Abstract:
An engine enclosure for enclosing an engine of a work machine. The enclosure includes a first panel hingedly supported from an enclosure top and extending downwardly therefrom to form an enclosure side portion. A first hinge device joins the first panel to the enclosure top for pivotal movement relative thereto, the first panel pivotable from a closed position to an open position for access of engine components. A second panel hingedly supports and forms another portion of the enclosure side, extending upwardly toward the first panel. A lower portion of the first panel is configured to overlie an upper portion of the second panel when the first and second panels are in a closed position for preventing pivotal movement of the second panel when the first panel overlies the second panel. The second panel is pivotable from the closed position to an open position for access of engine components.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a hood panel for a work machine such as a loader used for construction, earth moving and other purposes, and more particularly, to a hood panel that is removable without tools. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Work machines, such as loaders, typically have large tires disposed adjacent to the front or rear portion of the frame. The engine and other components are conventionally located adjacent to the front or end portion of the frame. Hood panels or engine compartment doors are provided on opposite sides of the engine compartment to permit access of the engine and other components for maintenance or other reasons. Due to the size and position of the wheels, the hood panels are provided with geometries that avoid the wheel, but are affixed at angles and locations requiring the use of fasteners and/or removal of the panel. The remaining portions of the hood also define a hood panel that is typically secured with mechanical fasteners, requiring special tools for installation/removal. Since, these hood panels must also be accessed in order to service engine or other components, the time required to perform such maintenance is significantly increased. In addition, hood panels are subject to noise due to vibration associated with operation of the loader. 
   What is needed is a hood panel that does not require special tools to achieve access to regions behind the panel and having substantially reduced noise associated with operation of the work machine. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an engine enclosure for enclosing an engine of a work machine. The enclosure includes a first panel hingedly supported from an enclosure top and extending downwardly therefrom to form an enclosure side portion. A first hinge device joins the first panel to the enclosure top for pivotal movement relative thereto. The first panel is pivotable from a closed position to an open position for access of engine components without the first panel contacting a drive device of the work machine. A second panel hingedly supports and forms another portion of the enclosure side, extending upwardly toward the first panel. A lower portion of the first panel is configured to overlie an upper portion of the second panel when the first and second panels are in a closed position for preventing pivotal movement of the second panel when the first panel overlies the second panel. The second panel is pivotable from the closed position to an open position for access of engine components. 
   The present invention further relates to a work machine including an engine and an engine enclosure. The engine enclosure includes a first panel hingedly supported from an enclosure top and extending downwardly therefrom to form an enclosure side portion. A first hinge device joins the first panel to the enclosure top for pivotal movement relative thereto. The first panel is pivotable from a closed position to an open position for access of engine components without the first panel contacting a drive device of the work machine. A second hingedly supported panel forms another portion of the enclosure side, extending upwardly toward the first panel. A lower portion of the first panel is configured to overlie an upper portion of the second panel when the first and second panels are in a closed position for preventing pivotal movement of the second panel when the first panel overlies the second panel. The second panel is pivotable from the closed position to an open position for access of engine components. 
   An advantage of the present invention is the panel substantially reduces or removes vibration and noise associated with operation of a work machine. 
   A further advantage of the present invention is the panel does not require tools for removal or installation. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a work machine including an embodiment of an engine enclosure in a closed position of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of a work machine including an embodiment of an engine enclosure in an open position of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial perspective view of an embodiment of an engine enclosure in a closed position of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial perspective view of an embodiment of an engine enclosure in an open position of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is perspective view of an embodiment of a side panel of an engine enclosure of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is perspective view of an embodiment of a side panel opposite that of  FIG. 5  of an engine enclosure of the present invention. 
   

   Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, in  FIG. 1 , an engine enclosure  12  of a conventional work machine  10  is shown, work machine  10  being intended to be representative of a wide variety of work machines such as a loader, used for purposes such as construction, landscaping, agriculture, and the like. Work machine  10  includes a frame  11  supporting a cab  20  that houses an operator therein. Frame  11  rotatably carries a set of drive devices  18 , such as wheels or drive tracks or a component arrangement maintained in contact with terrain over which work machine  10  is propelled. Drive devices  18  are disposed between opposed ends  14 ,  16  of the work machine. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an engine enclosure  12  is disposed between end  14  and cab  20  for enclosing an engine therein, although in another embodiment an engine enclosure could be disposed between cab  20  and end  16  or also between cab  20  and end  14 . Engine enclosure  12  includes a top  22 , side panels  24 ,  26  (only one side shown in  FIG. 1 ) and opposite ends between end  14  and cab  20 . Side panels  24 ,  26  of engine enclosure  12  provide protection of the engine from the exterior environment, while permitting access of the engine and other components for maintenance or other reasons. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , top  22  provides clearance for an exhaust pipe  28  extending substantially vertically from an engine  23  housed within engine enclosure  12 . In one embodiment, top  22  may be of unitary construction. First side panel  24  is hingedly supported from the top of engine enclosure  12  and extends downwardly therefrom. In one embodiment, first side panel  24  is hingedly connected to top  22 , while in another embodiment the first side panel  24  is hingedly connected to the work machine frame  11 . In yet another embodiment, first side panel  24  is hingedly connected to both the work machine frame  11  and top  22 . In a closed position ( FIG. 3 ), first side panel  24  is maintained in close proximity with engine  23 , while in an open position ( FIG. 4 ), first side panel  24  is pivoted outwardly from the engine sufficient to provide access to the engine, and is maintained in the open position by a support strut  31 . As shown, first side panel  24  is configured to comprise a substantial portion of the side of engine enclosure  12 , while maintaining clearance with drive device  18  when first side panel  24  is pivoted between open and closed positions. First side panel  24 , as shown, includes a latch  30  that maintains the first side panel  24  in a closed position. However, upon actuation of latch  30 , first side panel  24  can be pivoted from the closed to the open position. 
   As further shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , second side panel  26  is hingedly supported from frame  11  along a junction between the side and the bottom of engine enclosure  12  and extends upwardly therefrom. In a closed position ( FIG. 3 ), second side panel  26  is maintained in close proximity with engine  23  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ), while in an open position, second side panel  26  is pivoted outwardly from the engine to provide access to the engine, and is maintained in the open position by force of gravity. Second side panel  26 , as shown, optionally includes a latch  46  that maintains the second side panel  26  in a closed position. In one embodiment, latch  46  is not required due to an overlapping interlocking or engaging arrangement between a lower portion  32  of first side panel  24  and an upper portion  34  of second side panel  26  when the side panels  24 ,  26  are in a closed position ( FIG. 3 ). 
   In another embodiment, a resilient layer  38  ( FIG. 4 ) is secured to at least a fraction of the lower portion  32  of first side panel  24  so that when the side panels  24 ,  26  are in a closed position, the resilient layer  38  significantly reduces vibration between the side panels  24 ,  26 . In yet another embodiment, resilient layer  38  is secured to at least a fraction of the upper portion  34  of second side panel  26 , although the resilient layer may be secured to both the lower portion  32  of first side panel  24  and the upper portion  34  of second side panel  26 . While resilient layer  38  can be a single contiguous layer of material, the resilient layer  38  can also define an open geometry, such as a hollow circular portion, as is known, for forming a bubble seal between the side panels  24 ,  26 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show respective embodiments of opposed second side panels  26 ,  FIG. 6  second side panel designated as  26 ′. In one embodiment, the second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ of  FIGS. 5 and 6  are mirror image constructions. As shown, second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ include an upper flange  48  and an opposed lower flange  52  separated by side flanges  50  and  54 . In one embodiment, flanges  48 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54  are substantially contiguous and define the periphery of second side panels  26 ,  26 ′, providing enhanced structural stiffness and strength. Second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ include a contoured portion  36  configured so that the second side panels are in close conformal proximity with drive device  18  when the second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ are in an open position (see  FIG. 2 ). That is, when second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ are in the open position, a recessed region  42  of contoured portion  36  is configured to substantially conformally receive the corresponding portion of drive device  18 . This conformal fitting relation permits the magnitude of the pivot angle between the closed position and the second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ to be maximized, similarly permitting maximum access to the exposed engine components. In an alternate embodiment, the open position may permit second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ to pivot to form an abutting contact with drive device  18 , providing even further enhanced access to the engine components. 
   In one embodiment, contoured portion  36  includes a ridge  40  that extends into recessed region  42  between ridge  40  and flange  52  for receiving a corresponding portion of drive device  18  when second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ are in an open position. Further, ridge  40  provides increased structural stiffness and strength. In one embodiment, lower portion  32  of first side panel  24  abuts upper portion  34  of second side panel  26  adjacent to a region of ridge  40  that is adjacent to flange  48  when the side panels are in a closed position (see  FIG. 3 ). 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , a pair of hinge blocks  58  provide both a tapered retention feature, when second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ are in the closed position, and a controlled, hinged rotation path when the second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ are pivoted between open and closed positions. In addition, a stop  68  provides a maximum rotation position, i.e., a maximum angular magnitude in the open position as measured from the closed position for second side panels  26 ,  26 ′. Moreover, hinge blocks  58  permit optional removal of second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ from the work machine when the second side panels are adjacent to the closed position and the open position. In one embodiment, hinge block  58  is secured to frame  11  of the work machine with a base  60  of the hinge block abutting the frame. Hinge block  58  includes a curved portion  66 , such as an arcuate shape that is radially disposed from a corner  72  of base  60 , which curved portion terminating at a stop  68 . This novel hinge block construction provides an increased cross-sectional area as defined by planes parallel to flange  52  in the closed position cutting through hinge block  58 . 
   As further shown in  FIG. 6 , second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ include slotted apertures  56  formed in flange  52  to receive corresponding hinge blocks  58 . In one embodiment, hinge block  58  defines a maximum distance between curved portion  66  and corner  72  as measured along base  60 . In another embodiment, the distance from any location of curved portion  66  and corner  72  is substantially the same. In yet another embodiment, ends  62  and  64  of slotted aperture  56  are sized so that when second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ are in the closed position, base  60  of hinge block  58  are sufficiently tightly secured in the corresponding slotted aperture to substantially prevent vibration during operation of the working machine. In addition, upon actuation of latch  46 , second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ may be pivoted about hinge block(s)  58 . That is, end  64  of slotted aperture  56  remains substantially coincident with corner  72 , while end  62  of slotted aperture  56  slides along the surface of curved portion  66  until flange  52  abuts stop  68  of hinge block  58 , preventing further pivoting of second side panels  26 ,  26 ′. In another embodiment, second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ abut drive device  18  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) prior to flange  52  of second side panel  26 ,  26 ′ abutting stop  68 . It is to be understood that once second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ pivot sufficiently to clear first side panel  24 , which in one embodiment is about a 5 degree pivot from the closed position, panels  26 ,  26 ′ can be removed from the work machine, if desired. Alternately, second side panels  26 ,  26 ′ can be further pivoted toward stop  68 , although the second side panels may be removed at any angular position between a position adjacent to the closed position and the open position. 
   It is to be understood that side panels  24 ,  26  can be constructed of metal or nonmetals, such as plastic, and that hinge block  58  can similarly be composed of metal or nonmetal, or that either side panels  24 ,  26  or hinge block  58  can be composed of another suitable material having sufficient structural stiffness, strength and vibrational damping qualities to reduce noise during operation of the work machine. In one embodiment, a resilient material, such as foam rubber may be disposed between hinge block  58  and flange  52  of the second side panels  26 ,  26 ′. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.