Patent Publication Number: US-2023147303-A1

Title: Service member for a vehicle cooling module and a vehicle cooling module with the service member

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is filed under 35 U.S.C. § 371 U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/059295 filed Apr. 9, 2021 (published as WO2021213816), which claims priority benefit to European Application No. 20461530.6 filed on Apr. 20, 2020, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention concerns a service member for replacing a broken mounting assembly of a vehicle cooling module. The invention further relates to a vehicle cooling module with a service member and a combination thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicles of all kinds, for example motor vehicles, passenger cars and trucks, have cooling components for a cooling system. Usually, cooling radiators are located at the front of the vehicle, behind the bumper. These are therefore often damaged during a head-on collision, even at low speeds. If the water tank or the core of the cooling element is damaged, the radiator is out of order and the vehicle cannot be driven to the nearest repair shop and must be towed away. In addition, if the water tank or, more generally, the cooling radiator is damaged, the radiator must be replaced with a new radiator, resulting in high repair costs. 
     It is already known from the state of the art to mount the radiator or more generally the vehicle cooling module on the vehicle with mounting assemblies. In the event of a frontal collision, these mounting assemblies break off and the radiator itself remains undamaged. After an accident, the mounting assembly must be replaced. 
     In known solutions, the vehicle cooling module is fitted with a separate plastic fixing element, e.g. a dovetail on successive cooling modules. In the event of an accident, this separate plastic fixing element is replaced by an identical part. This solution requires an additional part, i.e. the separate plastic fixing element, to be attached not only to one vehicle cooling module as a repair solution after an accident, but to all successive cooling modules. This means additional working time and thus additional costs. 
     There is a need for a service member, which can be easily attached to a vehicle cooling module after an accident, thus minimizing the costs for the repair. There is also a need for a vehicle cooling module that is mounted in such a way that in the event of a head-on collision the water tank will not leak and that is easy to repair with a service member. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is, among others, a servicing member for a vehicle cooling module, comprising a first element with a bumper portion, a first fixing interface located on the first element for fixing to the vehicle module, a second element connected to the first element, a second fixing interface located on the second element for fixing the servicing member to a vehicle structure, wherein the first element is connected with the second element by a connection portion adapted to controllably break upon imparting a predetermined force to the bumper portion, wherein the first fixing interface comprises a tongue portion, the tongue portion being adapted for releasable connection with a slot in the vehicle cooling module, the first fixing interface comprising a first side wall extending adjacent to the tongue portion between said tongue portion and the bumper portion so that a free space is created between the tongue portion and the first side wall. 
     Preferably, wherein the tongue portion is of plate-like shape and rectangular cross-section. 
     Preferably, the tongue portion comprises a blocking section adapted for frictional fixing in a slot of a vehicle cooling module. 
     Preferably, the bumper portion is adapted to work along the impact axis, and the tongue portion extends along a tongue axis perpendicular to impact axis. 
     Preferably, the first side wall extends along an axis Yw perpendicular to the impact axis Xb and the tongue axis Zt. 
     Preferably, the service member further comprises a second side wall extending parallel to the first side wall on the opposite side of the tongue portion. 
     Preferably, the service member further comprises a top wall extending over the tongue portion when looked along an axis Yt going through the tongue portion parallel to the Yw axis. 
     Preferably, the top wall is inclined with respect to the tongue portion. 
     Preferably, the service member further comprises a bottom wall extending below the tongue portion when looked along an axis Yt going through the tongue portion parallel to the Yw axis, the bottom wall being located on the opposite side of the tongue portion with respect to the top wall. 
     Preferably, the bottom wall is inclined with respect to the tongue portion. 
     Preferably, the service member further comprises a face wall perpendicular to the first side wall, wherein the tongue portion protrudes from the face wall. 
     Preferably, the first side wall comprises a through-hole for a screw. 
     Another object of the invention is an assembly comprising a service member as described and a vehicle cooling module, the vehicle cooling module comprising a slot and at least one contact side wall, the service member being attached to the vehicle cooling module so that the tongue portion is introduced into the slot and the first side wall is in contact with the contact side wall. 
     Another object of the invention is an assembly comprising a service member as described and a vehicle cooling module, wherein the contact side wall comprises a through-hole for a screw coaxial with the through hole of the service member for fixing together the vehicle cooling module and the service member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Examples of the invention will be apparent from and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1   a    shows the first stage of the breaking of the mounting assembly and replacement by a service member according to the invention; 
         FIG.  1   b    shows the second stage of the breaking of the mounting assembly and replacement by a service member according to the invention; 
         FIG.  1   c    shows the third stage of the breaking of the mounting assembly and replacement by a service member according to the invention; 
         FIG.  2    shows the service member in a perspective view; 
         FIG.  3   a    shows the service member in top view, with  FIG.  3   b    showing a closer view of the connection portion; 
         FIG.  4    shows another perspective view of the service member; 
         FIG.  5    shows cross-section view of the service member; 
         FIG.  6    shows a vehicle cooling module portion after removal of broken mounting assembly; and 
         FIG.  7    shows a vehicle cooling module portion with a service member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS.  1   a - 1   c    show breaking of the mounting assembly of a vehicle cooling module  50  and replacement by a service member  1  according to the invention. Once the vehicle hits an object, a force is transferred from a car beam by a crash bumper  61  to the vehicle cooling module  50 . A mounting element  62 , serving as attachment component of the vehicle cooling module  50  to vehicle&#39;s structure, breaks in a predetermined place. If the radiator is not damaged, the crash bumper  61  is removed, the broken area is polished off and a service member  1  is mounted on the cooling module. The details of the service member  1  will be explained below. 
       FIG.  2    shows the service member  1  in a perspective view. In general, the service member  1  comprises a first element  10  with a bumper portion  11  and a second element  20  connected to the first element  10 . The function of the first element  10  is to receive impact from the car beam or other vehicle components. The first element  10  is also used for mounting the service member  1  to the vehicle cooling module  50 . The second element  20  is intended for mounting the service member  1  to the vehicle structure. What follows is that the second element  20  serves as a mounting component for the vehicle cooling module  50 . 
       FIGS.  3   a  and  3   b    show the service member  1  in top view with a closer view on its connection portion  30 . The first element  10  is connected with the second element  20  by a connection portion  30  adapted to controllably break upon imparting a predetermined force to the bumper portion  11 . In particular, the connection portion  30  comprises a connecting arm  31  between the first element  10  and the second element  20 . Preferably, there is a plurality of connecting arms  31 . At least one of the arms  31  has a weakened portion  32  intended to break more easily than the rest of the connecting arms  31 . This can be realized by selectively reducing the thickness of the connecting arm  31 . In this case, there are three connecting arms  31  connecting the first and second elements  10 ,  20 , wherein the middle one has a weakened portion  32 . Thanks to this weakened portion  32  it is possible to control the propagation of the crack line to run only through the connecting arms  31 , without going in the direction of either the first element  10  or the second element  20 . 
       FIG.  4    shows another perspective view of the service member  1 , while  FIG.  5    shows a cross-section view. On the first element  10  there is located a first fixing interface  12  for fixing the service member  1  to the vehicle module  50 , while on the second element  20  there is located a second fixing interface  22  for fixing the servicing member  1  to the vehicle structure. 
     The first fixing interface  12  comprises a tongue portion  13 . The tongue portion  13  is adapted for releasable connection with a slot  51  in the vehicle cooling module  50 . In other words, the tongue portion  13  is shaped and dimensioned so that it can be inserted into a dedicated slot  51  in the vehicle cooling module  50  so that it is securely attached thereto, while retaining a possibility of detachment. Preferably, the tongue portion  13  is of plate-like shape and rectangular cross-section. The cross-section of the tongue portion  13  can be decreasing along its length for improved securing within the slot  51 . The tongue portion  13  can comprise a blocking section  14  adapted for frictional fixing in a slot  51  of a vehicle cooling module  50 . This blocking section  14  can be for example locally enlarged thickness. 
     The first fixing interface  12  comprises a first side wall  15  extending adjacent to the tongue portion  13  between said tongue portion  13  and the bumper portion  11  so that a free space is created between the tongue portion  13  and the side wall  15 . In general, the bumper portion  11  is adapted to work along an impact axis Xb, and the tongue portion  13  extends along a tongue axis Zt perpendicular to the impact axis Xb. The first side wall  15  extends along an axis Yw perpendicular to the impact axis Xb and the tongue axis Zt. Preferably, the first side wall  15  is a flat wall which extends from the tongue portion  13  substantially below the tongue portion  13 , preferably at a distance at least double the thickness of the tongue portion  13  measured along axis Yt. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , there is a free space between the tongue portion  13  and the first side wall  15  when viewed along an axis Xt parallel to the impact axis Xb, the axis Xt going through the tongue portion  13 . 
     The service member  1  can further comprise a second side wall  16  extending parallel to the first side wall  15  on the opposite side of the tongue portion  13 . Additionally, the service member  1  can further comprise a top wall  17  extending over the tongue portion  13  when looked along an axis Yt going through the tongue portion  13  parallel to the Yw axis. The top wall  17  can be inclined with respect to the tongue portion  13 . There can be also a bottom wall  18  extending below the tongue portion  13  when looked along an axis Yt going through the tongue portion  13  parallel to the Yw axis, the bottom wall  18  being located on the opposite side of the tongue portion  13  with respect to the top wall  17 . This bottom wall  18  can be inclined with respect to the tongue portion  13 . The tongue portion  13  can protrude from a face wall  19  which is perpendicular to the first side wall  13 . In any case, there is a space created at least between the tongue portion  13  and the first side wall  15  into which a portion of the vehicle cooling module is introduced for secured connection which enables force transfer upon impact received through the bumper portion  11 . Because the force can be transferred securely, the connection portion  30  is allowed to break controllably. This particular design allows to achieve this in a simple and cost effective manner. 
     The first side wall  15  can comprise a hole  19  for a screw, for example a through-hole, enabling more secure connection to the vehicle cooling module  50 . 
       FIG.  6    shows the vehicle cooling module  50  portion after removal of broken mounting assembly. In the same perspective,  FIG.  7    shows the vehicle cooling module  50  portion with the service member  1 . The vehicle cooling module  50 , in this case part of a radiator, has a slot  51  and at least one contact side wall  53 . When the service member  1  is attached to the vehicle cooling module  50 , the tongue portion  13  is introduced into the slot  51  and the first side wall  15  is in contact with the contact side wall  53 . In this manner, a secure arrangement is created between the cooling module  50  and the service member  1 . Preferably, the vehicle cooling module  50  comprises also a front contact wall  52  which after assembly is facing, and preferably is in contact, with the face wall  19  of the service member  1 . If there is a plurality of contact walls on the vehicle cooling module  50  as shown in  FIG.  6   , the service member  1  can in fact encapsulate them and a correct positioning of the service member can be ensured after inserting the tongue portion  13  into the slot  51  of the vehicle cooling module  50 . The inclined top wall  17  and bottom wall  18  can follow the shape of the vehicle cooling module  50  for better alignment and protection of the connection. In  FIG.  7   , the top wall  17  is not inclined. 
     The contact side wall  53  can comprise a hole or a through-hole  54  for a screw coaxial with the through hole  19  of the service member  1  for fixing together the vehicle cooling module  50  and the service member  1  in a secured manner. In such case, a screw is inserted into both of the openings after assembly, and removed if needed for another replacement of the servicing member if another crash occurs. 
     In any case, the service member  1  after assembly and upon crash will break within the connection area  30 . The components thereof can then be removed and another servicing member  1  can be mounted. 
     Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to the advantage.