Ventilation system for engine and aftertreatment compartments and components

• US 20120048631A1
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Shatters, Dale, Mann, Ryan, Pozzie, Scott, McCurdy, Sean, Willey, Christopher, Bada Ghar Wala, Manoj Kumar
• Granted Patent: US 8,919,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/00 Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units heating the interior space B60H; cooling internal combustion engines per se F01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/04 concerning exhaust collecting exhaust gases with central suction systems not forming part of vehicles, e.g. in workshops or tunnels B08B15/002, otherwise along carriageways E01C1/005; extensions for melting snow on roads E01H5/00, E01H6/00; exhaust or silencing apparatus for internal combustion engines per se F01N; pipes, joints or supports therefor F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/413 Compactors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/415 Wheel loaders

Abstract

A ventilation system for a machine including an engine, an engine compartment having an interior, a secondary compartment having an interior, and a sensor. The ventilation system has a ventilation fan having a fan outlet, and a duct configured to direct air from the fan outlet to at least two of the interior of the engine compartment, the interior of the secondary compartment, and the sensor.

Claims

1. A ventilation system for a machine including an engine, an engine compartment having an interior, a secondary compartment having an interior, and at least one sensor, the ventilation system comprising:

a ventilation fan having a fan outlet, and

a duct configured to direct air from the fan outlet to at least two of the interior of the engine compartment, the interior of the secondary compartment, and the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary compartment is an aftertreatment housing configured to house aftertreatment equipment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located outside the secondary compartment but within the interior of the engine compartment and is coupled to equipment housed by the secondary compartment.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the secondary compartment is an aftertreatment housing, the equipment is aftertreatment equipment, and the aftertreatment housing is configured to house the aftertreatment equipment.

5. The system of claim 1, further including:

a precleaner having a precleaner inlet and a precleaner outlet, the precleaner inlet being open to an exterior of the engine compartment, and

a channel having a channel inlet and a channel outlet, the channel inlet being in fluid communication with the precleaner outlet, the channel outlet being in fluid communication with the ventilation fan.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the duct directs air to the engine compartment interior to pressurize the engine compartment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the duct includes at least three outlets for directing air from the fan outlet to the interior of the engine compartment, the interior of the secondary compartment, and the sensor, respectively.

8. A ventilation system for a machine, the machine having an exterior and including operative components, the system comprising:

a precleaner having a precleaner inlet and a precleaner outlet, the precleaner inlet being in fluid communication with the exterior of the machine,

a channel having a channel inlet and a channel outlet, the channel inlet being in fluid communication with the precleaner outlet,

a ventilation fan having a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan inlet being in fluid communication with the channel outlet,

at least one compartment substantially enclosing at least one of said operative components,

at least one sensor, and

at least one elongate duct in fluid communication with the fan outlet and directing air from the fan outlet to at least one of the compartment and the sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operative components include an engine, the compartment includes an engine compartment having an interior at least partially enclosing the engine, the duct is in fluid communication with the interior of the engine compartment.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the compartment includes an aftertreatment housing having an interior, the operative components include aftertreatment equipment at least partially enclosed within the aftertreatment housing interior, and the at least one duct directs air from the ventilation fan outlet to the aftertreatment housing interior.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operative components include an engine, the at least one compartment further includes an engine compartment having an interior in which the engine is at least partially enclosed, and the at least one duct is in fluid communication with the interior of the engine compartment, the ventilation fan substantially pressurizing the engine compartment.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the aftertreatment housing includes an aftertreatment housing outlet, and the engine compartment includes an outlet, the aftertreatment housing outlet and the engine compartment outlet forming a venturi arrangement.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the aftertreatment housing has an exterior, the at least one sensor is associated with the aftertreatment equipment and is disposed at the exterior of the aftertreatment housing, the at least one duct directing air from the ventilation fan outlet to the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one duct includes a single duct having a plurality of duct outlets, the single duct directing air from the ventilation fan outlet through the plurality of duct outlets to the interior of the engine compartment, the aftertreatment housing interior, and the sensor.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the machine includes a sound wall, and the ventilation fan is coupled to the sound wall.

16. The system of claim 8, further including a secondary blower disposed to selectively provide cooling air to the duct for delivery to the at least one compartment or the sensor.

17. A machine comprising:

an exterior,

a plurality of operative components,

a sound wall,

a precleaner having a precleaner inlet and a precleaner outlet, the precleaner inlet being in fluid communication with the exterior of the machine,

a channel having a channel inlet and a channel outlet, the channel inlet being in fluid communication with the precleaner outlet,

a ventilation fan coupled to the sound wall, the ventilation fan having a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan inlet being in fluid communication with the channel outlet,

at least one compartment substantially enclosing at least one of said operative components,

at least one sensor, and

at least one elongate duct in fluid communication with the fan outlet and directing air from the fan outlet to at least one of the compartment or the sensor.

18. The machine of claim 17, wherein the operative components include an engine, the at least one compartment includes an engine compartment having an exterior and an interior at least partially enclosing the engine, the engine compartment including the sound wall, the at least one duct directing air from the fan outlet to the interior of the engine compartment.

19. The machine of claim 17, wherein the operative components include aftertreatment equipment, and wherein the at least one compartment includes an aftertreatment housing having an interior at least partially enclosing said aftertreatment equipment, the at least one duct directing air from the fan outlet to the interior of the aftertreatment housing.

20. The machine of claim 17, wherein the operative components include an engine, aftertreatment equipment, and an alternator, and wherein the at least one compartment includes an aftertreatment housing having an interior at least partially enclosing said aftertreatment equipment, and an engine compartment, the engine compartment having an exterior and an interior at least partially enclosing the engine, the at least one duct including at least three duct outlets, a first of said duct outlets directing air from the fan outlet to the interior of the engine compartment, a second of said duct outlets directing air from the fan outlet to the interior of the aftertreatment housing, and a third of said duct outlets directing air from the fan outlet to the sensor.