Cooling system packaging arrangement for a machine

• US 7,836,967 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Vannette, Avert Glen, Sergison, Daniel Peter, Daniel, Steven A., Thomson, Norval P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/181,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20100018732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 172/781, 172/788, 172/789, 172/786, 172/793, 172/791, 172/792, 180/68.21, 180/68.3, 180/68.4, 180/89.12, 180/89.1, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 280/787, 280/785, 280/790, 296/183, 296/193, 296/194, 296/195, 440/88.R, 440/88.C
• US Class Current: 172/781
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/00 Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00 laying-out or take-up devices for trailing electric cables B66C
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0816 Welded frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0866 Engine compartment, e.g. heat exchangers, exhaust filters, cooling devices, silencers, mufflers, position of hydraulic pumps in the engine compartment

Abstract

A radiator of a cooling system is disposed within an engine compartment, between a rear mounted engine and a cab on a wheeled machine. The remaining components within the engine compartment are arranged such that they are lower in height than the radiator, the engine compartment enclosure generally angling down from the cab rearward. The enclosure includes an air intake that opens into a gap between the enclosure and cab. A fan disposed rearward the radiator may pull cooling air through the air intake and past the radiator.

Claims

1. A machine for use on terrain, the machine comprising

a mainframe,

a cab disposed on the mainframe,

at least two ground engaging members rotatably coupled to the mainframe,

an engine compartment defined along the mainframe,

an engine coupled to the mainframe and disposed within the engine compartment,

a cooling package including a radiator coupled to the mainframe and disposed within the engine compartment, the radiator being at least partially vertically disposed, the radiator being disposed forward the engine and rearward the cab,

at least one enclosure adapted to at least partially enclose the engine compartment, the cab and the enclosure are spaced from one another to form a gap therebetween, the enclosure including at least one air intake forward the radiator and rearward the cab and in line between the radiator and the cab.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the air intake opens from the enclosure into the gap.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein the radiator is disposed substantially vertically and in a substantially lateral orientation within the enclosure.

4. The machine of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is disposed at substantially its most distant point from the terrain in a vicinity of the radiator.

5. The machine of claim 1 wherein the cooling package includes at least one of a hydraulic fluid cooling system, an engine coolant cooling system adapted to receive engine coolant, and an engine air cooling system.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein the radiator is adapted to receive engine coolant.

7. The machine of claim 1 wherein the air intake includes a plurality of intake openings.

8. The machine of claim 1 wherein the cooling package further includes at least one fan, the fan being disposed rearward the radiator and being adapted to pull air into the enclosure through the air intake and past the radiator.

9. The machine of claim 1 wherein the mainframe includes a front frame section and a rear frame section, the frame sections being articulated relative to one another, the ground engaging members being rotatably coupled to the rear frame section, the engine and the cooling package being coupled to the rear frame section, the machine including a third ground engaging member, said third ground engaging member being rotatably coupled to the front frame section.

10. A machine comprising

a mainframe,

a cab disposed on the mainframe,

at least two ground engaging members rotatably coupled to the mainframe, the ground engaging members being adapted to turn about respective axes, the axes defining a plane within the machine,

an engine having a crankshaft having a centerline,

a cooling package including a radiator,

the centerline of the crankshaft being disposed below the plane or within substantially 250 mm or less above the plane.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein the machine is hydrostatically or electronically motivated.

12. The machine of claim 10 further comprising

an engine compartment defined along the mainframe, the engine being coupled to the mainframe and disposed within the engine compartment,

the cooling package being coupled to the mainframe and disposed within the engine compartment, the cooling package being disposed rearward the cab and at least partially forward the engine.

13. The machine of claim 12 further comprising aftertreatment equipment, said aftertreatment equipment being relatively disposed at least partially rearward the engine and the cooling package, the aftertreatment equipment being disposed relatively lower in the engine compartment than the cooling package.

14. The machine of claim 10 further comprising an engine compartment defined along the mainframe and at least one enclosure adapted to at least partially enclose the engine compartment, the radiator is disposed substantially vertically and laterally in the machine, the enclosure being disposed at substantially its most distant point from a terrain below the machine in a vicinity of the radiator, the enclosure including at least one air intake forward the radiator and rearward the cab and in line between the radiator and the cab.

15. A motor grader adapted to carry an operator, the motor grader comprising

a mainframe including a front frame section and a rear frame section,

at least one front wheel rotatably coupled to the front frame section,

at least two ground engaging members rotatably coupled to the rear frame section,

an engine coupled to the rear frame section,

at least one pump coupled to the rear frame section,

a cooling package including a radiator coupled to the rear frame section, and

a cab disposed on the mainframe, the cab adapted to carry the operator,

an enclosure coupled to the rear frame section rearward the cab and generally covering at least a portion of the engine, the pump, and the cooling package, the enclosure including an upper surface, the upper surface being disposed at an angle substantially on the order of 15°

or greater to horizontal, the enclosure being disposed to provide the operator a sightline to a one and one half meter high obstacle disposed one meter from the motor grader.

16. The motor grader of claim 15 wherein the enclosure includes side walls and a rear wall, the side walls angling outward from the upper surface.

17. The motor grader of claim 15 wherein the motor grader is hydrostatically or electronically driven.

18. The motor grader of claim 15 wherein the radiator is at least partially vertically disposed, the radiator being disposed forward the engine and rearward the cab, the upper surface of the enclosure being disposed at substantially its most distant point from a terrain below the motor grader in a vicinity of the radiator.

19. The motor grader of claim 15 wherein the enclosure includes at least one air intake forward the radiator and rearward the cab and in line between the radiator and the cab.

20. The motor grader of claim 19 further comprising

an engine compartment, the enclosure at least partially enclosing the engine compartment,

the radiator being disposed substantially vertically and in a substantially lateral orientation within the enclosure, the enclosure being disposed at substantially its most distant point from a terrain below the motor grader in a vicinity of the radiator,

the cab and the enclosure being spaced from one another to form a gap therebetween,

the enclosure including at least one air intake forward the radiator and rearward the cab and in line between the radiator and the cab, the air intake opening from the enclosure into the gap, and

the cooling package further including at least one fan, the fan being disposed rearward the radiator and being adapted to pull air into the enclosure through the air intake and past the radiator.