AIR DUCTS FOR AIRFLOW MANAGEMENT, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
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1. An air duct for venting an engine compartment of a tractor, comprising:
- an inlet that faces the engine compartment;
an outlet at an outer surface of a tractor fender;
a body of the duct configured through the fender; and
one or more shutters configured to restrict a flow of air,wherein the outlet is oriented toward rear end tires of the tractor, wherein the outlet faces a low pressure zone that is downstream of the fender, and wherein a pressure in the low pressure zone depends on a speed of the tractor.
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Abstract
Air ducts for airflow management of the engine compartment, and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an air duct for venting an engine compartment of a tractor includes an inlet that faces the engine compartment, an outlet at an outer surface of a tractor fender, a body of the duct configured generally inside the fender, and one or more shutters that restrict flow of air at the inlet. In some embodiments, the outlet faces a low pressure zone that is downstream of the fender, and a pressure in the low pressure zone depends on a speed of the tractor.
18 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An air duct for venting an engine compartment of a tractor, comprising:
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an inlet that faces the engine compartment; an outlet at an outer surface of a tractor fender; a body of the duct configured through the fender; and one or more shutters configured to restrict a flow of air, wherein the outlet is oriented toward rear end tires of the tractor, wherein the outlet faces a low pressure zone that is downstream of the fender, and wherein a pressure in the low pressure zone depends on a speed of the tractor. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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2. (canceled)
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12. A method for venting an engine compartment of a tractor, comprising:
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sensing a temperature inside the engine compartment of the tractor; opening one or more shutters of an air duct in response to sensing the temperature; and flowing air from the engine compartment of the tractor through the air duct; wherein the inlet of the air duct faces the engine compartment, wherein an outlet of the air duct is at an outer surface of a tractor fender, wherein the outlet is oriented toward rear end tires of the tractor, wherein the outlet faces a low pressure zone that is downstream of the fender, wherein a pressure in the low pressure zone depends on a speed of the tractor, and wherein a body of the duct is configured through the fender. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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13. (canceled)
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21. An air duct for venting an engine compartment of a tractor, comprising:
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an inlet that faces the engine compartment; an outlet at an outer surface of a tractor fender; a body of the duct configured through the fender; one or more shutters configured to restrict a flow of air through the duct; a plurality of flaps configured for closing and opening space between the tractor and a trailer; one or more sensors configured to sense a first pressure inside the engine compartment and a second pressure outside of the tractor; a controller configured to receive signals from the one or more sensors and to control at least one actuator, where an output of the controller is based at least in part on a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure; and the at least one actuator configured to control opening and closing of the one or more shutters based on the output from the controller.
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Specification