Blow-off incorporating apparatus for evacuating water and dirt from a cooler box of a cooling system

Apparatus for evacuating water and dirt from a cooler box of a cooling system, incorporated with a blow-off for an air screen of the system. The water and dirt will flow through an aperture in a lower region of the cooler box into a smaller box of the apparatus disposed therebelow. A fan operable for generating the air flow through the air screen and the cooler box, also blows a portion of the flow through a blow-off channel to the air screen for blowing debris away from the air screen. The channel and smaller box are cooperatively configured such that the air flow through the channel will generate a partial vacuum condition in the smaller box operable for evacuating the water and the dirt into the channel so as to be carried away with debris from the air screen.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to apparatus for evacuating water and dirt from a box or enclosure of a cooling system, and, more particularly, to a blow-off for an air screen of a cooling system, configured for evacuating water and dirt from a cooler box of the system.

BACKGROUND ART

The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/925,078, filed Apr. 18, 2007, is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

Cooling systems of work machines used in the outdoors, for instance, harvesting machines, and in particular, sugarcane harvesters, typically include at least one box or housing through which an air flow is directed for cooling elements of various systems of the machine. Such housing or housings may contain or be adjacent to one or more heat exchangers. To prevent entry of contaminants and for cooling system efficiency, such boxes are typically sealed, except for air inlet and outlet paths. The air inlet is typically covered by an air screen. Due to the dusty and dirty environments in which such machines are utilized, the air screen will require blow-off of debris, dust and dirt, periodically, or from time to time. Accordingly, some cooling systems include a blow-off apparatus or system for this purpose. Further, some blow-offs utilize an air flow generated by a fan of the cooling system for generating the air flow through the cooler box.

Cooler boxes are typically sealed, except for the air inlet and outlet, and they are often not self-draining. The bottom of cooler boxes can thus accumulate water and dirt, which can reach several centimeters deep, and become foul. When an engine air cleaner receives air through a cooler box, and the air intake aperture is located in a lower region of the box, it is important that no water enter or be sucked into the air filter. This water can also accumulate in the cooler box due to the lack of a drain.

Accordingly, what is sought is apparatus for evacuating water and dirt from a box of a cooling system, that utilizes available air flow of a blow-off for cleaning an air screen of the system and also operates as a sealing during normal operation, and thus overcomes one or more of the problems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is provided is apparatus for evacuating water and dirt from a cooler box of a cooling system, that utilizes air flow of a blow-off for an air screen of the system, and thus overcomes one or more of the problems set forth above.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the cooler box includes a lower peripheral enclosure having an aperture therein through which water and dirt can pass from the cooler box. A smaller box of the apparatus is disposed beneath the aperture for receiving the water and the dirt. A fan is operable for generating the air flow through the air screen and the cooler box. A blow-off includes an air flow or blow-off channel having an inlet disposed for receiving a portion of the air flow and including a channel section disposed and configured for directing the portion of the air flow along a portion of the air screen for blowing debris away from the air screen. The blow-off channel is configured for evacuating the water and dirt, and is connected to the smaller box by an opening or orifice, so as to be cooperatively configured as a vacuum generator, so that the portion of the air flow through the channel will generate a partial vacuum condition in the smaller box operable for evacuating the water and the dirt from the smaller box into the channel so as to be carried away by the portion of the air flow.

As an advantage of the invention, water and dirt is evacuated along with debris from the air screen. As another advantage, economy and simplicity are obtained by combining the blow-off and water and dirt evacuation functions.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, inFIGS. 1,2and3, a frame of a representative work machine, which is a sugarcane harvester frame10, is shown including a cooling system12for cooling elements of the harvester in the well-known manner. Frame10, when additional components are added, including wheels and driveline, harvesting apparatus, operator controls, and other well known features, will comprise a complete sugarcane harvester of well known construction. Reference in this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,819, which discloses a complete sugarcane harvester.

Cooling system12includes a rotary air screen14constructed and operable in a well-known manner, covering an air inlet to a cooler box16of cooling system12containing at least one heat exchanger. Here, the heat exchangers are arranged in a vertical stack within cooler box16, and include a radiator18(FIG. 3) in an uppermost position in the stack, for cooling coolant of an engine20(FIG. 1); an oil cooler22in a middle position, for cooling oil of a hydraulic system (not shown); and an intercooler radiator24in the lowest position. Here, it should be noted that other heat exchanger arrangements can be used as desired or required for a particular application.

Cooling system12includes a fan box26on the end of cooler box16opposite air screen14, containing a fan rotatable for generating a flow of air into air screen14, as denoted by arrows A, through cooler box16, so as to pass through radiator18, oil cooler22, and intercooler radiator24, and through an outlet30of box16, and through fan box26, so as to be discharged from an outlet32thereof, as denoted by arrows B.

Rotary air screen14is a cylindrical structure having an outer circumferential surface which comprises a perforated screen surface34for the entry of a flow of air A. In this embodiment, air screen14is rotated in the well known manner about its cylindrical axis by a belt drive36driven by engine20. Air screen14is rotated principally for cleaning, as work machines, and particularly harvesters such as sugarcane harvesters like harvester10, are typically operated in dirty and dusty environments, the dirt and dust being drawn against the outer surface of screen14by air flow A. Larger loose items, particularly leaves, will also be present in the cane harvesting environment, and can be drawn and held against screen14. This can be particularly problematic, as cane leaves, dirt and dust in the cane harvesting environment will typically carry sucrose, which is sticky, and if allowed to build up, will adhere itself and other matter to screen14. As result, it is desirable to have the capability of removing this matter from the outer surface of screen14. It is also desirable to have a self-cleaning capability, as a result of the volume of the matter that can build up and interfere with the operation of the apparatus.

Referring also toFIGS. 4,5, and6, a self-cleaning blow-off38constructed and operable according to the teachings of the invention is shown. Self-cleaning blow-off38is configured and operable in a operational or blow-off mode for substantially continuously removing debris or matter, including, but not limited to, leaves, dirt, and dust, from perforated screen surface34, as screen14rotates. Additionally, blow-off38is operable in a self-cleaning mode for releasing or shedding matter that has built up as result of operation in the blow-off mode. Blow-off38can be operated in the self-cleaning mode periodically, from time to time, or responsive to an input, such as, but not limited to, an operator input or an automatic input from a sensor or the like generated when self-cleaning is required.

Blow-off38includes a blow-off channel40which has an inlet42(FIG. 3) disposed adjacent a suitable source of pressurized fluid, which is preferably outlet32of fan box26, for receiving a portion of flow of air B, and redirecting it toward air screen14, as denoted by arrow C. Channel40includes a preliminary blow-off channel section44, which includes inlet42, and which has a C-shape when viewed from the side for redirecting the air flow C toward screen14. Section44also narrows down or reduces in sectional extent downstream of inlet42, for increasing air flow velocity therein. Preliminary blow-off channel section44extends beneath fan box26and cooler box16, and slants upwardly toward the bottom of air screen14. At this location, preliminary blow-off channel section44connects with a movable blow-off channel section46, into which air flow C is directed.

Movable blow-off channel section46is an upwardly open U-shape member and extends to a discharge outlet48located below the end of screen14. Movable blow-off channel section46is configured and supported to be movable between an operational position disposed directly beneath screen surface34of air screen14, and a cleaning position disposed away from screen34. In the operational position, movable blow-off channel section46is positioned for directing flow of air C along screen surface34for blowing debris and dirt, e.g., leaves, dirt, and dust, outwardly away through discharge outlet48. In the cleaning position, channel section46is preferably turned so as to be angled or slanted downwardly away from screen14, so as to release any built up or accumulated debris or matter from section46and also screen surface34.

Movable blow-off channel section46is preferably connected by a connector50to section44for movement up and down between the operational and cleaning positions. The preferred connector50is a pivot or hinge, such as, but not limited to, a mechanical or living hinge, although other movable connectors could be used. An actuator52is connected between sections44and46and is controllably operable for effecting movements of section46between the operational and cleaning positions. Here, actuator52is preferably a linear actuator, but, other actuators such as, but not limited to, a rotary actuator, could be used. Actuator52can be electrically, fluid, or otherwise suitably powered, as desired. Actuator52is connected to sections44and46by pivots54, and is extendable (FIGS. 1,3,4, and6) for holding section46in the operational position, and retractable (FIG. 5) for pivoting or turning section46downwardly to the cleaning position.

A controller56is preferably connected in operative control of actuator52, and connected to an input device58, via suitable conductive paths60, which can be for instance, a wire or wires of a wiring harness, or a wireless communications network. In normal conditions (no self-cleaning action is taking place) blow-off38will operate with movable blow-off channel46in the operative position for directing flow of air C across perforated surface34, for removing debris such as leaves, dirt and dust. This matter will be directed along the channel, and will be discharged through discharge outlet48. A panel (not shown) can be placed within screen14, just above channel46, for reducing air flow through the screen at that location, to facilitate release of any adhered matter. Channel46can also include one or more brushes62extending lengthwise therealong, for brushing perforated surface34, or spaced marginally therefrom, for brushing matter away, and will also operate for limiting escape of air from the channel to the side.

From time to time, or when movable channel section46is blocked, actuator52will be operated to move channel section46to the cleaning position, away from rotary screen14. This will cause any debris that blocks the channel to fall and thus be evacuated from the channel so as to effectively clean the channel. After a selected amount of time, actuator52will be operated to move channel section46back to the operational position. This completes one self-cleaning cycle. In one mode of operation, during a certain timeframe, this cycle can be repeated several times.

As another possible mode of operation, channel section46can be moved to the cleaning position manually, for instance by operator actuation of input device58. For this purpose, input device58can be configured as a pushbutton or other suitable operator controllable input device. As another possibility, input device58can comprise a sensor, for instance, one which detects when channel section46is blocked, and which can generate a signal to controller56, and/or which can activate an alarm in an operator cab to inform the operator of the blockage such that the operator can manually actuate the operator input, e.g., pushbutton.

As still another option, controller56can be a programmable device including software, or a timer device, which will operate actuator52at certain times; or it can be linked to the operation of other parts/functions of the machine, e.g., activation of the unloading tube if used with a combine harvester or the like.

As a desirable advantage of the self-cleaning blow-off of the invention, under heavy fouling conditions of the air screen, stopping operation is not required to clean the blow-off channel manually.

As another advantage, the blow-off can be mounted in a variety of locations about a rotary screen. For instance, an upper region of the rotary air screen, such that, when the blow-off is moved away from the screen, the released debris and dirt from the blockage will be pushed away by the rotation of the screen. If the blow-off is mounted on a lower region of the screen, the released dirt will be removed by gravity, and, in addition, possible vibrations due to operation of the machine.

Referring also toFIGS. 7,8and9, as another feature of the invention, blow-off38is illustrated incorporating apparatus64for evacuating water and dirt (represented by arrows D inFIG. 8) from cooler box16of cooling system12, utilizing air flow C.

Cooler box16includes a lower peripheral enclosure or sheet66, having an aperture68therein through which water and dirt (arrows D) can pass from the cooler box. This water and dirt will be present as a result of normal operation of cooling system12, as explained above. A smaller box70of apparatus64is disposed beneath aperture68for receiving the water and the dirt. Smaller box70is preferably an L-shaped structure, including a passage of smaller sectional extent which includes a vacuum generating orifice72at the bottom, which connects with blow-off channel40through which air flow C, generated by the fan of fan box26as explained above, flows. Orifice72is also of smaller extent than the channel. Orifice72and channel40are preferably cooperatively configured such that air flow C will generate a partial vacuum condition in orifice72. Channel40facilitates the vacuum generation by slanting up, across the opening of orifice72, so as to direct flow C over the orifice to some degree. The partial vacuum condition generated in orifice72will be communicated to smaller box70, where it will operate for evacuating the water and dirt, as denoted by arrows D, through orifice72into channel40, and through the channel to outlet48, so as to be discharged from the cooling system with the debris from the air screen. In this regard, orifice72preferably connects with channel40at about the juncture of channel sections44and46, and is oriented to face in the direction of flow of air flow C, toward outlet48(seeFIG. 3). The location at the juncture of channel sections44and46is also advantageous as cooler box16opens at that location (FIG. 7) to allow ease of cleaning and service of the components therein, as well as the disassembly and cleaning and service of channel sections44and46, and smaller box70and orifice72.

As an advantage of the invention, water and dirt in cooler box16, represented by arrows D, are evacuated along with debris from air screen14. As another advantage, economy and simplicity are obtained by combining the air screen blow-off and water and dirt evacuation functions. Disassembly, cleaning and service are also facilitated.