Motor vehicle with improved radiator and condenser mounting device

• US 5,476,138 A
• Filed: 08/25/1993
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Calsonic North America, Inc. (Marelli Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Calsonic International, Inc. (Marelli Corporation)
• Inventors: Martin, David L., El-Bourini, Refki, Iwasaki, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, John C.
• Application Number:
  US08/113,055
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.4, 165/41, 165/140
• US Class Current: 165/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00321 Heat exchangers for air-conditioning devices B60H1/3227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/084 Radiator supports
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0435 Combination of units extending one behind the other F28D1/0452 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0084 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0089 Oil coolers heating or cooling lubricants in vehicles F01M5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0094 for recooling the engine coolant arrangements of liquid-to-air heat exchangers on vehicles F01P3/18
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/002 with fastening means for other structures

Abstract

An improved mounting device for mounting heat exchanger elements in a motor vehicle, the mounting device including a shroud for containing and supporting heat exchangers elements and attachment members for removably securing the shroud to a selected supporting structure of a motor vehicle. The shroud includes an end wall having an opening therein, a continuous sidewall extending from the end wall for encasing the heat exchanger elements and having an open end, and circulation members for moving a cooling medium through the shroud, the medium being admitted through the open end of the sidewall and being discharged through the opening in the end wall.

Claims

1. An improvement in a motor vehicle having a body, an engine compartment formed within said body, a heat exchanger area located within said engine compartment, and an external air intake duct defined by said body and leading into said heat exchanger area, said improvement comprising:

a shroud located within said heat exchanger area, wherein said shroud is in direct air communication with said external air intake duct to receive air directly from said external air intake duct, and said shroud includes an air outlet defined by an endwall having a first opening and a second opening therein and a continuous sidewall extending from said endwall that defines an air inlet, said air inlet and said air outlet to allow an airflow therethrough;

a heat exchanger for cooling a circulating fluid, wherein said heat exchanger is located within said shroud and positioned in the path of said airflow, said heat exchanger is enclosed by and solely supported by said shroud, said shroud extends forwardly and rearwardly of said heat exchanger to direct said airflow, and said shroud and said heat exchanger are removably attachable to said body as a single unit; and

;

circulation means for moving a cooling medium through said shroud, said cooling medium being admitted through said air inlet and discharged through said air outlet.

2. An improvement as claimed in claim 1, further including locational means for locationally positioning said heat exchanger within said shroud.

3. An improvement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locational means includes an inwardly directed shoulder for receiving said heat exchanger thereagainst.

4. An improvement as claimed in claim 1, further including a seal means for sealing said heat exchanger against said shroud, said seal means inhibiting the flow of said cooling medium between said heat exchanger and said shroud.

5. An improvement as claimed in claim 4, wherein said seal means parametrically encases said heat exchanger and engages said sidewall along a continuous line.

6. An improvement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circulation means includes:

means for causing movement of said cooling medium; and

means for directionally controlling the discharge of said cooling medium through said air outlet.

7. An improvement as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said means for causing movement includes impeller means; and

said means for directionally controlling includes duct means communicating with said first opening in said endwall.

8. An improvement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circulation means includes:

means for causing movement of said cooling medium; and

means for directionally controlling the discharge of said cooling medium through said first and second openings in said endwall.

9. An improvement as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said means for causing movement includes

first impeller means for discharging said cooling medium through said first opening in said endwall, and

second impeller means for discharging said cooling medium through said second opening in said endwall; and

said means for directionally controlling includes

first duct means communicating with said first opening in said endwall, and

second duct means communicating with said second opening in said endwall.

10. An improvement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sidewall extends forwardly beyond said heat exchanger to form means for removably attaching said shroud to a supporting structure of said motor vehicle proximate to said heat exchanger area.