Patent US5207187A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5207187A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Air cooling system for a vertical engine
Assignee: Kubota Corp
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Filing: 1991-10-29
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Granted: 1993-05-04
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Expires: 2011-10-29
Abstract
Abstract An air cooling system for a vertical engine having a cylinder head projecting forwardly of a vehicle. The vehicle also includes a steering box disposed rearwardly of the engine, and a hood extending from the steering box and over the engine. This cooling system includes a cooling fan disposed above the engine; and engine cover enclosing the engine and opening downwardly, the engine cover defining an air suction opening in a region opposed to the cooling fan; an air intake opening defined in the steering box; and a shield for dividing an engine room formed forwardly of the steering box and under the hood into a front chamber for accommodating the cylinder head, and a rear chamber for accommodating the cooling fan. The shield includes a first shield member and second shield members.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuaki Kurohara
- 👤 Nobuyuki Yamashita
- 👤 Masatake Murakawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:27
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P3/00; F01P3/18; B; B60; B60K; B60K11/00; B60K11/06; F01P11/00; F01P11/12; F01P1/00; F01P2001/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S180/00; Y10S180/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In a vehicle having a vertical engine, an air cooling system for the engine, a steering box disposed rearwardly of the engine, and a hood extending from the steering box and over the engine, the engine being mounted on a body frame with a cylinder head projecting forwardly, said air cooling system comprising: a cooling fan disposed above said engine, an air intake opening defined in said steering box, and shield means for dividing an engine room formed forwardly of said steering box and under said hood into a front chamber for accommodating said cylinder head, and a rear chamber for accommodating said cooling fan, said shield means including: a first shield member extending from an upper position of said engine to a lower surface of said hood, and second shield members connected to opposite ends of said first shield member and extending downwardly between side walls of said engine and side surfaces of said hood, respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a vehicle having a vertical engine, an air cooling system for the engine, a steering box disposed rearwardly of the engine, and a hood extending from the steering box and over the engine, the engine being mounted on a body frame with a cylinder head projecting forwardly, said air cooling system comprising: a cooling fan disposed above said engine, an air intake opening defined in said steering box, and shield means for dividing an engine room formed forwardly of said steering box and under said hood into a front chamber for accommodating said cylinder head, and a rear chamber for accommodating said cooling fan, said shield means including: a first shield member extending from an upper position of said engine to a lower surface of said hood, and second shield members connected to opposite ends of said first shield member and extending downwardly between side walls of said engine and side surfaces of said hood, respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An air cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said second shield members includes an inclined segment extending downwardly and rearwardly from said first shield member, and a vertical segment having one end thereof connected to said inclined segment and the other end connected to said body frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An air cooling system as defined in claim 2, wherein said vertical segment is disposed close to a crank shaft of said engine in a side view, thereby forming a sufficiently large air passage between the side wall of the engine and the side surface of said hood lying in said rear chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An air cooling system as defined in claim 3, wherein said rear chamber accommodates a fuel tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said front chamber includes an air exhaust opening defined in a lower forward position thereof, and a muffler mounted in a region of said air exhaust opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An air cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first shield member is fixed to said engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An air cooling system as defined in claim 1, further comprising an elastic seal disposed between said hood and said shield means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a vehicle having a vertical engine, an air cooling system for the engine, a steering box disposed rearwardly of the engine, and a hood extending from the steering box and over the engine, the engine being mounted on a body frame with a cylinder head projecting forwardly, said air cooling system comprising: a cooling fan disposed above said engine, an engine cover enclosing said engine and opening downwardly, said engine cover defining an air suction opening in a region opposed to said cooling fan, an air intake opening defined in said steering box, and shield means for dividing an engine room formed forwardly of said steering box and under said hood into a front chamber for accommodating said cylinder head, and a rear chamber for accommodating said cooling fan, said shield means including: a first shield member extending from an upper surface of said engine cover outside said air suction opening to a lower surface of said hood, and second shield members connected to opposite ends of said first shield member and extending downwardly between side walls of said engine cover and side surfaces of said hood, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
In a vehicle having a vertical engine, an air cooling system for the engine, a steering box disposed rearwardly of the engine, and a hood extending from the steering box and over the engine, the engine being mounted on a body frame with a cylinder head projecting forwardly, said air cooling system comprising: a cooling fan disposed above said engine, an engine cover enclosing said engine and opening downwardly, said engine cover defining an air suction opening in a region opposed to said cooling fan, an air intake opening defined in said steering box, and shield means for dividing an engine room formed forwardly of said steering box and under said hood into a front chamber for accommodating said cylinder head, and a rear chamber for accommodating said cooling fan, said shield means including: a first shield member extending from an upper surface of said engine cover outside said air suction opening to a lower surface of said hood, and second shield members connected to opposite ends of said first shield member and extending downwardly between side walls of said engine cover and side surfaces of said hood, respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An air cooling system as defined in claim 8, wherein gaps in said rear chamber between lower positions of said engine cover and side walls of said engine are closed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-03 | 1996-11-02 | 1997-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-03 | 2000-11-02 | 2001-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-03 | 2004-11-02 | 2005-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |