CHARGE AIR COOLER SHROUD WITH ACCESS PANEL

• US 20170175617A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sovine, Michael Brett, Gibb, Erin, Otterman, Robert Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 11,085,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/10 Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0431 Details or means to guide the ambient air to the heat exchanger, e.g. having a fan, flaps, a bypass or a special location in the engine compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0456 Air cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A charge air cooler shroud is provided. That charge air cooler shroud includes a main body having an access opening and a removable access panel carried on the main body and covering the access opening. A method is also disclosed for mounting a cooling module to a frame of a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A charge air cooler shroud, comprising:

a main body including an access opening; and

a removable access panel carried on said main body and covering said access opening.

2. The charge air cooler shroud of claim 1, wherein said removable access panel includes at least one mounting flange along a first edge and at least one snap lug along a second edge.

3. The charge air cooler shroud of claim 2, wherein said at least one mounting flange is opposed to said at least one snap lug.

4. The charge air cooler shroud of claim 2, wherein said removable access panel further includes a finger hold adjacent said at least once snap lug.

5. The charge air cooler shroud of claim 4, wherein said access opening is provided in a bottom wall of said main body.

6. The charge air cooler shroud of claim 5, wherein said second edge is oriented vehicle rearward of said first edge toward a rear wall of said main body.

7. A method of mounting a cooling module to a frame of a motor vehicle, comprising:

installing said cooling module to said frame of said motor vehicle with a mechanical fan swivel on said cooling module in a stowed position to provide clearance for installation; and

displacing said mechanical fan swivel into an operating position following installation.

8. The method of claim 7 including reaching through an access opening in a charge air cooler shroud of said cooling module in order to engage said mechanical fan swivel and displace said mechanical fan swivel into said operating position.

9. The method of claim 8, including closing said access opening by securing an access panel to said charge air cooler shroud across said access opening.

10. The method of claim 9 including snapping said access panel into said access opening.

11. The method of claim 10 including providing a projecting finger hold on said access panel to assist in removal of said access panel from said access opening.