Airflow baffle system for articulating hood with multiple hinge locations
The present disclosure concerns an airflow baffle system and sealing system which effectively seals an articulating hood, such as for a wheel loader, for more efficient routing of cooling air and exhaust air. The articulating hood may have multiple hinges connecting the hood to the motor vehicle. For example, a rear hinge or set of hinges may allow upward and rearward rotation of the entire hood, while a second set of hinges atop the hood may allow for upward and forward rotation of only a portion of the hood when quicker access to only a portion of the engine compartment is required.
1. An articulating hood assembly, comprising:
a stationary sealing element having a left side, a right side and a cross member between the left and right sides, the stationary sealing element having a substantially continuous sealing surface;
an articulating hood for mating with the substantially continuous sealing surface of the stationary sealing element, the articulating hood comprising at least two hoods, wherein at least a portion of the articulating hood is moveable in a first direction from the stationary sealing element to an open position and wherein a second portion of the articulating hood is moveable in a second direction from the stationary sealing element; and
a sealing baffle fixed to the articulating hood, wherein a seal is broken and formed between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle of the articulating hood when: 1) at least the portion of the articulating hood is moved and returned in the first direction; and 2) the second portion of the articulating hood is moved and returned in the second direction,
wherein when the sealing baffle is in a closed position, the stationary sealing element forms a substantially continuous seal at an interface between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle.
2. The articulating hood assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing baffle includes a stiffer portion for fixing to the articulating hood and a more flexible portion, adhered to the stiffer portion, for mating with the stationary sealing element.
3. The articulating hood assembly of claim 2 , wherein the more flexible portion includes a channel for adhering to a protrusion of the stiffer portion.
4. The articulating hood assembly of claim 2 , wherein the more flexible portion includes a primary seal and a secondary seal.
5. The articulating hood assembly of claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the sealing baffle disengages first during movement of the articulating hood in the first direction and a bottom portion of the sealing baffle disengages first during movement of the articulating hood in the second direction.
6. The articulating hood assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealing baffle comprises a series of convolutions for assembly to the articulating hood on a first side of the sealing baffle away from a second side for mating with the sealing element, the series of convolutions fitting into mating portions of the articulating hood.
7. The articulating hood assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an engine compartment mounting the articulating hood assembly and a vehicle, the vehicle further including a frame, an engine, a cooling package, wheels and an operator cab.
8. A articulating hood assembly, comprising:
an engine compartment comprising a stationary sealing element, the stationary sealing element having a substantially continuous surface;
an articulating hood mounted to the engine compartment for mating with the stationary sealing element, the articulating hood comprising at least two hoods, wherein at least a first portion of the articulating hood is moveable in a first direction from the stationary sealing element to an open position and wherein at least a second portion of the articulating hood is moveable in a second direction from the stationary sealing element; and
a sealing baffle fixed to the articulating hood, wherein a seal is broken and formed between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle of the articulating hood when: 1) at least the first portion of the articulating hood is rotated and returned in a first direction; and 2) at least the second portion of the articulating hood is rotated and returned in a second direction,
wherein when the sealing baffle is in a closed position, the stationary sealing element forms a substantially continuous seal at an interface between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle.
9. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8 , wherein the sealing baffle includes a stiffer fiberglass portion for fixing to the articulating hood and a more flexible elastomeric portion for mating with the stationary sealing element.
10. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8 , wherein the stationary sealing element comprises a left side, a right side and a cross member between the left and right sides.
11. The articulating hood assembly of claim 10 , wherein at least portions of surfaces of the left and right side sealing elements are at an upward facing angle with respect to a vertical orientation defined by a radiator in the engine compartment.
12. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8 , wherein the articulating hood includes a radiator hood mounted to the engine compartment with a first hinge.
13. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8 , wherein the articulating hood includes an engine hood mounted to the articulating hood with a second hinge.
14. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8 , wherein the seal is broken and formed by rotation in a plane in the first direction using a first pivot point and by rotation in the same plane in the second direction using a second pivot point.
15. The articulating hood assembly of claim 8 , wherein engagement between the sealing element and the sealing baffle is identical after movement in the first direction and after movement in the second direction.
16. A articulating hood assembly, comprising:
an engine compartment comprising a stationary sealing element having a left side, a right side and a cross member between the left and right sides, the stationary sealing element having a substantially continuous top surface in which at least portions of surfaces of the stationary sealing element on opposite sides of the engine compartment lie in a same plane;
an articulating hood mounted to the engine compartment for mating with the stationary sealing element, the articulating hood comprising a radiator hood and an engine hood, wherein at least the radiator hood is rotatable in a first direction from the stationary sealing element to an open position and wherein at least the engine hood is rotatable in a second direction from the stationary sealing element; and
a sealing baffle fixed to the radiator hood, wherein a seal is broken and formed between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle of the radiator hood when:
1) at least the radiator hood is rotated and returned in a first direction; and 2) at least the engine hood is rotated and returned in a second direction, wherein the sealing baffle includes a stiffer portion for fixing to the articulating hood and a more flexible portion joined to the stiffer portion for mating with the stationary sealing element,
wherein when the sealing baffle is in a closed position, the stationary sealing element forms a substantially continuous seal at an interface between the stationary sealing element and the sealing baffle.
17. The articulating hood assembly of claim 16 , wherein the more flexible portion comprises a first elastomeric seal and a second elastomeric seal adjacent the first elastomeric seal.
18. The articulating hood assembly of claim 16 , wherein the sealing baffle comprises a plurality of manufactured pieces joined to form a single-piece sealing baffle.
19. The articulating hood assembly of claim 16 , wherein the stiffer portion of the sealing baffle includes a plurality of fiberglass lengths joined together to form a single-piece sealing baffle and wherein the more flexible portion comprises an elastomeric seal adhesively adhered to the plurality of fiberglass lengths.
20. The articulating hood assembly of claim 16 , wherein the sealing baffle further includes a bottom elastomeric piece for sealing against a floor of the engine compartment.