Radiator attachment structure

Details Radiator attachment structure Radiator attachment structure

2000-02-24

2001-07-17

Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)

Heat exchange

Resilient vibration damper isolating exchanger element

C165S067000, C165S078000, C180S068400, C248S609000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06260609

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved attachment structure for a vehicle radiator.
Known as the attachment structure for a vehicle radiator are, for instance, “SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR AN AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR” disclosed in JP-A-60-46335U and “RADIATOR SUPPORT WITH A GAP ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM” disclosed in JP-A-60-47826U.
In the structure disclosed in the JP-A-60-46335U, as shown in
FIG. 8
, a lower portion of a radiator
201
(reference numerals used in the official gazette are used) is attached to a lower cross member
204
via a bracket
203
and a resilient member
202
and a boss
209
formed on an upper portion of the radiator
201
is fitted over a cylindrical portion
210
of a resilient member
205
, whereby the upper portion of the radiator
201
is attached to an upper cross member
207
via a bracket
206
and the resilient member
205
.
In the structure disclosed in the JP-A-60-47826U, as shown in
FIG. 9
, a lower portion of a radiator
310
is attached to a vehicle body
315
via a lower radiator support
312
, and an upper portion of the radiator
310
is attached to the vehicle body
315
via an upper radiator support
311
.
In recent years, there has been proposed an engine hood with a shock-absorbing structure in which a distal end portion of the engine hood is made of plastic or the rigidity thereof is reduced, so that the engine hood is deformed when an obstacle hits thereagainst such that a force imparted to the obstacle becomes as small as possible.
Even if the aforesaid shock-absorbing structure is adopted for the engine hood, however, with a radiator being located directly underneath the engine hood, the deflected displacement of the engine hood is suppressed by the radiator.
To cope with this, when it is tried that the radiator attachment structure disclosed in the JP-A-60-46335U is applied to the engine hood with the shock-absorbing structure, the engine hood and the radiator need to be disposed such that a sufficient distance can be secured between them so as to sufficiently absorb an impact that would be imparted to an obstacle that hits against the engine hood. This, however, requires a large space inside the engine compartment and this results in the imposition of a limitation to the structural design of a vehicle. For instance, increases in length and weight of a vehicle will have to be involved.
In addition, even in the radiator attachment structure disclosed in the JP-A-60-47826U, no consideration is given with respect to the structure of the radiator; that is, the radiator is not constructed so as to escape backward or to easily break, and therefore, this structure also includes the drawback inherent in the radiator attachment structure disclosed in the JP-A-60-46335U.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment structure for a vehicle radiator that does not impose any limitation to the structural design of a vehicle and which can sufficiently absorb the impact that would be applied to the obstacle.
With a view to attaining the aforesaid object, according to the invention, there is provided a radiator attachment structure in which a lower end of a radiator is rotatably attached to a lower cross member and in which an upper end of the radiator is attached to an upper cross member, characterized in that a pin is erected on the upper end of the radiator, and that a resilient supporting portion is provided on the upper cross member which resiliently supports the pin and from which the pin is disengaged when the radiator is moved backward with a force equal to or greater than a certain magnitude.
When the force equal to or greater than a certain magnitude is applied to the radiator, so that the radiator is moved backward, the protruding portion is constructed so as to be disengaged from the resilient supporting portion, whereby the upper end of the radiator is allowed to be moved backward about the lower end thereof. For instance, when an obstacle hits the engine hood, which is then deformed such that the obstacle reaches the radiator, since the radiator is allowed to move backward, an impact applied to the obstacle becomes less than that which would be applied thereto without the structure according to the aspect of the invention. Therefore, no limitation is imposed to the structural design of a vehicle, and for instance, the problem of increasing the overall length of the vehicle and hence the weight thereof can be eliminated.
In the above-mentioned radiator attachment structure according to the present invention, it is advantageous that the resilient supporting portion comprises a bracket attached to the upper cross member, a support rubber attached to the bracket and a fitting hole opened in the support rubber.
The resilient supporting portion is easily constructed by attaching the bracket to the upper cross member, attaching the support rubber to the bracket and opening the fitting hole in the support rubber.
Further, in the above-mentioned radiator attachment structure according to the present invention, it is also advantageous that a slit is provided to the fitting hole for facilitating the disengagement of the pin.
The provision of the slit to the fitting hole facilitates the disengagement of the pin provided on the radiator.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4417635 (1983-11-01), Thepault
patent: 4541645 (1985-09-01), Foeldesi
patent: 4579184 (1986-04-01), Hiramoto
patent: 4741392 (1988-05-01), Morse
patent: 4742881 (1988-05-01), Kawaguchi et al.
patent: 5137080 (1992-08-01), Haasch et al.
patent: 60-46335 (1985-04-01), None
patent: 60-47826 (1985-04-01), None

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