Raincap precleaner, motor vehicle having a raincap precleaner, and method for precleaning air

• US 8,177,872 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donaldson Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Donaldson Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Nelson, Benny Kevin, Kuhn, John David, Narayan, Nilabh
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Dung H
• Application Number:
  US12/863,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20110048368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 553/45, 553/853, 554/47, 554/56, 55D/IG.28, 963/72, 952/72, 123/198.E
• US Class Current: 55/345
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2279/60 for the intake of internal combustion engines or turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/04 by utilising inertia B01D45/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 45/16 generated by the winding course of the gas stream , the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 50/20 Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/02 Air cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/022 acting by gravity, by centrifugal, or by other inertial forces, e.g. with moistened walls
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/08 with means for removing dust, particles or liquids from cleaners; with means for indicating clogging; with by-pass means; Regeneration of cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/084 Dust collection chambers or discharge sockets, e.g. chambers fed by gravity or closed by a valve
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 35/10013 Means upstream of the air filter; Connection to the ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/28 Carburetor attached

Abstract

A raincap precleaner is provided according to the present invention. The raincap precleaner includes a sleeve, a cover, and a precleaner assembly. The sleeve is constructed for mounting on an air intake stack and has an air intake flow region for delivering intake air to the air intake stack. The cover includes a top portion having an annular circumference and a depending flange portion extending from the annular circumference of the top portion. The cover is arranged relative to the sleeve to provide a precleaner area and a precleaned air chamber. The precleaner assembly is provided extending around a periphery of the sleeve and in the precleaner area so that environmental air flows through the precleaner assembly and into the precleaned air chamber, and from the precleaned air chamber into the air intake flow region. The precleaner assembly comprises a plurality of inertial separators. A method for precleaning air and a motor vehicle are provided.

Claims

1. A raincap precleaner comprising:

(a) a sleeve constructed for mounting on a vertically arranged air intake stack and having an air intake flow region for delivering intake air to the stack;

(b) a cover comprising a top portion having annular circumference and a depending flange portion extending from the annular circumference of the top portion, the cover being arranged relative to the sleeve to provide a precleaner area and precleaned air chamber; and

(c) a precleaner assembly provided extending around a periphery of the sleeve and in the precleaner area so that environmental air flows through the precleaner assembly and into the precleaned air chamber, and from the precleaned air chamber into the air intake flow region, the precleaner assembly comprising a plurality of inertial separators and a chamber for receiving particulate form the plurality of inertial separators.

2. A raincap precleaner according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of inertial separators comprises a panel of inertial separators.

3. A raincap precleaner according to claim 2, wherein the panel of inertial separators comprises an arrangement of inertial separators extending from a first wall to a second wall, and having a central opening therethrough sized to provide a flow of precleaned air.

4. A raincap precleaner according to claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises a scavenge chamber.

5. A raincap precleaner according to claim 4, further comprising a scavenge outlet in communication with the scavenge chamber.

6. A raincap precleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a screen for protecting the precleaner assembly from particulates in the environmental air.

7. A raincap precleaner according to claim 6, wherein the screen extends from the sleeve to the depending flange portion.

8. A raincap precleaner according to claim 7, wherein the screen comprises a pleated screen construction.

9. A raincap precleaner according to claim 8, wherein the pleated screen construction comprises a pleated screen provided between a first screen member and a second screen member.

10. A raincap precleaner according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a top edge and the depending flange portion comprises a bottom edge, and wherein the precleaner assembly is provided between the top edge and the bottom edge.

11. A method for precleaning intake air, the method comprising:

(a) feeding environmental air into a raincap precleaner according to claim 1.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the environmental air is cleaned in the precleaner assembly to provide precleaned air.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the precleaned air flows from the plurality of inertial separators into the air intake flow region and provides about a 180°

turn.

14. A motor vehicle comprising an air intake system comprising an air cleaner, a vertically arranged stack for feeding air to the air cleaner, and a raincap arranged on the vertically extending stack to reduce rain and particulates from a falling into the vertically arranged stack, the raincap further comprising:

(a) a sleeve mounted on the vertically arranged air intake stack and having an air intake flow region for delivering intake air to the stack;

(b) a cover comprising a top portion having annular circumference and a depending flange portion extending from the annular circumference of the top portion, the cover being arranged relative to the sleeve to provide a precleaner area and precleaned air chamber; and

(c) a precleaner assembly provided extending around a periphery of the sleeve and in the precleaner area so that environmental air flows through the precleaner assembly and into the precleaned air chamber, and from the precleaned air chamber into the air intake flow region, the precleaner assembly comprising a plurality of inertial separators.

15. A motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the raincap and the air cleaner are separated by the vertically arranged stack.

16. A motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of inertial separators comprises a panel of inertial separators.

17. A motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the panel of inertial separators comprises an arrangement of inertial separators extending from a first wall to a second wall, and having a central opening therethrough sized to provide a flow of precleaned air.

18. A motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the chamber comprises a scavenge chamber.

19. A motor vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising a scavenge outlet in communication with the scavenge chamber.

20. A motor vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising a screen for protecting the precleaner assembly from particulates in the environmental air.

21. A motor vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the screen extends from the sleeve to the depending flange portion.

22. A motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the screen comprises a pleated screen construction.