JPH10206066A - Holding mechanism of heat exchanger for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable further improving of safety by a method wherein the holding strength of a heat exchanger by a bracket is changed selectively according to a direction and the slipping of the heat exchanger is specified to the direction or the attitude that allows preventing of the heat exchanger from approaching the side of an driver's seat in case an impact works on a vehicle. SOLUTION: The holding strength of an intercooler 1 by brackets 2 and 3 is made selectively changeable. In other words, a notch 22 is provided on the brackets 2 and 3 on the front side of a vehicle so that the strength of the brackets 2 and 3 against an impact from the front side of the vehicle is lower than that against an impact from other directions. Therefore, when an impact works thereon from the front side of the vehicle, the portion near the notch 22 of the brackets 2 and 3 is broken initially and the intercooler 1 is slipped from a specified holding position. But the direction or attitude of the slippage thereof is specified to prevent the internal cooler from approaching the side of a driver's seat.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle heat exchanger holding mechanism for holding a vehicle heat exchanger such as an intercooler, an evaporator, a condenser, and a radiator mounted in a vehicle in an engine room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various heat exchangers are used in vehicles. For example, regarding the intercooler, in the field of small and medium-sized passenger cars, the engine is placed horizontally in the engine room, so the intercooler is arranged above or behind the engine via a bracket or the like. It is supposed to be.

[0003] By the way, when the engine is driven,
Vibration always occurs due to combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. In addition, vibration due to traveling is applied during traveling of the vehicle.
Therefore, the bracket itself and the connecting portion between the bracket and the intercooler or between the bracket and another member are required to have strength and durability against vibration and the like. For this reason, for example, a contrivance has been made to increase the strength of the constituent material of the bracket or to increase the strength of the connection portion.

[0004]

However, if the intercooler is arranged above the engine or behind the vehicle and the above-described vibration-proof measures are taken on a bracket or the like, the vehicle may collide from the front. Even if a shock is applied to the vehicle, the holding position of the intercooler is firmly maintained as it is, so that the intercooler is
That is, there is a risk of entering the driver's seat side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reliably prevent the heat exchanger from entering the driver's seat side when a shock is applied to a vehicle due to a collision or the like, while ensuring the strength against vibration or the like required of the holding mechanism. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle heat exchanger holding mechanism that can further improve the safety of a driver or the like.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a holding mechanism for a vehicle heat exchanger according to the present invention includes a vehicle heat exchanger holding a heat exchanger via a bracket in an engine room. In the holding mechanism, the holding strength of the heat exchanger by the bracket is selectively changed according to the direction to prevent the falling direction or the falling posture of the heat exchanger from entering the driver's seat when a shock is applied to the vehicle. In the direction or posture to be performed.

[0007] The method of selectively changing the holding strength of the heat exchanger by the bracket according to the direction is not particularly limited. For example, the strength difference that selectively changes according to the direction is added to the bracket itself. Should be provided.

[0008] The most likely cause of an impact on a vehicle is a collision from the front of the vehicle while the vehicle is running. As described above, the heat exchanger is often disposed above the engine or on the rear side of the vehicle. Therefore, it is desirable that the strength of the bracket against impact from the front side of the vehicle is set lower than the strength against impact from other directions.

In the vehicle heat exchanger holding mechanism as described above, the holding strength of the heat exchanger by the bracket is selectively changed depending on the direction. That is, the holding strength of the heat exchanger by the bracket against impact from a specific direction (for example, the front side of the vehicle) is set lower than the holding strength of the bracket by the bracket against impact from other directions. Therefore, when an impact is applied from a specific direction, the bracket or the like is destroyed preferentially, and the heat exchanger falls out of a predetermined holding position, but the falling direction or the falling posture of the heat exchanger moves toward the driver's seat side. Since the direction or posture for preventing the entry of the heat exchanger is specified, it is possible to prevent the heat exchanger from entering the driver's seat side at the time of a collision or the like.

When the holding strength of the heat exchanger by the bracket is selectively changed in accordance with the direction, a direction having a low holding strength is specified. However, the holding strength in this direction is limited to other directions. Since the holding strength is lower in comparison with the holding strength, the necessary holding strength required for the entire holding mechanism can be sufficiently secured.

The method of selectively changing the holding strength of the heat exchanger by the bracket in accordance with the direction is not particularly limited, but as described above, for example, the bracket is selectively changed in accordance with the direction. What is necessary is just to set the difference in intensity. More specifically, there is a method of forming a notched bracket, a thin portion, or the like on a part of a selected specific side of the bracket.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a vehicle heat exchanger holding mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, a case where the heat exchanger is an intercooler is shown. 1 to 4 show a case where an intercooler is held in an engine room of a vehicle by a holding mechanism for a vehicle heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an intercooler. A plurality (two in FIG. 1) of brackets 2 and 3 are joined to the intercooler 1.

One ends 6, 7 of stays 4, 5 are connected to the brackets 2, 3, respectively. The other ends 8, 9 of the stays 4, 5 are connected to the engine 12 via bolts 10, 11. The brackets 2 and 3 are provided with notches 17. Also, holes 18 are provided in the ends 6, 7 of the stays 4, 5, respectively. A bolt 19 is inserted into the notch 17 and the hole 18. The brackets 2 and 3 and the stays 4 and 5 are connected by screwing a nut 20 from the tip end side of the bolt 19. The elastic members 2 are provided between the brackets 2 and 3 and the heads of the bolts 19 and between the brackets 2 and 3 and the stays 4 and 5.
1 (for example, rubber, sponge, etc.).

In this embodiment, the intercooler 1 is disposed obliquely above the engine 12 with respect to the engine 12 and on the vehicle rear side, that is, on the driver's seat 13 side in the engine room. The intercooler 1 is connected to an introduction pipe 15 for introducing intake air into the interior of the intercooler 1 and a derivation pipe 16 for deriving the intake air to the engine 12.

The brackets 2 and 3 have notches 22.
Is provided. The notch 22 is provided for the brackets 2, 3
Is provided on the front side of the vehicle. Therefore, the brackets 2 and 3 are given a difference in intensity that changes according to the direction. In the present embodiment, the notch 22 is
Since the brackets 2 and 3 are provided on the front side of the vehicle, impacts from the vehicle front side of the brackets 2 and 3 (FIGS. 1 to 3)
(Arrow direction) is lower than the strength against impacts from other directions. Notch 2
If the position 2 is shifted in a specific direction, a difference in intensity can be selectively provided in the direction. That is, the holding strength of the intercooler 1 by the brackets 2 and 3 can be selectively changed according to the direction.

In the intercooler holding mechanism according to the present embodiment, the holding strength of the intercooler 1 by the brackets 2 and 3 is selectively changed. In particular,
By providing the notches 22 on the vehicle front side of the brackets 2 and 3, the strength of the brackets 2 and 3 against impact from the vehicle front side is lower than the strength against impact from other directions. Therefore, when an impact is applied from the front side of the vehicle, the brackets 2 and 3 are destroyed preferentially from a portion near the notch 22 and the intercooler 1 falls off from a predetermined holding position. Since the direction or posture for preventing entry into the driver's seat 13 side is specified, the intercooler 1 is reliably prevented from entering the driver's seat 13 side in the event of a collision or the like, and the safety of the driver and the like is further improved. can do.

The strength of the brackets 2 and 3 against impact from the front side of the vehicle is set low only in comparison with the strength against impacts from other directions, so that the brackets 2 and 3 hold the intercooler 1. The strength is sufficiently secured.

In the present embodiment, the notches 22 are provided in the brackets 2 and 3 so that the holding strength is selectively changed according to the direction.
Alternatively, a thin portion may be formed. Further, only one bracket for selectively changing the holding strength according to the direction may be used.

[0019]

As described above, according to the vehicle heat exchanger holding mechanism of the present invention, the falling direction or the falling posture of the heat exchanger when a shock is applied to the vehicle is directed to the driver's seat side. Since the direction or posture for preventing the approach is specified, the approach of the heat exchanger to the driver's seat side can be reliably prevented, and the safety of the driver or the like can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an engine system employing a holding mechanism for a vehicle heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the engine system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a bracket of a holding mechanism of the vehicle heat exchanger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a bracket of a holding mechanism of the vehicle heat exchanger of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 intercooler 2, 3 bracket 4, 5 stay 6, 7 one end 8, 9 other end 10, 11 volt 12 engine 13 driver's seat 14 engine room 15 introduction pipe 16 lead-out pipe 17 cut 18 hole 19 bolt 20 nut 21 elastic member 22 Cutout

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A holding mechanism for a vehicle heat exchanger for holding a heat exchanger via a bracket in an engine room, wherein a holding strength of the heat exchanger by the bracket is selectively changed according to a direction. Characterized in that the falling direction or the falling position of the heat exchanger when a shock is applied is specified as a direction or a position that prevents the approach to the driver's seat side.
A holding mechanism for a vehicle heat exchanger. 2. The holding mechanism for a vehicle heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the bracket itself has a difference in strength that selectively changes according to a direction. 3. The holding mechanism for a vehicle heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the strength of the bracket against impact from the front side of the vehicle is lower than the strength against impact from other directions.