Radiator support structure and method
AssigneeJaguar Land Rover Limited
InventorWilliam Hutchins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mount for supporting a motor vehicle radiator in a substantially upright, transverse orientation. The mount includes a resiliently flexible pair of opposed grip members that grip a support portion of the radiator. The mount is configured such that, when the support portion of the radiator is placed between the grip members and the support portion is urged against the mount, the grip members exert a gripping force on the support portion to retain the support portion therebetween.
Claims19
A mount for supporting a motor vehicle radiator, the mount comprising resiliently flexible coupling means for coupling the mount to a support portion of the radiator, the coupling means comprising a pair of opposed grip members for gripping the support portion, the mount comprising a pair of leg portions, the leg portions being arranged to urge the grip members towards one another when the support portion is urged against the mount,
- the mount being configured wherein when the support portion of the radiator is placed between the grip members and the support portion is urged against the mount, the grip members exert a gripping force on the support portion to retain the support portion therebetween.
A method of supporting a motor vehicle radiator, the method comprising coupling a support portion of the radiator to a mount comprising resiliently flexible coupling means, whereby when the radiator is placed between a pair of opposed grip members of the coupling means and the support portion is urged against the mount, the grip members exert a gripping force on the support portion to retain the support portion therebetween, wherein the mount comprises a pair of leg portions, the leg portions being arranged to urge the grip members towards one another when the support portion is urged against the mount.
A mount for supporting a motor vehicle radiator comprising:
- coupling means for coupling the mount to a support portion of the radiator;
- and
- a first pair of support leg portions for supporting the mount on a surface, first and second support leg portions of the first pair being arranged to define two sides of a triangular structure,
- the mount being arranged such that in use an apex defined by the leg portions is spaced apart from the surface by the leg portions.
A method of supporting a radiator of a motor vehicle comprising transmitting forces acting on the radiator to a body structure of the vehicle by means of a mount, whereby forces acting on the radiator along lateral or longitudinal axes of the vehicle are transmitted through support leg portions of the mount defining a substantially triangular structure and act through an instantaneous centre at an apex thereof, the apex being spaced apart from the vehicle body structure by the leg portions when in use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.