Heat exchanger and structure for mounting external component to heat exchanger
AssigneeDENSO International America, Inc.
InventorJustin Nathaniel Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger including a holder and a nut. The holder defines a holding space therein. The nut includes a main body, which is inserted into the holding space along an insertion direction, and a protrusion, which protrudes from the main body. The nut defines a threaded hole that extends through the main body and the protrusion. The holder further defines an opening at a first surface of the holder. The protrusion has an end surface that aligns with or protrudes from the first surface through the opening when the nut is inserted into the holding space. The end surface contacts an external component when the external component is fixed to the heat exchanger by inserting a bolt into the threaded hole through the external component.
Claims14
A heat exchanger, comprising:
- a holder that defines a holding space therein;
- and
- a nut that includes a main body, which is inserted into the holding space along an insertion direction, and a protrusion, which protrudes from the main body, wherein
- the nut defines a threaded hole that extends through the main body and the protrusion,
- the holder further defines an opening at a first surface of the holder,
- the protrusion has an end surface that aligns with or protrudes from the first surface through the opening when the nut is inserted into the holding space, and
- the end surface contacts an external component when the external component is fixed to the heat exchanger by inserting a bolt into the threaded hole through the external component, wherein
- the holder further defines an attachment opening that is open at a second surface of the holder,
- the holder further includes a first guide extending along the insertion direction,
- the nut further includes a second guide extending along the insertion direction, and
- the first guide and the second guide are engaged with each other while guiding the nut relative to the holder in the insertion direction when the nut is inserted into the holding space through the attachment opening,
- the first guide is a guiding groove,
- the second guide is a guiding protrusion that protrudes from the main body, and
- the guiding protrusion is inserted into the guiding groove when the main body is inserted into the holding space.
A structure for mounting an external component to a heat exchanger, the structure comprising:
- a holder that is disposed in the heat exchanger and defines a holding space therein;
- a nut that includes a main body, which is inserted into the holding space along an insertion direction, and a protrusion, which protrudes from the main body;
- a fixing portion that is disposed in the external component and defines a through hole;
- and
- a bolt, wherein
- the nut defines a threaded hole that extends through the main body and the protrusion,
- the holder further defines an opening that is open at a first surface of the holder,
- the protrusion has a first end surface that aligns with or protrudes from the first surface through the opening when the nut is inserted into the holding space, and
- the fixing portion has a second end surface that contacts the first end surface when the external component is fixed to the heat exchanger by inserting the bolt into the threaded hole through the through hole, wherein
- the holder further includes an attachment opening that is open at a second surface of the holder, wherein
- the holder further includes a first guide extending along the insertion direction,
- the nut further includes a second guide extending along the insertion direction, and
- the first guide and the second guide are engaged with each other while guiding the nut relative to the holder in the insertion direction when the nut is inserted into the holding space through the attachment opening,
- the first guide is a guiding groove,
- the second guide is a guiding protrusion that protrudes from the main body, and
- the guiding protrusion is inserted into the guiding groove when the main body is inserted into the holding space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.