Abstract:
The invention relates to a heat exchanger module ( 1 ) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one heat exchanger ( 2 ), preferably a coolant cooler, and laterally arranged plastic module supports ( 11, 12 ) which retain the heat exchanger module ( 1 ) and support the same on the vehicle. According to the invention, the heat exchanger ( 2 ) is provided with two receptacles ( 4, 5 ) having two longitudinal faces, one lateral face, and two front faces ( 4   a   , 4   b   , 4   c   ; 5   a   , 5   b   , 5   c ) while the module supports are embodied as slip-on boxes ( 11, 12 ) which have the shape of the receptacles ( 4, 5 ), embrace the longitudinal, lateral, and front faces ( 4   a   , 4   b,    4   c -,  5   a   , 5   b   , 5   c ) thereof in a positive manner, and are secured to the front faces ( 4   c   , 5   c ) by means of locking hooks and/or snap-in hooks.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a heat exchanger module for a motor vehicle, known through DE-A 197 31 999. 
   Heat exchangers for motor vehicles, in particular those which are arranged in the engine space of the motor vehicle, such as coolant/air coolers, refrigerant condensers, charge-air coolers or oil coolers, are in many cases combined into heat exchanger modules, what are known as cooling modules,. and inserted into the vehicle and fastened there as a preassembled unit. What are known as module supports, which are in most cases of multipart design, on the one hand connected to the heat exchanger module and on the other hand supported in the vehicle, serve for fastening such a cooling module. 
   A module support for a cooling module, which consists of a coolant/air cooler and also a refrigerant condenser, has become known through EP-A 1 213 554. The module support is designed as a U-shaped frame, into which the heat exchangers are inserted and which is then completed to form a closed support frame by a crosspiece. It is disadvantageous in this construction that the support frame has to be adapted to the dimensions of the heat exchangers and therefore cannot be used for heat exchangers with differing dimensions. 
   A module support which consists of two shell-like injection-molded plastic parts which each have a very branched geometrical structure and accommodate a water cooler and an air-conditioning condenser between them has been proposed in DE-A 197 31 999. Both heat exchangers are fastened to the module supports by additional fastening means, namely self-tapping screws. Moreover, the individual heat exchangers have additional holding means in the form of support pins and support webs in order that they can be held positively in the module supports. This construction of module supports is consequently very costly, inter alia on account of the complicated plastic mold for the module supports and the adaptation of heat exchangers and module supports in relation to one another. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to configure a heat exchanger module of the kind referred to in the introduction more simply and without additional fixing means as far as its design and its fixing between heat exchangers and module supports are concerned so as thus also to reduce the production costs for the heat exchanger module as a whole. 
   According to the invention, it is proposed that a heat exchanger of the heat exchanger module, preferably a coolant/air cooler, comprises receptacles or header tanks with a simple box profile, that is with an approximately parallelepipedal design. The module supports are designed as what may be referred to as slip-on boxes with a similar box-shaped hollow profile and can consequently be “slipped on” over the receptacles/header tanks of the heat exchanger by a simple rectilinear movement, a positive connection being brought about between the slip-on boxes and the receptacles in two axial directions. 
   In the third axial direction, the slip-on boxes are preferably secured in relation to the receptacles by locking hooks or snap-in hooks. The advantage is thus achieved that the module supports are simply configured, can be produced at low cost and can be fixed without additional fastening means and merely by slipping-over. The heat exchanger module as a whole can then be fastened in the vehicle with the module supports fixed. 
   According to an advantageous development of the invention, fastening means in the form of fastening pins and/or fastening openings are provided on the -end faces of the module supports, that is at the top and at the bottom, these fastening means being designed in one piece with the plastic module supports. The heat exchanger module or cooling module as a whole is consequently supported at four points in the vehicle. In this connection, mounting is preferably effected in the vertical direction, that is from the top downward, the support pins first being introduced into corresponding bearings, for example rubber bushes, on the vehicle. Pins on the vehicle, fastened on a crosspiece for example, engage in the upper fastening openings in the module supports. This consequently results in the advantage of simple, rapid mounting of the heat exchanger module. 
   In a further advantageous development of the invention, fastening means for retaining additional parts such as, for example, a fan cowling or a charge air cooler, are arranged, that is molded on, on the longitudinal faces, that is the vertically extending faces. The additional parts can consequently also be mounted simply, for example hung in. 
   According to a particularly advantageous development of the invention, the heat exchanger is produced as an all-metal, or all-aluminum, heat exchanger. In particular, this is a coolant cooler which is soldered completely in one operation. This cooler comprises box-shaped coolant receptacles made from aluminum sheet, the end faces thereof being formed by extended side parts of the cooler. The U-profile of the coolant receptacle, in particular its side face, projects beyond the end face and consequently forms a stop face for the locking or snap-in hooks of the module supports. It is advantageous in this connection that no additional fastening means, that is constructional modifications, have to be applied to the receptacles of the all-aluminum cooler. Rather, the module supports are merely slipped on over the coolant receptacles and then fix themselves. 
   In a further advantageous development of the invention, the module supports comprise cutouts in the places where necks for the coolant or oil of an integrated oil cooler are provided on the receptacles. The positive connection between module support and coolant receptacles is not affected thereby. 
   According to a further advantageous development of the invention, a refrigerant condenser is integrated with the coolant cooler, so that the two heat exchangers form a unified block soldered in one operation. Such heat exchanger units have become known under the registered mark “Monoblock” of the applicant. It is advantageous in this connection that the cooler carries the condenser with it and is itself held by the module supports and supported in the vehicle. 
   The construction according to the invention with “lateral” module supports is not limited to cross-flow coolers with laterally arranged coolant receptacles but can also be applied to what are -known as falling-flow coolers with receptacles arranged at the top and at the bottom, that is the entire heat exchanger module can be rotated by 90°. In this connection, the position of the fastening means will advantageously likewise be shifted by 90°. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An illustrative embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail below and shown in the drawing, in which 
       FIG. 1  shows a coolant cooler with integrated refrigerant condenser and also lateral module supports in an exploded illustration; 
       FIG. 2  shows the coolant cooler according to  FIG. 1  with module supports mounted; 
       FIG. 3  shows locking hooks on the lower end face of a module support; 
       FIG. 4  shows snap-in hooks on the upper end face of a module support; 
       FIG. 5  shows the snap-in hooks in a mounted state with the coolant cooler, and 
       FIG. 6  shows the locking hooks in a mounted state with the coolant cooler. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows an air-cooled heat exchanger unit  1 , which consists of a front coolant cooler  2  and a largely concealed, rear refrigerant condenser  3 . The heat exchanger unit  1  is produced in an all-aluminum construction and soldered in one operation; it is known under the registered mark “Monoblock” of the applicant and also described in DE-A 195 43 986 or DE-A 197 22 097—the subject matter of both laid-open specifications is included in full in the content of disclosure of this application. The coolant cooler  2  comprises two coolant receptacles  4 ,  5  of box-shaped design which are each formed by a U-shaped aluminum profile with longitudinal faces  4   a ,  5   a  and side faces  4   b ,  5   b  and closed by end faces  4   c ,  5   c . The end faces  4   c ,  5   c  are recessed inward slightly and are formed by extensions of a side part  6  which engages in the U-profiles  4   a ,  4   b ,  5   a ,  5   b . Inlet and outlet necks  7 ,  8  for a coolant and also connections  9 ,  10  for an oil cooler (not illustrated) arranged in the receptacle  5  are provided on the coolant receptacles  4 ,  5 . To the side of both coolant receptacles  4 ,  5 , module supports  11 ,  12  are shown in an exploded illustration, that is in a non-mounted state. The two module supports  11 ,  12  are produced as injection-molded plastic parts and comprise a box-shaped hollow profile which fits onto the box profile of the coolant receptacles  4 ,  5 . The module supports  11 ,  12  comprise cutouts  11   a ,  12   a ,  12   b , through which the necks  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  extend after assembly. 
     FIG. 2  shows the cooling module  1 , or the coolant cooler  2 , with the module supports  11 ,  12  in the mounted state. The module supports  11 ,  12  which, on account of their box-shaped hollow profile, are designed as what may be referred to as slip-on boxes, receive to a very great extent the coolant receptacles  4 ,  5  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and form with them a positive connection in the direction of the X axis and the Z axis, the axes X, Y, Z being illustrated on the end face of the coolant cooler  2 . The module supports  11 ,  12  are therefore not fixed by this positive connection in only the direction of the Y axis, that is in each case in one direction, this fixing being effected by locking hooks and snap-in hooks (not illustrated here) explained below. The module supports  11 ,  12  surround the receptacles  4 ,  5  with the exception of the cutouts  11   a ,  12   a ,  12   b  already mentioned, through which the necks or connections  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10  already mentioned extend. Fastening elements, which are designed as support pins  13 ,  14  on the lower side of the coolant cooler  2  and as fastening openings  15 ,  16  on the upper side, are arranged on the respective end faces or small faces of the module supports  11 ,  12 . Furthermore, the module supports  11 ,  12  comprise on their side lying in the drawing plane fastening elements  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  which are designed as upwardly or downwardly directed hooks for receiving additional parts such as, for example, a fan cowling (not illustrated). In a similar way, further fastening elements can be molded onto the module supports  11 ,  12  on the rear side. 
     FIG. 3  shows a lower detail of one of the two module supports  11  ( 12 ) looking at its lower end wall  21  with inner end face  21   a , from which two locking hooks  22  of wedge-shaped design are molded out. The support pin  13  for fastening on the vehicle side is located on the lower side of the end wall  21 . 
     FIG. 4  shows an upper detail of one of the two module supports  11  ( 12 ) looking at its upper end wall  23  with inner end face  23   a , from which two snap-in hooks  24  project on an elastic tongue  25 . On the outer side of the end wall  23 , the fastening opening  15  and the hook-shaped fastening element  17  are arranged on the module support  11  ( 12 ), that is connected in one piece to the module support  11 . 
     FIG. 5  shows the elastic tongue  25  illustrated in  FIG. 4  with one (visible) snap-in hook  24 , the tongue  25  being molded out from the end wall  23 , so that it acts resiliently like a leaf spring fixed at one end. The module support lies against the side face  5   b  (cf.  FIG. 1 ) of the coolant receptacle  5 , which is closed at the end by the end face  5   c . The end face  5   c  is angled at the edge, in particular in the region of the side face  5   b , and forms on the one hand a contact face for soldering together with the side face  5   b  and on the other hand a stop face  26  for the locking hooks  24 . During assembly, the module support  12  is slipped on over the coolant receptacle  5 . During this slipping-on movement, the snap-in hooks  24  slide up on the outer edge of the coolant receptacle  5 , bend outward until the snap-in hooks  24  engage behind the stop face  26  and then snap in. With that, the locking or fixing of the module support  12  in relation to the coolant receptacle  5  is effected and secured. The fixing of the module support  11  to the coolant receptacle  4  is brought about in a similar way.  FIG. 6  shows the lower region of the module support  12  as a detail, in particular with coolant receptacle  5  mounted. The locking hooks  22 , which are of rigid or non-resilient design in contrast to the snap-in hooks  24  mentioned above, are molded out from the end wall  21 . The end face  5   c  of the coolant receptacle  5  is designed similarly to the illustrative embodiment according to  FIG. 5  and therefore likewise comprises a stop face  26  which, in conjunction with the rigid locking hooks  22 , brings about locking of coolant receptacle  5  and module support  12 . As the locking hooks  22  cannot be deflected, the module support  12  is during mounting put on at an angle in relation to the coolant receptacle  5 , first being guided from below with the locking hooks  22  against the end face  5   c  and the stop face  26  and then pivoted in, the snap-in hooks  24  arranged on the opposite end wall  23  being able to snap in. The two module supports  11 ,  12  are of identical design as far as the locking and snap-in hooks  22 ,  24  are concerned and are consequently mounted in the same way. As already mentioned above, it is also within the scope of the invention to rotate the heat exchanger module described above with laterally arranged receptacles and module supports by 90° about the X axis (cf.  FIG. 2 ), so that a falling-flow cooler with receptacles and module supports arranged at the top and at the bottom is obtained. The fastening pins  13 ,  14  mentioned above are then preferably to be attached to the lower module support, and the fastening openings  15 ,  16  accordingly to the upper module support. The fastening elements  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20  are to be rotated and moved in a similar way in order that the additional parts or assemblies can be hung in.