Mechanism for mounting a radiator above a vertical shaft engine

• US 5,960,899 A
• Filed: 07/14/1998
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Roach, James Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jasmin, Lynda
• Application Number:
  US09/115,622
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.4, 180/68.6, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/299, 180/291, 267/140.13, 267/140.11
• US Class Current: 180/68.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/06 with the engine main axis substantially vertical

Abstract

A vehicle having a vertical shaft engine mounted to the vehicle frame via elastic mounting units which allow vibratory motion between the engine and the frame for reducing the amount of vibration transmitted from the engine to the frame during operation of the engine. A cooling fan is positioned directly above the engine for pulling air downwardly through a radiator positioned directly above the engine and fan. The radiator is supported in its position above the engine by being rigidly fixed with support members. The support members are rigidly fixed with and extend upwardly from the frame. The radiator is held in position by the support members and is not supported by the engine, and therefore the radiator is generally isolated from engine vibrations by the elastic mounting units.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame to which a plurality of ground engaging wheels are coupled,

an engine mounted to the frame via mounting units which allow the engine to vibrate with respect to the frame for reducing the amount of vibration that is transmitted from the engine to the frame during operation of the engine, said engine being operatively coupled to the ground engaging wheels for driving said ground engaging wheels,

a radiator positioned directly above the engine, and having a weight,

support members operatively coupled directly with and extending upwardly from the frame, the support members being operatively coupled with the radiator and support generally the entire weight of the radiator.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said engine is a vertical shaft engine.

3. The invention of claim 1, and further comprising a fan coupled with the engine and positioned above the engine and beneath the radiator.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein a fan shroud is fixed with the radiator.

5. The invention of claim 3, wherein a plate member is fixed to the support members, and the radiator and a fan shroud are fixed with the plate member.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said support members are rigidly fixed with the frame, and the radiator is rigidly fixed with the support member.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein the mounting units include elastic members which allow the engine to vibrate with respect to the frame during operation for hindering the vibrations of the engine from being transmitted to the frame.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein the support members further comprise rod members fixed with and extending upwardly from the frame.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein the radiator is rigidly fixed with the support members, and the support members are rigidly fixed with the frame, and the support members hold the radiator in fixed position with respect to the frame and spaced from the engine for isolating the radiator from vibrations emanating from the engine.

10. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame supporting a plurality of ground engaging wheels,

a vertical shaft engine mounted to the frame via mounting units which allow vibratory motion of the engine with respect to the frame for reducing the amount of vibration that is transmitted from the engine to the frame during operation of the engine, said engine being operatively coupled to the ground engaging wheels for driving said ground engaging wheels,

a fan coupled with the engine directly above the engine, and

a radiator positioned directly above the engine and fan, the radiator having a weight,

support members operatively rigidly fixed with and extending upwardly from the frame, and the support members are rigidly fixed with the radiator and support generally the entire weight of the radiator.

11. The invention of claim 10, wherein the mounting units include elastic members which allow the engine to vibrate with respect to the frame during operation, said elastic members thereby hinder the vibrations of the engine from being transmitted to the frame.

12. The invention of claim 11, wherein said elastic members further comprise rubber members.

13. The invention of claim 12, and further comprising a fan shroud generally enclosing the fan and operatively rigidly fixed with the radiator.

14. The invention of claim 13, wherein a plate member is rigidly fixed to the support members, and the radiator and fan shroud are rigidly fixed with the plate member.

15. The invention of claim 14, wherein the support members further comprise rod members rigidly fixed with and extending upwardly from the frame.

16. The invention of claim 15, wherein the support members hold the radiator in fixed position with respect to the frame and spaced from the engine for isolating the radiator from vibrations emanating from the engine.

17. The invention of claim 10, and further comprising a fan shroud generally enclosing the fan and operatively rigidly fixed with the radiator.

18. The invention of claim 10, wherein a plate member is rigidly fixed to the support members, and the radiator and a fan shroud are rigidly fixed with the plate member.

19. The invention of claim 10, wherein the support members further comprise rod members rigidly fixed with and extending upwardly from the frame.

20. The invention of claim 10, wherein the support members hold the radiator in fixed position with respect to the frame and spaced from the engine for isolating the radiator from vibrations emanating from the engine.

21. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame to which a plurality of ground engaging wheels are coupled,

an engine mounted to the frame via mounting units which allow the engine to vibrate with respect to the frame for reducing the amount of vibration that is transmitted from the engine to the frame during operation of the engine, said engine being operatively coupled to the ground engaging wheels for driving said ground engaging wheels,

support members operatively coupled with and extending upwardly from the frame,

a radiator positioned directly above the engine, said radiator being supported in its position above the engine by being coupled with the support members without being otherwise supported by the engine, and

wherein said support members are rigidly fixed with the frame, and the radiator is rigidly fixed with the support member.

22. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame to which a plurality of ground engaging wheels are coupled,

an engine mounted to the frame via mounting units which allow the engine to vibrate with respect to the frame for reducing the amount of vibration that is transmitted from the engine to the frame during operation of the engine, said engine being operatively coupled to the ground engaging wheels for driving said ground engaging wheels,

support members operatively coupled with and extending upwardly from the frame,

a radiator positioned directly above the engine, said radiator being supported in its position above the engine by being coupled with the support members without being otherwise supported by the engine, and

wherein the support members further comprise rod members fixed with and extending upwardly from the frame.

23. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame to which a plurality of ground engaging wheels are coupled,

an engine mounted to the frame via mounting units which allow the engine to vibrate wits respect to the frame for reducing the amount of vibration that is transmitted from the engine to the frame during operation of the engine, said engine being operatively coupled to the ground engaging wheels for driving said ground engaging wheels,

support members operatively coupled with and extending upwardly from the frame,

a radiator positioned directly above the engine, said radiator being supported in its position above the engine by being coupled with the support members without being otherwise supported by the engine, and

wherein the radiator is rigidly fixed with the support members, and the support members are rigidly fixed with the frame, and the support members hold the radiator in fixed position with respect to the frame and spaced from the engine for isolating the radiator from vibrations emanating from the engine.