Integrated fan and axle arrangement for an agricultural vehicle

1. An integrated fan and axle arrangement for an agricultural vehicle having an impeller with an axis of rotation that extends laterally across a chassis of the agricultural vehicle, the integrated fan and axle arrangement comprising:

a front axle assembly configured to support one or more front wheels of the agricultural vehicle; and

a fan housing, wherein the impeller rotates within the fan housing to provide air flow within the agricultural vehicle;

wherein a laterally extending portion of the fan housing forms part of the front axle assembly, such that the laterally extending portion of the fan housing provides structural rigidity to the front axle assembly for the support of the one or more front wheels;

wherein the front axle assembly includes first and second side plates on opposite lateral sides of the front axle assembly; and

wherein the impeller extends to a greater height than the first and second side plates and extends laterally across the chassis between sides of the vehicle as defined by the first and second side plates.

2. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of blades are attached to the impeller, the plurality of blades defining an outer boundary of the impeller as the impeller rotates within the fan housing;

wherein the fan housing includes a fan scroll with one or more scroll plates, wherein the one or more scroll plates define an air-flow gap between the fan scroll and the outer boundary of the impeller, and the impeller provides the air flow through the air-flow gap; and

wherein the laterally extending portion of the fan housing that forms part of the front axle assembly includes at least one scroll plate of the one or more scroll plates.

3. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the at least one scroll plate extends laterally across the agricultural vehicle from a first end at the first side plate of the front axle assembly to a second end at the second side plate of the front axle assembly.

4. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the first and second side plates extend past the at least one scroll plate toward the impeller.

5. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the at least one scroll plate includes a scroll section and a support section;

wherein the scroll section defines, at least in part, the air-flow gap between the fan scroll of the fan housing and the outer boundary of the impeller; and

wherein the support section extends outwardly away from the scroll section and the impeller such that the support section is excluded, at least in part, from the fan scroll of the fan housing.

6. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the support section of the at least one scroll plate extends, at least in part, outwardly away from the scroll section in a direction towards a lower edge of each of the first and second side plates.

7. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the at least one scroll plate defines the air-flow gap for at least part of a forward, lower quadrant of the impeller.

8. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the front axle assembly includes an upper support structure extending laterally between the first and second side plates of the front axle assembly; and

wherein the upper support structure and the laterally extending portion of the fan housing are disposed to define a passage between the upper support structure and the laterally extending portion of the fan housing, the passage extending from outside of the front axle assembly to an internal volume of the front axle assembly.

9. An integrated fan and axle arrangement for an agricultural vehicle having an impeller with an axis of rotation that extends laterally across a chassis of the agricultural vehicle, wherein a plurality of blades attached to the impeller define an outer boundary of the impeller as the impeller rotates about the axis of rotation, the integrated fan and axle arrangement comprising:

a fan housing including a fan scroll, the fan scroll defining an air-flow gap between the fan scroll and the outer boundary of the impeller, wherein, as the impeller rotates about the axis of rotation, the impeller moves air through the air-flow gap; and

a front axle assembly configured to support one or more front wheels of the agricultural vehicle, the front axle assembly including:

a first side plate on a first lateral side of the axle assembly;

a second side plate on a second lateral side of the axle assembly;

a rearward support plate extending laterally between the first and second side plates of the axle assembly; and

an upper support structure extending laterally between the first and second side plates;

wherein the rearward support plate forms at least part of the fan scroll of the housing for the impeller, such that the support plate defines, at least in part, the air-flow gap; and

wherein the upper support structure and the rearward support plate are disposed to define passage between the upper support structure and the rearward support plate, the passage extending in a direction from outside of the front axle assembly to an internal volume of the front axle assembly.

10. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the first and second side plates extend past the support plate in a direction from the front axle assembly toward the impeller.

11. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the rearward support plate defines the air-flow gap for at least part of a forward, lower quadrant of the impeller.

12. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the impeller is configured to rotate downward and rearward through the forward, lower quadrant, such that air entering the impeller through axial ends of the impeller is moved by the impeller rearward within the agricultural vehicle.

13. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the first and second side plates are disposed, respectively, at opposite lateral ends of the impeller.

14. An integrated fan and axle arrangement for an agricultural vehicle having an impeller with an axis of rotation that extends laterally across a chassis of the agricultural vehicle, wherein a plurality of blades attached to the impeller define an outer boundary of the impeller as the impeller rotates about the axis of rotation, the integrated fan and axle arrangement comprising:

a fan housing including a fan scroll, the fan scroll defining an air-flow gap between the fan scroll and the outer boundary of the impeller, wherein, as the impeller rotates about the axis of rotation, the impeller moves air through the air-flow gap; and

a front axle assembly configured to support one or more front wheels of the agricultural vehicle, the front axle assembly including:

a first side plate on a first lateral side of the axle assembly;

a second side plate on a second lateral side of the axle assembly; and

a rearward support plate extending laterally between the first and second side plates of the axle assembly;

wherein the rearward support plate forms at least part of the fan scroll of the housing for the impeller, such that the support plate defines, at least in part, the air-flow gap;

wherein the rearward support plate includes a scroll section and a support section;

wherein the scroll section defines at least part of the air-flow gap between the fan scroll of the housing and the outer boundary of the impeller; and

wherein the support section extends outwardly away from the scroll section and the impeller such that support section is excluded, at least in part, from the fan scroll of the housing.

15. The integrated fan and axle arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the support section of the rearward support plate extends, at least in part, outwardly away from the scroll section in a direction towards a lower edge of each of the first and second side plates.