Hood with integral air duct
AssigneeDeere & Company, a Delaware corporation
InventorsJeffrey Witwer, Stanley Hall, Jennifer Jaramillo, Roger Tesch, John Bocksnick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hood covers an internal combustion engine on the rear of a grass mowing machine. The hood has a top surface with a plurality of air intake openings recessed below the top surface, and an integral air duct. The integral air duct extends over the engine between the air intake openings and an air inlet side of the radiator and/or oil cooler adjacent the rear of the grass mowing machine. The air intake openings closest to the air inlet side of the radiator and/or oil cooler are dimensioned to limit the air intake velocity and prevent buildup of debris on screens or grilles over the openings.
Claims21
An apparatus comprising:
- a hood covering an internal combustion engine having a radiator with an air inlet side and a fan to draw air through the radiator;
- the hood having a top surface with a first end and a second end, the first end positioned closer to the radiator and fan than the second end;
- a plurality of exterior air intake openings in the top surface of the hood, the exterior air intake openings decreasing in size between the second end and the first end;
- and
- screens over the air intake openings.
A hood hinged to the rear of a grass mowing machine, comprising:
- a rotational molded plastic shell having a top surface, left and right side surfaces, and first and second ends, the first end adjacent the rear of the grass mowing machine, and an integral air duct below the top surface;
- and
- a plurality of air intake openings in the top surface and opening into the integral air duct;
- each of the air intake openings decreasing in area from the second end to the first end.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plastic hood covering an internal combustion engine having a radiator with an air inlet side facing the rear of a grass mowing machine;
- the plastic hood having a top surface with a plurality of air intake openings recessed below the top surface;
- an air duct integral with the plastic hood and extending over the engine between the air intake openings and the air inlet side of the radiator;
- wherein the air intake openings closest to the air inlet side of the radiator are dimensioned to limit the air intake velocity therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.