Radiators And Condensers, Mounting Patents (Class 180/68.4)
  • Patent number: 8122990
    Abstract: A radiator mounting structure for motorcycle, in which a radiator is disposed forward of a water-cooled engine mounted on a body frame and an upper portion of the radiator is attached to the body frame, in which running-air that passes the radiator is not directed to a rider. The radiator is reliably supported so as not to be affected by heat from the engine with an increase in the number of parts avoided. A shroud for covering the radiator from behind is attached the radiator and has at an upper portion thereof attachment arm portions attached to a body frame. Attachment portions fastened to stays provided on the body frame are provided at a rear lower portion of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shota Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8122988
    Abstract: A vehicular cooling device supporting apparatus has a radiator support lower 14 formed with a plurality of support-side connecting portions 32 and 34 for altering connecting positions to radiator support sides 16 and 18. This enables a layout position of a radiator main body 20 to be altered depending on size of an engine to use component parts in common. Placing the radiator main body 20 in a rearward position when the engine is small in size can suppresses damage to the radiator main body 20 upon collision of a vehicle at a low vehicle speed. In this case, it is suffice for the connecting positions of the radiator support lower 14 to the radiator support sides 16 and 18 to be altered in a vehicle fore and aft direction. Thus, the cooling device supporting apparatus can be constructed simply at the low cost with a minimum number of component parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Obayashi, Akiyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 8118128
    Abstract: A canister holding structure for mounting an evaporative emissions canister, having a cylindrical body portion, to a vehicle body. A central axis of the cylindrical body portion extends in a direction other than perpendicular to a ground surface. The canister holding structure includes a holding member, including an annular portion which substantially surrounds the cylindrical body portion of the canister, and a fixing portion for attaching to the vehicle body. Positioning structure is provided for positioning the canister in relation to the holding member. The positioning structure is provided to both the annular portion and the canister. In one illustrative embodiment, the positioning structure includes at least one projection provided on a periphery of the cylindrical body portion of the canister, and multiple holes provided in the annular portion of the holding member, where each of the multiple holes is engageable with the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shimura, Hideo Nihei, Iwao Takaku, Takeji Kawazumi, Takashi Udono, Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8104435
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing aerodynamic drag on a moving vehicle. One example method comprises, during a first vehicle moving condition, operating the cooling fan, and during a second vehicle moving condition, selectively applying a braking torque on the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William Samuel Schwartz, Allan Roy Gale, Dinakara Karanth, Steven James Parks, Garrett O'Donohue
  • Patent number: 8096347
    Abstract: A cooler block for an agricultural tractor comprising a cooler assembly mounted on a radiator and coupled to the radiator by upper and lower linkages. The cooler assembly can be moved between a first position in which the cooler assembly lies parallel to the radiator and a second position in which the cooler assembly is inclined relative to the radiator. The cooler assembly is pivotable about a pivot in the upper linkage that is itself movable relative to the radiator. The lower linkage allows the entire cooler assembly to rise and the pivot of the upper linkage to move away from the radiator as the cooler assembly is pivoted from the first to the second position. A detent is incorporated into one of the two linkages to retain the cooler assembly in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: William P. Starkey, Timothy Oldland, Todd Richard
  • Patent number: 8091624
    Abstract: A radiator element in a motor vehicle is disclosed, the motor vehicle including a body, a driver's space with at least one door for access to the driver's space, and a step element with at least one step and situated below the door. An engine cooling system includes a radiator element in which a circulating coolant is cooled by an airflow flowing through the radiator element. The radiator element is positioned close to the step element. An air inlet aperture is positioned between or behind the steps. The radiator element is a second radiator element of the vehicle, operable when the first radiator element cools insufficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Scania CV AB (Publ)
    Inventors: Zoltan Kardos, Tomas Alsterdal, Johan Åkeson
  • Patent number: 8087486
    Abstract: A vehicular canister mounting structure includes a vehicle body floor provided on rear frames, a canister being provided underneath the vehicle body floor for treating gasoline vapor produced within a fuel tank, a guide pipe for protecting the canister, and a support for supporting the guide pipe and the canister on a vehicle body. The support includes a guide pipe bracket welded to the vehicle body floor for supporting the guide pipe, and a canister bracket welded to the guide pipe bracket for supporting the canister. Strength with which the canister bracket is welded to the guide pipe bracket is smaller than a strength with which the guide pipe bracket is welded to the vehicle body floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shiro Yamamuro
  • Publication number: 20110308870
    Abstract: A flat plate nose frame design for a tractor in which a thick, flat structural plate is connected to and forwardly extends from the conventional frame rails of the tractor. The flat plate nose frame design increases vertical clearance under the hood without raising the hood height or reducing ground clearance. The nose plate is contoured to match the exterior contours of the tractor grill and hood eliminating the need for a separate aesthetic component covering the nose plate. The nose plate features a pair of vertically aligned short-height frame plates extending forwardly along the axis from the deep-section frame rails to increase strength in the flat nose plate without significantly increasing vertical height of the nose plate assembly. The flat plate nose frame is capable of withstanding operational loads as well as supporting a weight package or front-mounted implements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: John T. Rasset, Russell V. Stoltman, David S. Booth, Bryan J. Garberg, Carl J. Hagele, Chad A. Bautz, Landon J. Fries
  • Patent number: 8066266
    Abstract: An elastomeric isolator has an elastomeric body which incorporates an inner structural member and an outer structural member. The elastomeric body includes a shear hub extending between radial flanges or end plates of the inner and outer structural members that undergoes shearing stresses during deflection of the elastomeric isolator. The elastomeric body is bonded to the radial flanges or end plates. The inner structural member includes a radial flange which is axially offset from an axial flange of the outer structural member. The outer structural member includes a radial flange which is axially offset from an axial flange of the inner structural member. With this configuration, excessive stresses on the elastomeric body are avoided during high load movements of the elastomeric isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Publication number: 20110284301
    Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a heat exchanger on a vertical structural element forming a motor vehicle front end panel. The heat exchanger includes a mechanism attaching it to the structural element that are formed by fingers, and the structural element includes housings respectively capable of engaging with the fingers. A locking mechanism is capable of at least longitudinally immobilizing the heat exchanger so as to lock it in a final vertical position corresponding to its use position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Joseph Bui, Michael Flandin
  • Patent number: 8061410
    Abstract: A heat exchanger block including at least two heat exchangers each including a pair of longitudinal headers with tubes extending between the headers, at least some of which are aluminum cast parts. Adjacent heat exchangers are detachably connected at adjacent ends of their headers wherein one of the adjacent headers includes a recessed portion in the adjacent end and the other of the adjacent headers includes a flange receivable in the recess of the one header. Matching holes extend through the flange and the one header end, and a fastener extends through the matching holes in the ends of at least one set of adjacent headers. Shroud attachments are along a longitudinal wall of at least one of the longitudinal headers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Norbert Machanek
  • Patent number: 8056613
    Abstract: A vehicle, such as a motorcycle or ATV, includes a frame, an internal combustion engine, a radiator, a control module and a heat guard. The radiator is configured for receiving fresh air and for expelling heated air. The control module includes an engine control unit for the internal combustion engine. At least a portion of the heat guard is positioned adjacent to and between the radiator and the control module. The heat guard is configured to deflect at least a portion of the heated air expelled by the radiator from contacting the control module. The heat guard is also configured for receiving fresh air for cooling the heat guard to reduce radiation of heat from the heat guard to the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Rodney Frijas
  • Patent number: 8051933
    Abstract: A sliding apparatus of a cooling module for a vehicle, constructed so that the cooling module slides in a rearward direction of the vehicle when a front impact force acts on the cooling module mounted to a front end module, may include a slide slot formed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a bushing unit slidably coupled to the slide slot, and a rotary arm supporting at a first end portion thereof a back portion of the bushing unit wherein the rotary arm supports the bushing unit in a forward direction of the vehicle while the bushing unit moves along the slide slot in the rearward direction of the vehicle by the front impact force when the front impact force exceeding a coupling force applied to a second end portion of the rotary arm is transmitted from the bushing unit to the rotary arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Chang Sup Hwang
  • Patent number: 8047318
    Abstract: Air is cooled by a heat exchanger of a vehicle. The cooled air is directed to a cabin and/or battery of the vehicle. Ports in the cooling path direct the cooled air to the cabin and/or battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Zhu, Shailesh Kozarekar, David Patel, Michael Wallis, Eugene Cox, Stephen Lepper, Daniel Huang
  • Patent number: 8042636
    Abstract: A water-cooled engine mounted on a vehicle wherein a mass concentration keeps the center of mass at a low position. In a saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle, a radiator and a fuel tank are supported on lower frames, and are arranged, side by side, so as to be distributed respectively on the right-hand side and on the left-hand side so as to overlap each other when viewed from a side. In addition, the fuel tank and the radiator are disposed at the rear of a front suspension arm and at the rear of an engine. As a result, the concentration of mass and the keeping of the mass at a lower position are achieved. Moreover, the fuel tank and the radiator are allowed to stretch outwards beyond the upper frames. Consequently, the fuel tank can have a larger capacity and a ventilation path that leads to the radiator can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Hanafusa, Akihiro Yamashita, Takuya Yamada
  • Patent number: 8042635
    Abstract: Safety of passengers may be improved by a front end module of a vehicle that includes: a front end module carrier that extends transversely in front of a vehicle a front end module carrier that extends transversely in front of a vehicle engine compartment and forms a frame for mounting vehicle accessory part; and an intercooler assembly that cools an air that is drawn into an engine, wherein the intercooler assembly is assembled with a bottom of the lower member of the front end module carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Tae Han Kang
  • Publication number: 20110253467
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus, in particular a construction machine configured as a mobile excavator or a transfer apparatus, having an undercarriage carrying a chassis and having a superstructure connected thereto, wherein the superstructure is made up in a modular manner of at least two modules which can be releasably coupled to one another, and wherein at least one drive module is provided which forms an operable unit of a machine drive and a machine cooling system and at least one further module includes one or more superstructure components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: LIEBHERR-HYDRAULIKBAGGER GMBH
    Inventors: Gerhard Bolz, Rolf Eberhardt, Stefan Schott
  • Patent number: 8037959
    Abstract: A vehicle including a main body frame having a length direction and a width direction includes a front frame carried by the main body frame. The front frame includes a first front cross frame having a generally height and extends along said main body's width direction. A second front cross frame is disposed frontward and offset from the first cross frame at an elevational height less than the first front cross frame. A first and second side frame interconnect with the first cross frame and the second cross frame to define radiator cage having an interior space. A radiator is disposed within the interior space of said radiator cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Yamamura, Motoyuki Hara
  • Publication number: 20110240387
    Abstract: A bracket for retaining a heat exchanger includes a base member having a first end portion and a second end portion. An aperture at the first end portion of the base member receives a fastener. The bracket is fixedly secured to a vehicle through the fastener. An arcuate hook at the second end of the base member receives the heat exchanger. A flex zone extends between the first and second end portions of the base member. The flex zone is movable between a first, relaxed position and a second, flexed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred Piggott
  • Publication number: 20110240388
    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: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Sasina, Alfred Piggott
  • Publication number: 20110226542
    Abstract: A cooling module is provided for motor vehicles with a plurality of modular elements. At least one first modular element is provided for the arrangement in a deformation region of the motor vehicle and at least one second modular element is also arranged. The at least one first modular element is displaceable relative to the at least one second modular element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Claus STELLER
  • Patent number: 8020656
    Abstract: An inflow conduit through which coolant flows into a hybrid radiator that is arranged in front of an engine radiator is arranged on an upper portion of a bumper reinforcement and attached to the front of the hybrid radiator. As a result, damage to the inflow conduit can be inhibited and the coolant can be cooled by running air before it is cooled in the hybrid radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukari Inoue, Sachio Kiduka
  • Patent number: 8020655
    Abstract: A control system for a variable pitch radiator fan is disclosed. The control system is capable of varying the blade pitch of the radiator fan from a normal position to a full reverse position. The control system can change the blade pitch based on a number of factors, including vehicle speed. In systems with a plurality of fans, the control system is also capable of independently controlling the blade pitch of each of the fans. In systems with multiple fans, the control system can produce a circulation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: James S. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8016275
    Abstract: A dual-rate resilient isolator having a plurality of raised, generally conical bumps formed on an engagement surface thereof. The bumps in combination with a main body of the resilient isolator provide a dual-rate for isolating CRFM noise vibration and or other vibrations (via the relatively softer resiliency of the bumps) and isolating road vibration and shock (via the relatively harder resiliency of the main body) even though the bumps and the main body are composed of the same resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kent Ting, Craig W. Lewitzke, Patrick E. Fix, III, Dwayne R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8011466
    Abstract: A vehicle, in particular an agricultural tractor, is disclosed with a vehicle chassis, which is formed at least partly from two laterally spaced side members (1, 2) with C-shaped profile, comprising a vertical bar (1a, 2a) and two horizontal flanges (1b, 2b) and containing hydraulic lines in the space between the flanges, and with a radiator sub-assembly (5), fitted to the vehicle chassis, which consists of a carrier plate (6) fitted to the side members and several oil coolers (8, 9) supported by the carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH.
    Inventors: Robert Honzek, Gerhard Mariner, Guido Nägele, Georg Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8011631
    Abstract: A fastener having a capture body including a cavity formed therein and a retainer clip including an elongate capture support and a pawl for engagement with the capture body. The fastener being resistant to vibration and able to be installed and removed without the use of special tools, while providing consistent fastening through thermal expansion cycles, and supporting assembly “stack-up” tolerances is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Gregus Kollar, Eric Neal Sheppard
  • Publication number: 20110209935
    Abstract: A vehicle radiator structure includes a radiator core, a first fluid tank, a second fluid tank, a first lift assist contact member and a second lift assist contact member. The radiator core has a cooling fin portion. The first and second fluid tanks are fluidly coupled to the radiator core. The first lift assist contact member extends from the first fluid tank with at least a portion of the first lift assist contact member being disposed directly vertically beneath the first fluid tank in a vehicle installed position of the vehicle radiator structure. The second lift assist contact member is separate and spaced apart from the first lift assist contact member, and extends from the second fluid tank with at least a portion of the second lift assist contact member being in lateral alignment with the first lift assist contact member and the radiator core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Nantais, Takayoshi Harada
  • Patent number: 7992664
    Abstract: The jalousie for the control of the air flow through the engine cooler of a vehicle has rotatable fins (2), which are supported on one side in an outer housing ring (47) provided for the connection with the engine cooler of the vehicle and on the other side in an inner supporting ring (4). The swivelling of the fins (2) occurs with an adjusting ring (45), whose engaging portions (46) work together with counter-engaging portions (10) provided at the fin ends. The adjusting ring (45) with its engaging portions (46) and the counter-engaging portions (10) of the fins (2) are enclosed together on all sides in a hollow space (49) circumferentially extending around along the adjusting ring (13, 45) for the protection against contaminants and consequently for its safe function, which is limited by two profile rings (47, 50) interlocking with each other all around.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Kunststoff Schwanden AG
    Inventors: Albert Kiener, Josef Küsperth
  • Patent number: 7987937
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a Front End Module (FEM) assembly and associated assembly method with a rail system to enable efficient assembly, tighter clearances between the front end module assembly and the vehicle, and time and cost savings. The present disclosure provides a FEM assembly including grilles and headlamps and a rail system enabling the FEM to be assembled on a vehicle. Advantageously, the present disclosure allows the FEM to pass between fenders on the vehicle with a very tight clearance condition. The rail system included in the present disclosure allows the FEM to be assembled efficiently while protecting grilles and headlamps from being damaged by fenders and protecting the fenders from damage from the FEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Bernardo Gonzalez-Salvador
  • Patent number: 7987938
    Abstract: To enable the close arrangement of right and left cooling fans that are common to each other and rotate in the same direction. A radiator is disposed forward of an engine, is horizontally lengthwise and is formed such that the center thereof bends to protrude rearward. A pair of right and left cooling fans is provided on the rear surface of the radiator. The left and right cooling fans have the same specifications, rotating in the same direction. A support plate is provided to surround the cooling fans, that is, to close left and right sides of, the upper side of and the rear of the cooling fans and open the lower side thereof. A partition portion is formed to project from the center of a rear wall to partition between the left and right cooling fans. Thus, the adjacent cooling fans can be prevented from interfering with each other and can be arranged close to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Morita, Shota Suzuki, Atsushi Kusuda
  • Patent number: 7984778
    Abstract: A packaging arrangement for a fluid tank for a machine, including an engine disposed within an engine compartment of a body having a hood selectively disposed over the engine compartment. The engine includes a cooling package having at least one air intake. At least one fluid tank at least partially surrounds the air intake, and a compliant surface is coupled to at least one of the fluid tank and the hood. The compliant surface substantially seals against both the fluid tank and the hood to substantially inhibit air from within the engine compartment from being drawn into the air intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: John Marsolek
  • Patent number: 7984780
    Abstract: A radiator grille mounting structure for facilitating the mounting of a radiator grille. A radiator grille is mounted on part of a vehicle body frame. The radiator grille is rotated about the part of the vehicle body frame. A support portion included on the radiator grille is connected to a vehicle body cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirukawa
  • Patent number: 7980344
    Abstract: A hydrogen station includes gas storage equipment for storing hydrogen, a dispenser for charging hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage equipment into a hydrogen tank of a vehicle, and a blower. When charging hydrogen, the blower blows air towards a radiator of the vehicle parked at a predetermined vehicle parking area of the hydrogen station. The current flow of the blower is adjusted in accordance with the heat load on the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehito Kubo, Yoshihiro Isogai, Daigoro Mori
  • Patent number: 7975795
    Abstract: An arrangement structure for a radiator reservoir tank for a motorcycle that makes it possible to appropriately dispose a reservoir tank of a radiator in the vicinity of an engine. A main frame is provided that extends to the rear side from a head pipe disposed at the front of a main body. An engine is disposed under the main frame, the engine includes a cylinder extending upward from a crankcase with an intake port open at the rear side of the cylinder. A throttle body is connected to the intake port with a reservoir tank of a radiator being disposed in a space S above the crankcase, behind the cylinder, and under the throttle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Asano
  • Patent number: 7967093
    Abstract: To make even a high-voltage battery with an extraordinarily large capacity, mountable on a vehicle, a high-voltage battery is installed on a rear floor panel in a rear portion of a fuel cell electric vehicle, and a cooling fan unit for cooling the battery is connected to the high-voltage battery by an exhaust duct. In addition, the cooling fan unit is disposed on a rear side member, in the vicinity, at the vehicle-rear side, of the high voltage battery, and on the same horizontal plane that the high-voltage battery is located on. At the vehicle-rear side of the high-voltage battery, a utility box is provided. An exhaust duct connected to the cooling fan unit is disposed between the utility box and a utility box adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 7963355
    Abstract: A vehicle front end structure is provided with a vehicle body frame forming a frontward portion of a vehicle, a longitudinal acceleration sensor, a frontward vehicle component, a rearward extending part and a bracket. The frontward vehicle component is disposed to protrude farther forward than the vehicle body frame. The rearward extending part is connected to the frontward vehicle component and extends to a rearward position of the vehicle body frame. The bracket fixes the rearward extending part to the vehicle body frame at a connection area such that the rearward extending part is located farther rearward than the connection area of the vehicle body frame, with the bracket being constructed such that the rearward extending part releases from the vehicle body frame when a force acts to move the frontward vehicle component and the rearward extending part rearward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Mishima
  • Patent number: 7963356
    Abstract: Apparatus including a locomotive-radiator-cooling-fan tankhead assembly having a substantially-circular base plate and a substantially-circular outer ring. The base plate has a central longitudinal axis and a circumference. The outer ring is substantially coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis and is attached to the base plate proximate the circumference. The base plate has a substantially-planar first surface having a central recess substantially coaxially aligned with the central longitudinal axis and having circumferentially-separated, first and second peripheral recesses each radially spaced apart from the central recess and extending radially inward from proximate the circumference. The outer ring longitudinally extends beyond the first surface. The tankhead assembly is devoid of any gussets attached to the base plate and is devoid of any gussets attached to the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Dayton-Phoenix Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zahora, Johnny D. Yu
  • Patent number: 7954582
    Abstract: A motorcycle including a radiator and having an engine offset, and in which increase in vehicle width is suppressed. A center of the engine is out of alignment with respect to a center of a head pipe toward one side in the vehicle width direction. The radiator is arranged in front of the engine. Cooling liquid flows in the radiator in the vehicle width direction. A first piping extends rearward from the other end portion of the radiator and a rear end portion of the first piping is connected to the engine. A second piping connects one end portion of the radiator in the vehicle width direction to the engine. The second piping extends from the one end portion of the radiator to the other side of the engine in the vehicle width direction, between the radiator and the engine, and extends rearward of the other side of the engine in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7950443
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a heat exchanger such as a condenser of an air conditioning system on a vehicle, for pivotal movement between an operational position and a position angularly related to the operational position, for such purposes as inspection, cleaning, service and maintenance, the apparatus being configured for holding the heat exchanger in the operational position, and for guiding and controlling movement thereof to the tilted position, and holding the heat exchanger in the tilted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: John T. Rasset, Jay M. Larson
  • Patent number: 7946369
    Abstract: A structure for mounting a radiator to a front-end module carrier includes an insulator, a bracket body, at least one guide rib on the front-end module carrier, and a screw-fastening boss on the front-end module carrier. The bracket body defines a space for the insulator to be disposed therein. The bracket body also includes at least one guide portion, and a flange defining a fastening hole for a screw to be inserted therein. The screw is also inserted to the screw-fastening boss. The guide rib guides the guide portion during insertion of the bracket body to the front-end module carrier. The guide portion may define a vertical wall with a first, narrow end and a second, relatively wider end. The front-end module carrier may also have a boss rib connected to the screw-fastening boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Heedong Choi
  • Patent number: 7942222
    Abstract: To realize a mounting structure on the rear side of the seat of the operator station on which the seat and equipment for operation are installed in the swing table of a swing-type operation machine, the mounting structure being simple in construction yet imparted with a sufficiently large strength without increasing the size of the swing table or without utilizing the counter weight. The swing-type operation machine comprises an under carriage, a swing table mounted on the under carriage so as to freely swing thereon, an operator station mounted on the swing table and on which a seat and equipment for operation are installed, and a heat exchanger-mounting body supporting a heat exchanger for cooling the engine that is positioned at the back of the seat of the operator station and supporting the rear part of the seat of the operator station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillars S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Nobukata Yonetake, Hirotaka Iida, Akitoshi Nishikawa, Mitsunobu Ohsuda, Shigeru Obinata, Kousuke Hosoda, Ryo Moriya
  • Patent number: 7942223
    Abstract: A vehicular radiator supporting apparatus 10 has a pair of radiator support sides 16 and 18 connected to a radiator support upper 12 to be pivoted about a predetermined pivot axis O. To the pair of radiator support sides 16 and 18, a pair of abutting brackets 34 and 36 are integrally fixed at positions corresponding to a height of the bumper reinforcement 54, and they are connected to a pair of vehicle-body side brackets 38 and 40. When applied with a load exceeding a predetermined value and acting rearward of the vehicle, the pair of abutting brackets 34 and 36 are pivoted about the pivot axis O integrally with the pair of radiator support sides 16 and 18 to be displaced rearward of the vehicle. Thus, the vehicular radiator supporting apparatus 10 itself in addition to the radiator main body 20 is prevented from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Obayashi, Akiyoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 7938215
    Abstract: A tractor cooling installation has an engine cooling radiator (11) fixed relative to the tractor (16), a first inner bank of one or more coolers (12,13) pivoted on the radiator on a first frame (17) for upward pivoting movement away from the radiator about a first generally horizontal pivot axis (18) transverse to the tractor and a second outer bank of one or more coolers (14) also pivoted on the radiator on a second frame (20) for upward pivoting movement away from the first inner bank of coolers about a second generally horizontal pivot axis transverse to the tractor. A first cooler (12) from the first bank of coolers is mounted on the first frame (17) for pivoting upwardly with the first frame away from the radiator and a second cooler (13) which also forms part of the first bank of coolers is pivotally supported at its upper end by the first frame about a third generally horizontal axis (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: AGCO SA
    Inventor: Valentine Daniel Joel Leconte
  • Publication number: 20110094811
    Abstract: In an all terrain vehicle, a radiator is disposed forward of a front panel in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The radiator is also disposed in a transverse center of the vehicle. A fan is configured to blow air from the front to an area behind the radiator. An engine unit is disposed rearward of the front panel. A cargo bed is disposed rearward of a seat. An exhaust device is disposed under the cargo bed. The exhaust device is disposed in the transverse center of the vehicle. A communication path is positioned in the transverse center of the vehicle. The communication path connects a space positioned behind the radiator and a space that the exhaust device is disposed. The communication path at least partially overlaps with the fan in a front view of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro SUZUKI, Motoyuki HARA
  • Patent number: 7931290
    Abstract: A motorcycle fluid cooler assembly includes a heat exchanger and a mounting member coupled to the heat exchanger. The mounting member is adapted for mounting the heat exchanger to a first footrest mounting point of a motorcycle frame so that the heat exchanger transversely extends externally to the motorcycle frame when mounted. Fluid ports are coupled to the heat exchanger, and a footrest member is coupled to the heat exchanger. The footrest member is positioned as a rider footrest when the heat exchanger is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: David Jerome Walser
  • Publication number: 20110083920
    Abstract: A vehicle with a Rankine cycle system and a refrigerating cycle system for air-conditioning includes a Rankine condenser forming a part of the Rankine cycle system which converts waste heat of a vehicle into power and an air-conditioning condenser forming a part of the refrigerating cycle system. The Rankine condenser and the air-conditioning condenser are disposed one above the other in the vehicle as viewed from a front of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hidefumi MORI, Masao Iguchi, Fuminobu Enokijima, Masahiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 7921947
    Abstract: A saddle riding type fuel cell vehicle includes a fuel cell that generates power by a chemical reaction between a fuel gas and a reactive gas with radiators that cool cooling water of the fuel cell. The radiators are adjacently arranged in right and left sides of the fuel cell in a vehicle width direction. Each outer end surface of the radiators, outside in a vehicle width direction, is positioned closer to the front side of a vehicle body than each inner end surface inside in the vehicle width direction. Thus, each plane portion, which receives an air flow, is inclined to the inner side of the vehicle body, and air courses, which allow an air flow to be passed to the rear side of the vehicle body, are each formed between the inner end surface of each of the radiators and each side surface of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Horii, Masamoto Ito, Shinji Furuta, Atsuko Niwano
  • Patent number: 7918297
    Abstract: A motor vehicle chassis and a water-cooled internal combustion engine attached thereto has a cooling system comprising coolant-conducting pipes least one radiator element, and a coolant pump produces forced flow in the cooling circuit. A portion of the cooling pipe system as a distributor pipe module is attached to the vehicle's axle support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Klaus Schneider
  • Patent number: 7913505
    Abstract: A work vehicle comprises a plurality of wheels; a vehicle body supported by the plurality of wheels and having a cabin, a front half region and a rear half region; an engine located in the rear half region of the vehicle body; and an air conditioning unit located in a lower forward region of the cabin and having an evaporator and a fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Norimi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7914071
    Abstract: A front structure of a vehicle body is disclosed as having a radiator core support including an upper member and a lower member vertically spaced from each other and extending in a vehicle width direction. The upper member is structured in two stages on upper and lower sides composed of an upper-stage upper member and a lower-stage upper member, which have both left and right ends connected to vehicle body components placed in a vehicle body on both sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Saitou, Kiyohito Sekido