Engine cooling structure for agricultural tractor

• US 4,886,135 A
• Filed: 04/27/1988
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Tadashi, Fujita, Satoshi, Ishida, Eiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/186,842
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.4, 180/68.6, 180/68.3, 180/69.2
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence

Abstract

An engine cooling structure comprises a hood enclosing an engine and defining air inlets and an air outlet, a radiator disposed rearwardly of the engine, a cooling fan disposed forwardly of the engine for drawing cooling air and exhausting the cooling air forwardly. A closed cooling duct system extending from the air inlets to the air outlet is formed by the hood, a guide plate for guiding all incoming air flows to the radiator, and shielding plates extending from a forward body frame and sealing an engine room from below. The cooling air flows through the radiator, past the engine and through the cooling fan.

Claims

1. An engine cooling structure for a vehicle, comprising:

an engine (2) in an engine compartment located in a forward portion of the vehicle;

a driver'"'"'s seat located in a rearward portion of said vehicle;

a hood (1) having top, side and front portions forming said engine compartment;

a radiator (3) disposed rearwardly of said engine (2) and forwardly of a steering wheel and steering shaft, the rearward end of the top of said hood being connected to an upper portion of said radiator;

a cooling fan (17) disposed forwardly of said engine (2) and remotely from said radiator for drawing cooling air and exhausting the cooling air in a forward direction;

a shroud (18) surrounding said cooling fan (17);

an air inlet duct formed by a guide plate disposed between said radiator and said steering wheel and steering shaft, a lower end of said guide plate being connected to a lower portion of said radiator, said air inlet duct including an air inlet opening formed by an upper end of said guide plate extending over a rearward portion of the top of said hood;

a first shielding plate (20a) connected at one end to the lower portion of said radiator (3) and connected at a rear portion of said engine;

a second shielding plate (20b) connected at one end to a forward portion of said engine and connected at an opposite end to a lower portion of said shroud (18);

said first and second shielding plates sealing said engine compartment from below, thereby forming an air duct extending from said radiator (3) over and along said engine to said cooling fan (17); and

an air outlet (19) formed in said hood at the front of said engine compartment, wherein the cooling air flows through the radiator (3), past the engine (2) through the cooling fan (17) and out the engine compartment via air outlet (19).

2. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radiator (3) is inclined forwardly.

3. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cooling fan (17) is secured with a portion of a blade on a higher plane than said engine.

4. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 1, which includes an electric fan (21) juxtaposed to and downstream said radiator (3).

5. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 2, which includes an electric fan (21) juxtaposed to and downstream said radiator (3).

6. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 3, which includes an electric fan (21) juxtaposed and downstream of said radiator (3).

7. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electric fan (21) is surrounded by a fan shroud (22).

8. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electric fan (21) is surrounded by a fan shroud (22).

9. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein said electric fan (21) is surrounded by a fan shroud (22).

10. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electric fan (21) is operable independently of said cooling fan (17).

11. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electric fan (21) is operable independently of said cooling fan (17).

12. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein said electric fan (21) is operable independently of said cooling fan (17).

13. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein said electric fan (21) is operable independently of said cooling fan (17).

14. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electric fan (21) is operable independently of said cooling fan (17).

15. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said electric fan (21) is operable independently of said cooling fan (17).

16. An engine cooling structure as claimed in claim 1. wherein said air inlet duct includes air inlet openings (13b) defined in opposite side portions of said air inlet duct.