Vehicle cooling system

• US 8,567,546 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Industries Incorporated (Polaris Inc.)
• Inventors: Berg, Jeffrey J, Pierce, Troy A
• Primary Examiner(s): WINNER, TONY H
• Application Number:
  US13/018,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20110186371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 180/190, 180/68.4, 123/41.1
• US Class Current: 180/190
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/252 Snowmobiles
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2027/023 Snow mobiles characterised by engine mounting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 27/02 power driven
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle is shown such as a snowmobile, where a frame includes a cooling system operating therein having a plurality of heat exchangers. The cooling system may comprise a front radiator, a front tunnel cooler, a top tunnel cooler, and a rear cooler mounted rearwardly of the tunnel.

Claims

1. A snowmobile, comprising:

a frame;

a water cooled engine supported by the frame;

a ground engaging drive system for propelling the snowmobile;

a rear suspension coupling the ground engaging drive system to the frame, the rear heat exchanger being movable with the rear suspension, and

a rear heat exchanger coupled to the engine for cooling engine water, the rear heat exchanger being movable relative to the frame, and fluidly coupled by flexible couplings.

2. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the rear suspension is comprised of a suspension lower portion coupled to slide rails of the frame, the rear heat exchanger being attached to the suspension lower portion.

3. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a tunnel positioned above the ground engaging drive system, and intermediate the engine and the rear heat exchanger, the tunnel including a top tunnel heat exchanger having at least one channel for delivering coolant to the rear heat exchanger, and at least one channel for delivering coolant from the rear heat exchanger to the top tunnel heat exchanger.

4. The snowmobile of claim 3, wherein the rear heat exchanger is coupled to the top tunnel heat exchanger by way of flexible hoses.

5. The snowmobile of claim 3, further comprising a front tunnel heat exchanger where the front tunnel heat exchanger, the top tunnel heat exchanger and rear heat exchanger being coupled in series.

6. The snowmobile of claim 5, further comprising a front heat exchanger coupled to the engine.

7. The snowmobile of claim 6, further comprising a thermostat, wherein when the coolant is below a thermostat activation temperature, the cooling water circulates in a closed loop without circulating through any of the heat exchangers, and when the coolant is above a thermostat activation temperature, the cooling water circulates through all of the heat exchangers.

8. The snowmobile of claim 6, further comprising a thermostat, wherein when the coolant is below a thermostat activation temperature, the cooling water circulates through only the front heat exchanger, and when the coolant is above a thermostat activation temperature, the cooling water circulates through all of the heat exchangers.

9. A snowmobile comprising a frame, a water cooled engine supported by the frame and a ground engaging drive system for propelling the snowmobile, the snowmobile having a rear heat exchanger supported by a rear portion of the frame and coupled to the engine for cooling engine water, a rear suspension coupling the ground engaging drive system to the frame, the rear heat exchanger being movable with the rear suspension, and further comprising a second heat exchanger coupled to the frame and fluidly coupled to the rear heat exchanger, wherein one of the rear or second heat exchangers is movable relative to the frame, and is fluidly coupled by flexible couplings.

10. The snowmobile of claim 9, wherein the second heat exchanger is a front heat exchanger coupled to the engine.

11. The snowmobile of claim 10, further comprising a thermostat, wherein when the coolant is below an activation temperature to activate the thermostat, the cooling water circulates through only the front heat exchanger.

12. The snowmobile of claim 9, further comprising a thermostat, wherein when the coolant is below an activation temperature to activate the thermostat, the cooling water circulates in a closed loop without circulating through any of the heat exchangers.

13. The snowmobile of claim 12, further comprising an accumulator bottle provided in the closed loop.

14. The snowmobile of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises a tunnel positioned above the ground engaging drive system, and intermediate the engine and the rear heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger being defined within the tunnel as a top tunnel heat exchanger having at least one channel for delivering coolant to the rear heat exchanger, and at least one channel for delivering coolant from the rear heat exchanger to the top tunnel heat exchanger.

15. The snowmobile of claim 14, further comprising a front tunnel heat exchanger where the front tunnel heat exchanger, the top tunnel heat exchanger and rear heat exchanger are fluidly coupled in series.

16. The snowmobile of claim 9, wherein the rear suspension is comprised of a suspension lower portion coupled to slide rails of the frame, and the rear heat exchanger is attached to the suspension lower portion.

17. The snowmobile of claim 16, wherein the rear heat exchanger is coupled to the top tunnel heat exchanger by way of flexible hoses.