AIR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR HEAVY DUTY TRUCK UNDER-HOOD HEAT CONTROL

• US 20090277706A1
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enviro-Cool, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enviro-Cool, Inc.
• Inventors: Sturmon, George R., Murray, Edward M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,556,013 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/142 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 1/06 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/10 Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2001/005 Cooling engine rooms

Abstract

A system for removing heat from the engine compartment (9) of a heavy duty truck. A first ventilating system removes heat from the radiator. It is isolated from a second ventilating system that removes heat from the engine compartment. The first system takes heat from the radiator through a plenum by centrifugal squirrel cage blowers, and is directs it out to ambient by ductwork. The second system draws ambient air generally from back to front of the engine compartment, preferably by cowl induction, without the use of ram air from the vicinity of the radiator. The exits of the two systems are into a slip stream of the heavy duty truck, and the exit of the second ventilating system is into a slip stream of the first, to scavenge air out of the engine compartment.

Claims

1. A vehicle capable of on-road highway travel, the vehicle comprising an operator compartment, a windshield forming a part of a front wall of the operator compartment, an engine compartment ahead of the operator compartment, an engine in the engine compartment, a radiator in front of the engine, the radiator receiving coolant from the engine, a first ventilating system attached behind the radiator and forming an enclosure behind the radiator, the enclosure preventing air drawn through the radiator from entering the engine compartment, the first ventilating system comprising at least one squirrel cage fan, and a second ventilating system arranged to flow air through the engine compartment.

2. A vehicle capable of on-road highway travel, the vehicle comprising an operator compartment;

an engine compartment;

an engine in the engine compartment;

a radiator in front of the engine, the radiator receiving coolant from the engine; and

a ventilating system behind the radiator, the ventilating system comprising a plenum mounted behind the radiator, a plurality of centrifugal fans, all of the centrifugal fans communicating with the plenum, and a control system, the control system driving individual fans or groups of fewer than all the fans selectively.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein at least some of the fans are configured to generate electricity when they are not being driven and the vehicle is moving forward at a speed sufficient to push ram air through the fans.

4. A radiator cooling package for a vehicle, the package comprising a radiator having a height of from about 0.5 meter to about one meter, a plenum sized to fit the back of the radiator, the plenum comprising a rear wall spaced from the radiator, and a plurality of centrifugal fans behind the rear wall of the plenum, all of the centrifugal fans communicating with the plenum, and a control system, the control system driving individual fans or groups of fewer than all the fans selectively.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the rear wall of the plenum is spaced about 2.5 to about 5 centimeters from the radiator.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein the plenum includes a peripheral flange attached to a peripheral flange of the radiator.

7. The package of claim 5 wherein at least four centrifugal fans are mounted to the plenum, each fan comprising an impeller and a housing having an outlet.