Fan nozzle for a work machine
AssigneeGreat Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorJason Carlson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compact work machine, such as a compact track loader and/or a compact utility loader, which can carry and operate a wide range of attachments while maintaining a reduced operating footprint. The work machine may include a cooling system for an engine of the work machine. The cooling system comprises a base frame configured to be mounted to the engine, a nozzle frame coupled with the base frame, and a fan positioned within a fan-receiving space located between the base frame and the nozzle frame. The cooling system presents a convergent nozzle surface surrounding the fan-receiving space.
Claims18
A cooling system for an engine of a work machine, said cooling system comprising:
- a base frame configured to be mounted to the engine;
- a nozzle frame coupled with said base frame;
- and
- a fan positioned within a fan-receiving space located between said base frame and said nozzle frame,
- wherein said cooling system presents a convergent nozzle surface surrounding the fan-receiving space,
- wherein said nozzle frame comprises a circular-shaped grating,
- wherein said nozzle frame additionally comprises a radially-extending flanged surface at a perimeter of said nozzle frame, wherein said base frame comprises a radially-extending flanged surface at a perimeter of said base frame, and wherein said nozzle frame is mounted to said base frame by attaching the radially-extending flanged surface of said nozzle frame to the radially-extending flanged surface of said base frame.
A work machine comprising:
- an engine configured to power components of said work machine;
- a cooling system configured to cool said engine, wherein said cooling system comprises—
- a base frame configured to be mounted to said engine;
- a nozzle frame coupled with said base frame;
- and
- a fan positioned within a fan-receiving space located between said base frame and said nozzle frame,
- wherein said cooling system presents a convergent nozzle surface surrounding the fan-receiving space,
- wherein said cooling system further includes a radiator and a ring gasket, wherein said ring gasket is compressed between said nozzle frame and said radiator,
- wherein said radiator is secured to a door of the work machine, such that said radiator is configured to rotate with the door with respect to the engine of the work machine.
A method of cooling an engine of a work machine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a cooling system comprising a base frame mounted to the engine, a nozzle frame coupled with the base frame, and a fan positioned within a fan-receiving space located between the base frame and the nozzle frame, wherein the nozzle frame comprises a circular-shaped grating, wherein the nozzle frame additionally comprises a radially-extending flanged surface at a perimeter of said nozzle frame, wherein the base frame comprises a radially-extending flanged surface at a perimeter of the base frame, and wherein the nozzle frame is mounted to the base frame by attaching the radially-extending flanged surface of the nozzle frame to the radially-extending flanged surface of the base frame;
- (b) forcing air, via the fan, across the engine and through the base frame and the nozzle frame, wherein during said forcing step (b), the air flows through a convergent nozzle surface surrounding the fan-receiving space;
- and
- (c) forcing air, via the fan, from the base frame and the nozzle frame into a radiator of the work machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.