Ventilation system for engine and aftertreatment compartments and components

• US 8,919,469 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Shatters, Dale, Mann, Ryan, Pozzie, Scott, McCurdy, Sean, Bada Ghar Wala, Manoj Kumar, Wiley, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): EBNER, KATY MEYER
• Application Number:
  US12/869,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,587 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 123/41.31
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/00 Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units heating the interior space B60H; cooling internal combustion engines per se F01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/06 with air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/04 concerning exhaust collecting exhaust gases with central suction systems not forming part of vehicles, e.g. in workshops or tunnels B08B15/002, otherwise along carriageways E01C1/005; extensions for melting snow on roads E01H5/00, E01H6/00; exhaust or silencing apparatus for internal combustion engines per se F01N; pipes, joints or supports therefor F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/413 Compactors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/415 Wheel loaders

Abstract

A ventilation system for a machine including an engine, an engine compartment having an interior, a secondary compartment having an interior, and a sensor. The ventilation system has a ventilation fan having a fan outlet, and a duct configured to direct air from the fan outlet to at least two of the interior of the engine compartment, the interior of the secondary compartment, and the sensor.

Claims

1. A ventilation system for a machine including an engine, an engine compartment having an interior, an aftertreatment housing having an interior, aftertreatment equipment disposed within the interior of the aftertreatment housing, and at least one sensor coupled to the aftertreatment housing, a radiator, and a radiator fan, the ventilation system comprising:

a ventilation fan at least partially enclosed by a fan housing and having a fan outlet, the ventilation fan being separate from the radiator fan, and

an elongated duct extending from the fan housing and configured to direct air from the fan outlet to at least two of the interior of the engine compartment, the interior of the aftertreatment housing, and the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, further including:

a precleaner having a precleaner inlet and a precleaner outlet, the precleaner inlet being open to an exterior of the engine compartment, and

a channel having a channel inlet and a channel outlet, the channel inlet being in fluid communication with the precleaner outlet, the channel outlet being in fluid communication with the ventilation fan.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the duct directs air to the engine compartment interior to pressurize the engine compartment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the duct includes at least three outlets for directing air from the fan outlet to the interior of the engine compartment, the interior of the aftertreatment housing, and the sensor, respectively.

5. The system of claim 1 further including a secondary blower disposed to selectively provide cooling air to the duct for delivery to the at least two of the interior of the engine compartment, the interior of the aftertreatment housing and the sensor.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the ventilation fan does not receive air flowing through the radiator or direct air to the radiator.

7. A ventilation system for a machine, the machine including an engine, a radiator, and a radiator fan, the system comprising:

a precleaner having a precleaner inlet and a precleaner outlet, the precleaner inlet being in fluid communication with an exterior of the machine,

a channel having a channel inlet and a channel outlet, the channel inlet being in fluid communication with the precleaner outlet,

a ventilation fan at least partially enclosed by a fan housing and having a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan inlet being in fluid communication with the channel outlet, the ventilation fan being separate from the radiator fan,

an engine compartment substantially enclosing the engine,

at least one sensor, and

an elongate duct extending from the fan housing, the elongate duct being in fluid communication with the fan outlet and directing air from the fan outlet to the engine compartment and the sensor.

8. The system of claim 7, further including an aftertreatment housing having an interior, and aftertreatment equipment at least partially enclosed within the aftertreatment housing interior, and the duct directing air from the ventilation fan outlet to the aftertreatment housing interior.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the ventilation fan substantially pressurizes the engine compartment.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the aftertreatment housing includes an aftertreatment housing outlet, and the engine compartment includes an outlet, the aftertreatment housing outlet and the engine compartment outlet forming a venturi arrangement.

11. The system of claim 10, further including an aftertreatment housing elongated stack associated with the aftertreatment housing outlet, and an engine compartment elongated stack associated with the engine compartment outlet, the engine compartment elongated stack circumferentially surrounding the aftertreatment housing elongated stack.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the engine compartment elongated stack has a length, and wherein the aftertreatment housing elongated stack extends only a portion of the length of the engine compartment elongated stack, the aftertreatment housing outlet being disposed within the engine compartment elongated stack.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the aftertreatment housing has an exterior, the at least one sensor is associated with the aftertreatment equipment and is disposed at the exterior of the aftertreatment housing, the duct directing air from the ventilation fan outlet to the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the duct includes a plurality of duct outlets, the duct directing air from the ventilation fan outlet through the plurality of duct outlets to the interior of the engine compartment, the aftertreatment housing interior, and the sensor.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the machine includes a sound wall, and the ventilation fan is coupled to the sound wall.

16. The system of claim 7, further including a secondary blower disposed to selectively provide cooling air to the duct for delivery to the engine compartment and the sensor wherein the secondary blower is coupled to a continuous power source, the secondary blower being operable regardless of whether the engine is in operation.

17. The system of claim 7 wherein the ventilation fan does not receive air flowing through the radiator or direct air to the radiator.

18. A machine comprising:

an exterior,

an engine,

aftertreatment equipment,

a radiator,

a radiator fan,

a precleaner having a precleaner inlet and a precleaner outlet, the precleaner inlet being in fluid communication with the exterior of the machine,

a channel having a channel inlet and a channel outlet, the channel inlet being in fluid communication with the precleaner outlet,

a ventilation fan at least partially enclosed by a fan housing, the ventilation fan having a fan inlet and a fan outlet, the fan inlet being in fluid communication with the channel outlet, the ventilation fan being separate from the radiator fan,

an engine compartment having an exterior and an interior substantially enclosing the engine,

an aftertreatment housing having an interior at least partially enclosing said aftertreatment equipment,

at least one sensor, and

an elongate duct extending from the fan housing, the elongate duct being in fluid communication with the fan outlet and directing air from the fan outlet to at least two of the engine compartment, the aftertreatment housing, and the sensor.

19. The machine of claim 18, wherein the duct includes at least three duct outlets, a first of said duct outlets directing air from the fan outlet to the interior of the engine compartment, a second of said duct outlets directing air from the fan outlet to the interior of the aftertreatment housing, and a third of said duct outlets directing air from the fan outlet to the sensor.

20. The machine of claim 19 further including a secondary blower disposed to selectively provide cooling air to the duct for delivery to the at least two of the interior of the engine compartment, the interior of the aftertreatment housing and the sensor.