# US 5,706,970 A · Arrangement of an equalizing tank on a water tank of a cooler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,970 A - Document ID: US5706970A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/522,533 - Filed: 1995-09-05 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-08-03 - Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co. - Inventors: Helmut Dobler; Siegfried Jenz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706970A ## CPC - F01P 11/029: {Expansion reservoirs} - F28F 9/0231: {Header boxes having an expansion chamber} - F28F 9/0246: {Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines} - 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) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) ## Abstract For fastening an equalizing tank of plastic material on a water tank made of plastic material, a three-point or multipoint mating connection is provided. The multipoint mating connection is joined together in the horizontal direction and includes a mating point situated in the region of an end wall of the equalizing tank and two or more mating points which are situated at a distance therefrom and from one another, preferably in the region of the bottom of the equalizing tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a first tank having an end wall and a bottom and three mating points, one mating point being located in a region of the end wall and two mating points being located in a region of the end wall and two mating points being located distant from the one mating point and distant from each other in a region of the bottom of the first tank; a second tank having three mating points, the first and second tanks being joined together by mating connections formed between respective mating points, wherein one of the mating connections between the end wall of the first tank and an extension of the second tank includes at least two tubular plug-in elements inserted one into the other to form a through passage for liquid between the first and the second tank; and at least one catch device for securing the first tank in a direction opposite to the mating direction, the catch device being located in the region of the end wall mating point, wherein the catch device includes at least one resilient locking tongue located on an upper face of the second tank and a catch beak located in the bottom region of the first tank and wherein the resilient locking tongue engages the catch beak. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second tanks are joined together in a horizontal direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tank includes an equalizing tank, the second tank includes a water tank of a cooler, and the equalizing tank is mounted on the water tank. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second tanks are made of a plastic material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second tank includes a laterally projecting cantilever arm and a mating point is located in the region of the laterally projecting cantilever arm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second tank includes an extension projecting upwards above the second tank and wherein the mating point located in the region of the end wall of the first tank mates with a mating point disposed laterally on the extension. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the extension of the second tank includes a connecting branch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mating point between the end wall of the first tank and the extension of the second tank comprises, at each of the plug-in elements, a mating connection including a groove and a second tongue and wherein the mating connection extends transversely to the direction of a locking force of the resilient locking tongue. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tank further comprises, in the bottom region of the first tank, in the region of the end wall provided with the plug-in element, at least one skid which engages an upper face of a top part of the second tank. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mating points located in the bottom region of the first tank are offset in the mating direction relative to one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the two mating points located in the bottom region of the first tank include one mating point in the form of fixed in the vertical and horizontal directions transversely to the mating direction, and another mating point in the form of a joint which is horizontally moveable transversely to the mating direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mating point in the form of a fixed joint includes a pin and a slide guide which are aligned in the mating direction and wherein the pin engages the slide guide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the mating point in the form of a movable joint includes a second pin and a second slide guide which are aligned in the mating direction and wherein the second pin engages the second slide guide and the second slide guide guides the second pin in the horizontal direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pin and the second pin include, on their outsides, ribs which extend in the mating direction. ### Claim 15 A radiator, comprising: an equalizing tank having an end wall and a bottom, and three mating points, one mating point being located in a region of the end wall and two mating points being located distant from the one mating point and distant from each other in a region of the bottom of the equalizing tank; and a fluid tank having three mating points, the equalizing tank and the fluid tank being detachably joined together by mating connections formed between respective mating points, wherein one of the mating connections between the end wall of the equalizing tank and an extension of the fluid tank includes at least two tubular plug-in elements inserted one into the other to form a through passage for liquid between the equalizing tank and the fluid tank; and at least one catch device for securing the equlizing tank in a direction opposite to the mating direction, the catch device being located in the region of the end wall mating point, wherein the catch device includes at least one resilient locking tongue located on an upper face of the fluid tank and a catch beak located in the bottom region of the equalizing tank and wherein the resilient locking tongue engages the catch beak. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The radiator as recited in claim 15, wherein the equalizing tank is substantially asymmetrical in shape with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fluid tank. ### Claim 17 A cooling system for an engine, comprising: a radiator having a fluid tank and an equalizing tank, wherein the equalizing tank includes an end wall and a bottom, and three mating points, one mating point being located in a region of the end wall and two mating points being located distant from the one mating point and distant from each other in a region of the bottom of the equalizing tank, the fluid tank includes three corresponding mating points, the equalizing tank and the fluid tank are detachably joined together by mating connections formed between the three mating points of the equalizing tank and the three corresponding mating points of the fluid tank, and one of the mating connections between the end wall of the equalizing tank and an extension of the fluid tank includes at least two tubular plug-in elements inserted one into the other to form a through passage for liquid between the equalizing tank and the fluid tank; and at least one catch device for securing the equalizing tank in a direction opposite to the mating direction, the catch device being located in the region of the end wall mating point, wherein the catch device includes at least one resilient locking tongue located on an upper face of the fluid tank and a catch beak located in the bottom region of the equalizing tank and wherein the resilient locking tongue engages the catch beak. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cooling system for an engine as recited in claim 17, wherein the equalizing tank is substantially asymmetrical in shape with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fluid tank.