Abstract: An intake tower for a work vehicle has a grille with a front face and a duct defining an internal volume and an air intake. The air intake has a periphery at which the grille is mounted and first and second ends. The first end of the air intake is closer to a region of relative low pressure within the internal volume of the duct than the second end. A partition extending between the first and second ends of the air intake is recessed from the front face of the grille. The partition defines one or more intake openings leading to the internal volume of the duct. The opening(s) or portion thereof define a first flow area at the first end of the air intake and a second flow area at the second end of the air intake. The first flow area is lesser than the second flow area, and the opening(s) or portion thereof defining the first flow area is located nearer the front face of the grille than the opening(s) or portion thereof defining the second flow area.

Abstract: An intake tower for a work vehicle has a grille with a front face and a duct defining an internal volume and an air intake. The air intake has a periphery at which the grille is mounted and first and second ends. The first end of the air intake is closer to a region of relative low pressure within the internal volume of the duct than the second end. A partition extending between the first and second ends of the air intake is recessed from the front face of the grille. The partition defines one or more intake openings leading to the internal volume of the duct. The opening(s) or portion thereof define a first flow area at the first end of the air intake and a second flow area at the second end of the air intake. The first flow area is lesser than the second flow area, and the opening(s) or portion thereof defining the first flow area is located nearer the front face of the grille than the opening(s) or portion thereof defining the second flow area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealed duct vehicle cab post. A cab frame includes a hollow cab post having an air vent in a sidewall thereof and open first and second ends. A piece of unexpanded foam is attached to a clip. The clip has a base forming a foam piece support to which the piece of unexpanded foam is attached. The clip has a gripping member, and an arm connecting the base to the gripping member. The clip and the foam piece are inserted through the vent and into the post so that the unexpanded foam piece is inside the post and spaced apart from an edge of the vent and between the vent and the first end of the post. The gripping member is coupled to the post so that the gripping member grips, an edge of the vent. The cab frame and/or the post is then heated so that the foam expands and forms a seal within the post between the vent and the first end of the post.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealed duct vehicle cab post. A cab frame includes a hollow cab post having an air vent in a sidewall thereof and open first and second ends. A piece of unexpanded foam is attached to a clip. The clip has a base forming a foam piece support to which the piece of unexpanded foam is attached. The clip has a gripping member, and an arm connecting the base to the gripping member. The clip and the foam piece are inserted through the vent and into the post so that the unexpanded foam piece is inside the post and spaced apart from an edge of the vent and between the vent and the first end of the post. The gripping member is coupled to the post so that the gripping member grips, an edge of the vent. The cab frame and/or the post is then heated so that the foam expands and forms a seal within the post between the vent and the first end of the post.

Abstract: The invention relates to an HVAC vent control system. There is a need for a mechanism by which an operator can easily adjust HVAC vent controls for vents remote from the operator. A roof panel forms a set of air vents and ports. A vent control unit includes left and right door units mounted for rotation on the panel. Each door unit has a louver door and a gear piece connected thereto. The louver doors are movable to control airflow through the ports. The gear pieces are in meshing engagement with the other so that the door units operate symmetrically with respect to each other. A control knob is coupled to the one of the gear pieces so that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the first and second gear pieces and corresponding movement of the left and right louver doors.

Abstract: A clamp assembly is provided for clamping tubular parts to a vehicle frame. The clamp assembly includes a first housing attached to a vehicle frame member and a second housing for attaching to the first housing. A first clamp member is received by the first housing. The first clamp member has recesses formed in an outer surface thereof for receiving tubular parts, and has grooves spaced apart from the outer surface for receiving other tubular part. The first clamp member includes a guide member which is received by a slot formed in the first housing. The first clamp member also includes a post which projects therefrom. A second clamp member is compressed between the second housing and the first clamp member, and the second tubular parts are held between the first clamp member and the second clamp member. The second clamp member includes a bore which receives the post. The first and second housings enclose the clamp members and the tubular parts.

Abstract: A vehicle roof assembly is coupled to a windshield. The roof assembly includes an outer roof member and an inner roof member which form a duct for conducting conditioned air therethrough. A body panel includes a front panel and a bottom panel which are integrally joined together at a corner. The corner has a plurality of apertures formed therein. An adhesive strip attaches an upper edge of the windshield to the front panel. The apertures receive conditioned air from the duct and form an airflow boundary layer which flows over an inner surface of the windshield. This assembly forms a windshield defogging system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a HVAC drainage system. There is a need for an HVAC drainage system which operates well in a vehicle which moves over rough terrain. An HVAC unit is mounted at a central portion of an inner roof panel over an air inlet opening. A collection recess is formed by the panel and surrounds the air inlet opening. Concentric walls formed by the inner roof panel in the collection recess surrounding the HVAC unit. Each wall has one or more gaps formed therein. The gaps in adjacent walls are mis-aligned with respect to each other so that fluid is prevented from flowing in a straight line through gaps in adjacent walls. Drainage ports are formed in the inner roof panel. Drainage grooves formed in the inner roof panel communicate the collection recess with corresponding drainage ports.

Abstract: A vehicle roof assembly is coupled to a windshield. The roof assembly includes an outer roof member and an inner roof member which form a duct for conducting conditioned air therethrough. A body panel includes a front panel and a bottom panel which are integrally joined together at a corner. The corner has a plurality of apertures formed therein. An adhesive strip attaches an upper edge of the windshield to the front panel. The apertures receive conditioned air from the duct and form an airflow boundary layer which flows over an inner surface of the windshield. This assembly forms a windshield defogging system.

Abstract: A clamp assembly is provided for clamping tubular parts to a vehicle frame. The clamp assembly includes a first housing attached to a vehicle frame member and a second housing for attaching to the first housing. A first clamp member is received by the first housing. The first clamp member has recesses formed in an outer surface thereof for receiving tubular parts, and has grooves spaced apart from the outer surface for receiving other tubular part. The first clamp member includes a guide member which is received by a slot formed in the first housing. The first clamp member also includes a post which projects therefrom. A second clamp member is compressed between the second housing and the first clamp member, and the second tubular parts are held between the first clamp member and the second clamp member. The second clamp member includes a bore which receives the post. The first and second housings enclose the clamp members and the tubular parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to an HVAC vent control system. There is a need for a mechanism by which an operator can easily adjust HVAC vent controls for vents remote from the operator. A roof panel forms a set of air vents and ports. A vent control unit includes left and right door units mounted for rotation on the panel. Each door unit has a louver door and a gear piece connected thereto. The louver doors are movable to control airflow through the ports. The gear pieces are in meshing engagement with the other so that the door units operate symmetrically with respect to each other. A control knob is coupled to the one of the gear pieces so that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the first and second gear pieces and corresponding movement of the left and right louver doors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a making a sealed duct from a vehicle cab post. There is a simple and effective method of making such a cab post. The method includes providing a cab frame with a hollow cab post having an air vent in a sidewall thereof and open first and second ends. The method also includes attaching a piece of unexpanded foam to a clip. The clip has a base forming a foam piece support to which the piece of unexpanded foam is attached. The clip has a gripping member, and an arm connecting the base to the gripping member. The method further includes inserting the clip and the foam piece through the vent and into the post so that the unexpanded foam piece is inside the post and spaced apart from an edge of the vent and between the vent and the first end of the post. The gripping member is coupled to the post so that the gripping member grips an edge of the vent.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for a vehicle includes an auxiliary compartment, and a secondary cooling circuit positioned within the auxiliary compartment. The secondary cooling circuit includes a radiator and an electric coolant pump assembly. An AC circuit includes an electric compressor assembly, a condenser, an evaporator, and an electric fan for blowing air through the evaporator. The compressor assembly and the condenser are each located within the auxiliary compartment. The condenser is configured as a refrigerant to coolant heat exchanger with a refrigerant flow path and a coolant flow path. The refrigerant flow path is in fluid communication with each of the compressor assembly and the evaporator, and the coolant flow path is in fluid communication with each of the coolant pump assembly and the radiator. The AC circuit and the secondary cooling circuit may be mounted to a common sub-frame which is removably attached to a cab of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a HVAC drainage system. There is a need for an HVAC drainage system which operates well in a vehicle which moves over rough terrain. An HVAC unit is mounted at a central portion of an inner roof panel over an air inlet opening. A collection recess is formed by the panel and surrounds the air inlet opening. Concentric walls formed by the inner roof panel in the collection recess surrounding the HVAC unit. Each wall has one or more gaps formed therein. The gaps in adjacent walls are mis-aligned with respect to each other so that fluid is prevented from flowing in a straight line through gaps in adjacent walls. Drainage ports are formed in the inner roof panel. Drainage grooves formed in the inner roof panel communicate the collection recess with corresponding drainage ports.

Abstract: A vehicle cab noise suppressing system includes a cab interior panel having an opening exposed to acoustic noise in the cab, an acoustic resonator chamber, and a conduit communicating the resonator chamber to the opening. The resonator chamber is formed by a plurality of walls which are spaced apart from the interior panel and which are formed by a second panel. A third panel cooperates with the walls to enclose the resonator chamber. The chamber volume and the diameter and length of the conduit are chosen so as to acoustically tune the chamber to a noise frequency in the cab and thereby reduce noise in the cab.

Abstract: A vehicle cooling package has a fan shroud mounted to a heat exchanger assembly. A diverter plate is mounted adjacent to the shroud and spaced therefrom with a fan interposed therebetween. A diverting surface of the shroud and the diverter plate are angled from the axis of the fan when the shroud and plate are assembled to the vehicle. A vehicle hood has upper and side surfaces each having air discharge apertures corresponding with the space between the diverting surface and the diverter plate when the hood is closed. The diverting surface and the diverter plate both extend fully to the hood assembly when the hood is closed. The angles of the diverting surface and the diverter plate closely match a natural discharge angle of the fan, so that air is discharged from the fan at a high velocity from under the hood through the air discharge apertures.

Abstract: An air conditioning system includes an air duct, an air conditioning unit in which condensation forms and a condensation drain outlet. A drain system includes a fitting having a first tube, a second tube and a third tube joined together at a common intersection. A water drain line communicates the first tube with the drain outlet. An air line communicates pressurized air from the air duct to the second tube. The third tube is communicated with the environment. The second and third tubes are oriented so that air and condensed water flow away from the intersection and through and out of the third tube. Preferably, the third tube has a down stream end which is not above its upstream end, and the first tube has a down stream end which is not above its upstream end. The tubes may form a T-shaped or a Y-shaped fitting.

Abstract: A single piece injection molded air distribution member carried by the steering wheel support structure forms three sides of an air duct with the fourth side of the air duct left open. The open side is positioned adjacent to the vehicle windshield where the windshield forms the fourth side of the air duct. Since the distribution member does not form an enclosed air duct, the distribution member can be made as a single piece injection molded component. The distribution member is placed in contact with the glass or slightly spaced from the glass. If spaced from the glass, a continuous layer of air flows from the distribution member over the surface of the glass. The distribution member has vanes that divide the duct into multiple air channels, each terminating in an air outlet.