# US 11,111,841 B2 · Frame device and fan module with such a frame device

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- Number: US 11,111,841 B2
- Document ID: US11111841B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/548,000
- Filed: 2019-08-22
- Published: 2020-02-27
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-23
- Assignees: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wiirzburg
- Applicants: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Würzburg
- Inventors: Frank Ditter; Andre Evers; Antje Findeisen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111841B2

## CPC

- F02B 29/0468: {Water separation or drainage means}
- B60K 11/06: with air cooling
- B60K 11/085: {with adjustable shutters or blinds}
- F01P 3/18: Arrangements or mounting of liquid-to-air heat-exchangers (such arrangements on cylinders or cylinder heads F01P3/04; relative to vehicles B60K11/04)
- F01P 5/06: Guiding or ducting air to, or from, ducted fans
- F01P 11/10: Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers
- F02B 29/0425: {Air cooled heat exchangers}
- F02B 29/0431: {Details or means to guide the ambient air to the heat exchanger, e.g. having a fan, flaps, a bypass or a special location in the engine compartment}
- F02B 29/045: {Constructional details of the heat exchangers, e.g. pipes, plates, ribs, insulation, materials, or manufacturing and assembly}
- F04D 29/08: Sealings
- F04D 29/646: {Mounting or removal of fans}
- F01P 2003/182: {with multiple heat-exchangers}
- F01P 2003/185: {arranged in parallel}
- F01P 2005/025: {using two or more air pumps}
- F01P 2060/02: Intercooler
- F01P 2070/50: mounting fans to heat-exchangers
- F01P 2070/52: mounting heat-exchangers
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- Y02T 10/88: Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
- F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G)
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28)
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A frame device for a fan module for a main cooler and for a charge air cooler of a motor vehicle, comprising a main frame for the main cooler and a charge air cooler, separate from the latter, for the charge air cooler, wherein a seal is provided between the main frame and the charge air frame. Furthermore, the invention relates to a fan module with such a frame device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A frame device for a fan module for a main cooler and for a charge air cooler of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a main frame for the main cooler and a charge air frame for the charge air cooler that is separate from the main cooler; and
a seal provided between the main frame and the charge air frame, wherein the seal includes an elastic profile part fastened at least to the main frame or to the charge air frame, wherein the profile part includes a hose-shaped first profile section, wherein the hose-shaped first profile section lies against the main frame when the profile part is fastened to the charge air frame or the profile part lies against the charge air frame when the profile part is fastened to the main frame, and wherein the first profile section includes an extension that extends in a vertical direction from the charge air frame to the main frame so that the first profile section is configured to buckle relative to the vertical direction when in an assembled state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The frame device of claim 1, wherein the main frame or the charge air frame includes, on a border facing the respective other of the main frame or the charge air frame, hook-shaped holding elements for the profile part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The frame device of claim 2, wherein the profile part includes a second profile section surrounding the border including the holding elements, and wherein the profile part includes a profile contour engaging a wall along the border, wherein profile contour engages a joining contour along the border.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The frame device of claim 1, wherein when the profile part is fastened to the main frame, a holding contour is arranged on the charge air frame to secure the profile part against slipping towards the main cooler or the charge air cooler, or wherein when the profile part is fastened to the charge air frame, the holding contour is arranged on the main frame.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The frame device of claim 1, wherein the main frame has a first wall section extending toward the charge air frame, the charge air frame has a second wall section extending toward the main frame, and wherein the first and second wall sections have labyrinth contours that intermesh to form a labyrinth seal.

### Claim 6

A fan module comprising:
a first frame structure;
a main cooler secured to the first frame structure;
a second frame structure;
a charge air cooler secured to the second frame structure;
a fan secured to the first frame structure and configured to direct air across the main cooler and the charge air cooler via the first and second frame structures; and
an elastic seal disposed between the first frame and second frame, wherein the seal is configured to prevent air leakage between the first and second frame structures, wherein the seal has a U-shaped elastic end configured to engage a wall that protrudes from the second frame structure to secure the seal to the second frame structure, wherein the seal includes a hose-shaped elastic end opposite the U-shaped elastic end, and wherein the hose-shaped elastic end engages the first frame structure to prevent air leakage between the first and second frame structures.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fan module of claim 6, wherein the U-shaped elastic end includes internal ribs and the wall includes external ribs, and wherein the internal ribs engage the external ribs to secure the seal to the second frame structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The fan module of claim 6, wherein the hose-shaped elastic end extends from the second frame structure to the first frame structure, and engages the first frame structure such that the hose-shaped elastic end buckles in direction that extends between the first frame structure and the second frame structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The fan module of claim 6, wherein the first frame structure includes a plurality of protrusions that engage the hose-shaped elastic end to secure the position of the seal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The fan module of claim 6, wherein seal has a U-shaped elastic end configured to engage a wall that protrudes from the first frame structure to secure the seal to the first frame structure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The fan module of claim 10, wherein the U-shaped elastic end includes internal ribs and the wall includes external ribs, and wherein the internal ribs engage the external ribs to secure the seal to the first frame structure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The fan module of claim 6, wherein the seal includes a hose-shaped elastic end that is opposite the U-shaped elastic end, and wherein the hose-shaped elastic end engages the second frame structure to prevent air leakage between the first and second frame structures.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The fan module of claim 12, wherein the hose-shaped elastic end extends from the first frame structure to the second frame structure, and engages the second frame structure such that the hose-shaped elastic end buckles in direction that extends between the first frame structure and the second frame structure.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The fan module of claim 12, wherein the second frame structure includes a plurality of protrusions that engage the hose-shaped elastic end to secure the position of the seal.

### Claim 15 (depends on 6)

The fan module of claim 6, wherein the first frame structure has a first wall section that extends toward the second frame structure and the second frame structure has a second wall section that extends toward the first frame structure, and wherein the first and second wall sections intermesh to form a labyrinth seal.

### Claim 16

A fan module comprising:
a first frame structure defining a first set of protrusions;
a main cooler secured to the first frame structure;
a second frame structure defining a second set of protrusions that engage the first set of protrusions to form a labyrinth seal between the first and second frame structures, wherein the first set of protrusions forms a first contour and the second set of protrusions forms a second contour, and wherein a clearance space is defined between the first and second contours to facilitate relative movement between the first and second contours;
a charge air cooler secured to the second frame structure; and
a fan secured to the first frame structure and configured to direct air across the main cooler and the charge air cooler via the first and second frame structures.