Claims:We claim:

1. A feed system configured with a gear injection pump cover assembly as the multi-function belt-tension adapter system for tractor engines, the feed system comprising:

• first subsystem to support the belt-tensioner bracket;
• second subsystem to adjust the belt-tension; and
• third subsystem to vents out the blow-by generated in the crankcase;

wherein an oil condensing mesh is provided for trapping and filtering the oil-mist before being vented out for trapping the oil contained in the oil-mist from the blow-by gas by means of the oil condensing mesh placed in the angularly positioned vent, the oil trapped in the oil condensing mesh forms oil droplets, which fall back directly into the oil pan due to gravity, from the same opening in the adapter system from where the blow-by gas is vented out from crankcase.

2. Feed system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear injection pump cover assembly comprises:

• a gear injection pump cover configured with an oil-condensing mesh placed in an air-vent and closed by an expansion plug,
• a belt-tensioner bracket coupled to the gear injection pump cover through an idler shaft,
• a breather hose coupled to the gear injection pump cover through a breather hose connector via a worm clamp,
• an idler pulley coupled on the belt-tensioner bracket via an idler bearing,
• a dust cover covering the idler pullet by means of a idler mounting bolt, and
• at least a pair of bracket mounting bolts for adjusting tension in the belt-tensioner bracket;

wherein the tensioner bolt adjusts the tension in the belt-tensioner bracket by tightening the bracket mounting bolts to align the idler pulley center with the driving pulley.
3. Feed system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the belt tension is adjusted initially loosening the belt-tensioner bolt and pushing the belt-tensioner bracket by tightening the belt-tensioner bolt for stretching the belt to create sufficient tension therein and finally tightening the bracket mounting bracket for locking the belt-tensioner bracket.

4. Feed system as claimed in claim 3, wherein an oil condensing mesh is placed in the air vent for passing therethrough the blow-by gas and oil-mist generated in the engine crankcase for trapping and filtering the oil-mist from the blow-by gas to be vented out.

5. Feed system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the air-vent is configured inclined with respect to the blow-by gas hose for trapping the oil-mist mixed in the blow-by gas while passing through the oil condensing mesh and collected in the oil pan due to gravity after falling through the same opening configured in the for venting out the blow-by gas.

6. A method for operating a feed system configured with a multi-function belt-tension adapter system for tractor engines as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 5, the method comprising the following steps:

• incorporating a belt-tension bracket;
• adjusting the belt-tension; and
• venting out the blow-by gas;

wherein the belt tensioner bracket is supported by mounting the belt-tensioner bracket on the gear injection cover by means of at least two bracket mounting bolts in order to aligning the center of the idler pulley with the driving pulley for substantially increasing the service life of the idler bearing.

7. Method for operating a feed system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the belt-tension is adjusted by means of a tensioner bolt, the belt-tension adjustment includes the following steps:

• loosening the belt-tensioner bracket mounting bolts;
• tightening the belt-tensioner bolt for pushing the tensioner bracket to force the belt to stretch to introduce belt-tension therein;
• tightening the belt-tensioner bracket mounting bolts again for locking the tensioner bracket in this position.

8. Method for operating a feed system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the blow-by gas from the crankcase carrying the oil-mist is passed through the oil condensing mesh placed in the angularly disposed air-vent for trapping the oil-mist and collecting the trapped oil falling due to gravity in the form of oil droplets in the oil pan from the same opening in gear injection pump cover from which the blow-by gas is vented out from crankcase.

Dated: this day of 28th March, 2016. SANJAY KESHARWANI
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT , Description:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multi-function component for a tractor engine assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a belt-tension adapter system for tractor engine assembly. More particularly, the present invention related to a gear injection pump cover with an improved belt-tensioner bracket for a tractor engine to be fitted with an HVAC cabin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nowadays, it has become a necessity to provide a compact product with enhanced performance and which is also easy to maintain at low-cost. Considering the aesthetic and ergonomics appeal of the engine, a prime requirement for the vehicle layout, this can be done by innovatively designing a robust part which can handle multi tasks.

DISADVANTAGES WITH THE PRIOR ART

The present applicant is the leading tractor and farm equipment manufacturer, besides producer of LMVs and HCVs. A premium tractor variant MStar offered by the applicant is proposed with HVAC cabin, which could be fitted as optional add-on kit. Whenever a customer demands HVAC cabin, it would easily be accommodated in this tractor variant with very minor modifications.

However, for incorporating this add-on feature in existing tractor engine, some components need to be redesigned to accommodate the packaging. It is a very challenging task to fit in AC kit packaging in the engine compartment without affecting the tractor body. Therefore, it was imminent to design a robust component, which can handle multiple functions and also achieve an added advantage of ease of servicing with significant cost reductions.

Therefore, there is an existing need to remove the current breather system and replace it by adding a new bracket without changing engine performance to incorporate such add-on feature in the existing engine of this tractor variant.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to provide a robust gear pump cover for achieving improved crankcase ventilation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction adapter system for engine front-end auxiliary drive system.

Still another object of the present invention is to incorporate a new tensioner bracket for removing the conventional breather system.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new tensioner bracket for easily adjusting the belt tension.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved feed system for a tractor to be equipped with an HVAC cabin.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are, however, not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a feed system configured with a gear injection pump cover assembly as the multi-function belt-tension adapter system for tractor engines, the feed system comprising:

• first subsystem to support the belt-tensioner bracket;
• second subsystem to adjust the belt-tension; and
• third subsystem to vents out the blow-by generated in the crankcase;
wherein an oil condensing mesh is provided for trapping and filtering the oil-mist before being vented out for trapping the oil contained in the oil-mist from the blow-by gas by means of the oil condensing mesh placed in the angularly positioned vent, the oil trapped in the oil condensing mesh forms oil droplets, which fall back directly into the oil pan due to gravity, from the same opening in the adapter system from where the blow-by gas is vented out from crankcase.

Typically, the gear injection pump cover assembly comprises:

• a gear injection pump cover configured with an oil-condensing mesh placed in an air-vent and closed by an expansion plug,
• a belt-tensioner bracket coupled to the gear injection pump cover through an idler shaft,
• a breather hose coupled to the gear injection pump cover through a breather hose connector via a worm clamp,
• an idler pulley coupled on the belt-tensioner bracket via an idler bearing,
• a dust cover covering the idler pullet by means of a idler mounting bolt, and
• at least a pair of bracket mounting bolts for adjusting tension in the belt-tensioner bracket;

wherein the tensioner bolt adjusts the tension in the belt-tensioner bracket by tightening the bracket mounting bolts to align the idler pulley center with the driving pulley.

Typically, the belt tension is adjusted initially loosening the belt-tensioner bolt and pushing the belt-tensioner bracket by tightening the belt-tensioner bolt for stretching the belt to create sufficient tension therein and finally tightening the bracket mounting bracket for locking the belt-tensioner bracket.

Typically, an oil condensing mesh is placed in the air vent for passing therethrough the blow-by gas and oil-mist generated in the engine crankcase for trapping and filtering the oil-mist from the blow-by gas to be vented out.

Typically, the air-vent is configured inclined with respect to the blow-by gas hose for trapping the oil-mist mixed in the blow-by gas while passing through the oil condensing mesh and collected in the oil pan due to gravity after falling through the same opening configured in the for venting out the blow-by gas.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a method for operating a feed system configured with a multi-function belt-tension adapter system for tractor engines as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 5, the method comprising the following steps:

• incorporating a belt-tension bracket;
• adjusting the belt-tension; and
• venting out the blow-by gas;

wherein the belt tensioner bracket is supported by mounting the belt-tensioner bracket on the gear injection cover by means of at least two bracket mounting bolts in order to aligning the center of the idler pulley with the driving pulley for substantially increasing the service life of the idler bearing.

Typically, the belt-tension is adjusted by means of a tensioner bolt, the belt-tension adjustment includes the following steps:

• loosening the belt-tensioner bracket mounting bolts;
• tightening the belt-tensioner bolt for pushing the tensioner bracket to force the belt to stretch to introduce belt-tension therein;
• tightening the belt-tensioner bracket mounting bolts again for locking the tensioner bracket in this position.

Typically, the blow-by gas from the crankcase carrying the oil-mist is passed through the oil condensing mesh placed in the angularly disposed air-vent for trapping the oil-mist and collecting the trapped oil falling due to gravity in the form of oil droplets in the oil pan from the same opening in gear injection pump cover from which the blow-by gas is vented out from crankcase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will be briefly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which include:

Figure 1 shows a conventional feed system for a tractor engine.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the improved tractor engine feed system with an add-on feature configured in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3a shows the assembly of the tractor engine feed system shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3b shows an exploded view of the tractor engine feed system shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4a shows the front view of the gear injection pump cover shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4b shows the rear view of the view of the gear injection pump cover shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5a shows the rear view of the gear injection pump cover connected to the breather hose shown in Figure 3 to achieve desired crankcase ventilation.

Figure 5b shows the arrangement of the crankcase ventilation in the gear injection pump cover shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6a shows the arrangement of adjusting the belt-tension by means of novel tensioner bracket shown in Figure 3 in one extreme position thereof.

Figure 6b shows the arrangement of adjusting the belt-tension by means of novel tensioner bracket shown in Figure 3 in another extreme position thereof and also depicting the dash-marked location 400 of the add-on feature.
Figure 7a shows the enlarged view of the improved tractor engine feed system marked with section line A – A.

Figure 7b shows the sectional view of the add-on feature marked in Figure 7a and represented along section line A – A of Figure 7a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

In the following, different embodiments of the present invention will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope and ambit of the present invention in any way.

Figure 1 shows a conventional feed system 20 for a tractor engine 10. It includes a breather system and which needs to be replaced with an improved feed system and a robust gear pump cover for achieving improved crankcase ventilation.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the improved feed system 100 for a tractor engine 10 with an add-on feature configured in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3a shows the assembly of the tractor engine feed system 100 shown in Figure 2. It includes a gear injection pump cover 110, an idler pulley 124, an idler mounting nut 130, a bracket mounting bolt 140, and a breather hose 160.

Figure 3b shows an exploded view of the tractor engine feed system shown in Figure 2. It includes a gear injection pump cover 110, an idler shaft 112, a tensioner bracket 120, a spacer 122, an idler pulley 124, an idler bearing 126, a dust cover 128, an idler mounting nut 130, a bracket mounting bolt 140, an oil condensing mesh 150 inserted in the air vent 118, an expansion plug 152, oil condensing mesh seat 154, a breather hose 160, a worm clamp 162, a breather hose connector 164 connected in the breather hose connector seat 166 and a tensioner bolt 170 for adjusting tension in the tensioner bracket 120.
The first sub-system is included as a support for belt tensioner bracket 120, which is located firmly within the adapter by simply tightening both the bolts 140 for bringing the center of the pulley 124 in alignment with the driving pulley to substantially increase the service life of the bearing 126. The second sub-system is configured for adjusting the belt tension by means of the tensioner bolt 170. So, initially both bolts 140 are loosened and then tensioner bolt 170 is tightened for pushing the tensioner bracket 120 for stretching the tensioner belt to create tension therein. Once, there is desired tension in the belt, both bolts 140 are tightened to lock the tensioner bracket 120 again. The third sub-system helps the adapter to vents out the blow-by generated in the crankcase, but without loss of oil in the form of oil-mist carried with this blow-by gas. This is achieved by placing the oil condensing mesh 150 in the air vent 116 for trapping and filtering this oil-mist from the blow-by gas to be vented out. Due to the angular position of the vent, the oil-mist is easily trapped in the oil condensing mesh and due to gravity falls back directly into the oil pan as oil droplets. Since these three sub-systems work simultaneously, the adapter can be configured very compact and packaging issues are easily avoided.

Figure 4a shows the front view of the gear injection pump cover 110 shown in Figure 3. It clearly shows the breather hose connector seat 166 for connecting a breather hose connector 164.

Figure 4b shows the rear view of the view of the gear injection pump cover 110 of Figure 3 clearly indicating the inlet 114 thereof. It also shows the seat 154 for the oil condensing mesh to be fitted in the breather hose connector seat 166.

Figure 5a shows the rear view of the gear injection pump cover 110 connected to the breather hose 160 shown in Figure 3 to achieve desired crankcase ventilation. The blow-by 200 from the crankcase 200 enters through the inlet 114 in the gear injection pump cover 110, which is conveyed to air-vent 116 and to subsequently exit through the outlet 118 of the gear injection pump cover 110 to be described further with reference to Figure 5b.

Figure 5b shows the arrangement of the crankcase ventilation in the gear injection pump cover shown in Figure 3. The blow-by 200 from the crankcase 200 enters through the inlet 114 in the gear injection pump cover 110, which carries along the oil-mist 210. The mixture is conveyed to the oil condensing mesh 150 placed in the air-vent 116, where it gets condensed and the oil 210 falls back into the oil-pan and to subsequently oil-free blow-by gas 200 exits via the breather hose 160 through the outlet 118 configured in the gear injection pump cover 110.

Figure 6a shows the arrangement of adjusting the belt-tension through belt-tensioner bracket 120 by means of bracket mounting bolt 140 shown in Figure 3 in one extreme position thereof.

Figure 6b shows the angular movement 310 of the belt-tensioner bracket 120 by adjusting the belt-tension by means of lateral movement 300 through the bracket mounting bolt 140 shown in Figure 3, which is in another extreme position thereof. This can be done by loosening the belt-tensioner bracket mounting bolt 140 and the position of the tensioner bracket 120 can be easily adjusted thereby. The tensioner bolt 120 gets locked in the gear injection pump cover 110. This simplified mechanism helps to provide appropriate tension in the belt.

Figure 7a shows the enlarged view of the improved tractor engine feed system marked with section line A – A.

Figure 7b shows the sectional view of the add-on feature marked in Figure 7a and represented along section line A – A of Figure 7a. It shows one cylinder block and the oil-pan configured therein. The blow-by gas and oil-mist mixture from the crankcase enters through the inlet provided in the gear injection pump cover and conveyed to air-vent and to subsequently exit through the outlet of the gear injection pump cover. Before being vented out, the oil present in oil-mist is easily trapped in the oil condensing mesh and the oil droplets formed thereby fall back directly into the oil pan 180 due to gravity. This oil collected in the oil pan 180 can be recirculated in the lubrication system to contain the oil-loss in the form of oil-mist being vented out along with the blow-by gas is vented out.
WORKING OF THE INVENTION:

The multi-function belt-tension adapter unit for engine front-end auxiliary drive system configured in accordance with the present invention is provided with three sub-systems working simultaneously.

The first sub-system acts as a support for belt tensioner bracket 120, in which the tensioner bracket locates firmly with the adapter by simply mounting two bolts 140, so the center of the pulley 124 matches with the driving pulley, which in turn exponentially increases the service life of the bearing 126.

The second sub-system helps in adjusting the belt tension by means of the tensioner bolt 170. For this, first the bolts 140 are loosened and then tensioner bolt 170 is tightened for pushing the tensioner bracket 120 to force the belt to stretch and thereby tension is introduced in the belt. After completion of this activity, both bolts 140 need to be tightened properly for locking the tensioner bracket 120 again.

The third sub-system vents out the blow-by generated in the crankcase, so the adapter is configured to vent out this blow-by. However, during this venting out operation, the blow-by gas brings along oil mist, which needs to be filtered out, otherwise it will increase the hydrocarbon emissions.

Moreover, this oil is a direct loss if is vented out. To arrest this oil mist from being vented out along with the blow-by gas, an oil condensing mesh 150 is provided for trapping and filtering this oil-mist from the blow-by gas actually to be vented out. Because of the angular position of the vent, the oil-mist is easily trapped in the oil condensing mesh and oil droplets form, which fall back directly into the oil pan 180 (Figure 7b) because of gravity from the same opening in adapter from where the blow-by is vented out from crankcase.

Therefore, valuable oil gets recirculated in the lubrication system, which contains any oil-loss in the form of oil-mist being vented out and only the blow-by gas is vented out.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The multi-function belt-tension adapter unit for engine front-end auxiliary drive system in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages:

1) Robust component

2) Multiple function possible with single unit

3) Ease of servicing

4) Cost-reduction

5) Power transmission efficiency improved

6) Easy to Manufacture

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, shall be understood to implies including a described element, integer or method step, or group of elements, integers or method steps, however, does not imply excluding any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or method steps. In the claims and the description, the terms “containing” and “having” are used as linguistically neutral terminologies for the corresponding terms “comprising”.

The use of the expression “a”, “at least” or “at least one” shall imply using one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as used in the embodiment of the disclosure in order to achieve one or more of the intended objects or results of the present invention. Furthermore, the use of the term “one” shall not exclude the plurality of such features and components described.

The description provided herein is purely by way of example and illustration. The various features and advantageous details are explained with reference to this non-limiting embodiment in the above description in accordance with the present invention.

The descriptions of well-known components and manufacturing and processing techniques are consciously omitted in this specification, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the specification.

In the previously detailed description, different features have been summarized for improving the conclusiveness of the representation in one or more examples. However, it should be understood that the above description is merely illustrative, but not limiting under any circumstances. It helps in covering all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of the different features and exemplary embodiments. Many other examples are directly and immediately clear to the skilled person because of his/her professional knowledge in view of the above description.

Therefore, innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations may be made and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used may be devised to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies according to their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships.

While considerable emphasis has been placed on the specific features of the preferred embodiment described here, it will be appreciated that many additional features can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

The exemplary embodiments were selected and described in order to be able to best represent the principles and their possible practical application underlying the invention. Thereby, the skilled persons can optimally modify and use the invention and its different exemplary embodiments with reference to the intended use.