Wheeled work machine with modular ventilation system

• US 20030073400A1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited)
• Inventors: Bjerkelund, Dean L., Dahl, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/977,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20030073400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00378 for tractor or load vehicle cabins
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00535 Mounting or fastening of the housing to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/186 for building site vehicles or multi-purpose tractors tracked vehicles B62D55/10; tractors in general B62D49/00; building site vehicles in general E02F; lift-trucks B66F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/04 modified to take pushing devices

Abstract

A modular HVAC unit is disposable within a power machine. The modular HVAC unit can illustratively be placed in the operator compartment and requires very simple electrical, fluid and air duct connections.

Claims

1. A wheeled work machine having a power system, the wheeled work machine comprising:

a frame;

an operator compartment supported by the frame;

wheels suspended by the frame; and

a modular ventilation control system mounted within the operator compartment.

2. The wheeled work machine of claim 1 wherein the modular ventilation control system has an exterior periphery with a plurality of walls.

3. The wheeled work machine of claim 2 wherein a plurality of the walls conform to an interior periphery of the operator compartment.

4. The wheeled work machine of claim 1 wherein the modular ventilation control system includes an inlet vent and an outlet opening.

5. The wheeled work machine of claim 4 wherein the inlet vent includes at least one recirculation inlet vent and at least one fresh air vent.

6. The wheeled work machine of claim 5 further comprising a seat mount in the operator compartment, wherein the fresh air vent draws air from beneath the seat, outside the operator compartment.

7. The wheeled work machine of claim 4 wherein the operator compartment has a dash with air ducting therein, and wherein the outlet opening of the modular ventilation control system is aligned with an inlet to the air ducting.

8. The wheeled work machine of claim 5 wherein the inlet vent of the modular ventilation control system comprises a plurality of inlet vents disposed on opposite sides of the modular ventilation control system.

9. The wheeled work machine of claim 4 wherein the operator compartment includes a seat and wherein the modular ventilation control system includes operator actuable control inputs on a side of the modular ventilation control system generally facing the seat.

10. The wheeled work machine of claim 1 wherein the modular ventilation control system comprises a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

11. A modular ventilation system mountable within an operator compartment of a wheeled work machine, the ventilation system comprising:

an exterior periphery with a plurality of walls, an inlet vent and the walls defining an outlet opening, a plurality of the walls being configured to conform to an inner periphery of the operator compartment.

12. The modular ventilation system of claim 11 wherein the outlet opening is positioned to align with an inlet to ducting in the work machine

13. The modular ventilation system of claim 11 wherein the inlet vent of the modular ventilation control system comprises a plurality of inlet vents disposed on opposite sides of the modular ventilation control system.

14. The modular ventilation system of claim 13 wherein the inlet vent includes a fresh air intake.

15. The modular ventilation system of claim 14 wherein the fresh air intake is arranged to receive air from exterior to the operator compartment.

16. The modular ventilation system of claim 15 wherein the work machine includes a seat and wherein the fresh air intake is configured to receive air from under the seat.

17. The modular ventilation system of claim 15 wherein the fresh air intake is configured to receive air from a side or rear of the operator compartment.

18. The modular ventilation system of claim 11 wherein the operator compartment includes a seat and wherein the modular ventilation control system includes operator actuable control inputs on a side of the modular ventilation control system generally facing the seat.

19. The modular ventilation system of claim 11 wherein the operator compartment includes a seat and wherein the modular ventilation control system includes operator actuable control inputs, located remote therefore, to control the modular ventilation control system.

20. The modular ventilation system of claim 11 wherein the modular ventilation control system comprises a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

21. A wheeled work machine having a power system, the machine comprising:

a frame;

an operator compartment supported by the frame;

wheels rotatably supported by the frame; and

a modular ventilation control system mounted within the operator compartment, wherein the ventilation control system includes an exterior periphery comprising a first wall configured to conform to the floor of the operator compartment and a second wall configured to conform to a forward fire wall of the operator compartment.

22. The wheeled work machine of claim 21 wherein the modular ventilation control system includes an inlet vent and an outlet vent.

23. The wheeled work machine of claim 22 wherein the machine has a seat mount and further comprising:

a fresh air intake generally facing the seat mount; and

a gasket disposed about the fresh air intake.

24. The wheeled work machine of claim 22 wherein the inlet vent of the modular ventilation control system comprises a plurality of inlet vents disposed on opposite sides of the modular ventilation control system.

25. The wheeled work machine of claim 22 wherein the operator compartment includes a seat and wherein the modular ventilation control system includes operator actuable control inputs on a side of the modular ventilation control system generally facing the seat.

26. The wheeled work machine of claim 21 wherein the modular ventilation control system comprises a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.