Machine status interlock for reversing fan control
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsBrad Beck, Hong-Chin Lin, Joel Christian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The air circulation fan associated with a radiator of some machines may include an automatic reversing purge cycle that is utilized to dislodge material from the radiator and/or intake screen of the cooling system housing. The purge cycle is locked out when a person may be in the vicinity of the air intake screen of the machine. A controller determines that a person may be in the vicinity of the air intake screen when the machine is idle stationary, such as by determining that a parking brake is engaged. By locking out the purge cycle during machine idle stationary conditions, the risk of blowing dislodged dirt and/or debris onto a person, who may be servicing the machine or accessing an operator station, can be avoided.
Claims20
A machine comprising:
- a chassis;
- an air circulation system supported on the chassis and including a fan operably positioned between an air intake screen and an outlet opening of a housing;
- the fan having a first operation configuration operable to move air from the air intake screen and then out of the housing through the outlet opening, and a second operation configuration operable to move air through the air intake screen in a direction opposite to the first operation configuration;
- and
- a controller in control communication with the fan and configured to operate the fan in one of the first operation configuration and second operation configuration, and being configured to lockout the second operation configuration when the machine is idle stationary.
A method of operating an air circulation system of a machine with a fan operably positioned between an air intake screen and an outlet opening of a housing, comprising:
- operating the fan in a first operation configuration that moves air from the air intake screen and then out of the housing through the outlet opening;
- removing debris from the air intake screen by operating the fan in a second operation configuration that moves air through the air intake screen in a direction opposite to the first operation configuration;
- and
- locking out the second operation configuration when the machine is idle stationary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.