Cover for a separating area of an air intake duct of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

In connection with a cover for preventing foreign matters, such as water, dirt, ice, snow and the like, from entering into an air intake duct of an internal combustion engine, which cover covers an opening of the air intake duct at a separation area of the air intake duct in an air-permeable manner, when the separation area of the air intake duct is open, the cover is operatively connected to a mechanism by which the cover is movable from its covering position, in which the opening of the air intake duct is covered, into a withdrawn position, in which the opening of the air intake duct is uncovered so that the air intake duct can be closed at the separation area, and vice versa.

1 . A cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ) for preventing the infiltration of foreign matter into an air intake duct ( 21 ) of an internal combustion engine of a utility vehicle, the air intake duct ( 21 ) having a separation area ( 23 ) with an opening ( 22 ), said cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ) covering the opening ( 22 ) of the air intake duct ( 21 ) at the separation area ( 23 ) of the air intake duct ( 21 ) in an air-permeable manner in order to prevent the infiltration of the foreign matter, when the separation area ( 23 ) of the air guide duct ( 21 ) is open, said cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ) being operatively connected to a mechanism ( 25 . 1 ,  25 . 2 ), for moving the cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ) from its covering position ( 26 ), in which the opening ( 22 ) of the air intake duct ( 21 ) is covered into a withdrawn position ( 27 ) in which the opening ( 22 ) of the air intake duct ( 21 ) is opened but in which the separation area ( 23 ) is closed, and vice versa. 
     
     
         2 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ) is operatively connected to a mechanism ( 25 . 1 ,  25 . 2 ), by means of which, during the closure of the separation area ( 23 ), the cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ) is movable from its covering position ( 26 ) into its open position ( 27 ), and by means of which, upon the opening of the separation area ( 23 ), the cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ) is movable from its withdrawn position ( 27 ) to its covering position ( 26 ). 
     
     
         3 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, during closure of the separation area ( 23 ), said cover is in a withdrawn position ( 27 ) in which air can pass through the air intake duct ( 21 ) in a manner completely unrestricted by the cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in its covering position ( 26 ), said cover extends across the opening ( 22 ) of the air intake duct ( 21 ), an air cleaning device disposed in an air filter housing ( 29 ) being arranged between the opening ( 22 ) and the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         5 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cover is mounted so as to be pivotable, from its withdrawn position ( 27 ) to its covering position ( 26 ) and vice versa, about a pivot axis ( 30 ) of a pivot bearing ( 31 ) which is fastened to, and supported by, one of the filter housing ( 29 ) and the air intake duct ( 21 ) which is fixedly connected thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in its covering position ( 26 ), said cover is arranged at a distance ( 35 ) from the separation area ( 23 ). 
     
     
         7 . The cover as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the distance ( 35 ) is smaller than the width ( 36 ) of either one of the separation area ( 23 ) and the opening ( 22 ) of the air intake duct ( 21 ). 
     
     
         8 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cover is movable from its withdrawn position ( 27 ) into its covering position ( 26 ) by a spring force of a spring mechanism, and is movable from its covering position ( 26 ) into its withdrawn position ( 27 ) by means of a return mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The cover as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the spring mechanism and the return mechanism are operable by means of an electrical, mechanical or pneumatic drive means for moving the cover ( 20 . 1 ) from its withdrawn position ( 27 ) into its covering position ( 26 ) and vice versa. 
     
     
         10 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing of the separation area ( 23 ) and the movement of the cover ( 20 . 1 ,  20 . 2 ) from its withdrawn position ( 27 ) into its covering position ( 26 ) and vice versa takes place as a result of, and during, a tilting movement of a driver's cab ( 37 ) of the vehicle ( 38 ) about a driver's cab pivot axle ( 39 ) which is fixedly connected to the vehicle ( 38 ). 
     
     
         11 . The cover as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said cover is fixedly connected to, and supported by, the driver's cab ( 37 ), so that as the driver's cab ( 37 ) is tilted about the driver's cab pivot axle ( 39 ), said cover is pivoted together with said driver's cab ( 37 ) about the driver's cab pivot axle ( 39 ). 
     
     
         12 . The cover as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said cover extends transversely with respect to, and away from, a base of the driver's cab ( 37 ). 
     
     
         13 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in a maximum tilted position of the drivers cab ( 37 ), the cover ( 20 . 2 ) fully covers the opening ( 22 ) of the air intake duct ( 21 ). 
     
     
         14 . The cover as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said cover has a flexible covering apron ( 41 ) in the region of its free end ( 40 ). 
     
     
         15 . The cover as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein, during a tilting movement of the driver's cab ( 37 ) together with the cover ( 20 . 2 ) about the driver's cab pivot axle ( 39 ), the position of the covering apron ( 41 ) relative to the cover ( 20 . 2 ) varies on account of gravity. 
     
     
         16 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in its covering position ( 26 ), said cover extends laterally over, and projects laterally beyond, the opening ( 22 ) of the air intake duct ( 21 ). 
     
     
         17 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cover is formed at a side ( 33 ) thereof pointing away from the separating area ( 23 ) with a smooth protective shield ( 34 ), which is closed at the top. 
     
     
         18 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cover is angled in one of an edge region ( 42 . 1 ,  42 . 2 ) and the region of one of its free ends ( 40 ). 
     
     
         19 . The cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in its withdrawn position ( 27 ), said cover is arranged transversely with respect to the separation area ( 23 ). 
     
     
         20 . The cover as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said cover, in its withdrawn position ( 27 ), extends at one side of, and across, the separation area ( 23 ).