Riding lawn mower with improved radiator system

• US 6,634,448 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lastec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lastec Incorporated
• Inventors: Bland, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Kelly E
• Application Number:
  US09/910,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20030015361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/68.4, 180/68.6, 123/41.01, 123/41.1, 123/41.49, 123/41.12
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/223 Ridable lawn mowers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/10 Bonnets or lids , e.g. for trucks, tractors, busses, work vehicles for truck beds B60J7/1607; for boats B63B19/12; doors arranged at the vehicle rear B60J5/10; inlet covers for vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/05; for protecting non-occupants of a vehicle B60R21/38
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/12 Filtering, cooling, or silencing cooling-air
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2011/063 Cleaning F01P2011/061 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/043 Pump reversing arrangements

Abstract

A riding lawn mower includes a frame; ground engaging wheels mounted with said frame; at least one cutting deck mounted to the frame; an engine mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive said ground engaging wheels and said at least one cutting deck, said engine has fluid to be cooled; and, a radiator system, the radiator system including: a housing, a radiator having first and second opposing sides, mounted in the housing and operatively connected with said engine to intake fluid at a first temperature from said engine and to output fluid back to said engine at a second temperature, a screen mounted in the housing and adjacent the first side of the radiator, a bi-directional fan mounted in the housing adjacent the second side of the radiator and operable to direct an air flow in a standard direction first through the screen and then through the radiator and operable as desired to direct an airflow in a discharge direction, opposite the standard direction, first through the radiator and then through the screen, and switch means for switching the fan between the standard and discharge directions; and wherein the radiator and fan are mounted above said engine.

Claims

1. A riding lawn mower, comprising:

a frame;

ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted with said frame;

at least one cutting deck mounted to the frame;

an engine mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive said ground engaging wheels and said at least one cutting deck, said engine has fluid to be cooled;

a radiator system including;

a housing;

a radiator having first and second opposing sides, mounted in the housing and operatively connected with said engine to intake fluid at a first temperature from said engine and to output fluid back to said engine at a second temperature,

a screen mounted in the housing and adjacent the first side of the radiator;

a bi-directional fan mounted with the housing adjacent the second side of the radiator and operable to direct an air flow in a standard direction first through the screen and then through the radiator and operable as desired to direct an airflow in a discharge direction, opposite the standard direction, first through the radiator and then through the screen; and

,

switch means for switching the fan between the standard and discharge directions.