Vehicle parallel cooling system

• US 7,325,518 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Bering, Christopher Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali; Hyder
• Application Number:
  US11/221,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20070051326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 123/41.01, 123/41.49, 123/41.7, 123/41.65, 165/51, 165/41, 165/122, 180/68.1, 180/68.4
• US Class Current: 123/41.01
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2005/025 using two or more air pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/06 Guiding or ducting air to, or from, ducted fans

Abstract

A cooling system is provided for a vehicle having an engine. The cooling system includes a pair of heat exchangers, such as an oil cooler and a charge air cooler, laterally spaced apart from each other and located in front of a front end of the engine. A pair of blower units are in front of the coolers and blow cooling air rearwardly therethrough. A pair of duct units are located above the engine and to the rear of the coolers. Each duct unit includes a forward opening inlet receiving warmed air from the corresponding cooler, an upwardly opening outlet and a hollow housing extending from the inlet to the outlet. The outlets are spaced laterally apart from each other. A radiator is positioned above the duct unit housings and forward of the outlets. A set of radiator fans blow air upwardly through the radiator and are positioned between the radiator and the duct housings.

Claims

1. A cooling system for a vehicle having an engine, the cooling system comprising:

a first heat exchanger for cooling a first subsystem of the vehicle;

a second heat exchanger for cooling a second subsystem of the vehicle, said first and second heat exchangers being laterally spaced apart in front of a front end of the engine;

a first air moving unit for blowing air through the first heat exchanger;

a second air moving unit for blowing air through the second heat exchanger, the second air moving unit being spaced laterally apart from the first air moving unit;

a duct having a first forward opening inlet receiving warmed air from the first heat exchanger, a second forward opening inlet receiving warmed air from the second heat exchanger, a first housing extending from the first inlet to a first upwardly opening outlet, and a second housing extending from the second inlet to a second upwardly opening outlet, each outlet being located rearwardly of the corresponding inlet and above the engine.

2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein:

the first outlet is spaced laterally apart from the second outlet.

3. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second outlet are substantially aligned with opposite sides of the engine.

4. The cooling system of claim 1, further comprising:

a radiator positioned above the first and second housings and forward of the first and second outlets.

5. The cooling system of claim 4, further comprising:

a radiator air moving unit for blowing air upwardly through the radiator.

6. The cooling system of claim 5, further comprising:

the radiator air moving unit is positioned between the radiator and the first and second housings.

7. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein:

the duct comprises first and second hollow duct units and a connecting plate which engages an upper portion of each duct unit.

8. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second inlets are positioned directly adjacent to each other, and the first and second outlets are space laterally apart from each other.

9. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein:

the first heat exchanger comprises an oil cooler; and

the second heat exchanger comprises a charge air cooler.

10. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein:

an engine air cleaner is located between the first and second outlets.

11. A cooling system for a vehicle having an engine, the cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger for cooling a vehicle subsystem, said heat exchanger being positioned forwardly with respect to the engine;

a subsystem air moving unit for moving air rearwardly through the heat exchanger; and

a duct having a housing, the housing having an inlet receiving heated air from the heat exchanger and an outlet discharging the heated air upwardly.

12. The cooling system of claim 11, comprising:

a pair of heat exchangers, each for cooling a corresponding vehicle subsystem.

13. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein:

at least a portion of the housing is directly adjacent a portion of the engine.

14. The cooling system of claim 11, further comprising:

a radiator positioned forward of the outlet.

15. The cooling system of claim 14, further comprising:

a radiator air moving unit for moving air upwardly through the radiator.

16. The cooling system of claim 11, further comprising:

a radiator positioned above the housing and forward of the outlet.

17. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein:

the housing inlet opens in a forward direction and the housing outlet opens upwardly.

18. The cooling system of claim 11, further comprising:

the outlet has a vertical position which is higher than an upper surface of the engine.

19. A cooling system for a vehicle having an engine, the cooling system comprising:

a pair of heat exchangers, each for cooling a corresponding vehicle subsystem, said heat exchangers being Positioned forwardly with respect to the engine;

a pair of subsystem air moving units, each for moving air rearwardly through a corresponding one of the heat exchangers; and

a pair of ducts, each duct having a first forward opening inlet receiving warmed air from a corresponding one of the heat exchangers, each duct having an upwardly opening outlet, and each duct having a housing extending from one of the inlets to one of the outlets.

20. The cooling system of claim 19, wherein:

the outlets are spaced laterally apart and positioned rearwardly with respect to the inlets.

21. A cooling system for a vehicle having an engine, the cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger for cooling a vehicle subsystem, said heat exchanger being positioned forwardly with respect to the engine;

a subsystem air moving unit for moving air rearwardly through the heat exchanger;

a duct having a housing, the housing having an inlet receiving heated air from the heat exchanger and an outlet discharging the heated air upwardly; and

a radiator positioned above the housing, above the heat exchanger and forward of the outlet.

22. A cooling system for a vehicle having an engine, the cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger for cooling a vehicle subsystem, said heat exchanger being positioned forwardly with respect to the engine;

a subsystem air moving unit for moving air rearwardly through the heat exchanger;

a duct having a housing, the housing having an inlet receiving heated air from the heat exchanger and an outlet discharging the heated air upwardly;

a radiator; and

a radiator air moving unit for moving air upwardly through the radiator, the subsystem air moving unit and the radiator air moving unit drawing air from separate regions.

23. A cooling system for a vehicle having an engine, the cooling system comprising:

a heat exchanger for cooling a vehicle subsystem, said heat exchanger being positioned forwardly with respect to the engine;

a subsystem air moving unit for moving air rearwardly through the heat exchanger; and

a duct having a housing, the housing having an inlet end connected directly to a side of the heat exchanger and an outlet end discharging heated air upwardly, the housing extending continuously from the inlet end to the outlet end.