Cooling system for working vehicle

• US 6,435,264 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Yutaka, Konno, Osahiro, Sagara, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): CIRIC, LJILJANA V
• Application Number:
  US09/377,062
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 165/41, 165/42, 165/51, 165/148, 165/149, 165/900, 180/68.1, 180/68.4, 180/68.6, 123/41.48, 123/41.49, 123/41.51
• US Class Current: 165/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2003/182 with multiple heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/04 Lubricant cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/18 Arrangements or mounting of liquid-to-air heat-exchangers such arrangements on cylinders or cylinder heads F01P3/04; relative to vehicles B60K11/04
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0426 with units having particular arrangement relative to the large body of fluid, e.g. with interleaved units or with adjacent heat exchange units in common air flow or with units extending at an angle to each other or with units arranged around a central element

Abstract

A cooling system that is capable of cooling a working vehicle, such as a wheeled loader, at a good efficiency and at a reduced level of noise. Plural radiators are arranged in a V-shaped form within a plane behind an engine mounted in the rear of the engine compartment of the vehicle. The radiators are spread a part rearwardly to form a space between them. A cooling fan is mounted in this space. The side surfaces of the radiators are provided with intake ports that are covered by openable side covers. The top of each intake ports is covered by a hood whose top surface can be tilted rearwardly and downwardly.

Claims

1. A cooling system in a wheeled working vehicle having a working implement in a front portion and an engine in a rear portion of the vehicle, said cooling system comprising two radiators per each cooling fan, each of said two radiators respectively having a rectangular shape with a front edge, a rear edge, a top edge and a bottom edge;

said respective front edges of said two radiators being joined, and said respective rear edges of said two radiators being arranged to have a distance therebetween so that said top edges of said two radiators form a V-shaped structure,

said V-shaped structure being arranged behind said engine and including a top triangular piece extending between said top edges of said two radiators, a bottom triangular piece extending between said bottom edges of said two radiators, and a fan shroud housing said cooling fan, said fan shroud extending between said rear edges of said two radiators and between said top and bottom triangular pieces.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein side surfaces of said radiators are provided with intake ports that are covered by openable side covers, and top sides of said intake ports are covered by a hood having a top surface tilted rearwardly and downwardly.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said cooling system provides a reduced height for improving operator visibility behind said vehicle by reducing the height of said two radiators and tilting said fan.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein said cooling fan has one end pivoted to one of said two radiators for permitting easy opening of said V-shaped structure and cleaning of said fan and said two radiators.

5. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein the inner ends of said radiators are tightened via bolts to a bracket of L-shaped cross section filling a gap between said inner ends.