DE102018210789A1 - Framing device of a coolant cooler of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a framing device (18) of a coolant cooler (12) of a motor vehicle, comprising two essentially plate-shaped, vertically and parallel to one another side elements (20, 22) and a multiplicity of horizontally oriented cross-connection elements (28, 32) for mutual, firm connection the side elements (20, 22). An interior space (34) defined by the side elements (20, 22) and the cross-connection elements (28, 32) enables a coolant cooler (12) to be framed while avoiding a vertical force transmission path from the coolant cooler (12) to the framing device (18).

Description

The invention relates to a framing device of a coolant cooler of a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a coolant cooler unit with a coolant cooler, such a framing device and a cooling air guide element according to the preamble of claim 9.

The most common way of dissipating heat from a drive motor of a passenger car these days is liquid cooling. Here, a coolant heated by waste heat from the drive motor, usually a mixture of water, an antifreeze and additives to prevent corrosion, is conveyed by means of a coolant pump through channels provided in the engine block and passed through an interior of a coolant cooler, which is located in a front area of the passenger car behind a protective grille (Grille) is arranged and technically represents a liquid-air heat exchanger. A head wind (cooling air) flowing through the ribs of the coolant cooler when the passenger car is traveling in a forward direction absorbs the waste heat of the drive motor from the coolant cooler. The heat dissipation to the environment is widely supported by a fan arranged behind the coolant cooler when viewed in the forward direction of travel.

A coolant cooler filled with the coolant has a considerable weight. Frame designs are known from the prior art, by means of which coolant coolers can be connected, for example, to a chassis of the passenger vehicle.

An example of such a holding frame 50 for a coolant cooler is in the 2 shown in an oblique front view (source: https://www.americanmuscle.com/mustang-radiator-support-9496.html#product_pics-0). The massive holding frame 50 is intended for attachment to the chassis between the headlights of a passenger car and in turn has a central recess 52 to accommodate the coolant cooler and fasteners located near an edge of the recess 54 to hold the coolant cooler on. The weight of the coolant cooler filled with the coolant is completely from the holding frame 50 carried.

The US 6,357,821 B1 describes a headlamp container and radiator support assembly for a motor vehicle that includes a radiator support for operational attachment to the front end of the motor vehicle. The cooler carrier has an essentially rectangular recess for receiving and holding a coolant cooler. The headlamp canister and radiator support assembly also includes a pair of headlamp canisters attached to the radiator support. The headlight container and radiator support arrangement furthermore have at least one cross member which connects the headlight containers to one another and is attached to the radiator support in order to adjust the headlight containers relative to a body of the motor vehicle. The radiator support has fastening sections for fastening to the body of the motor vehicle, which extend from the left and right-hand arm sections of the radiator support in the longitudinal direction and to the rear.

Furthermore, it is known from the prior art to hold coolant coolers in movable holders to reduce accident damage or to optimize a cooling capacity of the coolant cooler.

For example, in the KR 20130023988 A proposed a vehicle front module for reducing damage to a cooling module and for mitigating pedestrian injuries in the event of a collision, in which a pedestrian collision or a collision at low speed is detected and, in addition, the engine cooling and the vehicle air conditioning are carried out as required. The vehicle front module includes a carrier, a cooling module, a support frame, a height direction control unit, a rotation direction control unit and a control unit. The carrier forms the front of a vehicle. The cooling module includes a condenser, a cooler, and a fan cover assembly. The cooling module is attached to the support frame. The support frame is attached to the carrier and fixes the cooling module. The height direction control unit controls the fixing position of a fixing unit in the height direction of the support frame. The direction of rotation control unit controls the mounting bracket for the support frame on the support by using a second support unit as an axis of rotation. The control unit controls the operation of the height direction control unit and the rotation direction control unit. The control unit includes an engine cooling performance determination unit, a vehicle air conditioning performance determination unit, and a collision determination unit.

With the help of the vehicle front module, a degree of injury to a pedestrian in the event of a collision can be reduced by allowing the cooling module to move towards the underside of the vehicle when a collision with a pedestrian is detected, thereby creating a sufficient buffer zone on the top of the Vehicle can be guaranteed. In addition, damage to the cooling module can be reduced by using the vehicle front module by lowering the vehicle in the event of a collision with another vehicle Speed is moved to the side of the engine compartment, reducing the degree of damage to the vehicle and significantly reducing repair costs.

In addition, in the event that the performance of the cooling module (engine cooling and vehicle cooling performance) is to be increased, the vehicle front module can be positioned such that the cooling module corresponds to an opening through which air is supplied at the front of the vehicle, thereby providing the desired cooling performance can be guaranteed.

In the US 7,942,223 B2 proposes a vehicle radiator holding device that is attached to a vehicle in an area behind a bumper reinforcement in a front area of the vehicle to hold a radiator. The vehicle radiator holding device has a pair of side radiator brackets which are connected to a radiator support upper part to be pivoted about a predetermined pivot axis. The radiator support upper part, a radiator support lower part and the pair of side radiator support sides form a frame body of approximately square shape. The cooler is integrally mounted in a space surrounded by the frame body so as to be supported. A pair of abutting brackets are integrally attached to the pair of side radiator brackets at positions corresponding to a height of the bumper reinforcement. The brackets are connected to a pair of vehicle body side brackets. When a force is applied to the brackets that exceeds a predetermined value and acts backward on the vehicle, the brackets are pivoted about the pivot axis together with the pair of side radiator brackets to be moved rearward in the vehicle. This is to prevent the vehicle radiator holding device itself from being damaged in addition to the radiator main body.

Furthermore describes the US 2010/0078149 A1 a radiator holder, which holds a heat exchanger designed as a vehicle cooler on a vehicle body on a vehicle front side. The vehicle radiator is movable toward the rear of the vehicle by a predetermined distance when an external force is applied to the heat exchanger from the front of the vehicle while maintaining a holding state relative to the vehicle body.

The radiator bracket has an upper radiator bracket that extends in left and right directions and a lower radiator bracket that is arranged parallel to the upper radiator bracket. The upper radiator support includes an upper central support part and, arranged to the right and left of it, side support parts with which the cooler core holder can be fastened to the vehicle body. The radiator bracket further includes radiator side brackets that connect left and right end portions of the upper radiator bracket and the lower radiator bracket. In this way, a frame structure with a through opening for receiving the cooler core and for a flow of cooling air is formed.

Furthermore, metal brackets equipped with elongated holes are provided on both left and right of its upper surface on both lower portions of the upper radiator support, while metal brackets provided with elongated holes are provided on the upper surface of left and right end portions of the lower radiator support. The brackets are intended to hold the cooler on its laterally arranged water tanks below the external force.

Furthermore, cooling modules are known from the prior art which, in addition to the coolant cooler as the main cooler of a drive motor, contain further coolers, for example an engine oil cooler, a condenser of an air conditioning system, a transmission oil cooler and / or a power steering cooler.

The JP 2012251708 A describes such a cooling module with a support structure for a heat exchanger to improve cooling performance of the heat exchanger. The support structure for the heat exchanger includes an upper radiator bracket and a lower radiator bracket, which are arranged such that they run in a vehicle width direction and are vertically spaced from each other. The support structure further includes a cooler, which is supported by the cooler brackets, in order to carry out a heat exchange between an air flow and a cooling medium flowing through it. The cooler is attached to the upper radiator bracket and elastically supported on the lower radiator bracket.

In addition, the support structure has side plates which are attached to the vehicle's side ends of the radiator. In addition, side supports made of synthetic resin are provided in the support structure and extend vertically and are arranged on both sides of the side plates in the direction of the vehicle width. When installed, the side supports interact with the radiator. The side supports have a first, resilient projection that extends in the vehicle width direction toward the side panels to abut the side panels along a vertical direction.

An auxiliary cooler and a condenser (air conditioning) are also on the side supports attached, the weight of which is carried over the radiator by the upper and lower radiator brackets. Also attached to the side supports and supporting their weight, the support structure includes an air duct made of synthetic resin to guide the cooling air to the radiator.

In view of the prior art shown, the area of coolant cooler mounts for motor vehicles, in particular for passenger cars, still has room for improvement.

The invention has for its object to provide a holding frame device for a coolant cooler of a motor vehicle, in particular for passenger cars, which has improvements in terms of weight reduction and / or a required installation space and / or an effective routing of cooling air to the coolant cooler.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a framing device of a coolant cooler of a motor vehicle with the features of claim 1. The object is further achieved by a coolant cooler unit according to claim 9. Further, particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent subclaims.

It should be pointed out that the features and measures listed individually in the following description can be combined with one another in any technically meaningful manner and show further refinements of the invention. The description additionally characterizes and specifies the invention, in particular in connection with the figures.

The framing device of a coolant cooler of a motor vehicle according to the invention has two essentially plate-shaped, vertically and parallel to one another aligned side elements in a substantially rectangular shape of the same size, which are free of through holes. Furthermore, the framing device includes a plurality of horizontally oriented cross-connection elements for mutually, firmly connecting the side elements in a region of the short sides of the rectangular shapes. Here, an interior space defined by the side elements and the cross-connection elements enables a coolant cooler to be framed while avoiding a vertical force introduction path from the coolant cooler to the framing device.

For the purposes of this invention, a “motor vehicle” is to be understood in particular to mean a passenger car, a truck, a semi-trailer or a motor bus. For the purposes of this invention, a “coolant cooler” is intended in particular to mean a unit comprising a plurality of coolant tubes through which the coolant is guided, with a plurality of cooling fins arranged between the coolant tubes for dissipating heat to cooling air flowing through and in an edge region of the plurality of coolant tubes arranged coolant boxes, which are fluidly connected to the coolant pipes in a known manner.

By avoiding a vertical force introduction path from the coolant cooler to the framing device, the framing device can be manufactured in a lightweight construction and / or with lightweight materials. The weight of the coolant filled with coolant does not have to be taken up by the framing device; conversely, however, the coolant cooler can absorb at least part of the weight of the framing device if it is fastened to the coolant cooler at least with suitable fastening means.

The proposed framing device can provide a sealing and air guiding function, whereby weight can be saved compared to conventional frame constructions with the same functions. In addition, the framing device can be constructed from light parts which require only a small installation space, so that in addition to the weight saving, advantages with regard to the installation space required can also be achieved. In addition, the framing device according to the invention can improve the supply of cooling air to the coolant cooler and, in a suitable embodiment, advantageously serve to hold cooling air guide elements.

In preferred embodiments of the framing device, a horizontal distance between the side elements is at least substantially adapted to a horizontal dimension of a coolant cooler such that a maximum distance between each of the side elements and a side of the coolant cooler facing the relevant side element is less than 2 millimeters. In this way, a flow of supplied cooling air past the coolant body can be effectively prevented and a cooling capacity of the coolant body can be increased.

At least one of the cross-connection elements arranged at the front in an installed state preferably has at least one forward-facing contact surface which is intended to be in mutual contact with a corresponding contact surface of a cooling air guide element in the installed state.

The terms “front” and “rear” used in this application are to be understood in the sense of this invention with reference to a forward direction of travel of a motor vehicle. For the purposes of this invention, the term “intended for this” is to be understood to mean, in particular, specifically programmed, designed or arranged for it.

In this way, the framing device can provide a support and sealing function for the cooling air guide element, as a result of which a bypass flow of cooling air supplied past the coolant body can be effectively prevented and a cooling capacity of the coolant body can be increased.

Fastening elements for fastening a cooling air guiding element are preferably provided and arranged in a front region of the side elements. In this way, a secure mounting of the cooling air guide element and a particularly reliable seal to prevent a bypass flow of supplied cooling air past the coolant body can be achieved.

The cooling air guide element can, for example, be designed in the form of a funnel. The cooling air guide element can, however, also be designed, for example, as a manually, remotely controlled or automatically adjustable radiator cover or radiator blind.

In preferred embodiments of the framing device, the side elements and the cross-connection elements have at least a predominant proportion of a plastic or a fiber-plastic composite (FKV). In particular, the fiber-plastic composite (FKV) can include carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFK), glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFK) and / or aramid fiber reinforced plastic (AFK).

For the purposes of the invention, the term “a predominant proportion” is to be understood in particular to mean a proportion of more than 50% by volume, preferably more than 70% by volume and, particularly preferably, more than 90% by volume. In particular, the term is intended to include the possibility that the side elements and the cross-connection elements are complete, i.e. 100 vol.%, consist of the fiber-plastic composite (FKV).

As a result, the manufacturing processes known for processing plastic materials, such as injection molding, extrusion, etc., can be used, by means of which a high degree of dimensional accuracy, a one-piece design of several components and lower unit costs with large quantities can be made possible.

For example, but not limited to, the plastic can be selected from a group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyethylene (PE), the polyamides (PA), and one Mixture is formed from at least two of these plastic materials.

In further preferred embodiments of the framing device, the side elements and the cross-connection elements consist at least predominantly of metal. In this way, framing devices with particularly thin walls and a compact structure can be provided.

The side elements and the cross-connection elements are preferably formed in one piece. In this context, “integrally formed” is to be understood in particular to be cohesively connected, for example by means of a welding process, or, particularly advantageously, jointly shaped, for example by means of a casting process. In this way, the required mechanical strength of the framing device, for example for fastening a cooling air guiding element, can be achieved more easily.

In preferred embodiments, the framing device has a plurality of fastening means for fastening to a coolant cooler framed by the framing device. In this way, a pre-assembly of the framing device and the coolant cooler can be made possible as a subassembly.

In a further aspect of the invention, a coolant cooler unit of a motor vehicle is proposed. The coolant cooler unit has a coolant cooler and at least one cooling air guide element for guiding the cooling air to be fed to the coolant cooler. The coolant cooler unit contains an embodiment of the framing device according to the invention. In this case, the coolant cooler is framed in an interior space defined by the side elements and the cross-connection elements and framed by these elements and is arranged from the coolant cooler to the framing device while avoiding a vertical force introduction path. Furthermore, the at least one cooling air guide element has fastening means and at least one contact surface and is fastened in a front region of the side elements with corresponding fastening means of the framing device such that the contact surface is in mutual contact with at least one corresponding contact surface of at least one of the cross-connection elements arranged at the front.

The advantages of the framing device described above are fully applicable to the proposed coolant cooler unit.

In preferred embodiments of the coolant cooler unit, the coolant cooler is arranged in a rearmost position in the interior of the framing device. In this way, with a selection of a width of the side elements of the framing device, an inlet section of the cooling air to be supplied can be made available as a design parameter for optimizing the flow.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Kühlmittelkühlereinheit mit einem Kühlmittelkühler und einer Umrahmungsvorrichtung in einem einbaubereiten Zustand in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von oben.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims and the following description of the figures. It shows

• 1 a schematic representation of a coolant cooler unit with a coolant cooler and a framing device in a ready-to-install state in a perspective view from above.

In the 1 is a possible embodiment of a coolant cooler unit 10 with a coolant cooler 12 and a framing device 18 shown in a schematic representation. The coolant cooler unit 10 is intended for use in a motor vehicle designed as a passenger car.

The coolant cooler 12 has a cooler package in a manner known per se 14 of a plurality of coolant tubes through which the coolant is guided, with a plurality of cooling fins arranged between the coolant tubes for giving off heat to cooling air flowing through 40 on. In side areas of the cooler package 14 a coolant box is arranged in each case (not shown), the coolant boxes being connected to the coolant pipes in a fluidically known manner. In this embodiment, the coolant boxes are on the side of the cooler package 14 of the coolant cooler 12 arranged; in other embodiments, the coolant boxes can be above and below the cooler package 14 of the coolant cooler 12 be arranged. The coolant cooler 12 is with fasteners 16 equipped for attachment to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle, so that the weight of the coolant filled with coolant 12 is completely absorbed by the vehicle body.

The framing device 18 has two essentially plate-shaped, vertically and parallel to each other aligned side elements 20 . 22 on. The side elements 20 . 22 have essentially a rectangular shape of the same size and are free of through holes. Along the two longer sides of the two side elements 20 . 22 and parallel to their edges are the two side elements 20 . 22 For mechanical reinforcement, they are provided with webs that protrude from the rectangular plate at an angle of 90 ° and in pairs with each other and the webs of the opposite side element 20 . 22 are facing. For the mutual, firm connection of the two side elements 20 . 22 are four cross-connection elements in an area of the short sides at the corners of the rectangular shapes 28 . 32 (two front cross connectors 28 and two rear cross connectors 32 ), each of which cross-connection element 28 . 32 a firm connection between webs of the two side elements 20 . 22 manufactures.

Each of the cross connectors 28 . 32 is in the form of a flat and narrow band with horizontally arranged, parallel edges. The cross connectors 28 . 32 are aligned so that a surface 30 of the tape is facing forward and the other surface of the tape is facing rearward. On the forward-facing surface 30 of the respective band have the two cross-connection elements arranged at the front 28 one forward-facing contact surface each 36 on that from the forward-facing surface 30 is formed.

The two side elements 20 . 22 and the four cross connectors 28 . 32 consist entirely, ie 100%, of a plastic, in the present embodiment of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), and are produced and formed in one piece using an injection molding process.

In alternative embodiments, the two side elements and the four cross-connection elements can also consist predominantly or completely of metal, for example of sheet steel. In this case, the two side elements can be provided with 90 ° folds for mechanical reinforcement, each of which faces the other and the 90 ° folds of the opposite side element in pairs.

Through the side elements 20 . 22 and the cross-connection elements 28 . 32 becomes an interior 34 the framing device defined. The interior 34 enables, as in the 1 shown a frame of the coolant cooler 12 avoiding a vertical force transmission path from the coolant cooler 12 to the framing device 18 ,

A horizontal distance between the side elements 20 . 22 is such a horizontal dimension of the coolant cooler 12 adjusted that a maximum distance between each of the side elements 20 . 22 and one to that page element 20 . 22 facing side of the coolant cooler 12 is less than 1 millimeter.

The coolant cooler unit 10 also includes a cooling air guide element (not shown) for guiding the coolant cooler 12 cooling air to be supplied 40 , The cooling air guide element is funnel-shaped and can be made of plastic, for example. The cooling air guiding element has the framing device on it 18 facing end contact surfaces that face the forward-facing contact surfaces 36 of the front cross connectors 28 correspond. The forward-facing contact surfaces are in the installed state 36 of the front cross connectors 28 with the corresponding contact surfaces of the cooling air guide element in mutual contact. To improve a sealing function can between the contact surfaces 36 of the front cross connectors 28 and the contact surfaces of the cooling air guide element elastic seals can be provided and arranged.

As from the 1 the coolant cooler can be seen 12 in the interior 34 the framing device 18 arranged in a rearmost position. The coolant cooler 12 facing inner surfaces of the side elements 20 . 22 connect to the cooling air guiding element in a forward direction of travel. A width 26 of the side elements 20 . 22 , which, as mentioned, are free of through holes is part of an inlet section of the coolant cooler 12 cooling air to be supplied 40 and is designed in such a way that, in combination with the cooling air guiding element, there are optimized flow conditions for the cooling air to be supplied 40 result.

On the front webs of the two side elements 20 . 22 are four fasteners 38 provided and arranged for fastening the cooling air guide element, which are designed, for example, as latching means. The cooling air guide element is equipped with corresponding fastening elements, so that the cooling air guide element with the framing device 18 over their side elements 20 . 22 is attached.

The framing device 18 has a plurality of fasteners (not shown) for attachment to the framing device 18 framed coolant cooler 12 on. The weight of the framing device 18 and at least a part of the weight of the cooling air guiding element is via the coolant cooler 12 recorded by the vehicle body of the motor vehicle.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Coolant radiator unit

12

Coolant radiator

14

radiator package

16

fastener

18

framing device

20

page element

22

page element

24

web

26

Wide side element

28

front cross connector

30

front surface

32

rear cross connector

34

inner space

36

contact surface

38

Fastening element cooling air duct element

40

cooling air

50

holding frame

52

recess

54

fastener

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• US 6357821 B1 [0005]
• KR 20130023988 A [0007]
• US 7942223 B2 [0010]
• US 2010/0078149 A1 [0011]
• JP 2012251708 A [0015]

Claims (10)

Framing device (18) of a coolant cooler (12) of a motor vehicle, comprising: two essentially plate-shaped, vertically and parallel to one another side elements (20, 22) in essentially rectangular shape of the same size, which are free of through holes, - A plurality of horizontally oriented cross-connection elements (28, 32) for the mutual, fixed connection of the side elements (20, 22) in a region of the short sides of the rectangular shapes, one of the side elements (20, 22) and the cross-connection elements (28, 32 ) defined interior (34) allows a coolant cooler (12) to be framed while avoiding a vertical force introduction path from the coolant cooler (12) to the framing device (18). Framing device (18) after Claim 1 , characterized in that a horizontal distance between the side elements (20, 22) is at least substantially adapted to a horizontal dimension of a coolant cooler (12) such that a maximum distance between each of the side elements (20, 22) and one of the relevant side element (20, 22) facing side of the coolant cooler (12) is less than 2 millimeters. Framing device (18) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that at least one of the cross-connection elements (28, 32) arranged at the front in an installed state has at least one forward-facing contact surface (36) which is intended to be in mutual contact with a corresponding contact surface of a cooling air guide element in the installed state. Framing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that fastening elements (38) for fastening a cooling air guiding element are provided and arranged in a front region of the side elements (20, 22). Framing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side elements (20, 22) and the cross-connection elements (28, 32) have at least a predominant proportion of a plastic or a fiber-plastic composite. Framing device (18) according to one of the Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the side elements (20, 22) and the cross-connection elements (28, 32) consist at least for the most part of metal. Framing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side elements (20, 22) and the cross-connection elements (28, 32) are formed in one piece. Framing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plurality of fastening means for fastening to a coolant cooler (12) framed by the framing device (18). Coolant cooler unit (10) of a motor vehicle, comprising a coolant cooler (12) and at least one cooling air guide element for guiding the cooling air (40) to be supplied to the coolant cooler (12), characterized by - a framing device (18) according to one of the preceding claims and characterized in that - the Coolant cooler (12) in an interior space (34) defined by the side elements (20, 22) and the cross-connection elements (28, 32) and framed by these elements (20, 22, 28, 32) and avoiding a vertical force introduction path from the coolant cooler ( 12) to the framing device (18), and that - the at least one cooling air guiding element has fastening means and at least one contact surface and is fastened in a front region of the side elements (20, 22) with corresponding fastening means (38) of the framing device (18), that the contact surface with at least one corresponding appendix surface (36) of at least one of the front connecting elements (28) is in mutual contact. Coolant cooler unit after Claim 9 , characterized in that the coolant cooler (12) is arranged in the interior of the framing device (18) in a rearmost position.

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