Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
VEHICLE COOLING SYSTEM |
| Document Number: |
20110186371 |
| Publication Date: |
August 4, 2011 |
| Appl. No: |
13/018824 |
| Application Filed: |
February 01, 2011 |
| Abstract: |
A vehicle is shown such as a snowmobile, where a frame includes a cooling system operating therein having a plurality of heat exchangers. The cooling system may comprise a front radiator, a front tunnel cooler, a top tunnel cooler, and a rear cooler mounted rearwardly of the tunnel. |
| Inventors: |
Berg, Jeffrey J. (Warroad, MN, US); Pierce, Troy A. (Roseau, MN, US) |
| Assignees: |
POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC. (Medina, MN, US) |
| Claim: |
1. A snowmobile, comprising: a frame; a water cooled engine supported by the frame; a ground engaging drive system for propelling the snowmobile; and a rear heat exchanger coupled to the engine for cooling engine water, the rear heat exchanger being movable relative to the frame, and fluidly coupled by flexible couplings. |
| Claim: |
2. The snowmobile of claim 1, further comprising a rear suspension coupling the ground engaging drive system to the frame, the rear heat exchanger being movable with the rear suspension. |
| Claim: |
3. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the rear suspension is comprised of a suspension lower portion coupled to slide rails of the frame, the rear heat exchanger being attached to the suspension lower portion. |
| Claim: |
4. The snowmobile of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a tunnel positioned above the ground engaging drive system, and intermediate the engine and the rear heat exchanger, the tunnel including a top tunnel heat exchanger having at least one channel for delivering coolant to the rear heat exchanger, and at least one channel for delivering coolant from the rear heat exchanger to the top tunnel heat exchanger. |
| Claim: |
5. The snowmobile of claim 4, wherein the rear heat exchanger is coupled to the top tunnel heat exchanger by way of flexible hoses. |
| Claim: |
6. The snowmobile of claim 4, further comprising a front tunnel heat exchanger where the front tunnel heat exchanger, the top tunnel heat exchanger and rear heat exchanger being coupled in series. |
| Claim: |
7. The snowmobile of claim 6, further comprising a front heat exchanger coupled to the engine. |
| Claim: |
8. The snowmobile of claim 7, further comprising a thermostat, wherein when the coolant is below a thermostat activation temperature, the cooling water circulates in a closed loop without circulating through any of the heat exchangers, and when the coolant is above a thermostat activation temperature, the cooling water circulates through all of the heat exchangers. |
| Claim: |
9. The snowmobile of claim 7, further comprising a thermostat, wherein when the coolant is below a thermostat activation temperature, the cooling water circulates through only the front heat exchanger, and when the coolant is above a thermostat activation temperature, the cooling water circulates through all of the heat exchangers. |
| Claim: |
10. A snowmobile comprising a frame, a water cooled engine supported by the frame and a ground engaging drive system for propelling the snowmobile, the snowmobile having a rear heat exchanger supported by a rear portion of the frame and coupled to the engine for cooling engine water, further comprising a second heat exchanger coupled to the frame and fluidly coupled to the rear heat exchanger. |
| Claim: |
11. The snowmobile of claim 10, wherein the second heat exchanger is a front heat exchanger coupled to the engine. |
| Claim: |
12. The snowmobile of claim 10, further comprising a thermostat, wherein when the coolant is below an activation temperature to activate the thermostat, the cooling water circulates in a closed loop without circulating through any of the heat exchangers. |
| Claim: |
13. The snowmobile of claim 12, further comprising an accumulator bottle provided in the closed loop. |
| Claim: |
14. The snowmobile of claim 11, further comprising a thermostat, wherein when the coolant is below an activation temperature to activate the thermostat, the cooling water circulates through only the front heat exchanger. |
| Claim: |
15. The snowmobile of claim 10, wherein the frame comprises a tunnel positioned above the ground engaging drive system, and intermediate the engine and the rear heat exchanger, the tunnel including a top tunnel heat exchanger having at least one channel for delivering coolant to the rear heat exchanger, and at least one channel for delivering coolant from the rear heat exchanger to the top tunnel heat exchanger. |
| Claim: |
16. The snowmobile of claim 15, further comprising a front tunnel heat exchanger where the front tunnel heat exchanger, the top tunnel heat exchanger and rear heat exchanger are fluidly coupled in series. |
| Claim: |
17. The snowmobile of claim 10, wherein the heat exchanger is movable relative to the frame, and is coupled by flexible couplings. |
| Claim: |
18. The snowmobile of claim 17, further comprising a rear suspension coupling the ground engaging drive system to the frame, the rear heat exchanger being movable with the rear suspension. |
| Claim: |
19. The snowmobile of claim 18, wherein the rear suspension is comprised of a suspension lower portion coupled to slide rails of the frame, and the rear heat exchanger is attached to the suspension lower portion. |
| Claim: |
20. The snowmobile of claim 19, wherein the rear heat exchanger is coupled to the top tunnel heat exchanger by way of flexible hoses. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
180/190 |
| Current International Class: |
60; 62; 60 |
| Accession Number: |
edspap.20110186371 |
| Database: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
