WO1999030917A1

WO1999030917A1 - Surface enhancement for radiator assembly vibration isolating elastomer mounts

Info

Publication number: WO1999030917A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/026739
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Timothy Martin; William Randall Devine
Original assignee: Alliedsignal Inc.
Priority date: 1997-12-18
Filing date: 1998-12-16
Publication date: 1999-06-24
Also published as: AU1919899A

Abstract

An improved vibration isolating elastomer mount is provided for use in a radiator assembly of a motor vehicle. The elastomer mount has an enhanced outer surface that allows for easy installation when slid into the frame of the radiator assembly. A thin cover of a slick material is applied to an outer surface of the elastomer mount. In addition to facilitating installation, the thin cover improves the vibration isolation characteristics of the mount.

Description

SURFACE ENHANCEMENT FOR RADIATOR ASSEMBLY VIBRATION ISOLATING ELASTOMER MOUNTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to radiator assemblies for use in motor vehicle cooling systems and, more particularly, to a surface enhancement for vibration isolators used in such radiator assemblies.

Description of the Related Art

Motor vehicles utilize a radiator assembly to eliminate waste heat from the internal combustion engine of the vehicle. The waste heat is a by-product of the internal combustion process and must be removed to allow steady state operation of the vehicle power system. The radiator assembly generally includes a frame mounted to the chassis of the motor vehicle and a radiator mounted to the frame, the radiator comprising a core, or heat exchanger, and inlet or outlet manifolds or header tanks which communicate with the core. The radiator core comprises a plurality of tubes and fins, typically disposed in alternating laterally extending rows, with the tubes communicating with the inlet and outlet tanks so as to provide a flowpath for an engine coolant fluid, particularly water or glycol. Ambient cooling air is forced across the tubes and fins during operation of the vehicle, resulting in heat transfer from the heated engine coolant flowing inside the core tubes to the ambient air stream.

U.S. Patent No. 5,570,738 to Christensen discloses an exemplary radiator assembly for use in a motor vehicle, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference. Radiator assemblies often include elastomer mounts for isolating the radiator from the mechanical vibration loads of the motor vehicle. Vibration isolating elastomer mounts may be used between the frame of the radiator assembly and the chassis, and between the radiator and the frame. However, installation of the elastomer mounts into the frame is often difficult due to the friction created between the frame and the mount itself.

Consequently, there is a need for an improved vibration isolating elastomer mount for use in radiator assemblies of motor vehicles. Additionally, a need always exists for improving the vibration isolation characteristics of the elastomer mounts. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, therefore, provides a surface enhancement for vibration isolating elastomer mounts that minimizes the disadvantages of prior assemblies. The elastomer mount is provided with a slick outer surface that allows for easy installation when the mount must slide into the frame of the radiator assembly. It has been found that the use of a such an outer surface also improves the vibration isolation characteristics of the elastomer mounts.

In one embodiment, a thin cover is applied to the outer surface of the elastomer mount to provide the desired characteristics. The cover may be made of any suitable material, and is preferably made of a slick material such as high density polyethylene.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following Detailed Description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of an exemplary cooling system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, including a radiator assembly; FIG. 2A is a front elevation view of the radiator assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 2B is a blow-up view along line 2B of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is a top elevation view of the radiator assembly of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the radiator assembly of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vibration isolating elastomer mount used in the radiator assembly of FIG. 2, encased with a thin cover according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cover of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a radiator assembly, indicated generally at 18, incorporated into a cooling system of an internal combustion engine 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the cooling system includes a condenser 14, a charge air cooler 16, and the radiator assembly 18. The condenser, charger air cooler and radiator assembly are disposed in series flow relationship with one another and are mounted forward of a fan 20 of the engine 10. During the operation of the engine, the suction action of fan 20 forces ambient air to be drawn through, in succession, the condenser, charge air cooler and radiator assembly generally in the direction of arrow 22. Additionally, the flow of ambient air is assisted by the forward motion of the associated motor vehicle. During operation of the engine, the condenser 14 receives a high pressure, superheated refrigerant gas from a refrigerant compressor 24 of an air conditioning system used to cool the passenger compartment of the associated motor vehicle, via conventional conduits as indicated by flow arrows 26. The superheated vapor flowing through condenser 14 is first cooled to its saturation point by ambient air at the existing operating pressure of the vapor, and is then condensed isothermally by the ambient air into a high pressure liquid which returns to compressor 24 via conventional conduits as indicated by flow arrows 28.

In the exemplary embodiment, the engine 10 also includes a turbocharger 30 for turbocharging the intake air of the engine. The intake air is heated during the turbocharger compression process and must be cooled to satisfy engine durability and performance requirements. That is accomplished by routing the air discharged from the turbocharger 30 to the charge air cooler 16 via conventional conduits as indicated by flow arrows 32, where the heated intake air is cooled by ambient air flowing through the charge air cooler. The intake air is then routed from the charge air cooler 16 to an intake manifold 34 of the engine via conventional conduits as indicated by flow arrows 36. The engine produces waste heat as a byproduct of the internal combustion process, which must be removed to allow steady state operation of the engine. The elimination of this waste heat is accomplished by the radiator assembly 18, with coolant fluid, typically water or glycol, routed from the engine 10 to the radiator assembly 18 via conventional conduits as indicated by flow arrow 38, where the coolant fluid is cooled by ambient air as it flows over the radiator assembly, and is returned to the engine via conventional conduits as indicated by flow arrows 40.

The radiator assembly 18 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The radiator assembly includes a frame 50, mounted to a chassis of the motor vehicle, and a radiator 52 disposed within and mounted to the frame. The radiator includes a central core 54 or heat exchanger, and a first and second lateral end portions or end manifolds 56, 58 respectively, which are attached to the radiator core. The core includes a plurality of laterally extending tubes 60, which are substantially parallel to one another, and which are in fluid flow communication with the end manifolds 56, 58 of the radiator. The core includes a plurality of laterally extending fins 62 having a serpentine, or corrugated shape (not shown throughout for ease of illustration) which are interdigitated with the tubes.

The radiator 52 further includes an inlet tube 64 which communicates with the inlet end manifold 56 of radiator and is effective for receiving coolant fluid from the engine. Radiator 52 also includes an outlet tube 66 which communicates with the outlet end manifold 58. The engine coolant fluid flows through the inlet tube 64 into the inlet end manifold 56, through the tubes 60 where it is cooled by ambient air, and then to the outlet manifold 58. The engine coolant fluid then discharges through the outlet tube 66 and is returned to engine 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-4, additional structural features of the radiator assembly are discussed in greater detail. As shown in FIG. 2A, the frame 50 of radiator assembly 18 includes a first and second generally U-shaped portions 68A and 68B respectively, which are substantially mirror images of one another. Portions 68A and 68B have a generally U-shaped cross section. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, U-shaped portion 68A includes an upper, generally horizontally extending member 70A, a lower, generally horizontally extending member 72A, and a generally vertically extending member 74A interconnecting and attached to members 70A and 72A. Similarly, U-shaped portion 68B includes upper and lower generally horizontally extending members 70B and 72B respectively, and a generally vertically extending member 74B interconnecting and attached to members 70B and 72B. Portions 68A and 68B are connected to one another by a pair of generally U- shaped connecting members 76 of the frame. An upper one of the connecting members 76 is attached to members 70A and 70B of portions 68A and 68B, by conventional fasteners such as bolts. Similarly, a lower one of the connecting members 76 is attached to members 72A and 72B of portions 68A and 68B, by similar means.

The radiator assembly 18 also includes at least a pair of vibration isolating elastomer mounts 78 at its bottom corners 80, 82 positioned between the radiator 52 and the frame 50. Similar mounts are employed in alternative embodiments at the upper corners of the radiator as well. The elastomer mounts 78 help isolate the radiator from the frame, and thus from the mechanical vibration loads of the motor vehicle to which the frame is attached. In particular, one elastomer mount 78 is located at one bottom corner 80, proximate the intersection of lower horizontally extending member 70A and vertically extending member 74A, and another elastomer mount 78 is located at another bottom corner 82, proximate the intersection of lower horizontally extending member 70B and vertically extending member 74B. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the elastomer mounts 78 have a generally U-shaped cross-section to match the cross section of the frame.

During construction of the radiator assembly, the elastomer mounts are inserted into the bottom corners of the frame, between the radiator and the frame. The elastomer mount is fitted to the radiator end manifold and the radiator assembly is inserted into the horizontal portions of the frame and slid into position abutting the verical portion of the frame. The elastomer mounts are closely received within the frame. To facilitate installation of the elastomer mounts 78 within the frame 50, an outer surface 84 of each of the elastomer mounts is enhanced so that it has a substantially low coefficient of friction, essentially one that is less than the coefficient of friction of the elastomer itself. In a presently preferred embodiment, a thin cover 86 of a slick material is applied to the outer surface 84 of the elastomer mount. Turning now to FIG. 6, the cross-section of the cover substantially corresponds to the cross- section of the elastomer mount so that removable attachment of the cover to the mount is facilitated. The cover may be attached to the elastomer mount by any suitable means, and is preferably designed so that it easily slides over the outer surface of the mount.

The cover may be made out of any suitable material, and for the embodiment shown, is molded out of a high density polyethylene having a thickness of 0.010 inch. For the embodiment shown, the HDP is obtained from Colvin Packaging Products, Inc., Anaheim, Ca.

In addition to facilitating installation of the mounts into the radiator assembly, the slick cover applied to the outer surface of the mounts improves the overall vibration isolation characteristics of the mounts.

Although the surface enhancement has been shown and described as a distinct component from the elastomer mount, it should be understood that the outer surface of the elastomer mount may be enhanced directly, for example, by coating a suitable material directly onto the elastomer mount.

While a presently preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concept herein. Such modifications are within the scope and intent of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A vibration isolator for use in a radiator assembly of a motor vehicle having a frame mounted to the motor vehicle and a radiator disposed within the frame, the vibration isolator comprising: an elastomer mount adapted for insertion between the frame and the radiator; and a thin cover of a lubricious material on an outer surface of the elastomer mount.

2. A vibration isolator as defined in claim 1 wherein the coefficient of friction of the cover is substantially lower than the coefficient of friction of the elastomer mount.

3. A vibration isolator as defined in claim 1 wherein the cover is made from high density polyethylene.

4. A surface enhancement for a vibration isolating elastomer mount for use in a radiator assembly of a motor vehicle, the surface enhancement comprising: a thin cover for encasing an outer surface of the elastomer mount, wherein the cover is made from a lubricious material.

5. A surface enhancement for a vibration isolating elastomer mount as defined in claim 4 wherein the coefficient of friction of the cover is substantially less than the coefficient of friction of the elastomer mount.

6. A surface enhancement for a vibration isolating elastomer mount as defined in claim 4 wherein the cover is made from a high density polyethylene.

7. A radiator assembly for use in a motor vehicle, comprising: a radiator frame for connection to a chassis of the motor vehicle; a radiator disposed within and attached to the frame; and a pair of vibration isolators having an elastomeric body located between the radiator and the frame, each vibration isolator located proximate a corner of the radiator assembly, wherein an outer surface of each of the vibration isolators has a lower coefficient of friction than the elastomeric body.

8. A radiator assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the outer surface of the vibration isolator is high density polyethylene.

9. A radiator assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the outer surface is on a thin cover of a lubricious material applied to the elastomeric body of each of the vibration isolators.

10. A radiator assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein the cover is made from high density polyethylene.