Air-cooled enclosure for an engine

Claim 2

An air-cooled enclosure system comprising; a frame; an engine supportably mounted on said frame having an exhaust pipe thereon; an engine heat exchanger through which a liquid circulates; outer wall means supported by said frame for generally containing said engine and said heat exchanger; internal wall means providing a substantially enclosed engine compartment within said outer wall means having air inlet means and air outlet means relatively remotely spaced from said air inlet means, said air outlet means disposed in operative association with said engine exhaust pipe; ejector means utilizing the flow of gases from said engine exhaust pipe for creating a relatively low pressure within said air outlet means from said engine compartment to draw ambient cooling air through said air inlet means into said engine compartment around saiD engine and out of said air outlet means; and a relatively open separate engine heat exchanger compartment within said outer wall means being separated from said engine compartment by said internal wall means and providing separate air inlet passage means and separate air outlet passage means for permitting the independent circulation of ambient cooling air into said separate air inlet passage means through said heat exchanger and out of said separate air outlet passage means with a minimum of noise transmission and optimum engine cooling effectiveness.

Claim 3

The air-cooled enclosure of claim 1 wherein said ejector means includes a generally tubular stack extending from said engine compartment in aligned relation with said air outlet means and said engine exhaust pipe extends partially concentrically into said tubular stack.

Claim 4

The air-cooled enclosure of claim 2 wherein said engine exhaust pipe has a constricted throat portion providing a venturi effect, and said engine includes engine air cleaner means with conduit means communicating with said throat portion effective to draw dust from said air cleaner means through said conduit means and eject it centrally outwardly of said exhaust pipe with the engine exhaust gases.

Claim 5

The air-cooled enclosure of claim 2 wherein said exhaust pipe has a nozzle on the extremity thereof in order to increase the velocity of the exhaust gases emanating therefrom for more effective operation of said ejector means.

Claim 6

The air-cooled enclosure of claim 2 wherein said tubular stack includes a converging entrance and said engine exhaust pipe terminates thereat in order to increase the flow of air through said engine compartment.

Claim 7

An air-cooled enclosure system for a vehicle comprising; a vehicle frame; an engine supported by said frame and having an engine exhaust pipe extended therefrom; an engine heat exchanger supported by said frame in relatively widely spaced relation to said engine; a powered fan supported by said frame adjacent said heat exchanger; an enclosure mounted on said frame in generally encircling relation to said engine and said heat exchanger; an operator station generally disposed above said enclosure; upright wall means dividing said enclosure into a substantially enclosed engine compartment having an air inlet and air outlet therethrough, and a relatively open separate engine heat exchanger and fan compartment having separate air inlet passage means and a separate air outlet passage, said powered fan drawing ambient cooling air through said separate air inlet passage means and forwardly and inwardly through said heat exchanger and out said separate air outlet passage away from said operator station thereby minimizing the noise and heat experienced at the operator station; and ejector means utilizing the flow of engine exhaust gases from said engine exhaust pipe for creating a relatively low pressure within said air outlet in order to independently draw ambient cooling air through said air inlet into said engine compartment and out said air outlet with optimum engine cooling effectiveness and a minimum of noise transmission.

Claim 8

An air-cooled enclosure system for a vehicle comprising; a vehicle frame; an engine supported by said frame and having an engine exhaust pipe extended therefrom; an engine heat exchanger supported by said frame in relatively widely spaced relation to said engine; a powered fan supported by said frame adjacent said heat exchanger; an enclosure mounted on said frame in generally encircling relation to said engine and said heat exchanger; an operator station generally disposed above said enclosure; upright wall means dividing said enclosure into a substantially enclosed engine compartment having an air inlet and air outlet therethrough, and a relatively open separate engine heat exchanger and fan compartment having separate air inlet passage means and a separate air outlet passage, said powered fan drawing ambient cooling air through said separate air inlet passage means and forwardly and inwardly through said heat exchanger and out said separate air outlet passage away from said operator station thereby minimizing the noise and heat experienced at the operator station; and ejector means utilizing the flow of engine exhaust gases from said engine exhaust pipe for creating a relatively low pressure within said air outlet in order to independently draw ambient cooling air through said air inlet into said engine compartment and out said air outlet with optimum engine cooling effectiveness and a minimum of noise transmission.

Claim 9

The air-cooled enclosure of claim 6 wherein said air inlet is rearwardly disposed on said vehicle in relatively remotely spaced relation to said air outlet, said ejector means drawing ambient cooling air substantially through the length of said engine compartment from said air inlet to said air outlet, and said operator station being disposed on the enclosure so that the cooling air passes beneath said operator station for surface cooling thereof.

Claim 10

The air-cooled enclosure of claim 7 wherein said vehicle is a track-type tractor having a predetermined forward portion supporting said separate engine heat exchanger and fan compartment, and said separate engine heat exchanger and fan compartment includes a second heat exchanger to provide a pair of heat exchangers respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of said powered Fan and serving to muffle noise emanating from said fan.