JP2018184940A - Tank fixing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tank fixing structure which resists vibration caused during travelling of a vehicle and fixes a reservoir tank to a fan shroud in a more stable manner.SOLUTION: A fixing structure of a reservoir tank 10 has a lower fixing part L, a first upper fixing part U1, and a second upper fixing part U2. The lower fixing part includes a receiving hole 22 and a positioning protrusion 11. The first upper fixing part includes at least a positioning pin 231 and a first ear part 12 having a positioning hole 13. The second upper fixing part includes a hook part 24 and a second ear part 14. The hook part includes: a rearward extension portion extending rearward from the fan shroud 20; and a downward extension portion extending downward from the rearward extension part. The second ear part is inserted into an insertion space between the fan shroud and the downward extension portion. The downward extension portion restricts rearward displacement of the second ear part. The rearward extension portion restricts upward displacement of the second ear part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a tank fixing structure for fixing a coolant reservoir tank to a fan shroud carrying a fan for cooling a radiator for cooling a coolant for cooling an engine in a vehicle.

  A radiator for cooling the coolant for cooling the engine is disposed in the vicinity of the front grill of the vehicle, particularly the automobile. A fan shroud carrying a fan for cooling the radiator is attached to the radiator. The fan shroud is usually formed by a resin injection molding technique. From the viewpoint of effective use of the space in the engine room, a coolant reservoir tank is fixed to the fan shroud in a state of being arranged along the wall of the fan ring portion.

  An example of a fixing structure for fixing the reservoir tank to the fan shroud is described in Patent Document 1. The tank fixing structure described in Patent Document 1 includes a lower fixing portion that fixes the lower portion of the reservoir tank, a first upper fixing portion that fixes the upper left end portion of the reservoir tank, and a first upper fixing portion that fixes the upper right end portion of the reservoir tank. 2 upper fixing portions.

  The lower fixing portion includes a receiving portion formed in the fan shroud and having a receiving hole, and a positioning protrusion formed in the reservoir tank and inserted into the receiving hole. The receiving part supports the positioning protrusion from below.

  The first upper fixing portion includes a clip portion formed on the fan shroud, and a first ear portion that is provided on the upper portion of the reservoir tank and engages with the clip portion. The clip portion includes a positioning pin protruding rearward from the fan shroud and an elastically displaceable clip piece extending from the fan shroud. The clip piece is provided with a retaining claw for maintaining the engagement between the clip portion and the first ear portion. The positioning pin is inserted into a positioning hole formed in the first ear.

  The second upper fixing portion includes a hook portion formed on the fan shroud and a second ear portion that is provided on the second side of the upper portion of the reservoir tank and engages with the hook portion. The hook portion includes a rearward extending portion extending rearward from the fan shroud and a leftward extending portion extending leftward from the rearward extending portion, and the second ear portion is provided between the fan shroud and the downward extending portion. An insertion space to be inserted is formed, the rearward extending portion restricts the displacement of the second ear portion to the right, and the leftward extending portion restricts the rearward displacement of the second ear portion.

  The vehicle vibrates in various directions such as the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction when traveling. Due to this vibration, the reservoir tank tends to be displaced with respect to the fan shroud. In the tank fixing structure of Patent Document 1, when the reservoir tank is about to be displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the fan shroud, only the first upper fixing portion can restrict such displacement. However, since the positioning pin of the first upper fixing portion is not directly above the center of gravity of the reservoir tank, when the reservoir tank is about to be displaced vertically with respect to the fan shroud, A displacement in the rotational direction of the tank can occur. That is, the tank fixing structure of Patent Document 1 has room for improvement in the stable holding of the tank.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a tank fixing structure capable of fixing a reservoir tank to a fan shroud more stably against vibrations generated during vehicle travel.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the tank fixing structure in which the reservoir tank of the coolant for engine cooling is fixed to the fan shroud carrying the fan for cooling the vehicle heat exchanger, the tank fixing structure includes the lower fixing portion and the tank fixing structure. And a first upper fixing portion and a second upper fixing portion provided above the lower fixing portion, respectively. The lower fixing portion is formed in a fan shroud and having a receiving hole, and a reservoir tank. And a positioning projection that is inserted into the receiving hole, the receiving portion supports the positioning projection from below, the first upper fixing portion projects from the first side of the fan shroud, and the reservoir tank. And at least a first ear portion that engages with the positioning pin, and the positioning pin is inserted into the first ear portion. The second upper fixing part includes a hook part formed in the fan shroud, and a second ear part provided on the second side of the upper part of the reservoir tank and engaged with the hook part. The hook portion includes a rear extension portion extending rearward from the fan shroud and a lower extension portion extending downward from the rear extension portion, and the second ear portion is inserted between the fan shroud and the lower extension portion. A tank fixing structure, characterized in that a space is formed, the downward extension part restricts the rearward displacement of the second ear part, and the rearward extension part restricts the upward displacement of the second ear part. Provided.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention, in the tank fixing structure in which the reservoir tank of the coolant for engine cooling is fixed to the fan shroud carrying the fan for cooling the vehicle heat exchanger, the tank fixing structure includes the lower fixing part and the tank fixing structure. And a first upper fixing portion and a second upper fixing portion provided above the lower fixing portion, respectively. The lower fixing portion is formed in a fan shroud and having a receiving hole, and a reservoir tank. And a positioning projection that is inserted into the receiving hole, the receiving portion supports the positioning projection from below, the first upper fixing portion projects from the first side of the fan shroud, and the reservoir tank. And at least a first ear portion that engages with the positioning pin, and the positioning pin is inserted into the first ear portion. The second upper fixing part includes a hook part formed in the fan shroud, and a second ear part provided on the second side of the upper part of the reservoir tank and engaged with the hook part, The hook portion includes a rear extending portion extending rearward from the fan shroud, and a lower extending portion extending downward from the rear extending portion or a side extending portion extending to the first upper fixing portion, and the fan shroud and the lower extending portion or side. An insertion space into which the second ear portion is inserted is formed between the positioning extension pin and the positioning pin is non-circular in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction, and the positioning hole (13) 231 ′, 231 ″) and a tank fixing structure characterized by having a shape that prevents rotation of the first ear (12) relative to the positioning pin. It is.

  According to the first embodiment, since the rearward extension portion of the hook portion of the second upper fixing portion prevents upward displacement with respect to the fan shroud of the reservoir tank, two fixings that can prevent upward displacement are provided. The part will exist. For this reason, when a force is applied to the reservoir tank so that the reservoir tank is displaced upward with respect to the fan shroud, the reservoir tank is displaced upward with respect to the fan shroud, and the rotation of the reservoir tank due to the force is performed. Can be prevented. Note that there are two or more fixing portions that restrict displacement of the reservoir tank in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the lower direction with respect to the fan shroud.

  According to the second embodiment, the rotation of the reservoir tank relative to the fan shroud can be suppressed by the non-circular positioning pin of the first upper fixing portion and the positioning hole engaged therewith.

It is a perspective view which shows a fan shroud and a reservoir tank. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the clip part of the 1st upper fixing | fixed part shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the 1st upper fixing | fixed part shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the hook part of the 2nd upper fixing | fixed part shown in FIG. It is the side view seen from the direction of arrow IIIB in Drawing 3A which shows the composition of the 2nd upper fixed part shown in Drawing 1. It is the bottom view seen from the direction of arrow IIIC in Drawing 3A which shows the composition of the 2nd upper fixed part shown in Drawing 1. It is a perspective view which shows the shape of the positioning pin of the clip part in deformation | transformation embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to clarify the direction of the component in each figure, each figure includes arrows indicating up, down, front, back, left, and right directions (directions when mounted on the vehicle).

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the reservoir tank 10 and the fan shroud 20. The fan shroud 20 includes a motor mount portion 2 to which a motor (not shown) for driving a fan (not shown) is attached, and a thin cylindrical fan ring portion 4 surrounding the fan (not shown). Have. The fan shroud 20 is attached to the vehicle so as to cover the rear surface of the vehicle heat exchanger (not shown). The vehicle heat exchanger is a radiator for cooling engine coolant, for example. Or it is a condenser in the refrigerating cycle of a vehicle air conditioner. Alternatively, the radiator and the condenser may be overlapped in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  The reservoir tank 10 is fixed to the fan shroud 20 by three fixing portions, that is, a lower fixing portion L, and a first upper fixing portion U1 and a second upper fixing portion U2 provided above the lower fixing portion. The In the illustrated example, the lower fixing portion L, the first upper fixing portion U1, and the second upper fixing portion U2 are provided on the left side of the fan shroud 20.

  The lower fixing portion L includes a receiving portion 21 having a receiving hole 22 formed in the fan shroud 20 and a positioning protrusion 11 formed in the reservoir tank 10. The positioning protrusion 11 is inserted into the receiving hole 22, whereby the receiving portion 21 supports the positioning protrusion 11 from below. At this time, the receiving hole 22 restricts the displacement of the positioning protrusion 11 in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the lower direction. In the illustrated example, the positioning protrusion 11 is formed at the lower end of the reservoir tank 10.

  The first upper fixing part U <b> 1 includes a clip part 23 formed on the fan shroud 20 and a first ear part 12 formed on the reservoir tank 10. The first ear portion 12 engages with the clip portion 23. The first ear portion 12 is provided on the first side of the upper portion of the reservoir tank 10, in the illustrated example, on the upper left end of the reservoir tank 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the clip portion 23 has a positioning pin 231 and a clip piece 232. The positioning pin 231 protrudes rearward from the fan shroud 20 (specifically, the base portion 230 of the fan shroud 20). The base part 230 means a part of the fan shroud 20 from which the positioning pin 231 and the clip piece 232 protrude from the clip part 23.

  The clip piece 232 is connected to the base portion 230 so as to be elastically displaceable in the left-right direction as indicated by the black arrow in FIG. 2B. The clip piece 232 has a retaining claw 233. As shown in FIG. 1, a positioning hole 13 into which the positioning pin 231 is inserted is formed in the first ear portion 12 of the reservoir tank 10.

  With the positioning pin 231 of the clip portion 23 inserted into the positioning hole 13 of the first ear portion 12, the first ear portion 12 is moved in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 2B (the direction from the rear to the front). Then, the first ear 12 comes into contact with the retaining claw 233. Subsequently, when the first ear 12 is moved in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 2B, the rear face of the retaining claw 233 is inclined, so that the clip pushed by the first ear 12 The piece 232 is elastically displaced in the direction of the black arrow in FIG. 2B. Thereby, the 1st ear | edge part 12 moves over the retaining claw 233 and moves forward, and then the retaining claw 233 is restored to the original shape, and the state shown in FIG. 2B is obtained. Since the front surface of the retaining claw 233 is a flat surface, the retaining claw 233 prevents the first ear portion 12 from moving backward, so that the engagement between the clip portion 23 and the first ear portion 12 is maintained.

  When the first ear portion 12 is engaged with the clip portion 23, the positioning pin 231 restricts the displacement of the first ear portion in the vertical direction and the left-right direction, and the clip piece 232 is displaced rearward of the first ear portion. The base portion 230 restricts the forward displacement of the first ear portion.

  The second upper fixing portion U <b> 2 includes a hook portion 24 formed on the fan shroud 20 and a second ear portion 14 provided on the reservoir tank 10. The second ear portion 14 engages with the hook portion 24. The second ear 14 is provided on the second side (the side opposite to the first side in the left-right direction) of the upper portion of the reservoir tank 10, in the illustrated example, on the upper right end of the reservoir tank 10.

  In FIG. 1, a hole 15 is formed in the second ear portion 14. This hole 15 is a screw through hole for ensuring mounting compatibility with an old fan shroud, and the function of the present embodiment. Since it is not necessary to realize this, it may be omitted.

  The hook portion 24 includes a rearward extending portion 242 that extends rearward from the fan shroud 20 (specifically, the base portion 240 of the fan shroud 20), and a lower extended portion 243 that extends downward from the tip of the rearward extending portion 242. The base portion 240 means a part of the fan shroud 20 from which the rearward extending portion 242 projects from the hook portion 24.

  When the second ear portion 14 is inserted into the insertion space 241 between the base portion 240 and the downward extension portion 243, the base portion 240 restricts the forward displacement of the second ear portion 14 and the downward extension portion 243. Restricts the rearward displacement of the second ear portion 14, and the rearward extending portion 242 restricts the upward displacement of the second ear portion 14.

  Of the surface of the downward extending portion 243 on the insertion space 241 side, the end portion on the first upper fixed portion U1 side is an inclined surface 245. The inclined surface 245 is inclined so as to move away from the base portion 240 of the fan shroud 20 as it approaches the first upper fixing portion U1. By providing the inclined surface 245, the second ear portion 14 can be easily inserted into the insertion space 241 facing right.

  Preferably, a through hole 246 is formed in the base portion 240 of the front portion of the rearward extending portion 242 of the hook portion 24. By providing this through-hole 246, when forming the fan shroud 20 in the resin injection molding using the mold divided in the front-rear direction, a complicated mold structure such as a drawing core for molding the hook portion 24 is used. Need not be adopted.

  The second upper fixing portion U2 is located at a position adjacent to the insertion space 241 on the opposite side of the first upper fixing portion U1 (in the illustrated example, a position adjacent to the insertion space 241 on the right side of the insertion space 241). A stopper 244 extending rearward from 20 (base portion 240) is further provided. The stopper 244 restricts the displacement of the second ear portion 14 inserted into the insertion space 241 in the horizontal direction (rightward in the illustrated example).

  The procedure for attaching the reservoir tank 10 to the fan shroud 20 is as follows.

  First, the positioning protrusion 11 at the bottom of the reservoir tank 10 is inserted into the receiving hole 22 of the receiving portion 21 of the fan shroud 20.

  Next, the reservoir tank 10 is twisted around the axis of the positioning projection 11, and the second ear portion 14 of the reservoir tank 10 is inserted into the insertion space 241 of the hook portion 24 of the fan shroud 20. At this time, since the inclined surface 245 is provided on the hook portion 24, the second ear portion 14 can be easily inserted into the insertion space 241.

  Next, the reservoir tank 10 is twisted around the axis of the positioning projection 11 to engage the first ear portion 12 of the reservoir tank 10 with the clip portion 23 of the fan shroud 20. The engagement process here is as described above.

  This completes the installation.

When the reservoir tank 10 is attached to the fan shroud 20,
The lower fixing portion L regulates the movement of the reservoir tank 10 in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the lower direction with respect to the fan shroud 20,
The first upper fixing portion U1 regulates the movement of the reservoir tank 10 in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction with respect to the fan shroud 20,
The second upper fixing portion U2 restricts the movement of the reservoir tank 10 in the front-rear direction and the upward direction with respect to the fan shroud 20.

Therefore, in the above embodiment,
All the fixing parts (lower fixing part L, first upper fixing part U1 and second upper fixing part U2) are involved in the regulation of the movement of the reservoir tank 10 in the front-rear direction,
In the regulation of the movement of the reservoir tank 10 in the left-right direction, two fixing parts (lower fixing part L and first upper fixing part U1) are involved,
The regulation of the upward movement of the reservoir tank 10 involves two fixing parts (a first upper fixing part U1 and a second upper fixing part U2),
Two fixing parts (the lower fixing part L and the first upper fixing part U1) are involved in the restriction of the downward movement.

  That is, in the above-described embodiment, at least two fixing parts are involved in the restriction of movement of the reservoir tank 10 in each direction. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the reservoir tank 10 from rotating with movement in each direction. In this respect, it is superior to the tank fixing structure described in Patent Document 1 described in the background art. The technique described in Patent Document 1 lacks stability of restraint of the reservoir tank 10 against vertical vibration because only one fixed part is involved in the restriction of the upward movement of the reservoir tank.

  The stopper 244 of the second upper fixing portion U2 restricts the movement of the reservoir tank 10 in the right direction. Therefore, the stopper 244 is provided on the fan shroud 20 so that the restriction of the movement of the reservoir tank 10 in the right direction is more reliable. Become.

  The cross section of the positioning pin 231 of the second upper fixing portion U2 ("the cross section of the positioning pin" is a cross section orthogonal to the protruding direction of the positioning pin, that is, the axial direction, and the first ear portion 12 is The cross section of the portion of the positioning pin 231 that is positioned in the positioning hole 13 when engaged is the same as in the following). It is good. Such a positioning pin 231 ', 231 "is shown in FIG.

  When the positioning pins 231 ′ and 231 ″ having such a non-circular cross section are used, the contour of the positioning hole 13 is such that the first ear portion 12 cannot rotate with respect to the positioning pins 231 ′ and 231 ″. Set to The contour shape of the positioning hole 13 that prevents the first ear 12 from rotating with respect to the positioning pins 231 ′ and 231 ″ is, for example, the contour shape of the positioning pins 231 ′ and 231 ″ in the cross section. And a complementary shape. That is, in the cross section, the contour of the positioning hole 13 is substantially similar to the contour of the positioning pins 231 ′ and 231 ″ having the noncircular cross section, and is the same as the contour of the positioning pins 231 ′ and 231 ″ having the noncircular cross section? Slightly larger.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Reservoir tank 11 Positioning protrusion 12 1st ear | edge part 13 Positioning hole 14 2nd ear | edge part 20 Fan shroud 21 Receiving part 22 Receiving hole 23 Clip part 231,231 ', 231 "Positioning pin 232 Clip piece 233 Retaining claw 24 Hook part 241 Insertion space 242 Backward extending portion 243 Downward extending portion 244 Stopper 245 Inclined surface L Lower fixed portion U1 First upper fixed portion U2 Second upper fixed portion

Claims (7)

In a tank fixing structure for fixing a reservoir tank (10) for coolant for engine cooling to a fan shroud (20) carrying a fan for cooling a vehicle heat exchanger,
The tank fixing structure includes a lower fixing portion (L), a first upper fixing portion (U1) and a second upper fixing portion (U2) provided above the lower fixing portion, respectively.
The lower fixing part (L) is formed in the fan shroud (20) and has a receiving part (21) having a receiving hole (22), and is formed in the reservoir tank (10) and inserted into the receiving hole (22). Positioning protrusions (11), and the receiving portion (21) supports the positioning protrusions (11) from below,
The first upper fixing part (U1) includes positioning pins (231, 231 ′, 231 ″) projecting rearward from the first side of the fan shroud (20), and a first upper part of the reservoir tank (10). And at least a first ear (12) that engages with the positioning pins (231, 231 ′, 231 ″), and the first ear (12) includes the positioning pins (231, 231, 231). 231 ′, 231 ″) has a positioning hole (13) into which it is inserted,
The second upper fixing part (U2) is provided on the second side of the upper part of the reservoir tank (10) and the hook part (24) formed in the fan shroud (20) and the hook part (24). A second ear portion (14) that engages with the hook portion (24), a rearward extending portion (242) extending rearward from the fan shroud (20), and a rearward extending portion (242). A downward extending portion (243) extending downward, and an insertion space (241) in which the second ear portion (14) is inserted between the fan shroud (20) and the downward extending portion (243). The downward extending portion (243) restricts rearward displacement of the second ear portion (14), and the rearward extending portion (242) extends upward of the second ear portion (14). Characterized by regulating displacement Tank fixed structure. The first upper fixing part (U1) includes a clip part formed on the fan shroud (20) and the first ear part (12), and the clip part (23) includes the pin (231). 231 ′, 231 ″) and retaining claws (233) and elastically displaceable clip pieces (232) extending from the fan shroud (20),
2. The tank fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the retaining claw (233) maintains the engagement between the clip portion (23) and the first ear portion (12). The second upper fixing part (U2) is a stopper (20) extending rearward from the fan shroud (20) at a position adjacent to the insertion space (241) on the opposite side of the first upper fixing part (U1). 244),
The tank fixing structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stopper (244) regulates displacement of the second ear (14) in the horizontal direction.   The downwardly extending portion (243) is configured such that the end on the first upper fixing portion (U1) side of the surface on the insertion space (241) side approaches the first upper fixing portion (U1). 4. The tank fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the tank fixing structure has an inclined surface (235) that moves away from the shroud (20). 5. The positioning pins (231 ′, 231 ″) are non-circular in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction,
The said positioning hole (13) has a shape which prevents rotation with respect to the said positioning pin of the said 1st ear | edge part (12), when engaging with the said positioning pin (231 ', 231 "). Item 5. The tank fixing structure according to any one of Items 1 to 4. In a tank fixing structure for fixing a reservoir tank (10) for coolant for engine cooling to a fan shroud (20) carrying a fan for cooling a vehicle heat exchanger,
The tank fixing structure includes a lower fixing portion (L), a first upper fixing portion (U1) and a second upper fixing portion (U2) provided above the lower fixing portion, respectively.
The lower fixing part (L) is formed in the fan shroud (20) and has a receiving part (21) having a receiving hole (22), and is formed in the reservoir tank (10) and inserted into the receiving hole (22). Positioning protrusions (11), and the receiving portion (21) supports the positioning protrusions (11) from below,
The first upper fixing part (U1) includes positioning pins (231, 231 ′, 231 ″) projecting rearward from the first side of the fan shroud (20), and a first upper part of the reservoir tank (10). And at least a first ear (12) that engages with the positioning pins (231, 231 ′, 231 ″), and the first ear (12) includes the positioning pins (231, 231, 231). 231 ′, 231 ″) has a positioning hole (13) into which it is inserted,
The second upper fixing part (U2) is provided on the second side of the upper part of the reservoir tank (10) and the hook part (24) formed in the fan shroud (20) and the hook part (24). A second ear portion (14) that engages with the hook portion (24), a rearward extending portion (242) extending rearward from the fan shroud (20), and a rearward extending portion (242). A downwardly extending portion (243) extending downward or a laterally extending portion extending to the first upper fixing portion (U1), the fan shroud (20) and the downwardly extending portion (243) or the laterally extending portion. Forming an insertion space (241) into which the second ear (14) is inserted,
The positioning pins (231 ′, 231 ″) are non-circular in a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction,
The positioning hole (13) has a shape that prevents rotation of the first ear (12) with respect to the positioning pin when engaged with the positioning pin (231 ′, 231 ″).
A tank fixing structure characterized by that.   The positioning pin (231 ′, 231 ″) has an elliptical or polygonal cross section, and the positioning hole (13) of the first ear (12) has the shape of the positioning pin (231 ′, 231 ″). The tank fixing structure according to claim 5 or 6, which has a complementary shape.

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