DE19843928C2 - Front end module for a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a front end module for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1, which with a front End panel for holding at least one radiator of the vehicle is provided.

A generic front-end module for a vehicle is known for example from JP-5-105115 A. This front-end module, as shown in Fig. 5, a condenser 51 , which has a front and a rear surface 51 a and 51 b, a cooler 52 behind this, which is arranged opposite the rear surface of the condenser, a rear the radiator 52 lying blower which is arranged the rear surface of the radiator 52 opposite, and a front closing panel 54 to hold the cooler 52 and the capacitor 51 and for supporting the blower 53rd

The front end plate 54 consists of an upper support part 54 a for the cooler, a lower support part 54 b for the cooler, side walls (not shown) and a sheet metal body 54 c, which is integrally formed on these components, the upper and the lower support part 54 a and 54 b for the cooler and the side walls are each hollow with a closed cross section.

As can be seen from the drawing, the cooler 52 and the condenser 51 are arranged in the front end plate 54 so that their upper and lower ends are of the same height.

In the prior art, the cooler and the condenser are so front end panel arranged that their upper and lower Ends are of equal height, so that by the drive of the  Blown air introduced through the outside first Capacitor goes through and after heating by the Condenser is fed to the cooler, resulting in a reduction in Cooling performance of the cooler leads.

Another front-end module for a vehicle with one Condenser and a cooler behind it is from JP-5-105114 A known. With this front-end module, everyone joins the Air jet flowing through the condenser through the cooler.

The invention has for its object a front-end module to develop according to the preamble of claim 1, that an increase in the cooling capacity of the cooler is made possible.

This task is accomplished according to the invention by a front-end module solved the features of claim 1.

Advantageous further developments are in the dependent claims Are defined.

According to the invention, the upper end of the cooler is behind the Condenser is arranged opposite, below the arranged at the top of the capacitor and above the top At the end of the cooler is the first slot, which defines the space between the condenser and the cooler with the space between connects this and the blower, whereby introduced from the outside Air flows through the condenser, causing heat exchange takes place, and after heating in the space between the Flows in condenser and the cooler and then through the first slot above the cooler into the Space between the cooler and the fan. After that the air through the suction of the fan into the engine compartment initiated.

Since the air heated by the heat exchange in the condenser in the engine compartment is introduced without flowing through the radiator,  it is possible that the flow through the heated air caused by the cooler reducing the Cooling capacity of the cooler is suppressed.

To solve the problem, it is advantageous that the front End panel an upper, forming the upper end of the panel Support part for the cooler, which with a bracket for the upper End of the capacitor and one below this bracket horizontal bracket for the upper end of the cooler is provided, a lower support part for the lower end of the panel the cooler, which comes with a bracket for the lower end of the Condenser and a bracket for the lower end of the radiator is provided, and has a panel body with a Support part for the blower is provided and in one piece on upper and lower support part for the radiator is formed.

Since the upper support part for the radiator with the bracket for the upper end of the capacitor and the one below this bracket horizontal bracket for the upper end of the cooler is provided, it is achieved that the front-end module is simply designed can be. Because the brackets for the upper ends of the condenser and the cooler are provided on the same part the first slot can be secured.

To solve the problem it is advantageous that the lower end the cooler is below the lower end of the condenser, and that below the lower end of the capacitor, a second Slit is formed, the one in front of a front surface of the Capacitor lying space with a space between the Connects the condenser and the cooler.

According to this configuration, the lower end of the cooler arranged below the lower end of the capacitor, wherein the space in front of the condenser and the space between the Condenser and the cooler lying space over the second, slot formed below the capacitor with each other  are connected so that part of the outside of the vehicle introduced air from the room in front of the condenser through the second slot into the space between the Flows in and flows through the condenser and the cooler.

So part of the fresh air gets to the cooler without it Flow through condenser to cool the cooler, causing caused by the flow of heated air through the cooler conditional reduction in the cooling capacity of the cooler is suppressed.

It is further advantageous that the front end panel is a upper, forming the upper end of the panel for the Cooler that comes with a bracket for the top of the Capacitor and one below this bracket Bracket for the upper end of the cooler is provided lower, forming the lower end of the panel for the Cooler that comes with a bracket for the lower end of the Capacitor and one below this bracket Bracket for the lower end of the cooler is provided, and has a panel body with a support member for the Fan is provided and the one piece on the upper and lower Support part for the cooler is formed.

The fact that the upper support part for the radiator with the bracket for the upper end of the capacitor and the one below it Bracket lying bracket for the upper end of the cooler is provided and the lower support part for the radiator with the Bracket for the lower end of the capacitor and the one below this bracket lying bracket for the lower end of the Cooler is provided, the front-end module can be even easier be designed. The fact that the brackets for the upper or the lower ends of the condenser and the cooler the same part, the cooler and the Capacitor ensuring the first and the second  Slot in each case at a predetermined altitude being held.

The front-end module according to the invention for the vehicle has one Design in which the air heated by the condenser difficult to get to the cooler, so that the cooling capacity of the Radiator can be increased.

In the following the invention based on one in the drawing illustrated embodiment explained in more detail.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the front-end module of the invention for the vehicle in a perspective exploded view,

Fig. 2 the front Abschlußpaneel with the built-in main components in the embodiment of the front-end module according to the invention,

Fig. 3 is a section along the line aa in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 shows a section along the line bb in Fig. 2 and

Fig. 5 shows the front end module for the vehicle of the prior art.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the front-end module according to the invention in a perspective exploded view. A front end panel 1 made of synthetic resin material holds a radiator 2 for cooling water of a vehicle engine, a condenser 4 for coolant of an air conditioner, a blower 3 opposed to the radiator 2 and the condenser 4 , and a pair of headlights (not shown). The front end panel 1 is mounted between a pair of side members 7 via supports 8 , being fixed in the width direction of the vehicle by means of a pair of reinforcements 9 of the front fenders.

This front end panel 1 essentially consists of a plate-shaped rectangular panel body 10 . In one piece on the panel body 10 are side walls 11 , which are arranged on the two side edges of the panel body 10 and extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a lower support part 12 for the radiator, which is arranged at the lower edge of the vehicle. At the upper edge of the vehicle, an upper support part 13 for the radiator is integrally formed on the panel body 10 , which extends in the width direction of the vehicle. The side walls 11 , the lower and the upper support part 12 and 13 together ensure the rigidity of the panel body 10 . Furthermore, the panel body 10 is formed with a circular opening 14 which has a rear projecting collar 14 a on the peripheral edge. To cover the opening 14 , the radiator 2 and the condenser 4 are arranged in series in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in a space which is delimited by the side walls 11 projecting forward over the front of the panel body 10 and the lower and the upper support parts 12 and 13 , In this way, the radiator 2 and the condenser 4 are accommodated and held in the front end panel 1 . The blower 3 is received in the opening 14 covered by the cooler 2 and rotatably mounted in a bearing 14 b which is formed in one piece on the collar 14 a of the opening 14 , the blower 3 being arranged opposite the cooler 2 .

On the two side walls 11 , which are arranged on both side edges of the panel body 10 , ribs 18 are provided, which are integrally formed on the outside of the side walls 11 and protrude from them. The ribs 18 each have a thickness in the vertical direction and a width in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the thickness and the width becoming smaller and smaller towards the front end of the rib. The ribs 18 each have a U-shaped cross section that opens towards the rear. They are also clamped with their front ends by means of bolts or the like to the reinforcements 9 of the front fenders.

Other ribs 19 are provided in one piece on the two side walls 11 of the panel body 10 and are arranged parallel to the ribs 18 at a predetermined vertical distance. The ribs 19 also each have a thickness in the vertical direction and a width in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and each have a U-shaped or closed cross section. Each rib 19 is also designed so that its width becomes smaller and smaller towards its front end.

The rear edges of the lower walls of the ribs 18 and the rear walls of the ribs 19 are integrally connected to one another via walls 20 , which form extensions of the side walls 11 . The headlights are accommodated in spaces which are each enclosed by the lower wall of the rib 18 , the upper wall of the rib 19 , the side wall 11 and the wall 20 , and are fastened to the walls 20 by means of bolts or the like. In the drawing, 22 denotes a locking mechanism for the hood holder attached to the upper radiator support part 13 , 32 a damping support for receiving a load in the event of a collision, 33 a radiator grille for introducing outside air and 34 a bumper.

In Fig. 2, the front end panel 1 with the built-in main components is shown in perspective. FIGS. 3 and Fig. 4 shows a section along the line AA and line BB in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section along a line passing through after-mentioned spacers 16 and 2 e, and Fig. 4 shows essentially a longitudinal section through the center of the front end panel 1 . From the drawing it can be seen that the condenser 4 is formed with a front surface 4 c and a rear surface 4 d, the cooler 2 of the rear surface 4 d of the condenser 4 being arranged behind the condenser 4 . Behind the cooler 2 , the blower 3 is arranged opposite a rear surface 2 d of the cooler 2 . An upper inlet / outlet 2 a, which forms the upper end part of the cooler 2 , is arranged below an upper inlet / outlet 4 a, which forms the upper end part of the condenser 4 . A lower drain / inlet 2 b, which forms the lower end part of the cooler 2 , is arranged below a lower drain / inlet 4 b, which forms the lower end part of the condenser 4 .

In a lower surface 13 a of the upper, the upper edge of the front end panel 1 forming cooler support part 13 , an opening 13 c is formed, in which the upper inlet / outlet 4 a of the condenser 4 is held. On the lower surface 13 a is also attached at one end a fastening piece 13 b for the cooler, which is behind the opening 13 c and has an L-shaped cross section. The attachment piece 13 b is fixedly attached with the other end to a front surface of the panel body 10 . In a horizontal part of the L-shaped fastening piece 13 b, an opening 13 d is formed, which serves to hold the upper tank 2 a of the cooler 2 and is below the opening 13 c.

In the lower radiator support part 12 , which forms the lower edge of the front end panel 1 , an opening 12 b is formed. In the opening 12 b, a spacer 16 is arranged, which serves to hold the lower drain / inlet 4 b of the condenser 4 , the spacer 16 being fixed by inserting its lower projection 16 a into the opening 12 b. In the lower radiator support part 12 , an opening 12 a is also formed, which serves to hold the lower drain / inlet 2 b of the cooler 2 and is located behind the opening 12 b and below the spacer 16 .

At the upper inlet / outlet 4 a of the capacitor 4 , a projection 4 e is formed, which is inserted to hold the capacitor 4 in its upper region in the opening 13 c. The spacer 16 is arranged on the lower surface of the lower drain / inlet 4 b of the condenser 4 , the lower drain / inlet 4 b of the condenser 4 resting on the spacer 16 in order to hold the condenser 4 in its lower region. On the upper inlet / outlet 2 a of the cooler 2 , a spacer 2 e is formed, which is inserted to hold the cooler 2 in its upper end region in the opening 13 d, which is formed in the fastening piece 13 b for the cooler. At the lower outlet / inlet 2 b of the cooler, a projection 2 f is formed, which is inserted into the opening 12 a to hold the cooler 2 in its lower end region.

In the illustrated embodiment, two fastening pieces 13 b are provided for the cooler 2 in the upper area thereof. On both sides of each radiator fastening piece 13 b in the upper region of the radiator 2 , viewed in the direction perpendicular to the arrow C, a first slot 41 is formed, via which a space E between the condenser 4 and the radiator 2 with a space F between the radiator 2 and the blower 3 is connected. Since two spacers 16 are also provided in the lower region of the capacitor 4 , a second slot 42 is formed on both sides of each spacer 16 in the lower region of the capacitor 4 , viewed in the direction of the arrow C, a slot lying in front of the capacitor 4 via this slot 42 Room D is connected to room E. It is also possible that more than three radiator fastening pieces 13 b are provided in the width direction of the vehicle in the upper region of the radiator 2 , or that a single fastening piece 13 b is provided. It is also possible that more than three spacers 16 are provided in the width direction of the vehicle in the upper region of the capacitor 4 , or that a single spacer 16 is provided. Instead of the slot, a through hole is also possible, which is incorporated in the radiator fastening piece 13 b or in the spacer 16 .

In the front-end module designed in this way, the outside air drawn in through the radiator grille 33 while the vehicle is traveling initially flows through the condenser 4 via the space D. The quantity passed through the condenser 4 air flows into the space E after heating through the condenser. 4 Via the first relatively resistance-free slot 41 , the air introduced into the space E partially enters the space F, as shown by arrow A in FIG. 4, and flows from there via the blower 3 into the engine compartment, not shown. In this way, the outside air heated by the condenser 4 can partially flow past the radiator 2 without hitting it, which leads to an increase in the cooling capacity of the radiator 2 . The first slot 41 creates an air flow in the space E, which prevents the air heated by the condenser 4 from staying in the space E, so that the reduction in the flow velocity of the air passing through the condenser 4 is excluded. This also contributes to increasing the cooling capacity of the cooler 2 .

Through the second slot 42 in the lower region of the condenser 4 , the outside air entering through the grille partially flows from the room D through the second slot 42 into the room E and from there to the cooler 2 , as indicated by arrow B in FIG. 4 shown. As a result, the fresh air can be conducted directly to the cooler 2 , which likewise leads to an increase in the cooling capacity of the cooler 2 .

In the above embodiment, the following components are provided; a capacitor 4 with a front and a rear surface 4 c and 4 d; a cooler 2 , which is arranged behind the condenser 4, its rear surface 4 c opposite, and whose upper inlet / outlet 2 a is below an upper inlet / outlet 4 a of the condenser 4 ; a blower 3 , which is arranged behind the radiator 2 whose rear surface 2 d is opposite; a front end panel 1 for holding the radiator 2 and the condenser 4 and for supporting the blower 3 .

Above the upper inlet / 2 a sequence of the radiator 2, a first slit 41 is formed which connects a space E between the condenser 4 and the cooler 2 F with a space between the radiator 2 and the fan. 2 Through the front-end module designed in this way, the air introduced into the vehicle from the outside hits the condenser 4 , the heat being exchanged. The heated air flows into the space E between the condenser 4 and the cooler 2 , then via the first slot 41 in the upper region of the cooler 2 into the space F between the cooler 2 and the blower 2 and then under suction of the blower 3 in the Engine compartment. In this way, the outside air heated by the heat exchange in the region of the condenser 4 can be partially introduced into the engine compartment without the cooler 2 flowing through, thereby preventing the flow of the heated air through the radiator 2 from reducing the cooling capacity of the radiator 2 ,

Characterized in that the front end panel 1 has the following elements, namely an upper, the upper end of the front end panel 1 forming support member 13 for the cooler, which has an opening 13 c for holding an upper inlet / outlet 4 a of the condenser 4 and one below the opening 13 c lying opening 13 d for holding an upper inlet / outlet 2 a of the cooler 2 , a lower, the lower end of the front end panel 1 forming support part 12 for the cooler, which has a spacer 16 for holding a lower / Inlet 4 b of the condenser 4 and an opening 12 a for holding a lower outlet / inlet 2 b of the cooler 2 , and a panel body 10 which has a bearing 14 b for the blower 3 and which is integral with the upper and lower support part 13 and 12 is formed, it is achieved that the front-end module has a simple design, that a first slot 41 is ensured, and that in the panel body 10, the outside air to the blower 3 is effective can be tet (A, B in Fig. 4).

Characterized in that the lower outlet / inlet 2 b of the cooler 2 is below the lower outlet / inlet 4 b of the condenser 4 and below the last-mentioned outlet / inlet a second slot 42 is formed, one lying in front of the condenser 5 Connects room D with a room E between the condenser 4 and the radiator 2 , the air introduced into the vehicle from the outside partially passes from the room D through the second slot 42 into the room E and from there passes through the radiator 2 , so to pass through without the capacitor 4 can be that the cold fresh air partially passes to the radiator 2 and cools be suppressed thereby caused by the passage of heated air through the radiator 2 reduction of the cooling performance of the radiator. 2

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Front-End Module

2

cooler

2

a upper inlet / outlet (upper end)

2

b lower drain / inlet (lower end)

2

d rear surface

3

fan

4

capacitor

4

a upper inlet / outlet (upper end)

4

b lower drain / inlet (lower end)

4

c front surface

4

d rear surface

10

panel body

11

side walls

12

lower support for the radiator

12

a opening (bracket for the lower end of the radiator)

12

b opening

13

upper support part for the radiator

13

a lower surface

13

b Radiator mounting bracket

13

c opening (bracket for the upper end of the capacitor)

13

d opening (bracket for the upper end of the radiator)

14

opening

14

a covenant

14

b Storage for the fan

16

Spacers (bracket for the lower end of the capacitor)

41

first slot

42

second slot

Claims (4)

1. Front-end module for a vehicle, with a capacitor ( 4 ), which has a front and a rear surface ( 4 c, 4 d), with a cooler ( 2 ) behind this, the rear surface ( 4 d) of the condenser ( 4 ) is arranged opposite one another and its upper end ( 2 a) lies below the upper end ( 4 a) of the condenser ( 4 ), with a blower ( 3 ) located behind the cooler ( 2 ), which blowers the rear surface ( 2 d) of the cooler ( 2 ) is arranged opposite, and with a front end panel ( 1 ) for holding the cooler ( 2 ) and the condenser ( 4 ) and for supporting the blower ( 3 ), characterized in that the upper end ( 4 a) of the capacitor ( 4 ) to the upper end ( 2 a) of the cooler ( 2 ) is arranged offset upwards and above the upper end ( 2 a) of the cooler ( 2 ) a first slot ( 41 ) is formed, which one Space (E) between the condenser ( 4 ) and the cooler ( 2 ) with a space (F) between the cooler ler ( 2 ) and the blower ( 3 ) connects so that part of the air passed through the condenser ( 4 ) can be guided to the blower ( 3 ). 2. Front-end module according to claim 1, characterized in that the front end panel ( 1 ) is an upper, the upper end of the panel forming support part ( 13 ) for the cooler ( 2 ), with a holder ( 13 c) for the upper end (4 a) of the condenser (4) and one below this bracket (13 c) holder lying (13 d) for the upper end (2 a) of the radiator (2) is provided, a bottom, the lower end of the panel forming Support part ( 12 ) for the cooler ( 2 ), which with a holder ( 12 b) for the lower end ( 4 b) of the capacitor ( 4 ) and a holder ( 12 a) for the lower end ( 2 b) of the cooler ( 2 ) is provided, and has a panel body ( 10 ) which is provided with a support part ( 14 a) for the blower ( 3 ) and which is formed in one piece on the upper and lower support part ( 13 , 12 ) for the cooler ( 2 ) , 3. Front-end module according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower end ( 2 b) of the cooler ( 2 ) is below the lower end ( 4 b) of the capacitor ( 4 ), and that below the lower end ( 4 b) the condenser ( 4 ), a second slot ( 42 ) is formed, which has a space (D) lying in front of a front surface ( 4 c) of the condenser ( 4 ) with a space (E) between the condenser ( 4 ) and the cooler ( 2 ) connects. 4. Front-end module according to claim 3, characterized in that the front end panel ( 1 ) is an upper, the upper end of the panel forming support member ( 13 ) for the cooler ( 2 ), with a bracket ( 13 c) for the upper end (4 a) of the condenser (4) and one below this bracket (13 c) holder lying (13 d) for the upper end (2 a) of the radiator (2) is provided, a bottom, the lower end of the panel forming Support part ( 12 ) for the cooler ( 2 ), which with a holder ( 12 b) for the lower end ( 4 b) of the capacitor ( 4 ) and a holder ( 12 b) below this holder ( 12 a) for the lower End ( 2 b) of the cooler ( 2 ) is provided, and has a panel body ( 10 ) which is provided with a support part ( 14 a) for the blower ( 3 ) and which is integral with the upper and lower support part ( 13 , 12 ) is formed for the cooler ( 2 ).