Oil cooler mounting unit for automatic transmission

A mounting unit connects a coolant pipe within a radiator tank to a coolant supply pipe or a coolant return pipe outside the radiator tank. The mounting unit includes an engaging structure on the coolant pipe and an engaging flange on the coolant supply pipe or the coolant return pipe. The engaging structure includes a boss, a flange, a connecting hole, and an engaging bolt. The boss is configured to be inserted through a mounting hole of the radiator tank. The engaging flange includes a recess configured for the engaging structure to be inserted therein, a bolt hole configured for the engaging bolt to be inserted therein, and a connecting nipple configured to fluidly communicate with the connecting hole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0131545, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 14, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an oil cooler mounting unit for an automatic transmission.

(b) Description of the Related Art

A heat exchanger, called an oil cooler, is typically used to cool engine oil or transmission fluid in a vehicle. In an oil cooler for an automatic transmission, transmission fluid, also called oil herein for simplicity, is cooled in a radiator core.

In a down-flow radiator, as opposed to a cross-flow radiator, a coolant pipe is disposed within a lower tank of the radiator, and is connected to a coolant supply pipe and/or coolant return pipe by an oil cooler mounting unit.

A conventional oil cooler mounting unit includes a connecting pipe attached perpendicularly to an end of the coolant pipe. The connecting pipe has a screw thread on its external surface. The connecting pipe is inserted through a mounting hole of the lower tank and attached with a nut. The coolant supply pipe or coolant return pipe is engaged with an end of the connecting pipe with an additional nut.

The screw thread of the connecting pipe may be easily damaged by corrosion. To solve this, the connecting pipe is sometimes made of brass instead of aluminum, but brass is costly. Also, air-tightness between the connecting pipe and the supply or return pipe is not reliable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mounting unit connects a coolant pipe within a radiator tank to a coolant supply pipe or a coolant return pipe outside the radiator tank. The mounting unit includes an engaging structure on the coolant pipe and an engaging flange on the coolant supply pipe or the coolant return pipe. The engaging structure includes a boss, a flange, a connecting hole, and an engaging bolt. The boss is configured to be inserted through a mounting hole of the radiator tank. The engaging flange includes a recess configured for the engaging structure to be inserted therein, a bolt hole configured for the engaging bolt to be inserted therein, and a connecting nipple configured to fluidly communicate with the connecting hole.

The engaging structure and the engaging flange may be oval-shaped. A first O-ring may be provided between the flange and the mounting hole of the radiator tank. The engaging bolt may be a stud bolt. A second O-ring may be provided between the connecting hole of the engaging structure and the connecting nipple of the engaging flange. The engaging flange may also include a connecting passage fluidly connecting the connecting nipple to the coolant supply pipe or coolant return pipe. The engaging flange may be partially inserted into the mounting hole, and a part of the engaging flange may protrude outside of the radiator tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, an oil cooler mounting unit for an automatic transmission according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a coolant pipe3disposed within a radiator tank1. A coolant supply pipe5and a coolant return pipe7are disposed outside of the radiator tank1and connected to the coolant pipe3.

An engaging structure11on the coolant pipe3includes a boss13that is inserted into a mounting hole9of the radiator tank1, and a flange15that rests above the mounting hole9with a first O-ring31disposed between the flange15and the mounting hole9.

The boss13includes a connecting hole17connected with the coolant pipe3, and an engaging bolt19, such as a stud bolt.

An engaging flange21is connected with the coolant return pipe7and/or the coolant supply pipe5, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4. An oval recess23is provided on the engaging flange21, for the boss13to be seated therein. A bolt hole25for the engaging bolt19to be inserted therein, and a connecting nipple27that is inserted into the connecting hole17, are provided in the recess23.

As shown inFIG. 5, inside of the engaging flange21, a connecting passage29fluidly connects the connecting nipple27to the coolant supply pipe5or the coolant return pipe7.

A second O-ring33is disposed between the connecting hole17and the connecting nipple27.

The engaging flange21is partially inserted into the mounting hole9, while a part of the engaging flange21protrudes outside of the radiator tank1.

The boss13is fixed to the recess23. The engaging bolt19is inserted into the bolt hole25, and the connecting nipple27is inserted into the connecting hole17. A nut35is fixed to the engaging bolt19so that the engaging structure11and the engaging flange21are assembled.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the coolant passage (connecting hole17and connecting nipple27) and an engaging portion20(FIG. 5, engaging bolt19and nut35) are fluidly separated from each other, preventing corrosion of the engaging portion20.

The oil cooler mounting unit may be made of aluminum, minimizing manufacturing cost. The second O-ring33provides reliable air-tightness.