JP2004092421A - Fan shroud mounting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fan shroud mounting structure preventing the generation of backlash due to clearance, having good assembling performance, simplifying a structure, not requiring high manufacturing accuracy, and not being expensive, when a shroud is mounted to a heat exchanging portion in a vehicular radiator. <P>SOLUTION: The fan shroud mounting structure for the radiator comprising the heat exchanging portion, a fan, the shroud installed around the fan, is provided with a first fitting portion in the heat exchanging portion side, and a second fitting portion in the heat exchanging portion side for engaging the shroud with the heat exchanging portion to be supported. The second fitting portion is provided with at least one protrusion, and the at least one protrusion is pressed and deformed by a main body of a fitting partner. Therefore, a clearance formed between the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion is partially eliminated, so that the shroud can be mounted without generating backlash. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, and more particularly to a radiator that is a heat exchanger for cooling an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A radiator, which is a heat exchanger for cooling an engine of an automobile, cools the engine coolant by passing the engine coolant through the heat exchanger and blowing the outside air to the heat exchanger with a fan driven by an engine or an electric motor. At this time, a shroud is provided around the fan in order to prevent the air flow by the fan from bypassing the heat exchange unit, and the shroud closes a gap between the fan and the heat exchange unit. In this way, the shroud increases the cooling capacity of the radiator.
[0003]
The shroud is attached to the heat exchange part, and this attachment is usually performed by several bolts. However, the mounting of the shroud to the heat exchanging section by bolts requires time and effort, so that the cost for this assembly is not small. Therefore, there has been proposed a conventional method of fitting the mounting portion on the shroud side to the mounting portion on the heat exchange unit side.
[0004]
6 to 8 show two examples of the conventional fitting method. FIG. 6 shows an assembly diagram of a conventional radiator 100 after a shroud is attached to a heat exchange unit, FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a main attachment unit of the shroud, and FIG. 8 is a configuration of a main attachment unit of the heat exchange unit. The figure is shown. 6 to 8, the shroud is designated at 4, the heat exchange section is designated at 2, and the fan is designated at 3. In these drawings, the attachment portions of the shroud 4 and the heat exchange portion 2 are formed by two types of conventional fitting methods, a method of the first fitting portion 50 shown at the top, and a second fitting shown at the bottom. This is shown by the method of the joint 60. The first fitting part 50 includes a first fitting female part 51 on the shroud 4 side and a fitting male part 52 on the heat exchange part 2 side, and the second fitting part 60 is provided on the shroud side. A first fitting female part 61 and a fitting male part 62 on the heat exchange part side are provided.
[0005]
In the first fitting portion 50, the first fitting female portion 51 is a square plate-like portion having a square fitting hole at the center, as shown in FIG. Then, the first fitting male part 52 is inserted into the first fitting male part 52, and the first fitting female part 51 is fitted and fixed to the first fitting male part 52. As shown in FIG. 8, the first fitting male portion 52 has two laterally elastic comb-shaped protrusions, and the protrusions of the first fitting female portion 51 The shroud 4 is inserted into the hole to hold and fix the shroud 4 via the first fitting female portion 51 by the elasticity of the projection. The two comb-shaped projections are convex and thick at the tips to prevent the first fitting female portion 51 from coming off.
[0006]
However, in such a conventional first fitting method, the structure of the first fitting male portion 52 is particularly complicated, and the manufacturing cost of the fitting portion is high. Also, since the weight of the shroud acts on the thin comb-shaped first fitting male portion 52, the comb-shaped projection of the first fitting male portion 52 may have a structure having a predetermined strength and elasticity. Necessary and further complicates its structure. In addition, since the protrusions are comb-shaped, there is a high possibility that rattling may occur in the fitting portion due to a decrease in precision at the time of manufacturing or elastic performance over time. Further, the fitting portion such as a comb-shaped projection or the like is apt to be broken and needs to be reinforced, and if it is broken, the shroud falls off. The conventional first fitting method has the above-described problem.
[0007]
On the other hand, in the conventional second fitting portion 60, the second fitting female portion 61 is a plate-shaped U-shaped portion having a fitting hole at the center as shown in FIG. The second fitting male portion 62 is inserted into the U-shaped portion, and the second fitting female portion 61 is fitted and fixed to the second fitting male portion 62. As shown in FIG. 8, the second fitting male portion 62 has an H-shaped portion, and the H-shaped portion has a U-shaped portion of the second fitting female portion 61. The parts fit together as shown. Therefore, the shroud is to be held and fixed such that the second fitting female portion 61 is placed on the second fitting female portion 62.
[0008]
However, in such a conventional second fitting method, although the structure of the fitting portion is simpler than that of the first fitting method, a gap exists between the fitting male portion and the fitting female portion. It is highly possible that there is play between them, that is, between the shroud 4 and the heat exchange unit 2. When such a play occurs, it is necessary to add a reinforcement to the occurrence of abnormal noise or an increase in vibration due to the play. In addition, if the clearance is reduced and play is eliminated, the assemblability deteriorates. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the manufacturing and position accuracy of the fitting portion, and eventually the manufacturing cost of the fitting portion becomes expensive. Also, since the weight of the shroud is supported by the second male fitting portion 62, it is necessary that the second male fitting portion 62 has a structure having a predetermined strength. Furthermore, since the shroud falls off when the fitting portion is broken, as in the first fitting method, it is necessary to satisfy both requirements of strength and manufacturing accuracy. The above-described problem also exists in the second conventional fitting method.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the conventional method, there is a gap and play occurs, or if the gap is made small, the assemblability is deteriorated, the structure is complicated, high manufacturing accuracy is required, and as a result, the fitting portion There are various problems such as an increase in manufacturing and assembly costs, and there is a demand for solving such problems.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has improved the problems of the conventional method without hindering the function and performance of the device itself, does not cause backlash, has a good assembling property, and has a structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger including a shroud mounting structure having a fitting portion which is not complicated, does not require high manufacturing accuracy, and is inexpensive to manufacture and the like.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above-described object, a heat exchange unit that exchanges heat between a refrigerant passing therethrough and air that passes therethrough, and a heat exchange unit that passes air through the heat exchange unit. A heat exchanger including a fan for blowing air and a shroud arranged around the fan and engaged with the heat exchange unit has a fan shroud mounting structure. The fan shroud mounting structure includes a first fitting portion provided on the heat exchange portion and engaging the shroud, and a first fitting portion provided on the shroud and fitted with the first fitting portion. 2 and at least one of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion, wherein the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion fit together. It is characterized in that it has a projection that deforms when mating, and that locally contacts the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion.
[0012]
With this configuration, when the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted, at least one protrusion is deformed, and the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are deformed. By partially eliminating the gap formed between the first and second fitting portions, the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion can be fixedly fitted without rattling. In addition, since a large dimensional absorption margin can be obtained due to the deformation of the projection, it is not necessary to make the gap very small, and the assembling property is good.
[0013]
In the fan shroud mounting structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the second fitting portion has an opening, and the first fitting portion is connected to the second fitting portion. It is characterized by being inserted into the opening of the second fitting part and fitted.
The second embodiment discloses an embodiment that embodies the present invention as compared with the first embodiment.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fan shroud mounting structure according to the second aspect, the first fitting portion includes a main body that contacts the projection and a main body that is located forward of the main body in the insertion direction. The second fitting portion has a head that is larger than an opening area of a portion where the protrusion is formed in the second fitting portion.
[0015]
With this configuration, the present embodiment can prevent the first fitting portion from coming off the second fitting portion due to the head of the first fitting.
[0016]
In the form described in claim 4 of the present invention, the opening has a first portion where the projection is formed and a second portion having an opening area larger than the first portion. Features.
With this configuration, after the first head is inserted into the second portion of the second fitting portion, the first head is moved toward the first fitting portion, whereby the first fitting portion is moved. Is fixed to the first portion of the second fitting portion. As a result, a fitting portion having a simpler structure can be provided.
[0017]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the mode of the fourth aspect, the first portion and the second portion of the opening each have a substantially rectangular shape, and the first fitting The main body of the portion has a substantially rectangular column shape.
In the form described in claim 5, a form that embodies the present invention is disclosed as compared with the form of claim 4.
[0018]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the fourth and fifth aspects, the first portion and the second portion of the openings of the plurality of second fitting portions are inclined. Unit.
With this configuration, in this embodiment, when the shroud is attached to the heat exchange unit, the shroud can be more easily moved along the heat exchange unit and attached more easily.
[0019]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the at least one projection has a small hemispherical shape.
In the form described in claim 7, a form that embodies the present invention is disclosed as compared with the forms of claims 1 to 6.
[0020]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in at least one of the first to sixth aspects, the at least one projection has a shape of a triangular ridge with a sharp point. .
In the present embodiment, the projections are easily deformed as compared with the embodiment of the seventh aspect, so that the play is more reliably eliminated.
[0021]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of any one of the third to eighth aspects, the at least one protrusion is not subjected to a load of a shroud such as an inner surface below a small opening. It is characterized by being provided in a part.
[0022]
With this configuration, in addition to the effect of the above-described embodiment, the projection which is a portion for preventing backlash is not a portion for receiving and supporting the load of the shroud. The deformation of the projections increases, and no rattling occurs over time. Since the support portion of the shroud is not related to the rattling prevention mechanism, the support portion is not limited in shape, size and the like to have the required strength, and can have sufficient strength.
[0023]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to ninth aspects, the material of the shroud is preferably, for example, polypropylene (PP), PP with glass, PP with talc, or the like. Characterized by being a plastic material.
In a tenth aspect, an embodiment that embodies the present invention is disclosed as compared with the first to ninth aspects.
[0024]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The heat exchanger according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a radiator 1 for an automobile. FIGS. 1 to 3 schematically show a radiator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the heat exchange unit 2 and the shroud 4 of the first embodiment are assembled. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the shroud 4 of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the heat exchange unit 2 of the first embodiment.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the elements of FIGS. 1-3 that are the same as or similar to the elements of the conventional radiator shown in FIGS. 6-8 are designated by the same reference numerals.
[0025]
First, referring to FIG. 1, a radiator 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in an assembled state, and a shroud 4 is attached to a heat exchange unit 2 so as to surround a fan 3. In the present embodiment, the shroud 4 and the heat exchange section 2 have four fitting sections 5. The number of the fitting portions 5 may be two or three or five or more, but four is preferable. The four fitting portions 5 of the present embodiment have the same shape as shown in the figure, that is, are not symmetrical at the left and right fitting portions, and only one will be described.
[0026]
Referring to FIG. 2, a female fitting part 10 on the shroud 4 side of the fitting part 5 of the radiator 1 of the first embodiment is shown. The fitting female portion 10 has a rectangular plate shape, and has a fitting hole 11 inside. The fitting hole 11 has a second portion 11a having a large opening in the left half as viewed in the drawing (FIG. 2) and a first portion 11b having a small opening in the right half. The second portion 11a and the first portion 11b are connected by an inclined portion, and the width of the opening gradually decreases from the second portion 11a toward the first portion 11b. Therefore, the fitting hole 11 has a shape in which the pistol is turned to the right. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the fitting female portion 10 has two small hemispherical projections 13 on the lower inner surface of the first portion 11b, and further has a lower front surface of the first portion 11b. Also has two similar small hemispherical projections 12.
[0027]
Referring now to FIG. 3, the heat exchange section 2 includes a fitting male section 20. The fitting male portion 20 has a main body 23 having a rectangular cross section with a main section in the shape of a rectangular column, a tip portion formed in a U-shape, and a rectangular head 22 and a concave portion 21 facing downward. , As shown in FIG. The male fitting part 20 attaches the shroud 4 to the heat exchange part 2 in cooperation with the female fitting part 10.
When fitting the fitting male part 20 to the fitting female part 10, the head 22 is inserted into the second part 11 a having a large opening of the fitting hole 11 of the fitting female part 10. In the four fitting portions 5, since the fitting female portion 10 and the fitting male portion 20 are all arranged in the same positional relationship, the insertion slightly reduces the size of the second portion 11a of the large opening. If it is larger than the size of the portion 22, it can be easily implemented. The shroud 4 is moved so that the head 22 is moved rightward as viewed in FIG. 1 from the large opening of the fitting hole 11 from the state where the four fitting male parts 20 are inserted into the fitting female part 10. I do. At this time, the inclined portion between the second portion 11a of the large opening of the fitting hole 11 and the first portion 11b of the small opening acts to guide the male fitting portion 20.
[0028]
Since the female fitting portion 10 is designed to engage with the concave portion 21 of the male fitting portion 20, the lower surface of the small opening of the fitting hole 11 of the female fitting portion 10 and the concave portion 21 of the female fitting portion 10 are formed. Are fitted so that the upper surfaces of the contacts are in contact with each other. At this time, the width B of the small opening of the fitting hole 11 is slightly larger than the depth D of the male fitting part 20, so that the female fitting part 10 fits into the concave part 21 of the male fitting part 20. The fitting is performed, but the projection 13 of the fitting female portion 10 is protruding. However, when the shroud 4, that is, the male fitting portion 20 moves to the right in the drawing, the upper surface of the concave portion 21 is slightly inclined, and the projection 13 is small. It is deformed so as to be crushed by the upper surface. As a result, the gap between the fitting hole 11 and the fitting male portion 20 is fitted so as to be filled with the portion of the projection 13, and the play between them is eliminated. In this manner, the fitting male part 20 and the fitting female part 10 are fitted, and the fitting female part 10, ie, the shroud 4, is supported so as to rest on the upper surface of the main body 23 of the fitting male part 20. . Once the shroud 4 itself has been assembled, there is almost no re-assembly in the market, so the deformation of the projection 13 may be permanent deformation.
[0029]
The length L2 of the concave portion 21 of the fitting male portion 20 and the thickness L1 of the fitting female portion 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are designed so that L2 is slightly larger than L1 with substantially the same dimensions. When the fitting female part 10 and the fitting male part 20 are fitted together, the play may be eliminated so that the protrusion 12 is crushed. The protrusion 12 of the female fitting portion 10 is crushed by being contacted by the side surface of the concave portion 21 of the male fitting portion 20. The shroud 4 is supported by the upper surface of the fitting hole 11 of the female fitting portion 10 resting on the upper surface of the main body 23 of the male fitting portion 20 as in the above case. Since the load of the shroud does not act on both the projections 12 and 13, it is extremely unlikely that the projections 12 and 13 will be deformed over time and play will occur.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, the protrusions of the fitting female portion 10 may be two kinds of protrusions 12 and 13, one of them, or three or more kinds. In the present embodiment, two projections 12 and 13 are provided, respectively, but the number may be other than two, such as one. Further, the projection may be provided on the male fitting part 20 or on both the female fitting part 10 and the male fitting part 20. Regarding the position of the projection, any position may be used as long as the fitting female portion 10 and the fitting male portion 20 are fitted and deformed so that the projection is crushed, thereby eliminating play.
[0031]
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment. The main differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment are the shape of the projection of the female fitting portion 10 and the shape of the fitting hole 11.
Here, the element parts in FIGS. 4 and 5 that are the same as or similar to the element parts of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, only the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, the fitting hole 11 has a shape having a portion having a large opening and a portion having a small opening as in the first embodiment, but the width changes stepwise. However, an inclined portion may be provided. The protrusion 32 provided in the small opening of the fitting hole 11 is formed in a triangular ridge shape with a sharp tip as shown in FIG. Further, a projection 33 having the same shape is provided on the back surface of the fitting female portion 30 as shown in FIG. Although these projections 32 and 33 come into contact with the fitting male part 40 and are crushed, the shape of the present embodiment is a shape that is more easily deformed. As shown in the drawing, the upper surface of the concave portion 41 of the male fitting portion 40 that contacts the projection 32 is formed so that the right end thereof is inclined, and the small opening of the female fitting portion 30 is May be designed so as to be easily moved in the direction of the concave portion 41.
[0033]
In the above embodiment, the type, number, installation location, installation position, shape of the fitting hole, and the like of the projections of the fitting female portion 30 are other than those described above as long as they can be deformed so as to be crushed to eliminate backlash. It may be.
The shape and form of the projection are not limited to those described in the first and second embodiments, and may be different as long as the person skilled in the art can think of it.
The material of the shroud 4 is preferably a plastic material such as, for example, polypropylene (PP), PP with glass, PP with talc, but other materials may be used.
[0034]
Next, effects and operations of the above embodiment will be described.
The following effects can be expected by the fan shroud mounting structure shown in the first embodiment of the present invention.
A heat exchanger 1 having a fitting portion 5 that can easily attach the shroud 4 to the heat exchange portion 2 without using any special tool, and that does not rattle or vibrate the attached shroud 4; Can be provided.
The shape of the fitting portion 5 is not complicated and does not require high manufacturing accuracy, so that the fitting portion 5 can be manufactured at low cost.
Since the projections 12 and 13 which are the portions for preventing backlash are not portions for receiving and supporting the load of the shroud 4, the deformation of the projections 12 and 13 in the fitting portion 5 increases with time, and No rattling occurs.
-Since the support portion of the shroud 4 is not related to the rattling preventing mechanism, the support portion is not restricted in shape, size and the like to have necessary strength, and can have sufficient strength.
A large dimensional absorption margin can be obtained by the deformation of the projections 12 and 13, so that it is not necessary to make the gap very small, so that the assembling property is good.
[0035]
The following effects can be expected by the fan shroud mounting structure shown in the second embodiment of the present invention.
The projections 12 and 13 are more easily deformed than in the first embodiment, so that the play is more reliably eliminated.
[0036]
In the above description, the illustrated heat exchanger is a radiator for a vehicle, but may be a radiator type heat exchanger provided with a fan used for other purposes.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 schematically shows an assembled state and a fitting portion of a radiator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows the shroud of the radiator of FIG. 1, including details of the mating female portion of the shroud.
FIG. 3 shows the heat exchange part of the radiator of FIG. 1, including details of the mating male part of the heat exchange part.
FIG. 4 shows details of a fitting female portion of a shroud of a radiator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows details of a male fitting part of a heat exchange part of a radiator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows a schematic front view and a side view of a conventional radiator in an assembled state.
FIG. 7 shows a front view and a side view of the shroud of the radiator of FIG. 6;
8 shows a front view and a side view of a heat exchange part of the radiator of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Radiator 2 ... Heat exchange part 3 ... Fan 4 ... Shroud 5 ... Fitting part 10 ... Fitting female part 11 ... Fitting hole 12 ... Protrusion 13 ... Protrusion 20 ... Fitting male part 21 ... Recess 22 ... Head 23 … Body

Claims (10)

A heat exchange section in which the refrigerant passing through and the passing air exchange heat,
A fan that blows air through the heat exchange section,
A shroud arranged around the fan and engaged with the heat exchange section;
In a fan shroud mounting structure for a heat exchanger comprising:
A first fitting portion provided on the heat exchange portion and engaging the shroud;
A second fitting portion provided on the shroud and fitted with the first fitting portion, and formed on at least one of the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion. A protrusion that deforms when the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are fitted to each other and that locally contacts the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion; And a fan shroud mounting structure. The second fitting portion has an opening, and the first fitting portion is inserted into the opening of the second fitting portion and fitted. 3. The fan shroud mounting structure according to 1. The first fitting portion is disposed in front of the body in contact with the protrusion in the insertion direction, and is larger than an opening area of a portion of the second fitting portion where the protrusion is formed. The fan shroud mounting structure according to claim 2, further comprising a head. The fan shroud mounting according to claim 3, wherein the opening has a first portion where the projection is formed and a second portion having an opening area larger than the first portion. Construction. The first portion and the second portion of the opening each have a substantially rectangular shape, and the main body of the first fitting portion has a substantially rectangular column shape. 3. The fan shroud mounting structure according to 1. The fan shroud mounting structure according to claim 4, wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected by an inclined portion. 7. The fan shroud mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion has a small hemispherical shape. The fan shroud mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one protrusion has a shape of a triangular ridge having a sharp tip. The fan shroud mounting structure according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the at least one projection is provided on a portion where a load of the shroud does not act, such as an inner surface below the small opening. . The fan shroud mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a material of the shroud is a plastic such as polypropylene (PP), glass-containing PP, and talc-containing PP.

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