Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1C~755Z4
1 ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR
A TRACK LAYING TRACTOR
The present invention relates to a tractor environmental con-
trol system.
Heretofore, tractor cabs have often been provided with an
environmental control system which was located for the most part
in a compartment at the top of the cab. Accordingly, this has
required conditioned air to be discharged downwardly toward the
operator, such discharge being disagreeable to some operators.
Further, when the filter elements of these environmental control
system are serviced, dirt and the like from the filters are apt
to fall onto the serviceman and into the interior of the cab.
Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention, there is provided a
novel environmental control system and re particularly there is
provided a control system located so as to enhance the effective-
ness of its operation.
A broad object of the invent-on is to provide an environ-
mental control system which is integrated into the structure of
the cab and control consoles contained in the cab.
A further object of the invention is to provide an environ-
mental control system including a pair of fans located such as to
effect an even distribution of conditioned air in the cab.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an air
conditioning system wherein the conditioned air is directed to-
wards the opposite side of an operator.
A further object of the invention is to provide an environ-
mental control system having a fresh air filter which is service-
able from the interior of the cab but which may be left com-
pletely exteriorly of the cab.
These and other objects will become apparent from a readingof the following description taken in conjunction with the
appended drawings.
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1 Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view taken looking slightly upwardly
at the left side and rear of an industrial vehicle incorporating
the environmental control system of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking downwardly at the front
and top portion of an operator's seat flanked by control consoles
and having ductwork of the environmental control system located
therebehind and leading to the control consoles.
Fig. 3 is a somewhat schematic right side elevational view,
partly in section, of a portion of the cab and showing the arrange-
ment of components of the environmental control system.
Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing a portion of the access
door of the fresh air filter compartment of the environmental
control system.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to Fig. 1, therein is shown an industrial
vehicle, commonly known as a crawler-loader, the crawler-loader
being indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10.
It is to be understood that the crawler-loader 10 is only repre-
sentative of the type of vehicle with which the present inventionis particularly adapted for use and that many other vehicles
could just as well be used without departing from the principles
of the present invention.
The crawler-loader 10 includes a chassis 12 to which right
and left track assemblies 14 are connected in a conventional man-
ner. An engine housing 16 is located on the forward portion of
the chassis 12 and a loader boom support structure 18 is located
adjacent the rear of the engine housing 16 and has a rear end
of a boom structure 20 connected thereto. Connected to the for-
ward end of the boom structure 20 is a bucket 22.
Mounted on the chassis 12 just rearwardly of the enginehousing 16 is a cab 24 which is connected to the chassis 12
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1 through means of a rollover protection frame 26. Extending across
the rear of the crawler-loader 10 is a fluid reservoir or tank
structure 28 that is m~unted on the top of a transmission hous-
ing 32 forming part of the chassis 12.
The cab 24 has a rear wall 34 which is shaped so as to ex-
tend along the forward and top sides of the fluid reservoir 28.
Located in the rear cab wall 34 at a location above the reservoirs
28 is a generally rectangular window 36 having its upper edge con-
nected to the framework of the cab through means of a rubber
hinge structure 38 for permitting the window to be moved between
open and closed positions. The lower end of the window has guide
straps 40 fixed to opposite lower locations thereof for permit-
ting the window to be locked in adjusted partially opened posi-
tions through means of threaded knob assemblies, one of which is
shown partially at 42. The mounting of the window 36 is conven-
tional.
Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, therein is shown an oper-
ator's seat 44 mounted on a central rear portion of a floor 46
of the cab 24 and being flanked by right and left box-like con-
trol consoles 48 and 50, respectively, as considered looking in -
the normal direction of forward travel of the crawler-loader.
Right and left arm rests 52 and 54 are respectively mounted on
upper inside corners of the console 48 and 50. Various control
levexs project through walls of the control console 48 and 50 and
are disposed so as to be within easy reach of a seated operator.
The linkages that are connected to the levers are omitted for the
sake of simplicity.
Integrated in t~at portion of the cab thus far described is
an environmental control system including intake air ductwork,
indicated generally at 56 f which extends between right and left
side walls 58 and 60 of the cab 24 at a location behind the seat
44. The ductwork 56 projects through the rear wall 34 of the
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1 cab at a location just below the window 36 and has an outer end
portion which defines a fresh air filter compartment 62 including
an access door 64 vertically hingedly mounted for movement about
a horizontal transverse axis at 66 and including a normally rear-
wardly disposed surface having a fresh air inlet therein which is
covered by a screen 68 (Fig. 1). Located in the compartment 62
so as to be accessible when the door 64 is open is a fresh air
filter 70 which is normally held in place by guides fixed to the
interior of the opposite compartment sides. Located in a general-
ly horizontal top wall portion 72 of the duct just inwardly of the
rear wall 34 of the cab is a recirculated air inlet 74 surrounded
by a filter retainer means 76 in which is located a recirculated
air filter (not shown). Supported so as to be located centrally
in the ductwork 56 at a location just downstream from the air
inlet 74 is an air conditioning cooler core 78 and a heater heat-
ing core 80. A wall means 82 (Fig. 3) extends between the walls
of the ductwork 56 and the cooler core 78 to ensure that air
drawn in through the filters will pass through the cores 78 and
80.
In order to accommodate the fluid resexvoir 28, the rear
cab wall 34 has a lower portion 84 which is inclined downwardly
and forwardly from the rear. This lower portion 84 of the cab
; wall 34 forms a bottom wall of the ductwork 56. Located just
behind the seat 44 and forming part of the ductwork 56 is a
generally vertical wall 86 which, as shown here, has opposite
transverse edges which terminate at vertical rear edges of respec-
tive inner walls 88 and 90 of the right and left control consoles
48 and 50. The respective rear ends of the box-like control con-
soles 48 and 50 are open and form part of the ductwork 56 as is
described in more detail herein below. Respectively located in
the consoles 48 and 50 are right and left fans 92 and 94. Form-
ing an integral part of the fans 92 and 94 are conditioned air
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outlet ductworks 96 and 98 respectively defining upwardly opening
outlets 100 and 102. The consoles 48 and 50 respectively include
top covers 104 and 106 which respectively contain adjustable
louvers 108 and 110 which are respectively located above the
outlets 100 and 102.
Thus, with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be appreciated
that the fans 92 and 94 will act to draw air into the ductwork
56 by way of the fresh air inlet defined by the screen 68 and
by way of the recirculated air inlet 74. Once the air has been
10 drawn through the filters and cooling and heating cores of the
environmental control system, it will be separated into two
streams which flow into the intakes of the fans 92 and 94 by way
of the open rear end portions of the consoles 48 and 50. The fans
will force the conditioned air out through the louvers 108 and
110 in the control console covers 104 and 106.
Thus, it will be appreciated that the environmental control
systems of the present invention is incorporated in the cab and
console structure of the vehicle.
When the filters require servicing, the serviceman may open
20 the door 64 of the fresh air filter compartment 62 either from a
location exteriorly of the cab 24 or from within the cab 24 once
the window 36 is opened. The serviceman can then replace the
used filter or knock dirt therefrom and place it back in service
without the used filter ever being inside the cab. This, of
course, eliminates the possibility that dirt will be deposited
in the cab during the process of servicing the fresh air filter
78.
The recirculated air filter is in the cab and of course
remains there during servicing however, only a small amount of
30 dirt will usually be present therein and the problem of falling
therefrom into the cab is insubstantial as compared to what the
problem would be if the fresh air filter were located in the cab.
