ENGINE COOLING FLOW DEBRIS CLEANER AND AIR-PRE-CLEANER ASPIRATOR

• US 20090308346A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Sheidler, Alan D., Vandike, Nathan R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,878,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/198.E
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/02 Air cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/06 combined or associated with engine's cooling blower or fan, or with flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/086 Dust removal by flushing, blasting, pulsating or aspirating flow, washing or the like; Mechanical dust removal, e.g. by using scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/164 Heavy duty vehicles, e.g. trucks, trains, agricultural or construction machines

Abstract

A work vehicle operating in a highly contaminated environment has a radiator with a rotary screen debris removal device upstream of the radiator. The debris thus removed passes through a fan for disposal away from the work machine. The engine is an air breathing fuel consuming engine and has a pre-cleaner for removing larger particles of air delivered to the engine for combustion. A conduit extends from the intake air pre-cleaner to a venturi device adjacent to and upstream of the fan for continuously and effectively removing particles from the engine air pre-cleaner.

Claims

1. A working vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

an air breathing fuel consuming internal combustion engine carried by said vehicle body;

an air intake system for said engine including a primary air filter and a pre-cleaner for collecting larger particles, said pre-cleaner having a conduit to carry away said particles;

a cooling system connected to said engine, said cooling system having a heat exchanger through which air flows to remove heat from said engine;

a device for removing debris from the air flowing through and upstream of said heat exchanger, said debris removal device having a conduit for carrying away debris;

a device for pulling air through said debris conduit; and

a venturi device interposed in said debris conduit and having a throat connecting to said particle conduit for removing particles from said pre-cleaner.

2. The working vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air pre-cleaner is a centrifugal pre-cleaner.

3. The working vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a radiator through which ambient air flows to remove heat from said engine.

4. The working vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein said debris removing device is a rotary screen fluidly connected to an up stream of the radiator and a conduit on a radial segment of said screen to remove debris.

5. The working vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device for pulling air through the debris conduit is a fan.

6. The working vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said venturi device is adjacent and upstream of the device for pulling air.

7. The working vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said venturi device comprises a convergent section and a throat, said venturi device having an inlet for connecting to the particle conduit to pull particles through to the throat.

8. The working machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said venturi device comprises a convergent section connected to a throat and a baffle upstream of an opening to said particle conduit to carry particles to said throat.

9. The working machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fan is driven by said engine.

10. An internal combustion engine system comprising:

an air breathing fuel consuming internal combustion engine;

an air intake system for said engine including a primary air filter and a pre-cleaner for collecting larger particles, said pre-cleaner having a conduit to carry away said particles;

a cooling system connected to said engine, said cooling system having a heat exchanger through which air flows to remove heat from said engine;

a device for removing debris from the air flowing through and upstream of said heat exchanger, said device having a conduit for carrying away debris;

a device for pulling air through said air debris conduit; and

a venturi device interposed in said debris conduit and having a throat connecting to said particle conduit for removing particles from said pre-cleaner.

11. The internal combustion engine system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said pre-cleaner is a centrifugal pre-cleaner centrifuging larger particles to a radially outer section for entry to said particle conduit.

12. The internal combustion engine system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said heat exchanger is a radiator through which air flows to remove heat from said engine.

13. The internal combustion engine system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said debris removal device is a rotary screen positioned upstream of said radiator and having a radially extending conduit for removal of debris from said screen.

14. The internal combustion engine system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device to pull air is a fan.

15. The internal combustion engine system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said venturi is adjacent and upstream of said air pulling device.

16. The internal combustion engine system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said venturi device comprises a convergent section and a throat and an outlet extending into said throat from said particle conduit.

17. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 15, wherein said venturi device has a convergent section, a throat and a baffle at said throat upstream of said opening to connect with said particle conduit.

18. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 14, wherein said fan is driven by said engine.