DESC:FULL FLOATING TYPE RADIATOR MOUNTING SYSTEM
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to the radiator construction and more particularly, the present invention relates to a full floating type mounting system for the radiator.
Background of the invention
Radiator is a heat exchanger consisting of an aluminum core, a top and bottom tank, support members and the like. The conventional mounting design for the radiator is a fixed type design. In this type of mounting design, the member support is fixed directly on the top tank with the help of fasteners. For example, the member support faces are fully clamped on the radiator tanks. Generally, the aluminium core is subjected to continuous working on temperature from ambient temperature (-30°C~50°C) to 120°C under vehicle working condition. Due to this, the aluminium core undergoes expansion and contraction phenomenon. When the aluminium core is constrained by the fixed joint with structural frame work, not allowing the core to naturally expand and contract, it induces thermal stress in radiator tubes. Thermal stresses cause the tube to crack at corners, leading to leakage. This leakage can deteriorate the performance of the cooling system, leading to engine overheating.
The document US8210298B2 describes a device for fixing a heat transfer device including a rubber bush. The rubber bush in the intermediate bracket has a slot which holds the mounting pin and permits a degree of play of the mounting pin transversely with respect to the direction of travel. However, it provides the movement to the mounting pin in a specific direction only.
The document US7255189B2 describes a radiator mounting system including the top and bottom tanks having indentations or recesses that receive corresponding pins or protrusions that extend from the frame. Hence, the tanks and the frame do not touch each other directly, but have elastomeric structures such as bushings or grommets that are interposed between the frame and the radiator to support the radiator. However, it requires modification of the tank.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system to provide a firmly assembled full floating type radiator mount which is free to expand when tubes are strained from the effect of thermal loading and absorb vibration load for longer durability requirements.
Object of the invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a full floating type radiator mounting system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible joint between radiator tanks and structural support frame.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting system which allows free thermal expansion and contraction of the radiator during thermal loading so that no stress is generated on the radiator tubes.
Summary of the invention
The present invention discloses a full floating type mounting system for a radiator unit. The radiator unit is having a radiator core assembled with two coolant tanks at top and bottom side thereof. A pair of support members is arranged on either sides of the radiator unit with the lower side of support members fixedly fitted to the bottom coolant tank. Each support member from the pair of support members is provided with a slot on upper side thereof and a hole on lower side thereof. A pair of grommets is assembled on either sides of the top coolant tank with each pair of grommets coinciding with the slot. The lower side of support members is fixedly bolted to the bottom coolant tank through the pair of grommets thereby dampening the vibrations. A pair of shoulder bolts and a pair of clinch nuts is provided for holding the pair of support members with the top coolant tank, wherein each shoulder bolt is inserted through the slot and through the pair of grommets thereby floatingly fitting the top coolant tank to the upper side of the pair of support members. Each slot is having dimensions that enables the radiator unit free to slide in the direction of core expansion. Each shoulder bolt from the pair of shoulder bolts is provided with a step at a level maintaining a first gap between the clinch nut and the support member, and a second gap between the radiator tank and the pair of support members thereby allowing the radiator unit to float between the pair of support members. This further allows free thermal expansion and contraction of radiator during thermal loading so that no stress is generated on the radiator tubes
Brief description of the drawings:
The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the disclosure is read in conjunction with the following figures, wherein
Figure 1 shows a front view of a full floating type radiator mounting system, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the full floating type radiator mounting system, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the full floating type radiator mounting system, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a front view of the full floating type radiator mounting system, in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 5 shows a back view of the full floating type radiator mounting system, in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 6 shows a sectional top view of the full floating type radiator mounting system, in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments:
The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiments.
The present invention provides a full floating type radiator mounting system. More particularly, the present invention provides the full floating type radiator mounting system consisting of a rubber grommet and a shoulder bolt with prevailing torque type nut assembly. The system keeps positive clearance between a radiator tank and the structural support; and it is cushioned by a rubber buffer in between, to absorb shocks, tightened by a prevailing torque nut to avoid any torque loss in a vibrating condition. Additionally, due to maintained clearance, the radiator is free to expand and contract without any stress developed on the tubes, under thermal fatigue loading.
The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description and in the table below.
Table:
Ref No: Component Ref No: Component
101A Top cooling tank 105 Clinch nut
101B Bottom cooling tank 106 Slot on upper side of support member
102 Grommet 107 First gap
103 Shoulder bolt 108 Second gap
103A Step on the shoulder bolt 109 Stoppers
104 Support members 110 Hole on lower side of support member
Referring to figures 1 to 6, there is shown a full floating type mounting system (hereinafter referred as ‘the system (100)’), for a radiator unit having a radiator core assembled with a top coolant tank (101A) and a bottom coolant tank (101B), in accordance with the present invention. The system (100) comprising: a pair of support members (104), a plurality of grommets (102), a pair of shoulder bolts (103), a pair of clinch nuts (105) and a pair of stoppers (109).
Each support member from the pair of support members (104), having an upper side and a lower side, is arranged on either sides of the radiator unit. The lower side of each support member is provided with a hole (110) and the upper side of each support member is provided with a slot (106) for fitting the pair of support members (104) to the top and bottom cooling tanks (101A, 101B).
A pair of grommets (102) is assembled on either sides of the top coolant tank (101A) with each grommet (102) coinciding with the slot (106). Another pair of rubber grommets (102) is assembled on either sides of the bottom coolant tank (101B) with each grommet (102) coinciding with the hole (110). In an exemplary embodiment, the top and bottom coolant tanks (101A, 101B) are plastic tanks and each grommet from the pair of grommets (102) is made up of a rubber material.
The pair of shoulder bolts (103) and the pair of clinch nuts (105) is used for fitting the top coolant tank (101A) floatingly with the upper side of the pair of support members (104). Each shoulder bolt from the pair of shoulder bolts (103) is inserted through the slot (106) and through the grommet (102) and fitted with the clinch nut (105) thereby floatingly fitting the radiator unit to the upper side of the pair of support members (104). The stopper (109) is provided for preventing rotation of the shoulder bolt (103) while torqueing on the clinch nut (105). The lower side of support members (104) is fixedly bolted to the bottom coolant tank (101B) through the pair of grommets (102) thereby dampening the vibrations transferred from the support members (104) to the radiator unit.
The slot (106) is having dimensions that enable the radiator unit free to slide in the direction of core expansion. Further, each shoulder bolt from the pair of shoulder bolts (103) is provided with a step (103A) at a level maintaining a first gap (107) between the clinch nut (105) and the support member (104), and a second gap (108) between the radiator tank (101) and the pair of support members (104) thereby allowing the radiator unit to float between the pair of support members (104). In an embodiment, the shoulder bolt (103) is a square headed bolt.
The system (100) prevents the top coolant tank (101A) from getting fully tightened with the pair of support members (104). Additionally, the arrangement provides intended positive clearance by means of the first gap (107) and the second gap (108) between the top coolant tank (101A) and the pair of support members (104) making the joint floating type. The floating joint is cushioned by the rubber buffer of grommets (102) in between, to absorb shocks and tightened by a prevailing torque nut (105) to avoid any torque loss in a vibrating condition. Further, the step (103A) avoids the compression of the pair of grommets (102) after the application of torque by the pair of clinch nuts (105).
Advantages of the invention:
1. The present invention provides a system (100) with a floating/ flexible joint allowing the radiator unit to float between the support members. Thus, increasing the radiator life.
2. The system (100) provides a radiator assembly to expand freely with thermal loading.
3. The system (100) consisting of the rubber grommets (102) and the shoulder bolts (103) with a prevailing torque type nut, i.e. the clinch nut (105) provides an arrangement for taking care of thermal fatigue generated due to temperature variations in the radiator core.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.

,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. A full floating type mounting system (100) for a radiator unit having a radiator core assembled with a top coolant tank (101A) and a bottom coolant tank (101B), the full floating type mounting system (100) comprising:
a pair of support members (104) arranged on either sides of the radiator unit, each support member from the pair of support members (104) having an upper side and a lower side, the upper side of each support member provided with a slot (106);
a pair of grommets (102) assembled on either sides of the top coolant tank (101A) with each grommet (102) coinciding with the slot (106);
a pair of shoulder bolts (103) and a pair of clinch nuts (105), each shoulder bolt from the pair of shoulder bolts (103) inserted through the slot (106) and through the grommet (102) and fitted with the clinch nut (105) thereby floatingly fitting the radiator unit to the upper side of the pair of support members (104);
characterized in that,
the slot (106) is having dimensions that enables the radiator unit free to slide in the direction of radiator core expansion;
each shoulder bolt from the pair of shoulder bolts (103) is provided with a step (103A) at a level maintaining a first gap (107) between the clinch nut (105) and the support member (104), and a second gap (108) between the radiator tank (101) and the pair of support members (104) thereby allowing the radiator unit to float between the pair of support members (104).
2. The full floating type mounting system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower side of each support member (104) is provided with a hole (110) and the lower side of support members (104) is fixedly bolted to the bottom coolant tank (101B) through the pair of grommets (102).
3. The full floating type mounting system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoulder bolt (103) is a square headed bolt.
4. The full floating type mounting system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiator tank (101) is of plastic material.
5. The full floating type mounting system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grommet (102) is made up of a rubber material.
Dated this 3rd day of March 2021

Ashwini Kelkar
(Agent for Applicant)
(IN/PA-2461)