FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to novel lower cross member assembly of vehicle to
mount radiator/intercooler. This invention is particularly directed to new ..
design in the BIW front end lower cross member to which radiator-condenser
assy is mounted from the lower side.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART
Radiator assembly is mounted at the four locations on the vehicle body, out of
which two locations are on the upper side and two locations are on the lower
side. On the upper side it is mounted on member hood lock (1) by .means of a
plurality of radiator mounting brackets (2) as shown in fig. 1.
From the lower side it is mounted on upper radiator support member of lower
cross member assembly of vehicle either directly or through brackets as in fig.
l illustrating radiator mounting locations to· mount radiator from the lower
side(x). The lower cross member assembly comprises of upper panel (U) welded
on a lower panel (L) as shown in fig. 1A~
..
Reference may be made to fig. 2 indicating mounting of radiator assembly on
the lower side, wherein said radiator is mounted on multiple brackets
assembled to upper radiator support member.
The provision of brackets adds to weight and cost of vehicle.
For direct mounting of the radiator assembly on the upper radiator support
member of lower cross member assembly, the Radiator Assembly is fitted into
the corresponding holes of the upper radiator support member with the help of
bush.
For direct mounting further reference may be made to fig. 3.
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In case of direct mounling of the radiator onto the upper radiator support
member on the lower side as in fig. 1, the upper radiator support member does
not provid.e enough strength to withstand the radiator load acting on it in the
WL direction. Therefore, the area adjacent to the lower mountings of the
radiator in upper radiator support member are affected owing to development
of stress caused by direct transfer of load to the adjacent area.
This makes the spots adjacent to the mounting location highly prone to failure
(F1, F2) in physical testing. Thus, the prior art is not satisfying the evaluation
criteria.
In v1ew of the above, there is a requirement to design th~ upper radiator
support member, in such a· way which provides sufficient stiffness to the.
member at the mounting locations without allowing the radiator load to get
· transferred directly to the spots in proximity to the lower mounting locations.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The ·principal object of the present invention is to provide novel lower cross
member assembly of vehic;:le that supports radiator I intercooler which
overcomes disadvantages associated with the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide .novel lower cross member
assembly of vehicle to support radiator/intercooler which is simple m
construction and reliable.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide novel lower cross
member assembly of vehicle to support radiator/intercooler which strengthens
the mounting region.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided a novel lower .cross member
assembly of vehicle is designed to support radiator /intercooler. This lower
cross member assembly co'mprises an upper radiator support member
connected "to a lower support. m~mber wherein said upper radiator suppoi"l
member is provided with a bead around mounting location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from
the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanymg
drawings of exemplary embodiments of invention and wherein:
Fig. 1 shows:
Fig. lA shows:
Fig. 2 shows:
Fig. 3 shows:
Fig. 4 shows:
Radiator mounting locations to mount radiator from the
lower side according to prior art;
Lower cross member assembly of vehicle known in the art;
Mounting of radiator on upper radiator support member
through multiple brackets according tq prior art;
Direct mounting of radiator on upper radiator support
member in accordancewith prior art;
Top view of lower cross member assembly of vehicle of
present invention ..
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS.
The invention focuses on direct mounting of a structure (radiator/intercooler)
on the upper radiator support member of the lower cross member assembly of
vehicle and proposes new design of the upper radiator support member.
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The radiator assemLly is directly mounted on upper radiator support member
in the BIW front end of vehicle with the help of bush.
The upper radiator support member is required to be strengthened to increase
its load carrying capacity which constitutes design criteria of invention. This is
accomplished by means of bead on the said upper radiator support member.
Now,. reference may be made to fig. 4. The bead· ( 1) is provided around the hole
(2) for mounting the radiator maintaining required gap from adjacent parts as
shown.
Tn the exemplary embodiment of the invention as illustrated in fig. 4, the bead
comprises an arc (3) between two inclined sides (4) with a curvature (5) there
between on each side. The curvature establishes connectivity between the arc
and inclined side maintaining continuity as seen in the figure.
The bead is located at one end (A) of the upper radiator support member which
is beginning from one edge and extended towards the mounting location (2).
Similarly another bead is located at other end (B) of the upper radiator support
member.
The above description is merely an illustration of a case. However the location
of the bead may vary from case to case according to the requirement.
The shape of the bead can be circular, semicircular, V-shaped, arc shaped and
any combination thereof without restricting the scope of the invention.
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Thus other suitable shapes readily F.Ipp:=trent to a person skilled in the art are
understood to be within the purview of the invention.
The shape of the bead is determined relying on the following factors:
Manufacturability
Layouting of adjacent p~rts
Should not affect other functionalities of th~ part
Cost Impact
Weight Impact
Stress concentration
Provision of bead is meant for protecting the area around the mounting by
providing enough rigidity.
In the current case, the two spots (F1, F2 as in fig. 1) are prone to failure and
thus the area is required to be stiffened. Therefore, the pr.ofile of the bead has
been provided accordingly. The profile of the bead is such that it acts as a
stress barrier. Thus, the shap'e of bead varies as per the requirement of stress
pattern in the localized area.
For example, in case three spots are needed to be protected, the bead may
constitute a C-shape.
· The depth of the bead is governed by the following parameters:
Load of mounted structure such as radiator
Layouting of surrounding parts
Manufacturability of the upper radiator support member.
As already discussed, there is provision of a bead around each mounting on
the upper radiator support member.. However, the beads can be
symmetrical/ asymmetrical with respect to each other.
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The bead appears as an embossed part of the upper radiator support member
of the lower cross member assembly of vehicle.
The aforesaid provision leads to transfer of load from mounted structure for
example radiator to the u,nderlying upper radiator support member through the
bead though the mounted structure is not in direct contact with the bead. ·
The aforesaid design of upper radiato.r support member provides sufficient
stiffness to the member at the mounting locations as the load is evenly
distributed on the member avoiding the direct transfer of load to the adjacent
spots. The shape helps in absorbing the vibrational stress energy and thus acts
an energy barrier. Therefore, the stress in the area adjacent to the mounting is
reduced and the upper radiator support member can withstand the load.
The invention imparts more strength to the overlying structure as compared to
the existing technology.
The invention is also applicable to intercooler mount location if the area near
Intercooler mount is prone to failure and requires more stiffness.
Advantageous Features
Avoids addition to cost and weight of the upper radiator support
member.
Increase in load carrying capacity of the upper radiator support member
by increasing stiffness.
Longer life span of the lower cross member assembly.
Reduction 'of stress/ strain in the area adjacent to the mounting.
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Reduction in lead time for failure/countermeasure analysis.
Provides better packaging to the grommet radiator.
It is to be noted that the present invention IS susceptible to modifications,
adaplalions and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments
employing the concepts .and features of this invention are intended to be within
the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth ·under the
following claims:-

We Claim:
1. A novel lower cross· member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator /intercooler comprising an upper radiator support member
connected to a lower support member wherein said upper radiator.
support member is provided with a bead around mounting for mounted
structure thereon.
2. 1\. novel lower cross member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator/intercooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the upper radiator
support member is provided with the bead.
3. A novel lower cross member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator/intercooler as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein
the ·bead is located around the hole for mounting the structure
maintaining required gap therefrom.
4. A novel lower cross· member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator/intercooler as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein
the bead comprises an arc between two inclined sides with a curvature
there between on each side.
5. A novel lower cross member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator/intercooler as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein
the shape of bead can be circular, semicircular, V-shape, arc shape and
any combination thereof.
6. A novel lower cross member .assembly. of vehicle to support
radiator/intercooler as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein
the shape of bead is determined relying on the factors such as herein
described.
7. A novel lower cross member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator/ intercooler as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein
the depth of bead is governed by the parameters such as herein
described.
8. A novel lower cross member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator/intercooler as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein
the beads around different mountings on the upper radiator support
member can be symmetrical/asymmetrical with respect to each other
9. A novel lower cross member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator I intercooler as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1s
associated with the advantageous features such as herein described.
10. A novel lower cross member assembly of vehicle to support
radiator I intercooler substantially as herein described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.