Fan Type Patents (Class 123/41.49)
  • Publication number: 20020035971
    Abstract: There is provided a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine wherein the cooling effect exerted by the combination of a pump and a blower is optimized according to the state of the load on the engine so that the necessary cooling effect can be provided by the pump and the blower and that the power consumption can be reduced. In the cooling system, according to the load on the engine, a target cooling water temperature (Tmap) value and a combination of the operation duty ratios of the pump (500) and the blower (230), which produce the target water temperature (Tmap), are formed into a map. In an actual cooling system, when the target water temperature (Tmap) is obtained, the pump and the blower are respectively controlled by the duty ratios so that the sum (Lc) of the power consumptions thereof can be minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Kazutaka Suzuki, Eizo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6360815
    Abstract: In an arrangement for mounting a fan motor on a heat exchanger comprising a body extending between two heat-exchange fluid tanks connected together by tubes carrying cooling fins and in which a heat-exchange fluid flows, the motor is fixed to a support at least one portion of which is molded onto the body. The motor is preferably fixed to the support by at least one screw, for example a self-tapping screw, screwed into the support. The molded material is preferably a plastics material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Ecia Industrie
    Inventors: Alain Vadrot, Alain Battel, David Negre
  • Patent number: 6360703
    Abstract: An engine cooling module includes a shroud structure, and a brushless dc electric motor having an armature assembly and a rotor carrying permanent magnets. Mounting structure is provided having first and second opposing surfaces. The armature assembly is fixedly coupled with respect to the first surface. The mounting structure is fixed to the shroud structure. A fan has a plurality of blades and a hub. The rotor is fixed with respect to the hub. A shaft is associated with the rotor and the armature assembly permitting rotation of the rotor with resect to the armature assembly. An electronic control unit is coupled to the second surface of the mounting structure and is electrically connected with the armature assembly to control operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehran K. Rahbar, Marek Horski
  • Publication number: 20020033248
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger system including a radial fan directing air flow outwardly away from the fan axis and a plurality of heat exchangers disposed around the radial fan. At least two of the heat exchangers include headers with longitudinal walls extending generally in the same direction as the fan axis with one of the heat exchangers disposed with its outlet header longitudinal wall adjacent the longitudinal wall of the inlet header of a second of the heat exchangers. A flow opening is provided between the adjacent longitudinal walls of the outlet header of the one heat exchanger and the inlet header of the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventor: Mark G. Voss
  • Publication number: 20020023730
    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. 655.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Ehlers, Wolfgang Knecht, Daniela Fischer, Roland Strahle, Jorg Soldner, Werner Zobel, Mark G. Voss, Frank Vetter
  • Publication number: 20020020365
    Abstract: An radiator and charge-air-cooling package made up of two air cooled heat exchangers: a radiator and a charge-air-cooler, the heat exchangers being attached to one another directly or indirectly and then attachable to a chassis or body of the vehicle. The two heat exchangers are both longer than wide with each having center cooling areas. Each heat exchanger has cooling cores in which their coolant flows. Air passes across these cooling cores when the vehicle moves to cool the coolant. The long sides of each of the heat exchangers are geometrically out of synch with the other. With the center cooling areas of each of the heat exchangers overlapping each other, at least one end of each heat exchanger may be unfettered by air flow the other heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: Scott A. Wooldridge
  • Patent number: 6318347
    Abstract: An air-to-air aftercooler or heat exchanger for a vehicular internal combustion engine, which is independent of the main vehicle heat exchanger or radiator, and which is located at a position upon the vehicle which is remote from the main vehicle heat exchanger or radiator, has a filter for filtering ambient air; at least one aftercooler heat exchanger, separate from the main radiator heat exchanger and disposed upon the engine at a location remote from the main radiator heat exchanger, and having a first passageway defined therein which is fluidically connected to the filter for receiving the ambient air which has passed through the filter; a second passageway defined within the at least one aftercooler heat exchanger for receiving turbocharged air from the turbocharger, for conducting the turbocharged air through the at least one aftercooler heat exchanger such that the turbocharged air undergoes a heat exchange process with the ambient air, and for conducting the turbocharged air to the engine intake manif
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Dicke, Ronald L. Dupree, Donald C. Hodges, Jiubo Ma, Aubery W. Penn
  • Publication number: 20010039928
    Abstract: A system for determining the effectiveness of a catalytic coating on a radiator in a motor vehicle. The system provides a driver or maintenance staff status of the catalytic function provided by the catalytic coating on a heat exchanger in a cooling system connected to an engine in a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle includes an engine, a cooling circuit, a heat exchanger having at least a partially externally coating of a catalytic material for converting environmentally harmful substances in ambient air. A sensor determines the effectiveness of the catalytic exchanger by comparing a parameter on one side of the heat exchanger with a parameter on the other side of the heat exchanger. The sensor determines the effectiveness of the catalytic exchanger by measuring untreated air and air that is treated by passing through the heat exchanger. A fan is used to reverse the flow of air to and from the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Peter Alleving, Anders Unger, Jan Skold, Martin Petersson, Erland Max
  • Patent number: 6308665
    Abstract: A hydraulic cooling system and method for use in a vehicle comprises a hydraulic pump which is coupled to a hydraulic motor for driving a fan blade in operative relationship with a radiator via a hydraulic conduit. The hydraulic conduit is formed and provided to not only hydraulically couple the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor, but also to define a support structure for supporting the hydraulic motor in operative relationship with the radiator, without the need for additional support brackets or structure. It is envisioned that the hydraulic conduit could be pre-formed in a general pyramidal or frusto-conical shape to absorb forces exerted by the motor and so that it can easily be assembled and mounted to the fan shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Gordon Lewis
  • Patent number: 6305333
    Abstract: Air blower apparatus (20) in which a fan boss (41) at the rotational center portion of a fan (29) has a recessed form. Meanwhile, the central part of the body portion (21) of the air blower apparatus (20), i.e., a boss portion (38), has a projecting form to be housed within the recessed fan boss (41). The central part of the body potion (21), i.e., the boss portion (38), is housed within the recessed fan boss (41) at the rotational center portion of the fan (29), and the rotary shaft (39) of the body portion (21) of the air blower apparatus (20) is mounted on the fan (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Maruta, Nobumi Yoshida, Hiroshi Endo
  • Patent number: 6302066
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of cooling a work machine is disclosed. A work machine includes a frame, a plurality of ground engaging devices, an operator compartment, a work implement, an engine, and a cooling system. The cooling system includes a radiator, a rotating fan assembly, a rotating deflector, and a means for rotating the fan and the deflector. The rotating fan assembly includes a fan and is for drawing air in a first direction across the radiator. The deflector has a concave surface with a plurality of projections extending therefrom and adapted to draw air in a second direction as the deflector is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff A. Steinmann
  • Patent number: 6253716
    Abstract: A fan assembly (10) which incorporates variable pitched blades (152), is driven by the engine of a vehicle and is used in cooling the engine. A control system (248) is provided which is responsive to at least one signal representative of an operating parameter of the engine and a second signal indicative of a desired cooling requirement to establish an efficient pitch for the blades of the fan assembly. In one embodiment, the speed of the engine is sensed and used in combination with a cooling requirement signal developed by the engine control module (205) to regulate the pitch of the fan assembly. In a second embodiment, engine charge air temperature and coolant temperature signals are utilized in establishing the desired pitch. Furthermore, fuzzy logic controls (290) can be utilized to anticipate the cooling needs of the engine based on variations in the overall dynamic system as derived from information available through the engine control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Horton, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford Palmer, Xin Feng, Chris Nelson
  • Publication number: 20010004011
    Abstract: To reduce noise caused by exhausted cooling air as well as to maintain a necessary amount of cooling air of a cooling fan. A cooling fan is positioned behind a radiator. A shroud surrounds an impeller coupled to a motor and a rotating shaft. The shroud has an inlet and an outlet in the shape of a bell mouth. The bell mouth shaped inlet has its front edge spaced from the rear surface of the radiator by a clearance D, and forms a space around its front peripheral edge. A space is formed via the space, and opens around the periphery of the shroud. The ratio A:B is 1:3 to 5, preferably approximately 1:4, where A denotes a difference between maximum and minimum diameters of the bell mouth shaped outlet of the shroud, and B notes a length of the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Hasumi
  • Patent number: 6230792
    Abstract: The invention relates to a unit comprising an accessory fixed to a heat exchanger comprising fins made of aluminum, this accessory being equipped with bearing surfaces designed to come to rest on the fins. The bearing surfaces are formed on an accessory support made of steel integral with the accessory, and an electrically insulating material is placed between the bearing surfaces and the fins of the exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Michel Potier
  • Patent number: 6223807
    Abstract: An air handling system for the cab of a skid steer loader has an airflow housing mounted on the exterior of the cab and on a rear wall thereof. The housing is within the profile of the loader, that is, below the upper wall of the cab and within the side frame members. The housing has an air inlet above the engine compartment, and includes a heater core and an air conditioning evaporator, both of which act as heat exchangers mounted in a plenum chamber in which two fans are mounted. Ducts lead from the plenum chamber to the interior of the cab. The ducts connected to the air handling housing open through ports in the rear wall of the cab into the interior, and interior or the cab ducts carry the air from the plenum chamber to desired locations of the operator's cab for heating, air conditioning or ventilating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Clark Equipment Company
    Inventors: James E. Asche, Jeffrey A. Dahl, Laura A. Marstad, Jeffrey A. Abel
  • Patent number: 6220207
    Abstract: In an engine cooling system which includes an intercooler for precooling combustion air supplied to an engine, an oil cooler for cooling a hydraulic working fluid for use in a hydraulic excavator, a radiator for cooling cooling water supplied to the engine, a cooling fan in the form of a centrifugal fan, and a suction duct for introducing the cooling air to the suction side of the cooling fan, an opening diameter of a suction duct downstream end is smaller than an opening diameter of a rotary shroud suction-side end, and the suction duct downstream end is positioned inside the rotary shroud suction-side end in overlapped relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Shigehisa Funabashi, Zenji Kaneko, Masaki Kanahara, Koji Tahara
  • Patent number: 6216778
    Abstract: A cooling system for an off-highway vehicle includes a heat exchanger (e.g., an engine coolant or hydraulic oil heat exchanger) and a fan mechanism for flowing air along a flow path through the heat exchanger. In the improvement, the fan mechanism is a centrifugal fan mechanism and is substantially the sole means for flowing air along the flow path. That is, there is substantially no ram-urged air. The mechanism includes a housing and a fan in the housing. The fan has forward curved blades, thereby to reduce system noise. A preferred fan has a depth-to-diameter ratio not in excess of about 0.4 and, most preferably, not in excess of about 0.25. An alternate embodiment includes what might be termed a split-discharge arrangement wherein air blown by the fan is discharged along two paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Russell V. Corwin, Edward L. Wagner
  • Patent number: 6209627
    Abstract: To reduce noise caused by exhausted cooling air as well as to maintain a necessary amount of cooling air of a cooling fan. A cooling fan is positioned behind a radiator. A shroud surrounds an impeller coupled to a motor and a rotating shaft. The shroud has an inlet and an outlet in the shape of a bell mouth. The bell mouth shaped inlet has its front edge spaced from the rear surface of the radiator by a clearance D, and forms a space around its front peripheral edge. A space is formed via the space, and opens around the periphery of the shroud. The ratio A:B is 1:3 to 5, preferably approximately 1:4, where A denotes a difference between maximum and minimum diameters of the bell mouth shaped outlet of the shroud, and B notes a length of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Hasumi
  • Patent number: 6196168
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device and method for cooling and preheating, especially of transmission fluid, of an internal combustion engine, with an equalization tank, with at least one radiator, which can be connected by means of an engine thermostat when a predetermined temperature is reached in the cooling loop, and with a water/oil heat exchanger. It is prescribed according to the invention that the forward stream (1) of a single water/oil heat exchanger (5) be branched off in the heating phase by means of a valve unit (3) essentially from the main cooling loop (12) of the internal combustion engine (17) and that its forward stream (1) in the cooling phase be taken by means of the same valve unit (3) essentially in the coolant side stream (13) from the low-temperature region (14) of the radiator (4) or a separate low-temperature cooler (14a) connected in the side stream after radiator (4, 4a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: Modine Manufacturing Company, Bayerische Motoren Werke
    Inventors: Winfried Eckerskorn, Axel Temmesfeld, Heinz Lemberger, Christian Absmeier, Gerhart Huemer, Victor Brost, Klaus Kalbacher, Karl Schütterle
  • Patent number: 6196169
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle includes a cooling-air fan (10), a radiator assembly (2) and a fan shroud (18) which extends from a fan ring (9), enclosing the cooling-air fan, as far as the radiator assembly. In order, with given dimensioning of the radiator assembly (2) and cooling-air fan (10), to increase the cooling capacity, the fan shroud (18) forms, in the part (12) which projects laterally beyond the projection of the cooling-air fan (10), a vertical flow duct (23) and, in the part (11) which projects beyond the radiator assembly (2), a collecting chamber (22) which is in flow connection with the vertical flow duct (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puch Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Emerich Schreiner
  • Patent number: 6192838
    Abstract: An engine cooling apparatus suitable for use in a vehicle shortens engine warm-up time without decreasing the heat-radiation capacity of a radiator. A shroud is disposed between a radiator and a water-cooled engine. A first air passage for blowing air toward the engine and its auxiliaries is formed in the upper side of the shroud, and a second air passage for discharging air having passed through the radiator to outside the engine compartment is formed in the lower side of the shroud. Accordingly, air is prevented from directly striking the engine and from passing around to the upstream side of the radiator through gaps between the walls of the engine compartment and the radiator. Thus the engine warm-up time is shortened without reducing the heat-radiation capacity of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsuo, Tetsuji Nobuta, Kazuya Makizono, Toshio Morikawa, Hikaru Sugi, Shun Kurata, Manabu Miyata, Koji Ito
  • Patent number: 6192839
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for a construction machine, has at least one heat exchanger including a radiator for cooling water used to cool an engine of a hydraulic excavator, and a rotating cooling fan for producing cooling air to cool the heat exchanger. A substantially disk-shaped flow guide means having an outer diameter size smaller than an outer diameter size of the cooling fan is provided on the blowoff side of the cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichirou Takeshita, Osamu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6189492
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides an automotive fan shroud and method of making. The invention fan shroud includes an integral liquid reservoir at its left and right upper corners. The fan shroud has separate upper and lower halves formed by injection molding. The upper and lower halves have interengaging flanges for being assembled to each other to form a full fan shroud, thus simplifying assembly and subsequent servicing. The liquid reservoirs are initially formed with open tops that are closed by the insertion of a fixedly attached reservoir cover, each cover having a filler neck and a cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignees: Custom Molder, Inc., LaBelle-Suomela, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Brown
  • Patent number: 6179043
    Abstract: An engine cooling system includes a two-pass radiator having multiple cores and a hydraulically-operated motor located between the cores. The motor drives a cooling fan that blows air against the radiator. Also, oil coolers are located between the cores to cool oil that is used to actuate the motor. With this structure, the space in the axial dimension that is consumed by the radiator with fan and fan motor is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Betz
  • Patent number: 6167976
    Abstract: A modular engine enclosure comprised of a hood and baffle is provided to channel cooling air along passages formed between their adjacent surfaces to the radiator of a water cooled engine. The passages provide acoustic air barriers and along with selected enclosure surfaces covered with sound absorbing foam, serve to contain engine sounds within the enclosure. The passages receive air from a generally upright inlet opening and direct it evenly over the top surface of the horizontally oriented radiator. After being drawn through the radiator, the air is exhausted generally horizontally out the back of the engine compartment. The modular construction of the enclosure allows it to be easily raised and/or removed so that maintenance and service activities can be performed on the engine and its components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Michael Jerome O'Neill, Michael Dennis Peters