Fan Type Patents (Class 123/41.49)
  • Patent number: 7350485
    Abstract: A fan (16) draws air through a core (14) of a radiator (10) to which coolant from coolant passages in an engine (12) rejects heat. A shroud (28) having first and second parts (30, 32) in axial succession channels air that has been drawn through the core toward the fan. The first part (30) is a non-elastomeric ring, and the second part (32) has an elastomeric ring (34) having opposite axial ends, one of which telescopically fits to the non-elastomeric ring of the first part (30) and the other of which joins with a second non-elastomeric ring (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Brian J. Jacquay
  • Publication number: 20080072851
    Abstract: An engine cooling fan shroud structure (20) for a vehicle includes a skirt (12?) defining a frame. The frame has a certain wall thickness and defines an opening (22) therein constructed and arranged to permit air to pass through the skirt. The skirt includes motor mount structure (14) supported in the opening and constructed and arranged for mounting a fan motor thereto. The frame defines passageways (18) there-through to reduce an amount of material of the skirt. A film material (28) has a wall thickness substantially less than the certain wall thickness and covers the passageways such that air may flow mainly through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Stephen McLennan
  • Patent number: 7347167
    Abstract: A method for controlling a cooling system for an internal combustion engine having first and second cooling fans is provided, comprising operating the first cooling fan at a first rotational frequency which is greater than a combustion frequency of the internal combustion engine and operating the second cooling fan at a second rotational frequency which is less than the combustive vibration frequency of the internal combustion engine. Since the rotational frequencies of the first and second cooling fans are different from the combustion frequency of the internal combustion engine, the resonance between the rotational vibration of the cooling fans and the combustive vibration of the internal combustion engine may be prevented. Also, since the rotational frequencies of the first and second cooling fans are different from each other so that the resonance between their rotational vibrations may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Sugiyama, Eiji Kosaka, Shinichi Ohshima, Tatsunori Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7322319
    Abstract: A fan assembly for an agricultural tractor includes a rotatable fan mechanically driven by a drive shaft coupled to an internal combustion engine. A fan shroud encloses the outer periphery of the fan and is mechanically connected to the engine. A bearing is mounted on the drive shaft and supports the fan shroud so that the drive shaft is rotatable with respect to the fan shroud. The bearing prevents radial and axial movement of the fan shroud relative to the drive shaft. A fan housing is connected to a radiator which is connected to the engine. The fan housing is coupled to an end of the fan shroud by a friction coupler which prevents rotation of the fan shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dierk Esau, Waldemar Stark, Gerald Werner, Peter Back
  • Patent number: 7320299
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine of a lawnmower. The engine has a muffler through which exhaust gases exit the engine and is cooled by a liquid coolant. The cooling system includes a heat exchanger operatively connected to the engine to receive the liquid coolant from the engine at a first temperature and return the liquid coolant to the engine at a lower temperature. A fan mounted above the heat exchanger is operable to draw or pull an air flow in a standard direction upward through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger and fan are oriented in an inclined orientation such that the air flow is directed upward and away from the operator station of the lawnmower. The cooling system also has a generally tubular baffle surrounding the muffler at least partially isolating the engine from heat radiating from the muffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Commercial Turf Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jimmy N. Eavenson, Sr., Peter Buchanan
  • Patent number: 7318394
    Abstract: The motor of an automotive cooling fan system is attached to a housing by either bayonet mount, screw mount, or axial-snap features on both motor and housing, as well as a cradle structure on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch LLC
    Inventors: William M. Stevens, William Murray Black, Stephens Nicholls, Markus Liedel, Thomas Helming, Peter Bruder, Hugo Hermann, Britt Weigand, Klaus Weickenmeier, Jens Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20070277752
    Abstract: A vehicle has an engine movably mounted on a frame, a fan mounted on an engine driven shaft, a radiator fixedly mounted on the frame, and a hollow shroud assembly which extends from the fan to the radiator. The shroud assembly includes an inner shroud member, an outer shroud member and a flexible annular seal member which interconnects the inner and outer shrouds. The inner shroud member is mounted to the engine and fixed with respect to the engine and the fan. The inner shroud member integrally forms an aspirator port. The outer shroud member is fixed with respect to the frame. The flexible seal member sealingly engages the inner and outer shroud members. The seal member has an annular gripping part and an annular lip which projects away from the gripping part. The gripping part grippingly engages an end of the outer shroud member. The lip engages an outer surface of the inner shroud member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Eric Brian Smith, Jeremy Van Essen
  • Patent number: 7300484
    Abstract: A blower has a carrying frame provided with a base plate. A fan with a fan housing is mounted on the carrying frame. The fan housing has an intake opening that faces the base plate and is spaced from the base plate. An intake gap is formed between the base plate and the fan housing. An internal combustion engine drives the fan in order to take in working air through the intake opening and to blow out the working air through a blower tube. A leaf shield for preventing leaves and debris from entering the fan housing is provided and covers the intake gap. The leaf shield is made of a foam material having coarse pores to allow unimpaired intake of the working air and to prevent leaves or other debris from adhering to the leaf shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Randy Scully, Jim Herrala
  • Publication number: 20070169989
    Abstract: A cooling system for an engine of a lawnmower. The engine has a muffler through which exhaust gases exit the engine and is cooled by a liquid coolant. The cooling system includes a heat exchanger operatively connected to the engine to receive the liquid coolant from the engine at a first temperature and return the liquid coolant to the engine at a lower temperature. A fan mounted above the heat exchanger is operable to draw or pull an air flow in a standard direction upward through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger and fan are oriented in an inclined orientation such that the air flow is directed upward and away from the operator station of the lawnmower. The cooling system also has a generally tubular baffle surrounding the muffler at least partially isolating the engine from heat radiating from the muffler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: Commercial Turf Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jimmy N. Eavenson, Peter Buchanan
  • Patent number: 7229250
    Abstract: Pitch control of a variable pitch fan is obtained using pulsed pressure. Pitch is varied incrementally either towards or away from full pitch by pulsed application of fluid to a piston used to drive the blades of the fan into or away from full pitch. Reverse pitch is used to clear debris from the fan. Valves control flow of fluid to the piston. The valve operation is controlled by a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Flexxaire Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan E McCallum, Andrew L Norell
  • Patent number: 7228823
    Abstract: An engine-driven vehicle cooling device includes an engine room for reception of an engine, a radiator provided within the engine room for cooling down a cooling water circulating through the engine, a cooling fan positioned between the engine and the radiator for blowing an internal air present in the engine room toward the radiator, a charged air cooler smaller in size than the radiator and disposed between the radiator and the cooling fan in a parallel relationship with the radiator, a shroud provided at an intake side of the cooling fan in the engine room for obstructing a stream of the internal air heading for the charged air cooler, and an external air inlet opening provided between the shroud and the cooling fan for allowing an external air present outside the engine room to be supplied to the charged air cooler as the cooling fan is caused to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7216608
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an engine cooling apparatus that cools an engine according to an operation state of an engine driven work machine. The invention provides an engine cooling apparatus that is adapted to, in an engine drive work machine including an engine and a work machine driven by the engine, cool a radiator of the engine with an electric fan, the engine cooling apparatus including: at least one sensor that senses an operation state of the engine; and a control device that has an inverter, which uses a detection signal of the sensor as an input and the electric fan as a load, and performs operation control for the electric fan according to the operation state of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Denyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Fujie
  • Patent number: 7182047
    Abstract: A cooling system for an internal combustion engine mounted within a vehicle includes a radiator for rejecting heat to ambient air and an axial fan mounted within a fan shroud associated with a radiator. The fan has a stationary hub equipped with louvers which may be controlled so as to either block off or allow airflow through the hub, and consequentially through the radiator. In this manner, the airflow past the fan may be greatly increased when the vehicle is operated at a higher groundspeed, while decreasing the amount of power consumed by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: William Schwartz
  • Patent number: 7171927
    Abstract: A control method for an electronically controlled thermostat includes that an actuator is used for cooling-water control of an internal combustion engine and the actuator is capable of optionally varying the valve-opening ratio. An engine control unit computes a target temperature by means of various engine parameters and distributes the power distribution amount required to operate the actuator so that the cooling water temperature reaches the target temperature. The power distribution amount distributed to the actuator is determined by monitoring only the actual water temperature of the cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Sano
  • Patent number: 7165515
    Abstract: A fan (16) draws air through a core (14) of a radiator (10) to which coolant from coolant passages in an engine (12) rejects heat. A shroud (28) having first and second parts (30, 32) in axial succession channels air that has been drawn through the core toward the fan. The first part (30) is a non-elastomeric ring, and the second part (32) has an elastomeric ring (34) having opposite axial ends, one of which telescopically fits to the non-elastomeric ring of the first part (30) and the other of which joins with a second non-elastomeric ring (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jacquay
  • Patent number: 7150335
    Abstract: In a front end structure of a vehicle, a front end panel and a fan shroud are provided as separate parts. The front end panel and the fan shroud form labyrinthine gap structure between them. The labyrinthine gap structure restricts air from leaking or entering through a space between the front end panel and the fan shroud. Accordingly, a heat exchanging performance of a heat exchanger is not decreased. Also, the front end panel and the fan shroud are separately exchangeable or repairable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Sasano, Yuhei Kunikata
  • Patent number: 7147038
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus of a vehicle includes a single radiator and an air conditioner condenser. The single radiator is sectioned a cooling portion of an engine cooling system and a cooling portion of a second cooling system which is to be kept at a lower temperature than the engine cooling system. The air conditioner condenser includes a condensing portion and a sub-cool portion. The condensing portion of the air conditioner condenser and the cooling portion of the second cooling system of the single radiator are offset to each other in a vertical direction such that the condensing portion of the air conditioner condenser and the cooling portion of the second cooling system of the single radiator are not overlapped when viewed in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomonari Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7134406
    Abstract: The present invention provides a means for momentarily reducing cooling fan load on an engine when a machine encounters sudden loads. The system includes an engine, a load driven by the engine, a cooling system associated with the machine, and one or more controllable cooling fans for delivering air to the cooling system. A controller continually monitors engine speed, reducing fan load when engine speed is both decreasing faster than a maximum rate and is lower than the desired speed. The controller then re-engages the fan load when engine speed is approximately equal to the desired speed or when a maximum disengagement time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Todd Alan Loes
  • Patent number: 7111592
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for facilitating the cooling of engine coolant flowing through a radiator operatively connected to the engine of an engine-driven, electrical generator set. The engine has a crankshaft rotatable about a first axis and a radiator having a first side directed towards the engine and a second side. The apparatus includes a fan positionable on the second side of the radiator that is rotatable about a second axis generally parallel to and vertically spaced from the first axis. The apparatus includes a thermally responsive clutch having a driven portion. The clutch is movable between a first disengaged position wherein the driven portion is isolated from the crankshaft and a second engaged position wherein the driven portion rotates in unison with the crankshaft in response to a predetermined temperature. A fan drive system interconnects the driven portion of the clutch and the fan for translating rotation of the driven portion to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Kern, Bret Baird, Allen D. Gillette, Michael J. Roll
  • Patent number: 7107943
    Abstract: A soundproof engine-driven operating machine has a small installation area, is easy to assemble and disassemble, and has superior cooling effects. The soundproof engine-driven operating machine includes an engine, an operating machine main body that is driven by the engine, a base frame that supports the engine and the operating machine main body in a vibration-proof structure, and a case fitted to the base frame and accommodating the engine and the operating machine main body. One part of the case includes a first-story chamber accommodating the engine and the operating machine main body, first and second heat exchangers, each having a cooling fan and being arranged above the first-story chamber, the first and second heat exchangers performing heat conversion relating to the operation of the engine by using the cooling fans, arranged separately in a ventilation path, and a second-story chamber accommodating a muffler for discharging engine air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Denko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yasuda, Satoshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7051787
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus of a vehicle includes a single radiator and an air conditioner condenser. The single radiator is partitioned into a cooling portion of an engine cooling system and a cooling portion of a second cooling system which is to be kept at a lower temperature than the engine cooling system. The air conditioner condenser includes a condensing portion and a sub-cool portion. The condensing portion of the air conditioner condenser and the cooling portion of the second cooling system of the single radiator are offset from each other in a vertical direction such that the condensing portion of the air conditioner condenser and the cooling portion of the second cooling system of the single radiator are not overlapped when viewed in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomonari Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7047912
    Abstract: A work vehicle cooling system comprises a cooling fan (18) driven by the output from an engine (16), and a flow path for allowing an airflow (27) generated by the cooling fan (18) to be flown between the engine (16) and an operator's seat (14) without having passed through any of a radiator (20) and an oil cooler (21) for the engine (16). With this simple configuration, the heat generated by the engine (16) is prevented from being transmitted to the operator's seat (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Komatsu Zenoah Co.
    Inventors: Junji Mimuro, Shinichi Itou
  • Patent number: 7040837
    Abstract: A self-propelled road milling machine is equipped with a cooling system comprising a fan for drawing in air, a cooler, and a suction channel. The suction channel has a vent opening facing the cooler and an intake opening. In relation to the longitudinal axis of the road milling machine, the intake opening points to the side of the road milling machine, so that air is drawn in from the side. This results in significantly less dirt being sucked into the machine than when the suction channel is positioned in the direction of travel. In a preferred embodiment, the suction channel is formed in one piece with a liquid tank of the road milling machine. The liquid tank and suction system therefore form a modular unit, which can be easily installed on the chassis of the road milling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: WIRTGEN GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Gaertner, Thorsten Langen, Dieter Bungarten
  • Patent number: 7040260
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled, vertical shaft type combustion engine is provided with a duct utilizing a stream of cooling air induced by a cooling fan to cool various parts of the combustion engine. The combustion engine includes an engine body, a crankshaft accommodated in the engine body so as to extend in a vertical direction, at least one engine cylinder head disposed at a front portion of the engine body, a radiator mounted above the engine body for circulating an engine coolant, a duct positioned below the radiator, and a cooling fan operatively accommodated within the duct. The duct has at least a front discharge opening and side discharge ports defined in a peripheral wall for discharging a stream of cooling air induced by the cooling fan, in a direction forwardly of the engine body and in a direction slantwise forwardly of the engine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Yoshimatsu, Keiichi Nakamizo, Takao Sasamura, Minoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7021071
    Abstract: A driving load of a cooling fan unit is selectively determined from a plurality of predetermined loads corresponding to vehicle parameters including a coolant temperature and a vehicle speed. Also, on the basis of a plurality of coolant temperature ranges and a plurality of vehicle speed ranges. The cooling fan unit is driven with the determined driving load. The vehicle parameters preferably further include a refrigerant pressure and a state of an air/con switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Chang Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 7007744
    Abstract: A fastening between a fan shroud and a heat exchanger, the fastening including a plurality of cooperating fastening devices about the outer edge of the shroud and heat exchanger. At least one of the cooperating fastening devices comprises a locking hook on one edge of the shroud, a mount on an edge of the heat exchanger corresponding to the shroud one edge, a stop on the corresponding heat exchanger edge spaced from the mount slot in a direction opposite a first direction, and an elastically flexible extension on the locking hook including a locking tab. The mount defines a slot adapted to receive the locking hook from the first direction. The extension is elastically biased toward an interfering position between the locking tab and the stop when the locking hook is received in the mount slot, and is manually engageable to flex the extension to a releasing position in which the locking tab does not interfere with the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Klaus Kalbacher
  • Patent number: 6997239
    Abstract: A motor-fan shroud is formed at its lower portion with a supporting portion having a hole and at its upper portion with a first and second clip portions arranged apart from each other in a width direction. A reservoir tank is formed at its lower portion with a projection extending downward and insertable into the hole of the supporting portion and at its upper portion with a first and second ear portions insertable from above into the first and second clip portions, respectively. A first clipping surface of the first clip portion has a substantial half-ball shaped projection to be fitted in a hole of the first ear portion, while the second ear portion has a claw to be latched by the second clip portion so that unlatch, in an upward direction, of them can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 6959671
    Abstract: A cooling system for use in a work machine is provided, in which an increase in the load imposed on a fan driving circuit and occurrence of abnormal noise can be prevented without fail by means of an inexpensive arrangement at the time of switching the rotating direction of a cooling fan. To this end, the cooling system comprises: (1) a variable displacement hydraulic pump driven by the engine; (2) a forwardly and reversely rotatable hydraulic motor operated by hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump; (3) a cooling fan driven by the hydraulic motor; (4) an electromagnetic selector valve for switching the rotating direction of the hydraulic motor between a forward direction and a reverse direction; (5) controlling means for controlling switching of the electromagnetic selector valve and controlling the hydraulic pump so as to minimize the discharge oil rate of the hydraulic pump during switching of the electromagnetic selector valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakagawa, Shigeru Yamamoto, Mitsuhiko Kamado
  • Patent number: 6957689
    Abstract: A heat exchange arrangement for a vehicle has at least two heat exchangers exposed to the action of ambient air. One of the heat exchanger is coolant cooler and the other one is a charge-air coolant. Each of these coolers has tubes through which liquid or gas flows and heat dissipating ribs connected to the tubes. The coolant cooler is positioned upstream of the charge-air cooler in the air-flow direction. The charge-air cooler has an overlapping region in which the coolant cooler and the charge-air cooler overlap one another and a non-overlapping region in which the coolant cooler projects substantially perpendicularly to the cooling air flow direction. The non-overlapping region is formed at least in the charge-air outlet region and is cooled directly by ambient cooling air. The overlapping region is cooled by the ambient cooling air that has passed through the coolant cooler, which is positioned immediately upstream of the overlapping region of the charge-air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & CO.
    Inventors: Peter Ambros, Peter Griesheimer, Reinhard Kull, Eberhard Pantow
  • Patent number: 6922925
    Abstract: A construction machine of the present invention is provided, in a compartment formed by a cover, with an engine, a centrifugal fan, and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between cooling air blown by the centrifugal fan and a specified medium, wherein the centrifugal fan and the heat exchanger are arranged further upstream than the engine with respect to flow of cooling air, so that cooling air sucked in by the centrifugal fan is led to the engine after passing through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Watanabe, Seiichiro Takeshita, Takaharu Nishimura, Kazuyoshi Yamada, Makoto Sugaya, Makoto Motozu, Naohiro Ishikawa, Shougo Kimura
  • Patent number: 6910529
    Abstract: A horizontal rooftop engine cooling system includes one or more radiator units horizontally mountable to the rooftop of a bus and including a radiator interconnected to one or more passages of an engine of the bus to allow coolant to flow between the engine and the rooftop cooling system to cool the engine. The cooling system can incorporate a fan mounting shroud, a ram-air aerodynamic shroud, and/or an ornamental aesthetic appearance shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: ISE Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Thomas Stone, Juergen Schulte
  • Patent number: 6907854
    Abstract: A fan shroud is provided having upper and lower sections. The sections are designed to mateably engage one another at mating flanges so as to form an air passage between a fan and a cooling module of the vehicle. The upper section of shroud includes an aspirator portal in an upper surface thereof. An aspirator is provided having an air intake and an air outlet. The aspirator is supported in the lower section of the shroud proximal to the fan with the air outlet facing the fan. An engine intake air pre-cleaner unit having an air intake, an aspirator port, and an air exhaust is mounted to the shroud by aligning mounting tabs on the pre-cleaner with mounting bosses on the shroud so that the aspirator port is disposed in proximity to the aspirator portal in the upper section of shroud. One end of an aspirator hose is connected to the aspirator port of the pre-cleaner and passes through the aspirator portal. The other end of the aspirator hose is connected to the air intake of the aspirator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Aaron David Wikner
  • Patent number: 6899062
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is used for on-board power supply in a motor vehicle that is powered by an internal combustion engine. The blower fan that is used to cool the radiator of the engine also cools the fuel cell module and/or it provides the air feed for operating the fuel cell module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Joachim Grosse, Manfred Poppinger, Meike Reizig
  • Patent number: 6886624
    Abstract: A compact cooling system includes a mounting panel adapted to receive a plurality of at least three cooling units, a cooling fan, and a fan drive mechanism. The mounting panel supports the fan and drive mechanism in a manner allowing rotation of the fan about the axis of rotation. A front side of the mounting panel is adapted for receiving and supporting the cooling units in a pattern defining a cantilevered, tubular polygonal solid disposed about the fan. The mounting panel includes a convex central region extending into the tubular polygonal solid and receiving the drive mechanism in operative connection to the fan. By virtue of this arrangement, a very compact cooling system is provided. The tubular polygonal shape of the cooling units, when mounted on the mounting panel, forms an air duct for directing a flow of cooling air induced by the fan through the cooling units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Werner Zobel, Michael Ehlers, Frank Vetter, Jörg Soldner
  • Patent number: 6874990
    Abstract: A fan-shroud structure 10 includes a fan 12 mounted for rotation about an axis B. The fan has a plurality of blades 20 with tips of the blades being coupled to an annular band 22. A shroud 26, including an annular labyrinth seal 28, is disposed generally adjacent to the annular band thereby defining a gap 30 between the annular band and the seal. The seal has a corrugated profile and is constructed and arranged to provide resistance to air flow as air swirls and flows back into the gap and to minimize air leakage across the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Sylvain Nadeau
  • Patent number: 6871697
    Abstract: A combined liquid tank and fan air flow housing is molded as a unit to combine needed functions in a compact preassembled unit. Separate spaced side tank portions are formed that are joined together with a front end tank to form a central opening with upper and lower ends. The opening is closed with a top plate that defines a plenum chamber and a lower fan support plate that forms a fan chamber in the central opening. A fan in the fan chamber creates an airflow from the exterior through the plenum chamber and out lateral ducts formed in the side tank portions. The inlet air flows through an oil cooler, water radiator and if desired, an air conditioner condenser in the plenum chamber. The tank formed is used for storage of hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: Larry E. Albright, Lonnie D. Hoechst, Daniel A. Frederick
  • Patent number: 6837194
    Abstract: The motor vehicle cooling system (10) contains a fan (12) with which at least one cooler (13) is associated. Provision is made for the fan (12) to be in the form of a centrifugal blower with an air guiding housing (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Matthias Banzhaf, Wolfgang Kramer, Reinhard Kull, Eberhard Pantow, Wolfgang Reeb, Annegret Tillmann
  • Publication number: 20040255878
    Abstract: The motor of an automotive cooling fan system is attached to a housing by either bayonet mount, screw mount, or axial-snap features on both motor and housing, as well as a cradle structure on the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: Robert Bosch Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation
    Inventors: William M. Stevens, William Murray Black, Stephen Nicholls, Markus Liedel, Thomas Helming, Peter Bruder, Hugo Herrmann, Britt Weingand, Klaus Weickenmeier, Jens Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6832643
    Abstract: Optimization of the efficiency of a compact cooling system for air cooling of at least two different heat exchange fluids is obtained in a construction including three heat exchangers (10), (12), (14) arranged in a housing-like shape with an open center. A radial fan (44) is located within the housing and is rotatable about an axis (42). A front panel (36) having an air inlet (38) on the axis (44) abuts a corresponding one of the opposed sides (26), (62) of each of the heat exchangers while a rear panel abuts the other of the opposed sides (64) of each of the heat exchangers (10), (12), (14) and journals the fan (44) for rotation about the axis (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Werner Zobel, Michael Ehlers, Frank Vetter, Jörg Soldner
  • Patent number: 6832644
    Abstract: An engine cooling module 10 which includes a shroud 12, a heat exchanger 18, a fan 14, a motor 13 for driving fan 14, and a plurality of air dams 1. Shroud 12, circumscribing the fan, has a main opening to allow air to pass through the fan to or from a heat exchanger 18. Fan 14 is associated with the shroud 12 to be adjacent to the fan opening to permit air moved by the fan to pass through the heat exchanger. Air dams 1 allow air to flow more easily in one direction than the opposite direction. In the fan flow direction, air dams 1 provide relatively little resistance to the flow. In the direction opposite to fan flow direction, air dams 1 provide more resistance than as compared to the resistance when air flows in the fan flow direction. Under ram air conditions (e.g., when the vehicle is moving), the use of air dams can reduce the load on the fan's motor by cooling properties of ram air, while reducing recirculation, thereby increasing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Frank A. Stauder, Alexander Graham Hunt
  • Publication number: 20040187808
    Abstract: In a tank-integrated shroud, a shroud body has an air guiding wall having a first surface along which air flows and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The air guiding wall has a looped projection on the second surface. The looped projection forms a recess therein that is recessed from the first surface of the air guiding wall. A tank has an opening at one side. The periphery of the opening is welded to the looped projection of the shroud body, so the tank is integrated with the shroud body. During welding, a part of a welding jig is inserted into the recess of the looped projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Yoshitake Hoshino
  • Patent number: 6779591
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a first header having an inlet therein, a second header, an outlet in one of the first and second headers, and a plurality of flat tubes extending between the first and second headers for carrying a fluid between the first and second headers. A first connector is also provided for connecting a first exterior line to one of the first and second headers, the first connector being proximate and substantially parallel to an end of one of the flat tubes. In a compact cooling system, such heat exchangers may be disposed about a radial fan directing air flow outwardly away from the fan axis. One of a system inlet and a system outlet are connected via the first exterior lines to the first connectors of at least two of the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael Ehlers, Wolfgang Knecht, Daniela Fischer, Roland Strähle, Jörg Soldner, Werner Zobel, Mark G. Voss, Frank Vetter
  • Patent number: 6772824
    Abstract: To facilitate mounting of an oil cooler and a cooling fan. An oil cooler which is a cooler and a cooling fan are accommodated in the same case to form a cooling unit. This case is divided into a lid on the front half portion side and a fan cover on the rear half portion side, and the oil cooler is accommodated in the lid while the cooling fan is accommodated in the fan cover. The two members are put together from the front and the rear and are integrated with each other by means of fastening screws. Suspending projections project on the left and right of an upper face of the lid, and are attached to upper pipes, which are part of a vehicle body frame, through suspending brackets. Further, the oil cooler is accommodated in the lid in a state wherein damper rubber members are applied to four corners thereof. Consequently, the damper rubber members function as a rubber mounting structure in a non-coupled state wherein they are merely interposed between a joint recess and the oil cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 6766774
    Abstract: A cooling unit includes a radiator and an axial flow blower that draws air through the radiator along a longitudinal axis and a cross-flow fan that draws air along a lateral axis. The cross-flow fan forces air through the radiator along the longitudinal axis. The axial flow fan draws air through the radiator long the longitudinal axis. A moveable baffle is operable to selectively block air flow from the cross-flow fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ingo Kussmann
  • Patent number: 6758266
    Abstract: A work machine, such as a wheeled loader or dumper, has a cooling and heating system comprising a main line (2) arranged to contain a fluid, a first heat exchanger (4) which is connected to the main line (2), and a charge-air cooler (8) for cooling compressed charge air for an internal combustion engine (12) arranged in the machine, which charge-air cooler (8) is connected to the main line (2). A second heat exchanger (10) is connected to the main line (2) downstream of the charge-air cooler (8), to which second heat exchanger (10) a hydraulic liquid line (14) is connected, so that heat can be transferred between the fluid in the main line (2) and the hydraulic liquid in the hydraulic liquid line (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Volvo Wheel Loader AB
    Inventor: Halvar Sjunnesson
  • Patent number: 6755157
    Abstract: The motor of an automotive cooling fan system is attached to a housing by either bayonet mount, screw mount, or axial-snap features on both motor and housing, as well as a cradle structure on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Stevens, William Murray Black, Stephens Nicholls, Markus Liedel, Thomas Helming, Peter Bruder, Hugo Hermann, Britt Weigand, Klaus Weickenmeier, Jens Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20040118362
    Abstract: To secure a large space that can be utilized effectively above an air cleaner, a low-deck vehicle 10 is constructed to mount an engine shaped like a letter V in the fore-and-aft direction under a low-deck and an air cleaner. The air cleaner is adapted to be capable of being maintained and inspected from the side of the vehicle. A filter element is provided in the air cleaner, and is attachable and detachable by a lid member on the side of the air cleaner. An inspection lid opposing the lid member is provided on a vehicle body cover covering the air cleaner. A space for arranging vehicle accessories such as a fuel tank is provided above the air cleaner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoichi Inayama
  • Patent number: 6749007
    Abstract: A compact cooling system including a radial fan directing air flow outwardly and a plurality of heat exchangers disposed around the radial fan. Each heat exchanger has a plurality of tubes extending between an inlet header and an outlet header, with the headers extending generally in the same direction as the fan axis. A system inlet is connected to the inlet headers and a system outlet is connected to the outlet headers, whereby the length of the connection between each heat exchanger and the system outlet and system inlet is generally the same for each heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael Ehlers, Wolfgang Knecht, Daniela Fischer, Roland Strähle, Jörg Soldner, Werner Zobel
  • Patent number: 6745728
    Abstract: A coolant circuit and method of operating a coolant circuit is provided for a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine. A cooling jacket which surrounds a cylinder head housing and a cylinder block and is supplied with cooling liquid by way of a pump. The cylinder cooling jacket and the cylinder head cooling space are provided with a connection for feeding the cooling liquid and with the cooling liquid flowing parallel through the cylinder head housing and the cylinder block. Thus, a cooling of the cylinder block and the cylinder head which meets the requirements takes place without any additional control devices. The engine rapidly reaches its operating temperature, thereby reducing the cold running phase. As a result, the fuel consumption and the crude emissions can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Manfred Batzill
  • Patent number: 6748162
    Abstract: A ventilation assembly for a motor vehicle comprising first and second motor fan units (1, 2) and a control device (5) adapted to vary the ventilation power (P1+2) developed by the assembly formed by the two motor fan units according to a desired total power value (PTC). The control device (5) comprises an electric power variator (7) with continuous power variation, connected to the first motor fan unit (1), and a means for cutting-off the supply of the second motor fan unit (2), the power (P2) developed by the said second motor fan unit (2) being either zero or equal to its maximum operating power (PM2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Industries
    Inventors: Laurent Poutot, Bruno Lucbernet