# US 10,371,039 B2 · Power systems and enclosures having improved cooling air flow > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,039 B2 - Document ID: US10371039B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/480,955 - Filed: 2017-04-06 - Published: 2017-11-02 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-29 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Nathan Joe Jochman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371039B2 ## CPC - F01P 1/06: Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts - B23K 9/32: Accessories - F01N 13/007: {Apparatus used as intake or exhaust silencer} - F01P 1/02: Arrangements for cooling cylinders or cylinder heads, e.g. ducting cooling-air from its pressure source to cylinders or along cylinders - F02B 63/04: for electric generators - F02B 63/044: {the engine-generator unit being placed on a frame or in an housing} - F02B 63/06: for pumps - F02B 67/06: driven by means of chains, belts, or like endless members - F02M 35/10268: {Heating, cooling or thermal insulating means (air coolers F02B29/04; thermal treatment of combustion-air, fuel or fuel-air mixture F02M31/00; details of the throttle valve housing F02D9/1035)} - F04C 18/16: with helical teeth, e.g. chevron-shaped, screw type {(for non-parallel axes of movement F04C18/48)} - F04C 29/005: {Means for transmitting movement from the prime mover to driven parts of the pump, e.g. clutches, couplings, transmissions} - H02K 7/1004: {with pulleys} - H02K 7/108: with friction clutches - H02K 7/1815: {structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines (general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04)} - B23K 9/1006: {Power supply} - F04C 2240/60: Shafts - F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - 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) - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract Power systems and enclosures having improved cooling air flow are disclosed. An example power system includes an enclosure; an air inlet location at a first location on an exterior of the enclosure to permit intake of air from the exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the enclosure; an air exhaust location at a second location on the exterior of the enclosure to exhaust the air taken in through the air inlet location; and an air routing path defined by the enclosure to direct the air from the air inlet location to the air exhaust location, in order: through one or more first compartments in the enclosure, the one or more first compartments containing at least one of a compressor, a generator, or power conversion circuitry; and through one or more second compartments, the one or more second compartments comprising an engine and a muffler. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power system having improved airflow, the power system comprising: an enclosure; an air inlet location at a first location on an exterior of the enclosure to permit intake of air from the exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the enclosure; an air exhaust location at a second location on the exterior of the enclosure to exhaust the air taken in through the air inlet location; and an air routing path defined by the enclosure to direct the air from the air inlet location to the air exhaust location, in order: through one or more first compartments in the enclosure, the one or more first compartments containing a generator; and through one or more second compartments, the one or more second compartments comprising an engine and a muffler; and an engine fan configured to urge the air to create a higher pressure in the one or more second compartments than in the one or more first compartments. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the first location is on a side of the enclosure and the second location is at a top of the enclosure when the power system is installed in a predetermined orientation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the power system is configured to provide adequate air flow with zero installation clearance on sides of the enclosure that do not include the air inlet location or the air exhaust location. ### Claim 4 A power system having improved airflow, the power system comprising: an enclosure; an air inlet location at a first location on an exterior of the enclosure to permit intake of air from the exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the enclosure; an air exhaust location at a second location on the exterior of the enclosure to exhaust the air taken in through the air inlet location; and an air routing path defined by the enclosure to direct the air from the air inlet location to the air exhaust location, in order: through one or more first compartments in the enclosure, the one or more first compartments containing at least one of a compressor, a generator, or power conversion circuitry; and through one or more second compartments, the one or more second compartments comprising an engine and a muffler, wherein the enclosure does not include any other air inlet locations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the air routing path is to route the air to cool at least one of a compressor, power conversion circuitry, the generator, the engine, or the muffler. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the air routing path is further to route the air to an air intake of the engine, the engine to use at least a portion of the air in the air routing path for combustion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power system as defined in claim 6, wherein the engine is arranged in the enclosure to have the air intake of the engine near a second side of the enclosure that is opposite the side of the enclosure having the air inlet location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The power system as defined in claim 7, wherein the air routing path is configured to route the air the length of the enclosure from the air inlet location to the air intake of the engine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises: a separation barrier between the one or more first compartments and the one or more second compartments; and a fan to urge air from the one or more first compartments to the one or more second compartments around the separation barrier. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more first compartments further contain a compressor configured to extract air from the air routing path and to pressurize the air, the engine configured to provide power to the compressor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the air routing path is configured to direct the air to cool multiple components within the enclosure, the multiple components comprising the engine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the engine fan is configured to pull the air from the air inlet location through the one or more first compartments and to push the air through the engine and to the air exhaust location through the one or more second compartments. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is configured to provide service access to the interior of the enclosure to provide access to serviceable components of the power system from one side of the enclosure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The power system as defined in claim 13, wherein the serviceable components comprise a compressor and the engine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the air routing path includes a volume underneath the engine mounted in the enclosure. ### Claim 16 A power system having improved airflow, the power system comprising: an enclosure; an air inlet location at a first location on an exterior of the enclosure to permit intake of air from the exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the enclosure; an air exhaust location at a second location on the exterior of the enclosure to exhaust the air taken in through the air inlet location; and an air routing path defined by the enclosure to direct the air from the air inlet location to the air exhaust location, in order: through one or more first compartments in the enclosure, the one or more first compartments containing at least one of a compressor, a generator, or power conversion circuitry; and through one or more second compartments, the one or more second compartments comprising an engine and a muffler, wherein the air routing path includes a volume underneath the engine mounted in the enclosure and the one or more first compartments include at least a first portion of the volume. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The power system as defined in claim 16, wherein a second portion of the volume directs air from the one or more first compartments to the one or more second compartments in the air routing path. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more first compartments further contain a compressor elevated above a centerline of the generator, and power conversion circuitry located underneath the compressor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the air routing path travels through or around, in order: the one or more first compartments in the enclosure including a compressor, power conversion circuitry, and the generator; underneath the engine; at least one of through or around the engine; past the muffler; and out the top of the enclosure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, wherein the generator is configured to pass at least a portion of the air from the one or more first compartments to the one or more second compartments through the generator to cool the generator. ### Claim 21 A power system having improved airflow, the power system comprising: an enclosure; an air inlet location at a first location on an exterior of the enclosure to permit intake of air from the exterior of the enclosure to an interior of the enclosure; an air exhaust location at a second location on the exterior of the enclosure to exhaust the air taken in through the air inlet location; and an air routing path defined by the enclosure to direct the air from the air inlet location to the air exhaust location, in order: through one or more first compartments in the enclosure, the one or more first compartments containing at least one of a compressor, a generator, or power conversion circuitry; and through one or more second compartments, the one or more second compartments comprising an engine and a muffler, wherein the air routing path reverses a direction of travel along at least one axis between the one or more first compartments and the one or more second compartments. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The power system as defined in claim 1, further comprising one or more brackets or braces to support the engine and the generator within the enclosure and to define at least a portion of the air routing path.