Vehicle radiator mounting

The invention relates to the mounting of a radiator on the bodywork of a motor vehicle, in a manner such that, in its upper region, the radiator is suspended in a manner permitting pivoting about a transverse axis of the vehicle, while the lower region is held by means of a retaining clip. In the event of a frontal blow in the radiator, the fixing involving the retaining clip releases, and the radiator swings out, towards the rear.

The invention relates to a mounting for the radiator of a motor vehicle 
wherein the radiator is supported on the body work of the motor vehicle in 
a manner permitting pivoting about a horizontal axis which is located 
transversely with respect to the direction of vehicle motion and in the 
upper region of the radiator. 
In the case of a mounting of this type, as disclosed in German Examined 
Published Application (Auslegeschrift) No. 1,188,456, the radiator is 
retained by means of two supporting arms which are located at the sides 
and extend obliquely downwards in the direction of vehicle motion when the 
radiator is in its installed position. The lower ends of the arms are 
fastened to the vehicle chassis in a manner permitting articulation, and 
the upper ends are similarly fastened to the upper portion of the 
radiator. In order to define the installed position, the radiator is 
provided on its bottom with conical spot-indentations which engage over 
rubber bearings on the vehicle chassis. This mounting facilitates the 
fitting or, as the case may be, the removal of a radiator, but it does not 
permit the lower end of the radiator to swing away towards the rear when 
it receives a blow, as can occur, for example, in the event of an 
accident. In the case of a mounting for radiators, known from German 
Utility Model No. 7,624,455, too, this rearward swinging movement is 
impossible, because this mounting, which is designed for quick fitting, 
or, as the case may be, removal, incorporates pegs which project downward 
from the lower end of the radiator, and engage into rubber rings which are 
held by means of a beam. 
In contrast to the above-mentioned arrangements, the invention sets out to 
design the mounting in a manner such that, without adversely effecting the 
ease of fitting or, as the case may be, removal, the radiator can, in the 
event of receiving a blow in its lower region, for example in the event of 
a collision, swing out, about an upper pivot axis, towards the rear. 
The above-mentioned object is achieved in accordance with the invention by 
means of a mounting arrangment wherein the radiator is provided with 
bearing journals on its upper water box, on both sides, in order to enable 
it to be suspension-fitted into rubber bearings which are fixed to the 
bodywork, and a cylindrical rubber block, or a retaining pin, is centrally 
arranged on its lower water box. This block engages into a resilient 
retaining clip which is fixed to the bodywork and is open towards the 
rear. 
In an advantageous manner, the invention enables the radiator to be 
suspension-fitted, during assembly, into the rubber bearings in a slightly 
inclined position by means of its bearing journals in the manner of a 
hinge, after which operation it can be inserted by the rubber block on its 
lower water box by means of a pivoting movement into the retaining clip. 
In the case of removal, the rubber block on the radiator is detached from 
the retaining clip, after which the radiator is unhinged from the rubber 
bearings. In the event of an impact on the vehicle, or of a direct blow on 
the radiator, the latter becomes detached from the retaining clip and 
swings away, towards the rear, thus preventing the delicate radiator 
finning from being damaged. 
The operation of suspension-fitting the radiator or, as the case may be, of 
unhinging it, is rendered still easier, in an advantageous manner in 
accordance with a further feature of the invention, wherein the two 
bearing journals are arranged in a manner such that they point in the same 
direction. 
In an advantageous embodiment of the mounting, the cylindrical rubber block 
or the retaining pin, on the lower water box, can be provided with flanges 
on both sides, their spacing corresponding to the width of the retaining 
clip, thus effecting the fixing of the radiator with respect to lateral 
movements. 
In addition, the fastening of the retaining clip to the bodywork, can 
incorporate an interposed rubber block. This arrangement is to be 
recommended when a retaining pin is provided on the lower water box 
instead of a cylindrical rubber block. 
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will 
become more apparent from the following description when taken in 
connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of 
illustration only, an embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
As shown in FIG. 1, radiator 1 is provided with an upper water box 2, and a 
lower water box 3, as well as with bearing journals 6 on its upper water 
box 2, fastened by means of angle-plates 5. These bearing journals 6 are 
provided to be pointing in the same direction (leftward in FIG. 1) for the 
purpose of accomodating mounting the radiator on an upper, fixed portion 4 
of the vehicle bodywork, and enabling the radiator 1 to be 
suspension-fitted into rubber bearings 7, in the manner of a hinge. The 
rubber bearings 7 are securely held on the portion 4 of the bodywork by 
means of retaining plates 8. 
A cylindrical rubber block 10 is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, provided on 
the lower water box 3 of the radiator 1, in order to retain the radiator 1 
on a lower, fixed portion 9 of the bodywork, this rubber block 10 
possessing lateral guide flanges 12 and being held by means of an 
angle-plate 11. A resilient retaining clip 13, which is fastened to the 
portion 9 of the bodywork and is open towards the rear, extends over the 
rubber block 10 and, in consequence, securely retains the radiator 1 at 
the bottom. In order to prevent lateral movements of the radiator, the 
width of the retaining clip 13 corresponds to that of the rubber block 10 
between the flanges 12. 
In the event of a blow on the radiator 1, the rubber block 10 becomes 
detached from the retaining clip 13 and swings out, about the bearing 
journals 6, in the arrow-direction 14 indicated in FIG. 2. The radiator 
can easily be restored to its starting position, simply by pressing the 
rubber block 10 into the retaining clip 13, in the direction opposite to 
the arrow-direction 14 (FIG. 2). 
In order to remove the radiator from the bodywork, it is pivoted and moved 
in the arrow-direction 15 (FIG. 1). Fitting of the radiator proceeds in 
the reverse sequence. 
In the illustrative preferred embodiment, the bearing journals 6 are 
located on the upper water box 2. They can also be located in front of the 
water box, or behind it, according to other contemplated embodiments. The 
rubber block 10 can be located in front of the lower water box 3. 
Embodiments are also contemplated with the bearing journals 6 arranged in 
a manner such that one points towards the left, and the other towards the 
right. In this case, the retaining plates 8 are expediently fixed to the 
bodywork by means of detachable bolts. If, instead of the cylindrical 
rubber block 10, merely a retaining pin is installed on the lower water 
box, the fastening of the retaining clip 13, to the bodywork can 
advantageously incorporate an interposed rubber block. 
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in 
detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of 
illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by way of 
limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be 
limited only by the terms of the appended claims.