Abstract:
A cover for a heat source according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first portion covering at least a portion of the heat source, and a second portion including a first latch and a second latch. Each of the first and second latches are configured to engage a fluid conduit. An assembly is also disclosed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/033,395, filed Aug. 5, 2014, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Modern vehicles include heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for improving passenger comfort. 
     In general, vehicle air conditioning systems include an evaporator heat exchanger in communication with a compressor and a condenser. A compressor receives heated refrigerant from the evaporator and compresses it into a high pressure gas for communication to the condenser. The condenser then cools the gaseous refrigerant into a cool liquid refrigerant for communication back to the evaporator. A blower forces air across the evaporator, providing cooled air into the passenger compartment. 
     A vehicle heating system includes a heater core that receives hot engine coolant from the engine. A blower forces air across the heater core, providing heated air to the passenger compartment. The system may include one or more conduits carrying relatively hot fluid. 
     SUMMARY 
     A cover for a heat source according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first portion covering at least a portion of the heat source, and a second portion including a first latch and a second latch. Each of the first and second latches are configured to engage a fluid conduit. 
     An assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, at least one fluid conduit, a heat source fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid conduit, and a cover. The cover includes a first portion covering at least a portion of the heat source, and a second portion including a first latch and a second latch. Each of the first and second latches are configured to engage the at least one fluid conduit. 
     The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, the claims, or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings can be briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a vehicle system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a heater cover according to this disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the cover of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the cover of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the cover in assembled condition. 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  illustrate the cover of  FIG. 2  and, in particular, illustrates a tool access feature. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate a second cover according to this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a vehicle system  10  for thermally managing a heat source  12  of a vehicle  14 . The heat source  12  could be an engine, a transmission, or any other heat generating component of the vehicle  14 . The heat source  12  generates heat during operation of the vehicle  14  and therefore may need to be cooled during some conditions. 
     In one embodiment, the vehicle system  10  includes a heat exchanger  16  and a thermal bypass valve (TBV)  18 . A TBV  18  need not be present in all examples. A supply conduit  20  and a return conduit  22  connect the components of the vehicle system  10  in a closed circuit. 
     In one non-limiting embodiment, the heat exchanger  16  is a transmission oil cooler configured as an air/oil heat exchanger. Other types of heat exchangers are also contemplated within the scope of this disclosure, including but not limited to, engine oil coolers or hydraulic fluid oil coolers. In addition, the heat exchanger  16  may exchange heat between any two different fluid exchange medium. 
     The TBV  18  can be actuated to bypass the heat exchanger  16  under certain temperature conditions if the heat transfer function of the heat exchanger  16  is not required. In one embodiment, the TBV  18  is a multi-port bypass valve. The vehicle system  10  may employ any suitable bypass valve for selectively bypassing the functionality of the heat exchanger  16 . 
     The vehicle system  10  may communicate a fluid F 1  in the closed circuit. For example, the fluid F 1 , which is relatively hot, is communicated from the heat source  12  to the heat exchanger  16  via the supply conduit  20 . The fluid F 1  may circulate through the heat exchanger  16  to exchange heat with another fluid F 2 , such as airflow, to provide a cooled fluid F 3 . The fluid F 2  may be communicated across the heat exchanger  16  with or without the use of a fan to exchange heat with the fluid F 1 . After exchanging heat with the fluid F 2 , the fluid F 1  is returned to the heat source  12  as cooled fluid F 3  via a return conduit  22  to thermally manage (i.e., heat or cool) the heat source  12 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cover  24  according to this disclosure. The cover  24  includes a first portion  26  configured to cover a heat source  28 , which could be a portion of the heat source  12  or the heat exchanger  16  of  FIG. 1 . The cover  24  further includes a second portion  30  for covering and attaching to a conduit  32 . The conduit  32  may be a portion of the supply conduit  20  or the return conduit  22 . 
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the cover  24 . As illustrated, the second portion  30  includes first and second latches  34 ,  36  configured to essentially snap onto the conduit  32 . In this example, the first and second latches  34 ,  36  are U-shaped channels having an inner contour corresponding to an outer contour of the conduit  32 . Further, with reference to the first latch  34 , the latches include first and second deflectable projections  38 ,  40 , which are urged away from one another by the conduit  32  during assembly, and are biased toward the conduit  32  to retain the cover  24  in place. 
     The cover  24  may optionally include a pilot opening  42  ( FIGS. 4-5 ) arranged relative to a corresponding pilot opening  44  formed in a boss  46  projecting from a static structure  48  adjacent the heat source  28 . While the latches  34 ,  36  sufficiently retain the cover  24  relative to the conduit  32 , if one of the latches  34 ,  36  becomes damaged, the pilot openings  42 ,  44  can receive a fastener to provide additional support for the cover  24 . In other examples, a user may opt to provide a fastener in the openings  42 ,  44  for additional support. 
     In one example, the upper edge of the cover  24  adjacent the second portion  30  has a contour  50  ( FIGS. 6A-6B ) configured to allow access for a tool  52 , such as a screw gun, to a flange  54  between the conduit  32  and the heater core  28 . In this example, the contour  50  has a sunken portion, or indent, to allow passage of the tool  52 . It should be understood that the contour  50  is not required in all examples. Other contours come within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In an alternate embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-7B , the cover  124  includes a first portion  126  and a second portion  130 . In this example, the first portion  126  of the cover  124  is larger than the first portion  26  in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , and completely covers the heat source. Further, the second portion  130  includes three latches  134 ,  136 ,  137 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7B , the third latch  137  is arranged relative to an upper conduit  133 , whereas the first and second latches  134 ,  136  are configured to engage a lower conduit  132  in much the same way as the latches  34 ,  36  in the prior example. 
     In this example, the second portion  130  includes an upper surface with a contour  150 , which allows access for a tool, much as described in the same way as described in  FIGS. 6A-6C . 
     While the first portion  26  of the cover  24  of  FIG. 2  provides less coverage of the heat source  28  than the first portion  126 , the location of the cover  24  near the bottom edge of the heat source  28  provides coverage in an area where protection is most needed. In either case, the covers  24 ,  124  protect a user from becoming exposed to the heat source  28 . Further, there are no fasteners required to attach the covers  24 ,  124 , which increases the ease of assembly. 
     It should be understood that the covers  24 ,  124  may be formed integrally as a single piece of plastic. This disclosure is not limited to plastic, however, and extends to other materials. 
     Although the different examples have the specific components shown in the illustrations, embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from one of the examples in combination with features or components from another one of the examples. 
     One of ordinary skill in this art would understand that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and non-limiting. That is, modifications of this disclosure would come within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.