US5689953A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine
Assignee: Kubota Corp
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Filing: 1996-03-28
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2016-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A cooling system for a vehicle having a radiator disposed above an engine, and a muffler disposed in a region below the engine. This system includes an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to the radiator from outside, an exhaust guide for guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past the radiator, forwardly of the vehicle, a cooling fan for producing air currents flowing from the air intake guide past the radiator to the exhaust guide, and ducts provided for opposite sides of the exhaust guide for guiding part of the cooling air having flowed passed the radiator into a muffler cover enclosing the muffler. The ducts communicate with positions of the muffler cover to blow the cooling air toward connections between exhaust pipes of the engine and the muffler.
Inventors
- 👤 Nobuyuki Yamashita
- 👤 Ryozo Imanishi
- 👤 Masaki Hayashi
- 👤 Kazuaki Kurohara
- 👤 Masatake Murakawa
- 👤 Katsuhiko Uemura
- 👤 Eriya Harada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:11
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P3/00; F01P3/18; B; B60; B60K; B60K11/00; B60K11/02; B60K11/04; B60K11/08; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/02; F01N3/05; F01P11/00; F01P11/14; F01P11/20; B60K13/00; B60K13/04; F01P2060/00; F01P2060/16; F01P5/00; F01P5/02; F01P5/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine mounted as a vertical engine on a vehicle, said improved cooling system comprising: a radiator disposed above said engine; a muffler disposed in a region below said engine; an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to said radiator from outside; an exhaust guide having an exhaust opening for guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator, forwardly of said vehicle; a cooling fan coupled to said engine for producing air currents flowing from said air intake guide past said radiator to said exhaust guide; and guide means provided for at least one side of said exhaust guide opening for guiding part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator to said muffler, and for guiding a remainder of the cooling air forwardly of said vehicle through said exhaust guide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine mounted as a vertical engine on a vehicle, said improved cooling system comprising: a radiator disposed above said engine; a muffler disposed in a region below said engine; an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to said radiator from outside; an exhaust guide having an exhaust opening for guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator, forwardly of said vehicle; a cooling fan coupled to said engine for producing air currents flowing from said air intake guide past said radiator to said exhaust guide; and guide means provided for at least one side of said exhaust guide opening for guiding part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator to said muffler, and for guiding a remainder of the cooling air forwardly of said vehicle through said exhaust guide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a muffler cover substantially covering said muffler, and a plurality of ducts extending between said muffler cover and said exhaust guide opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 2, wherein said ducts open adjacent connections between exhaust pipes of said engine and said muffler.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 2, wherein said muffler includes an exhaust opening and an exhaust pipe connected to each other with a gap therebetween, whereby air in said muffler cover is drawn into the exhaust pipe by ejector action.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said exhaust guide is disposed directly forwardly of said cooling fan, and said guide means includes a pair of spaced ducts arranged in opposite regions transversely of said exhaust guide opening, wherein a quantity of air discharged forwardly through said exhaust guide opening is far larger than a quantity of air transmitted to said muffler through said guide means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 1, wherein said exhaust guide includes a cooling air release directed toward a carburetor of said engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine mounted as a vertical engine on a vehicle, said improved cooling system comprising: a radiator disposed above said engine; a muffler disposed in a region below said engine; an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to said radiator from outside; an exhaust guide for guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator, forwardly of said vehicle, wherein said exhaust guide includes a cooling air release for directing a remaining part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator toward a carburetor of said engine; a cooling fan coupled to said engine for producing air currents flowing from said air intake guide past said radiator to said exhaust guide; and guide means provided for at least one side of said exhaust guide for guiding part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator to said muffler.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine mounted as a vertical engine on a vehicle, said improved cooling system comprising: a radiator disposed above said engine; a muffler disposed in a region below said engine; an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to said radiator from outside; an exhaust guide for guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator, forwardly of said vehicle, wherein said exhaust guide includes a cooling air release for directing a remaining part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator toward a carburetor of said engine; a cooling fan coupled to said engine for producing air currents flowing from said air intake guide past said radiator to said exhaust guide; and guide means provided for at least one side of said exhaust guide for guiding part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator to said muffler.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 7, wherein said exhaust guide is disposed directly forward of said cooling fan, and said guide means includes a pair of spaced ducts arranged on opposite sides of said exhaust guide wherein a quantity of air discharged forwardly through said exhaust guide is far larger than a quantity of air transmitted to said muffler through said guide means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 8, wherein said ducts open adjacent connections between exhaust pipes of said engine and said muffler.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 7, wherein said guide means includes a muffler cover substantially covering said muffler and wherein said muffler includes an exhaust opening and an exhaust pipe connected to each other with a gap therebetween, whereby air in said muffler cover is drawn into the exhaust pipe by ejector action.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine mounted as a vertical engine on a vehicle, said improved cooling system comprising: a radiator disposed above said engine; a muffler disposed in a region below said engine; an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to said radiator from outside; an exhaust guide having an exhaust opening for guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator, forwardly of said vehicle to said exhaust opening; a cooling fan coupled to said engine for producing air currents flowing from said air intake guide past said radiator to said exhaust guide; and a pair of guide ducts spaced from each other provided on opposite sides of said exhaust opening, each said guide duct guiding part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator through said exhaust opening to said muffler, wherein said guide ducts are spaced from each other along said exhaust opening such that part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator exhausts forwardly of said vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine mounted as a vertical engine on a vehicle, said improved cooling system comprising: a radiator disposed above said engine; a muffler disposed in a region below said engine; an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to said radiator from outside; an exhaust guide having an exhaust opening for guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator, forwardly of said vehicle to said exhaust opening; a cooling fan coupled to said engine for producing air currents flowing from said air intake guide past said radiator to said exhaust guide; and a pair of guide ducts spaced from each other provided on opposite sides of said exhaust opening, each said guide duct guiding part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator through said exhaust opening to said muffler, wherein said guide ducts are spaced from each other along said exhaust opening such that part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator exhausts forwardly of said vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 11, further including a muffler cover substantially covering said muffler, wherein said pair of guide ducts extend between said muffler cover and said exhaust opening of said exhaust guide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 12, wherein said ducts open adjacent connections between the exhaust pipes of said engine and said muffler.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 12, wherein said muffler includes an exhaust opening and an exhaust pipe connected to each other with a gap therebetween, whereby air in said muffler cover is drawn into the exhaust pipe by ejector action.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 11, wherein said exhaust guide includes a cooling air release directed toward a carburetor of said engine for directing part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator toward said carburetor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine mounted as a vertical engine on a vehicle, said improved cooling system comprising: a radiator disposed above said engine; a muffler disposed in a region below said engine, said muffler being substantially covered by a muffler cover; an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to said radiator from outside; a cooling fan operable by a drive from said engine for producing air currents flowing from said air intake guide past said radiator to said exhaust guide; an exhaust guide disposed forwardly of said cooling fan in a running direction of the vehicle, said exhaust guide guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator and exhausting it through an exhaust opening; and at least one duct extending downward for guiding part of the cooling air toward said muffler after the cooling air has flowed past said radiator, said duct having an inlet opened to said exhaust opening in a region adjacent to a lateral side of said exhaust opening, and an outlet opened to said muffler cover.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a cooling system for a liquid-cooled engine mounted as a vertical engine on a vehicle, said improved cooling system comprising: a radiator disposed above said engine; a muffler disposed in a region below said engine, said muffler being substantially covered by a muffler cover; an air intake guide for guiding cooling air to said radiator from outside; a cooling fan operable by a drive from said engine for producing air currents flowing from said air intake guide past said radiator to said exhaust guide; an exhaust guide disposed forwardly of said cooling fan in a running direction of the vehicle, said exhaust guide guiding a large part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator and exhausting it through an exhaust opening; and at least one duct extending downward for guiding part of the cooling air toward said muffler after the cooling air has flowed past said radiator, said duct having an inlet opened to said exhaust opening in a region adjacent to a lateral side of said exhaust opening, and an outlet opened to said muffler cover.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 16, wherein said outlet of said duct faces a connection between an exhaust pipe of said engine and said muffler.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 16, wherein said muffler includes an exhaust opening and an exhaust pipe connected to each other with a gap therebetween, whereby air in said muffler cover is drawn into the exhaust pipe by ejector action.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 16, wherein a quantity of air discharged forwardly through said exhaust guide is far greater than a quantity of air transmitted to said muffler through said duct.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 16, wherein said exhaust guide includes a cooling air release directed toward a carburetor of said engine for directing part of the cooling air having flowed past said radiator toward said carburetor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |