Snow groomer

Abstract

Snow groomer provided with a propulsion system (3) in which an endothermic engine (8) is accommodated in an engine compartment adjacent to the cabin (5); the engine (8) is provided with a liquid cooling system provided with a radiator (10) coupled to a fan (11) for sucking an air flow (LF) into the engine compartment. An electronic control unit (22) controls the on / off cycle of the fan (11) based on a signal Twater that is a function of the measured temperature of the cooling liquid in the radiator (10) and a reference signal TWater_ref representing a target temperature. The control unit is also designed to process a further control signal Tc relating to the amount of the heat flow from the engine (8) to the cabin, the electronic control unit is configured to compare the control signal Tc with a reference signal Tcref to control the start-up of the fan in order to generate the intake of air at room temperature into the engine compartment and the expulsion of hot air from the engine compartment thus decreasing as a whole, the heat flow from the engine to the cabin.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102024000024411 filed on October 31, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a snow groomer.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Generally, a snow groomer comprises a frame, a propulsion system mounted on the frame, a plurality of drive wheels operated by the propulsion system and a cabin mounted in a front portion of the frame and designed to accommodate at least one operator in charge of driving the snow groomer. The propulsion system comprises an endothermic engine housed in an engine compartment arranged in a rear portion of the frame.

[0004] Furthermore, the snow groomer generally comprises tools, including a front shovel or blade and a rear tiller and trimmer. The blade can be raised, lowered and oriented to move desired amounts of snow, which can thus be removed, accumulated, distributed and shaped in accordance with needs. The rear tool with tiller and trimmer allows instead to obtain the desired trim of the surface of the snowpack. The movement of the tools is carried out by a hydraulic system operated by the endothermic engine.

[0005] The endothermic engines used by modern snow groomers have high powers (use can be made for example of engines with powers of 500 hp) which produce a high amount of heat that is released from the engine compartment to the external environment through the radiator and by irradiation and convection. Since the endothermic engine is arranged behind the driver's cabin and at a short distance from it, there is a high flow of thermal energy from the engine to the driver's cabin, which is heated in an unsolicited and uncontrolled manner.

[0006] The Applicant has in fact found that the engine of a snow groomer operating in an environment characterised by low temperatures close to or below zero significantly heats the driver's cabin in such a way that an air conditioning system configured to reduce the temperature of the driver's cabin must be provided. The use of an air conditioning system constitutes an obvious waste of energy as the endothermic engine is required to generate additional power in order to power the compressor of the air conditioner.

[0007] The Applicant has further noted that the simple provision of a barrier of insulating material between the front cabin and the rear endothermic engine is not sufficient to prevent unwanted heating of the cabin.

[0008] It is therefore felt the need to realize a snow groomer in which the flow of thermal energy from the engine to the cabin is controlled and it is not necessary to provide an air conditioning system.PREVIOUS DOCUMENTS

[0009] Patent Document 1: US11505906B2 Patent Document 2: CN103362629B Patent Document 3: EP1825110B1 Patent Document 4: US2008103635A1 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Aim of the present invention is to realize a snow groomer that mitigates the drawbacks of the prior art highlighted herein.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, a snow groomer of the type described in claim 1 is provided.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a snow groomer realized in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of a snow groomer realized in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 shows the cabin temperature control system of the snow groomer realized according to the dictates of the present invention and shown in Figures 1 and 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, number 1 denotes as a whole a snow groomer comprising a frame 2, a propulsion system 3 (Figure 2) mounted on the frame 2, a plurality of drive wheels 4 operated by the propulsion system 3 and a cabin 5 mounted in a front portion of the frame 2 and designed to accommodate at least one operator (not shown) in charge of driving the snow groomer vehicle 1.

[0014] In the example shown, there are provided two pairs of drive wheels 4 for each side of the frame 2 and a pair of tracks 6 each of which extends between the end drive wheels 4. A plurality of idle wheels 7 (four on each side but the number may be different, see Figure 1) are arranged between the end drive wheels 4 and couple with the tracks 6.

[0015] The propulsion system 3 comprises an endothermic engine 8 (schematically represented in Figure 2, for example a diesel engine) housed in an engine compartment and arranged in a rear portion of the frame 2. The motor 8 is connected in known manner with the drive wheels through a transmission (not shown). The engine 8 is provided with a liquid cooling system provided with a first radiator 10 coupled to a fan 11 for sucking an air flow LF into the engine compartment, the air taken in contributes in a known manner to reducing the temperature of the engine cooling liquid. The engine 8 is provided with a liquid cooling system of the hydraulic system provided with a second radiator 14 coupled to a fan 15 for sucking an air flow LF into the engine compartment, the air taken in contributes in a known manner to reducing the oil temperature of the hydraulic system. The engine 8 is provided with an intercooler system in which a third radiator 18 (air-to-air or air-to-water), considerably lowers the temperature of the air coming from the compressor (turbo or volumetric) before introducing it into the cylinders. The third radiator 18 is coupled to a fan 20 for sucking an air flow LF into the engine compartment, the air taken in contributes in a known manner to reducing the temperature of the air compressed by the turbocharger. An electronic control unit 22 controls the on / off cycle of the first fan 11, the second fan 15 and the third fan 20. The electronic control unit 22 receives a signal T water that is a function of the measured temperature of the cooling liquid in the radiator 10 and compares it (Figure 3, summing block S1) with a reference signal T Water_ref representing a target temperature, the difference signal ΔTW = (T Water - T Water_ref ) is sent to a first regulator R1 which is designed to control (on / off by means of known algorithms) of the motor M1 of the first fan 11. The electronic control unit 22 receives a signal T oil that is a function of the measured oil temperature in the radiator 14 and compares it (summing block S2) with a reference signal T Oil_ref representing a target temperature, the difference signal ΔTO= (T oil - T Oil_ref ) is sent to a second regulator R2 which is designed to control (on / off by means of known algorithms) of the motor M2 of the second fan 15. The electronic control unit 22 receives a signal T Air that is a function of the temperature of the air sucked into the engine and compares it (summing block S3) with a reference signal T Air_ref representing a target air temperature, the difference signal ΔTA=(T Air - T Air_ref ) is sent to a third regulator R3 which is designed to control (on / off by means of known algorithms) of the motor M3 of the third fan 20.

[0016] Furthermore, the snow groomer 1 generally comprises tools including a front shovel or blade 24 and a rear tiller 25 and trimmer 26.

[0017] The front shovel or blade 24 can be raised, lowered and oriented by means of actuators 27 to move desired amounts of snow, which can thus be removed, accumulated, distributed and shaped in accordance with needs.

[0018] The rear tool with tiller 25 and trimmer 26 allows instead to obtain the desired finish of the surface of the snowpack. The movement of the tools is carried out by the aforementioned hydraulic system.

[0019] The cabin 5 comprises two side walls 28 (only one is visible in Figure 1) provided with glazed doors, a front wall 29 provided with a large windscreen 30, a bottom wall (not shown and constrained to the frame), a roof 31 and a rear wall 32 which is arranged facing the engine compartment. The rear wall 32 facing the engine compartment is covered with a layer of thermal insulation 33 configured to reduce thermal transfer by irradiation and convection from the engine 8 towards the cabin 5.

[0020] According to the present invention, a sensor 40 is provided which is designed to send to the electronic control unit 22 a further control signal Tc relating to the amount of heat flow from the engine 8 to the cabin 5. Conveniently, the sensor 40 can be realized by a temperature sensor arranged inside the cabin 5 or by a temperature sensor located in the space between the rear wall 32 and the motor 8.

[0021] Alternatively, the control signal Tc relating to the amount of heat flow from the engine 8 to the cabin 5 can be estimated - for example by using Artificial Intelligence algorithms - based on other signals / parameters measured in the engine and in the vehicle 8 (cooling liquid temperature, snow groomer speed, engine load, room temperature etc.).

[0022] The signal Tc is compared with a reference signal Tcref and the difference signal ΔTC= (Tc - TCref ) is sent to a fourth regulator R4 which generates signals STRT 1 , STRT 2 , STRT 3 , for the start-up of the first motor M1, the second motor M2 or the third motor M3 in order to generate the intake of air at room temperature into the engine compartment and the expulsion of hot air from the engine compartment, thus overall decreasing the thermal flow from the engine to the cabin.

[0023] The motors M1, M2 and M3 can be used to control Tc in different combinations, depending on the operating status and configuration of the vehicle.

[0024] In use, when the errors ΔTW= (T Water - T Water_ref ), ΔTO= (T Oil - T Oil_ref ) and / or ΔTA= (T Air - T Air_ref ) have reduced value the respective fans 11, 15 and 20 are not in action. Under such conditions, although the temperature of the cooling liquid, of the oil of the hydraulic system and of the sucked air is acceptable, due to the heat flow sent by the engine towards the cabin the latter begins to heat up although a layer of thermal insulation 33 is present. When the temperature measured by the sensor 40 or the estimate obtained by means of the algorithm leads to having a signal Tc that significantly exceeds the threshold, the regulator switches on one or more fans 11, 15 and 20 to generate the intake of air at room temperature into the engine compartment and the expulsion of hot air from the engine compartment, thus overall decreasing the thermal flow from the engine to the cabin.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0013]With reference to Figures 1 and 2, number 1 denotes as a whole a snow groomer comprising a frame 2, a propulsion system 3 (Figure 2) mounted on the frame 2, a plurality of drive wheels 4 operated by the propulsion system 3 and a cabin 5 mounted in a front portion of the frame 2 and designed to accommodate at least one operator (not shown) in charge of driving the snow groomer vehicle 1.

[0014]In the example shown, there are provided two pairs of drive wheels 4 for each side of the frame 2 and a pair of tracks 6 each of which extends between the end drive wheels 4. A plurality of idle wheels 7 (four on each side but the number may be different, see Figure 1) are arranged between the end drive wheels 4 and couple with the tracks 6.

[0015]The propulsion system 3 comprises an endothermic engine 8 (schematically represented in Figure 2, for example a diesel engine) housed in an engine compartment and arranged in a rear portion of the frame 2. The motor 8 is connected in known manner ...

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102024000024411 filed on October 31, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a snow groomer.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Generally, a snow groomer comprises a frame, a propulsion system mounted on the frame, a plurality of drive wheels operated by the propulsion system and a cabin mounted in a front portion of the frame and designed to accommodate at least one operator in charge of driving the snow groomer. The propulsion system comprises an endothermic engine housed in an engine compartment arranged in a rear portion of the frame.

[0004] Furthermore, the snow groomer generally comprises tools, including a front shovel or blade and a rear tiller and trimmer. The blade can be raised, lowered and oriented to move desired amounts of snow, which can thus be removed, accumulated, distributed and shaped in accordance with needs. The rear tool with tiller and trimmer allows instead to obtain the desired trim of the surface of the snowpack. The movement of the tools is carried out by a hydraulic system operated by the endothermic engine.

[0005] The endothermic engines used by modern snow groomers have high powers (use can be made for example of engines with powers of 500 hp) which produce a high amount of heat that is released from the engine compartment to the external environment through the radiator and by irradiation and convection. Since the endothermic engine is arranged behind the driver's cabin and at a short distance from it, there is a high flow of thermal energy from the engine to the driver's cabin, which is heated in an unsolicited and uncontrolled manner.

[0006] The Applicant has in fact found that the engine of a snow groomer operating in an environment characterised by low temperatures close to or below zero significantly heats the driver's cabin in such a way that an air conditioning system configured to reduce the temperature of the driver's cabin must be provided. The use of an air conditioning system constitutes an obvious waste of energy as the endothermic engine is required to generate additional power in order to power the compressor of the air conditioner.

[0007] The Applicant has further noted that the simple provision of a barrier of insulating material between the front cabin and the rear endothermic engine is not sufficient to prevent unwanted heating of the cabin.

[0008] It is therefore felt the need to realize a snow groomer in which the flow of thermal energy from the engine to the cabin is controlled and it is not necessary to provide an air conditioning system.PREVIOUS DOCUMENTS

[0009] Patent Document 1: US11505906B2 Patent Document 2: CN103362629B Patent Document 3: EP1825110B1 Patent Document 4: US2008103635A1 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Aim of the present invention is to realize a snow groomer that mitigates the drawbacks of the prior art highlighted herein.

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, a snow groomer of the type described in claim 1 is provided.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of a non-limiting example of embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a snow groomer realized in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of a snow groomer realized in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 shows the cabin temperature control system of the snow groomer realized according to the dictates of the present invention and shown in Figures 1 and 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, number 1 denotes as a whole a snow groomer comprising a frame 2, a propulsion system 3 (Figure 2) mounted on the frame 2, a plurality of drive wheels 4 operated by the propulsion system 3 and a cabin 5 mounted in a front portion of the frame 2 and designed to accommodate at least one operator (not shown) in charge of driving the snow groomer vehicle 1.

[0014] In the example shown, there are provided two pairs of drive wheels 4 for each side of the frame 2 and a pair of tracks 6 each of which extends between the end drive wheels 4. A plurality of idle wheels 7 (four on each side but the number may be different, see Figure 1) are arranged between the end drive wheels 4 and couple with the tracks 6.

[0015] The propulsion system 3 comprises an endothermic engine 8 (schematically represented in Figure 2, for example a diesel engine) housed in an engine compartment and arranged in a rear portion of the frame 2. The motor 8 is connected in known manner with the drive wheels through a transmission (not shown). The engine 8 is provided with a liquid cooling system provided with a first radiator 10 coupled to a fan 11 for sucking an air flow LF into the engine compartment, the air taken in contributes in a known manner to reducing the temperature of the engine cooling liquid. The engine 8 is provided with a liquid cooling system of the hydraulic system provided with a second radiator 14 coupled to a fan 15 for sucking an air flow LF into the engine compartment, the air taken in contributes in a known manner to reducing the oil temperature of the hydraulic system. The engine 8 is provided with an intercooler system in which a third radiator 18 (air-to-air or air-to-water), considerably lowers the temperature of the air coming from the compressor (turbo or volumetric) before introducing it into the cylinders. The third radiator 18 is coupled to a fan 20 for sucking an air flow LF into the engine compartment, the air taken in contributes in a known manner to reducing the temperature of the air compressed by the turbocharger. An electronic control unit 22 controls the on / off cycle of the first fan 11, the second fan 15 and the third fan 20. The electronic control unit 22 receives a signal T water that is a function of the measured temperature of the cooling liquid in the radiator 10 and compares it (Figure 3, summing block S1) with a reference signal T Water_ref representing a target temperature, the difference signal ΔTW = (T Water - T Water_ref ) is sent to a first regulator R1 which is designed to control (on / off by means of known algorithms) of the motor M1 of the first fan 11. The electronic control unit 22 receives a signal T oil that is a function of the measured oil temperature in the radiator 14 and compares it (summing block S2) with a reference signal T Oil_ref representing a target temperature, the difference signal ΔTO= (T oil - T Oil_ref ) is sent to a second regulator R2 which is designed to control (on / off by means of known algorithms) of the motor M2 of the second fan 15. The electronic control unit 22 receives a signal T Air that is a function of the temperature of the air sucked into the engine and compares it (summing block S3) with a reference signal T Air_ref representing a target air temperature, the difference signal ΔTA=(T Air - T Air_ref ) is sent to a third regulator R3 which is designed to control (on / off by means of known algorithms) of the motor M3 of the third fan 20.

[0016] Furthermore, the snow groomer 1 generally comprises tools including a front shovel or blade 24 and a rear tiller 25 and trimmer 26.

[0017] The front shovel or blade 24 can be raised, lowered and oriented by means of actuators 27 to move desired amounts of snow, which can thus be removed, accumulated, distributed and shaped in accordance with needs.

[0018] The rear tool with tiller 25 and trimmer 26 allows instead to obtain the desired finish of the surface of the snowpack. The movement of the tools is carried out by the aforementioned hydraulic system.

[0019] The cabin 5 comprises two side walls 28 (only one is visible in Figure 1) provided with glazed doors, a front wall 29 provided with a large windscreen 30, a bottom wall (not shown and constrained to the frame), a roof 31 and a rear wall 32 which is arranged facing the engine compartment. The rear wall 32 facing the engine compartment is covered with a layer of thermal insulation 33 configured to reduce thermal transfer by irradiation and convection from the engine 8 towards the cabin 5.

[0020] According to the present invention, a sensor 40 is provided which is designed to send to the electronic control unit 22 a further control signal Tc relating to the amount of heat flow from the engine 8 to the cabin 5. Conveniently, the sensor 40 can be realized by a temperature sensor arranged inside the cabin 5 or by a temperature sensor located in the space between the rear wall 32 and the motor 8.

[0021] Alternatively, the control signal Tc relating to the amount of heat flow from the engine 8 to the cabin 5 can be estimated - for example by using Artificial Intelligence algorithms - based on other signals / parameters measured in the engine and in the vehicle 8 (cooling liquid temperature, snow groomer speed, engine load, room temperature etc.).

[0022] The signal Tc is compared with a reference signal Tcref and the difference signal ΔTC= (Tc - TCref ) is sent to a fourth regulator R4 which generates signals STRT 1 , STRT 2 , STRT 3 , for the start-up of the first motor M1, the second motor M2 or the third motor M3 in order to generate the intake of air at room temperature into the engine compartment and the expulsion of hot air from the engine compartment, thus overall decreasing the thermal flow from the engine to the cabin.

[0023] The motors M1, M2 and M3 can be used to control Tc in different combinations, depending on the operating status and configuration of the vehicle.

[0024] In use, when the errors ΔTW= (T Water - T Water_ref ), ΔTO= (T Oil - T Oil_ref ) and / or ΔTA= (T Air - T Air_ref ) have reduced value the respective fans 11, 15 and 20 are not in action. Under such conditions, although the temperature of the cooling liquid, of the oil of the hydraulic system and of the sucked air is acceptable, due to the heat flow sent by the engine towards the cabin the latter begins to heat up although a layer of thermal insulation 33 is present. When the temperature measured by the sensor 40 or the estimate obtained by means of the algorithm leads to having a signal Tc that significantly exceeds the threshold, the regulator switches on one or more fans 11, 15 and 20 to generate the intake of air at room temperature into the engine compartment and the expulsion of hot air from the engine compartment, thus overall decreasing the thermal flow from the engine to the cabin.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0013]With reference to Figures 1 and 2, number 1 denotes as a whole a snow groomer comprising a frame 2, a propulsion system 3 (Figure 2) mounted on the frame 2, a plurality of drive wheels 4 operated by the propulsion system 3 and a cabin 5 mounted in a front portion of the frame 2 and designed to accommodate at least one operator (not shown) in charge of driving the snow groomer vehicle 1.

[0014]In the example shown, there are provided two pairs of drive wheels 4 for each side of the frame 2 and a pair of tracks 6 each of which extends between the end drive wheels 4. A plurality of idle wheels 7 (four on each side but the number may be different, see Figure 1) are arranged between the end drive wheels 4 and couple with the tracks 6.

[0015]The propulsion system 3 comprises an endothermic engine 8 (schematically represented in Figure 2, for example a diesel engine) housed in an engine compartment and arranged in a rear portion of the frame 2. The motor 8 is connected in known manner ...

Claims

1. A snow groomer comprising a frame (2), a propulsion system (3) mounted on the frame (2), a plurality of drive wheels (4) operated by the propulsion system (3) and a cabin (5) designed to accommodate at least one operator in charge of driving the snow groomer (1); the propulsion system (3) comprises a heat engine (8) housed in an engine compartment adjacent to the cabin (5); the engine (8) is provided with: - a liquid cooling system provided with a first radiator (10) coupled to a fan (11) for sucking an air flow (LF) into the engine compartment, the air taken in contributes to reducing the temperature of the engine cooling liquid; - a liquid cooling system of a hydraulic system provided with a second radiator (14) coupled to a fan (15) for sucking an air flow (LF) into the engine compartment, the air taken in contributes to reducing the oil temperature of the hydraulic system; - an intercooler system, in which a third radiator (18) is configured to lower the temperature of the air coming from the compressor before introducing it into the cylinders of said engine (8); the third radiator (18) is coupled to a fan (20) for sucking an air flow (LF) into the engine compartment, the air taken in reduces the temperature of the air compressed by the turbocharger; an electronic control unit (22) controls the on / off cycle at least of the first fan (11); the electronic control unit (22) is configured to: receive a signal Twater that is a function of the measured temperature of the cooling liquid in the first radiator (10) and compare this signal Twater (summing block S1) with a reference signal TWater_ref representing a target temperature, the difference signal ΔTW = (TWater - TWater_ref) is sent to a first regulator R1 which is designed to control the motor M1 of the first fan (11), receive a signal Toil that is a function of the measured oil temperature in the radiator (14) and compare this signal Toil (summing block S2) with a reference signal TOil_ref representing a target temperature, the difference signal ΔTO = (Toil - TOil_ref) is sent to a second regulator R2 which is designed to control the motor M2 of the second fan (15); and receive (22) a signal TAir that is a function of the temperature sucked into the engine and compare this signal TAir (summing block S3) with a reference signal TAir_ref representing a target temperature, the difference signal ΔTA = (TAir - TAir_ref) is sent to a third regulator (R3) which is designed to control the motor M3 of the third fan (20); characterized in that it comprises determining means (40) designed to send, to the electronic control unit (22), a further control signal Tc relating to the amount of the heat flow from the engine (8) to the cabin (5), the electronic control unit (22) is configured to compare the control signal Tc with a reference signal Tcref to control the start-up of one or more of the first motor M1, the second motor M2 and the third motor M3 in order to decrease, as a whole, the heat flow from the engine to the cabin.

2. The snow groomer according to claim 1, wherein said determining means (40) comprise a temperature sensor arranged inside the cabin (5).

3. The snow groomer according to claim 1, wherein said determining means (40) comprise a temperature sensor located in the space between a wall (32) of the cabin (5) and the engine (8).

4. The snow groomer according to claim 1, wherein said determining means (40) comprise an algorithm for estimating the heat flow based on signals / parameters measured in the engine and / or in the vehicle (8).

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