Patent Publication Number: US-2021164556-A1

Title: Engine damper cooling with pulley integrated fan

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/942,394, filed Dec. 2, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is generally related to engine damper and pulley assemblies, and, more particularly, operational temperature control involving such assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An engine damper and pulley assembly is a common assembly seen at the front of an engine. The engine damper is operationally coupled to the pulley, and both are driven (and concurrently rotated, or rotated in some instances independently via a clutch mechanism) by the engine. The pulley is used to drive engine accessories and is typically mounted to the front of the engine damper. Engine dampers, including torsional vibration dampers, are used on many engines to reduce vibrations by converting energy to heat. Dampers often are constructed using an inertia ring in a viscous fluid (e.g., oils, grease, liquids with high silica content, etc., or an inertia ring cooperating with an elastomeric material), where torsional vibration (e.g., imposed by crankshaft forces) forces the fluid through narrow passages that dissipate the vibration as heat. This heat should be dissipated to keep the damper fluid (or elastomeric material) functioning properly. Typically, engines are mounted behind a cooling package that expends a considerable amount of heat, making it difficult to keep the engine damper cool. Efforts have focused on damper designs to alleviate high temperature effects, but sometimes conditions arise that present challenges in dissipating heat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, an engine damper and a pulley adjacent the engine damper, the pulley comprising a hub portion and an outer circumferential portion joined to the hub portion by plural spaced apart vanes, wherein each space between adjacent vanes enables air flow to or from the engine damper. 
     These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of an engine damper cooling system of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of an engine damper cooling system. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram that conceptually illustrates, in overhead plan, fragmentary view, an embodiment of an example engine damper cooling system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram that illustrates, in isometric view, select components of an embodiment of an example engine damper cooling system. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram that illustrates an embodiment of an example engine damper cooling method. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Certain embodiments of an engine damper cooling system, apparatus, and method (collectively referred to as an engine damper cooling system) are disclosed that help reduce an operating temperature at or around an engine damper, enabling the viscous fluid and/or elastomeric material of the engine damper to be maintained at acceptable operating temperatures. In one embodiment, the engine damper cooling system comprises a pulley operably coupled to an engine damper, the pulley comprising plural vanes to force more air to travel over and cool the engine damper. 
     Digressing briefly, current solutions for controlling the temperature of engine dampers focus on the design of the engine damper itself, which in of itself may not provide sufficient temperature control under some conditions (e.g., lower travel speed-induced air flow). Certain embodiments of an engine damper cooling system may be used, with or without the benefits of specialized damper designs, to provide a cooler environment within which the engine damper may operate. 
     Having summarized various features of certain embodiments of an engine damper cooling system of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to the detailed description of an engine damper cooling system as illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure is described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Further, although the description identifies or describes specifics of one or more embodiments, such specifics are not necessarily part of every embodiment, nor are all various stated advantages associated with a single embodiment. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the scope of an engine damper cooling system as defined by the appended claims. Further, it should be appreciated in the context of the present disclosure that the claims are not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments set out in the description. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram that conceptually illustrates, in overhead plan, fragmentary view, an embodiment of an example engine damper cooling system  10 . The engine damper cooling system  10  may be part of an engine assembly for a vehicle of any one of a plurality of different types and/or uses, including incorporation into a tractor (e.g., the MT800 from AGCO), passenger vehicle, commercial truck, mining or construction vehicle, among other types of vehicles using wheels, tracks, or a combination thereof, for any one of a plurality of different recreational or commercial uses. For purposes of illustration, the engine damper cooling system  10  is described in the context of an agricultural tractor that uses a high horsepower (e.g., over 400 horsepower) engine at a relatively low travel speed (compared to a vehicle normally used in a highway environment). In such applications, the lower travel speed often results in a lower volume of air flow, which may give rise to excessive heat exposure to an engine damper without the benefit of an engine damper cooling system  10 . However, it is appreciated that even when used in vehicles having improved air-flow conditions, the engine damper cooling system  10  may provide a benefit in prolonging the life of the engine damper and/or enabling efficient engine damper operation, and hence such vehicles are contemplated to be within the scope of the engine damper cooling system  10 . 
     In the depicted embodiment, the engine damper cooling system  10  comprises a condenser  12 , a radiator  14 , a (radiator) fan  16 , a pulley  18 , an engine damper  20 , a compressor  22 , and an engine  24 . It should be appreciated that the schematic depicted in  FIG. 1  is one example illustration, and shows a conceptual, fragmentary view that is used to facilitate an understanding of operations of the engine damper cooling system  10 , and that one having ordinary skill in the art would understand that an engine and associated sub-systems (e.g., cooling system, control electronics, heat exchangers, vacuum system, etc.) and/or components comprise a plurality of known components not shown, including a charge air cooler, oil cooler, fuel cooler, electrical wiring, tubing/hoses, valves, solenoids, refrigerant containers, accumulators, receiver dryers, among other known components. 
     The condenser  12  is a heat exchange element that converts high pressure, high temperature gas to a lower temperature liquid. The gas/liquid may include air conditioning refrigerant (e.g., HFC-134a, HFC-152a, newer climate friendly refrigerants, etc.). One or more hoses or tubing (not shown) enable closed loop fluid flow through the compressor  22 , orifice tube/expansion valve, and an evaporator (not shown) to cool a cab or passenger compartment, the cooled fluid returned to the compressor  22  to convert to a high pressure, high temperature gas to repeat the refrigerant cycle in know fashion. The radiator  14  is another heat exchange element that generally resides adjacent and rearward of the condenser  12 . The radiator  14 , as is known, allows for the flow of engine coolant (e.g., routed through the engine via one or more hoses) that enables the transfer of engine heat (carried by the engine coolant) to the environment (at the radiator  14 ) and the resultant cooled engine coolant back to the engine. The fan  16  draws air through the condenser  12  and radiator  14  to facilitate cooling of the fluids flowing through the same. 
     In one embodiment, the pulley  18  is coupled to the outward (e.g., front) face of the engine damper  20 , and is configured with an arrangement of vanes that facilitate the cooling of the engine damper  20 . The engine damper  20  may comprise a torsional vibration damper constructed using an inertia ring in a viscous fluid or an inertia ring cooperating with an elastomeric material. Certain embodiments of an engine damper cooling system  10  cool the air at and/or around the engine damper  20 , which maintains the viscous fluid and/or elastomeric material at an acceptable operating temperature (e.g., 120 C, though not limited to this temperature specification) despite low travel speeds (and hence low air flow due to travel speeds). As explained further below, in one embodiment, the cooling effect arises from the use of plural, pitched vanes of the pulley  18  drawing cooled fan air through the spacings or openings located between the vanes and towards the engine damper  20 , as represented by the air-flow arrows exiting the pulley  18 . In some embodiments, the vanes of the pulley  18  may be pitched in an opposite manner, which facilitates the influence of air away from the engine damper  20  and through the openings created by the vanes, as represented by the dashed, air-flow arrows between the fan  16  and the pulley  18 . As indicated above, certain embodiments of an engine damper cooling system  10  may be beneficial for other types of vehicles. The engine damper  20  is driven by the engine  24 . The pulley  18  is in fore-and-aft arrangement with the engine damper  20 . The pulley  18 , via its operable connection to the engine damper  20 , is likewise driven by the engine  24 . In some embodiments, the engine damper  20  and pulley  18  rotate concurrently (e.g., when the engine damper  20  and pulley  18  are directly coupled to each other). In some embodiments, the pulley  18  may be coupled to the engine damper  20  via a clutch  27  (represented by a dashed line to signify its presence and use as optional), such that the engine damper  20  and pulley  18  do not rotate concurrently (e.g., rotation may be independent in some instances). Clutches may be used to reduce engine loads. The pulley  18  drives operations of the compressor  22  (which internally pressurizes the refrigerant) via operable connection to the engine damper  20  (and engine  24 ) using an endless, elastomeric belt  26  residing, in one embodiment, in a channel or groove (or in some embodiments, riding over a flat surface) created on the peripheral surface of the pulley  18  (or elsewhere) in known manner. Note that in some embodiments, a compressor may be used that is powered electrically (e.g., in hybrid engines via a battery, where the refrigerant is pressurized using a motor integral to the compressor). In such embodiments, the pulley  18 , though adjacent the engine damper  20 , may not be attached to the engine damper  20 . In some embodiments, additional accessories may be driven (using a serpentine or other arrangement of belt or additional belts, such as carried in plural channels along the peripheral surface (or elsewhere) of the pulley  18 . For instance, the pulley  18  may comprise a single-or multi-grooved configuration to drive additional accessories including a water pump, alternator, air compressor, and/or fan. 
     Variations to the above are contemplated for some embodiments. For instance, in some embodiments, the engine damper cooling system  10  comprises plural (e.g., two) fans (e.g., a separate fan for the condenser  12  instead of using the (radiator) fan  16 , or an additional fan to help the fan  16  cool the refrigerant), which facilitates the flow of cooler air to the pulley  18  (e.g., represented by air-flow arrows entering the pulley  18 ). Further, in some embodiments, the engine damper cooling system  10  may comprise all or a subset of the components described in association with  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , shown are select components of an embodiment of an engine damper cooling system  10 A. In particular, the engine damper cooling system  10 A comprises an embodiment of the pulley  18 A and the engine damper  20 . Emphasis, for purposes of explanation for  FIG. 2 , is on the pulley  18 A. In one embodiment, the pulley  18 A comprises a cast or molded material (e.g., cast metal). In some embodiments, the pulley  18 A is a machined or fabricated component. In some embodiments, the pulley  18 A is comprised of composites. The pulley  18 A has a cylindrical geometry and comprises an outer periphery or outer circumferential portion  28 , an inner hub portion  30 , and plural vanes  32  that join the circumferential portion  28  to the hub portion  30 . The plural vanes  32 , which in one embodiment, each extend a width or depth (fore-and-aft) of the circumferential portion  28  (e.g., extend to and ending between the front and rear surfaces of outer circumferential portion  28 ), define plural openings or spaces  34  that enable the flow of air from the fan  16  ( FIG. 1 ) to cool the air at and around the engine damper  20 . In some embodiments, the vanes  32  may extend beyond the width or depth of the circumferential portion  28 . The spaces  34  expose an outward face of the engine damper  20  to the flow of air, which helps to cool the engine damper  20  (and associated engine damper fluid and/or elastomeric material). In one embodiment, the pulley  18 A comprises four (4) vanes  32  that are spaced (e.g., equidistantly or, in some embodiments, non-equidistantly) apart. In some embodiments, there may be fewer vanes  32  or additional vanes  32 . In one embodiment, the quantity of vanes  32  may range between and including 3-12 vanes, with a pitch of anywhere from 25-75 degrees (inclusive) in some embodiments. Other variations may be used. In some embodiments, the vanes  32  may have a rhomboid shape that angle or flare out (e.g., in the annular direction) fore and aft. In some embodiments, the vanes  32  may have an airfoil shape, or in some embodiments, other geometries may be used to facilitate air flow across the engine damper  20 . As noted with reference to  FIG. 1 , the vanes  32  may be pitched in one configuration to draw more cool air through the spaces  34  as explained above. In some embodiments, the vanes  32  may be pitched in an opposite manner to draw heat away from the engine damper  20  and through the spaces  34 . The pulley  18 A (e.g., the circumferential portion  28 ) comprises a peripheral surface  36  that defines a width, such as afore-and-aft depth (e.g., from one side, or front side, to another side, or backside) of the circumferential portion  28 . The peripheral surface  36  may comprise a channel or groove that is of sufficient width/depth to accommodate and constrain a single belt  26 , the single belt wrapped around the pulley  18 A and a pulley portion of the compressor  22 . In some embodiments, the width/depth may be sufficient to accommodate multiple grooves. In some embodiments, the peripheral surface  36  comprises a flat, fore and aft surface. In some embodiments, the pulley  18  may comprise a channel(s) or groove(s) behind (or in front of) the inner hub portion  30  (e.g., instead of about the peripheral surface  36 ). 
     The hub portion  30  comprises an outer face  38  that is, or is approximately, co-planar with the outer face of the circumferential portion  28 , and which circumscribes one side (e.g., the forward facing or outward side) of the pulley  18 . The hub portion  30  further comprises a well or bowl  39  that extends inwardly from the outer face  38 . The well or bowl  39  comprises an annular sidewall  40  and an opening  41  that exposes plural bolts  42  arranged in an annular fashion and that are used to secure the engine damper  20  to the engine  24 . The outer face  38  comprises an annular arrangement of plural bolt openings or apertures to enable insertion and coupling via bolts  44  to the engine damper  20 . 
     Note that variations to the design of the pulley  18 A are contemplated, including fewer bolt apertures, a well  39  of less depth, a smaller diameter hub portion  30 , among other variations. 
     In view of the various embodiments of an engine damper cooling system (e.g., systems  10 ,  10 A) described herein, it should be appreciated that one embodiment of an example damper engine cooling method, denoted as method  46 , performed in one embodiment by an assembly comprising the pulley  18 A and engine damper  20 , and depicted in  FIG. 3  between start and end steps, comprises rotating an engine damper and a pulley operably coupled to the engine damper, the pulley comprising a hub portion and an outer circumferential portion joined to the hub portion by plural spaced apart vanes, wherein each space between adjacent vanes enables air flow to or from the engine damper ( 48 ); and cooling the engine damper by enabling air flow through plural spaces of the pulley created by the plural vanes ( 50 ). 
     While certain embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Note that various combinations of the disclosed embodiments may be used, and hence reference to an embodiment or one embodiment is not meant to exclude features from that embodiment from use with features from other embodiments. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should be not construed as limiting the scope.