Radiator assembly for internal combustion engines of an automobile

• US 6,435,295 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Weigele, Hans, Zaremba, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORT, ELAINE L
• Application Number:
  US09/576,855
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.4, 180/68.5, 180/68.6, 165/129
• US Class Current: 180/68.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence

Abstract

A radiator intended for an internal combustion engine or assemblies thereof is installed in an end area of a body of a motor vehicle, especially an automobile, in a space delimited by the outside walls of the body. The outside wall has shape sections that run at angles to one another, to which the radiator is then adapted at least areawise by its outside contour to produce advantageous installation conditions for the radiator.

Claims

1. A radiator assembly for a vehicle of the type having a radiator receiving chamber formed by a vehicle body having vehicle lateral body side wall sections including lower first and upper second angularly inclined lateral body side wall sections joined by a third curved body side wall section to form a laterally outwardly bulging curved vehicle body section, said radiator having an outer contour transverse to the direction of travel which is shaped such that a substantially constant width gap extends between the first, second and third body side wall sections and respective facing outer contour surfaces of the radiator when the radiator is installed in an in use position in the vehicle.

2. A radiator according to claim 1,

wherein the first body wall section extends transversely of the vehicle body,

wherein the second body wall section extends vertically, and the third body wall section is a rounded section, said body wall sections forming a laterally outwardly bulging nose of the vehicle body, and

wherein the radiator outer contour is configured to be positioned close to the respective facing body wall sections.

3. A radiator according to claim 2,

wherein a supply line of the radiator forms a first outer contour section which in use faces the first body wall section and a second outer contour section which faces at least a part of the third body wall section.

4. A radiator according to claim 3,

wherein the radiator outer contour includes a first vertically extending side wall extending along the second body wall section and a second vertically extending side wall spaced from the first side wall, and

wherein an inlet to the supply line is disposed at a lower side of the second side wall and an outlet line is disposed at an upper side of the second side wall.

5. A radiator according to claim 4,

wherein the outlet line forms an upwardly facing contour which in use conforms to and faces a fourth body wall section of the vehicle body.

6. A radiator according to claim 5,

wherein the supply line and the outlet line have connecting stubs provided on the second side wall.

7. A radiator according to claim 2,

wherein the first, second and third vehicle body wall sections form a nose section disposed in front of a front vehicle wheel.

8. A radiator according to claim 1,

wherein a supply line of the radiator forms a first outer contour section which in use faces the first body wall section and a second outer contour section which faces at least a part of the third body wall section.

9. A radiator according to claim 8,

wherein the radiator outer contour includes a first vertically extending side wall extending along the second body wall section and a second vertically extending side wall spaced from the first side wall, and

wherein an inlet to the supply line is disposed at a lower side of the second side wall and an outlet line is disposed at an upper side of the second side wall.

10. A radiator according to claim 9,

wherein the outlet line forms an upwardly facing contour which in use conforms to and faces a fourth body wall section of the vehicle body.

11. A radiator according to claim 10,

wherein the supply line and the outlet line have connecting stubs provided on the second side wall.

12. A radiator according to claim 10,

wherein the first, second and third vehicle body wall sections form a nose section disposed in front of a front vehicle wheel.

13. A radiator according to claim 9,

wherein the first, second and third vehicle body wall sections form a nose section disposed in front of a front vehicle wheel.

14. A radiator according to claim 8,

wherein the first, second and third vehicle body wall sections form a nose section disposed in front of a front vehicle wheel.

15. A radiator according to claim 1,

wherein the first, second and third vehicle body wall sections form a nose section disposed in front of a front vehicle wheel.

16. A radiator according to claim 1,

wherein the radiator is configured to be held in place by vehicle body supporting structure.

17. A radiator according to claim 1,

wherein the radiator is a boost air cooler.

18. An automobile assembly comprising a vehicle body defining a radiator receiving chamber formed by vehicle lateral body side wall sections including lower first and upper second angularly inclined lateral body side wall sections joined by a third curved body side wall section to form a laterally outwardly bulging curved vehicle body section, said radiator having an outer contour transverse to a direction of travel which is shaped such that a substantially constant width gap extends between the first, second and third body side wall sections and the respective facing outer contour surfaces of the radiator when the radiator is installed in an in use position in the vehicle body.

19. An automobile assembly according to claim 18, wherein the first body wall section extends transversely of the vehicle body,

wherein the second body wall section extends vertically, and the third body wall section is a rounded section, said body wall sections forming a laterally outwardly bulging nose of the vehicle body, and

wherein the radiator outer contour is configured to be positioned close to the respective facing body wall sections.

20. An automobile assembly according to claim 19,

wherein the first, second or third vehicle body wall section form a nose section disposed in front of a front vehicle wheel.

21. An automobile assembly according to claim 20,

wherein the radiator is a boost air cooler.

22. An automobile assembly according to claim 18, wherein a supply line of the radiator forms a first outer contour section which in use faces the first body wall section and a second outer contour section which faces at least a part of the third body wall section.

23. An automobile assembly according to claim 22, wherein the radiator outer contour includes a first vertically extending side wall extending along the second body wall section and a second vertically extending side wall spaced from the first side wall, and

wherein an inlet to the supply line is disposed at a lower side of the second side wall and an outlet line is disposed at an upper side of the second side wall.

24. An automobile assembly according to Claim 23, wherein the first, second or third vehicle body wall section form a nose section disposed in front of a front vehicle wheel.

25. An automobile assembly according to claim 24, wherein the radiator is a boost air cooler.

26. An automobile assembly according to claim 18, wherein the first, second and third vehicle body wall sections form a nose section disposed in front of a front vehicle wheel.