Fixing device and cooling module assembly of vehicle

Abstract

The utility model provides a fixing device and a cooling module assembly of a vehicle. The fixing device (1) is used for a cooling module (100) of a vehicle, the fixing device (1) comprises a fixing structure (11) and a vibration reduction structure (12) which are fixedly connected with each other, the fixing structure (11) is used for being fixedly connected with a vehicle body (101), and the vibration reduction structure (12) is used for being fixedly connected with the cooling module (100). The vibration reduction structure (12) is used for absorbing vibration from the fixing structure (11) in the axial direction of the vibration reduction structure (12). According to the invention, the CRFM can be protected from or from being influenced by vehicle vibration as much as possible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle cooling, and more particularly, to a fixing device and a cooling module assembly of a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] This section is intended to provide background information relevant to understanding the various technologies described herein. As implied by the title of this section, this is a discussion of related technologies that should not in any way imply that they are necessarily prior art. Therefore, it should be understood that any statement in this section should be read from this perspective, rather than any admission of prior art.

[0003] In some pure electric vehicles, CRFM (Condenser Radiator Fan Module) is equipped, which literally means condenser heat exchanger fan module, sometimes also called cooling module or front cooling module (if set at the front end of the vehicle body), which is used to cool various fluids and cool the front cabin. Generally, fan units and heat exchangers are used to provide atmospheric heat discharge for circulating liquid coolants. For example, in the field of powertrain and power battery, CRFM can be used to remove waste heat from coolant, or to achieve cooling and heat dissipation; for cab or cabin cooling, CRFM can be used to remove waste heat from refrigerant; and collect heat from the environment to support heat pump operation. For another example, the vehicle is equipped with air conditioning in the passenger compartment, and the air conditioning also requires atmospheric heat discharge to operate effectively, which usually uses a condenser, through which the heated refrigerant circulates. On the other hand, the fan unit can be arranged on the front or rear side of the assembly of the condenser and radiator to generate airflow through the above elements.

[0004] However, during the driving or operation of the vehicle, vibrations are prone to occur under certain driving conditions. If such vibrations are transmitted to the CRFM, they may damage it, thereby affecting its durability, loosening, dislocation, or even functional damage, thereby affecting the normal operation of the vehicle cooling system. These vibrations include stimulated vibrations, such as mechanical shocks caused by bumping or rolling over protrusions such as stones or driving over uneven and bumpy roads during the driving of the vehicle. Such mechanical shocks are often random vibrations and often have a higher vibration amplitude in the Z direction (the height direction of the vehicle). In addition, the vehicle body, such as the vehicle suspension itself, also has first-order vibrations, which have a direct impact on the acceleration value (increase or decrease), and the change in the acceleration value affects the ride comfort and stability of the vehicle. At the same time, the vibrations transmitted by the vehicle body will also interfere with the stable operation of the CRFM. Utility Model Content

[0005] According to various aspects, an object of the present disclosure includes protecting a CRFM from or minimizing the effects of vehicle vibrations.

[0006] In addition, the present disclosure is also intended to solve or alleviate other technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0007] The present disclosure solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a fixing device and a cooling module assembly of a vehicle. Specifically, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a fixing device is provided for a cooling module of a vehicle, wherein the fixing device includes a fixing structure and a vibration-damping structure fixedly connected to each other, the fixing structure is used to be fixedly connected to a vehicle body, the vibration-damping structure is used to be fixedly connected to the cooling module, and the vibration-damping structure is used to absorb vibration from the fixing structure along its axial direction.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure provides a cooling module assembly of a vehicle, wherein the cooling module assembly includes any one of the above-mentioned fixing devices and the cooling module, and the cooling module is fixedly connected to the vehicle body through the fixing device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The above and other features of the present disclosure will become apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a fixing device according to the present disclosure is shown;

[0011] Figure 2 shows a front view of a fixing device according to the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the matching relationship between a fixing device and a cooling module according to the present disclosure is shown;

[0013] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the layout position of a cooling module in a vehicle according to the present disclosure is shown; and

[0014] Figure 5 An exploded view of a cooling module according to the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] It is easy to understand that according to the technical solution of the present disclosure, without changing the essential spirit of the present disclosure, a person skilled in the art can propose a variety of interchangeable structural modes and implementation modes. Therefore, the following specific implementation modes and drawings are only exemplary descriptions of the technical solution of the present disclosure, and should not be regarded as the entirety of the present disclosure or as a limitation or restriction to the technical solution of the present disclosure.

[0016] The directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, back, front, back, top, bottom, etc. mentioned or may be mentioned in this specification are defined relative to the structures shown in the drawings. They are relative concepts and may change accordingly according to their different positions and different usage states. Therefore, these or other directional terms should not be interpreted as restrictive terms. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. or similar expressions are only used for description and distinction purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance of the corresponding components.

[0017] refer to Figures 1 to 3 ,in, Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a fixing device according to the present disclosure is shown; Figure 2 shows a front view of a fixing device according to the present disclosure; and Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the matching relationship between a fixing device and a cooling module according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0018] The fixing device 1 is used for a cooling module 100 of a vehicle, wherein the fixing device 1 includes a fixing structure 11 and a vibration-damping structure 12 which are fixedly connected to each other, the fixing structure 11 is used to be fixedly connected to a vehicle body 101, the vibration-damping structure 12 is used to be fixedly connected to the cooling module 100, and the vibration-damping structure 12 is used to absorb vibration from the fixing structure 11 along its axial direction.

[0019] It should be understood that the naming of the above-mentioned fixed structure and vibration-damping structure is not exclusive, and does not mean that the fixed structure can only be used for fixing, and the vibration-damping structure can only be used for vibration reduction, but the fixed structure has a fixing effect, and the vibration-damping structure has a vibration-damping effect, and the possibility of having other effects is not excluded. According to the above-mentioned technical solution, the fixing device can fix the vehicle body and the cooling module, and at the same time, the vibration is absorbed by the vibration-damping structure of the fixing device. The vibration, for example, includes the first-order vibration or random vibration explained in the background technology part, thereby reducing or avoiding the transmission of vibration to the cooling module, and playing a role in protecting the cooling module. In this regard, the vehicle body includes the whole vehicle suspension or steel frame, and thus, the fixing device can absorb the first-order vibration brought by the whole vehicle suspension, and avoid the driving experience caused by the fluctuation of the acceleration value.

[0020] Specifically, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibration reduction structure 12 is used to be fixedly connected to the heat exchanger of the cooling module 100 ( Figure 3). It can be seen that the vibration reduction structure can also have a connecting or fixing function, which is convenient for connecting the cooling module to the vehicle body. In this regard, considering the overall layout and structure of the cooling module, the present technical solution uses the heat exchanger of the cooling module as a bridge to achieve the coordination between the cooling module and the fixing device. In some other embodiments, the fixing device or its vibration reduction structure can also be connected to other components of the cooling module without affecting the intended purpose or function.

[0021] For a specific implementation of the vibration damping structure, exemplarily, the vibration damping structure 12 includes a vibration damping part 121 and a fixed part 122 fixedly connected to each other, the vibration damping part 121 is arranged in the fixed part 122, and the fixed part 122 is used to be fixedly connected to the heat exchanger of the cooling module 100.

[0022] This design can be well Figure 1 and Figure 2 It can be seen. In this regard, the vibration damping part assumes the role of absorbing the vibration from the fixed structure. It is feasible that a through hole is opened in the center of the fixed part, and the shape of the through hole can form a matching relationship with the shape of the vibration damping part, so that the vibration damping part can be easily installed in the fixed part. The two can also form an interference fit to improve the connection strength and stability when subjected to vibration shock. In addition, the vibration damping part can be secondary injection molded onto the fixed part, which can reduce costs and improve product performance at the same time. Here, the fixed part assumes the connection function between the fixing device and the cooling module. Similarly, the shape of the fixed part can also be designed to match the shape of the component to be matched.

[0023] In addition, in some embodiments, the vibration reduction structure or the fixed connection part can be embedded between the fins of the heat exchanger of the cooling module. It should be understood that the fins of the heat exchanger are mainly used to increase the heat transfer surface area to improve the heat transfer efficiency of the heat exchanger. Therefore, the fins can often provide a larger layout space, and this solution takes advantage of this. In this regard, the fixed connection part can also be regarded as an embedded part. In addition, the embedding method is also relatively simple to implement, and it is detachable and easy to maintain. The vibration reduction structure can be set on the heat exchanger without additional parts.

[0024] In this application, since the fixing part is used to be fixedly connected with the fins of the cooling module heat exchanger, considering the structural shape of the fins, the fixing part can be set to a rectangular parallelepiped structure so as to be inserted between two adjacent fins. If necessary, the size of the fixing part can also be designed to form an interference fit with the fins to improve stability and strength. It should also be known that, as mentioned above, when the fixing device is arranged in other parts of the cooling module heat exchanger or other components of the cooling module, the structural form of the fixing part can be adaptively adjusted accordingly, as long as it can still play the role of installing the fixing device on the cooling module. In addition, the fixing part of the rectangular parallelepiped structure can also prevent the fixing device from rotating unexpectedly relative to the heat exchanger fins, whether during use after assembly or during installation.

[0025] In terms of the material of the fixing device, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibration reduction part 121 is composed of an elastomer, and the fixing part 122 and the fixing structure 11 are composed of an aluminum alloy or steel. Among them, the elastomer can absorb vibration, for example, it can convert vibration energy into heat energy, and reduce the vibration amplitude through damping. This enables the elastomer to be well qualified for occasions where the impact of vibration needs to be reduced. Specifically, the elastomer can be PE (Polyethylene), EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), polyurethane, latex, ACF metamaterial, thermoplastic elastomer, sponge material, etc. It should be understood that when selecting an elastomer material, it is necessary to consider factors such as its vibration absorption performance, mechanical properties, durability and application environment to ensure that the selected material can meet specific vibration reduction requirements. In addition, it may also be necessary to consider factors such as the cost, processability and compatibility of the material with other materials. On the other hand, these materials have good vibration absorption performance, but in actual applications, their vibration absorption effect will also be affected by many factors, such as the thickness, shape, density of the material, as well as the ambient temperature and vibration frequency. Therefore, when designing and manufacturing the vibration damping part, these factors need to be comprehensively considered and corresponding optimization and adjustment need to be made.

[0026] According to the above technical solution, it can also be known that the fixed connection part and the fixed structure can be made of aluminum alloy or steel. Among them, the characteristics of aluminum alloy mainly include: light weight, strong corrosion resistance, good processing performance, and good plasticity; the characteristics of steel mainly include: high strength, uniform material, weldability, and no leakage. Therefore, these two materials have their own advantages. The choice of which material to use mainly depends on the specific application scenario and requirements. For example, when it is necessary to reduce weight and improve corrosion resistance, aluminum alloy may be more suitable; while in situations where high strength and good welding performance are required, steel may be more ideal. Similarly, the heat exchanger can also be made of aluminum alloy.

[0027] from Figure 1 and Figure 2 It can also be seen that the vibration-damping portion 121 is configured as a cylinder, the first end of the vibration-damping portion 121 abuts against the bottom surface of the fixing structure 11, and the second end of the vibration-damping portion 121 extends beyond the end surface of the fixing portion 122. Figure 2 From the perspective of the embodiment, the upper end surface of the cylindrical vibration-damping part abuts against the bottom surface of the fixed structure (the bottom surface is formed by the lower surface of the base to be explained below), thereby having a larger absorption area, and the lower end surface of the vibration-damping part extends downward beyond the bottom surface of the fixed part, so that the vibration-damping part penetrates the fixed part as a whole. The characteristic of this design form is that it can make the fixing device or the entire cooling module assembly more secure in the Z direction and can more specifically resist the impact caused by random vibration.

[0028] The fixing device 1 can also include a stud 13, which passes through the fixing structure 11 (such as its base) and the vibration-damping structure 12, and is interference-fitted or interference-nested with the vibration-damping part 121 to achieve a tight fit and a stable connection, improve the load-bearing capacity and impact resistance, and especially improve the mechanical impact and vibration resistance in the Y direction (lateral direction), with less shaking. To this end, the vibration-damping structure or its vibration-damping part can be provided with a through hole for assembling the stud, for example, by secondary injection molding to form an integral structure with the vibration-damping part. It is also feasible to also use Figure 2 For perspective, the stud can extend beyond the vibration damping part at both the upper and lower ends, and illustratively, a corresponding nut can be assembled at the lower end to further enhance the fixing strength. Similarly, the stud can also be made of aluminum alloy or steel, and obtain the technical effects mentioned above. In addition, the present disclosure does not impose any special restrictions on the size of the stud, which can be determined according to actual conditions. For example, considering the size of the fixing device and its vibration damping part, a threaded hole or stud with a nominal diameter of about 8 mm is a suitable option that can be considered.

[0029] On the other hand, for the design of the fixed structure, it is feasible that the fixed structure 11 includes a base 111 and a bracket 112 fixedly connected to each other, and the base 111 is fixedly connected to the vibration damping structure 12 and is used to abut against the end plate of the heat exchanger of the cooling module 100. In this design form, a certain degree of division of labor is performed on the fixed structure to improve the pertinence. Here, the base and the bracket are generally plate-shaped, and the two are generally at right angles, so as to be connected to the vibration damping structure, the heat exchanger end plate and the vehicle body respectively. Therefore, depending on the structural form of the object to be connected, the corresponding parts of the fixed structure can be flexibly and flexibly adjusted. Here, it should also be noted that the heat exchanger end plate in this example presents a concave structure, that is, the two ends are convex and the middle is sunken. Therefore, during assembly, the vibration damping structure can be set in the sinking area, and the bottom surface of the base can abut or overlap the upper surface of the convex area or the upper end plate of the heat exchanger, realizing a compact arrangement, a simple assembly method, and good compatibility, without having to change the structural shape of the existing cooling module or heat exchanger. Therefore, it can be known that the design of the vibration reduction structure, the fixing structure or its base is adjusted according to the structural form of the heat exchanger end plate or the structure of other parts of the cooling module. In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fixing structure may further include a reinforcing plate 113, which is arranged on one side of the fixing structure and connected to the base and the bracket at the same time. In addition, it is configured in a triangular shape, which further improves the strength and stability of the connection, disperses the pressure, and is cost-effective.

[0030] Combination Figure 2 It can also be seen that the bracket 112 is constructed with a pre-embedded threaded hole 1121 for threaded connection with the vehicle body 101, for example, using threaded fasteners such as bolts or screws to improve the connection strength with the vehicle body. Exemplarily, two pre-embedded threaded holes are provided and arranged in alignment with each other. Depending on the size or length of the fixing device or its bracket, more pre-embedded threaded holes can be provided. It should be understood that the pre-embedded threaded holes, or the pre-reserved holes with threads, can improve the convenience of assembly and the stability of connection, and are a convenient, efficient and reliable connection method.

[0031] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 ,in, Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the layout position of a cooling module in a vehicle according to the present disclosure is shown; and Figure 5 An exploded view of a cooling module according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0032] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the present disclosure relates to a cooling module assembly of a vehicle, wherein the cooling module assembly includes any one of the above-mentioned fixing devices 1 and the cooling module 100, and the cooling module 100 is fixedly connected to the vehicle body 101 via the fixing device 1.

[0033] First, various implementations and technical effects of the cooling module assembly can be interpreted by referring to the above contents related to the fixing device. Therefore, the cooling module assembly can inherit various implementations and technical effects of the fixing device.

[0034] Combination Figure 4 It can be seen that the cooling module is constructed as a whole at the front of the vehicle, so it can also be called a front-end cooling module. Specifically, the vehicle includes a cooling module 100, a vehicle body 101, an electric drive system 102 and a (front) luggage compartment 103, wherein the cooling module is connected to the vehicle body by means of a fixing device and is approximately located below the luggage compartment. The inlet of the cooling module faces the front side of the vehicle, and the outlet faces the electric drive system or the drive motor system. When the vehicle is driving, the ambient air enters the front-end cooling module through the inlet on the front side of the vehicle and is transported through the electric drive system.

[0035] Combination Figure 5 It can be seen that the cooling module 100 includes an air intake shell 1001, a first heat exchanger 1002, a second heat exchanger 1003, a fan 1004 and an air supply shell 1005 arranged in sequence, and a plurality of the fixing devices 1 are respectively arranged on the first heat exchanger 1002 and the second heat exchanger 1003.

[0036] It should be understood that the sequential arrangement described here does not strictly require that the relevant parts must be completely separated, but may have a certain overlap according to actual conditions. For example, the air intake housing, the air supply housing and the fan housing can form the outer shell of the entire cooling module together, and are respectively provided with inlets and outlets for air intake and air outlet, and air supply channels connecting each heat exchanger and fan, thereby forming a modular structure. Those skilled in the art know that, for example, the number and assembly position of the fixtures can be flexibly adjusted by comprehensively considering aspects such as cost, vibration reduction effect, and assembly space. Exemplarily, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are each equipped with two fixtures, a total of four fixtures, which are generally arranged in a 2 by 2 rectangular array, so as to play a vibration absorption role individually and as a whole to protect the CRFM. In addition, in terms of materials, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger can be made of aluminum alloy, and the air intake housing and the air supply housing can be made of plastic.

[0037] from Figure 5It can also be seen that the first heat exchanger 1002 and the second heat exchanger 1003 are constructed as plate heat exchangers, which have high heat exchange efficiency, strong adaptability, compact structure, space saving, easy maintenance and low cost. In addition, the first heat exchanger 1002 is a vehicle air-conditioning condenser, in which the flowing fluid can be a refrigerant, and the second heat exchanger 1003 is a vehicle coolant radiator, in which the flowing fluid can be a cold medium, such as water or antifreeze, etc. The cold medium is used for heat dissipation of the vehicle battery system, powertrain system or other systems. As a result, the cooling effect of the cooling module is more targeted and scalable.

[0038] As mentioned above, the air intake housing 1001 is located in the front direction of the vehicle relative to the air supply housing 1005, so as to obtain ambient air or external air during the driving of the vehicle. For this purpose, the air intake housing is configured with an inlet. The inlet can be configured with an air intake grille, which can reduce wind resistance and play a certain physical protective role. Similarly, the air supply housing 1005 is connected to the electric drive system 102 of the vehicle. For this purpose, the air supply housing is configured with an outlet, which can also be similarly configured with an air outlet grille, and achieve comparable technical effects.

[0039] In summary, the fixing device disclosed in the present invention can protect the cooling module from or as far as possible from the impact of vehicle vibration, especially under high-amplitude impact, improve durability, and reduce acceleration value. In addition, the fixing device can also be mass-produced and installed, and is applicable to cooling modules of various forms.

[0040] It should be understood that all of the above preferred embodiments are illustrative rather than restrictive, and that various modifications or variations made by those skilled in the art to the specific embodiments described above under the concept of the present disclosure should be within the legal protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A fixing device (1) for a cooling module (100) of a vehicle, characterized in that: The fixing device (1) comprises a fixing structure (11) and a vibration-damping structure (12) which are fixedly connected to each other, wherein the fixing structure (11) is used to be fixedly connected to the vehicle body (101), and the vibration-damping structure (12) is used to be fixedly connected to the cooling module (100), and the vibration-damping structure (12) is used to absorb vibration from the fixing structure (11) along its axial direction.

2. The fixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The vibration reduction structure (12) is used for being fixedly connected to the heat exchanger of the cooling module (100).

3. The fixing device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The vibration-damping structure (12) comprises a vibration-damping part (121) and a fixing part (122) which are fixedly connected to each other, the vibration-damping part (121) is arranged in the fixing part (122), and the fixing part (122) is used for being fixedly connected to the heat exchanger of the cooling module (100).

4. The fixing device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The vibration-damping part (121) is made of an elastic body, the fixing part (122) and the fixing structure (11) are made of an aluminum alloy or a steel material, and / or The vibration-damping portion (121) is configured as a cylinder, a first end of the vibration-damping portion (121) abuts against a bottom surface of the fixed structure (11), and a second end of the vibration-damping portion (121) extends beyond an end surface of the fixed connection portion (122).

5. The fixing device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The fixing device (1) further comprises a stud (13), wherein the stud (13) passes through the fixing structure (11) and the vibration reduction structure (12) and is interference-fitted with the vibration reduction portion (121).

6. The fixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The fixed structure (11) comprises a base (111) and a bracket (112) which are fixedly connected to each other; the base (111) is fixedly connected to the vibration reduction structure (12) and is used to abut against an end plate of a heat exchanger of the cooling module (100).

7. The fixing device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that The bracket (112) is configured with a pre-buried threaded hole (1121) for threaded connection with the vehicle body (101).

8. A cooling module assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that: The cooling module assembly comprises a fixing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and the cooling module (100), wherein the cooling module (100) is fixedly connected to the vehicle body (101) via the fixing device (1).

9. The cooling module assembly for a vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cooling module (100) comprises an air intake housing (1001), a first heat exchanger (1002), a second heat exchanger (1003), a fan (1004) and an air supply housing (1005) which are arranged in sequence with each other, and a plurality of the fixing devices (1) are respectively arranged on the first heat exchanger (1002) and the second heat exchanger (1003).

10. The cooling module assembly of a vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first heat exchanger (1002) and the second heat exchanger (1003) are configured as plate heat exchangers, the first heat exchanger (1002) is a vehicle air conditioning condenser, the second heat exchanger (1003) is a vehicle coolant radiator, and / or The air intake housing (1001) is located in the front direction of the vehicle relative to the air supply housing (1005) and is used to obtain ambient air. The air supply housing (1005) is used to communicate with the electric drive system (102) of the vehicle.

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