Fan shroud and rock screen assembly

Abstract

An engine system can comprise an engine and a cooling module assembly which comprises a radiator. In some examples, an assembly, such as the cooling module assembly, can include a radiator and a fan shroud and screen assembly arranged at a rear side of the radiator. The fan shroud and screen assembly includes a screen and first and second shroud portions coupled to and around the screen, where the first and second shroud portions and the screen form a cavity, and where the first and second shroud portions are directly coupled to the rear side of the radiator. The assembly further comprises a fan disposed within the cavity and configured to spin freely within the cavity without being attached to the fan shroud and screen assembly.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An assembly comprising:
 a radiator;   a fan shroud and screen assembly arranged at a rear side of the radiator, wherein the fan shroud and screen assembly comprises:
 a screen; and 
 first and second shroud portions coupled to and around the screen, wherein the first and second shroud portions and the screen form a cavity, and wherein the first and second shroud portions are directly coupled to the rear side of the radiator; and 
   a fan disposed within the cavity and configured to spin freely within the cavity without being attached to the fan shroud and screen assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first shroud portion is removably coupled to the screen by a first mating interface, and wherein the second shroud portion is removably coupled to the screen by a second mating interface. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first mating interface comprises a plurality of apertures spaced apart on an outer rim of the screen and a plurality of protruding elements spaced apart on the first shroud portion, wherein each protruding element of the plurality of protruding elements is configured to extend into and couple to a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second mating interface comprises hooks spaced apart from one another on the second shroud portion and complementary protrusions spaced apart from one another on an outer rim of the screen, wherein each hook is configured to receive a respective one of the complementary protrusions. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the screen comprises an outer rim, a screen portion, and a plurality of vanes that are spaced apart from one another around a circumference of the screen, wherein the plurality of vanes offset the screen portion from the outer rim in an axial direction that is relative to a central longitudinal axis of the fan shroud and screen assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each vane curves radially outward from the screen portion and in a first circumferential direction, and wherein openings for airflow are defined between adjacent vanes of the plurality of vanes and between the outer rim and the screen portion. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the screen portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially extending rungs, and wherein each rung has an airfoil shape with opposing curved sides. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the screen comprises an outer rim that is removably coupled to the first and second shroud portions and a screen portion that is recessed relative to the outer rim, toward the radiator. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second shroud portions each comprise a body and outer flange, and wherein the outer flange of each of the first and second shroud portions is directly coupled to the rear side of the radiator. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an engine block, and wherein the fan shroud and rock screen assembly is disposed between the radiator and the engine block. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly comprising:
 a rock screen comprising a screen portion and an outer rim, wherein the screen portion is offset from the outer rim, in an axial direction relative to a central longitudinal axis of the assembly;   a first shroud portion removably coupled to a first half of the outer rim; and   a second shroud portion removably coupled to a second half of the outer rim, wherein when coupled together, the screen portion and the first and second shroud portions form a cavity configured to receive a fan therein.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the screen portion is offset from the outer rim by a plurality of vanes that are spaced apart around a circumference of the rock screen, each vane extending between the outer rim and the screen portion. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each vane comprises a base and a tip, wherein the base extends between the screen portion and the outer rim, and wherein the tip is spaced radially and circumferentially away from the base and extends outward from the outer rim to a free end of the tip that is unattached to the screen portion. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the screen portion comprises a plurality of rungs that extend circumferentially around the screen portion, and wherein the rungs are shaped and arranged to block debris from entering the rock screen without hindering airflow through the rock screen. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first half of the outer rim is an upper half and comprises a plurality of apertures, and wherein the first shroud portion comprises a plurality of protruding elements, each protruding element configured to be removably coupled with a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second half of the outer rim is a lower half and comprises one or more protrusions, and wherein the second shroud portion comprises one or more hooks, each hook configured to receive a respective protrusion of the one or more protrusions. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first shroud portion comprises a first body and a first outer flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first body, wherein the second shroud portion comprises a second body and a second outer flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the second body, wherein the first and second bodies are offset from the first and second outer flanges, respectively, thereby forming a cavity, and wherein the screen portion is disposed in the cavity and the outer rim is removably coupled to the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         18 . An engine system comprising:
 a radiator;   a fan shroud and rock screen assembly mounted to a rear side of the radiator, wherein the fan shroud and rock screen assembly comprises:
 a rock screen; and 
 first and second fan shrouds which are each removably coupled to and disposed around the rock screen, wherein the first and second fan shrouds and the rock screen form a cavity on a rear side of the fan shroud and rock screen assembly, and wherein the first and second fan shrouds are directly coupled to the rear side of the radiator; 
   a fan disposed within the cavity and configured to spin within the cavity, wherein the fan is configured to pull air through the radiator, from a front side to the rear side of the radiator; and   an engine arranged behind the fan shroud and rock screen assembly such that the fan shroud and rock screen assembly is disposed between the radiator and the engine.   
     
     
         19 . The engine system of  claim 18 , wherein the rock screen comprises a screen portion and an outer rim, wherein the screen portion is offset from the outer rim, in an axial direction relative to a central longitudinal axis of the fan shroud and rock screen assembly, toward the radiator. 
     
     
         20 . The engine system of  claim 18 , wherein the rock screen comprises a plurality of circumferentially extending rungs and a plurality of vanes spaced apart around a perimeter of the rock screen and curving in a same direction around the rock screen.