Replaceable cooling system compartment door screen insert

• US 8,783,398 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Wlezien, Christopher Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US13/410,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20130228291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 296/146.1, 296/146.5
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0891 Lids or bonnets or doors or details thereof doors for cabins E02F9/163 takes precedence; for motor vehicles B62D25/10

Abstract

An improved cooling system compartment door for a landfill compactor is provided. The door comprises a door frame and a replaceable screen insert. The screen insert is configured so that it can be used in either a left side or right side cooling system compartment door frame. The screen insert can be easily replaced when the screen is damaged or clogged, thereby saving time, materials and expense. The screen insert is particularly suited for use with landfill compactor machines which operate in debris laden environments which can damage the ventilation screens.

Claims

1. A cooling system compartment door for use with an off-road machine, the door comprising:

a door frame comprising a body and fastening members extending from the body, the body having a substantially frame-like configuration defining a central opening having a top and bottom; and

a screen insert having a top and a bottom and sized to cover the central opening and comprising a screen mounted to a screen support, the screen support comprising an array of slats and holes disposed in the array of slats for receiving the fastening members;

wherein the screen insert is removably mounted to the door frame, wherein the screen insert is symmetrical about a horizontal axis, the door handle is located equidistant the top and bottom of the central opening and the fastening members are arranged symmetrically about a horizontal axis equidistant the top and bottom of the central opening.

2. A cooling system compartment door for use with an off-road machine, the door comprising:

a door frame comprising a body and fastening members extending from the body, the body having a substantially frame-like configuration defining a central opening having a top and bottom; and

a screen insert having a top and a bottom and sized to cover the central opening and comprising a screen mounted to a screen support, the screen support comprising an array of slats and holes disposed in the array of slats for receiving the fastening members;

wherein the screen insert is removably mounted to the door frame, wherein the screen comprises a perforated, corrugated portion having two opposing vertical edges, the corrugated portion defining a cutout communicating with one vertical edge and sized to accommodate a door handle, the cutout being equidistant the top and bottom of the screen insert, the screen further comprising a flange extending outward from each vertical edge of the corrugated portion, wherein the flanges are affixed to the screen support, and wherein the array of slats comprises;

two short, substantially rectangular, vertical slats arranged in vertical alignment to each other, one of said short vertical slats extending from the top of the screen insert to the cutout, the other of said short vertical slats extending from the bottom of the screen insert to the cutout, said short vertical slats being affixed to the one of the flanges;

one long, substantially rectangular, vertical slat extending from the top of the screen insert to the bottom of the screen insert, said long vertical slat being affixed to the other flange parallel to the short vertical slats thereby forming left and right sides of the screen support;

a plurality of spaced apart comb-shaped slats arranged vertically along substantially the entire height of the screen insert and extending horizontally from the left side to the right side of the screen support, each comb-shaped slat having a free flat edge and a fluted edge that mates with the corrugated portion of the screen, each comb-shaped slat being affixed to the long vertical slat and one of the short vertical slats.

3. The cooling system compartment door of claim 2 wherein the array of slats further comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular horizontal slats, each horizontal slat being affixed to a comb-shaped slat.

4. The cooling system compartment door of claim 3 wherein the door frame further comprises:

a substantially flat body defining the central opening; and

a sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly from the body along its periphery.

5. The cooling system compartment door of claim 4 wherein the door frame body comprises:

a top horizontal member;

a bottom horizontal member;

a first vertical member extending between the top and bottom horizontal members; and

a second vertical member extending between the top and bottom horizontal members.

6. The cooling system compartment door of claim 5 wherein the bottom horizontal member has a bottom edge having a segment that is angled upward.

7. A screen insert installable on a left side or right side cooling system compartment door of a landfill compactor, the screen insert having a height and width and comprising:

a screen support comprising an array of slats and holes disposed in the slats for receiving fastening members; and

a screen mounted to the screen support, the screen comprising a perforated, corrugated portion having two opposing vertical edges and defining a cutout section communicating with one vertical edge and sized to accommodate a door handle, the screen further comprising flat vertical flanges extending outward from either vertical edge of the corrugated portion, wherein the flanges are affixed to the screen support, wherein the array of slats comprises;

two short, substantially rectangular, vertical slats arranged in vertical alignment to each other, one of said short vertical slats extending from the top of the screen insert to the cutout section, the other of said short vertical slats extending from the bottom of the screen insert to the cutout section, said short vertical slats being affixed to the screen flanges;

one long, substantially rectangular, vertical slat extending from the top of the screen insert to the bottom of the screen insert, said long vertical slat being affixed to a screen vertical flange parallel to the short, substantially rectangular, vertical slats, thereby forming left and right sides of the screen support;

a plurality of spaced apart comb-shaped slats arranged along substantially the entire height of the screen insert and extending horizontally from the left side to the right side of the screen support, each comb-shaped slat having a free flat edge and a fluted edge that mates with the corrugated portion of the screen, each comb-shaped slat being affixed to the long vertical slat and one of the short vertical slats; and

a plurality of substantially rectangular horizontal slats, each rectangular horizontal slat being affixed to a comb-shaped slat.