WO2008007164A1

WO2008007164A1 - A tractor, a trailer and a truck-type vehicle comprising such a tractor and such a trailer

Info

Publication number: WO2008007164A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/002889
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luc Aixala
Original assignee: Renault Trucks SAS
Current assignee: Renault Trucks SAS
Priority date: 2006-07-07
Filing date: 2006-07-07
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-01-07

Abstract

This tractor (2) for a truck-type vehicle (1) comprises a frame (21) supporting an engine (24) and means (27) for hauling a trailer (3). The engine (24) is connected to a first cooling unit (25) via a first fluid circuit (26). The tractor (2) is equipped with first coupling means (283, 284) belonging to a second fluid circuit (28) and adapted to cooperate with second coupling means (383, 384) in order to connect said engine (24) to a second cooling unit (35) provided on the trailer (3), via a third fluid circuit (38) provided on the trailer.

Description

A TRACTOR₅ A TRAILER AND A TRUCK-TYPE VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH A

TRACTOR AND SUCH A TRAILER

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a tractor for a truck-type vehicle, this tractor comprising an internal combustion engine and means for hauling a trailer. The invention also concerns a trailer adapted to be hauled by such a tractor and a truck- type vehicle formed of such a tractor and such a trailer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Truck-type vehicles are often composed of a tractor and a trailer adapted to be removably hooked on the back part of the frame of the tractor in order to be hauled by the tractor. The tractor is provided with an internal combustion engine which must be cooled in order to ensure a safe functioning. For this purpose, tractors might be equipped with cooling units provided on the roof or on the back side of their cabins, as shown in US-A-3 827 523 or US-A-4 362 208. These cooling units are generally added to a radiator located in the engine compartment of the tractor. These cooling units are bulky and induce limitations to the size of the driver's cabin.

Moreover, they are sometimes noisy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims at providing a tractor whose engine is efficiently cooled, without increasing the global volume of this tractor, limiting the size of the cabin or annoying the driver with noise.

The invention concerns a tractor for a truck-type vehicle, this tractor comprising an engine and means for hauling a trailer, this engine being connected to a first engine cooling unit via a first fluid circuit. This tractor is characterized in that it is equipped with first coupling means belonging to a second fluid circuit and adapted to cooperate with second coupling means in order to connect the engine to at least a second engine cooling unit provided on the trailer, via a third fluid circuit provided on the trailer.

Thanks to the invention, the tractor can make use of cooling capacities for the engine which are provided on the trailer, so that no bulky or noisy cooling unit has to be added to the tractor. Thanks to the coupling means of the invention, it is possible to efficiently cool the engine.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the second fluid circuit is connected to the engine via the first fluid circuit. According to another embodiment, the second fluid circuit is connected to the engine via a third fluid circuit provided on the tractor and independently of the first fluid circuit.

The invention also concerns a trailer adapted to be hauled by a tractor as mentioned here above and to efficiently participate to the cooling of its engine. Trailers provided with cooling units have been known in the past. However, these cooling units were installed to cool either an auxiliary drive-unit mounted on the trailer, as explained in US-B-6 892 839, or the brakes, as mentioned in US-A-3 966 008. In these known trailers, the cooling fluid circulates only onboard the trailers.

On the contrary, the trailer of the invention is provided with coupling means adapted to cooperate with corresponding coupling means provided on the tractor in order to connect the engine cooling unit(s) of the trailer to an engine of the tractor via respective fluid circuits provided on the tractor and on the trailer.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the engine cooling unit(s) of the trailer is(are) mounted below a supporting frame of the trailer, on one or both side(s) of the trailer. This mounting of the cooling unit allows to use a generally empty space without decreasing the useful volume of the trailer.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the engine cooling unit is mounted on the roof of the trailer.

According to another aspect, the invention concerns a truck-type vehicle which includes: a tractor comprising an engine and means for hauling a trailer, this engine being connected to a first engine cooling unit via a first fluid circuit, and a trailer adapted to be hauled by the tractor, this vehicle being characterized in that the engine of the tractor is connected to at least a second engine cooling unit located on the trailer, via respective fluid circuits provided on the tractor and on the trailer.

Advantageously, the connection between the engine and the second engine cooling unit is non permanent, which allows to separate the trailer from the tractor, in particular when the trailer must be parked, whereas the tractor is to be used to haul another trailer.

In such a case, the tractor can be provided with first removable coupling means and the trailer is provided with second corresponding removable coupling means.

In the tractor, the trailer and the vehicle of the invention, the coupling means are preferably parts of quick connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood on the basis of the following description which is given in correspondence with the annexed figures and as an illustrative example, without restricting the object of the invention. In the annexed figures,

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a truck-type vehicle according to the invention incorporating a tractor and a trailer according to the invention,

- figure 2 is a top schematic view of the trailer of figure 1 , and

- figure 3 is a top view similar to figure 1 for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The truck 1 represented on figures 1 and 2 is composed of a tractor 2 and a trailer 3 adapted to be hauled by the tractor. On the figures, only the front part of trailer 3 is represented.

The tractor comprises a frame 21 resting on the ground G via six wheels 22. The frame supports a driver's cabin 23 which defines an engine compartment 231 where are an internal combustion engine 24 and a radiator 25 are installed. In other words, engine 24 is supported by frame 21. The output shaft of engine 24 is connected by non represented transmission means to some or all of the wheels 22. Radiator 25 is located in front of engine 24 and connected to the engine by a liquid coolant circuit 26 comprising two branches 261 and 262. In branch 261 , the liquid coolant flows from engine 24 to radiator 25, whereas, in branch 262, the liquid coolant flows from radiator 25 to engine 24. Liquid flow in circuit 26 is shown by arrows Fi on figure 2.

The liquid in circuit 26 may be of any known kind of heat transfer liquid. Insofar as radiator 25 might not be sufficient to dissipate heat coming from engine 24, two auxiliary radiators 35 and 35' are mounted on trailer 3. These two radiators are designed to be connected to engine 24 so as to provide additional cooling capacities to the engine when trailer 3 is hooked onto the rear part of frame 21 thanks to a connection table 27 provided on this frame and to a connection assembly 37 provided on the lower front part of trailer 3.

In order to connect engine 24 to radiators 35 and 35', tractor 2 is equipped with a second liquid coolant circuit 28 made of two branches 281 and 282. Branch 281 is connected, at the level of a first extremity 2811 , to engine 24. A coupler 283 is provided on the second extremity 2812 of branch 281. Similarly, branch 282 is connected by its first extremity 2821 to engine 24 and provided, on its second extremity 2822, with another coupler 284.

Couplers 283 and 284 are parts of quick connectors. They are preferably of the auto-shut-off type, so as to prevent any major leaking of the cooling fluid when the additional cooling units 35 and 35' are not connected to the engine.

On the other hand, an auxiliary liquid coolant circuit 38 is provided on trailer 3 and includes two first branches 381 and 381' and two second branches 382 and 382'. Branches 381 and 382 are connected to radiator 35, whereas branches 381' and 382' are connected to radiator 35'. Branches 381 and 381' are both connected to a common collector 381 A whose free end is provided with a coupler 383 adapted to form with coupler 383 a quick connector. Similarly, branches 382 and 382' are both connected to a collector 382A whose free end is provided with a coupler 384 adapted to form with coupler 284 a quick connector.

For example, couplers 283 and 284 can be male connectors, whereas couplers 383 and 384 are female connectors.

As shown on figure 1 for radiator 35, this equipment is located on trailer 3 at the horizontal level of a set of wheels 32, preferably fixed to the main frame 31 of trailer 3 on the sides of the trailer, underneath the body of the trailer on which or in which the load is to be carried, so that radiator 35 does not decrease the volume V₃ to be used for the load.

As shown on figure 2, radiators 35 and 35' are symmetrically located with respect to a longitudinal axis X₃ of trailer 3. Of course, only one radiator can be mounted on either side of trailer 3. When engine 24 runs at full power in order to move truck 1 whereas trailer 3 is heavily loaded, it needs to dissipate a maximum amount of heat. Under these conditions, couplers 283 and 383, on the one hand, and couplers 284 and 384, on the other hand are joined to connect circuits 28 and 38. When tractor 2 is used alone, its engine 24 works under much less stringent conditions, having only a comparatively low load to move, so that the additional cooling capacities of radiators 35 and 35' is not needed.

If one considers that cooling fluid exits engine 24 via branch 281 , this fluid flows towards radiators 35 and 35' via branches 381 and 381' and flows back to engine 24 via branches 382, 382' and 282, after being cooled in radiators 35 and 35' which work as heat dissipaters. This is shown by arrows F₂ on figure 2 which represent liquid coolant flow when circuits 28 and 38 are connected via couplers 283, 284, 383, and 384.

Thanks to the fact that couplers 283, 284, 383 and 384 are quick connector parts, they can be easily and rapidly connected when trailer 3 is hooked on tractor 2 and disconnected when trailer 3 is supposed to be parked, whereas tractor 2 is used to haul another trailer.

The parts of branches 281 , 282 and collectors 381 A and 382A next to couplers 283, 284, 383, and 384 are preferably made of flexible pipes, which facilitate connection and disconnection of the couplers.

Because tractor 2 is provided with radiator 25, its engine 24 can be cooled even if the associated trailer is not provided with a cooling unit, as radiators 35 and 35'. In such a case, circuit 28 remains unused.

In the embodiment of figures 1 and 2, circuits 26 and 28 are independent from each other, so that the liquid coolant in circuits 28 and 38 can be different from liquid coolant in circuit 26.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the same elements as in the first embodiment bear the same references. In this embodiment, branches 281 and 282 branch off branches 261 and 262. In other words, circuit 28 is connected to engine 24 via circuit 26. As in the first embodiment, branches 281 and 282 are each provided with one coupler, respectively 283 and 284.

Trailer 1 is provided with one radiator 35 mounted onto its roof 39 and connected to a liquid coolant circuit 38 made of two branches 381 and 382, each branch being provided with a terminal coupler, respectively 383 and 384. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to connect radiator 35 to engine 34 when trailer 3 is being hauled by tractor 2. As shown by arrows Fi and F₂, the same coolant flows in circuits 26, 28 and 38 when circuits 28 and 38 are connected. According to a non represented aspect of the invention which applies to all embodiments, radiators 35 and 35' may be equipped with fans in order to facilitate heat transfer.

The technical features of the two embodiments of the invention can be combined within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the annexed claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 truck

2 tractor 21 frame

22 wheels

23 driver's cabin

231 engine compartment

24 combustion engine 25 radiator

26 liquid coolant circuit

261 branch

262 branch

27 connection table 28 liquid coolant circuit

281 branch

2811 extremity

2812 extremity

282 branch 2821 extremity

2822 extremity

283 coupler

284 coupler 3 trailer 31 frame

32 wheels 35 radiator 35' radiator 37 connection assembly

38 liquid coolant circuit

381 branch 381' branch

382 branch 382' branch

381 A collector

382A collector

383 coupler

384 coupler 39 roof

Fi flow of cooling liquid in circuit 26

F₂ flow of cooling liquid in circuits 28 and 38

G ground V₃ useful volume of trailer 3

X₃ longitudinal axis of trailer

Claims

1. A tractor (2) for a truck-type vehicle (1), said tractor comprising an engine (24) and means (27) for hauling a trailer (3), said engine being connected to a first engine cooling unit (25) via a first fluid circuit (26), characterized in that said tractor is equipped with first coupling means (283, 284) belonging to a second fluid circuit (28) and adapted to cooperate with second coupling means (383, 384) in order to connect said engine to at least a second engine cooling unit (35, 35') provided on said trailer, via a third fluid circuit (38) provided on said trailer.

2. A tractor according to claim 1 , characterized in that said second fluid circuit (28) is connected to said engine via said first fluid circuit (26).

3. A tractor according to claim 1 , characterized in that said second fluid circuit (28) is connected to said engine independently of said first fluid circuit (26).

4. A trailer (3) adapted to be hauled by a tractor (2) of a truck-type vehicle (1), said trailer being equipped with at least an engine cooling unit (35, 35') characterized in that said trailer is provided with coupling means (383, 384) adapted to cooperate with corresponding coupling means (283, 284) provided on said tractor in order to connect said engine cooling unit to an engine (24) of said tractor via respective fluid circuits (28, 38) provided on said tractor and said trailer.

5. A trailer according to claim 4 characterized in that said engine cooling unit (35, 35') is mounted below a supporting frame (31) of said trailer (3), on a side of said trailer.

6. A trailer according to claim 4, characterized in that said engine cooling unit (35) is mounted on the roof (39) of said trailer (3).

7. A truck-type vehicle (1) including:

- a tractor (2) comprising an engine (24) and means (27) for hauling a trailer (3), said engine being connected to a first engine cooling unit (25) via a first fluid circuit (26), and - a trailer (3) adapted to be hauled by said tractor, characterized in that said engine (24) is connected to at least a second engine cooling unit (35, 35') located on said trailer, via respective fluid circuits (28, 38) provided on said tractor and said trailer.

8. A truck-type vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the connection between said engine (24) and said engine second cooling unit (35, 35') is non-permanent.

9. A truck-type vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that said tractor (2) is provided with first removable coupling means (283, 284) and said trailer (3) is provided with second corresponding removable coupling means (383, 384).

10. A tractor, a trailer or a truck-type vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 6 or 9, characterized in that said coupling means (283, 284, 383, 384) are parts of quick connectors.