COOLING SYSTEM FOR AN ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE

• US 20170361700A1
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Borud, Eric, Safranski, Brian M., Bracht, Bradley A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,569,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 3/0053 Particular devices for gas circulation, e.g. air admission, cooling, water tightners
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/08 Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor radiator or grille guards B60R19/52
• 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: B60K 13/06 using structural parts of the vehicle as ducts, e.g. frame parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/42 Amphibious vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/00 Endless track vehicles steering aspects B62D11/00; characterised by the driver not being seated B62D51/007
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/24 of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts

Abstract

A tracked vehicle is shown which includes an air cooling system having radiators for cooling an engine of the vehicle, and an auxiliary radiator for cooling an auxiliary system of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes an air cooling system for cooling an engine compartment of the vehicle having intake and exhaust ducts which are fan driven to move ambient air into and heated air out of the engine compartment.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

ground engaging members supporting the frame;

an operator compartment supported by the frame;

an engine compartment rearward of the operator area;

a first radiator positioned rearward of the operator area on a first lateral side of the vehicle;

a second radiator positioned rearward of the operator area on a second lateral side of the vehicle;

wherein the first and second radiators are fluidly coupled together and to the engine for cooling the engine.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second radiators are also above a top of the engine.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first and second radiators angle outwardly from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a third radiator positioned in front of one of the first or second radiators.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the third radiator cools a hydraulic or electrical system in the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle is a track type vehicle and the hydraulic system steers the track.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle is a track type vehicle and the electrical system drives and steers the track.

8. The vehicle of claim 4, further comprising first and second fans positioned adjacent each radiator.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the fans are independently controllable.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first fan and first radiator are enclosed by a first chamber.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the second fan and second radiator are enclosed by a second chamber.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first and second chambers are vented to exhaust air caused by the operation of the fans.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the engine compartment is enclosed.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising an input duct inputting ambient air into the engine compartment and an exhaust duct exhausting air from the engine compartment.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising an input fan to draw air into the engine compartment through the input duct, and an exhaust fan to exhaust air through the exhaust duct.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the input air is drawn through an input chamber and the exhaust air is exhausted through an exhaust chamber.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the input duct is at least partially enclosed by the input chamber and the exhaust duct is at least partially enclosed by the exhaust chamber.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the input duct is at least partially enclosed by the engine compartment and the exhaust duct is at least partially enclosed by the engine compartment.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein a top of the input duct and the exhaust duct is above a waterline of the vehicle when in amphibious mode.

20. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the engine includes an exhaust system comprising at least one exhaust pipe, and the exhaust pipe is routed through the exhaust duct.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the exhaust system further comprises a muffler, the muffler being enclosed by the exhaust chamber.

49. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the vehicle is a track type vehicle.

50. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a coolant return line connected to both of the first and second radiators in fluid communication;

and a coolant supply line connected to both of the first and second radiators, and to an engine of the vehicle in fluid communication.

22. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

ground engaging members supporting the frame;

an operator compartment supported by the frame;

an engine compartment rearward of the operator area, the engine compartment being enclosed;

an input duct inputting ambient air into the engine compartment; and

an exhaust duct exhausting air from the engine compartment.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, further comprising an input fan to draw air into the engine compartment through the input duct, and an exhaust fan to exhaust air through the exhaust duct.

24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein the input air is drawn through an input chamber and the exhaust air is exhausted through an exhaust chamber.

30. The vehicle of claim 22, further comprising a first radiator positioned rearward of the operator area on a first lateral side of the vehicle;

a second radiator positioned rearward of the operator area on a second lateral side of the vehicle;

wherein the first and second radiators are fluidly coupled together and to the engine for cooling the engine.

31. The vehicle of claim 30, wherein the first and second radiators are also above a top of the engine.

32. The vehicle of claim 31, wherein the first and second radiators angle outwardly from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

33. The vehicle of claim 30, further comprising a third radiator positioned in front of one of the first or second radiators.

34. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein the third radiator cools a hydraulic or electrical system in the vehicle.

35. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein the vehicle is a track type vehicle and the hydraulic system steers the track.

36. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein the vehicle is a track type vehicle and the electrical system drives and steers the track.

37. The vehicle of claim 30, further comprising first and second fans positioned adjacent to the first and second radiators.

38. The vehicle of claim 37, wherein the fans are independently controllable.

39. The vehicle of claim 37, wherein the first fan and first radiator are enclosed by a first chamber.

40. The vehicle of claim 39, wherein the second fan and second radiator are enclosed by a second chamber.

41. The vehicle of claim 40, wherein the first and second chambers are vented to exhaust air caused by the operation of the fans.

51. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the exhaust duct is separated from the input duct and disposed on an opposite side with respect to the engine compartment.

25. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame;

ground engaging members supporting the frame;

an operator compartment supported by the frame;

an engine compartment rearward of the operator area, the engine compartment being enclosed;

an input duct inputting ambient air into the engine compartment; and

an exhaust duct exhausting air from the engine compartment, wherein the input duct is at least partially enclosed by the input chamber and the exhaust duct is at least partially enclosed by the exhaust chamber.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the input duct is at least partially enclosed by the engine compartment and the exhaust duct is at least partially enclosed by the engine compartment.

27. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the engine includes an exhaust system comprising at least one exhaust pipe, and the exhaust pipe is routed through the exhaust duct.

28. The vehicle of claim 27, wherein the exhaust system further comprises a muffler, the muffler being enclosed by the exhaust chamber.

29. The vehicle of claim 26, wherein the exhaust duct has a first cross sectional area open to the engine compartment and a second cross sectional area open to the exhaust chamber, where the first cross sectional area is larger than the second cross sectional area.

42-48. -48. (canceled)