMBINED AIRFLOW WITH FRONT MOUNTED FUEL TANK An arrangement of components for a tractor vehicle wherein the vehicle fuel tank is located at the front of the vehicle. A heat exchanger is located between the fuel tank and the vehicle engine and is provided with air flow from intake areas around the perimeter of the fuel tank as well as from intake ducts located at the side of the vehicle. A flow improving fan shroud surrounds the flow inducing fan which directs air flow for cooling through a heat exchanger then past the vehicle engine to expel radiantly heated air from around the engine.
Description
~0456S~
COMBINED AIRFLOW WITH FRONT MOUNTED FUEL TANK
This application is a division of Canadian Serial No. 246,419, filed February 24, 1976.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
l, Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to industrial tractor vehicles normally equipped with a front end loader and ,oftentimes also equipped with a backhoe. More specifically this invention deals with a fuel tank location for a vehicle of this type and the method of cooling the vehicle engine when the fuel tank is placed ahead of the vehicle radiator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the present state of the development of industrial tractors it is desirous to provide tractors that are compact yet reasonably well powered. As an industrial tractor must often be towed or trailered to a construction site it is advantageous to have the vehicle as compact as practical.
Also when working at a construction site the maneuverability _ l_ ~
~045651 of the tractor is enhanced by its compactness. This com-pactness, however, should not necessitate the compromise in the power capabilities o~ the vehicle.
Therefore, the vehicle must be of a size that accommodates an engine and the necessary operating para-phernalia to ensure a good payload. One of the components of an industrial tractor that has heretofore not been mounted in priority positions is the vehicle fuel tank. A
fuel tank is usually a relatively large vessel. Conse-quently it is not possible to fit the tank into any of the numerous voids around the tractor engine as can be done with smaller dimensioned items. Currently the fuel tank on industrial tractors of the type to which this invention is directed is usually outboard of the operator's work s~ation ahead of the rear traction wheels and generally behind the engine. There are alternative fuel tank locations, such as behind the operator's work station between the rear wheels, or on top of the vehicle engine, however, these alternative locations have various drawbacks. For instance, a rear mounted tank may impede or restrict the design layout of a rear mounted backhoe on an industrial tractor while having the tank mounted over the engine may adversely effect the forward vision of the operator, induce unwanted fuel eva-poration through the proximity of engine heat and possibly present a serious safety problem.
According to the present invention, an improved fuel tank location is disclosed wherein the fuel tank is located at the forward portion of the tractor frame in a location normally occupied by the radiator. The radiator, in this invention, is moved behind the fuel tank in a normal relationship with respect to the vehicle engine.
COMBINED AIRFLOW WITH FRONT MOUNTED FUEL TANK
This application is a division of Canadian Serial No. 246,419, filed February 24, 1976.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
l, Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to industrial tractor vehicles normally equipped with a front end loader and ,oftentimes also equipped with a backhoe. More specifically this invention deals with a fuel tank location for a vehicle of this type and the method of cooling the vehicle engine when the fuel tank is placed ahead of the vehicle radiator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the present state of the development of industrial tractors it is desirous to provide tractors that are compact yet reasonably well powered. As an industrial tractor must often be towed or trailered to a construction site it is advantageous to have the vehicle as compact as practical.
Also when working at a construction site the maneuverability _ l_ ~
~045651 of the tractor is enhanced by its compactness. This com-pactness, however, should not necessitate the compromise in the power capabilities o~ the vehicle.
Therefore, the vehicle must be of a size that accommodates an engine and the necessary operating para-phernalia to ensure a good payload. One of the components of an industrial tractor that has heretofore not been mounted in priority positions is the vehicle fuel tank. A
fuel tank is usually a relatively large vessel. Conse-quently it is not possible to fit the tank into any of the numerous voids around the tractor engine as can be done with smaller dimensioned items. Currently the fuel tank on industrial tractors of the type to which this invention is directed is usually outboard of the operator's work s~ation ahead of the rear traction wheels and generally behind the engine. There are alternative fuel tank locations, such as behind the operator's work station between the rear wheels, or on top of the vehicle engine, however, these alternative locations have various drawbacks. For instance, a rear mounted tank may impede or restrict the design layout of a rear mounted backhoe on an industrial tractor while having the tank mounted over the engine may adversely effect the forward vision of the operator, induce unwanted fuel eva-poration through the proximity of engine heat and possibly present a serious safety problem.
According to the present invention, an improved fuel tank location is disclosed wherein the fuel tank is located at the forward portion of the tractor frame in a location normally occupied by the radiator. The radiator, in this invention, is moved behind the fuel tank in a normal relationship with respect to the vehicle engine.
- 2 -~04565~
There are several advantages to this location which have been touched on previously. To reiterate, this location provides for a compact tractor, both visually and actually, as the "outrigger" saddle type fuel tanks can be eliminated. The fuel tank is mounted far away from exposure to engine heat which may cause fuel evaporation while at the same time presenting a significant safety hazard. The tank is no longer exposed to damage from below such as puncture by tree stumps, rocks, etc.
: O
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An arrangement of equipment integral with an industrial tractor having the fuel tank located immediately ahead of the radiator. The radiator, as well as the oil . .
cooler, are located in a standard orientation behind the tank and ahead of the vehicle engine. Air flow is directed to the radiator by a system of baffles and intake ducts.
Flow is maximized through the use of a flow improving fan shroud circumferentially disposed around the engine driven 0 fan.
An object of this invention is to provide a location for a fuel tank that will be esthetically pleasing and will improve the appearance of an industrial tractor by making it look more compact.
A further object of the invention is to minimize the possibility of a safety hazard existing due to the proximity of the fuel tank to the vehicle engine. The fuel tank in this invention is remotely mounted with respect to the engine and is also segregated from the engine by the interposition of the radiator and oil cooler.
10456S~
Another feature of the invention is that fuelevaporation is minimized as the fuel tank is, as stated above, remote from the engine as well as being shaded by an upright frame appendage and cooled by the flow of air around the periphery of the tank.
Also an object of the invention is to mount the fuel tank and the radiator in positions that are shielded from damage due to exposure to the environment in which the industrial tractor often operates. ~
To attain one or more of thOse objects the invention contemplates an air flow means for a vehicle which has a pair of longitudinally disposed main frame members connected by a main frame cross member supporting an engine, an upright, rectilinear fuel tank carried at the forward portion of the frame and further being surrounded by a vertically disposed main frame appendage affixed to the forward portion of the frame, a radiator mounted between the fuel tank and the engine,and a hood overlying the engine, the radiator, the fuel tank and the frame appendage. A fan induces flow through the radiator, and an air flow directing means diverts the flow through the radiator. That air flow directing means comprises a pair of side intake ducts located between the main frame and the hood at the forward portion of the vehicle with the ducts having an inclined inner surface propagated from the rear juncture of each duct to the forward juncture of the duct which is the point of maximum duct depth, an upper baffle positioned between the hood and the top portion of the radiator the entire width of the front portion of the vehicle, and a lower baffle. The width of the forward portion of the frame extends from a first longitudinal siderail to a second longitudinal siderail fixed ,~
to the uppermost surface of the main frame cross member and ~ 1~)4565~
the lower portion of the radiator whereby the fan will draw air flow through the radiator as directed by the side ducts and the upper and lower baffles such that air will be drawn from forward of the perlphery of the fuel tank and also through the side ducts to the radiator.
These and other advantages and features inherent in the front mounted fuel tank location described herein will become apparant upon reading the following description of a preferred embodiment.
BASIC DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of an industrial tractor incorporating the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation cutaway view showing the placement of the various components of the invention;
FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the fuel tank and associated components of the invention taken through plane 3-3 of Figure 2;
FIGURE 4 is a top view as depicted by plane 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the relationship between the components of the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a view of the forward portion of a tractor as taken along plane 5-5 of Figure 2.
11~)45651 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The inven~ion disclosed herein is shown in the environment of an ind~strial tractor, generally 10, having a front mounted loader bucket 12 carried on a boom means 14 and a rear mounted backhoe having a scoop 16 carried on a boom means 20. The tractor vehicle is equipped with a main frame 22 supporting steerable ground-engaging wheels 24 (one shown) at the forward portion of the frame and traction wheels 26 (one shown) at the rear portion of the tractor 10.
The main frame also supports a frame appendage 30, an engine which is hidden from view by the main frame 22 and side panels 32 and an operator's work zone 34 having a vehicle seat 36, a steering wheel 40, and a rollover protective structure 42 as well as other equipment indigenous to industrial tractors. The forward portion of the vehicle is covered by a hood panel 44.
Referring now to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 which are various projections of the invention housed in the forward portion of the vehicle.
The main frame 22 supports a frame appendage 30 which is in the form of an inverted U having one leg thereof attached to each rail (22 and 22a) of the main frame. The bight of the inverted U provides a mounting location for the front mounted fuel tank 46.
Progressing rearward from the front mounted fuel tank the figures show an oil cooler 50, a radiator or heat exchanger 52, a flow improving fan shroud 54 circumfer-entially disposed around the fan 56 which shares a common shaft 60 with the belt drive pulley 62. The fan 56 is driven by a second pulley 64 driven by the vehicle engine (not shown) through belt 66.
~04565~
The engine at the forward portion of the vehicle is enclosed by the side panels 32 and 32a and the hood 44.
The fuel tank ~6 is generally rectangular as shown in Figure 3. Figures 2, 4, and 5 show that the tank 46 is also equipped with several other features. A filler neck and cap 70 is provided at the top portion of the tank to allow for the passage of fuel into the tank. The front surface of the tank 46 is equipped with horizontal ribs such as 72, which add strength to the surface as well as provide a pleasing appearance. The sides of the tank are flat walls which are gently tapered from the top of the tank to the bottom of the tank such that the distance between the front and back wall surfaces of the tank 46 is greater at the top of the tank than at the bottom. The rear wall 48 of the fuel tank 46 is constructed of two planes having different angular relationships with the sides of the tank which intersect at the vertical center of the tank. The respec-tive planes get further away from the front surface of the tank as they project from the rear corners of the tank to their intersection point at the vertical or longitudinal center of the rear of the tank. The tank is mounted to the vehicle frame through the use of two lower mounting tabs or members 74, 74a which are fixed to (as by bolting) a main frame cross member 76 which connects the main frame members 22 and 22a and also transverses the legs of the inverted U
of the frame appendage 30. Two upper mounting tabs or members 80 and 80a are used to mount the upper portion of the tank 46 to a pair of upwardly extending posts 82 and 82a which project upwardly perpendicularly on the respective main frame members 22 and 22a. These tabs 80 and 80a would normally ~e fastened to the posts 82 and 82a with fasteners, for example the bolts and nut assemblies shown as 84 and 84a.
A provision for allowing fuel to pass from the tank to the engine is also provided as is a tank drain provision (neither of which is shown in the drawings).
The oil cooler 50 is held in position in front of the radiator 52 through the means of upper, 86 and 86a, and lower, ~0 and 90a, mounting tabs which are affixed to the rear wall 48 of the fuel tank 46 and to the oil cooler body 50. The oil cooler is of conventional construction, having inlet and outlet or-fices connected to the traditional fluid conduit (not shown) leading to and from a hydraulic oil reservoir, and is somewhat smaller than the radiator 52.
The radiator 52 is equipped with a filler neck and a cap 92 and is relatively conventional in construction having inlet and outlet orifices connected to the tradi-tional radiator supply conduits such as those running to the engine block. The radiator is carried on and mounted to pedestals 94 and 94a.
A drain means is provided but not shown in the drawings.
A door (not shown) is provided in the hood 44 to allow access to the radiator and fuel tank filler necks.
A significant component of the heat transferring equipment is the fan shroud 54. The fan shroud assists the fan in providing adequate air flow to the radiator. The fan shroud is of the type producing a so-called Coanda effect.
This type of fan shroud improves air flow through the radiator and contributes significantly to the effectiveness of the invention herein disclosed.
~04565~
The fan shroud 54 is mounted to the engine side of the radiator 52 and closely encompasses the fan 56. The fan is a conventional fan driven by means of the fan belt 66 from a cran~ shaft mounted pulley 64. The fan turns in conjunction with the engine which is not shown in detail.
Other equipment which makes the fol~ard m3unting location of the fuel tank possible is the series of baffles and ducts which direct incoming air to the oil cooler 50 and the radiator 52. Two ~ide ducts 96 and 96a ~shown best in - Figure 4) are carried by the side panels 32 and 32a. These ducts are basically rectangular in an elevation view and have an inclined inner surface propagated from the rear juncture thereof to the forward juncture thereof which is the point of maximum duct depth. The openings in the side - panels whichare the intake opening to the ducts 96 and 96a are covered with perforated screens 100 and 100a which prohibit the passage of air borne refuse from entering the duct and becoming trapped on the inlet surfaces of the oil cooler and the radiator.
As shown by Figure 2 air flow can be drawn in above the frame appendage 30 below the hood 44, between the frame appendage and the upper surface of the fuel tank 46 and, below the lower surface of the fuel tank above the main frame cross member 76. In order to get optimum effect from this incoming air an uppèr baffle 102 and a lower baffle 104 are positioned to channel the incoming air to the oil cooler and the radiator.
Air may also be drawn in by means of the fan around the sides of the fuel tank insia~ the frame appendage 30. The baffles previously mentioned may al~o contribute to _ g _ 104565~
directing this air. Further air flow control is provided by the inclined rear surfaces of the fuel tank.
Air that has peen drawn through the heat exchangers is blown over the engine by the fan. This assists engine cooling by forcing heated air away from the vicinity of the engine block. This air is generally directed rearwardly and downwardly until it finds its way out of the enclosed engine compartment.
The operation of the system of cooling is con-tingent upon the fan drawing fresh air from around the fuel tank and from the side mounted ducts and directing this air, by means of baffles, through the oil cooler and the radiator (or any single or combination of heat exchangers).
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, - in accordance with the invention, a provision for a combined air flow to heat exchangers which allows the front mounting of a fuel tank in an industrial tractor which also fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing discription. For example, the invention might be equally utilized on other types of tractor vehicles such as farm tractors or similar equipment. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and varia-tions that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
There are several advantages to this location which have been touched on previously. To reiterate, this location provides for a compact tractor, both visually and actually, as the "outrigger" saddle type fuel tanks can be eliminated. The fuel tank is mounted far away from exposure to engine heat which may cause fuel evaporation while at the same time presenting a significant safety hazard. The tank is no longer exposed to damage from below such as puncture by tree stumps, rocks, etc.
: O
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An arrangement of equipment integral with an industrial tractor having the fuel tank located immediately ahead of the radiator. The radiator, as well as the oil . .
cooler, are located in a standard orientation behind the tank and ahead of the vehicle engine. Air flow is directed to the radiator by a system of baffles and intake ducts.
Flow is maximized through the use of a flow improving fan shroud circumferentially disposed around the engine driven 0 fan.
An object of this invention is to provide a location for a fuel tank that will be esthetically pleasing and will improve the appearance of an industrial tractor by making it look more compact.
A further object of the invention is to minimize the possibility of a safety hazard existing due to the proximity of the fuel tank to the vehicle engine. The fuel tank in this invention is remotely mounted with respect to the engine and is also segregated from the engine by the interposition of the radiator and oil cooler.
10456S~
Another feature of the invention is that fuelevaporation is minimized as the fuel tank is, as stated above, remote from the engine as well as being shaded by an upright frame appendage and cooled by the flow of air around the periphery of the tank.
Also an object of the invention is to mount the fuel tank and the radiator in positions that are shielded from damage due to exposure to the environment in which the industrial tractor often operates. ~
To attain one or more of thOse objects the invention contemplates an air flow means for a vehicle which has a pair of longitudinally disposed main frame members connected by a main frame cross member supporting an engine, an upright, rectilinear fuel tank carried at the forward portion of the frame and further being surrounded by a vertically disposed main frame appendage affixed to the forward portion of the frame, a radiator mounted between the fuel tank and the engine,and a hood overlying the engine, the radiator, the fuel tank and the frame appendage. A fan induces flow through the radiator, and an air flow directing means diverts the flow through the radiator. That air flow directing means comprises a pair of side intake ducts located between the main frame and the hood at the forward portion of the vehicle with the ducts having an inclined inner surface propagated from the rear juncture of each duct to the forward juncture of the duct which is the point of maximum duct depth, an upper baffle positioned between the hood and the top portion of the radiator the entire width of the front portion of the vehicle, and a lower baffle. The width of the forward portion of the frame extends from a first longitudinal siderail to a second longitudinal siderail fixed ,~
to the uppermost surface of the main frame cross member and ~ 1~)4565~
the lower portion of the radiator whereby the fan will draw air flow through the radiator as directed by the side ducts and the upper and lower baffles such that air will be drawn from forward of the perlphery of the fuel tank and also through the side ducts to the radiator.
These and other advantages and features inherent in the front mounted fuel tank location described herein will become apparant upon reading the following description of a preferred embodiment.
BASIC DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of an industrial tractor incorporating the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation cutaway view showing the placement of the various components of the invention;
FIGURE 3 is a front elevation view of the fuel tank and associated components of the invention taken through plane 3-3 of Figure 2;
FIGURE 4 is a top view as depicted by plane 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the relationship between the components of the invention;
FIGURE 5 is a view of the forward portion of a tractor as taken along plane 5-5 of Figure 2.
11~)45651 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The inven~ion disclosed herein is shown in the environment of an ind~strial tractor, generally 10, having a front mounted loader bucket 12 carried on a boom means 14 and a rear mounted backhoe having a scoop 16 carried on a boom means 20. The tractor vehicle is equipped with a main frame 22 supporting steerable ground-engaging wheels 24 (one shown) at the forward portion of the frame and traction wheels 26 (one shown) at the rear portion of the tractor 10.
The main frame also supports a frame appendage 30, an engine which is hidden from view by the main frame 22 and side panels 32 and an operator's work zone 34 having a vehicle seat 36, a steering wheel 40, and a rollover protective structure 42 as well as other equipment indigenous to industrial tractors. The forward portion of the vehicle is covered by a hood panel 44.
Referring now to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 which are various projections of the invention housed in the forward portion of the vehicle.
The main frame 22 supports a frame appendage 30 which is in the form of an inverted U having one leg thereof attached to each rail (22 and 22a) of the main frame. The bight of the inverted U provides a mounting location for the front mounted fuel tank 46.
Progressing rearward from the front mounted fuel tank the figures show an oil cooler 50, a radiator or heat exchanger 52, a flow improving fan shroud 54 circumfer-entially disposed around the fan 56 which shares a common shaft 60 with the belt drive pulley 62. The fan 56 is driven by a second pulley 64 driven by the vehicle engine (not shown) through belt 66.
~04565~
The engine at the forward portion of the vehicle is enclosed by the side panels 32 and 32a and the hood 44.
The fuel tank ~6 is generally rectangular as shown in Figure 3. Figures 2, 4, and 5 show that the tank 46 is also equipped with several other features. A filler neck and cap 70 is provided at the top portion of the tank to allow for the passage of fuel into the tank. The front surface of the tank 46 is equipped with horizontal ribs such as 72, which add strength to the surface as well as provide a pleasing appearance. The sides of the tank are flat walls which are gently tapered from the top of the tank to the bottom of the tank such that the distance between the front and back wall surfaces of the tank 46 is greater at the top of the tank than at the bottom. The rear wall 48 of the fuel tank 46 is constructed of two planes having different angular relationships with the sides of the tank which intersect at the vertical center of the tank. The respec-tive planes get further away from the front surface of the tank as they project from the rear corners of the tank to their intersection point at the vertical or longitudinal center of the rear of the tank. The tank is mounted to the vehicle frame through the use of two lower mounting tabs or members 74, 74a which are fixed to (as by bolting) a main frame cross member 76 which connects the main frame members 22 and 22a and also transverses the legs of the inverted U
of the frame appendage 30. Two upper mounting tabs or members 80 and 80a are used to mount the upper portion of the tank 46 to a pair of upwardly extending posts 82 and 82a which project upwardly perpendicularly on the respective main frame members 22 and 22a. These tabs 80 and 80a would normally ~e fastened to the posts 82 and 82a with fasteners, for example the bolts and nut assemblies shown as 84 and 84a.
A provision for allowing fuel to pass from the tank to the engine is also provided as is a tank drain provision (neither of which is shown in the drawings).
The oil cooler 50 is held in position in front of the radiator 52 through the means of upper, 86 and 86a, and lower, ~0 and 90a, mounting tabs which are affixed to the rear wall 48 of the fuel tank 46 and to the oil cooler body 50. The oil cooler is of conventional construction, having inlet and outlet or-fices connected to the traditional fluid conduit (not shown) leading to and from a hydraulic oil reservoir, and is somewhat smaller than the radiator 52.
The radiator 52 is equipped with a filler neck and a cap 92 and is relatively conventional in construction having inlet and outlet orifices connected to the tradi-tional radiator supply conduits such as those running to the engine block. The radiator is carried on and mounted to pedestals 94 and 94a.
A drain means is provided but not shown in the drawings.
A door (not shown) is provided in the hood 44 to allow access to the radiator and fuel tank filler necks.
A significant component of the heat transferring equipment is the fan shroud 54. The fan shroud assists the fan in providing adequate air flow to the radiator. The fan shroud is of the type producing a so-called Coanda effect.
This type of fan shroud improves air flow through the radiator and contributes significantly to the effectiveness of the invention herein disclosed.
~04565~
The fan shroud 54 is mounted to the engine side of the radiator 52 and closely encompasses the fan 56. The fan is a conventional fan driven by means of the fan belt 66 from a cran~ shaft mounted pulley 64. The fan turns in conjunction with the engine which is not shown in detail.
Other equipment which makes the fol~ard m3unting location of the fuel tank possible is the series of baffles and ducts which direct incoming air to the oil cooler 50 and the radiator 52. Two ~ide ducts 96 and 96a ~shown best in - Figure 4) are carried by the side panels 32 and 32a. These ducts are basically rectangular in an elevation view and have an inclined inner surface propagated from the rear juncture thereof to the forward juncture thereof which is the point of maximum duct depth. The openings in the side - panels whichare the intake opening to the ducts 96 and 96a are covered with perforated screens 100 and 100a which prohibit the passage of air borne refuse from entering the duct and becoming trapped on the inlet surfaces of the oil cooler and the radiator.
As shown by Figure 2 air flow can be drawn in above the frame appendage 30 below the hood 44, between the frame appendage and the upper surface of the fuel tank 46 and, below the lower surface of the fuel tank above the main frame cross member 76. In order to get optimum effect from this incoming air an uppèr baffle 102 and a lower baffle 104 are positioned to channel the incoming air to the oil cooler and the radiator.
Air may also be drawn in by means of the fan around the sides of the fuel tank insia~ the frame appendage 30. The baffles previously mentioned may al~o contribute to _ g _ 104565~
directing this air. Further air flow control is provided by the inclined rear surfaces of the fuel tank.
Air that has peen drawn through the heat exchangers is blown over the engine by the fan. This assists engine cooling by forcing heated air away from the vicinity of the engine block. This air is generally directed rearwardly and downwardly until it finds its way out of the enclosed engine compartment.
The operation of the system of cooling is con-tingent upon the fan drawing fresh air from around the fuel tank and from the side mounted ducts and directing this air, by means of baffles, through the oil cooler and the radiator (or any single or combination of heat exchangers).
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, - in accordance with the invention, a provision for a combined air flow to heat exchangers which allows the front mounting of a fuel tank in an industrial tractor which also fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing discription. For example, the invention might be equally utilized on other types of tractor vehicles such as farm tractors or similar equipment. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and varia-tions that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
Claims (2)
1. In a vehicle having a pair of longitudinally disposed main frame members connected by a main frame cross member supporting an engine, an upright, rectilinear fuel tank carried at the forward portion of the frame further being surrounded by a vertically disposed main frame appendage affixed to the forward portion of the frame, a radiator mounted between the fuel tank and the engine, a hood overlying the engine, the radiator, the fuel tank and the frame appendage, a fan for induc-ing flow through the radiator, and an air flow directing means for diverting the flow through the radiator the air flow directing means comprising:
a pair of side intake ducts located between the main frame and the hood at the forward portion of the vehicle, further the ducts having an inclined inner surface propogated from the rear juncture of each duct to the forward juncture of the duct which is the point of maximum duct depth;
an upper baffle positioned between the hood and the top portion of the radiator the entire width of the front portion of the vehicle;
a lower baffle, the width of the forward portion of the frame extending from a first longitudinal siderail to a second longitudinal siderail fixed to the uppermost surface of the main frame cross member and the lower portion of the radiator whereby the fan will draw air flow through the radiator as directed by the side ducts and the upper and lower baffles such that air will be drawn from forward of the periphery of the fuel tank and also through the side ducts to the radiator.
a pair of side intake ducts located between the main frame and the hood at the forward portion of the vehicle, further the ducts having an inclined inner surface propogated from the rear juncture of each duct to the forward juncture of the duct which is the point of maximum duct depth;
an upper baffle positioned between the hood and the top portion of the radiator the entire width of the front portion of the vehicle;
a lower baffle, the width of the forward portion of the frame extending from a first longitudinal siderail to a second longitudinal siderail fixed to the uppermost surface of the main frame cross member and the lower portion of the radiator whereby the fan will draw air flow through the radiator as directed by the side ducts and the upper and lower baffles such that air will be drawn from forward of the periphery of the fuel tank and also through the side ducts to the radiator.
2. The invention as described in Claim 1 wherein said side intake ducts are equipped with covering screens in the path of air flow through the ducts and further provide the discharge of air flow through them to be forward of the leading face of the radiator.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/584,247 US3978938A (en) | 1975-06-05 | 1975-06-05 | Combined airflow with front mounted fuel tank |
| CA246,419A CA1042949A (en) | 1975-06-05 | 1976-02-24 | Combined airflow with front mounted fuel tank |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1045651A true CA1045651A (en) | 1979-01-02 |
Family
ID=25668211
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA297,447A Expired CA1045652A (en) | 1975-06-05 | 1978-02-22 | Combined airflow with front mounted fuel tank |
| CA297,446A Expired CA1045651A (en) | 1975-06-05 | 1978-02-22 | Combined airflow with front mounted fuel tank |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA297,447A Expired CA1045652A (en) | 1975-06-05 | 1978-02-22 | Combined airflow with front mounted fuel tank |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA1045652A (en) |
-
1978
- 1978-02-22 CA CA297,447A patent/CA1045652A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-02-22 CA CA297,446A patent/CA1045651A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA1045652A (en) | 1979-01-02 |
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