Heat exchange – With impeller or conveyor moving exchange material – Mechanical gas pump
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-05
2001-05-01
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
With impeller or conveyor moving exchange material
Mechanical gas pump
C165S041000, C165S067000, C180S068400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223811
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a support for a cooling device. In particular, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a support for supporting an automotive cooling device comprising a fan shroud and a heat exchanger within a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,016 (Bolton et al.) discloses a cooling device having a fan shroud, a radiator and a condenser supported as a combination within an automobile. The cooling device is assembled by hanging the condenser off one side of the radiator and the fan shroud off the other side of the radiator. The base of the radiator is supported by a part of the automobile and the assembled cooling device is held in a position within the automobile by a mounting panel which is disposed to apply a downward pressure on the fan shroud, the radiator and the condenser. Resilient material is used as an intermediary between the radiator and that part of the automobile which supports its base and the top of the radiator and the mounting panel. The resilient material helps to insulate the assembled cooling device from the vibrations of the automobile.
The arrangement of the prior art is complicated to manufacture and assemble. Also, although the fan shroud, the radiator and the condenser are constrained to limit their movement relative to one another they are constrained by different elements and consequently different forces. This may permit relative movement between the fan shroud or condenser and the radiator, which may cause shear stresses to occur.
It would be advantageous to address these problems and in particular to provide a simple support which allows for the assembled components of a cooling device to be protected from vibrations.
An object of the invention is to provide a support which at least partly mitigates the problems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for a cooling device comprising at least a heat exchanger and a fan shroud, having a resilient body portion which is adapted to simultaneously engage the heat exchanger and fan shroud of the cooling device.
Preferably the body portion has wall portions defining respective cavities for engaging said heat exchanger and said fan shroud, the cavities being dimensioned to resiliently retain said heat exchanger and fan shroud.
Conveniently the body portion comprises elastomeric material. Advantageously the support comprises a first upper elastomeric layer, a second lower elastomeric layer and an intermediate layer of reinforcing mesh material.
Conveniently said mesh material comprises steel.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for a cooling device comprising a heat exchanger, a fan shroud for a cooling fan and a condenser, the support having a resilient body portion adapted to simultaneously engage the heat exchanger, the fan shroud and the condenser.
Preferably the body portion has wall portions defining respective cavities for engaging said heat exchanger, said fan shroud and said condenser, the cavities being dimensioned to resiliently retain said heat exchanger, fan shroud and condenser.
Advantageously the body portion is of elastomeric material.
Conveniently the support comprises a first upper elastomeric layer, a second lower elastomeric layer and an intermediate layer of reinforcing mesh material.
Advantageously the mesh material comprises steel.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for a cooling device comprising a heat exchanger and a fan shroud associated with the heat exchanger, the support comprising a body having a peripheral edge, a fan shroud cavity and a heat exchanger cavity, said peripheral edge defining a periphery of the fan shroud cavity and separately defining a periphery of the heat exchanger cavity, wherein said fan shroud cavity extends into the body and is adapted to receive and engage a fan shroud and said heat exchanger cavity extends into the body and is adapted to receive and engage a heat exchanger.
According to yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided in combination:
a heat exchanger having peripheral portions;
a fan co-operating with the heat exchanger;
a fan shroud associated with the fan and the heat exchanger having peripheral portions; and
a support for engaging the fan shroud and the heat exchanger having a resilient body defining:
a first wall portion adapted to engage portions of the periphery of said fan shroud;
a second wall portion adapted to engage portions of the periphery of said heat exchanger; and
spacer means for spacing said heat exchanger from said fan shroud,
said body further comprising securing means for securing said heat exchanger to said support.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4137982 (1979-02-01), Crews et al.
patent: 4763723 (1988-08-01), Granetzke
patent: 4997033 (1991-03-01), Ghiani et al.
patent: 5269367 (1993-12-01), Sisa et al.
patent: 5271473 (1993-12-01), Ikeda et al.
patent: 5287940 (1994-02-01), Ogawa et al.
patent: 5341871 (1994-08-01), Stelzer
patent: 5522457 (1996-06-01), Lenz
patent: 5566748 (1996-10-01), Christensen
patent: 5704418 (1998-01-01), Baader et al.
Kodumudi Magesh V.
Prater Charles W.
Lazarus Ira S.
McKinnon Terrell
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Valeo Inc.
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