Title of Invention

A FLEXIBLE VEHICLE HOOD ASSEMBLY .

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle hood assembly includes a hood support (18) having a top section (20) joined to left and right side sections (22, 24) and to a front section (26). An outer panel assembly (30) includes a finished top panel (32) mounted on the top section (20), a finished front panel assembly (34) mounted on the front section (26), a finished left side panel (42) mounted on the left section (22), and a finished right side panel (44) mounted on the right section (24). Each panel (32, 42, 44) and its respective section (20, 22, 24) form and enclose an air space therebetween. Thus, the inner support (18) and the air space is interposed between the finished panels (32, 42, 44) and the heat from the engine (12). As the hood is raised, the lower portions of the side panels (42, 44) engage a wear strip (62) and are deflected laterally outwardly and away from each other. As the hood is lowered, the lower portions of the side panels (42,44) move past the wear strip (62), and they move laterally inwardly and towards each other.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a hood assembly which covers an engine and other components of a vehicle, such as an agricultural or industrial vehicle. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION It is a known practice to provide a tractor with a hood which encloses the engine and other components of the tractor. But conventional hoods may have problems as a result of thermal expansion of various parts of the hood. Conventional hoods also can interface with visibility forward from a cab of the tractor. Conventional hoods typically have cosmetically finished panels which are relatively inflexible and are therefore subject to permanent damage when struck by an object, and which are directly exposed to heat from the vehicle engine. OBJECTS OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle hood assembly with which the recited problems are overcome and the desires are met. In particular it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle hood assembly which accommodates thermal expansion of its components. Another object is to provide such a hood assembly wherein interference with visibility forward from a cab of the tractor is minimized. A still another object is to provide such a hood assembly wherein cosmetically finished panels are relatively flexible so as to be less likely to be permanently damaged when struck by an object. A further object is to provide such a hood assembly wherein finished panels are not directly exposed to heat from the vehicle engine. SUMMARY OF INVENTION These and other objects including the further advantageous arrangements and developments are achieved by the described features of the invention. In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention a vehicle hood assembly includes an inner hood support having a top section joined top left and right side sections and to a front section. An outer panel assembly includes a finished top panel mounted on the top section, a finished front panel assembly mounted on the front section, a finished left panel mounted on the left section, and a finished right panel mounted on the right section. Each panel and its respective section form and enclose an air space therebetween. Thus, the inner support and the air space is interposed between the finished panels and the heat from the engine. The inner hood support comprises a heat shield interposed between the panels and the engine of the vehicle. As the hood is raised, the lower portions of the side panels engage a wear strip and are deflected laterally outwardly and way from each other. As the hood is lowered, the lower portions of the side panels move past the wear strip, and they move laterally inwardly and towards each other. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The invention and further advantageous developments and arrangements of the invention will now be described and explained in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: is a side view of an agricultural tractor with a hood assembly according to the invention, Figure 2: is an exploded perspective view of the hood assembly of the present invention, Figure 3: illustrates a wear strip part of the hood assembly of Figure 1, Figures 4a and 4b: illustrate the relationship between the hood and the wear strip in a hood lowered position, Figures 5a and 5b: illustrate the relationship between the hood and the wear strip in a hood partially raises position, and Figures 6a and 6b: illustrate the relationship between the hood and the wear strip in another hood partially raised position. DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As seen in Figures 1 and 2, an agricultural tractor 10 has an engine 12 which is located forward of the operator's cab 14 and a hood assembly 16 which is coupled to the tractor by a hinge 15. As best seen in Figure 2, the hood assembly 16 includes an inner hood support 18 having a top section 20 joined to left and right side sections 22, 24, and joined to a front section 26. The hood support 18 is preferably formed out of plastic material with a higher fiberglass content for higher rigidity. Top section 20 includes an intake opening 19 positioned to align with an intake air filter (not shown) of the engine 12. Hood assembly 16 also includes a finished outer panel assembly 30 comprising a finished top panel 32 mounted on the top section 20, a finished front panel assembly 34, including a headlight assembly 36, grille 38 and trim piece 40, mounted on the front section 26, a finished left panel 42 mounted on the left section 22, and a finished right panel 44 mounted on the right section 24. When assembled, each panel 32, 42, 44 and its corresponding section 20, 22, 24, forms and encloses an air space therebetween. The inner support 18 serves as a heat shield. The inner support 18 and the air space shield the outer hood assembly 30 from heat from the engine. Top panel 32 includes a pair of engine air intake ports 46 and 48 formed therein. A plurality of engine air intake slots 50 are formed in a forward end of top section 20. Normally, engine intake air will flow from ports 46, 48 to opening 19 via the air space formed between panel 32 and section 20. This air space preferably is formed as an air duct. But, if the ports 46 and 48 are blocked, the engine 12 can still obtain intake air via intake port, preferably via slots 50. The panels 32, 42 and 44 are preferably formed out of plastic material with a lower or zero fiberglass content for lower weight and lower rigidity that the hood support 18. A plurality of mounting slots 52 are formed in the side sections 22, 24 (although only left side section 22 is visible in Figure 2). The slots 52 are preferably formed along a lower edge of side sections 22, 24. A plurality of mounting slots 54 are formed in the side edges of top panel 32 (although only left side of panel 32 is visible in Figure 2). Each side panel 42, 44 has an upper array of inwardly projecting mounting pegs 56 (although only the pegs of right side of panel 44 are visible in Figure 2). When assembled, the mounting pegs 56 are received in the corresponding slots 54. Each side panel 42, 44 also has a lower array of inwardly projecting mounting pegs 58, (although only the pegs of right side of panel 44 are visible in Figure 2). When assembled, the mounting pegs 58 are received in the corresponding slots 52 in the side sections 22 and 24. As one moves toward the rear of hood support 18, the slots 52 have a progressively longer fore-and-aft dimension to accommodate expansion and contraction of the panels 42, 44 relative to the side sections 22, 24 of the hood support 18. As a result, the side panels 42, 44 are fixed with respect to the top panel 32, and panels 42, 44 and 32 form a unit which is movable with respect to the inner support 18. The hood 16 may be held in a raised position by a support rod 60, part of which is visible in Figure 1. A wear strip 62 is mounted over a rear portion of the engine 12. As best seen in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the wear strip 62 has a generally inverted U-shape with downward extending legs 64 and 66. Preferably, the lower ends of the legs 64 and 66 are firmly attached to a part of the vehicle, such as a transmission housing. The upper ends of the legs 64 and 66 are farther apart from each other than are the lower ends of legs 64 and 66. As the hood 10 is raised, the lower portions of the side panels 42, 44 engage the wear strip 62 and are deflected laterally outwardly and away from each other. Conversely, as the hood 10 is lowered, as the lower portions of the side panels 42, 44 move past the wear strip 62, they move laterally inwardly and towards each other. This inward movement increases the visibility past the hood 10 when the hood is lowered. While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the claims. We Claim 1. A flexible vehicle hood assembly, comprising: an inner hood support member (18) pivotally mounted on the vehicle; and an outer panel device (30) mounted on the inner hood support member (18), the outer panel device (30) comprising left and right panels (42, 44) fixed to a top panel (32), characterized in that the outer panel device (30) forming a unit which is movable with respect to the inner support member (18) in response to expansion and contraction of the panels (42, 44). 2. The hood assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each side panel (42, 44) has a plurality of mounting pegs (56, 58) projecting inwardly therefrom; and the inner hood support member (18) comprises a top section (20) integrally joined to left and right side sections (22, 24), each section (22, 24) having a plurality of mounting slots (52, 54) formed therein for releasably receiving the mounting pegs (56, 58) of a corresponding side panel (42, 44), the mounting slots (52, 54) varying in size to accommodate expansion and contraction of the side panels (42, 44) relative to its corresponding section (22, 24). 3. The hood assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein: the inner hood support member (18) comprises a top section (20) integrally joined to left and right side sections (42, 44); and each panel (32, 42, 44) and its corresponding section (20, 22, 24) forming an air space therebetween. 4. The hood assembly as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein: the inner hood support member (18) comprises a heat shield interposed between the panels (32, 42, 44) and an engine (12) of the vehicle. 5. The hood assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, optionally comprising: an inner hood support member (18) pivotally mounted on the vehicle and comprising a top section (20) integrally joined to left and right side sections (22, 24); and an outer panel device (30) comprising left and right side panels (42, 44) fixed to a top panel (32), wherein the outer panel device (30) being mounted to the inner support member (18), and the top panel (32) and the top section (20) forming an intake duct for conducting air to an air intake of an engine (12) of the vehicle. 6. The hood assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein: the top panel (32) has at least one primary engine air intake port (46, 48) formed therein, and the top section (20) having at least one auxiliary engine air intake port (50) through which engine intake air can flow when the primary engine air intake is blocked. 7. The hood assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein: the top panel (32) has an engine intake port (46, 48) formed therein which communicates air to the intake duct; and the top section (20) having an intake opening (19) formed therein for communicating air from the intake duct to the engine. 8. The hood assembly as claimed in one of the claims 5 to 7, wherein: the top panel (32) and the top section (20) forming an air space therebetween, engine intake air flowing from the intake port (46, 48) to the intake opening (19) via said air space. 9. The vehicle hood assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising: a wear strip (62) mounted on the vehicle; an inner hood support member (18) pivotally mounted on the vehicle; and an outer panel device (30) mounted to the inner support member (18) and comprising left and right side panels (42, 44), wherein each side panel (42, 44) having a lower part which slidably engages the wear strip (62), engagement of the lower part with the wear strip (62) causing the lower part to flex outwardly as the inner hood support member (18) and the outer panel device (30) are pivoted upwardly, said lower parts flexing inwardly and towards each other as the inner hood support member (18) and the outer panel device (30) are pivoted downwardly. 10.The vehicle hood assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein: the wear strip (62) comprises a generally inverted U-shaped member having a pair of legs (64, 66). 11.The vehicle hood assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein: the legs (64, 66) are attached to a housing of a transmission of the vehicle. The invention relates to a vehicle hood assembly includes a hood support (18) having a top section (20) joined to left and right side sections (22, 24) and to a front section (26). An outer panel assembly (30) includes a finished top panel (32) mounted on the top section (20), a finished front panel assembly (34) mounted on the front section (26), a finished left side panel (42) mounted on the left section (22), and a finished right side panel (44) mounted on the right section (24). Each panel (32, 42, 44) and its respective section (20, 22, 24) form and enclose an air space therebetween. Thus, the inner support (18) and the air space is interposed between the finished panels (32, 42, 44) and the heat from the engine (12). As the hood is raised, the lower portions of the side panels (42, 44) engage a wear strip (62) and are deflected laterally outwardly and away from each other. As the hood is lowered, the lower portions of the side panels (42,44) move past the wear strip (62), and they move laterally inwardly and towards each other.

Documents:

62-kolnp-2003-granted-abstract.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-assignment.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-claims.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-correspondence.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-description (complete).pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-drawings.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-examination report.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-form 1.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-form 18.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-form 2.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-form 26.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-form 3.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-form 5.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-specification.pdf

62-kolnp-2003-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf