Device for fixing an adapter for an add-on piece to a condenser

Disclosed is a device (1) for fixing an adapter (3) for an add-on piece to a condenser that is provided with deformable lamellae located between coolant conduits. Said device (1) comprises an adapter-supporting piece (2) that is provided with the adapter (3) for the add-on piece. An opposite piece (5) is also provided. The adapter-supporting piece (2) and the opposite piece (5) encompass a number of facing, wedge-shaped protrusions (11, 13). A locking arrangement (6) is embodied on the adapter-supporting piece (2) and the opposite piece (5) for connecting the adapter-supporting piece (2) and the opposite piece (5). The protrusions (11, 13) engage with the lamellae of the condenser so as to deform the same when the adapter-supporting piece (2) and the opposite piece (5) are connected, resulting in stable securing of the device (1) while the connection is formed by the locking arrangement (6).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a device for fixing an adapter for an add-on piece to a condenser as recited in the preamble to Claim1.

Such a device is known from EP 0 401 500 A1. In the prior device, U-shaped side parts provided with L-shaped brackets are present as supporting piece and opposite piece, and comprise a number of facing, wedge-shaped protrusions and a locking arrangement for connecting the brackets. The side parts embrace outer edge faces of a condenser.

Known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,688 is a device for fixing an adapter for an add-on piece to coolant conduits of a condenser on the back of a refrigerator. This device engages latchingly in mutually opposite coolant conduits. However, the use of this device is limited to condensers that are round in cross section and have coolant conduits at least portions of which are exposed for latching the device.

The object of the invention is to create a device that can be fixed stably in the central region of a condenser comprising lamellae that are deformable between coolant conduits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved according to the invention, in a device of the aforesaid kind, by means of the characterizing features of Claim1.

Particularly good self-securing is achieved thereby, with comparatively little lever action in the region of the transverse portions but adequate stabilization in the region of the edge portions.

In a development of the inventive device, advantageously implemented as protrusions on the transverse portions are inner lugs with flat faces oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the transverse portion concerned. In this way the displacement of the lamellae occurs primarily in the longitudinal direction of the transverse portions, with the result that the forces necessary to effect engagement are relatively slight.

In a continuation of the aforesaid development, to achieve uniform engagement behavior it is advantageously provided that the inner lugs are implemented with a wedge-shaped conformation that is symmetrical with respect to a center line.

In the aforesaid advantageous configuration, in a further improvement supplementary or alternative to the foregoing continuation, advantageously implemented as protrusions on edge portions are outer lugs with flat faces oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of the edge portion concerned. In this way the displacement of the lamellae occurs primarily in the longitudinal direction of the edge portions, with the result that here, too, the forces necessary to effect engagement are relatively slight.

In the latter improvement, for effective self-clamping to the condenser, in one embodiment a number of outer lugs are configured with a planar, beveled operative face.

In a continuation of the latter embodiment, it is advantageously provided that a number of outer lugs are each configured with an angular, wedge-shaped beveled operative face, which, when the adapter-supporting piece and the opposite piece are connected to each other, is disposed opposite an assigned outer lug having a planar beveled operative face. This enables the outer lugs to extend well into the condenser, thus procuring more secure retention of the adapter-supporting piece and the opposite piece on the condenser.

In a further advantageous improvement of the inventive device, it is provided that the locking arrangement comprises at least one locking tongue and at least one tongue receptacle, a locking tongue being insertable in an associated tongue receptacle and there being implemented on the tongue receptacle an immobilizing part with which a detent lug implemented on the locking tongue comes into engagement when the locking tongue is inserted in the tongue receptacle. This procures a simple, reliable connection between the adapter-supporting piece and the opposite piece.

In an improvement of the aforesaid configuration, the tongue receptacle comprises an unlocking recess through which a tool for releasing the engagement between a locking tongue and the associated immobilizing part can be passed. The connection between the adapter-supporting piece and the opposite piece can thus be released relatively easily as needed.

In a further advantageous improvement of the inventive device, it is provided that in the assembled arrangement of the adapter-supporting piece and the opposite piece, the adapter for the add-on piece has the use of a support face extending across a receiving space configured between the adapter-supporting piece and the opposite piece, and the opposite piece has the use of at least two support webs disposed on either side of the adapter for the add-on piece when the adapter-supporting piece and the opposite piece are in their assembled arrangement and whose respective single faces confronting the receiving space lie in the plane of the support face of the adapter for the add-on piece. In this way, the device, when arranged as intended, bears against an operative face of the condenser over a comparatively extensive region of contact comprising the support face of the adapter for the add-on piece and the face of each support web that confronts the receiving space, thereby stabilizing the engagement of the protrusions with the lamellae.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1shows in perspective view, as an exemplary embodiment, an inventive condenser fixing device1to be fixed to a motor-vehicle condenser (not shown inFIG. 1) comprising, between substantially parallel coolant conduits, a plurality of thin-walled, relatively easily deformable lamellae extending between adjacent coolant conduits. The condenser fixing device1is provided with an adapter-supporting piece2comprising an adapter3for an add-on piece. The adapter3for the add-on piece is implemented for example with a connecting stud4that serves to connect an add-on piece (not illustrated inFIG. 1) to condenser fixing device1and ultimately to the condenser.

In the assembled arrangement of condenser fixing device1illustrated inFIG. 1, adapter-supporting piece2is connected to an opposite piece5, for which purpose condenser fixing device1is provided with a locking arrangement6comprising, in the depicted exemplary embodiment, two locking tongues7implemented on adapter-supporting piece2and two tongue receptacles8implemented on opposite piece5. Locking tongues7and tongue receptacles8are disposed on either side of the adapter3for the add-on piece in the respective edge regions of adapter-supporting piece2and opposite piece5.

As is evident fromFIG. 1, tongue receptacles8comprise, on their faces that are turned away from adapter-supporting piece2when condenser fixing device1is in the assembled arrangement, unlocking recesses9through which a tool can be passed to engage with the locking tongues7and to release the connection between adapter-supporting piece2and opposite piece5.

Implemented on adapter-supporting piece2and opposite piece5are a number of protrusions that face one another when condenser fixing device1is in the assembled arrangement. The protrusions include, on the edges of adapter-supporting piece2, outer lugs11configured with a planar beveled operative face10, and on the edges of opposite piece5, outer lugs13configured with an angular, wedge-shaped beveled operative face12. Planar beveled operative faces10are oriented so that they face adapter3for the add-on piece.

It is apparent fromFIG. 1that when condenser fixing device1is in the assembled arrangement, a portion of the wedge-shaped beveled operative face12of each outer lug13of opposite piece5is snugly adjacent and substantially parallel to the planar beveled operative face10of the associated outer lug11of adapter-supporting piece2, and a receiving space14for receiving the condenser is formed between adapter-supporting piece2and opposite piece5. The depth of receiving space14corresponds to the thickness of the condenser to which condenser fixing device1is to be fixed.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the adapter-supporting piece2of the condenser fixing device1according toFIG. 1. It is apparent fromFIG. 2that adapter-supporting piece2has a U-shaped configuration comprising a transverse portion15and two edge portions (legs)16extending from the edges of and substantially at right angles to transverse portion15. Implemented as protrusions on transverse portion15are a number of inner lugs17, which in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2are disposed in two rows parallel to each other and to the longitudinal direction of transverse portion15.

Inner lugs17are configured with two flat faces oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of transverse portion15and with a wedge-shaped configuration that is symmetrical with respect to a center line oriented at right angles to the longitudinal direction of transverse portion15. The spacing between the rows of inner lugs17is adapted so that, when the condenser fixing device1is fixed to a condenser, the inner lugs17are positioned to either side of a coolant conduit.

Outer lugs11are disposed on the outer faces of legs16which are oriented at right angles to the longitudinal direction of transverse portion15. Outer lugs17are configured with flat faces oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of their respective edge portion16and have a spacing so adapted that, when condenser fixing device1is fixed to the condenser, outer lugs17are each positioned on one or another side of a coolant conduit.

It can further be appreciated from the representation ofFIG. 2that the locking tongues7are each configured at its free end with a detent lug18, the projecting portions of the detent lugs18being oriented so that they point away from legs16.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of the opposite piece5of the condenser fixing device1according toFIG. 1. It is apparent fromFIG. 3that opposite piece5also has a U-shaped configuration comprising a transverse portion19and two edge portions (legs)20extending from the sides of and substantially at right angles to transverse portion19. In the assembled arrangement of condenser fixing device1, transverse portions15,19and legs16,20of adapter-supporting piece2and of opposite piece5are opposite to and face one another.

Implemented on transverse portion19of opposite piece5, correspondingly to transverse portion15of adapter-supporting piece2, are a number of symmetrically wedge-shaped inner lugs21comprising flat faces and disposed, in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 3, opposite assigned inner lugs17of adapter-supporting piece2when condenser fixing device1is in its assembled arrangement.

In addition, outer lugs13disposed on the edge portions20of opposite piece5are positioned correspondingly to outer lugs11of adapter-supporting piece2. In the assembled arrangement of condenser fixing device1, portions of wedge-shaped beveled operative faces12of outer lugs13of opposite piece5come into a close, adjacent arrangement with the opposite planar beveled operative faces10of outer lugs11of adapter-supporting piece2.

It can also be appreciated from the representation ofFIGS. 3 and 4that the tongue receptacles8, as part of the locking arrangement6, are each provided with a tongue insertion recess22disposed opposite the associated unlocking recess9and designed for the insertion of the locking tongues7implemented on adapter-supporting piece2.

It is further apparent fromFIG. 3that opposite piece5comprises, adjacent each tongue receptacle7, a support web23that points with its free end in the same direction as outer lugs13and inner lugs21. The face of support web23that confronts receiving space14when condenser fixing device1is in its assembled arrangement lies in the plane of the side of the adapter3for an add-on piece that also faces receiving space14, thereby creating and defining a seat for a condenser disposed in receiving space14.

FIG. 4shows in sectional view the structure of a tongue receptacle8of the opposite piece5illustrated inFIG. 3. Between unlocking recess9and tongue insertion recess22, tongue receptacle8comprises a slide web24that slopes in the direction of edge portion20from tongue insertion recess22to unlocking recess9and which is terminated by an immobilizing web25as an immobilizing part.

When locking tongues7are inserted in tongue receptacles8, detent lugs18thus slide along slide webs24until they extend latchingly behind immobilizing webs25. In this assembled arrangement of condenser fixing device1, adapter-supporting piece2and opposite piece5are firmly connected to each other. To release the connection, tools are inserted through unlocking recesses9to release the engagement of detent lugs18and immobilizing webs25.

The mounting of condenser fixing device1in a manner that is stable over the long term, even against vibrations, on a condenser comprising deformable lamellae extending between coolant conduits is performed as follows. Adapter-supporting piece2and opposite piece5are seated on an edge face of the condenser via the faces of adapter3for an add-on piece confronting receiving space14or via support webs23, and locking tongues7are inserted in tongue receptacles8.

Adapter-supporting piece2and opposite piece5are then brought together by pressing outer lugs11,13and inner lugs17,21into the lamellae, which deform as a result.

Once detent lugs18have latched onto locking webs25, the mutually confronting faces of adapter-supporting piece2and opposite piece5bear against the respective outer faces of the condenser. The faces of adapter3for an add-on piece and of support webs22that confront receiving space14rest on the edge face of the condenser. Outer lugs11,13and inner lugs17,21are engaged with the deformed lamellae of the condenser in a clearance-free manner that is stable over the long term, and secure not only the connection created by locking arrangement6, but also, by their mutually perpendicular orientation, the engagement with the lamellae of the condenser.