Airflow baffle system for articulating hood with multiple hinge locations

• US 8,893,834 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Berkeland, Jerry Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US13/243,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20130074410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/68.4, 180/68.6, 296/100.06, 296/100.09, 494/901, 494/981, 494/991
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/12 Parts or details thereof locks E05B, E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; springs, e.g. pneumatic springs F16F
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3411 of the Z-type
• 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
• 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

The present disclosure concerns an airflow baffle system and sealing system which effectively seals an articulating hood, such as for a wheel loader, for more efficient routing of cooling air and exhaust air. The articulating hood may have multiple hinges connecting the hood to the motor vehicle. For example, a rear hinge or set of hinges may allow upward and rearward rotation of the entire hood, while a second set of hinges atop the hood may allow for upward and forward rotation of only a portion of the hood when quicker access to only a portion of the engine compartment is required.

Claims

1. An articulating hood assembly, comprising:

a stationary sealing element having a left side, a right side and a cross member between the left and right sides, the stationary sealing element having a substantially continuous sealing surface;

an articulating hood for mating with the substantially continuous sealing surface of the stationary sealing element, the articulating hood comprising at least two hoods, wherein at least a portion of the articulating hood is moveable in a first direction from the stationary sealing element to an open position and wherein a second portion of the articulating hood is moveable in a second direction from the stationary sealing element; and

a sealing baffle fixed to the articulating hood, wherein a seal is broken and formed between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle of the articulating hood when;

     1) at least the portion of the articulating hood is moved and returned in the first direction; and

     2) the second portion of the articulating hood is moved and returned in the second direction,

wherein when the sealing baffle is in a closed position, the stationary sealing element forms a substantially continuous seal at an interface between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle.

2. The articulating hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing baffle includes a stiffer portion for fixing to the articulating hood and a more flexible portion, adhered to the stiffer portion, for mating with the stationary sealing element.

3. The articulating hood assembly of claim 2, wherein the more flexible portion includes a channel for adhering to a protrusion of the stiffer portion.

4. The articulating hood assembly of claim 2, wherein the more flexible portion includes a primary seal and a secondary seal.

5. The articulating hood assembly of claim 1, wherein a top portion of the sealing baffle disengages first during movement of the articulating hood in the first direction and a bottom portion of the sealing baffle disengages first during movement of the articulating hood in the second direction.

6. The articulating hood assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing baffle comprises a series of convolutions for assembly to the articulating hood on a first side of the sealing baffle away from a second side for mating with the sealing element, the series of convolutions fitting into mating portions of the articulating hood.

7. The articulating hood assembly of claim 1, further comprising an engine compartment mounting the articulating hood assembly and a vehicle, the vehicle further including a frame, an engine, a cooling package, wheels and an operator cab.

8. A articulating hood assembly, comprising:

an engine compartment comprising a stationary sealing element, the stationary sealing element having a substantially continuous surface;

an articulating hood mounted to the engine compartment for mating with the stationary sealing element, the articulating hood comprising at least two hoods, wherein at least a first portion of the articulating hood is moveable in a first direction from the stationary sealing element to an open position and wherein at least a second portion of the articulating hood is moveable in a second direction from the stationary sealing element; and

a sealing baffle fixed to the articulating hood, wherein a seal is broken and formed between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle of the articulating hood when;

     1) at least the first portion of the articulating hood is rotated and returned in a first direction; and

     2) at least the second portion of the articulating hood is rotated and returned in a second direction,

wherein when the sealing baffle is in a closed position, the stationary sealing element forms a substantially continuous seal at an interface between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle.

9. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8, wherein the sealing baffle includes a stiffer fiberglass portion for fixing to the articulating hood and a more flexible elastomeric portion for mating with the stationary sealing element.

10. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8, wherein the stationary sealing element comprises a left side, a right side and a cross member between the left and right sides.

11. The articulating hood assembly of claim 10, wherein at least portions of surfaces of the left and right side sealing elements are at an upward facing angle with respect to a vertical orientation defined by a radiator in the engine compartment.

12. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8, wherein the articulating hood includes a radiator hood mounted to the engine compartment with a first hinge.

13. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8, wherein the articulating hood includes an engine hood mounted to the articulating hood with a second hinge.

14. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8, wherein the seal is broken and formed by rotation in a plane in the first direction using a first pivot point and by rotation in the same plane in the second direction using a second pivot point.

15. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8, wherein engagement between the sealing element and the sealing baffle is identical after movement in the first direction and after movement in the second direction.

16. A articulating hood assembly, comprising:

an engine compartment comprising a stationary sealing element having a left side, a right side and a cross member between the left and right sides, the stationary sealing element having a substantially continuous top surface in which at least portions of surfaces of the stationary sealing element on opposite sides of the engine compartment lie in a same plane;

an articulating hood mounted to the engine compartment for mating with the stationary sealing element, the articulating hood comprising a radiator hood and an engine hood, wherein at least the radiator hood is rotatable in a first direction from the stationary sealing element to an open position and wherein at least the engine hood is rotatable in a second direction from the stationary sealing element; and

a sealing baffle fixed to the radiator hood, wherein a seal is broken and formed between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle of the radiator hood when;

1) at least the radiator hood is rotated and returned in a first direction; and

     2) at least the engine hood is rotated and returned in a second direction, wherein the sealing baffle includes a stiffer portion for fixing to the articulating hood and a more flexible portion joined to the stiffer portion for mating with the stationary sealing element,

wherein when the sealing baffle is in a closed position, the stationary sealing element forms a substantially continuous seal at an interface between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle.

17. The articulating hood assembly of claim 16, wherein the more flexible portion comprises a first elastomeric seal and a second elastomeric seal adjacent the first elastomeric seal.

18. The articulating hood assembly of claim 16, wherein the sealing baffle comprises a plurality of manufactured pieces joined to form a single-piece sealing baffle.

19. The articulating hood assembly of claim 16, wherein the stiffer portion of the sealing baffle includes a plurality of fiberglass lengths joined together to form a single-piece sealing baffle and wherein the more flexible portion comprises an elastomeric seal adhesively adhered to the plurality of fiberglass lengths.

20. The articulating hood assembly of claim 16, wherein the sealing baffle further includes a bottom elastomeric piece for sealing against a floor of the engine compartment.