# US 10,119,450 B2 · Oxygen sensor cooling duct

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- Number: US 10,119,450 B2
- Document ID: US10119450B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/873,791
- Filed: 2018-01-17
- Published: 2018-05-24
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-09-02
- Assignees: Arctic Cat Inc.
- Applicants: Arctic Cat, Inc.
- Inventors: Wayne L. Minnichsoffer; Jeremy B. Parsons
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119450B2

## CPC

- F01N 13/10: of exhaust manifolds {(with cooling jacket F01N3/046)}
- B60K 13/04: concerning exhaust
- F01N 11/00: Monitoring or diagnostic devices for exhaust-gas treatment apparatus
- F01N 11/007: {the diagnostic devices measuring oxygen or air concentration downstream of the exhaust apparatus}
- F01N 13/008: {Mounting or arrangement of exhaust sensors in or on exhaust apparatus (sensor arrangements for engine control F02D41/1439)}
- F01N 13/08: Other arrangements or adaptations of exhaust conduits {(pipes, joints or supports therefor in general F16L; collecting or removing exhaust gases of vehicle engines in workshops B08B15/00, on highways E01C1/005)}
- F16H 9/14: using only one pulley built-up out of adjustable conical parts
- F16H 55/56: of which the bearing parts are relatively axially adjustable
- F16H 57/027: characterised by means for venting gearboxes, e.g. air breathers
- F16H 57/035: Gearboxes for gearing with endless flexible members
- F16H 57/0416: {Air cooling or ventilation}
- F16H 57/0467: {Elements of gearings to be lubricated, cooled or heated}
- F16H 57/0489: {with endless flexible members, e.g. belt CVTs}
- F01N 2260/02: for cooling the device
- F01N 2260/022: using air
- F01N 2560/025: for measuring or detecting O2, e.g. lambda sensors
- F01N 2560/20: Sensor having heating means
- F01N 2590/04: for motorcycles
- F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

Methods, systems, and vehicles that control the temperature of a device included in the vehicle are presented herein. The temperature of the device is controlled by ventilating the device with drivetrain air, such as transmission cooling air. In some embodiments, the device is at a greater temperature than the drivetrain air, which cools the device. In other embodiments, the device is at a lesser temperature than the drivetrain air, which heats the device. The drivetrain air is provided to the device through an exhaust duct coupled to the vehicle's transmission. The drivetrain exhaust air is preferably circulated by the transmission. The transmission may be a continuously variable transmission. The device may be an oxygen sensor that is coupled to an engine exhaust pipe. The oxygen sensor is thermally coupled to the engine exhaust and the engine exhaust pipe, which are at greater temperatures than the transmission exhaust air.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle comprising:
one or more ground engaging members;
an internal combustion engine having a combustion exhaust duct extending therefrom;
an exhaust gas sensor coupled to the exhaust duct;
a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a drive clutch and a driven clutch, the CVT coupling the engine to the one or more ground engaging members, the CVT being housed in a transmission case having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, the CVT configured to draw air into the inlet aperture and output air from the outlet aperture when driven by the engine;
a drivetrain duct that includes an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, the drivetrain duct inlet aperture being coupled to the transmission case outlet aperture and the drivetrain duct outlet aperture being positioned adjacent the exhaust gas sensor such that air expelled from the CVT is directed towards the sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the inlet aperture of the transmission case is disposed closer to the drive clutch than to the driven clutch, the outlet aperture of the transmission case being disposed closer to the driven clutch than to the drive clutch.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, having a forward end and a rearward end and wherein the driven clutch is disposed rearward of the drive clutch and rearward of the engine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a muffler secured to an outlet end of the combustion exhaust duct, wherein the combustion exhaust duct extends rearwardly of the engine to the muffler, the drivetrain duct being spaced below or to the side of the combustion exhaust duct.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the exhaust gas sensor is secured within a wall of the combustion exhaust duct between the engine and the muffler.

### Claim 6

A vehicle comprising:
one or more ground engaging members;
an internal combustion engine having a combustion exhaust duct extending therefrom;
an exhaust gas sensor coupled to the exhaust duct;
a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a drive clutch and a driven clutch, the CVT coupling the engine to the one or more ground engaging members, the CVT being housed in a housing having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, the CVT configured to draw air into the inlet aperture and expel air from the outlet aperture when driven by the engine;
a drivetrain duct that includes an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, the drivetrain duct inlet aperture being coupled to the transmission housing aperture and the drivetrain duct outlet aperture being positioned such that air expelled from the CVT is directed towards the sensor;
wherein the drivetrain duct inlet aperture is larger in cross-section than the drivetrain duct outlet aperture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, the drivetrain duct having a length between the inlet aperture and the outlet aperture, wherein the drivetrain duct inlet aperture is larger in cross-section than at least a portion of the drivetrain duct.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the cross-sectional size of the drivetrain duct outlet aperture is smaller than the drivetrain duct inlet aperture cross-sectional size.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the outlet aperture of the transmission housing directs air in a first direction, while the outlet aperture of the drivetrain duct directs air in a second direction transverse to the first direction, the drivetrain duct having at least one bend.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a mounting bracket coupling the drivetrain duct to a frame of the vehicle.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the drivetrain exhaust duct does not contact the combustion exhaust duct.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the drivetrain exhaust duct is positioned below and to the side of the combustion exhaust duct.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a muffler secured to a downstream end of the exhaust gas duct, wherein the gas sensor is secured to the exhaust gas duct between the engine and the muffler.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the transmission housing inlet aperture is closer to the drive clutch than to the driven clutch.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the transmission housing outlet aperture is closer to the driven clutch than to the drive clutch, and wherein the driven clutch is rearward of the drive clutch and rearward of the engine.