Abstract:
An automotive vehicle is provided which includes a structural member, a bumper movable with respect to the structural member upon an impact of said vehicle with an object, and a radiator for cooling fluid of a component of the vehicle, the radiator being mounted with the structural member. Movement of the bumper within predetermined limits causes the radiator to be dismounted with respect to said structural member minimizing material damage to the radiator.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an arrangement to prevent damages to radiators in low speed automotive crashes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   It is well known in the art to provide a bumper for automotive vehicles. Initially bumpers were rugged, strong structures to prevent damage to the vehicle upon impact with an object. Over the process of time, bumpers became more ornamental with less strength. The loss of strength in bumpers caused an increase in the amount of damage vehicles experienced in low speed crash situations. In the most recent decades there has been a continuing quest to reduce repair costs experienced by automotive vehicles in low speed crash situations. It is desirable not only to minimize possible damage to the bumper in low speed crash situations, but to also minimize damage to the radiator in low speed crash situations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   To meet the above noted desire, the present invention is brought forth. In one embodiment of the present invention, a front end module is provided. The front end module has a bumper that is moveable with respect to a remainder of the front end module upon impact of a vehicle with an object. A radiator is mounted with the front end module. Upon impact of the vehicle with an object, the moveable portion of the bumper impacts a load bar. The load bar transmits force from the bumper to the radiator to dismount the radiator in a non-destructive fashion from the front end module. Due to the above noted arrangement, material damage to the radiator is minimized or eliminated in a low speed crash occurrence. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a portion of an automotive vehicle, according to the present invention, having a front end module which mounts an engine coolant radiator, an air conditioning condenser radiator, along with upper and lower bumpers; 
       FIG. 2  is the front end module shown in  FIG. 1  with the bumpers removed; 
       FIG. 3  is a enlarged top perspective view of a portion of the front end module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view partially sectioned of the front end module shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the radiators and load plate shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a section view that is taken along a portion of the load plate shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of a portion of the section view of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a view take along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention having a beauty cover with a tongue which fits into a slot of a reinforcement of the front end module. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , an embodiment of a vehicle  7  of the present invention has a structural member provided by a front end module (FEM)  10 . The FEM  10  is typically fabricated from a metal or polymeric material such as plastic or other suitable materials. The FEM  10  has two projecting arms  12  which mount front end lighting hardware (not shown). As best shown in  FIG. 9 , the FEM  10  is reinforced by a metal rectangular tube  14 . The FEM  10  is connected with the chassis of the vehicle (not shown). 
   Connected to the FEM is an upper bumper  16 . The bumper  16  has an impact bar  18 . The impact bar  18  is supported by two posts  20 . The posts  20  are connected with a force distribution plate  22  that is fastener connected to the FEM  10 . The impact bar  18  can have relative movement with respect to the vehicle  7  and the FEM  10  in a low speed crash situation. 
   Positioned underneath the bumper  16  is a lower bumper  24 . Lower bumper  24  has an impact bar  26  mounted by posts  28 . The posts  28  are connected to the plate  22 . The impact bar  26  can have relative motion with respect to the vehicle  7  and FEM  10  in a low speed crash situation. 
   Mounted to the FEM  10  behind the bumpers  16  and  24 , are an air conditioning condenser radiator  30  and an engine coolant radiator  32 . The condenser radiator  30  provides cooling for the refrigerant fluid of air conditioning components of the vehicle. The radiator  32  provides cooling for coolant fluid for an engine and related components. The radiator  30  is supported from the radiator  32 . The radiator  32 , adjacent its left and right lateral sides and upper and lower ends has extending posts  36  ( FIG. 7 ). The posts  36  can be integral with the radiator  32  or can be separate members connected as shown. The posts  36  can be metallic or polymeric. The posts  36  are encircled by a compliant tubular clip  38 . Tubular clip  38  has a series of geometrically spaced serrations  40  which divide it into fingers  42 . The serrations  40  allow the fingers  42  to be compliantly inserted within an eyelet  44  provided in a generally horizontal shelf  46  of the FEM  10  (adjacent the radiator  32  lower end). After insertion of the fingers  42  within the eyelet  44 , the fingers  42  of the clip  38  will have a compression or interference fit with the posts  36  as well as with the eyelet  44 . The fingers  42  also have arrowheads  48  to facilitate the insertion of the fingers  42  into the eyelet  44 . 
   The clips  38  can be metallic, however, in the application shown the clips  38  are fabricated using a polymeric material such as plastic. The clips  38  are integrally connected with a load plate  50 . Note: As used in regards to the present invention, the term plate refers to any member that can transmit a load under compression. The term “plate” is not limited to planar members. The load plate  50  has fore and aft extensions  52 . In an alternate embodiment, the fore and aft extensions  52  extend through two anti-rotation guides  53  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 7  only) to prevent the extensions  52  from rotating in a crash situation. The extensions  52  are integrally connected to vertically extending rails  54 . The rails  54  adjacent their top end are integrally connected with top fore and aft extensions  52 . The top fore and aft extensions  52  are connected with top clips  38 . FEM  10  also includes a fastener connected polymeric beauty cover  62 . The top clips  38  fit within eyelets  60  provided by the beauty cover  62 . Removal of the beauty cover  62  provides access to the radiators  30  and  32 . A rear end of the beauty cover  62  has a tongue projection  64  insertably supported within a slot  65  provided in the tubular member  14 . 
   In a low speed crash, impact bars  18  or  26  move backward and contact the load bar rails  54 . The rearward movement of the rails  54  will push the extensions  52  rearward. The clips  38  are pushed back out of the eyelets  44  (or eyelets  60 ) into an openings  66  and or openings  67 . The above noted action dismounts the radiator  32  and condenser radiator  30  and minimizes or eliminates material damage so long as the crash energy absorption and resultant bumper impact bar movement is under predetermined limits. 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.