Abstract:
A mount for supporting a motor vehicle radiator in a substantially upright, transverse orientation. The mount includes a resiliently flexible pair of opposed grip members that grip a support portion of the radiator. The mount is configured such that, when the support portion of the radiator is placed between the grip members and the support portion is urged against the mount, the grip members exert a gripping force on the support portion to retain the support portion therebetween.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to support structures. In particular but not exclusively the invention relates to support structures for supporting a radiator for cooling engine coolant. Aspects of the invention relate to a mount, to a vehicle, to a structure and to a method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known to provide a radiator for cooling engine coolant. In some radiators coolant is passed through an array of parallel thin-walled tubes which may be arranged horizontally or vertically. Radiator support posts may be provided at opposite ends of the radiator which are attached to a chassis or lower structural support member of the vehicle. The support posts may bear a substantial portion of the weight of the radiator and therefore be subject to relatively high forces. 
     It is desirable to provide an improved arrangement for supporting a radiator in a motor vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention may be understood with reference to the appended claims. 
     Aspects of the present invention provide a mount a structure, a vehicle and a method. 
     In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a mount for supporting a motor vehicle radiator, the mount comprising resiliently flexible coupling means for coupling the mount to a support portion of the radiator, the coupling means comprising a pair of opposed grip members for gripping the support portion, the mount being configured wherein when the support portion of the radiator is placed between the grip members and the support portion is urged against the mount, the grip members exert a gripping force on the support portion to retain the support portion therebetween. 
     Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that an ease of assembly of a motor vehicle radiator structure may foe increased. This is because the radiator may be coupled to a radiator mount by simply inserting a support portion of the radiator between grip members of the mount and urging the radiator towards the mount in the case of a mount located below the radiator support portion, the mount and support portion may be arranged wherein a weight of the radiator on the support portion is able to generate sufficient gripping force on the support portion. 
     Advantageously the mount may comprise a pair of support leg portions, the support leg portions being arranged to urge the grip members towards one another when the support portion is urged against the mount. 
     The leg portions may define two sides of a substantially triangular arrangement or structure, optionally a truncated triangular arrangement. The structure may be a virtual structure, for example a structure not having a basal side connecting ends of the leg portions. An apex defined by the arrangement may be arranged to be above the mount with the mount resting on the leg portions on a substantially horizontal surface. 
     Further advantageously a first slot may be provided between the pair of support leg portions to receive a corresponding first member of the radiator support portion. 
     The mount may comprise two pairs of leg portions arranged in a box formation. 
     The mount may comprise a second slot between respective pairs of leg portions for receiving a corresponding second member of the radiator support portion. 
     Advantageously the first and second slots may be substantially orthogonal to one another. 
     Other arrangements are also useful. 
     The mount may comprise a cap portion having a substantially X-shaped cavity defining the first and second slots. 
     A length of one or both of the first and second slots may be tapered in a direction along that in which the mount is arranged to allow the radiator support portion to be introduced therein. 
     Both the first and second slots may be tapered, optionally towards a common apex. 
     The mount may be formed from a moulded elastomeric material. 
     In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a motor vehicle body structure comprising a radiator mount support platform arranged to support a mount according to the preceding aspect. 
     The structure may comprise a pair of radiator mount support platforms each supporting a respective mount; and a radiator having a pair of radiator support portions, wherein each of the radiator support portions is gripped by a corresponding mount whereby the radiator is supported by the vehicle body structure. 
     The pair of radiator support portions may each comprise first and second orthogonal members shaped in a complementary manner to the first and second slots of the mount. 
     Advantageously the support portions may hays a substantially X-shaped cross section, the first and second portions being tapered parallel to a direction in which the support portions are arranged to be introduced into the mount, optionally tapered toward a common apex. 
     In some embodiments the support portion may be substantially in the shape of an arrowhead. 
     The first and second members may comprise substantially triangular plate elements having a common base. 
     The radiator may comprise first and second respective different support portions each arranged to be gripped by respective substantially identical mounts. 
     The first and second slots may be arranged substantially parallel to lateral and longitudinal axes of the vehicle, respectively, and the first support portion may be shaped to fit snugly within the cap portion of a mount and to be gripped thereby at substantially only one position with respect to the longitudinal and lateral axes of the vehicle. 
     The second support portion may be shaped wherein the support portion may fit within the cap portion of a mount and be gripped thereby at a range of positions with respect to the lateral axis of the vehicle. 
     This feature has the advantage that differences in the spacing of the radiator support portions from one radiator to another may be accommodated. 
     In some alternative embodiments both the first and second support portions may be arranged to fit within the cap portion of a mount and be gripped thereby at a range of positions with respect to the lateral axis of the vehicle. 
     Advantageously the second support portion may be arranged wherein a thickness of the second member thereof is less than a corresponding width of the second slot of the mount in which it is provided, and a lateral extent of the first member parallel to the lateral axis is less than a corresponding lateral extent of the first slot of the mount in which it is provided. 
     In an aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a method of supporting a motor vehicle radiator, the method comprising coupling a support portion of the radiator to a mount comprising resiliency flexible coupling means, whereby when the radiator is placed between a pair of opposed grip members of the coupling means and the support portion is urged against the mount, the grip members exert a gripping force on the support portion to retain the support portion therebetween. 
     In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a method of assembly of a radiator support structure comprising providing a pair of mounts according to a preceding aspect; and coupling each one of a pair of radiator support portions of a radiator to a respective one of the mounts. 
     The method may comprise providing the pair of mounts on support portions of a motor vehicle structure. 
     In one aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a mount for supporting a motor vehicle radiator comprising: coupling means for coupling the mount to a support portion of the radiator; and a first pair of support leg portions for supporting the mount on a surface, first and second support leg portions of the first pair being arranged to define two sides of a triangular structure, the mount being arranged wherein an apex defined by the leg portions is spaced apart from the surface by the leg portions. 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a mount for supporting a motor vehicle radiator comprising: coupling means for coupling the mount to a support portion of the radiator; and a first pair of support leg portions for supporting the mount on a surface, first and second support leg portions of the first pair being arranged to define two sides of a triangular structure having an apex, the mount being arranged such that, in use, forces acting on the radiator along lateral or longitudinal axes of a vehicle are transmitted through the support leg portions and act through an instantaneous centre at the apex. 
     It is to be understood that the mount may be arranged wherein forces acting on the radiator may be transmitted through the support leg portions and act through an instantaneous centre at the apex. 
     That is, the apex may be considered to define an instantaneous centre through which the forces act. 
     Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that a position through which reaction forces exerted on the radiator by a support structure act may be controlled in such a manner that a magnitude of a moment experienced at a given location of the radiator may be reduced. The mount may be arranged such that the instantaneous centre is located at a position at which it is otherwise physically impossible to apply a reaction force, for example at a location that is outside of the mount, and may be within another component such as a location within the radiator itself. It is to be understood that radiators are typically relatively fragile components, having thin-walled coolant conduits for effecting heat exchange with the environment. In some radiators, upper and lower (top and bottom) coolant reservoirs are connected by thin-walled vertical tubes which effect the heat exchange. The tubes may be joined to upper and lower manifolds to support the tubes, for example by welding. The joint between the tubes and manifold may be fragile, and a risk exists that if a sufficiently large moment is applied to the joint, the joint may fail. In contrast, the joints may be relatively strong if shear forces are applied thereto. 
     The support leg portions may define a substantially inverted-V shaped structure or A-frame like structure if the mount is stood on a horizontal plane, for example in an orientation so as to support a weight of a radiator, optionally from below the radiator. 
     It is to be understood that the mount may support the radiator from below or from above. In the case the radiator is supported from below, the mount may bear at least a portion of a weight of the radiator. In the case the mount supports a radiator from above, the mount may be placed in an inverted orientation against a surface above the mount. In such an application whilst the mount may not bear a weight of the radiator, the mount may still communicate forces on the radiator to a body structure of the vehicle. 
     The mount may be arranged to be positioned with the first and second leg portions projecting downwardly in respective forward and rearward directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle to support a radiator on a portion of a vehicle body structure. The radiator may be mounted transverse to the vehicle body structure, i.e. in a lateral or east-west orientation although other orientations are also useful. Thus, forces acting on the radiator in forward or rearward directions may be arranged to act through an instantaneous centre at the apex defined by the first and second leg portions. 
     Advantageously the support leg portions may define two sides of a truncated triangular structure having a virtual apex. 
     The first and second leg portions may be of substantially the same length. The triangular structure may be substantially symmetrical about a vertical axis with the mount on a substantially horizontal surface resting on the leg portions. 
     Further advantageously the virtual apex may be arranged in use to be located within the radiator. 
     Thus the structure may be arranged such that the apex of the virtual triangular structure defined by the leg portions is actually located within the radiator. It is to be understood that the mount is not able to apply a reaction force at a location that is directly inside the radiator, for example within the support portion or within a lower or upper coolant tank of the radiator. Embodiments of the present invention overcome this problem by establishing an instantaneous centre through which the reaction forces established within the leg portions act. The instantaneous centre may be located within the radiator itself, and may for example be located within a coolant tank of the radiator. 
     The mount may be provided with a first slot between the first and second support log portions arranged to receive a first member of the support portion of the radiator, the mount being configured to grip the first member of the support portion between the first and second leg portions. 
     Advantageously the mount may be configured to apply a gripping force to the first member of the support portion the magnitude of the gripping force being dependent at least in part on the magnitude of a force urging the first member into the first slot. 
     This feature has the advantage that in some embodiments the gripping force applied by the mount to the first member may increase as the force urging the first member into the slot increases. 
     Further advantageously the coupling means may comprise a resiliently deformable material arranged to deform and thereby exert a gripping force on the first member when the first member is urged into the first slot. 
     In some arrangements the resiliently deformable material is arranged to expand by stretching in one direction when a radiator support portion is introduced therein in such a manner as to exert a gripping force on the radiator support portion in a substantially orthogonal direction to that of its expansion. For example, as the material is stretched due to pressure applied thereto by the radiator support portion, the material coupling means may contact around at least a portion of the radiator support portion thereby to exert a gripping force thereon. 
     Thus in some arrangements the coupling means may tend to contract in one direction around the radiator support portion when stretched in another direction, for example when a weight of the radiator is born by the mount via the radiator support portion. 
     The coupling means may be arranged to expand in one direction when subject to a compressive force in an orthogonal direction to that of the direction of the compressive force. The compressive force may for example be due to a weight of the radiator on the radiator support portion in embodiments in which the mount supports the radiator from below. This force may cause expansion of the material by the Poisson effect in such a direction as to grip the support portion and fix the position of the support portion with respect to the mount. 
     Advantageously the mount may comprise a second pair of leg portions arranged wherein the first leg portion of the first pair is substantially parallel to a first leg portion of the second pair and the second leg portion of the first pair is substantially parallel to a second leg portion of the second pair. 
     In some alternative embodiments the second pair may be arranged to be substantially orthogonal to the first pair. 
     Further advantageously a second slot may be provided between the (substantially parallel) first leg portions of the first and second pair and between the (substantially parallel) second leg portions of the first and second pair arranged to receive a second member of the radiator support portion therein, wherein when the second member of the radiator support portion is pressed into the mount the first leg portions are arranged to grip the second member therebetween and the second leg portions are arranged to grip the second member therebetween. 
     Advantageously the first and second members of the support portion may be in the form of substantially orthogonal plate elements, optionally the plate elements tapering toward a common apex. 
     In some embodiments the radiator support portion may be substantially in the shape of an arrowhead. 
     The first and second members may be in the form of substantially triangular plate elements having a common base. 
     The mount may comprise a cap portion arranged to receive the radiator support portion, the cap portion having a shape corresponding to that of the support portion. 
     The cap portion, may be arranged wherein the radiator support portion is received snugly therein whereby the cap portion may grip firmly the radiator support portion when the support portion is pressed into the mount. 
     The cap portion of the mount may define the first and second slots for receiving the first and second members of the radiator support portion. 
     In a further aspect of the invention for which protection is sought there is provided a motor vehicle body structure comprising a radiator mount support platform arranged to support a mount according to the preceding aspect. 
     Advantageously the support platform may comprise at least one pair of bump-stop elements arranged to abut an outer surface of the cap portion on opposite sides of the mount in the event the cap portion is displaced a sufficient distance towards one of the bump-stop elements. 
     The bump-stop elements may have a surface in opposition to the cap portion that is inclined with respect to a plane containing lateral and longitudinal axes of the vehicle thereby to direct a reaction force between a bump-step element and the cap portion into the radiator support portion such that the reaction force has components that are parallel and perpendicular to a z-axis of the vehicle being an axis normal to the plane containing the lateral and longitudinal axes of the vehicle. 
     This feature has the advantage that the reaction force may be arranged to act on the radiator in such a direction that a magnitude of a bending moment exerted on the radiator by the reaction force may be reduced relative to the known arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
     The structure may be provided in combination with a radiator. 
     The radiator may be arranged in a transverse orientation parallel to a lateral axis of the vehicle. In embodiments having the first and second orthogonal slots, the first slot may be oriented parallel to a lateral vehicle axis and the second slot parallel to a longitudinal vehicle axis. 
     The radiator may have first and second respective different support portions each arranged to be gripped by respective substantially identical mounts. 
     The first support portion may be shaped to fit snugly within the cap portion of a mount and to be gripped thereby at substantially only one position with respect to longitudinal and lateral axes of the vehicle. 
     The second support portion may be shaped wherein the supped element may fit within the cap portion of a mount and be gripped thereby at a range of positions with respect to the lateral axis of the vehicle. 
     The second support portion may be arranged wherein a width of a second member thereof is less than a corresponding width of the second slot of the mount and a lateral extent of the first member thereof is less than a corresponding lateral extent of the first slot of the mount thereby to accommodate a variation in distance between the first and second radiator support portions with respect to a lateral axis of the vehicle. 
     In one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of supporting a radiator of a motor vehicle comprising transmitting forces acting on the radiator to a body structure of the vehicle by means of a mount, whereby forces acting on the radiator along lateral or longitudinal axes of the vehicle are transmitted through support leg portions of the mount defining a substantially triangular structure and act through an instantaneous centre at an apex thereof, the apex being spaced apart from the vehicle body structure by the leg portions. 
     In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembly of a radiator support structure comprising providing a pair of mounts according to a preceding aspect and coupling each one of a pair of radiator support portions of a radiator to a respective one of the mounts. 
     The method may comprise providing the pair of mounts on support portions of a motor vehicle structure. 
     Within the scope of this application it is expressly envisaged that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a portion of a known radiator support arrangement; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a mount portion of a radiator support arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention installed on a support provided by a portion of a vehicle chassis; 
         FIG. 3  shows the mount portion of  FIG. 2  in (a) perspective view and (b) as viewed from an underside of the mount; 
         FIG. 4  shows a support post of a radiator that is adapted to be supported by the mount of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a cutaway view of the radiator support post in its installed location supported by the mount of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a portion of the mount of  FIG. 2  in cross section showing some of the forces associated with support of a radiator; 
         FIG. 7  shows (a) a plan view of the mount of  FIG. 2 , (b) a plan view of a type A head portion of a support post according to an embodiment of the invention and (c) a plan view of a type B head portion of a support post according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the type A head portion of  FIG. 7( b ) . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a known radiator support arrangement by means of which a radiator  10  of substantially rectangular shape may be supported in a transverse orientation at a front of a motor vehicle. The radiator  10  has upper and lower coolant tanks  14 U,  14 L in fluid communication with one another via an array of vertically disposed radiator tubes  12 . Hot coolant entering the upper coolant tank  14 U is arranged to flow down through the tubes  12  to the lower coolant tank  14 L, the coolant being cooled as it flows. 
     The radiator  10  is of weight W, the weight acting through a centre of mass M of the radiator  10 . The weight W of the radiator may be up to 30 kg or more in some vehicles. 
     The radiator  10  is supported at a lower end thereof by a support post  20  that is connected at an upper end to the lower coolant tank housing and at a lower end to a structural member  5  of the vehicle. The structural member  5  may for example form part of a chassis of a vehicle in some embodiments. In the embodiment shown the support post  20  is connected to the structural member  5  by means of a screw fixing element  20 F inserted into the post  20  from below. In some embodiments the post  20  is surrounded by a tubular rubber bush that extends from the housing of the lower coolant tank  14 L to the structural member  5 . 
     The radiator  10  is supported at an upper end thereof by a further structural member  6  so as to prevent forward, backward or side to side movement of the radiator  10 . In some known arrangements vertical movement of the radiator  10  within prescribed limits is not constrained by the coupling to the structural member  6 . 
     In  FIG. 1  a force F is shown acting on the radiator  10  in a rearward direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, normal to the transverse plane of the radiator  10 . The force F is applied at a position where the radiator tubes  12  are joined to the lower coolant tank  14 L. This joint is typically capable of withstanding substantial shear forces. However the joint is relatively weak when subject to a bending moment. The force F applied to the radiator  10  causes reaction forces to be generated at the structural members  5 ,  6 . This results in a bending moment being applied to the radiator  10  at the point of application of the force F. 
     The moment includes a component due to the force reacted at the support member  5  multiplied by the distance d between the line of application of force F and the support member  5 . This moment can be not inconsiderable, since distance d may be of the order of 50 mm or more. It is desirable to increase the magnitude of the force F that the radiator may withstand when the vehicle is in service. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a radiator mount  140  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mount  140  has been conceived by the applicant as a means for managing the location at which bending moments are experienced by the radiator  10  in response to longitudinal forces to which the radiator  10  is subject. 
     The mount  140  is in the form of a moulded rubber element arranged to receive a support post  116 P of a radiator  110  ( FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 ). The mount is shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5  located on a mount support platform  105 S provided by a portion of a vehicle chassis  105 . The mount  140  is shown alone in perspective view in  FIG. 3( a ) .  FIG. 3( b )  shows the mount  140  as viewed from below. 
     The mount  140  has two pairs of legs that rest on the support platform  105 S, one at each of two opposite ends thereof, each pair having a leg  142  projecting in a downward, forward direction and a leg  144  projecting in a downward, rearward direction. The legs  142 ,  144  are provided at each of four corners of the mount  140 . 
     It is to be understood that reference herein to directions such as forward, downward and rearward are with respect to a normal upright orientation of a vehicle in which the mount  140  is provided in service. 
     The legs  142 ,  144  are disposed around a cap portion  1400  of the mount  140 . The cap portion  140 C defines a cavity shaped to receive a head portion  116 H of a radiator support post  116 P such as that illustrated schematically in  FIG. 4 . The head portion  116 H is of substantially X-shaped cross-section and tapers to a tip  116 T. The head portion  116 H may be considered to comprise a pair of orthogonal, triangular blades  116 A,  116 B sharing a common apex  116 T and having bases  116 P in a common plane (being a substantially horizontal plane in the orientation shown, being that assumed when the vehicle is on a substantially flat surface). The post  116 P has a cylindrical portion  116 TC protruding from tip  116 T in a downward direction. The cylindrical portion  116 TC has a tapped bore arranged to receive a fixing element  150 F in the form of a bolt as described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
     The cap portion  140 C is of complimentary shape to the head portion  116 H and is arranged snugly to grip the head portion  116 H when the head portion is inserted therein, with substantially no gaps between the blades  116 A,  116 C and mount  140 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the mount  140  is arranged wherein when the head portion  116 H is lowered into the cap portion  140 C the elastomeric material of which the mount  140  is formed is compressed. Compression of the material in a vertical direction causes expansion in a lateral direction (due to the Poisson effect) causing the mount  140  snugly to grip the blades  116 A,  116 B of the head portion  116 H. Blade  116 A may be referred to as a longitudinal blade since in the installed position it is oriented in a longitudinal direction parallel to a length of the vehicle (i.e. parallel to the X-axis). This may also be referred to as a ‘north-south’ orientation. Blade  116 C may be referred to as a lateral blade since in the installed position it is oriented in a lateral direction across a width of the vehicle (parallel to the Y axis). This may also be referred to as an ‘east-west’ orientation. 
     It is to be understood than one pair of forward and rearward projecting leg portions  142 ,  144  on one side of blade  116 A are arranged to grip therebetween a corresponding portion of blade  116 C on one side of the bead portion  116 H whilst the pair of forward and rearward projecting leg portions  142 ,  144  on the opposite side of blade  116 A are arranged to grip therebetween a corresponding remaining portion of blade  116 C on that opposite side of the head portion  116 H. 
     Similarly, the two forward projecting leg portions  142  grip a corresponding forward portion of blade  116 A therebetween whilst the two rearward projecting leg portions  142  grip a remaining corresponding rearward portion of blade  116 A therebetween. 
     The leg portions  142 ,  144  of the mount  140  are arranged to sit snugly within a four-sided rectangular tray defined by a rectangular rim portion  105 SR of the support platform  105 S. Lateral movement of the mount  140  is constrained by the dm portion  105 SR, which retains the mount  140  on the support platform  105 S. 
     It can be seen that blade  116 A has a thickness greater than that of blade  116 C. The thickness of each blade corresponds to the width of the corresponding region of the cavity defined by the cap portion  140 C. 
     At midpoints of each of the four sides of the rim portion  105 SR bump-stop elements  105 B are provided. The bump stop elements  105 B are in the form of formations that project upwardly from the rim portion  105 SR. A face of each bump stop in opposition to the mount  140  is arranged to face a corresponding outer surface of cap portion  140 C at a location corresponding to an outer edge of each of the blades  116 A,  116 C. The bump-stop elements  105 B are arranged such that if the head portion  116 H of the support post  116 P moves downwardly by a sufficient distance from a rest position (being a position assumed with the vehicle substantially stationary) the cap portion  140 C contacts the bump-stop elements  105 B and further movement of the head portion  116 H is restrained. In the present embodiment the distance is arranged to be substantially 3 mm although other distances are also useful. The thickness of the cap portion  140 C around the edges of the blade portions where contact is made with the bump-stop elements  105 B is also around 3 mm in the present embodiment. Other thicknesses are also useful. 
     It is to be understood that, in the event the head portion  116 H does move vertically downwards, the leg portions  144 ,  142  become compressed, opposing further movement of the head portion  116 H, until the mount  140  contacts the bump-stop elements. 
     Similarly, in the event the head portion  116 H moves in a forward or rearward direction, forward or rearward projecting leg portions  142 ,  144  compress, opposing further movement of the head portion  116 H, until a corresponding surface of the cap portion  140 C around a forward projecting or rearward projecting edge of blade  116 A abuts the corresponding bump-stop element  105 B. 
     The bump-slop elements  105 B are arranged such that a face of each bump stop element  105 B facing the cap portion  140 C is substantially parallel to the outer surface of the cap portion  140 C which is in turn substantially parallel to the corresponding tapering edge of the blade  116 A. As such, a reaction force exerted by the bump-stop  105 B on the head portion  116 H has a component directed upwardly as well as a component directed horizontally into the head portion  116 H. In the embodiment illustrated, the reaction force is arranged to pass along a vector that passes through an interior of the radiator  110 . It is to be understood that this arrangement reduces the bending moment experienced by the radiator structure compared with the prior art arrangement of  FIG. 1 . This is advantageous because the chassis is relatively stiff and strong, whilst the radiator  110  is relatively fragile. 
       FIG. 5  is a cut-away diagram showing the radiator  110  installed in a vehicle with the head portion  116 H of radiator support post  116 P supported in the cap portion  140 C of mount  140 . 
     As described above, the cylindrical portion  116 TC of the support post  116 P has a tapped bore arranged to receive fixing element  150 F. In the embodiment shown the fixing element  150 F is a bolt. The fixing element  150 F is screwed into the post  116 P from below the chassis support  105 S. A head  150 FH of the fixing element  150 F is spaced apart from the chassis support  105 S by a resiliently deformable bush  150 B formed from an elastomeric material. The bush  150 B is arranged to be lightly compressed by washer element  150 W when the fixing element  150 F is correctly tightened. The arrangement allows resilient movement of the support post  116 P in a vertical direction and a horizontal plane with respect to the chassis support  105 B. 
     The radiator  110  has a rearward projecting support structure  110 SR attached thereto supporting a number of components including a fan cowl to which a fan is attached, a thermostat, an oil cooler and other ancillary components. A forward projecting support structure  110 SF supports a condenser and optionally a condenser fan. It is to be understood that front to rear loads on the radiator  110  associated with the forward and rearward structures  110 SR,  110 SF due to external inputs such as bumps in a driving surface or internal vibratory modes associated with vehicle operation act along a line that passes through or close to a vertical position of the joint between the tubes  112  and lower coolant tank  114 L. Thus a magnitude of a moment about the joint is substantially less than that which would be experienced in the prior art arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
     We now consider in more detail the role of legs  142 ,  144  in supporting the radiator  110 .  FIG. 6  shows a lower portion of the radiator  110  supported on a mount  140  as viewed in cross-section showing one pair of legs  142 ,  144  only. It can be seen that as described above, the legs  142 ,  144  grip lateral blade  116 C of the head portion  116 H. 
     In the example shown, the radiator  110  is being subjected to a horizontal force F parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and orthogonal to a plane of the radiator  110 , which plane is normal to the plane of the page. The force F is applied at a vertical position corresponding to that of the joint between radiator tubes  12  and lower coolant tank  114 L. 
     The legs  142 ,  144  support the weight W of the radiator  110  which places an initial compression on each leg  142 ,  144 . In addition, the legs  142 ,  144  transmit the force F applied to the radiator to the support platform  105 S. The rearward leg  144  is subjected to increased compression due to force F (in addition to a component of weight W) whilst the forward leg  142  is subject to decreased compression (a portion of force F is directed so as to subject the forward leg  142  to a tensile force, decreasing the net compressive force on the forward leg  142 ). The rearward projecting leg  144  transmits a net force F′L to the support platform  105 S whilst the forward projecting leg transmits a net force FL to the support platform  105 S. 
     It is to be understood that reaction forces are developed by toe support platform  105 S to counter the force F. The legs are arranged wherein forces FL, F′L intersect at an instantaneous (virtual) centre IC above the mount  140 . In the embodiment shown the instantaneous centre IC is located within the radiator  110  itself. In particular, in the embodiment shown the instantaneous centre IC is located within lower fluid tank  114 L. Other locations for the instantaneous centre IC are also useful. 
     It is to be understood that because the reaction by the support platform  105 S to force F acts through an instantaneous centre IC above the mount  140  (where, by definition, no bending moment is experienced), the magnitude of the bending moment to which the radiator  110  is subject in that region may be decreased. In particular, the magnitude of the bending moment to which the radiator  110  is subject at the location of a relatively weak joint between lower coolant tank  114 L and tubes  112  may be substantially reduced. 
     This has the effect of seducing a risk of damage to the radiator  110  in the event the radiator  110  is subject to impact forces. In some radiator structures, one or more support platforms may be arranged to project forwardly of the radiator  110  in the vicinity of the joint between the lower coolant tank  114 L and tubes  112 . The support platform(s) may be arranged to support one or more condensers, cooling fans or other ancillary components. In the event of a collision with an obstacle as the vehicle moves forward, impact forces may act upon the radiator  110  in the direction of force F. Embodiments of the invention have the advantage that, in the event this occurs, the radiator  110  experiences a reduced bending moment at the joint between the lower coolant tank  114 L and tubes  112  compared with that which would be experienced under similar circumstances by the prior art arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
     It is to be understood that known radiators  10  are typically supported by two radiator support posts  20  at opposite ends of the radiator  110 . It is to be understood that in some situations assembly operatives may experience difficulty installing some radiators in a vehicle due to differences in spacing between the support posts  20  as a consequence of manufacturing variations or tolerances. In order to overcome this problem, in an embodiment of the present invention the radiator support posts  20  of a given radiator have different respective shapes in order to accommodate misalignment between the posts and mounts  140 . In an embodiment one of the posts is arranged such that a head portion thereof fits within the cap portion  140 C of the mount  140  with little or no tolerance for lateral misalignment of the post with respect to the mount  140 , and to be gripped snugly by the cap portion  140 C when the mount  140  bears the weight of the radiator  110 . As described above, when a head portion of the post is placed in the cap portion  140 C and pressure is applied thereto, the elastomeric material of the mount  140  is placed under compressive stress, causing the cap portion  140 C to expand to grip the head portion of the post. 
     The other post is arranged to fit within the cap portion  140 C of the corresponding mount  140  provided the post is located within a range of lateral positions with respect to the mount  140 , and to be gripped snugly by the cap portion  140 C when the mount  140  bears the weight of the radiator  110 . This feature has the advantage that when the radiator  110  is being installed in the vehicle, differences in the distance between the centres of respective radiator support posts and the distance between the mounts  140  may be accommodated. Thus, whilst one radiator support post locates snugly with little tolerance for lateral misalignment, the other support post may locate snugly over a range of lateral positions. Thus, a risk that a radiator is unable to be fitted into a vehicle or that excessive stress is placed on a radiator in order to force the support posts to fit into their respective mounts may be eliminated. 
       FIG. 7  shows (a) the mount portion  140  of  FIG. 2  in plan view, (b) a type TV radiator support post  216 P according to an embodiment of the invention and (c) a type ‘B’ radiator support post  316 P according to an embodiment of the invention. Like features of the posts of  FIGS. 7( b ) and ( c )  to those of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  are shown with like reference signs prefixed numerals 2 and 3 respectively instead of numeral 1. 
     The type ‘A’ radiator support post  216 P is arranged to fit within the cap portion  140 C with a snug fit between surfaces of the head portion  216 H and cap portion  140 C. As in the case of the post  116 P of  FIG. 4 , when the head portion  216 H is lowered into the cap portion  140 C of the mount  140 , the head portion  216  is self-centering, the process of self-centering being made particularly convenient by virtue of the fact that the blades  216 A 1 ,  216 A 2 ,  216 C are tapered to a tip. However, in the embodiment of  FIG. 4  where both support posts  116 P of a given radiator  110  are identical, there is substantially no tolerance for a deviation in lateral spacing of the posts  116 P from that of the mounts  140 . 
     In contrast, the type ‘B’ radiator support post  316 P is arranged to fit within the cap portion  140 C and to be capable of accommodating a prescribed amount of misalignment of the posts  216 P,  316 P along lateral axis Y. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7( b ) , the type A post  216 P has a transverse blade  216 C having a similar shape and size to the corresponding transverse blade  116 C of the post  116 P of  FIG. 4 . The blade  216 C has a thickness corresponding to a width of the cavity defined by the cap portion  140 C that is located between respective pairs of forward and rearward projecting legs  142 ,  144 . As in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the lateral extent of the blade  116 C sized such that when the post  216 P is inserted into the cap portion  140 C the blade fits snugly into the cap portion  140 C with substantially no gap between the blade  216 C and cap portion  140 C in either a lateral or longitudinal direction. 
     The post  216 P has two longitudinal blades  216 A 1 ,  216 A 2  aligned parallel to the X axis. The blades  216 A 1 ,  216 A 2  are each of a lower thickness than corresponding longitudinal blade  116 A of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  but are spaced apart in a lateral direction with a gap therebetween. The blades  216 A 1 ,  216 A 2  effectively define a single blade of thickness corresponding to that of the blade  116 A of  FIG. 4 . In some embodiments the post  116 P of  FIG. 4  may be substituted for the post  216 P of  FIG. 7( b )  and employed in a radiator together with the post  316 P of  FIG. 7( c ) . 
     The post  316 P of  FIG. 7( c )  also has a lateral blade  316 C and a longitudinal blade  316 A. The lateral blade  316 C has a thickness similar to that of blades  216 C,  116 C but has a reduced lateral extent. This is so as to allow a location of the post  316 P with respect to the mount  140  to vary in the lateral direction within a prescribed range of positions whilst still allowing the mount  140  to grip the blade  316 C when the head portion  316 H of the post  316  is inserted into the cap portion  140 C of the mount  140 . 
     In order to allow the tolerance in lateral position of the post  316 P to be enjoyed, the thickness of longitudinal blade  316 A is reduced but the longitudinal extent remains substantially the same as that of blades  216 A 1 ,  216 A 2  and  116 A. 
     Thus, the thickness of longitudinal blade  316 A is arranged to be less than that of the portion of the cavity defined by the cap portion  140 C that is located between respective forward projecting legs  142  and between respective rearward projecting legs  144  by an amount corresponding to the required tolerance. 
     It is to be understood that, because the longitudinal extent of longitudinal blade  316 A remains unchanged, vertical movement of the post  316 P in a downwards direction towards the support platform  105 S is still limited by forward and rearward bump-stop elements  105 B. Thus, the benefit of the bump-stop elements  105 B may still be enjoyed, with the advantage of improved tolerance in respect of variations in the distance between posts  216 P,  316 P of a given example of a radiator. 
     As described above, because of the feature of tapered blades  116 A,  116 C,  216 A,  216 B,  316 A,  316 C the support posts  116 P,  216 P,  316 P effectively automatically align along a longitudinal axis as the head portions  116 H,  216 H,  316 H are inserted into the cap portion  140 C of the mount  140 . 
     Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of the words, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, means “including but not limited to”, and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. 
     Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise. 
     Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.