Front engine tractor having transverse midship mounted heat exchanger

Claim 2

In a tractor vehicle having a steerable front axle supporting the vehicle frame, the improvement comprising: an engine mounted on the frame whereby the center of gravity of said engine is forward of said steerable front axle; a fuel tank carried midships of the vehicle; an engine coolant heat exchanger mounted in the vehicle between said engine and said fuel tank having fluid transfer means allowing fluid communication between said engine and said heat exchanger; an engine driven fan mounted between said engine and said engine coolant heat exchanger whereby a flow of air drawn by said engine driven fan from the fuel tank side of said heat exchanger passes through said engine coolant heat exchanger and past said engine.

Claim 3

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the engine is mounted to said vehicle frame through the use of a plurality of front and rear vibration isolation mounts.

Claim 4

The invention in accordance with claim 2 whereby said engine is provided with a front mounted accessory drive means capable of driving ancillary equipment and said engine is further provided with a rear driving means including a drive shaft accommodating means and a rear mounted accessory drive means capable of driving ancillary equipment including said engine driven fan.

Claim 5

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fuel tank is a multisided tank having lateral arcuate surfaces curving inwardly and forwardly for directing air flow to said engine coolant heat exchanger from sources at right angles to the surface of said engine cooland heat exchanger.

Claim 6

The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said engine coolant heat exchanger is mounted directly to said vehicle engine via a plurality of heat exchanger and fan shroud supports whereby said heat exchanger moves with said engine.

Claim 7

In a tractor vehicle having a frame supported on a steerable front axle the improvement comprising: an engine mounted with its center of gravity forward of said steerable front axle to said vehicle frame through the use of a plurality of front and rear vibration dampening mounts; a front mounted accessory drive means capable of driving a multiplicity of ancillary equipment off the front end of said engine; a rear mounted drive means capable of driving a multiplicity of ancillary equipment off the back end of said engine including a drive shaft and a fan; a fuel tank having a plurality of air directing forward facing surfaces mounted above said tractor frame behind said steerable front axle; a heat exchanger mounted on heat exchanger and fan shroud supports to said vehicle engine ahead of said fuel tank; an engine driven fan mounted between said engine and said engine coolant heat exchanger whereby a flow of air is drawn through said heat exchanger when said fan is driven; a pair of air intake ducts located on a midship section of said vehicle adjacent said fuel tank whereby a quantity of air may be drawn by said fan into said engine coolant heat exchanger.

Claim 8

In a tractor vehicle having a frame supported on a steerable front axle the improvement comprising: an engine mounted with its center of gravity forward of said steerable front axle to said vehicle frame through the use of a plurality of front and rear vibration dampening mounts; a front mounted accessory drive means capable of driving a multiplicity of ancillary equipment off the front end of said engine; a rear mounted drive means capable of driving a multiplicity of ancillary equipment off the back end of said engine including a drive shaft and a fan; a fuel tank having a plurality of air directing forward facing surfaces mounted above said tractor frame behind said steerable front axle; a heat exchanger mounted on heat exchanger and fan shroud supports to said vehicle engine ahead of said fuel tank; an engine driven fan mounted between said engine and said engine coolant heat exchanger whereby a flow of air is drawn through said heat exchanger when said fan is driven; a pair of air intake ducts located on a midship section of said vehicle adjacent said fuel tank whereby a quantity of air may be drawn by said fan into said engine coolant heat exchanger.

Claim 9

The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein said air intake ducts are equipped with a chaff dropout opening in the lower portion of said intake duct and are further provided with a plurality of louvers bridging the opening of said air intake ducts.

Claim 10

The invention in accordance with claim 6 wherein auxially heat exchangers are mounted immediately inboard of said air intake ducts between said fuel tank and said engine coolant heat exchanger.

Claim 11

A two wheel drive tractor vehicle comprising: a chassis including a rear traction axle having rear wheel assemblies, said rear traction axle acting as a rear frame element, a front steerable axle having front wheel assemblies, and a frame supported by said front and rear wheel assemblies; an engine having a center of gravity supported by said frame on the vertical plane of the longitudinal center line of said tractor with said engine's center of gravity above and in front of said front steerable axle; an operator's work zone mounted on said rear traction axle including a firewall at the front of the work zone; a heat exchanger mounted on said frame between said engine and said firewall; a fan mounted between said heat exchanger and said engine and driven by said engine inducing air flow through the heat exchanger and over the engine; a fuel tank mounted midship on the tractor between said firewall and said heat exchanger.

Claim 12

A two wheel drive tractor vehicle comprising: a chassis including a rear traction axle having rear wheel assemblies, said rear traction axle acting as a rear frame element, a front steerable axle having front wheel assemblies, and a frame supported by said front and rear wheel assemblies; an engine having a center of gravity supported by said frame on the vertical plane of the longitudinal center line of said tractor with said engine's center of gravity above and in front of said front steerable axle; an operator's work zone mounted on said rear traction axle including a firewall at the front of the work zone; a heat exchanger mounted on said frame between said engine and said firewall; a fan mounted between said heat exchanger and said engine and driven by said engine inducing air flow through the heat exchanger and over the engine; a fuel tank mounted midship on the tractor between said firewall and said heat exchanger.

Claim 13

A tractor vehicle comprising: a frame structure defining a longitudinal axis and comprising first and second spaced longitudinal frame members extending along opposite sides of said longitudinal axis; four wheel assemblies upon which said frame is suspended comprising a pair of front steerable wheel assemblies and a pair of rear wheel assemblies; an engine supported by said frame having its center of gravity forward of a transversely extending axis of the front steerable wheel assemblies; a fuel tank supported by said frame midship of said tractor vehicle; a heat exchanger supported by said frame between said fuel tank and said engine; a fan mounted between said heat exchanger and said engine, driven by said engine inducing air flow through said heat exchanger towards said engine.

Claim 14

A tractor vehicle comprising: a frame structure defining a longitudinal axis and comprising first and second spaced longitudinal frame members extending along opposite sides of said longitudinal axis; four wheel assemblies upon which said frame is suspended comprising a pair of front steerable wheel assemblies and a pair of rear wheel assemblies; an engine supported by said frame having its center of gravity forward of a transversely extending axis of the front steerable wheel assemblies; a fuel tank supported by said frame midship of said tractor vehicle; a heat exchanger supported by said frame between said fuel tank and said engine; a fan mounted between said heat exchanger and said engine, driven by said engine inducing air flow through said heat exchanger towards said engine.

Claim 15

The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein the tractor vehicle is a two wheel drive tractor where the rear wheel assemblies are used to drive the vehicle and the front steerable wheel assemblies allow steering and support for the tractor vehicle.

Claim 16

The invention in accordance with claim 10 wherein the tractor vehicle is a four wheel drive vehicle where both the front and rear wheel assemblies are used to drive the vehicle.