U.S. patent application number 10/634257 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-26 for cover structure for heat exchanger having resinous tank.
Invention is credited to Sasano, Norihisa, Tamura, Masami.
Application Number | 20040035551 10/634257 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31884340 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040035551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tamura, Masami ; et
al. |
February 26, 2004 |
Cover structure for heat exchanger having resinous tank
Abstract
In a cover structure for restricting adhesion of foreign
materials such as an antifreezing agent to a resinous tank of a
heat exchanger, a cover member is arranged such that its first end
is in the proximity of a boundary between a core portion and the
resinous tank of the heat exchanger and its second end is adjacent
to an opening through which air is introduced. The cover member
blocks the foreign materials entering from the opening and
restricts. Also, the cover member directs the air having passed
through the opening toward the core portion. Thus, the tank is less
likely to deteriorate due to adhesion of the foreign materials.
Further, efficiency of heat exchange of the core portion
improves.
Inventors: |
Tamura, Masami; (Chita-gun,
JP) ; Sasano, Norihisa; (Ama-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Family ID: |
31884340 |
Appl. No.: |
10/634257 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/41 ; 165/72;
165/76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 21/062 20130101;
F28F 9/002 20130101; F28D 2021/0094 20130101; F28F 2265/02
20130101; B60K 11/04 20130101; F28D 1/05366 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/41 ; 165/72;
165/76 |
International
Class: |
F28F 001/00; F28D
001/06; F28F 007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 7, 2002 |
JP |
2002-230353 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cover structure for a heat exchanger, which is located
adjacent to an opening through which air is introduced and has a
core portion for performing heat exchange and a resinous tank
connected to the core portion, the cover structure comprising: a
cover member including a wall that has a first end and a second end
opposite to each other, wherein the cover member is disposed such
that the first end is adjacent a boundary between the core portion
and the tank and the second end is adjacent to the opening so that
the wall directs the air passing through the opening toward the
core portion.
2. The cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover
member is fixed to a frame that supports the heat exchanger.
3. The cover structure according to claim 2, wherein the cover
member has a protrusion and the frame is formed with a hollow,
wherein the cover member is fixed to the frame by engagement of the
protrusion and the hollow.
4. The cover structure according to claim 2, wherein the cover
member is formed with a hollow and the frame has a protrusion,
wherein the cover member is fixed to the frame by engagement of the
protrusion and the hollow.
5. The cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover
member is fixed to a wall of the tank.
6. The cover structure according to claim 5, wherein the cover
member has a protrusion and the wall of the tank is formed with a
hollow, wherein the cover member is fixed by engagement of the
protrusion and the hollow.
7. The cover structure according to claim 5, wherein the cover
member is formed with a hole and the wall of the tank has a
protrusion, wherein the cover member is fixed by engagement of the
protrusion and the hollow.
8. The cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the tank is
located on the top of the core portion and the second end of the
wall is located adjacent to a top end of the opening.
9. The cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the tank is
made of nylon 66.
10. The cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover
member is disposed such that the wall restricts foreign materials
passing through the opening from adhering to the tank.
11. A front end structure of a vehicle comprising: a grill provided
at a front end of the vehicle, wherein the grill defines an opening
through which air is introduced; a heat exchanger located adjacent
to the grill in an engine compartment, wherein the heat exchanger
has a core portion for performing heat exchange between the air and
a fluid flowing inside of the core portion, and a tank connected to
an end of the core portion; and a cover member including a wall,
wherein the wall is disposed such that its first end is adjacent to
a boundary between the core portion and the tank and its second
end, which is opposite to the first end, is adjacent to an end of
the opening, so that the cover member directs the air passing
through the grill toward the core portion and restricts foreign
materials from adhering to the tank.
12. The front end structure according to claim 11, wherein the heat
exchanger is supported in an engine compartment by a frame, and the
cover member is fixed to the frame.
13. The front end structure according to claim 11, wherein the
cover member is formed with a fixing portion extending from the
wall and the fixing portion is fixed to a wall of the tank.
14. The front end structure according to claim 11, wherein the tank
is made of nylon 66.
15. The front end structure according to claim 11, wherein the tank
is connected to a top end of the core portion and the second end of
the wall is adjacent to a top end of the opening.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2002-230353 filed on Aug. 7, 2002, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a cover structure that
restricts adhesion of foreign materials to a resinous tank of a
heat exchanger such as a vehicular radiator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] With regard to a resinous tank of a radiator, the tank is
for example made of nylon 66 (polyamide 66). As shown in FIG. 7,
when a radiator 400 having such resinous tank 410 is used in cold
regions where an antifreezing agent is spread, if the antifreezing
agent is thrown up, it is likely to pass through a grill 40 and
directly adhere to the tank 410 as denoted by a thick arrow B. As a
result, it causes environmental stress cracks on the tank 410.
[0004] In order to restrict the environmental stress crack of the
resinous tank, for example, it is proposed to blend nylon 12
(polyamide 12) and nylon 612 (polyamide 612), which have resistant
to the antifreezing agent, with the nylon 66. However, such
resistant materials are generally more expensive than the nylon 66.
Thus, it results in an increase in cost of the radiator.
Alternatively, it is proposed to employ a cover 420 for restricting
the antifreezing agent from adhering to the tank 410, as shown in
FIG. 8. It also causes an increase in cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover
structure capable of reducing deterioration of a resinous tank of a
heat exchanger due to adhesion of foreign materials such as an
antifreezing agent.
[0006] According to the present invention, a cover structure is
applied to a heat exchanger that has a resinous tank and, a core
portion for performing heat exchange. The heat exchanger is
arranged adjacent to an opening through which air is introduced. A
cover member includes a wall having a first end and a second end
opposite to each other. The cover member is disposed such that the
first end is adjacent to a boundary between the core portion and
the tank and the second end is adjacent to the opening so that air
passing through the opening is directed toward the core
portion.
[0007] Accordingly, the wall blocks and restricts the foreign
materials from adhering to the tank. Therefore, the tank is less
likely to deteriorate due to the foreign materials. Further, since
the air is introduced toward the core portion along the wall,
efficiency of heat exchange improves. Thus, it is possible to
reduce the size of the heat exchanger.
[0008] Preferably, the cover structure is employed in a front end
of a vehicle. Especially in cold regions where the antifreezing
agent is spread on roads, the cover member restricts the
antifreezing agent from adhering to the tank. Thus, it reduces
environmental stress cracks on the resinous tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cover for explaining
an arrangement of the cover on a vehicle according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cover according to the
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cover and a frame
according to-a modification of the first embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cover and a tank of a
heat exchanger according to the second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cover and the tank
according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cover and the tank
according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a front
portion of a vehicle for explaining entering of an antifreezing
agent of a related art; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a front
portion of a vehicle and a cover fixed to a tank of a heat
exchanger of a related art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will be described
hereinafter with reference to drawings.
[0019] In the first embodiment, a cover structure that restricts
foreign materials is employed for a radiator, which is generally
mounted .in a front portion of a vehicle., As shown in FIGS. 1 and
2, a cover (cover member) 100 is used as the cover structure for a
radiator 200.
[0020] The radiator 200 cools a coolant of an engine (not shown). A
core portion 220 of the radiator 200 is constructed of a stack of
tubes and fins. The core portion 220 performs heat exchange between
air and the coolant. A core plate 221 is interposed between the
core portion 220 and a resinous tank 210. The tank 210 is clamped
with the core plate 221. The tank 210 is formed of nylon 66
(polyamide 66) that includes a predetermined amount of glass fiber
as a reinforcing agent.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the radiator 200 is mounted on a rear
side of a grill 10, which forms an opening through which a cooling
air is introduced, in an engine compartment 5. The radiator 200 is
fixed to a vehicular frame (fixing member) 20 having substantially
a U-shaped cross-section. A condenser 300, which is a heat
exchanger for a cooling apparatus, is provided between the grill 10
and the radiator 200.
[0022] The cover 100 is made of resin such as polypropylene. As
shown in FIG. 2, the cover 100 is formed with a cover portion
(wall) 110 in a form of plate and two fixing portions 120. The
fixing portions 120 substantially perpendicularly protrude from the
cover portion 110. Fixing holes 121 are formed in substantially
middle position of the fixing portions 120. Clips 130 are inserted
to the fixing holes 121 and further engaged with holes 21 formed on
the frame 20, so the cover 100 is fixed to the frame 20.
[0023] The clip 130 has stoppers in the form of parasol at its top
end. Also, the clip 130 is formed with slit in its central portion
along its longitudinal direction. Therefore, the clip 130 is
elastically deformable during the insertion and is snapped into the
holes 121, 21 with a single motion.
[0024] The cover 110 has generally a plate shape extending in a
longitudinal direction of the tank 210. The cover 100 is arranged
such that the cover portion 110 extends between the grill 10 and
the core plate 221. Specifically, a first side 111 is arranged
adjacent to the core plate 221, which defines a boundary between
the tank 210 and the core portion 220. A second side 112, which is
opposite to the first side 111, is arranged adjacent to the top end
of the grill 10. The cover 100 is arranged such that distances
between the core plate 221 and the first side 111 and between the
core plate 221 and the second side 112 are minimized.
[0025] While the vehicle is driven on roads on which an
antifreezing agent is spread for example in cold regions, if the
antifreezing agent is thrown up, the antifreezing agent is likely
to enter the engine compartment 5 from the grill 10, as denoted by
a thick arrow A in FIG. 1. In this case, because the cover portion
110 blocks the antifreezing agent, it is less likely that the
antifreezing agent directly adhere to the resinous tank 210.
Therefore, the cover structure reduces environmental stress cracks
on the resinous tank 210 due to foreign materials such as the
antifreezing agent. Accordingly, it is not required to blend
resistance materials with the resin of the tank 210.
[0026] Since the cover 100 is made of polypropylene, water
absorption of the cover 100 is lower than that of the tank 210 made
of nylon. Therefore, the cover 100 is less likely to cause the
environmental stress cracks even if the antifreezing agent adheres
to the cover 100.
[0027] In addition, since the cover portion 110 is arranged to
extend from the proximity of the core plate 221 to the grill 10, it
functions as a duct for directing the cooling air toward the core
portion 220. Thus, the cover portion 110 restricts the cooling air
from passing over the tank 210 (as denoted by a dotted arrow in
FIG. 8). Also, the cover portion 110 is disposed such that it does
not obstruct the core portion 220. Accordingly, the cooling air
passing through the grill 10 is effectively applied to the core
portion 220, thereby improving efficiency of heat exchange of the
radiator 200. With this, it is possible to reduce the size and
further cost of the radiator 200. By the cost reduction of the
radiator 200, expense of the cover 100 can be offset.
[0028] The radiator 200 generally has a second tank (not shown)
through which coolant flows at its bottom. When the radiator 200 is
arranged such that the tank (first tank) 210 is on the top of the
core portion 220 and the second tank is on the bottom, a
temperature of the coolant flowing in the first tank 210 is higher
than that of the coolant flowing in the second tank. Therefore, the
first tank 210 is in an environment that easily causes
environmental stress cracks; as compared to the second tank. In a
case that the cover structure is applied to the top tank 210 of the
radiator, it effectively reduces damage to the tank 210.
[0029] As a modification of the first embodiment, protrusions 122,
which correspond to the clips 130, are formed in the fixing
portions 120. As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusions 122 have shapes
similar to the clips 130 so that the protrusions 122 are engaged to
the holes 21 or hollows of the frame 20. Since it is not required
to form the clips 130 separately, a manufacturing cost reduces.
[0030] In the second embodiment, the cover 100 is directly
connected to the tank 210. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tank 210
has protrusions 211, which correspond to the clips 130 of the first
embodiment. The cover 100 is fixed by engaging the protrusions 211
in the holes 121 of the fixing portions 120.
[0031] Accordingly, it is possible to mount the radiator 200 on the
vehicle after the cover 100 is fixed to the tank 210. Also, it is
possible to fix the cover 100 to the radiator 200 after the
radiator 200 is mounted on the vehicle. Thus, assemblability of the
cover structure improves. Further, this is suitable in a case that
the frame 20 has less space for fixing the cover 100.
[0032] As a modification of the second embodiment, protrusions 122
corresponding to the clips 130 of the first embodiment are
integrally formed in the cover 100. As shown in FIG. 6, fixing
holes 212 engaging with the protrusions 122 are formed in a wall
that is provided as a part of the tank 210. The cover 100 is fixed
to the tank 210 by engaging the protrusions 122 with the fixing
holes 212.
[0033] In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the cover
structure is used for the radiator 200, which cools the engine
coolant. However, the cover structure of the present invention can
be used for another heat exchanger having a resinous tank, which is
located on the rear side of the grill 10, such as an inter cooling
device.
[0034] It is not always necessary that the hole, which engages with
the protrusion for fixing the cover 100, is a penetrated hole. It
can be a hollow or depression as long as provides an engagement
with the protrusion.
[0035] The present invention should not be limited to the disclosed
embodiments, but may be implemented in other ways without departing
from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *