Abstract:
An air induction system is provided for a work machine having at least one fender. The air induction system has an air inlet flow member and an air filter. The air filter is disposed within the at least one fender and accessible from outside of the work machine. The air filter is fluidly connected to and disposed downstream of the air inlet flow member. The air induction system also includes a conduit fluidly connected to and disposed downstream of the air filter.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates generally to an air filter and, more particularly, to an air filter that is accessible via a fender.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Work machines such as, for example, backhoe loaders, excavators, dozers, articulated trucks, and other work machines can operate in harsh, dusty conditions. In order to provide comfort to the work machine operator in these conditions, work machines often include a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system (HVAC) that provides clean treated air to an operator cabin. The air in such systems may be cleaned of dust and other debris by way of an air filter disposed within an induction system of the HVAC. With the aim of providing clean air, the air filter should be periodically serviced. To facilitate time efficient service of the air filter, the filter can be accessible from a point external to the operator cabin.  
         [0003]     One such externally accessible air filter arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,528 (the &#39;528 patent) to Baum et al. The &#39;528 patent teaches an air inlet and service access arrangement for an enclosed cab of a work vehicle. The arrangement includes a plenum having a filter and being secured to an inside of a louvered door. Outside air is drawn through the louvers and the filter to be supplied to the cab air-handling system. The filter may be accessed for servicing or replacement by opening the louvered door.  
         [0004]     Although the arrangement of the &#39;528 patent may provide access to the filter from a point external of the operator cab, it may occupy valuable space within the cabin, may be too complicated, and may draw air into the cabin from a point on the work machine prone to excessive amounts of dust and debris.  
         [0005]     The disclosed air filter is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an air induction system for a work machine having at least one fender. The air induction system includes an air inlet flow member and an air filter. The air filter is disposed within the at least one fender and accessible from outside of the work machine. The air filter is fluidly connected to and disposed downstream of the air inlet flow member. The air induction system also includes a conduit fluidly connected to and disposed downstream of the air filter.  
         [0007]     In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a fender for a work machine that has an air induction system. The fender includes an outer shell forming an internal cavity and a recess disposed within an internal wall of the shell. The recess is configured to receive an air filter of the air induction system. The fender also includes an opening through the outer shell providing access to the internal cavity and recess from outside of the work machine and a cover hinged to the outer shell and configured to close off the opening.  
         [0008]     In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of servicing an air induction system for a work machine. The method includes moving a cover away from an outer surface of a work machine fender to an open position. The method further includes accessing an air filter disposed within the work machine fender and returning the cover to a closed position on the outer surface of the work machine fender. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial illustration of an exemplary disclosed work machine; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an exemplary disclosed air induction system for the work machine of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary work machine  10 . Work machine  10  may be a fixed or mobile machine that performs some type of operation associated with an industry such as mining, construction, farming, transportation, or any other industry known in the art. For example, work machine  10  may be an earth moving machine such as a backhoe, a dozer, a loader, an excavator, a motor grader, a dump truck, or any other earth moving machine. Work machine  10  may include an operator cabin  12 , at least one driven traction device  14 , and a fender  16  associated with driven traction device  14 .  
         [0012]     Operator cabin  12  may include an enclosure that houses a work machine operator interface. The operator interface may include a seat and one or more work machine control devices located in proximity to the seat. Operator cabin  12  may be substantially sealed from environmental conditions in which work machine  10  operates.  
         [0013]     Driven traction device  14  may include wheels  18  located on each side of work machine  10  (only one side shown). Alternately, driven traction device  14  may include tracks, belts or other driven traction devices. Driven traction device  14  may or may not be steerable.  
         [0014]     Fender  16  may be any part of a body of work machine  10  that at least partially surrounds wheel  18 . Fender  16  may be configured to minimize the redistribution of ground surface material by wheel  18  of driven traction device  14 . It is also contemplated that fender  16  may be associated with a traction device that is not driven. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , fender  16  may include a shell  20 , a cover  24 , and a sealing member  26 .  
         [0015]     Shell  20  may be formed from a synthetic polymer through an injection molding process, a thermal forming process, a blow molding process, or through any other appropriate forming or molding process known in the art. It is contemplated that some or all of the parts may alternately be formed separately and joined together through a fabrication process. It is further contemplated that shell  20  may alternately be made from metal.  
         [0016]     Shell  20  may form an internal cavity  22  and a recess  30  accessible via a common opening  28 . Internal cavity  22  may be configured for storage and may fluidly communicate with recess  30 . Recess  30  may be disposed within an internal wall of shell  20  and open up into internal cavity  22 . It is contemplated that internal cavity  22  may alternately be fluidly isolated from recess  30 . Recess  30  may be substantially cylindrical and include a first opening  32  located in an end surface of recess  30  through shell  20 , and a second opening  34  located in an outer curved surface of recess  30  through shell  20  at angle substantially orthogonal to first opening  32 .  
         [0017]     Similar to shell  20 , cover  24  may also be formed from a synthetic polymer through an injection molding process, a thermal forming process, a blow molding process, or through any other appropriate forming or molding process known in the art. It is contemplated that some or all of the parts of cover  24  may alternately be formed separately and joined together through a fabrication process. It is further contemplated that cover  24  may alternately be made from metal.  
         [0018]     Cover  24  may be configured to move between an open position allowing access to internal cavity  22  via opening  28  and a closed position where cover  24  engages a portion of shell  20  on the periphery of opening  28 . Cover  24  may include at least one hinge member  36  to facilitate movement between the open and closed positions, and a locking mechanism  38  to prevent unauthorized access to internal cavity  22  when cover  24  is in the closed position.  
         [0019]     Sealing member  26  may be disposed around opening  28  to fluidly seal cover  24  to the portion of shell  20  on the periphery of opening  28 . Sealing member  26  may include synthetic gasket having a hollow tubular cross section. it is contemplated that sealing member  26  may be made of a non-synthetic material and/or may have a cross sectional shape other than hollow tubular. Sealing member  26  may be fixedly connected to either shell  20  or cover  24 .  
         [0020]     Work machine  10  may include an air-handling system  40  configured to cool, heat, and/or ventilate operator cabin  12  (referring to  FIG. 1 ). Air-handling system  40  may include an air treatment device  42 , a first fluid passageway  44 , an air filter  46 , and a second fluid passageway  48 .  
         [0021]     Air treatment device  42  may be configured to create a flow of air directed into operator cabin  12  and may also thermally treat the flow of air. For example, air treatment device  42  may include a fan (not shown) configured to blow air across a heat exchanger (not shown) that removes heat from the flow of air prior to directing the air into operator cabin  12 . Air treatment device  42  may also include a heating coil (not shown) disposed in the air flow path to add heat to the flow of air prior to directing the air into operator cabin  12 .  
         [0022]     First fluid passageway  44  may be disposed within a structural support of operator cabin  12  and configured to direct atmospheric air to fender  16 . Specifically, first fluid passageway  44  may include a louvered first end  44   a  open to the atmosphere at a point generally midway between a ceiling portion of operator cabin  12  and fender  16 . First fluid passageway  44  may also include a second end  44   b  in fluid communication with second opening  34  of shell  20 . In this manner, air may be drawn into air-handling system  40  via first opening  32 . It is contemplated that second end  44   b  may include a means for sealing first fluid passageway  44  to second opening  34  of shell  20  such as, for example, a gasket-type seal configured to seal a surface of second end  44   b  to an outer surface of shell  20 , a chemical sealant, or any other means known in the art.  
         [0023]     Air filter  46  may be a cylindrical canister-type filter housed within recess  30 . Air filter  46  may include a curved outer surface through which un-filtered air from first fluid passageway  44  of air-handling system  40  may enter and an end surface through which clean filtered air may exit air filter  46 . It is contemplated that air filter  46  may include a means for retaining air filter  46  within recess  30  and/or a means for fluidly sealing air filter  46  to recess  30 . The means for retaining may include for example, an internal or external threaded portion configured to engage an external or internal threaded portion of recess  30 , a bolt configured to press air filter  46  against an interior end surface of recess  30 , a latch connected to an interior surface of shell  20  and configured to engage air filter  46 , a cover configured to enclose air filter  46  within recess  30 , or any other means known in the art. The means for sealing may include, for example, one or more o-rings disposed on the outer curved surface of air filter  46  and configured to engage an interior surface of recess  30 , a cover configured to seal off recess  30  from interior cavity  22 , a gasket-type seal configured to seal an end surface of air filter  46  to an end surface of recess  30 , or any other means known in the art.  
         [0024]     Second fluid passageway  48  may be configured to direct the clean filtered air via first opening  32  of recess  30  from air filter  46  to air treatment device  42 . Specifically, second fluid passageway  48  may include, for example, a flexible tube connectable to first opening  32  of recess  30  and air treatment device  42  by means of one or more clamps. It is also contemplated that second fluid passageway  48  may include a non-flexible tube connectable to first opening  32  of recess  30  and/or air treatment device  42  by a means other than a clamp such as, for example, a flange, a chemical bond, or any other connecting means known in the art.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0025]     The disclosed fender accessible air filter finds potential application in any work machine where it is desirous to access a work machine air filter from a point that is external to the work machine. The fender accessible air filter is particularly advantageous in a work machine operating in harsh environmental conditions where the amount of entrained dust and debris drawn into a work machine air-handling system should be kept to a minimum.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , when air-handling system  40  is in operation, atmospheric air may be drawn into air-handling system  40  via first fluid passageway  44 , through air filter  46  in fender  16 , and through second fluid passageway  48 . The filtered air may then be thermally treated, if desired, and directed into operator cabin  12 .  
         [0027]     Periodic maintenance and/or replacement of air filter  46  may be necessary to maintain the proper efficiency and functionality of air-handling system  40 . Service of air filter  46  may be accomplished by opening cover  24  to expose interior cavity  22  and recess  30 . After cover  24  has been moved to the open position, air filter  46  may then be removed, serviced, and re-inserted, or removed and replaced with a new air filter  46 . Cover  24  may then be moved to the closed position to seal off internal cavity  22  and recess  30 , and secured via locking mechanism  38 .  
         [0028]     Several advantages are realized because air filter  46  is located within fender  16  and because intake air is drawn into air-handling system  40  from a point above operator cabin  12 . In particular, the location of air filter  46  does not consume any of the valuable space within operator cabin  12 , thereby allowing for increased design flexibility within operator cabin  12  and a roomier interior. In addition, the easy access to air filter  46  from outside of operator cabin  12  reduces the difficulty and time associated with servicing air filter  46 . Further, because air filter  46  is located within an existing feature of work machine  10 , no additional complicated or expensive components are required. Also, due to the effects of gravity and the location away from work machine components that propel dust and debris into the atmosphere, the air drawn into air-handling system  40  may include a substantially lower amount of dust and debris than if the atmospheric air were drawn into air-handling system  40  from a different location on work machine  10 . Further, due to the location away from an exhaust flow path and heat generating components of work machine  10 , the air drawn into air-handling system  40  may be substantially cooler than if the atmospheric air were drawn from a different location. In addition, because air filter  46  is serviceable from outside of operator cabin  12 , little or no dirt or debris is transferred from a used filter to operator cabin  12  during servicing.  
         [0029]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the air filter of the present disclosure. Other embodiments of the component protection system will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. For example, one or more dividers or guards may be implemented to separate or protect shell  20  and the contents of internal cavity  22  from foreign material propelled by wheel  18  toward fender  16 . It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.