Description

HEAT EXCHANGER ENCLOSURE HAVING ACCESS PANELS

Technical Field

The present disclosure is directed to a heat exchanger enclosure and, more particularly, to a heat exchanger enclosure having access panels.

Background

Machines having a power source, such as an internal combustion engine, may also include a cooling system to cool fluids directed into or out of the power source. For example, a machine power source may be fluidly connected to one or more liquid-to-air or air-to air heat exchangers to cool liquids circulated throughout the power source, or air directed into the power source. These heat exchangers may be located close together and/or close to the power source within a single enclosure to conserve space on the machine. In some situations, it may be necessary to clean debris from between the heat exchangers and/or between the heat exchangers and the power source. In addition, it may be necessary to service internal components such as, for example, hose clamps. However, the design of conventional enclosures prevent easy access to the space between the cores.

One method of providing service access to the heat exchanger area is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. US2006/0289143 (the publication) by Tallon on 28 December 2006. The publication describes an internal combustion engine provided with a liquid-to-air radiator that is coupled to a plurality of air- to-air radiators. The air-to-air radiators are fixedly and pivotally connected to the liquid-to-air radiator by way of a plurality of mounting fasteners. To access the space between the air-to-air heat exchangers and the liquid-to-air heat exchanger,

the fasteners are removed, and each air-to-air heat exchanger is pivoted away from the liquid-to-air heat exchanger.

Although the system of the publication may improve service access to the heat exchanger area, the access provided may be limited. In particular, even though the heat exchangers of the publication are secured together by removable fasteners, the fasteners are located within the enclosure. In order to access the fasteners, the entire enclosure assembly may need to be removed from the machine. Removing the entire enclosure may be time consuming and costly. The disclosed cooling system is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

Summary

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed toward a cooling system including one or more heat exchangers and an exchanger enclosure. The enclosure includes one or more access openings and is configured to enclose the one or more heat exchangers. In addition, the one or more access openings are located to provide access to the one or more heat exchangers through one or more walls of the exchanger enclosure. The cooling system also includes one or more access covers, wherein each of the one or more access covers is associated with and configured to at least substantially cover only one of the one or more access openings.

Consistent with a further aspect of the disclosure, a cooling system is provided including one or more heat exchangers and an exchanger enclosure. The enclosure includes one or more access openings and is configured to enclose the one or more heat exchangers. In addition, the one or more access openings are located to provide access to the one or more heat exchangers through one or more walls of the exchanger enclosure. The cooling system also includes one or more access covers, wherein each of the one or more access covers is associated with and configured to at least substantially cover only one of the one or more

access openings. Furthermore, each of the one or more access covers includes a sealing element. The sealing element is configured to at least substantially prevent air from flowing through the associated one of the one or more access openings when in a closed position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a machine having an exemplary disclosed cooling system;

Fig. 2 is a pictorial illustration of an exemplary disclosed heat exchanger arrangement for the cooling system of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is another pictorial illustration of the exemplary disclosed heat exchanger arrangement of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a front- view illustration of an exemplary access panel cover;

Fig. 5 is a side-view illustration of an exemplary exchanger enclosure; and

Fig. 6 is a side-view illustration of another exemplary exchanger enclosure.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 illustrates a machine 10 having an engine 12. Machine 10 may perform some type of operation associated with an industry such as mining, construction, farming, power generation, or any other industry known in the art. For example, machine 10 may embody an earth moving machine such as a dozer, a loader, a backhoe, an excavator, a motor grader, a dump truck, or any other suitable earth moving machine. Machine 10 may alternatively embody a generator set, a pump, or another operation-performing machine.

Engine 12 may include multiple components that cooperate to produce a power output. In particular, engine 12 may include an engine block 14 that defines a plurality of cylinders 16, a piston 18 slidably disposed within each

cylinder 16, and a cylinder head 20 associated with each cylinder 16. It is contemplated that engine 12 may include additional or different components such as, for example, a valve mechanism associated with cylinder head 20, one or more fuel injectors, and other components known in the art. For the purposes of this disclosure, engine 12 is depicted and described as a four-stroke diesel engine. One skilled in the art will recognize, however, that engine 12 may be any other type of internal combustion engine such as, for example, a gasoline or a gaseous fuel-powered engine.

Cylinder 16, piston 18, and cylinder head 20 may form a combustion chamber 22. Although the exemplary engine 12 illustrated in Fig. 1 includes four combustion chambers 22, it is contemplated that engine 12 may include a greater or lesser number of combustion chambers 22 and that combustion chambers 22 may be disposed in an "in-line" configuration, a "V" configuration, or any other suitable configuration. As also shown in Fig. 1, engine 12 may include one or more systems that facilitate production of the power output. In particular, engine 12 may include an air induction system 24 and a cooling system 26. It is contemplated that engine 12 may include additional systems such as, for example, a fuel system, a lubrication system, a transmission system, a control system, and other such engine systems that are known in the art.

Air induction system 24 may introduce charged air into combustion chambers 22 of engine 12 and may include one or more compressors 28 (only one illustrated in Fig. 1) in fluid communication with one or more inlet ports 30 of cylinder head 20. It is contemplated that additional and/or different components may be included within air induction system 24 such as, for example, one or more air cleaners, one or more waste gates, a control system, and other means known in the art for introducing charged air into combustion chambers 22.

Compressors 28 may be configured to compress the air flowing into engine 12 to a predetermined pressure level. Compressors 28 may be disposed in a parallel relationship and fluidly connected to inlet ports 30 via a first fluid conduit 32 and a second fluid conduit 34. Each of compressors 28 may embody a fixed geometry compressor, a variable geometry compressor, or any other type of compressor known in the art. It is contemplated that compressors 28 may alternatively be disposed in a series relationship or that air induction system 24 may include only a single compressor 28. It is further contemplated that compressors 28 may be omitted, when a non-pressurized air induction system is desired.

Cooling system 26 may include components that collaborate to cool fluids directed through engine 12. For example, cooling system 26 may include a liquid-to-air heat exchanger 36 configured to cool a heat transferring liquid circulated throughout engine 12, one or more air-to-air heat exchangers 38 (only one illustrated in Fig. 1) configured to cool the compressed air from compressors 28 before the air enters combustion chambers 22, a fan 40 configured to generate a flow of air across the heat exchangers, and an enclosure 42 configured to support and enclose heat exchangers 36 and 38 and fan 40. It is contemplated that cooling system 26 may include additional and/or different components such as, for example, an oil cooler, an exhaust cooler, one or more valve mechanisms, one or more flow meters, and other cooling system components known in the art.

Liquid-to-air heat exchanger 36 may facilitate the transfer of heat to or from a heat transferring liquid circulated throughout engine 12. For example, liquid-to-air heat exchanger 36 may include a tube and shell type heat exchanger, a plate type heat exchanger, or any other type of heat exchanger known in the art. Liquid-to-air heat exchanger 36 may be connected to engine 12 via a supply conduit (not shown) and a return conduit (not shown). It is contemplated that liquid-to-air heat exchanger 36 may function as the main

radiator of engine 12 dedicated to conditioning only the heat- transferring liquid supplied to engine block 14 or, alternatively, the engine oil cooler, the transmission oil cooler, the brake oil cooler, or any other cooling component of engine 12. The heat-transferring medium may be a low-pressure fluid.

Exemplary low-pressures fluids may include, for example, water, glycol, a water- glycol mixture, a blended air mixture, a power source oil such as transmission oil, engine oil, brake oil, or diesel fuel, or any other low-pressure fluid known in the art for transferring heat. Air-to-air heat exchanger 38 may facilitate the transfer of heat to or from the air compressed by compressors 28, prior to the compressed air entering combustion chambers 22. For example, each air-to-air heat exchanger 38 may include a tube and shell type heat exchanger, a plate type heat exchanger, or any other type of heat exchanger known in the art. Air-to-air heat exchanger 38 may be fluidly connected to engine 12 via first and second fluid conduits 32, 34.

Fan 40 may be disposed proximal to liquid-to-air heat exchanger 36 and configured to produce a flow of air across liquid-to-air heat exchanger 36 and air-to-air heat exchanger 38 for heat transfer. It is contemplated that fan 40 may be omitted if desired, and a secondary fluid circuit (not shown) connected to liquid-to-air heat exchanger 36 to transfer heat to or from the heat transferring liquid for liquid-to-air heat transfer.

As is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 enclosure 42 may support and enclose heat exchangers 36, 38 and fan 40. Heat exchangers 36, 38 and fan 40 may be removably or permanently secured to enclosure 42 in any number of ways such as, for example, screws, bolts, welds, or any other securing device or method. In addition, enclosure 42 may be manufactured from any type of metal, composite, or other material capable of supporting heat exchangers 36, 38 and fan 40 and durable enough to withstand the operating conditions of machine 10.

Enclosure 42 may include sides 44 having access areas 46. Although Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate side 44 having two access areas 46, it should be understood that side 44 may include as many access areas 46 as desired. Furthermore, although Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate only one side 44 having access areas 46, any side 44 may include one or more access areas 46, as desired. Access areas 46 may provide access to heat exchangers 36, 38 and/or fan 40 through side 44. Each access area 46 may include an opening 48 at least substantially covered by an associated cover 50. It is contemplated that each opening 48 may be manufactured to a minimal size permitting access for maintenance tools or any other object or device that may be needed to maintain and/or repair heat exchangers 36, 38 and fan 40. It is further contemplated that openings 48 may be any shape capable of providing access to heat exchangers 36, 38, and 40.

Cover 50 may prevent air and debris from flowing through the associated opening 48 when the cooling system is not being repaired or maintained. If air and debris were permitted to flow through opening 48, the cooling capacity of heat exchangers 36 and 38 might be reduced. Cover 50 may be secured to wall 44 in any number of ways. For example, cover 50 may be secured to wall 44 by fasteners 52. Fasteners 52 may be any device that may removably secure cover 50 to wall 44 such as, for example, bolts, screws, and clips. In addition, cover 50 may be pivotally secured to wall 44 via a hinge 54 or other pivoting device. In embodiments using hinge 54, cover 50 may still be secured to wall 44 via fasteners 52 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. However, if hinge 54 is configured to bias cover 50 toward a closed position, fasteners 52 may be omitted, if desired.

Cover 50 may be any size and shape so that outer edges 56 of cover 50 may overlap inner edges 58 of opening 48. Such a configuration may substantially prevent the flow of air through opening 48 when cover 50 is secured to wall 44 in the closed position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In addition, cover 50

may be manufactured from the same material as enclosure 42. Alternately, cover 50 may be manufactured from different materials from enclosure 42. In such an embodiment, cover 50 may be made from any material durable enough to withstand the operating conditions of machine 10. As is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, cover 50 may include a sealing material 60. Sealing material 60 be any pliable material such as, for example, foam, rubber, plastic, or any other material capable of creating a substantially airtight seal. When cover 50 is secured to wall 44 in a closed position, the force exerted by fasteners 52 and/or the biasing force of hinge 54 may cause sealing material 60 to substantially block any potential air paths between opening 48 and cover 50. In an embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, sealing material 60 may be sized so that outer edges 62 fit within opening 48 and abut inner edges 58 of opening 48. In an alternate embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, sealing material 60 may be sized so that outer edges 62 of sealing material 60 may overlap inner edges 58 of opening 48. It is contemplated that sealing material 60 may be omitted, if desired.

Industrial Applicability

The disclosed cooling system may be used in any machine where access to heat exchangers through an enclosure is desired. In particular, the disclosed system provides a simple, reliable way to access one or more heat exchangers for maintenance and service purposes without having to remove an entire heat exchanger assembly.

Because the heat exchanger enclosure includes one or more access panels, the heat exchangers and fan may be maintained without having to remove the entire heat exchanger assembly. Maintaining the heat exchanger assembly while still in the engine compartment of the machine may save time that would otherwise be spent removing and reinstalling the assembly. In addition, maintaining the heat exchanger assembly while still in the engine compartment

may also reduce costs that would otherwise result from the additional labor required to remove and reinstall the heat exchanger assembly.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed cooling system without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments of the cooling system will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the cooling system disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.