Riding lawn mower with improved radiator system

Abstract

A riding lawn mower includes a frame; ground engaging wheels mounted with said frame; at least one cutting deck mounted to the frame; an engine mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive said ground engaging wheels and said at least one cutting deck, said engine has fluid to be cooled; and, a radiator system, the radiator system including: a housing, a radiator having first and second opposing sides, mounted in the housing and operatively connected with said engine to intake fluid at a first temperature from said engine and to output fluid back to said engine at a second temperature, a screen mounted in the housing and adjacent the first side of the radiator, a bi-directional fan mounted in the housing adjacent the second side of the radiator and operable to direct an air flow in a standard direction first through the screen and then through the radiator and operable as desired to direct an airflow in a discharge direction, opposite the standard direction, first through the radiator and then through the screen, and switch means for switching the fan between the standard and discharge directions; and wherein the radiator and fan are mounted above said engine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A riding lawn mower, comprising: 
 a frame;    ground engaging wheels rotatably mounted with said frame;    at least one cutting deck mounted to the frame;    an engine mounted to the frame and operatively connected to drive said ground engaging wheels and said at least one cutting deck, said engine has fluid to be cooled;    a radiator system including: 
 a housing;  
 a radiator having first and second opposing sides, mounted in the housing and operatively connected with said engine to intake fluid at a first temperature from said engine and to output fluid back to said engine at a second temperature,  
 a screen mounted in the housing and adjacent the first side of the radiator;  
 a bi-directional fan mounted with the housing adjacent the second side of the radiator and operable to direct an air flow in a standard direction first through the screen and then through the radiator and operable as desired to direct an airflow in a discharge direction, opposite the standard direction, first through the radiator and then through the screen; and,  
 switch means for switching the fan between the standard and discharge directions as a function of radiator coolant temperature.