FR2805497A1 - Vehicle radiator mounting is assembled in two parts, with radiator fitting between and with connectors to radiator end containers, integrated into front face assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The front face of the vehicle is constructed in two parts (1, 2) and is designed to receive a heat exchanger, consisting of a face (7) formed of tubes, with fluid containers (10, 11), into which are fitted the ends of the tubes. The front face is constructed with tubular inlets and/or outlets (12, 13), which are designed to connect with the fluid containers, forming the reservoirs for the radiator tubes. Independent claims are also included for the front face assembly and a method to mount the radiator on the front face of the vehicle.

Description

<U> Mounting a cooling radiator on a support of </ U> <U> front face of a motor vehicle </ U> The invention relates to a front support of a motor vehicle adapted to receive a heat exchanger a bundle of tubes and at least one fluid box in which one end of each tube engages.

It is common practice today, during the assembly of a motor vehicle, to set up at the front of it various components such as lighting blocks, heat exchangers, horns, hood lock, in the form of a subset in which these components are fixed on a support said front face. Such a subassembly can be made by an equipment manufacturer, and the car manufacturer has only to present it at the front of the vehicle and to fix the front support on the structural elements of the vehicle, thus achieving fixation indirect components carried by the front support, without the need to manipulate and individually fix these components on the vehicle structure. This is a considerable simplification of vehicle assembly operations.

Among the components thus fixed on the front face support there are frequently heat exchangers intended to dissipate the heat produced by other components of the vehicle, in particular a cooling radiator for cooling the cooling fluid flowing through the heat engine. drive the vehicle.

Engine cooling radiators generally include a bundle of tubes and at least one fluid box joined to the bundle of tubes. The fluid boxes have fastening tabs which are connected to corresponding plastic tabs belonging to the front face support, by means of fasteners such as screws or staples, with the interposition of rubber pads for damping the vibration. The object of the invention is to simplify the assembly operations of the heat exchanger and mounting thereof on the front face support.

The invention aims in particular a front face support of the kind defined in the introduction, and provides that it comprises at least a fluid inlet or outlet manifold adapted to be in fluid communication with said fluid box.

Optional features of the invention, complementary or alternative, are set forth below: The front face support is composed of at least two elements to be assembled together.

Two elements to be assembled together respectively comprise an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe located facing one another so as to connect respectively to the ends of a tubular fluid box.

The front face support comprises an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe adapted to be connected respectively to two of the four ends of two tubular fluid boxes of the heat exchanger and to the seats provided for receiving the other two ends. fluid boxes, said pipes being located in pairs facing each other on two different elements so as to cooperate respectively with the ends of the same fluid box. The two elements are an upper element and a lower element capable of cooperating respectively with the upper and lower ends of at least one tubular fluid box.

- At least one element has an elongate bowl-shaped cavity adapted to define said fluid box, communicating with said tubing and whose open face is facing another element. Two elements to be assembled together have respective recesses in the form of an elongate bowl defining two fluid boxes of the heat exchanger, each of which has its open face turned towards the other.

Two elements to be assembled together each have a cavity capable of defining a single fluid box and a seat adapted to receive the U tube bottoms, each of which communicates at both its ends with said cavity. The two elements are an upper element having a fluid box cavity and a lower element having a second fluid box cavity or said seat.

The upper element is a cross-member intended to extend substantially over all the width of the vehicle.

- Lower element has substantially a U-shaped configuration comprising a bottom adapted to cooperate with the lower end of the fluid box or boxes, or having said second fluid box cavity or said seat for the bottoms of the tubes, and two branches s rising from the bottom so as to extend on both sides of the heat exchanger.

- Said elements surround a recess passing through the front face support in the front-rear direction and adapted to house at least said beam of the heat exchanger.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a front face support as defined above and a heat exchanger adapted to be mounted thereon.

The assembly according to the invention may furthermore comprise all or some of the following features: - heat exchanger is a cooling radiator. - It comprises a front support provided with two pipes facing each other, or two pipes and two seats for the other ends of the fluid boxes, and a heat exchanger having at least one box to tubular fluid.

- The sealing of each fluid box end or the sealed connection between it and the corresponding tubing is provided by a connecting piece.

- Said connecting pieces further ensure damping vibrations.

- The heat exchanger is entirely metal and assembled by brazing.

- It comprises a front face support having at least one elongated bowl-shaped cavity, the open face of the or each elongated bowl-shaped cavity being covered in a sealed manner by a collector plate itself sealingly traversed by ends of the tubes.

Said seat comprises an elongated bowl-shaped recess formed in a front-face support member and a retaining plate covering the open face thereof, facing the fluid-box cavity, said holding plate having openings. bushings with tube clamping.

The invention further relates to a method for mounting on a front-face support as defined above a heat exchanger comprising a bundle of tubes and at least one fluid box in which one end of each tube engages, a method in which said elements of the front face support are brought closer to each other to their relative position of assembly, by trapping said beam between them, so as to connect said tubing to the tubes via the fluid box. Optional features of the method provide that: - When the front support is provided with two pipes facing each other, or two pipes and two seats for the other ends of the fluid boxes, brings said elements parallel in the axial direction of the tubular fluid box or boxes which are previously assembled to the beam.

- When the front face support has at least one elongate bowl-shaped cavity, said elements are brought closer to the longitudinal direction of the tubes, ends thereof engaging in the cavity or cavities - U-tube bottoms engage with said seat during the approximation of said elements.

The features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in more detail in the description below, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention comprising a front support in two parts, being assembled.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of an assembly according to the invention in the assembled state, showing the connection of the upper end of a fluid box and an inlet manifold belonging to the element. upper part of the front support, according to a variant of the support shown in FIG.

The figure is a front view of an assembly according to the invention comprising a front face support in two parts, being assembled.

The figure is a view similar to Figure 3, the assembly being mounted. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly generally in accordance with FIG. 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, relating to a variant of the assembly.

Figure 7 is a partial view in cross section relative another variant.

The front face support shown in Figure 1 is composed of two elements to be joined together rigidly, namely an upper element 1 and a lower element 2. The element 1 is a cross member intended to expand significantly across the width of the vehicle. Element 2 has a substantially U-shaped configuration, comprising a bottom substantially horizontal, extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and two branches 4 and 5 extending upwards from the ends of the bottom 2. In a Known, the elements 1 and 2 are hollow molded plastic parts, which are advantageously provided with reinforcements, for example metal. It should be noted that the realization of the front support in two elements is frequently desirable to reduce the size of the molds and consequently the cost of manufacture. The invention takes advantage of this embodiment in two elements. Of course, it is also usable with front face supports composed of more than two elements.

The radiator 6 to be mounted on the support 1, 2 comprises a beam 7 formed of horizontal tubes and corrugated intercalaires, one of these tubes 8 and one of these interchairs 9 being shown in Figure 2 , and two tubular fluid boxes 10 and 11 of vertical axes. In a known manner, especially in the field of vehicle cooling radiators, the tubes, the spacers and the fluid boxes are made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and are mutually assembled by soldering, the brazing ensuring the tightness of the junction between the tubes and the fluid boxes. The tubes 7 are here oriented horizontally, and the axes of the boxes vertically.

According to the invention, an inlet pipe 12 and an outlet pipe 13 for the cooling fluid to circulate in the radiator 6 are molded with one and / or the other of the elements 1 and 2. In the the example shown in Figure 1, the inlet pipe 12 is provided on a median region 14 of the upper cross member 1 vertically facing the bottom 3 of the element 2, and the outlet pipe 13 provided on the bottom 3, so as to connect respectively to the upper end and the lower end the manifold 10. Alternatively, the two pipes could be provided on the same element so as to connect to the upper ends or the lower ends of the two boxes each of the elements to connect to the upper end of one of the boxes and to the lower end of the other box, depending on the a desired path for the circulation of the fluid in the radiator. it can be seen in FIG. 1 that the tubing 12 projects above the median region 14 of the cross-member 1, whereas, in the variant of FIG. 2, the tubing 12 is entirely housed in height in the region 14 and does not protruding only backwards to be connected to the remaining part of the cooling circuit.

As seen more particularly in Figure 2, the fluid box 10 has in the vicinity of its upper end an annular flange 15 oriented radially outwardly. It is surrounded, between its end and the collar 15, by an annular connecting piece with an L-shaped cross-section, a branch of the L defining a sleeve 16 closely surrounding the tubular wall of the box and the other branch defining a radial flange. in the assembled state, as seen in FIG. 2, the sleeve 16 is trapped radially between the wall of the fluid box and the end of the tubing 12, oriented vertically, and the flange 17 is trapped axially between the flange 10 and the end of the tubing. The part 16, 17, made of elastomer or flexible plastic material, ensures both the sealing of the junction between the fluid box 10 and the tubing 12, and vibration damping. Similar connecting pieces are provided at the other ends of the fluid boxes, the one provided at the lower end of the fluid box 10 cooperating in the same way with the end of the outlet pipe 13, and those at the ends of the box. with fluid 10 cooperating with blind recesses 18 elements 1, 2. In a variant, the connecting pieces that do not cooperate with the inlet and outlet pipes can be made in the form of plugs or covers to ensure the closure of these elements. ends. These same ends can also be closed in known manner by brazed partitions, the connecting pieces then serving only to dampen the vibrations. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the median region 14 of the crossmember 1, the bottom 3 and the limbs 4,5 of the element 2 define a substantially rectangular frame surrounding a recess 19 which passes through the front face support. in the front-rear direction and in which is housed the radiator 6. In this example, the outlet pipe 13 is housed in the bottom 3 of the element 2 from which it projects rearwardly. Alternatively, it could be housed in part in one of the vertical branches 4 and 5.

The immobilization of the radiator 6 on the front face support 1 is made during the mutual approximation of the elements 1 and by a vertical movement, to their relative position of mutual assembly.

Alternatively, a radiator whose fluid boxes would be oriented horizontally could be mounted by a horizontal relative movement of left and right elements of the front face support.

The front face support of the assembly represented in FIGS. 3 and 4 has the same general structure as that of FIG. 1 and is therefore composed of an upper cross member 101 and a lower element 102 in the form of a U. The constituent parts The elements 101 and 102 are designated by the same reference numbers as those of elements 1 and 2, increased by 100. In known manner, the cross member 101 has lateral housings 120 for the projectors of the vehicle and a location 121 for the lock of the vehicle. cover. In a manner also known, as seen in FIG. 5, the crosspiece 101 comprises a plastic body 122 molded by injection onto a metal sheet reinforcement 123. According to the invention, as also seen in FIG. body 122 of the cross member, in the median region 114 thereof, defines a recess 124 in the form of a trough elongate in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and open downwards. On the wall of the cavity 124 is formed a pipe 112 which opens on the one hand inside the cavity, on the other hand at the rear of the crossbar 101, so as to be connected to a fluid circuit of cooled.

Similarly, the horizontal bottom 103 of the lower member 102 defines an elongate and upwardly open cavity 125, the open faces of the recesses 124 and 125 facing each other in the vertical direction. . A tubing 113 formed on the wall of the cavity 125 opens inside the latter and behind the element 102.

The assembly shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 also comprises a beam 107 of flat tubes, the tubes 108 of which are oriented vertically and open at their two ends. Two collector plates 126, 127 are respectively connected to the upper ends and lower ends of the tubes 108, the ends of the tubes sealingly passing, as is usual, appropriate openings provided in the collector plates. The assembly of the described assembly is carried out by bringing the cross member 101 of the part 102 closer together by a vertical movement, as shown by the arrows of FIG. 3, the beam 107 provided with the collecting plates 126, 127, being interposed vertically between the bottom 103 and the median region 114 of the cross member, and laterally between the uprights 104 and 105. This movement continues to an assembly position of the front face support in which assembly areas 128 the cross member come into engagement with assembly zones 129 of the lower element 102. In this position, each manifold plate 126, 127 is supported on the peripheral edge of the corresponding cavity 124, 125, thus closing the latter in a fluidtight manner. The cavities thus constitute the internal volume of respective fluid boxes formed by the walls of the elements 101, 102 and by the collector plates 12. 6, 127, the ends of the tubes 108 communicating with volume.

It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the bottom 132 of the cavity 24 is separated from the upper wall 133 of the median region 114 of the crossmember 101 by another cavity 134 open towards the rear. Furthermore, Figures 3 and 4 show a degassing plug 135 in communication with the cavity 124, provided on the top of this middle region.

In Figure 6, the same or similar constituent parts to those of Figure 5 are indicated by the same reference numerals. The illustrated set differs from the previous one by the following points.

The rectilinear tubes 108 opening at the top and at the bottom are replaced by U-shaped tubes 140, the two ends of each tube opening into the cavity 124, on either side of a vertical longitudinal partition 141 which divides it in at least two rooms. The two inlet and outlet pipes, one of which is represented under the reference 142, therefore belong to the cross-member 101 and communicate with the cavity 124. The passage openings for the tubes in the header plate 126 are arranged accordingly. The cavity 125 of the lower element 102, which is identical to the corresponding element of FIG. 5, no longer defines a fluid box, but a seat for receiving the bottoms of the tubes 140, in cooperation with the plate 131, which may be unchanged from that of Figure 5. The seal 131 has no sealing function and ensures only the vibration damping between the tube bundle and the front face support.

The upper cross member 150 shown in FIG. 7 differs from the cross member 101 of FIGS. 5 and 6, in its median region, in that it has an inverted U-shaped cross section, the bottom of the cavity 151 forming a fluid box. being constituted by the upper wall 152 of the hollow cross member. The two configurations thus illustrated are examples of the multiple configurations that can be adopted depending on the desired geometrical and mechanical characteristics for the front face support.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the assembly of the cooling radiators, but applies to all heat exchangers regardless of their function.

Claims (15)

<U> Claims </ U> 1. Front support of a clean motor vehicle receiving a heat exchanger comprising a bundle (7) of tubes (8) and at least one fluid box (10, 11) in which an end of each tube engages, characterized in that it comprises at least one inlet or fluid outlet pipe (12, 13) adapted to be in fluid communication with said fluid box. 2. front support according to claim 1, composed of at least two elements (1, 2) to be assembled together. 3. Support front face according to claim 2, wherein two elements (1, 2) to be assembled together respectively comprise an inlet pipe (12) and an outlet pipe (13) located opposite one of the other so as to connect respectively to the ends of a tubular fluid box (10). 4. Front-face support according to one of claims 2 and 3, comprising an inlet pipe (12) and an outlet pipe (13) adapted to connect respectively to two of the four ends of two tubular fluid boxes ( 10, the heat exchanger, and seats (18) provided to receive the other two ends of the fluid boxes, said pipes being located in pairs facing each other on two different elements of to cooperate respectively with the ends of the same fluid box. 5. Support front face according to one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the two elements are an upper element and a lower element adapted to cooperate respectively with the upper and lower ends of at least one tubular fluid box. 6. Front-face support according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one element (101) has a cavity (124) shaped elongate bowl clean to define said fluid box, communicating with said tubing (112) and whose open face is turned to another element. The front support according to claim 6, which is attached to claim 2, wherein two members (101, 102) to be joined together have respective elongated trough cavities (124, 125) suitable for defining two boxes. fluid of the heat exchanger, each of which has its open face facing the other. The front support according to claim 6, which is attached to claim 2, wherein two members (101, 102) to be joined together respectively have a cavity (124) for defining a single fluid box and a seat ( 125) adapted to receive the U-tube bottoms (140) each of which communicates at both ends with said cavity (124). Front-face support according to one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the two elements are an upper element (101) having a cavity (124) forming a fluid box and a lower element (102) having a second cavity forming fluid box or said seat (125). 10. Support front face according to one of claims 5 and 9, wherein the upper member is a cross member intended to extend substantially over the entire width of the vehicle. 11. Front-face support according to one of claims 5, 9 and 10, wherein the lower member (2, 102) substantially has a U-shaped configuration comprising a bottom (3, 103) for cooperating with the lower end of the one or more fluid boxes (10, 11), or having said second fluid box cavity or said seat (125) for the bottoms of the tubes, and two branches (4, 104, 5, 105) s' raising from the bottom so as to extend on both sides of the heat exchanger. 12. Front-face support according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said elements (1, 2) surround a recess (19) passing through the front-face support in the front-rear direction and adapted to house at least said beam ( 7) of the heat exchanger. 13. An assembly comprising a front face support according to one of the preceding claims and a heat exchanger (6) adapted to be mounted thereon. 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the heat exchanger is a cooling radiator. 15. Assembly according to one of claims 13 and 14, comprising a front face support according to one of revendi cations 3 to 5 and a heat exchanger (6) having at least one tubular fluid box (10, 11) . An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the sealing of each fluid box end the sealed connection therebetween with the corresponding tubing is provided by a connecting piece (16, 17). 17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said connecting pieces further provide vibration damping. Assembly according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the heat exchanger (6) is entirely metallic and assembled by brazing. 19. Assembly according to one of claims 13 and 14 comprising a front face support according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the open face of the or each cavity (124, 125) shaped elongated bowl is covered in a sealed manner by a collector plate (126, 127) itself sealingly traversed by the ends of the tubes. The assembly of claim 19 comprising a front-face support according to claim 8, wherein said seat comprises an elongated bowl-shaped recess (125) formed in a face support member (102) before a holding plate ( 127) covering the open face thereof, facing the fluid box cavity (124), said holding plate having openings clamped through the tubes (140). 21. Method for mounting on a front face support according to one of claims 1 to 12 a heat exchanger comprising a bundle (7) of tubes (8) and at least one fluid box (10, 11) in which s' engages one end of each tube, in which process said elements (1, 2) are brought closer to the front face support from one another to their relative assembly position, by trapping said beam between them, so as to connecting said tubing to the tubes via the fluid box. 22. The method of claim 21 using a front face support according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said elements are brought parallel to the axial direction of the or tubular fluid boxes (10, 11) which are previously assembled to the beam. 23. The method of claim 21 using a front face support according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said elements are brought parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tubes (108), the ends thereof engaging in the or the cavities (124, 125). 24. The method of claim 23 using a front face support according to claim 8, wherein the bottoms of the U-tubes (140) engage said seat (125, 127) when bringing said elements together.