Radiator for vehicles with replaceable fixing pin

Abstract: A radiator for vehicles, comprising at least one collector tank or reservoir (10) made of plastic material which is provided with at least one projecting fixing pin (20, 46) for fixing the radiator to the structure of the vehicle and means (12, 42) for fixing a spare component (22, 46) which replaces the aforesaid fixing pin (20, 46) in the event of failure of the latter.

Description: The present invention relates to a radiator for vehicles, comprising at least one collector tank or reservoir made of plastic material which is provided with at least one projecting fixing pin for fixing the radiator to the structure of the vehicle. The present applicant has found that the vehicles equipped with radiators of the type specified above are frequently subject to failure of the pin or pins for fixing the radiator in the event of frontal impact, even if the impact is of small degree and does not damage the heat-exchange core of the radiator. The said failure of the fixing pin entails the need to replace the entire radiator even if the remaining part of the radiator has remained substantially intact. There result therefrom high costs for repairs due both to the high cost of the component to be replaced (entire radiator) and to the need to empty out the cooling system in order to replace the radiator. EP-A-0870638 discloses a radiator according to the preamble of claim 1. This document shows a heat exchanger manifold having a fixing peg with a shear line which allows it to break off along a flat surface under impact. In the event of the peg breaking off, either as a result of a collision or even an impact received on the assembly line, a blind hole is left in the surface of the manifold, allowing it to be fitted with a replacement peg having a self-tapping screw. A disadvantage of the known solution is that, after the replacement of the original peg by the self-tapping screw, if the vehicle is subjected to a second collision the manifold would break because the self-tapping screw, being made of metal, has a greater resistance than the plastic manifold. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a radiator of an improved type that makes it possible to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks. According to the present invention, the above purpose is achieved by a radiator having the characteristics that form the subject of the annexed claims. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the end part of a collector tank of a radiator according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the part of the radiator of Figure 1 in an assembled condition; Figure 3 is a perspective view from a different angle of the component indicated by the arrow III in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Figure 4. With reference to Figures 1 to 5, the number 10 designates a collector tank or reservoir made of plastic material of a radiator (not illustrated) for vehicles. The collector tank 10 has, at one of its ends, an integral bracket 12 which comprises a bottom wall 14 and is connected to the body of the tank 10 by means of two side walls 16 and a central wall 18, all the aforesaid walls being formed integrally by moulding with the body of the tank 10. A fixing pin 20 is formed integrally with the bracket 12 and protrudes downwards from the bottom wall 14. Figure 1 illustrates the condition in which the pin 20 has been separated from the bracket 12 after the pin broken. Experience shows that failure of the pin 20 caused by a frontal impact of the vehicle always takes place in the proximity of the base of the pin because the maximum bending and shearing stresses caused by the impact concentrate in this area. According to the present invention, following upon an impact that leads to failure of the pin 20 formed integrally with the tank 10 (without, however damaging the heat-exchange core of the radiator), functionality of the radiator is restored by fixing, on the bracket 12, an auxiliary member 22 provided with an integral pin 24 which, in the fixing position of the auxiliary member 22, substantially assumes the same position as the original pin 20. The auxiliary member 22 comprises a bottom wall 26 which is set facing the bottom wall 14 of the bracket 12, and a pair of side walls 28 which are set laterally on the outside of the side walls 16 of the bracket 12. Preferably, the auxiliary member 22 is fixed to the bracket 12 by means of a pair of screws 30 which extend through respective holes 32, 34 formed, respectively, in the side walls 16, 28. The auxiliary member 22 is preferably equipped with a pair of integral blocks 36 provided with holes 38 inside which threaded portions of the screws engage. The fixing pin which has broken following upon an impact can be replaced without having to remove the radiator and without having to empty out the cooling system of the vehicle.

Claims: A radiator for vehicles, comprising at least one collector tank or reservoir (10) made of plastic material which is provided with at least one projecting fixing pin (20, 24) for fixing the radiator to the structure of the vehicle, the radiator comprising means (12) for fixing a spare component (22) which replaces said fixing pin (20) in the event of failure of the latter, characterized in that : the collector tank (10) comprises an integral bracket (12) having a bottom wall (14) and connected to the body of the tank (10) by two side walls (16), a fixing pin (20) being formed integrally with the bracket (12) and protruding from the bottom wall (14), said spare component (22) comprises a bottom wall (26) which is set facing the bottom wall (14) and a pair of side walls (28) which are set laterally on the outside of the side walls (16) of the bracket 12, and means (30) are provided for fixing the side walls (28) of the spare component (22) to the side walls (16) of the bracket (12). The radiator according to Claim 1, characterized in that the spare component (22) is fixed the bracket (12) by means of a pair of screws (30) which extend through respective holes (34, 32) formed, respectively, in the side walls (28) of the spare component and in the side walls (16) of the bracket (12). The radiator according to Claim 2, characterized in that the spare component (22) is equipped with a pair of integral blocks (36) provided with holes (38) inside which threaded portions of the screws (30) engage.

Inventors: CERRATO CLAUDIA, CERRATO, CLAUDIA
Applicants: DENSO THERMAL SYSTEMS SPA, DENSO THERMAL SYSTEMS S.P.A.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B60K11
IPC codes: B60K11, F28F9