TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to radiator mounting structures and, more particularly, to a radiator mounting assembly in which a radiator is moved forward so as to create space in the engine bay for additional components.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed 10 invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Radiator, at its upper portion, is formed with boss portions fitted into respective resilient cylindrical shaped members which are mounted to an upper support member by means of brackets and resilient members, while the radiator at its bottom portion is mounted on two lower support members by means of 15 brackets and resilient members. Also, the radiator at its bottom portion is mounted on centre of the two support members so as to avoid any overhanging of the radiator.
[0004] However, with the advent of technology, automobile manufacturers are regularly planning to modify the existing radiator mounting structure in which the 20 radiator is moved forward, i.e., towards vehicle frontside, so as to create more design space in the engine compartment for accommodating additional components. Such planning of the automobile manufacturers has resulted into an overhang of the radiator mounting structure from the front side.
[0005] An exemplary radiator mounting structure is described in US Patent 5, 25 533,780 (‘780 patent). The ‘780 patent describes a structure in which only one lower support member is utilized for mounting the radiator. The lower support member is formed with three planar surfaces including a rear planar surface, a
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central planar surface, and a front planar surface. The said three planar surfaces are connected to each other through respective vertical walls. In ‘780 patent, the rear planar surface and the front planar surface are formed with a lower height than the central planar surface. With such configuration of the lower support member, two mounting brackets are secured by spot welding. Each bracket 5 includes three flanges, out of which one flange is secured at the central planar surface and two flanges are secured on a vertical wall connecting the central planar surface and the front planar surface.
[0006] Accordingly, such securing of the mounting brackets are overhanging with a support from the vertical wall. Such support may not provide additional 10 strength to withstand a higher amount of compression and bending loads during movement of a vehicle.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a radiator mounting assembly in which a radiator is moved forward with additional strength to withstand compression and bending loads. 15
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0009] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a radiator mounting assembly in which a radiator is moved forward with additional strength 20 to withstand compression and bending loads.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to develop a radiator mounting assembly for withstanding overhang type of radiator with minimum addition of structural support members at the bottom portion.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a radiator 25 mounting assembly in which the strength and durability of radiator mounting region has increased and helps in achieving light-weight vehicle design.
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[0012] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a radiator mounting assembly in which a radiator is moved forward so as to create space in the engine bay for additional components.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings. 5
SUMMARY
[0014] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a radiator mounting assembly in which a radiator is moved forward so as to create space in the engine bay for additional components. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key 10 features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0015] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a radiator mounting assembly for a motor vehicle. The radiator mounting assembly includes a lower support member having two depression regions where lower pins erected on a 15 bottom portion of a radiator are to be mounted. The depression regions are formed towards the front side of the motor vehicle and offset from a center line of the lower support member. The radiator mounting assembly further includes radiator mounting brackets fixed on the depression regions. Each of the radiator mounting brackets are formed with a recess on its top surface to receive and support the 20 mounting of the radiator in the respective depression mounting regions. Further, each of the radiator mounting brackets is formed with three legs connected to the top surface of the lower support member. Out of the three legs, one leg is fixed at a central planar surface of the lower support member while remaining two legs are fixed at a front planar surface of the lower support member, and wherein the front 25 planar surface is formed at a lower height than the central planar surface.
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[0016] In an aspect, the lower support member comprises a raised section at both the ends. The raised section includes a hat-shaped reinforcement with chamfered fillet.
[0017] In an aspect, each of the two depression regions is formed with a semi-circular bead pattern profile to receive a matching profile of a radiator mounting 5 bracket or a lower pin erected on the bottom portion of the radiator.
[0018] In an aspect, the front planar surface and the central planar surface are connected to each other through a vertical wall.
[0019] In an aspect, the lower support member includes a plurality of notches between the front planar surface and the front vertical wall connecting the front 10 planar surface and the central planar surface.
[0020] In an aspect, the three legs of the radiator mounting bracket are of L-shape.
[0021] In an aspect, the radiator mounting bracket includes a plurality of notches formed at a top portion of the L-shaped legs connected to the top surface 15 of the radiator mounting brackets.
[0022] In an aspect, the radiator mounting bracket includes a plurality of notches formed on the L-shaped legs at a central bend portion at which L-shape is formed.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive 20 subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25
[0024] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like
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numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a conventional lower support 5 member for mounting a radiator;
[0026] FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of a conventional lower cross member for mounting a radiator;
[0027] FIG. 1C illustrates a box type cross-section view of a combined assembly of a lower support member and a lower cross member, in accordance 10 with the state of the art;
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of a conventional lower support member, in accordance with the state of the art;
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a lower support member designed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 15
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a lower support member at radiator mounting brackets fixing location designed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of radiator mounting assembly designed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 20
[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of a radiator mounting bracket with notches, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a radiator mounting bracket with notches designed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 25
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[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a hat shaped reinforcement at raised section of lower support member, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a radiator mounting assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 5
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided 10 herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0037] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised 15 that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0038] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular 20 embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a",” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, 25 steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
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[0039] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 5
[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the 10 context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0041] Embodiments explained herein pertain to a radiator mounting assembly in which a radiator is moved forward so as to create space in the engine bay for additional components. Regardless of their specific construction, the front 15 end structure of the vehicle includes a radiator mounting assembly, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. For instance, the lower radiator mounting assembly includes a lower support member 102 (FIG. 1A) and a lower cross member 104 (FIG. 1B). FIG. 1C illustrates a box type cross-section view of a combined assembly of the lower support member 102 and the lower cross member 104, in accordance with 20 the state of the art. Such conventional radiator mounting assembly adds a lot of weight and cost to a vehicle in order to achieve the required structural strength for withstanding a higher amount of compression and bending loads during movement of the vehicle.
[0042] Generally, the radiator is mounted or placed on recesses 202 formed on 25 a center line 204 of the lower support member 102 so as to avoid overhanging of a radiator of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2.
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[0043] However, with the advent of the technology, automobile manufacturers are regularly planning to modify the existing radiator mounting assembly in which the radiator is moved forward, i.e., towards vehicle frontside, so as to create more design space in the engine compartment for accommodating additional components. 5
[0044] To this, the present disclosure provides a radiator mounting assembly 300 for a motor vehicle. The radiator mounting assembly 300 includes a lower support member 302 having two depression regions 304-1, 304-2 where lower pins erected on a bottom portion of a radiator are to be mounted. The depression regions 304-1 and 304-2 are formed towards the front side of the motor vehicle 10 and offset at a predefined distance 306 from the center line 204 of the lower support member 302.
[0045] Also, as shown in FIG. 4, each of the two depression regions 304-1, 304-2 is formed with a semi-circular bead pattern profile 402 to receive a matching profile of a radiator mounting bracket 502-1, 502-2 (FIG. 5) or a lower 15 pin erected on the bottom portion of the radiator. Such a pattern profile 402 provides the required structural strength in the depression regions 304-1, 304-2. Further, in order to increase the strength of the corner joints of lower support member 302, the lower support member 302 includes a raised section 404 at both the ends. 20
[0046] Returning to FIG. 3, the lower support member 302 is formed with three planar surfaces including a rear planar surface 308, a central planar surface 310, and a front planar surface 312. The said three planar surfaces 308, 310, 312 are connected to each other through respective vertical walls. In an implementation, the rear planar surface 308 and the front planar surface 312 are 25 formed with a height lower than the central planar surface 310.
[0047] Further, with such configuration of the lower support member 302, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower support member 302 includes a plurality of notches
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504, so as to reduce the deformation of the lower support member 302 under vertical radiator loads. By having such configuration of the lower support member 302, the present disclosure facilitates the removal of the lower cross member 104 from the radiator mounting assembly. The removal or elimination of the lower cross member 104 from the design of the present radiator mounting assembly 300 5 results in a reduction in manufacturing cost as well as vehicle weight.
[0048] Yet further, in an implementation, the two radiator mounting brackets 502-1, 502-2 are spot welded on the depression regions 304-1, 304-2. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the radiator mounting brackets 502-1, 502-2 is formed with a recess 602 on its top surface 604 to receive and support the mounting of the 10 radiator in the respective depression mounting regions 304-1, 304-2. Further, each of the radiator mounting brackets 502-1, 502-2 is formed with three legs 606, 608, 610 connected to the top surface 604. Out of the three legs 606, 608, 610, one leg 606 is fixed at the central planar surface 310 of the lower support member 302 while remaining two legs 608, 610 are fixed at the front planar surface 312 of the 15 lower support member 302, so as to uniformly distribute the vertical and bending loads on the different surfaces of the lower support member 302.
[0049] In an implementation shown in FIG. 7, in order to increase the stiffness of the radiator mounting brackets 502-1, 502-2, notches 702 have been provided at bracket legs 608, 610 in order to withstand the road loads. In an aspect, the 20 three bracket legs 608, 610 are of L shape. In one aspect, the notches 702 are formed at a top portion of the L-shaped legs 608, 610 connecting the top surface 604 of the radiator mounting brackets 502-1, 502-2. In another aspect, the notches 702 are formed on the L-shaped legs 608, 610 at central bend portion at which L-shape is formed. The raised section 404 is provided with a chamfered-shaped fillet 25 704. This chamfered-shaped fillet 704 will help in increasing the local stiffness of the lower support member 302 and provides proper distribution of loads at the ends of the lower support member 302
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[0050] Additionally, as shown in FIG. 8, a hat-shaped reinforcement 802 is placed under the raised section 404 so as to provide additional structural strength at the corner joints. Further, the reinforcement 802 is provided with a chamfered-shaped fillet 804 aligned to the chamfered-shaped fillet 704 for increasing the local stiffness of the lower support member 302. 5
[0051] FIG. 9 shows the perspective view of the radiator mounting assembly 300 in its assembled state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, to achieve the required strength with the radiator mounting assembly 300 proposed in the present disclosure, a three-leg radiator mounting bracket design has been proposed which helps in proper distribution of vertical 10 loads on to the lower support member of a radiator. The lower support member has also been provided with semi-circular depression type of profile to provide the additional strength at the radiator bracket mounting location. Further, the lower support member is provided with raised section at both ends. In addition to that, a unique type of chamfered-shaped fillet has been provided at the raised section of 15 the lower support member to distribute the stress and to enhance its structural strength. Further, to support the high loads of a radiator assembly, a hat-shaped reinforcement has been provided beneath the raised section of the lower support member on either both ends or one end. More specifically, if a single reinforcement is used, it is placed on the side closer to the radiator assembly. 20 Also, small notches have been provided on the lower support member to reduce the deformation of the radiator mounting assembly under vertical radiator loads. By using the design proposed herein, the radiator mounting assembly is able to achieve the required strength using a single lower support member after elimination of the conventional lower cross member. 25
[0052] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments,
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versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0053] The present disclosure provides a radiator mounting assembly in which 5 a radiator is moved forward so as to create space in the engine bay for additional components.
[0054] The present disclosure provides a radiator mounting assembly in which the lower cross member has been eliminated to reduce manufacturing cost and vehicle weight. 10
[0055] The present disclosure provides a radiator mounting assembly for withstanding overhang type of radiator assembly mounting configuration with the minimum addition of structural support members at the bottom portion.
[0056] The present disclosure provides a radiator mounting assembly in which the strength and durability of radiator mounting region has increased and helping 15 in achieving light-weight vehicle design.
[0057] The present disclosure yet further provides a radiator mounting assembly for eliminating the permanent damage to the radiator lower cross members.

We claim:
1. A radiator mounting assembly (300) for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a lower support member (302) having two depression regions (304-1, 304-2) where lower pins erected on a bottom portion of a radiator are to be mounted, wherein the depression regions (304-1, 304-2) are formed 5 towards a vehicle front side and offset from a center line (204) of the lower support member (302); and
radiator mounting brackets (502-1, 502-2) fixed on the depression regions (304-1, 304-2), wherein each of the radiator mounting brackets (502-1, 502-2) is formed with a recess (602) on its top surface (604) to 10 receive and support the lower pins of the radiator in the respective depression regions (304-1, 304-2), wherein each of the radiator mounting brackets (502-1, 502-2) is formed with three legs (606, 608, 610) connected to the top surface (604), wherein out of the three legs (606, 608, 610), one leg (606) is fixed at a central planar surface (310) of the 15 lower support member (302) while remaining two legs (608, 610) are fixed at a front planar surface (312) of the lower support member (302), and wherein the front planar surface (312) is formed at a height lower than the central planar surface (310).
2. The radiation support member (300) as claimed in claim 1, the lower 20 support member (302) comprises a raised section (404) at both the ends.
3. The radiation support member (300) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the raised section (404) includes a hat-shaped reinforcement (802) with a chamfered fillet (804).
4. The radiation support member (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each 25 of the two depression regions (304-1, 304-2) is formed with a semi-circular bead pattern profile (402) to receive a matching profile of a radiator mounting bracket (502-1, 502-2) or a lower pin erected on the bottom portion of the radiator.
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5. The radiator mounting assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front planar surface (312) and the central planar surface (310) are connected to each other through a vertical wall.
6. The radiation support assembly (300) as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of notches (504) between the front planar surface 5 (312) and the vertical wall connecting the front planar surface (312) and the central planar surface (310).
7. The radiation support assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the three legs (606, 608, 610) are of L-shape.
8. The radiation support assembly (300) as claimed in claim 7, further 10 comprising a plurality of notches (702) formed at a top portion of the L-shaped legs (608, 610) connected to the top surface (604) of the radiator mounting brackets (502-1, 502-2).
9. The radiation support assembly (300) as claimed in claim 7, comprising a plurality of notches (702) formed on the L-shaped legs (608, 610) at a 15 central bend portion at which L-shape is formed.