Heat exchanger mounting

Details Heat exchanger mounting Heat exchanger mounting

2000-05-19

2001-08-14

Leo, Leonard (Department: 3743)

Heat exchange

With external support

C165S140000, C180S068400

Reexamination Certificate

active

06273182

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to heat exchangers in general, and specifically to an improved means for mounting a vehicle air conditioning system condenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle air conditioning system condensers are mounted in front of the engine cooling radiator and just behind the vehicle body grill. Typically, the radiator is mounted directly to the vehicle body, and the smaller, lighter condenser is mounted to the front of the radiator. The molded plastic radiator tanks are a convenient location in which to integrally mold part of a condenser mounting system, such a hooks or pockets to hold separate fasteners. The other part of the condenser mounting has generally comprised brackets of various sorts, either integrally extruded with the tank, or separate. The mounting brackets may fit down into hooks molded into the tanks, or be attached with threaded fasteners to fasteners held in pockets molded into the tank, or a combination of the two. Typical examples of such mounting schemes may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,016 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,080. While these provide solid, secure mountings, the brackets represent an additional expense and material, whether integrally extruded or separate.
With newer condenser manifold designs, which are basically small diameter cylinders of one or two piece construction, it is more difficult to integrally extrude or separately attach mounting brackets, than with the larger, flat sided manifolds. Mounting mechanisms have been proposed that are better suited to such smaller, cylindrical shapes. An example can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,941, where a purpose built lower plug is stamped with an integral depending flange that fits into its own resilient mounting pad. Another example may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,133, in which the lower plug is eliminated in favor of an integrally formed lower pin, which, in turn, can fit into its own resilient mounting pad. These two designs are best suited for mounting the condenser independent from the radiator, rather than to the front of the radiator tanks. They also require some deviation from the standard cylindrical manifold design, which is basically a simple tube plugged at each end with a recessed end plug.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention provides a means for mounting a condenser to a radiator which involves essentially no deviation from the standard condenser manifold design, and which incorporates mounting provisions on the radiator tanks that are as easy to provide as current designs.
In a preferred embodiment disclosed, a condenser has tubular manifolds closed at each end by recessed end plugs, leaving a short length of manifold wall at each end, outboard of the plug, which is empty and unencumbered with any other structure. At one end of each of the manifolds, a through hole is drilled or punched through the unencumbered length of manifold wall.
On the radiator tanks, two opposed mounting features are provided, separated by the basic length of the condenser manifolds. At one end, a short platform stands out from the tank wall, and includes a boss that fits closely within the unencumbered length of manifold wall at one end of the condenser manifold. At the other end, a mounting peg stands out from the radiator tank, long enough to fit through the through hole with a short length protruding. The condenser is mounted by setting one end of each condenser manifold onto the platform protrusions, and then swinging the other ends inward to bring the mounting peg through the through holes. Then, a suitable fastener is placed over the peg. Both ends of the condenser manifolds are thereby held securely to the radiator tanks.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3229760 (1966-01-01), Hurter et al.
patent: 4531574 (1985-07-01), Hoch
patent: 5139080 (1992-08-01), Bolton et al.
patent: 5219016 (1993-06-01), Bolton et al.
patent: 5355941 (1994-10-01), Blankenberger et al.
patent: 5566748 (1996-10-01), Christensen
patent: 5657817 (1997-08-01), Heine et al.
patent: 5829133 (1998-11-01), Joshi et al.
patent: 5996684 (1999-12-01), Clifton et al.
patent: 6158500 (2000-12-01), Heine

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