Apparatus for tilting and securing a heat exchanger
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorsJohn T. Rasset, Jay M. Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for supporting a heat exchanger such as a condenser of an air conditioning system on a vehicle, for pivotal movement between an operational position and a position angularly related to the operational position, for such purposes as inspection, cleaning, service and maintenance, the apparatus being configured for holding the heat exchanger in the operational position, and for guiding and controlling movement thereof to the tilted position, and holding the heat exchanger in the tilted position.
Claims9
In a vehicle including a heat exchanger having a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, opposite sides extending between the first and second surfaces, and an end portion extending between the sides mounted to the vehicle for pivotal movement of the heat exchanger about a side-to-side extending pivotal axis, an improvement comprising:
- an arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being pivotally connected to the vehicle adjacent to one of the sides of the heat exchanger for pivotal movement of the arm relative to the vehicle in the first and second directions, and an element on the heat exchanger cooperatively engaged with a guide on the arm for movement therealong between the first and second ends thereof such that when the heat exchanger is in a first pivotal position, the element will be located adjacent to the first end of the arm and the arm will be positioned generally beside the heat exchanger so as to hold the heat exchanger in the first pivotal position, the guide extending in the second direction away from the first end of the arm and configured to maintain the element adjacent the first end of the arm when the arm is beside the heat exchanger in the first pivotal position;
- the element on the heat exchanger comprising a pin which is cooperatively received in the guide, which is formed as a slot in the arm, the slot in the arm having a shape which curves in the second direction away from the first end of the arm so as to hold the pin in the slot adjacent the first end of the arm when the arm is beside the heat exchanger in the first pivotal position;
- and
- and wherein the arm is pivotable from the position beside the heat exchanger in the first direction to apply a force moving the element along the arm to a position adjacent to the second end of the arm to pivot the heat exchanger in the first direction to a second pivotal position supported by the arm at an angle relative to the first pivotal position.
In a vehicle including a heat exchanger having a first surface facing in a first direction, a second surface facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, opposite sides extending between the first and second surfaces, and an end portion extending between the sides mounted to the vehicle for pivotal movement of the heat exchanger about a side-to-side extending pivotal axis, an improvement comprising:
- an arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being pivotally connected to the vehicle adjacent to one of the sides of the heat exchanger for pivotal movement of the arm relative to the vehicle in the first and second directions, and an element on the heat exchanger cooperatively engaged with the arm for movement therealong between the first and second ends thereof such that when the heat exchanger is in a first pivotal position, the element will be located adjacent to the first end of the arm and the arm will be positioned generally beside the heat exchanger so as to hold the heat exchanger in the first pivotal position, the element movable along the arm to a position adjacent to the second end of the arm to simultaneously pivot the heat exchanger in the first direction to a second pivotal position supported by the arm at an angle relative to the first pivotal position;
- and
- a resiliently yieldable element on the first end of the arm positioned to abut the heat exchanger for holding the heat exchanger in the first pivotal position when the arm is positioned beside the heat exchanger, and which will apply a force against the heat exchanger in the first direction when the arm is pivoted away from the position beside the heat exchanger for initiating the pivoting of the heat exchanger in the first direction from the first pivotal position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.