Patent Application
20080099641
The present disclosure relates to a component attachment system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the fastenerless attachment of multiple components in a vehicle engine cooling module.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Traditionally, engine cooling modules have been assembled using traditional fasteners, such as screws or a bolt and nut arrangement. While these fasteners have proven satisfactory for their purpose, such traditional fastener methods have not been without their share of limitations.
There are multiple limitations of traditional fastener systems. One such limitation is that traditional fasteners, whether clips, screws, or a bolt and nut combination, may vibrate loose due to vibrations caused by an engine or road surface as a vehicle travels on a road. Loose fasteners may eventually fall out of their originally secure location. Another limitation is that traditional fasteners are physically separate components from the parts that need to be fastened, and as such, the fasteners must be brought to the parts for which fastening is desired. This represents an added fastener cost and assembly time to install such fasteners. Another limitation is that in a location where installation and removal space of the attached parts is limited, traditional fasteners may be difficult or even prevent certain designs because traditional fasteners require space for installation and removal tools as well as space for the person or machine who installs such parts. Still yet another limitation is that traditional fastening devices do not permit stacking, or a series assembly, of multiple parts of a module, that can be accomplished in a fast, convenient, and reliable manner.
What is needed then is an attachment device that permits a fast and secure connection of parts, such as parts assembled in series, without the space and tools necessary to install separate, traditional fasteners.
A fastening system applied to a cooling module utilizes three major pieces: a radiator, an electric fan support, and a fan shroud. The radiator has two posts protruding from one side, or one tank, one at a lower location and one at an upper location. The electric fan support has a bottom plate that has a first slot or notch in it such that the bottom plate straddles or fits over the lower post, and a top plate that has a second slot or notch such that the top plate straddles or fits over the second post. The lower and upper posts have two levels of notches that correspond with the notches of the plates to permit the tight fit of the electric fan support against the radiator.
To effectively lock the electric fan support against the radiator, a flexible prong with a protruding tab resides on the radiator next to the upper post. The protruding tab fits over the top plate and prevents the electric fan support from moving off of the lower and upper posts. Pressing the flexible prong releases the tab from the top plate and permits the fan support to be lifted from the radiator.
The fan shroud also has a bottom plate with a first slot or notch in it such that the bottom plate straddles or fits over the lower post, and a top plate that has a second slot or notch such that the top plate straddles or fits over the second post. The notches in the plates of the fan shroud fit within the second set of notches in the lower and upper posts. That is, the electric fan support fits into the lower notches of the posts while the fan shroud fits within the upper notches of the posts. With the fan shroud held firmly against the fan support and the fan support held firmly against the radiator, the second latching or fastening mechanism engages.
The second latching mechanism associated with the top plate of the fan shroud has a flexible prong with a protruding tab connected to the top plate. When the fan shroud plates are placed over the lower and upper posts, the tab and flexible prong are biased when they contact a tab on the top plate of the electric fan support. When the fan support is fully pressed into position, the tab on the flexible prong lodges under the tab on the top plate of the fan support when the flexible prong returns to its unbiased position. With the tab of the flexible prong of the fan shroud under the tab of the top plate of the fan support, the fan shroud is prevented from moving off of the first and second posts. Both of the fan support and the fan shroud are prevented from moving laterally off of the lower and upper posts due to the notches, and from moving vertically off of the posts due to the latching mechanisms at the top plates.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
The liquid coolant generally flows from the top tank 18 to the bottom tank 20 via the radiator core 28. The radiator core 28 consists of multiple liquid coolant passages surrounded by air gaps, through which air passes to cool or remove heat from the liquid coolant. The radiator core 28 is similar to existing radiator cores, as are known in the art. Continuing, a fan blade 30 spins about a fan central location or fan axis 32, and when operating, air is pulled through the radiator core 28 by the fan blade 30 which removes heat from the liquid coolant flowing through the radiator core 28. The fan blade 30 is driven or rotated by an electric motor 34 or fan motor. The fan shroud 12 has a shroud opening 29 for an engine driven fan (not shown), that is separate from the electric motor 34 and fan blade 30. The engine driven fan also pulls air through the radiator core 28.
The radiator 16 mounts within an engine compartment (not shown) of a vehicle (not shown) with brackets. More specifically, on its bottom side, a bottom radiator bracket 36 has a post 38, which fits into a hole within the vehicle engine compartment. Once the post 38 is inserted, the top radiator bracket 40 with its slot 42, is inserted over a corresponding post, such as a bolt (not shown), within the engine compartment. Similar brackets are on the right side of the radiator 16 to facilitate mounting.
Now a more detailed description of the operative workings of the teachings of the present invention will be presented.
Continuing with
When the fan support 14 is lowered into its assembled position, as depicted in
Before explaining further assembly of the fan shroud 12 to the assembly of the radiator 16 and the electric fan support 14, an additional advantage of the teachings of the present invention will be explained. With just the electric fan support 14 snapped or secured into position on the radiator 16, the two-part assembly can then be shipped for further assembly without any additional fasteners of any type. Prior to the teachings of the present invention, screws or a bolt and nut arrangement were necessary to secure the electric fan support 14 to the radiator 16 and then, further similar fasteners were necessary to prevent the two parts from detaching during physical transit to another location for further attachment of the fan shroud 12. However, the inventive structure of the groove 108, 116 and post 48, 56 arrangements, and the biasing top spring lever 60, such previously used fasteners for assembly and transit prior to fan shroud assembly are not necessary.
Continuing with the assembly and teachings of the present invention,
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 7-9, alignment of the fan shroud latch 54 will be explained. When the fan shroud 12 is lowered in accordance with arrow 132, the fan shroud spring lever 88 biases as the angled surface of the fan shroud spring level lock tab 92 contacts the top plate extension tab 76 of the top fan support plate 52. As the biasing is occurring, the fan shroud top plate 55 (second top plate) begins to settle within the notch or groove 123 of the radiator top post 56. More specifically, the fan shroud top plate notch end 134 will settle within the notch 123 between the radiator top post groove outer face 122 and the top fan support plate shroud side 74. As that occurs, the fan shroud spring lever lock tab 92 snaps into place under the top plate extension tab 76. This installation places the fan shroud latch surface 97 (second top plate) securely against the top fan support plate shroud side 74 (first top plate). The assembly of the three pieces 12,14,16 completes the fan shroud assembly 10.
With the fan shroud 12, electric fan support 14, and radiator 16 securely assembled, one will recognize that the latch tab 64 over the top fan support plate (first top plate) top surface 65 and the top plate extension tab 76 over the fan shroud spring lever lock tab 92 prevents motion in the vertical, or up and down, direction while the posts 48, 56 lateral motion (off the end of the posts 48, 56). Additionally, for and aft motion with reference to vehicle installation is also prevented. However, one will also recognize that the posts 48, 56 also prevent downward motion (in the direction of arrow 132) of the electric fan support 14 and the fan shroud 12. The grooves 108, 116 and grooves 115, 123 also prevent motion along the length of the posts 48, 56.
While the teachings of the present invention have been described and largely depicted using the top connection device 44 and the bottom connection device 46, which are located on the left, or driver's side of a typical vehicle, a corresponding top connection device and bottom connection device are located on the right side of the vehicle, for a total of four connection devices. With a total of four connection devices, one at each corner of the cooling module assembly 10, the cooling module assembly can securely be held together.
The fan shroud 12, electric fan support 14 and radiator 16 may be constructed from metallic materials or non-metallic materials. Regarding the teachings of the present invention, as an example, the radiator 16, the electric fan support 14, and fan shroud 12 may be constructed of various plastics.
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.
