Abstract:
A device for fixing a heat transfer device, in particular a coolant radiator ( 3 ), in the frame-type assembly support ( 2 ) of a front end module ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle. Said assembly support ( 2 ) comprises an upper crossmember ( 2   a ), two lateral parts ( 2   c,    2   d ) and preferably a lower crossmember ( 2   b ) and the heat transfer device ( 3 ) essentially has four bearings ( 9, 10, 11, 12 ), which are elastically supported on the assembly support ( 2 ). The heat transfer device ( 3 ) is provided with bearing journals, which are held in elastically deformable bushings. The two upper bearings ( 11, 12 ) comprise intermediate supports, which hold the bushings and can be fixed to the assembly support ( 2 ) without additional auxiliary elements.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the national stage of PCT Application Number PCT/EP2004/012531, filed Nov. 5, 2004, with the title “Vorrichtung Zur Befestigung Eines Waermeuebertragers, Insbesondere Eines Kuehlmittelkuehlers Fuer Kraftfarhrzeuge” which in turn claims priority to German Application 10 2004 043 354.2, filed Sep. 8, 2004, having the same title. 
     The invention relates to a device for fastening a heat exchanger, in particular a coolant radiator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Heat exchangers for motor vehicles, in particular coolant radiators and refrigerant condensers, are nowadays often installed in a so-called front module composed of an assembly support, the heat exchangers and headlamps. Here, the assembly support forms a substantially frame-like structure, made in particular from plastic, to which the individual components such as heat exchangers, a fan frame and a fan are fastened. The entire front module, after having been assembled, is inserted into the front of the engine bay of the motor vehicle and is fastened there. 
     A front module of said type having a frame-like assembly support is known from DE 100 51 567 A1, in which front module a coolant radiator is fastened together with a condenser. Rubber bushes are attached by means of pins to the top side and the bottom side of the radiator, which rubber bushes are inserted directly into corresponding openings of the assembly support. Keyhole-like openings, that is to say slots, are provided in the upper transverse member of the assembly support, into which slots the upper rubber bushes, which are of drum-shaped design, are inserted. The radiator is therefore mounted from behind, that is to say from the engine side, and can also only be dismounted from the rear side, which is disadvantageous as a result of the restricted space conditions. In addition, said type of mounting is statically indeterminate, since the upper and lower mounts are braced towards one another—this can lead to undesired vibrations and increased loading of the front module. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to improve a device of the type specified in the introduction in such a way that, on the one hand, simplified mounting and dismounting of the heat exchanger, in particular of the coolant radiator, is possible, and, on the other hand, a statically determinate mounting arrangement is obtained. 
     It is provided according to the invention that the heat exchanger or coolant radiator is connected at the top by means of auxiliary brackets, so-called intermediate brackets, to the assembly support. The radiator therefore has two intermediate brackets which are placed on mounting pins of the radiator and are assembled with the latter. The intermediate brackets thereby form connecting elements between the radiator and the assembly support, which connecting elements are adapted to the installation conditions. In addition, this makes it possible to simplify the heat exchanger or radiator in that the latter need merely have standardized mounting pins, onto which are placed the intermediate brackets which are adapted to the respective application. 
     According to one advantageous refinement of the invention, an intermediate bracket is composed on the one hand of a fastening eye which holds a bush made from an elastomeric material, that is to say a rubber bush, and on the other hand of retaining fingers which can be latched to the assembly support. This provides simple, fast assembly, since the radiator must merely be pivoted into place and latched. The intermediate brackets thereby form upper radiator mounts which become constituent parts of the assembly support and introduce all mount forces proceeding from the upper mounting pins into the assembly support. 
     According to a further advantageous refinement of the invention, the two retaining fingers are arranged approximately perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the upper mounting pins, that is to say they project approximately horizontally forward, that is to say in the direction of travel, from the radiator. The radiator can therefore, without requiring additional installation space in the upward direction (z direction), be mounted by being pivoted into place and latched. Here, the ends of the retaining fingers extend through the front side of the assembly support, in which corresponding latching openings are provided, with the retaining fingers latching into said latching openings. The latching action primarily provides fixing in the direction of travel (x direction). 
     In a further advantageous refinement of the invention, each bracket is supported, preferably clamped, at the top and at the bottom, that is to say in the positive and in the negative z direction, relative to the assembly support. This provides the advantage that the bracket is fixedly connected without play to the assembly support despite the simple assembly process by means of latching. A further resulting advantage is that the radiator can be dismounted from the front, in that it is necessary merely to release the two latching fingers from their latched positions by means of a simple tool. The upper radiator mounts are thereby released, and the radiator can be tilted backward (counter to the direction of travel) and removed. This considerably facilitates dismounting in the event of repair work. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, auxiliary bores are provided on the brackets, into which screws can be inserted as an auxiliary measure. This is a fail-safe measure for the case in which the latching connection fails. The radiator is then still connected reliably to the assembly support by means of the screw connection produced as an auxiliary measure. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bracket is embodied as a plastic injection-molded part, bringing with it the advantage of low production costs. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one bush of the upper radiator mount has a slot, so as to permit a degree of play transversely with respect to the direction of travel. Longitudinal expansion (of the horizontally aligned tubes) of the radiator is therefore not impeded by the mounts, and stresses are avoided. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lower mounts are embodied as fixed mounts and the upper mounts are embodied as floating mounts. The radiator therefore rests with its weight on the lower mounts which are embodied as rubber bushes and therefore have both resilient and damping properties. A degree of play is permitted between the radiator and the intermediate brackets in the upward direction, so that expansions in the z direction are possible. This obtains the advantage of statically determinate mounting for the radiator and the entire cooling module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and is described in more detail in the following. In the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows a view from the rear (in the direction of travel) of a front end module, 
         FIG. 2  shows a view from the front (counter to the direction of travel) of the front end module as per  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  shows a lower mount for a coolant radiator in an assembly support, 
         FIG. 4  shows an upper mount for the coolant radiator by means of intermediate brackets in a section in an x-z plane, 
         FIG. 5  shows the upper radiator mount as per  FIG. 4  in a section in a y-z plane, 
         FIG. 6  shows a further section through the upper radiator mount in a parallel x-z plane, and 
       
         FIGS. 7 
         a  
       
       and  7   b  are perspective illustrations of the intermediate bracket. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a front end module  1  of a motor vehicle in a view from the rear, that is to say in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. The positive axes x, y, z for the vehicle are illustrated on a coordinate system, with x corresponding to the direction of travel. The front end module  1  has an assembly support  2  which forms a closed frame composed of an upper transverse member  2   a , a lower transverse member  2   b  and two side parts  2   c ,  2   d . A coolant radiator  3  is mounted in the assembly support  2 , that is to say within the frame  2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ,  2   d , said coolant radiator  3  being embodied as a crossflow radiator and having two lateral coolant tanks  4 ,  5  with a mesh  6  arranged between the two coolant tanks  4 ,  5 . The mesh  6  is composed of horizontally arranged tubes and fins (not indicated). A fan cowling  7  with a fan impeller  8  is fastened behind the coolant radiator  3  in the direction of travel. The radiator  3  is supported relative to the assembly support  2  by means of four mounts, two lower mounts  9 ,  10  and two upper mounts  11 ,  12 , which are illustrated schematically by circles. Here, the radiator  3  is the support of a cooling module which comprises the fan cowling  7  and the fan impeller  8  as well as further heat exchangers not shown here. 
       FIG. 2  shows the front end module  1  as per  FIG. 1  with the assembly support  2  in a view from the front, that is to say counter to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle. A condenser  13  for an air conditioning system is arranged in front of the radiator  3  in the direction of travel, and is connected to the radiator  3  in a way not described in any more detail. The two upper mounts  11 ,  12 , illustrated schematically by circles, have in each case two latching elements  11   a ,  12   a  which are inserted through the front side of the upper transverse member and are explained in more detail below. 
       FIG. 3  shows the lower radiator mount  10  (cf.  FIG. 1 ) in a section in an x-z plane. The drawing shows the lower transverse member  2   b  which has an opening  14  for receiving a rubber bush  15 . The plastic coolant tank  5  of the coolant radiator  3  has, in its lower region, an integrally injection-molded mounting pin  16  which is pressed into an opening  15   a  of the rubber bush  15 . The rubber bush  15  has a peripheral flange  15   b  which is supported on the transverse member  2   b . The mounting pin of the coolant tank  5  is upwardly delimited by a plate  16   a  which rests on the rubber bush  15 . The latter is arched upward in the shape of a dome, so as to provide a degree of spring travel for the mounting pin  16  together with the stop plate  16   a  in the z direction relative to the transverse member  2   b . At the same time, a vibration damping action is provided by the rubber bush  15  which is fixedly connected both to the transverse member  2   b  and to the mounting pin  16  by means of a press fit. The lower radiator mount  9  is of substantially identical design, that is to say is likewise designed in the z direction as an elastic fixed bearing and is therefore not illustrated in section. 
       FIG. 4  shows the upper radiator mount  12  in a section in an x-z plane—the upper radiator mount  11  is of substantially identical design, that is to say the following description also applies to the other upper radiator mount. The coolant tank  5  has an integrally injection-molded mounting pin  17  which projects approximately vertically (z direction) upwards. An intermediate bracket  18  is latched and clamped into the upper transverse member  2   a , which intermediate bracket extends approximately in the horizontal direction (in the x direction) and has a fastening eye  18   a . The intermediate bracket  18  holds the mounting pin  17  by means of a rubber bush  19  in the fastening eye  18   a , and forms the upper mount for said mounting pin  17 . The rubber bush  19  is held in a positively locking fashion in the fastening eye  18   a  and has a lower flange  19   a  which forms a gap s relative to the upper side of the coolant tank  5 —this permits a compensating movement of the coolant tank  5  or of the coolant radiator  3  in the z direction, for example as a result of thermal expansion. The intermediate bracket  18  is—as mentioned—fixedly connected to the assembly support  2  and thereby transmits forces introduced by the mounting pin  17  onto the assembly support  2 . For this purpose, the intermediate bracket  18  has retaining or latching fingers  18   b  which extend through the front side of the transverse member  2   a  and engage behind the latter with a latching lug  18   c . This provides fixing of the intermediate bracket  18  in the x direction. Fixing is provided in the opposite x direction by an inclined stop face  18   d  which is supported against the inner side of the upper transverse member  2   a . Further support of the retaining finger  18  is provided by means of an intermediate rib  2   e  and a support lug  18   e  on the intermediate bracket  18 . 
     The sectioned illustration also shows an auxiliary bore  18   h  which is arranged centrally in the intermediate bracket  18  and is open toward the front. For the case in which the latching connection fails, a fastening screw can be inserted into the auxiliary bore  18   h  from the front side in order to produce an auxiliary fastening (fail-safe). 
       FIG. 5  shows a further section through the upper radiator mount in a y-z plane. The fastening eye  18   a  of the intermediate bracket  18  has, in its lower and outer region, a flange  18   f  which is supported in the upward direction (in the z direction) against two vertical ribs  2   f ,  2   g  which project from the upper transverse member  2   a . This provides fixing of the intermediate bracket  18  in the upward direction. The rubber bush  19  is held in a positively locking manner in the fastening eye  18   a  and is fixed in the upward direction by means of a radially inwardly projecting collar  18   g . The rubber bush  19  has a slot  19   b  which permits a degree of play of the mounting pin  17  in the y direction, that is to say transversely with respect to the direction of travel. Thermal expansions of the coolant radiator  3  can thereby be compensated. 
       FIG. 6  shows a further section through the upper radiator mount  12  in an x-z plane, outside the pin  17 , but through the retaining finger  18   b  (a further retaining finger is situated in front of the drawing plane). The retaining or latching finger  18   b  is formed to be resiliently elastic and extends with its end-side end through a latching opening  18   h  in the assembly support  2 , with the latching lug  18   e  engaging behind the end side of the assembly support  2  and thereby fixing the intermediate bracket  18  in the x direction. It can be clearly seen from said diagrammatic illustration that the latching finger  18   b  with its latching lug  18   e  can be raised upward (in the z direction) slightly, resulting in the latching action being released, and can be pushed out rearward (counter to the direction of travel). This makes the upper radiator mount  12  accessible from the front, that is to say from the front side of the front end module, and makes it possible for the radiator (or the entire cooling module) to be dismounted by tilting it backward and removing it upward. The accessibility from the front can also be seen in  FIG. 2 , which illustrates the latching elements  11   a ,  12   a , which correspond to the latching lugs  18   e.    
     The diagrammatic illustration in  FIG. 6  also shows that the rubber bush  19  is fixed in the fastening eye  18   a  in a positively locking manner in the upward and downward z directions. The rubber bush  19  thereby forms a captive part of the intermediate bracket  18 . 
       FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  are two different perspective illustrations of the intermediate bracket  18  with two retaining fingers  18   b  and a fastening eye  18   a , into which the rubber bush  19  is inserted in a captive manner (not illustrated here). The downwardly projecting latching lugs  18   c  in  FIG. 7   b  can be clearly seen at the free ends of the retaining fingers  18   b . The flange  18   f  arranged at both sides of the fastening eye  18   a  can also be seen. The support lug  18   e  can be clearly seen from  FIG. 7   b , and is situated in the direct vicinity of the fastening eye  18   a . In addition, the auxiliary bore  18   h  (cf.  FIG. 4 ) is arranged between the two retaining fingers  18   b , which auxiliary bore  18   h  serves to hold a screw for an auxiliary fastening. The illustrated intermediate bracket  18  can be produced as a plastic injection-molded part and is dimensioned so as to be able to absorb, and transmit into the assembly support, the occurring mount forces. 
     In the illustrated and described exemplary embodiment, the assembly support  2  is formed as a closed frame with two transverse members and two side parts. In an embodiment which is not illustrated, the assembly support can also be formed as a U-shaped, that is to say open frame having an upper transverse member and two side struts. In said case, the lower mounts of the heat exchanger or radiator are attached to the two side struts. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     
         
           1  Front end module 
           2  Assembly support 
           2   a  Upper transverse member 
           2   b  Lower transverse member
         2   c  Side part     
           2   d  Side part 
           2   e  Rib 
           2   g  Rib 
           2   f  Rib 
           2   h  Latching opening 
           3  Coolant radiator 
           4  Coolant tank, left 
           5  Coolant tank, right 
           6  Radiator mesh 
           7  Fan cowling 
           8  Fan impeller 
           9  Lower radiator mount, left 
           10  Lower radiator mount, right 
           11  Upper radiator mount, left 
           11   a  Latching element 
           12  Upper radiator mount, right 
           12   a  Latching element 
           13  Condenser 
           14  Mount opening 
           15  Rubber bush 
           15   a  Receiving opening 
           15   b  Flange 
           16  Mounting pin, lower 
           16   a  Stop plate 
           17  Mounting pin, upper 
           18  Intermediate bracket 
           18   a  Fastening eye 
           18   b  Retaining finger 
           18   c  Latching lug 
           18   d  Stop face 
           18   e  Support lug 
           18   f  Flange 
           18   g  Collar 
           19  Rubber bush 
           19   a  Flange 
           19   b  Slot