Radiators And Condensers, Mounting Patents (Class 180/68.4)
  • Patent number: 8960619
    Abstract: A device assembling a motor-fan with a motor vehicle engine radiator, including: a first support frame supporting the motor-fan and a second support frame supporting the radiator, at least one of the support frames including at least one peripheral sealing baffle to overlap a peripheral edge of the other support frame; at least four fixing points fixing the motor-fan to the radiator by engaging together simultaneously, including two upper fixing points each including at least one pin and a U-shaped lug to hold the upper part of the motor-fan with relatively little play in relation to the radiator, and two lower fixing points each including at least one pin and a lug with an L-shaped housing to hold the lower part of the motor-fan slightly away from the radiator and at an end of travel bring the lower part of the motor-fan close to the radiator with relatively little play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Renault s.a.s.
    Inventors: Dominique Lecroq, Patrick David
  • Patent number: 8960346
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a battery cooling structure of a hybrid industrial vehicle such as a hybrid forklift, the battery cooling structure being capable of sufficiently cooling a battery and also of eliminating the possibility that the battery receives heat from its peripheral devices. To achieve the object, a second cooling air flow passage (35) for battery is provided separately from a first cooling air flow passage (31) in which a radiator (32) is disposed. A battery pack 26 or a battery is disposed in the second cooling air flow passage (35). The second cooling air flow passage (35) is connected to the first cooling air flow passage (31) at a position upstream of a cooling fan (33) disposed in the first cooling air flow passage (31), so that the cooling fan (33) sucks cooling air in the first cooling air flow passage (31) and also sucks cooling air in the second cooling air flow passage (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyomitsu Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8955629
    Abstract: A radiator structure includes a radiator body having a core composed of radiating fins and cooling water passing tubes alternately laminated and a bracket disposed at one end of the core. The bracket includes an extension portion disposed at a vehicle widthwise inner end of the core and extending along a vehicle front-rear direction. The extension portion has a fixing portion on a leading end thereof, the fixing portion being fixed to a mounting portion of a body frame. An indentation is provided in a portion of an opposed sidewall where a front end of the core and the opposed sidewall of the bracket overlap each other when the vehicle is viewed from the side and which overlaps the fixing portion at least in the vehicle front-rear direction. The indentation is formed by bending the opposed sidewall in a direction away from the front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munehiro Toda, Katsutaka Hattori, Masaomi Yamada, Yusuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 8950534
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for improving the aerodynamic efficiency (e.g., reduce drag) on vehicles, such as class 8 tractors. In some disclosed examples, the systems and methods utilize exhausted gases from an internal combustion engine of the vehicle to direct a stream of gas forwardly of the vehicle. In other disclosed examples, the systems and methods utilize generated air flow from, for example, electric fans, engine driven or pneumatically/hydraulically driven pumps, etc., to direct a stream of gas forwardly of the vehicle for reducing the aerodynamic drag on vehicles. In yet other disclosed examples, the systems and methods utilize a unique configuration of the vehicle's radiator fan(s) in order to direct a stream of gas forwardly of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8950535
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a radiator, an engine, a first post-treatment apparatus, a second post-treatment apparatus, and a bracket. The engine is provided in front of the radiator. The first post-treatment apparatus and the second post-treatment apparatus are positioned in front of the radiator and treat exhaust from the engine. The bracket is positioned in front of the radiator and is elastically supported by the vehicle frame. The bracket supports the engine, the first post-treatment apparatus, and the second post-treatment apparatus. Both the highest position of the first post-treatment apparatus and the highest position of the second post-treatment apparatus are no higher than the highest position of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneo Harada, Naoto Ikeda, Akihiko Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8931584
    Abstract: A seal member may include a base portion, a plurality of deflector portions, and an expansion portion. The base portion may include a plurality of tabs adapted to be mounted to a heat exchanger. The plurality of deflector portions may each extending from a corresponding one of the plurality of tabs and manipulate a flow of fluid proximate the heat exchanger. The expansion portion may be disposed between adjacent deflector portions and may be expandable in response to exposure to heat between a first position at which the adjacent deflector portions are a first distance apart from each other and a second position at which the adjacent deflector portions are a second distance apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sasina, Alfred Piggott
  • Patent number: 8925663
    Abstract: An upper revolving structure is provided with a revolving frame, a floor member, and a cab box. On this, an indoor unit for an air conditioner is provided on the floor member, and an outdoor air inlet port is provided by being opened to the outside of the cab box. An outdoor air duct is provided for supplying outdoor air introduced through the outdoor air inlet port toward the indoor unit. In this duct, an intermediate portion is arranged at a high position on the side of an operator's seat, and on this intermediate portion, a filter accommodating portion is provided by being opened into the cab box. In the filter accommodating portion, an outdoor air filter for trapping dusts in the outdoor air flowing through the outdoor air duct is accommodated capable of being attached and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tabeta, Shogo Kimura, Yasuo Ooshima
  • Patent number: 8919471
    Abstract: A cooling device for a motor vehicle, including a cooling circuit configured to cool an engine assembly using a liquid coolant circulated by at least one variable-flowrate pump, the flowrate of each pump being controlled by a control system. The control system is configured to control the flowrate of each pump in a closed-loop regulating system as a function of the temperature of the liquid coolant and of a setpoint temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Claire Oberti, Marco Marsilia, Samuel Cregut
  • Patent number: 8915320
    Abstract: A shutter system for controlling a flow of fluid through an entryway includes a plurality of louvers, wherein each louver includes a pivot axis and an actuating portion. The shutter system also includes a mechanism configured to select a position for the system between and inclusive of fully opened and fully closed by rotating each of the plurality of louvers about the respective pivot axis. The mechanism is configured to engage each actuating portion and rotate each louver at a variable rate. A vehicle employing the shutter system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Balakrishna Chinta
  • Publication number: 20140367182
    Abstract: In this fuel cell vehicle, a radiator, a protruding region of a casing, and a connecting bar of a fuel cell stack are arranged in a front box in the listed order from the front toward the rear in the direction in which the vehicle travels. A first end plate and a second end plate are fixed directly on a frame member via mounting members, and the frame member is fixed to a vehicle body frame. After an external load has been transmitted from the radiator and the protruding region of the casing to the first end plate and the second end plate, the external load is transmitted to the vehicle body frame via a side frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Nariyuki Yoshinaga, Hideharu Naito
  • Patent number: 8905169
    Abstract: An exterior cover (shroud) for a saddle-type vehicle is formed by integrally uniting a plurality of resin members including a front cover section and a rear cover section. The shroud is insert molded to form an overlapping part where the front cover section and the rear cover section overlap with each other. The front cover section has an external-appearance-surface side at the overlapping part. The rear cover section has a non-external-appearance-surface side, which overlaps with the front cover section at the overlapping part. The rear cover section has a rib extending on the non-external-appearance-surface side. Such exterior cover prevents a sink mark from being generated in the external appearance surface of the front cover section, and improves the external appearance of vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Yama, Yusuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 8893834
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an airflow baffle system and sealing system which effectively seals an articulating hood, such as for a wheel loader, for more efficient routing of cooling air and exhaust air. The articulating hood may have multiple hinges connecting the hood to the motor vehicle. For example, a rear hinge or set of hinges may allow upward and rearward rotation of the entire hood, while a second set of hinges atop the hood may allow for upward and forward rotation of only a portion of the hood when quicker access to only a portion of the engine compartment is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry Edward Berkeland
  • Publication number: 20140338994
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor (10) comprises an engine (26) and a cooling package (24) supported in front of a cab (18). The cooling package comprises a radiator (30) and fan (28) disposed between the engine and cab, the radiator having a major surface which is aligned longitudinally so that an airflow forced through the radiator by the fan is generally transverse with respect to the tractor's forward direction of travel. The orientation of the radiator provides for a narrower front end installation which improves the driver's field of view and relaxes limitations on steering angles and cooling package size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Frederic Ducroquet, Bruno Sap
  • Patent number: 8887847
    Abstract: A servo drive for the set ring of a louver for a motor vehicle has a self-locking gear motor, the output shaft of which is coupled with a control crank. The end of the control crank turned away from the output shaft is connected by way of a link in a toggle-like manner with a positioning rod that is longer by a multiple of its length, of which the end turned away from the control crank is coupled with the set ring. A housing that protects the crank drive extends along the circumference of the set ring and is fastened on the radiator frame together with a servo drive housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kunststoff Schwanden AG
    Inventor: Joseph Kuesperth
  • Patent number: 8881859
    Abstract: An air guiding structure introduces a cooling air to be supplied to a radiator, positioned forwardly of a combustion engine, and an engine intake air from a single opening in a fairing. The fairing encloses at least an area forwardly of a head pipe and an area laterally outwardly of the radiator. A portion of an inner peripheral face of the opening is formed by an inner cowl. An intake air inlet for introducing the engine intake air is disposed above the radiator. The inner cowl is extended rearwardly to form a cowl extension confronting at least a lower portion of the head pipe and a lower bracket of a front fork assembly from outside. A side wall of the inner cowl including the cowl extension is formed with a guide for guiding an incoming air towards the intake air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kozo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140326523
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure according to the present invention includes: a bumper reinforcement disposed on a vehicle front end side with a vehicle width direction as its longitudinal direction; and paired front side members disposed on respective sides of a vehicle front portion with a vehicle front-rear direction as their longitudinal direction. Front ends of the front side members in the vehicle front-rear direction are connected to the bumper reinforcement via paired crash boxes. A plurality of vulnerable portions provided at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction are formed in each of the crash boxes. Further, a vehicle cooling device is disposed between the paired crash boxes. Paired support members configured to support the vehicle cooling device are connected to the respective crash boxes between the vulnerable portions adjacent to each other when viewed from the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8875825
    Abstract: A power control unit that controls a rotary electric machine that drives a vehicle, and that is mounted onto a motor case in which the rotary electric machine is housed, includes a fixed base that is made of resin; a cooler that is arranged on the fixed base and that includes a power module; and a control substrate that is arranged on the cooler. The fixed base inhibits conduction of heat from the motor case to the power control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Asakura, Yutaka Hotta, Tatsuyuki Uechi
  • Patent number: 8869925
    Abstract: A heat-exchanger protection structure includes a vehicle-body-side member, a heat exchanger unit, and a plurality of attachment pins. The vehicle-body-side member includes an upper member and a lower member, which have a plurality of attachment holes, respectively. The heat exchanger unit includes a heat exchanger. The attachment pins are attachable on and detachable from the heat exchanger, having a fragile portion capable of being broken when external force larger than a predetermined value acts on the attachment pin. The heat exchanger unit is supported on the vehicle-body-side member by the attachment pins being inserted into the attachment holes. At least one of the fragile portions is broken in case of a vehicle crash to protect the heat exchanger against damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8863875
    Abstract: The air guide plate includes a plate body formed of a resin material and deformable skirt portions which are formed of the same resin material as the plate body and integrally formed on an outer periphery of the plate body. The air guide plate is arranged such that the plate body is disposed at a front of an automobile without connecting to automobile parts, thereby forming a gap between the outer periphery of the plate body and the automobile parts arranged around the plate body. The deformable skirt portions are disposed so as to be in contact with the automobile parts under flexural deformation, thereby closing the gap by the deformable skirt portions to prevent the air from leaking through the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kawahira
  • Publication number: 20140305724
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an engine supporting structure for a working vehicle that can realize the simplification of manufacturing processes and the reduction of costs. With respect to an engine supporting structure for a working vehicle (backhoe) that includes an engine and a plurality of engine mounts to support the engine, the engine supporting structure includes one piece of mount plate to support the plurality of engine mounts, wherein the mount plate is supported by a stand having a skin-stressed sheet-metal body construction, surrounding with beams welded to the left and right end portions of the mount plate, and with beams welded to the anterior and posterior end portions of the mount plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Mathieu DRIANT, Christophe Caboret
  • Patent number: 8857548
    Abstract: A work vehicle (1) includes an engine (11), a cooling device (12), first and second hoses (14, 15), first and second flanges (16a, 17a), and a third flange (18a). The third flange (18a) is arranged to overlap with the first and second flanges (16a, 17a) by extending in a region R sandwiched between the first flange (16a) and the second flange (17a). Accordingly, there can be obtained a work vehicle (1) that can have rain water intruding inside prevented from entering the engine side along the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8857543
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine disposed in an engine compartment provided with a hood, and also an electrical machine for at least assisting in driving the vehicle and generating electric energy, and a power electronics system for controlling the electric power supply to, and from the electric machine during operation of the motor vehicle by the internal combustion engine and/or the electrical machine, the power electronics system is arranged in the engine compartment above the internal combustion engine and below the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Daimler A.G.
    Inventors: Andreas Ebert, Peter Gere, Arnold Klimas, Lena Krimstein, Van Dung Nguyen, Werner Walter
  • Patent number: 8844661
    Abstract: A road vehicle having: a plurality of operating devices, and a frame comprising two door sills, which are oriented longitudinally, are arranged laterally on opposite sides of the frame, and have an internally hollow tubular shape, so that a seat is defined inside each door sill, in which at least one operating device is arranged inside at least one door sill in the corresponding seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Favaretto
  • Patent number: 8839894
    Abstract: An electric drive system for a vehicle includes: an electric drive unit that electrically drives the vehicle; and a cooling unit that cools the electric drive unit, wherein: the electric drive unit and the cooling unit are mounted at a body frame of the vehicle via an elastic support member, the electric drive unit and the cooling unit being configured as an integrated unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Masatsugu Arai, Tadashi Osaka, Itsuro Sawada
  • Publication number: 20140251706
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle radiator support structure which comprises: a plurality of upper holding members each attached to an upper shroud member which is one of a plurality of structural members of a vehicle body and configured to hold an upper portion of a radiator in such a manner as to restrict a horizontal relative displacement thereof; at least one pair of lateral elastic members each attached to a respective one of right and left lateral portions of the radiator; and at least one pair of lateral engagement members each attached to another one of the structural members other than the upper shroud member and configured to come into contact engagement with at least an upper portion of a respective one of the lateral elastic members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji SHIBUTANI, Naomi HAYASHI, Hirosato IZUMI
  • Patent number: 8826538
    Abstract: A bracket attaches a heat exchanger to a supporting member. The bracket includes a vibration-proof member, and first and second bracket members. The first member is fixed to the supporting member. The second member is joined to a projection of the heat exchanger through the vibration-proof member. The second member is attached to the first member. The second member includes a joining part and an attaching part. The projection is inserted in the joining part from a projecting direction of the projection so that the joining part is joined to the projection with the vibration-proof member intervening therebetween. The attaching part is inserted in the first member from a direction that intersects with a joining direction in which the joining part is joined to the projection, so that the attaching part is attached to the first member at an arbitrary position of the first member in the joining direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Akihide Itoh
  • Patent number: 8820453
    Abstract: A bumper assembly is disclosed for use with a mobile machine. The bumper assembly may have a heat exchanger, and a bumper configured to support the heat exchanger. The bumper may have a recess formed in an upper surface and located to provide a clearance space around a lower portion of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventors: Iain J. Giles-Brown, Ian H. Mearns
  • Publication number: 20140238704
    Abstract: A firefighting vehicle includes a chassis, a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis and having at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position, an operator cab positioned at a front portion of the chassis, and an engine supported by the chassis. The operator cab has a floor section extending laterally between a driver seat and a passenger seat at a position forward of the axis of rotation, and the floor section is substantially flat. The engine is disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Pierce Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Moore, Chad Trinkner, John Schultz, Andrew Fochs
  • Patent number: 8794364
    Abstract: A locking assembly includes a release mechanism and a cap. The release mechanism includes a pin. The cap threadingly engages with a fill neck and includes a barrel portion and an engagement portion. The engagement portion radially surrounds the barrel portion. The engagement portion presents engagement threads which threadingly engage with threads of the fill neck. The annular cover portion radially surrounds the engagement portion. The annular cover portion rotates relative to the annular engagement portion in a second rotational direction to cause rotation of the engagement portion in the second rotational direction such that the engagement threads remain threadingly engaged with the neck threads. The annular cover portion rotates in the second rotational direction and causes rotation of the engagement portion in the second rotational direction to threadingly disengage the engagement threads from the threads when the pin is attached to the locking cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Larry M Kasperek, Scott Jesnig
  • Patent number: 8789874
    Abstract: There is provided a front vehicle body structure. A radiator panel lower is mounted between front ends of side frames, crash boxes at the front ends of the side frames, and a bumper beam between front ends of the crash boxes. The radiator panel lower includes a bracket offset toward the inside in the vehicle width direction from the side frame. Upon an offset front collision, a shock load is absorbed by an axial compression deformation of one of the crash boxes and a drag of the side frames. Upon a full-overlap front collision, the right and left crash boxes are subjected to the axial compression deformation, and the shock load is input to the bracket, thereby bending the side frames. Accordingly, and a sufficient axial compression deformation of the crash boxes is secured, and the shock load is absorbed by the reduction in the drag of the side frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jyunya Okamura, Takehisa Tsukada, Kouichi Imamura, Takatomo Watamori, Shinya Inoue
  • Patent number: 8783400
    Abstract: A fan cover structure for a radiator assembly having a radiator and a cooling fan having a fan motor is provided. The fan cover structure includes a fan cover for surrounding the cooling fan and a support stay releasably mounted to the fan cover and secured to the radiator. The support stay securely holds the fan cover to the radiator. The support stay includes an arm and the fan cover includes a body having channel defined therein and an engagement member. The channel is dimensioned to receive a portion of the arm and the engagement member is configured to engage the arm portion and retain the arm portion in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 8776923
    Abstract: An air guide structure for a saddle type vehicle by which influence of exhaust air from a radiator on a fuel tank can be reduced effectively. A fuel tank is formed with a tank extension section extending to above the upper end of the radiator. A front wall of the tank extension section is inclined forward by obliquely extending rearwardly downward. A front lower cover disposed forwardly of the radiator and rearwardly of a front wheel is provided. The front lower cover is provided with a radiator opening section having a plurality of openings for guiding airflow to the radiator, and with a fuel tank opening section for guiding the airflow to the fuel tank inclusive of the tank extension section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Hiroyuki Sasazawa
  • Patent number: 8770330
    Abstract: An exterior member such as a shroud, for a saddle-type vehicle including a head pipe and a main frame extending rearward from the head pipe, has a hook member formed on an inner side thereof. The hook member is configured for being engaged onto the main frame such that the exterior member is supported by the main frame. The exterior member is locked to the vehicle by engaging the hook member onto the main frame, thereby supporting the exterior member on the main frame. Such arrangement enables the exterior member to be affixed to the frame with a simple structure, without detrimentally affecting the external appearance of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Inoue, Shiro Yama
  • Patent number: 8770329
    Abstract: An engine cooling system includes a first heat exchanger receiving a first fluid and a second heat exchanger receiving a second fluid. The second heat exchanger is located adjacent the first heat exchanger, thereby creating a stacked heat exchanger. The engine cooling system also includes a third heat exchanger receiving a third fluid. The third heat exchanger is located apart from the stacked heat exchanger. A venturi is located between the stacked heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger. An air mover is mounted to the venturi and located within the venturi. The air mover is configured to move air through the stacked heat exchanger and through the third heat exchanger. In a specific embodiment, the engine cooling system is incorporated into a vehicle, such as a skidder vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Forest Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Spitler
  • Patent number: 8763738
    Abstract: A front end structure for a vehicle includes a fascia member defining a forward end of an engine compartment of the vehicle and a radiator disposed in the engine compartment rearwardly spaced from the fascia member. At least one structural brace extends from a location at or near an underside of the vehicle to a location at or near an upper end of the engine compartment. A duct member is interposed between the fascia member and the radiator. The duct member at least partially blocks the radiator and defines a duct passage extending from an underside opening of the vehicle to the radiator. The duct member has at least one recess defined therein that receives the at least one structural brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael R. Missig, Jason A. Widmer, Jeremy Paul Lucas, Kyle Stephen Mihok, Ryan L. Kabbes, Michael W. Maurer
  • Patent number: 8757313
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle includes a throttle body arranged while restraining the effect of the exhaust air of a radiator while restraining the vehicle width even though the radiator is large. A radiator includes a mixed flow fan which flows exhaust air from the radiator rearwardly and outwardly in the vehicle width direction and a motor configured to rotate the mixed flow fan on the back surface thereof. A throttle body is arranged rearwardly of the mixed flow fan so as to be overlapped with the mixed flow fan in a front view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Iwata, Manabu Fujii
  • Patent number: 8752660
    Abstract: There is obtained a cooling structure for a vehicle that can keep low a temperature of an interior of a power unit chamber in which a power unit is disposed. A cooling structure for a vehicle has: a power unit that is disposed within a power unit chamber disposed at a vehicle front side and at which air intake ports are formed in a front end side in a vehicle front-rear direction; an air-cooling-type heat exchanger that is disposed at a rear side with respect to the power unit, and that is cooled by heat exchange with air that passes from a front side to a rear side; and a communication duct that communicates a rear side portion with respect to the air-cooling-type heat exchanger and a rear side portion of the power unit in the power unit chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Patent number: 8739892
    Abstract: A firefighting vehicle is disclosed that includes a chassis and a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis. The front wheel assembly has at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position. The firefighting vehicle also includes an operator cab supported at a front portion of the chassis. The firefighting vehicle further includes an engine supported by the chassis. The engine is disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Pierce Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Moore, Chad Trinkner, John Schultz, Andrew Fochs
  • Patent number: 8744743
    Abstract: Provided is a front structure of a vehicle wherein damage on auxiliary equipment by a millimeter-wave radar is limited at the time of collision, and cooling efficiency for auxiliary equipment using traveling wind is not reduced. A front structure of a vehicle comprises a front right side radar for detecting an obstacle on the front right side of a vehicle by transmitting/receiving a radio wave, a front left side radar for detecting an obstacle on the front left side of a vehicle by transmitting/receiving a radio wave, a bumper reinforcement, right and left crush boxes, and a condenser cooled by traveling wind, wherein the front right side radar is disposed on the outboard side of the right end of the condenser, and the front left side radar is disposed on the outboard side of the left end of the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Kawasaki, Hitoshi Mitsumata, Takashi Kobiki
  • Patent number: 8733485
    Abstract: A front module for a motor vehicle includes two longitudinal members arranged one on either side, a bumper sitting in front of the two longitudinal members and connected to front ends of the longitudinal members with the interconnection of a respective deformation element, and a radiator frame arranged between the longitudinal members and supporting the cooling assembly. In a collision, the bumper, after the deformation of the deformation element, comes to bear against the radiator frame, wherein the radiator frame can then be displaced for a limited distance to the rear in the direction of the passenger compartment. After displacement or deformation of the radiator frame, the bumper (1) comes to bear against at least one point of the cooling assembly (5) in order to displace the latter to the rear in the direction of the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Joergen Hilmann, Bert Niessen, Bernd Linden
  • Patent number: 8727054
    Abstract: A movable grille shutter for a vehicle includes a fin adapted to be provided at a grille opening portion and being operated so as to freely open or close the grille opening portion through which ambient air is taken in, a drive source for driving the fin, a driving force transmitting mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the drive source to the fin and a flexible member being linked to the driving force transmitting mechanism and being deformed for operating the fin to open the grille opening portion in a case where a load that is equal to or more than a predetermined value is acted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Hori, Hiroshi Watanabe, Yoshimasa Asano, Masumi Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20140124279
    Abstract: A utility vehicle with ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features is disclosed. A vehicle is also disclosed with improved cooling, suspension and drive systems. These features enhance the utility of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Schlangen, Jason K. Raska
  • Patent number: 8708078
    Abstract: A shutter system includes a first louver element having a first pivot axis and a second louver element having a second pivot axis. The first louver element is configured to rotate about the first pivot axis, and the second louver element is configured to rotate about the second pivot axis. The shutter system additionally having a flexible drive element connecting the first louver element and the second louver element to thereby substantially synchronize the rotation of the first and second louver elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Scott P. Charnesky, Brain D. Van Buren, Richard J. Skurkis
  • Patent number: 8707926
    Abstract: A cylinder head cover structure of a vehicle which can shorten a longitudinal length of a vehicle while avoiding the restriction on the layout of an engine. A motorcycle includes a vehicle body frame, an engine which is mounted on the vehicle body frame in a suspended manner and includes a cylinder head cover and a radiator which is arranged in front of the engine and behind a front wheel. A recessed portion which is recessed toward a rear side of the vehicle is formed in the cylinder head cover so as to allow a lower portion of the radiator to enter the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tadokoro, Takanori Osuka, Seiichi Nishihira
  • Patent number: 8704139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device comprising at least one tube housing in which at least one PTC heating element is arranged, and heat exchangers which are secured on the tube housing. According to the invention, it is provided that the heat exchangers are secured on the tube housing by stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Edgar Luppold, Alexander Dauth, Juergen Kochems, Klaus Lehmann, Joerg Weigold, Hans-Peter Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 8695741
    Abstract: Overhead pushed airflow for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, a cooling includes an interior defined by upstream faces of heat exchangers. An air mover pushes ambient air downward through said cooling box from overhead of the work and across the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Rex Schertz, Stanley R. Clark, Mark D. Walton
  • Patent number: 8684117
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a vehicle with an engine system and a power dissipation system. One example method includes, during directing airflow from an airflow generating device to cool a component of the power dissipation system, and directing the airflow from the airflow generating device to cool a component of the engine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Todd Adam Ptacek, Scott Leute, Patrick Allen
  • Patent number: 8678127
    Abstract: A work vehicle limited in a mounting space is adapted to have an engine, which is provided with an exhaust gas cleaning device, easily arranged therein. An engine device, which is to be mounted on the work vehicle, is provided with the engine mounted on a machine body and covered with a hood, an air cleaner for cleaning air introduced into the engine, and an exhaust gas cleaning device for cleaning exhaust gas from the engine. The exhaust gas cleaning device is arranged on a flywheel housing fitted on one side portion of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Mitsuda, Takayuki Onodera
  • Patent number: 8678119
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body component, a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), a traction motor, a coolant reservoir having an inlet, and a bracket. The traction motor is electrically connected to the RESS and delivers motor torque for propelling the vehicle. A lobed cap covers the inlet. The bracket extends between the lobed cap and the body component. The bracket defines an opening having radially-inward projecting tabs, each of which engages a different axial side wall of the cap between different adjacent lobes of the lobed cap to prevent rotation and removal of the lobed cap. A method includes providing the above bracket, routing a lobed cap of a coolant reservoir through the opening after installing the cap to the reservoir such that the tabs engage a different axial side wall of the cap between different adjacent lobes of the lobed cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kulwinder Singh, Michael J. Montreuil, Jeffrey R. Tatrow
  • Patent number: 8672071
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a frame and a cooling package carried by the frame. The cooling package includes a housing with an opening, and a fluid cooler covering the opening. The fluid cooler includes at least one hinge along one side thereof, and at least one latch along another side thereof, whereby the fluid cooler can be pivoted open to access an inner side of the fluid cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ryan R. Neilson