Patent Publication Number: US-2007095504-A1

Title: Radiator for a work machine

Description:
RELATION TO OTHER PATENT  
      This application claims the benefit of prior provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/729,740 filed Oct. 24, 2005. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present disclosure relates generally to a radiator, more particularly, to a radiator for a work machine.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Work machines such as, for example, a work machine having ground engaging tracks, have many working components that must be sufficiently cooled during use of the work machine. For example, a work machine may generally include an engine system, a transmission system and/or a steering and implement hydraulic system that generates heat during operation. One or more of the above systems may be cooled in order to prevent overheating. The systems and their related cooling systems can be set up according to practical practice, for example to choose one or more of the above systems and related cooling systems.  
      The engine may include a cooling system for cooling the engine&#39;s cooling water and oil or hydraulic fluid. The cooling water may be cooled via circulation through a radiator, which may be regulated by a thermostat, such that when the cooling water temperature is below a certain temperature, it will remain closed to prevent the cooling water from circulating through the radiator in order to bring the cooling water temperature up to operating temperature, and such that when the cooling water temperature is above a certain temperature, it will open, thereby allowing the cooling water to circulate through the radiator to reduce the cooling water temperature to a desired operating temperature. In addition, the engine&#39;s oil may be cooled via, for example, an engine oil-to-water cooler. For example, the engine&#39;s oil may be circulated through the engine, absorbing heat from its operation and then through the engine oil cooler to reduce the engine oil&#39;s temperature by absorbing at least some of its heat via the cooling water.  
      The transmission system and/or the steering and implement hydraulic system may also include cooling systems for cooling transmission oil and/or hydraulic fluid. The transmission oil and/or hydraulic fluid may be cooled via a cooler which is connected to the radiator. One example of such a radiator is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,561 to Joshi issued Nov. 26, 1991.  
      The &#39;561 patent discloses a motor radiator which has a tank, a plurality of radiator tubes (conduits), which are connected at one end thereof to the tank. A fitting is configured on the tank for directing liquid into or out of the tank to or from respectively the one end of the radiator tubes. An oil cooler is mounted in the tank between the one end of the radiator tubes and the fitting. The oil cooler has a row of tubes extending past and open to the one end of the radiator tubes. The tank has an interior side facing the oil cooler. Baffle means on opposite sides of the one end of the radiator tubes extend between the interior side of the tank and the oil cooler tubes so as to force liquid flowing between the fitting and the one end of the radiator tubes to pass transversely between the oil cooler tubes.  
      The above-described known art results in increased coolant velocity across the surface of the oil cooler tubes, but it makes a complex internal structure of the cooler. The coolant flowing across the oil cooler within a short distance results in a low coefficient of heat transfer and thus a lower heat transfer rate.  
      The disclosed radiator for a work machine is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems outlined above with respect to work machine cooling system.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One aspect of the present disclosure includes a radiator. The radiator may have a first cooler that may be connected to a lower end portion of the radiator. The first cooler may comprise a bottom compartment. The bottom compartment may have a front wall, a rear wall, first and second spaced apart side walls, a bottom wall and a lower portion. A radiator outlet port member may be connected to the lower portion. A cooling core may be positioned in the bottom compartment. A baffle may be connected to the bottom compartment and positioned above the cooling core. An opening may be disposed in the baffle at a location closer to a one of the first and second side walls than another of said first and second walls.  
      Another aspect of the present disclosure includes a work machine. The work machine may have a radiator that may be connected by a first cooler at its lower end portion. The first cooler may include a bottom compartment. The bottom compartment may have a front wall, a rear wall, first and second spaced apart side walls, a bottom wall and a lower portion. A radiator outlet port member may be connected to the lower portion. A cooling core may be positioned in the bottom compartment. A baffle may be connected to the bottom compartment and positioned above the cooling core. An opening may be disposed in the baffle at a location closer to a one of the first and second side walls than another of said first and second walls. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a functional block diagram of a cooling system for a work machine incorporating certain disclosed embodiments;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates another functional block diagram of cooling system for a work machine incorporating certain disclosed embodiments;  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional structure of the first cooler of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  associated with the radiator;  
       FIG. 4  is sectional view taken along lines A-A in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a side view of  FIG. 4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , they illustrate two embodiments of cooling systems of a work machine. The work machine may refer to any type of mobile machine that performs some type of operation connected to a particular industry, such as mining, construction, farming, transportation, etc. and operates between or within work environments (e.g., construction site, mine site, power plants, on-highway applications, etc.). Work machines include on-highway vehicles, commercial machines, such as trucks, cranes, earth moving vehicles, mining vehicles, backhoes, material handling equipment, farming equipment, marine vessels, aircraft, and any type of movable machine that operates in a work environment.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 □ the work machine may include an engine cooling system  400 , a transmission cooling system  500  and a steering and implement hydraulic cooling system  600 . The cooling systems can be set up according to practical practice, for example to choose one or more of the cooling systems set forth above.  
      The engine cooling system  400  may include an engine unit  40 , a circulating pump  41 , a thermostat valve  43 , a lube cooler  42  and a radiator  10 . The engine unit  40  may be connected to the thermostat valve  43 . The thermostat valve  43  may be connected to the radiator  10  and the radiator  10  may be connected to circulating pump  41 . The circulating pump  41  may be connected to a lube cooler  42  and the engine unit  40  in series. A bypass conduit  44  may be connected to thermostat  43  and the circulating pump  41 . The above-mentioned components may form a cooling circuit  400 ′, which is indicated by the arrows, of the engine cooling system.  
      The steering and implement hydraulic cooling system  600  may include: a first cooler  11 , a hydraulic fluid tank  60 , a hydraulic fluid filter  61 , a pump  62 , a priority valve  63 , an implement hydraulic unit  66  and a steering unit. The steering unit may comprise a steering valve  64  and a steering cylinder  65 . The hydraulic fluid tank  60  may be connected to the pump  62  and priority valve  63  in series by a circulating conduit. The circulating conduit may be divided into two branches from the priority valve  63 . One branch may be connected to the implement hydraulic unit  66  and another branch may be connected to the steering unit that may include a steering valve  64  and a steering cylinder  65 . The implement hydraulic unit  66  may be connected to the hydraulic fluid tank  60 . The steering valve  64  may be connected to the first cooler  11  and the first cooler  11  may be connected to the hydraulic fluid filter  61 . The hydraulic fluid filter  61  may be connected to the hydraulic fluid tank  60 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the first cooler  11  may be connected to the lower end portion  10 ′ of the radiator  10 . In the lower end portion of the radiator  10 ′, there may be a main plate  19  to support conduits in the radiator  10 . The first cooler  11  may comprise a bottom compartment  13 , which may have a front wall  13   a , a rear wall  13   b , a first side wall  13   c  and a second side wall  13   d  spacing apart from each other, a bottom wall  13   e  and a lower portion  13 ′. A cooling core  12  may be disposed in the bottom compartment  13 . The cooling core  12  may have an inlet  12   a  and an outlet  12   b . A baffle  14 , which may be connected to the bottom compartment above the cooling core  12 , may extend within the bottom compartment transversely and preferably perpendicularly relative to the front wall  13   a  or the rear wall  13   b . An opening  15  may be disposed in the baffle at a location closer to the first wall  13   c  than the second wall  13   d  or reversely. The opening  15  may extend between the front wall  13   a  and the rear wall  13   b . A first block  17  may be positioned between a bottom  12   c  of the core and the bottom wall  13   e  and close to the first side wall  13   c , and a second block  17 ′ may be positioned between the bottom  12   c  of the core and the bottom wall  13   e  and close to the second wall  13   d . A tapered sump  18  may be connected to the bottom wall  13   e  of the bottom compartment  13 . An outlet port member  16  may be connected to the sump  18  and extend transversely and preferably perpendicularly relative to the front wall  13   a  or the rear wall  13   b  which may be for easily being connected to circulating conduit and avoiding flat of the conduit to get low current resistance. The opening  15  may be closer to the first side wall  13   c  and the outlet port  16  may be closer to the second side wall  13   d , which may leave a relative long path to make the water flow around the cooling core for sufficient heat exchange.  
      The transmission cooling system  500  may include a transmission cooler (a second cooler)  20  of an oil to air type, a transmission with oil tank  50 , a transmission pump  51 , a torque converter  52 , an oil filter  53  and a clutch unit  54 . The transmission with oil tank  50  may be connected to a transmission pump  51  by circulating conduit. Circulating conduit may be divided into two branches after the transmission pump  51 . One branch conduit may be connected to the clutch unit  54  and then connected to the transmission with oil tank  50 . Another branch conduit may be connected to torque converter  52  and the transmission oil filter  53  in series. The transmission oil filter  53  may be connected to the transmission cooler  20 . The transmission cooler  20  may be connected to the transmission with oil tank  50 . The transmission may include gears and a clutch as disclosed in the prior art.  
      Further referring to  FIG. 1 , the transmission cooler  20  may be disposed inboard of the radiator  10 . A shroud  33  with an inlet may be positioned closely to the radiator. A fan  30  may be positioned in the inlet of the shroud  33 .  
       FIG. 2  illustrates another improved embodiment of cooling system of a work machine, which may include an engine cooling system  400  and a transmission cooling system  500 ′.  
      The engine cooling system  400  in  FIG. 2  may be the same as in  FIG. 1 . The transmission cooling system  500 ′ may include a first cooler  11 , a transmission with oil tank  50 , a transmission pump  51 , a torque converter  52 , an oil filter  53  and a clutch unit  54 . The transmission with oil tank  50  may be connected to a transmission pump  51  by circulating conduit. Circulating conduit may be divided into two branches after the transmission pump  51 . One branch conduit may be connected to the clutch unit  54  and then connected to the transmission with oil tank  50 . Another branch conduit may be connected to torque converter  52  and the transmission oil filter  53  in series. Then the transmission oil filter  53  may be connected to the first cooler  11 . The first cooler  11  may be connected to the transmission with oil tank  50 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the first cooler  11  may be connected to the lower end portion  10 ′ of the radiator  10 . In the lower end portion of the radiator  10 , there may be a main plate  19  to support the conduits in the radiator. The first cooler  11  may comprise a bottom compartment  13 , which have a front wall  13   a , a rear wall  13   b , a first side wall  13   c  and a second side wall  13   d  spacing apart from each other, a bottom wall  13   e  and a lower portion  13 ′. A cooling core  12  may be disposed in the bottom compartment  13 . The cooling core  12  may have an inlet  12   a  and an outlet  12   b . A baffle  14 , which may be connected to the bottom compartment above the cooling core  12 , may extend within the bottom compartment transversely and preferably perpendicularly relative to the front wall  13   a  or the rear wall  13   b . An opening  15  may be disposed in the baffle at a location closer to the first wall  13   c  than the second wall  13   d  or reversely. The opening  15  may extend between the front wall  13   a  and the rear wall  13   b . A first block  17  may be positioned between a bottom  12   c  of the core and the bottom wall and close to the first side wall  13   c , and a second block  17 ′ may be positioned between the bottom  12   c  of the core and the bottom wall  13   e  and close to the second wall  13   d . A tapered sump  18  may be connected to the bottom wall  13   e  of the bottom compartment  13 . An outlet port  16  member may be connected to the sump  18  horizontally, which may be for easily being connected with circulating conduit and avoiding flat of the conduit to get low current resistance. The opening  15  may be closer to the first side wall  13   c  and the outlet port  16  may be closer to the second side wall  13   d , which may leave a relative long path to make the water flow around the cooling core for sufficient heat exchange.  
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , in operation, when the cooling water temperature in the radiator reaches a certain temperature, the thermostat valve  43  may open the bypass conduit. Pump  41  may pump may pump water from engine unit  40  through the thermostat valve  43 , pump  41 , lube oil cooler  42  and return to the engine unit. The opening thermostat valve may prevent the cooling water from circulating through the radiator in order to bring the cooling water temperature up to operating temperature, and such that when the cooling water temperature may be above a certain temperature, the thermostat valve may close the bypass conduit  44  by controlling circuit. Pump  41  may pump water from engine unit  40  through the thermostat valve  43 , the radiator  10 , pump  41 , lube oil cooler  42  and returns to the engine unit  40 . This circulation may allow the cooling water to circulate through the radiator to reduce the cooling water temperature to a desired operating temperature.  
      The cooling method of the steering and implement hydraulic cooling system may include pumping the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid tank  60  to the hydraulic fluid pump  62 , then to the priority valve  63 . A portion of the hydraulic fluid may be passed from priority valve  63  to the steering unit and then passed into the first cooler  11  by one of the branch conduits. The other portion of the hydraulic fluid may be passed into implement hydraulic unit  66  by another branch conduit. The hydraulic fluid from the steering unit may be passed into first cooler  11  and then returned to the filter  61  and to the hydraulic fluid tank  60 . The hydraulic fluid from implement unit  66  may be returned to the hydraulic fluid tank  60 .  
      In the first cooler  11 , the hydraulic fluid may be passed into the cooling core  12  through the inlet  12   a  from the steering valve  64 . Water, which may be cooled in the radiator  10 , may flow down to the baffle  14  first and pass into the bottom compartment  13  through opening  15 . While water may flow downward to the tapered sump  18  and then to the outlet port  16 , block  17  and block  17  may work with the opening  15  to direct water to flow around the cooling core  12 , as indicating by the arrows in  FIG. 3 , for better heat exchange comparing with the present art. Water passing out of the outlet port  16  may enter into further circulation of the engine cooling system. After heat exchange in the bottom compartment  13 , hydraulic fluid may be passed out of the cooling core  12  through the outlet  12   b  to the hydraulic fluid filter  61  and to the hydraulic fluid tank  60 . Within this circulation, hydraulic fluid may exchange heat with the water in the bottom compartment  13  to reduce the hydraulic fluid temperature to a desired operating temperature.  
      The cooling method of the transmission cooling system may include pumping a portion of transmission oil to the clutch unit  54  through transmission pump  51  and return to the transmission with oil tank  50 . The other portion of transmission oil may be pumped to the torque converter  53  through the transmission pump  51 , the transmission oil filter  53 , the second cooler  20  and return to the transmission with oil tank  50 . During this circulation, transmission oil exchange heat with air to reduce the transmission oil temperature to a desired operating temperature.  
      During the operation of the work machine, the fan  30  may blow air through both the radiator  10  and the transmission cooler  20  for heat exchange, which may reduce the temperature of the engine system, the transmission system and the steering and implement hydraulic system.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the operation of the engine cooling system in  FIG. 2  may be the same as in  FIG. 1 .  
      The cooling method of the transmission cooling system in  FIG. 2  may include pumping a portion of transmission oil to the clutch unit  54  through transmission pump  51  and return to the transmission with oil tank  50 . The other portion of transmission oil may be pumped to the torque converter  53  through the transmission pump  51 , the transmission oil filter  53 , the first cooler  11  and return to the transmission with oil tank  50 .  
      In the first cooler  11 , the transmission oil may be passed into the inlet  12   a  of the core  12  from the torque converter  53 . Water, which may be cooled in the radiator  10 , may flow down to the baffle  14  first and pass into the bottom compartment  13  through opening  15 . While water may flow downward to the tapered sump  18  and then to the outlet port  16 , block  17  and block  17 ′ may work with the opening  15  to direct water to flow around the cooling core  12 , as indicating by the arrows in  FIG. 3 , for better heat exchange comparing with the present art. Water passing out of the outlet port  16  may enter into further circulation of the engine cooling system. After exchanging heat in the bottom compartment  13 , the transmission oil may be passed out of the cooling core through the outlet  12   b  and return to the transmission with oil tank  50 . Within this circulation, the transmission oil may exchange heat with the water in the bottom compartment  13  to reduce the transmission oil temperature to a desired operating temperature.  
      During the operation of the work machine, the fan  30  may blow air through the radiator for heat exchange, which may reduce the temperature of the engine system, the transmission system □ 
      It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed the radiator and work machine. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed sealing box and pressured cab. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.