Air cooled engine enclosure system and apparatus

Abstract

A system and apparatus for evacuating air from an at least partially enclosed space around an internal combustion engine including an exhaust pipe for the flow of combustion products to atmosphere. The present system and apparatus includes a shaft and structure for mounting the shaft to the exhaust pipe in the exhaust path, and an impeller mountable for rotation on the shaft, the impeller including a first rotor having at least one vane or blade positioned in the exhaust path and oriented so as to be rotatably driven by the flow of combustion products, and a second rotor connected in rotatably driven communication to the first rotor, the second rotor including at least one vane or blade positioned and oriented for propelling air within the enclosure for evacuating the air therefrom.

I claim: 
     
       1. An air cooled engine enclosure system comprising: a frame;   an internal combustion engine supportedly mounted on said frame, said engine including an exhaust pipe defining an exhaust path for the flow of combustion products from the engine to atmosphere;   an enclosure defining a space around at least a portion of said engine; and   an impeller having a first rotor disposed in the exhaust path for rotation by the flow of combustion products, and a second rotor disposed in communication with the space defined by the enclosure and connected in rotatably driven communication with the first rotor for creating an air flow in the enclosure when driven by the first rotor for cooling the enclosure.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second rotor is mounted to the first rotor for rotation therewith. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first rotor is disposed in an outlet end of the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 3, wherein the outlet end of the exhaust pipe is disposed for directing the flow of combustion products into an inlet opening of an exhaust stack and the second rotor is disposed for directing the air flow into the inlet opening for mixing with the flow of combustion products therein. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for evacuating air from an at least partially enclosed space around an internal combustion engine, the engine including an exhaust pipe defining an exhaust path for flow of combustion products from the engine to atmosphere, the apparatus comprising: a shaft and structure for mounting the shaft to the exhaust pipe in the exhaust path; and   an impeller mountable for rotation on the shaft, the impeller including a first rotor having at least one blade positioned in the exhaust path and oriented so as to be rotatably driven by the flow of combustion products, and a second rotor connected in rotatably driven communication to the first rotor, the second rotor including at least one blade positioned and oriented for propelling air within the enclosure for evacuating the air therefrom.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second rotor is positioned for evacuating the air through an exhaust stack. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the structure for mounting the shaft to the exhaust pipe comprises a tubular member mountable to the exhaust pipe for receiving the flow of combustion products therethrough. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first rotor and the second rotor of the impeller are concentric about the shaft. 
     
     
       9. A method for evacuating air from an at least partially enclosed space around an internal combustion engine, the engine including an exhaust pipe defining an exhaust path for flow of combustion products from the engine to atmosphere, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a shaft and associated structure to the exhaust pipe in the exhaust path; and   mounting an impeller on the shaft for rotation, the impeller including a first rotor having at least one blade positioned in the exhaust path and oriented so as to be rotatably driven by the flow of combustion products, and a second rotor connected in rotatably driven communication to the first rotor, the second rotor including at least one blade positioned and oriented for propelling air within the enclosure for evacuating the air therefrom.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of positioning the second rotor for evacuating the air through an exhaust stack. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of mounting a shaft and associated structure to the exhaust pipe in the exhaust path further comprises a step of receiving the flow of combustion products through a tubular member mountable to the exhaust pipe. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first rotor and the second rotor of the impeller are concentric about the shaft.