AIR INTAKE ARRANGEMENTS

This invention relates to air intake arrangements and in particular to such

arrangements for use under tractor engine hoods.

The engine compartments of tractors are becoming progressively more crowded and space is at a premium. There are many bulky components which have to be housed beneath the engine hood in particular the engine air intake member and associated filters. The problem of a crowded engine compartment is compounded by the additional requirement to have the upper surface of the hood as low as possible to improve forward visibility for the tractor.

Thus according to the present invention there is provided an air intake arrangement for a tractor engine hood comprising an air intake member with an air intake opening through which air is drawn into the engine, the intake member having an upper surface portion arranged to project through an aperture formed in the upper surface of the hood so that with the hood in its closed position the upper surface portion of the intake member forms a continuation of the upper surface of the hood.

In one configuration, the upper surface of the intake member may form a closed wall for air guidance. In an alternate configuration, the upper surface may include the air intake opening.

The upper surface portion of the intake member may be provided with a surrounding sealing portion onto which the hood closes when the hood is in its closed position.

The portion of the hood surrounding the aperture in the hood may also be shaped to co-operate with the sealing portion of the intake member when the hood is in its closed position.

The air intake member may be located above a tractor cooling package and draw the air into the engine between the underside of the hood and the cooling package. An outlet of the air intake member is conveniently connected with an engine air filter arrangement.

The air filter arrangement may be conveniently located above the engine between the engine and the hood.

The air intake member may have two outlets connected with separate filters located one on each side of the engine.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a section through a tractor engine compartment provided with a first configuration of air intake arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an external view of a tractor with its engine compartment partly in section showing the air intake arrangement of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an external view of a tractor provided with the air intake arrangement of Figure 1 with the engine compartment hood in a raised position;

Figure 4 shows an air intake arrangement in accordance with the present invention fitted with air filters on respective sides of the engine;

Figure 5 shows the sealing arrangement between the hood and the air intake arrangement on a larger scale; and

Figure 6 shows a further configuration of an air intake arrangement in accordance with the present invention. Referring to the drawings, a tractor engine compartment 10 houses an engine 11 provided with a cooling fan 12 driven from the engine which draws cooling air through a cooling package 13 which includes a radiator 1 , a charge air cooler 15, a condenser 16, and an oil cooler 17 as shown by arrows X.

Above the engine 11 is a pivoting engine compartment hood 18 which includes an aperture 19 through which an upper surface 20 of an engine air intake box 21 extends. The intake box 21 has an air intake opening 22 and an outlet 23 connected with an air filter 24 through which air is drawn by the engine 11 as indicated by arrow Y. Although shown in the Figures as positioned above the cooling fan 12, it will readily be appreciated that the air intake box 21 may be located at any convenient position below the compartment hood 18 (for example toward the vehicle cab), with the corresponding aperture 19 positioned accordingly.

With the hood in its closed position, see Figures 1 and 2, the upper surface 20 of the air box 21 forms a continuation of the upper surface 25 of the hood and the aperture 19 in the hood is closed off. In this way, the upper surface 20 forms a closed wall for air guidance. The portion 26 of the hood 18 surrounding the aperture 19 cooperates with a sealing portion 27 of the intake box 21 which surrounds the upper surface portion 20 of the intake box to seal the aperture. One or both of the portion 26 of the hood and the sealing portion 27 of the air box may be provided with rubber or similar seals 27a (see Figure 5).

Figure 3 shows the hood 18 in the open position when the aperture 19 is more clearly visible.

Figure 4 shows an arrangement in which the air intake member may have two outlets 23 connected with separate air filters 24 located one on each side of the engine 11

The present invention thus provides an air intake arrangement which takes up the minimum amount of space below the engine compartment hood 18 by having the upper surface 20 of the air intake member 21 projecting through an aperture19 in the hood to form a continuation of the upper surface 25 of the hood, it also allows a low hood height to be achieved which improves forward visibility on the tractor.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the same reference numerals are used to identify the same features. In this configuration, it is the upper surface portion 20 of the intake box 21 which includes the opening 22 through which air is drawn into the engine (indicated by arrow Y). The opening 22 is covered by a grid 28, which may be a separate component or may be formed by an arrangement of perforations in the upper surface portion 20. With the hood 18 in its closed position, the opening 22 covered by the grid 28 forms a continuation of the upper surface 25 of the hood and the aperture 19 in the hood is closed off. Compared to the embodiments of Figures 1 to 5, the front end of the intake box 21 is closed off and the upper surface forms the air intake. The sealing arrangement (portions 26, 27 and seals 27a) is as for Figures 1 to 5.

In order to minimise the effects of water, dirt or dust being drawn in to the air filter 24, the intake box 21 is provided with a water/dirt/dust vent or drain pipe 30 at its lowest point. Whilst only shown in Figure 6 it will be understood that such a vent or drain 30 may also be applied to the take box configuration of Figures 1 to 5.