Patent ID: 6196305
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: F28D,F28F,Y10S

Abstract:
A radiator assembly for a cooling system on an internal combustion engine comprising:a radiator core having a plurality of tube-flow passages for transferring heat from fluid coolant to ambient atmosphere and at least one tank in fluid communication between an internal combustion engine and said radiator core;said radiator core including a unitary, flat header flange extending continuously about an entire perimeter of one end of said radiator core;said at least one tank having a unitary, flat clamping flange extending continuously about an entire perimeter of said at least one tank corresponding to and in adjacent relationship with said header flange of said radiator core and a gasket disposed between said clamping flange and said header flange; andan improved fastening mechanism for fixedly securing said at least one tank to said radiator core so as to resist fluid coolant leakage from said radiator assembly between said at least one tank and said radiator core, said improved fastening mechanism including a unitary, flat tank torque plate extending continuously about the entire perimeter of said at least one tank and disposed in mating relationship with said clamping flange of said at least one tank and a unitary, flat header torque plate extending continuously about the entire perimeter of one end of said radiator core and disposed in mating relationship with said header flange, said header flange and said clamping flange as well as said gasket and said torque plates each including a plurality of aligned apertures, said improved fastening mechanism further including a plurality of fasteners each including a head and a threaded shaft extending through said aligned apertures and a nut threaded on said shaft, said head and said nut applying a pair of clamping forces acting on both said header flange on said radiator core and said clamping flange on said tank through said header torque plate, said gasket and said tank torque plate orthogonal to said flanges and in opposite directions relative to each other.