COOLING APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AIRFLOW

• US 20120298327A1
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Suckow, Jeffrey David
• Application Number:
  US13/115,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20120298327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/10 Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2025/62 Load
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/06 Retarder
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 7/044 using hydraulic drives
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0452 Combination of units extending one behind the other with units extending one beside or one above the other
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/00 Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus control arrangements in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/02 for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12

Abstract

A cooling apparatus for providing airflow to a cooling core, the cooling apparatus includes a housing, a fan assembly and an air diverter. The fan assembly is mounted to the housing and configured to direct air along a first plane towards a second plane. The first plane is substantially perpendicular to the second plane. Moreover, the air diverter is positioned substantially perpendicular to the second plane and configured to move in angular relation to the first plane.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus for controlling airflow to a cooling core, the cooling apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a fan assembly mounted to the housing and configured to direct air from a first plane towards a second plane, wherein the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the second plane; and

an air diverter positioned substantially perpendicular to the second plane and configured to move in an angular relation to the first plane.

2. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air diverter includes a planar wall.

3. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first side and a second side joining at an edge, the air diverter is pivoted at the edge.

4. The cooling apparatus of claim 3 further includes a curved sidewall configured to connect the first side and second side.

5. The cooling apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second sides include the cooling core.

6. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan assembly includes a hydraulically driven fan mounted in the second plane.

7. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air diverter is configured to move substantially towards and away from the cooling core.

8. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling core includes at least one of a radiator, an air to air aftercooler, and an oil cooler.

9. A method for controlling airflow in a cooling apparatus, the method comprising:

passing air over a cooling core on a first side of the cooling apparatus and passing air over a cooling core on a second side of the cooling apparatus by a fan assembly positioned substantially perpendicular to the first and second sides;

receiving a real time input from a sensor associated with the cooling cores;

computing a target outlet temperature associated with the cooling cores; and

generating an output signal to move an air diverter positioned substantially perpendicular to the fan assembly for controlling the relative airflow to the cooling cores.

10. The method of claim 9 further including receiving a real time signal corresponding to an engine load factor and an engine retarder status from an engine control module.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor may include a temperature sensor.

12. The method of claim 9 further including receiving the generated output signal by an electric motor coupled to the air diverter.

13. The method of claim 9 further including generating an output signal to vary a fan speed of the fan assembly.

14. The method of claim 9, further including cleaning the cooling apparatus by reversing rotation of the fan assembly.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling airflow to the cooling core includes moving the air diverter in an angular relation to the first and second sides.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein cleaning the cooling apparatus further includes moving the air diverter towards or away from the first and second sides.

17. A machine comprising:

a power system;

a cooling apparatus for providing airflow to a cooling core associated with the power system, the cooling apparatus including,

a housing;

a fan assembly mounted to the housing and configured to direct air from a first plane towards a second plane, wherein the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the second plane; and

an air diverter positioned substantially perpendicular to the second plane and configured to move in angular relation to the first plane.

18. The machine of claim 17 further including a control system configured to control airflow to the cooling core to move an air diverter.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the air diverter is configured to move substantially towards and away from the cooling core.

20. The machine of claim 17, wherein the cooling core includes at least one of a radiator, an air to air aftercooler, and an oil cooler.