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US 6,318,450 B1Granted
Fastener free automotive heat exchanger mounting
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorJames A Acre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automotive heat exchanger module comprises a radiator and condenser with conventional side manifold tanks and upper and lower, channel shaped reinforcements. Neither heat exchanger has any brackets or other provision for attachment to the vehicle by separate fasteners. Instead, a center mounted fan module has rectangular front and rear openings the upper and lower edges of which comprise integral features within which the upper and lower core reinforcements are captured and held with a simple push fit.
Claims5
A vehicle heat exchanger module, comprising,
- at least one heat exchanger having first and second, parallel, generally channel shaped core reinforcements of predetermined size and shape,
- a module structure having at least one opening, one side of which opening comprises a first mounting feature into which said first core reinforcement is closely seated, and an opposed side of which opening comprises a second mounting feature into which said second core reinforcement is closely seated, said second mounting feature further comprising a forwardmost, integrally formed flexible surface leading into said second mounting feature that is engageable with said second core reinforcement to flex past said second core reinforcement as said second core reinforcement is seated in said second mounting feature to resiliently capture said second core reinforcement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.