Cooling device for the front end of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooling device for a front end of a motor vehicle, with at least one heat exchanger which has a plurality of coolant channels around which air can flow, and with a device upstream of the heat exchanger which has a support frame with a flow opening for an air flow to the heat exchanger and at least one closing element movably mounted on the support frame for releasing, partially releasing and closing the flow opening.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with the cooling device described above.

[0003] Cooling devices of the type mentioned above are known from the prior art. For example, published patent application EP 2 602 144 A1 describes a vehicle front end with a radiator area and an air flap device arranged in front of the radiator area, comprising a support frame and pivoting louvers inserted therein to regulate the air flow. By adjusting the louvers, it is possible to restrict, prevent, or allow the air flow supplied to a heat exchanger. This makes it possible to avoid flow losses that occur when air flows through the engine compartment or around the heat exchanger when the air flow is not needed for cooling. This offers advantages, for example, with regard to the drag coefficient of the motor vehicle incorporating the cooling device.By completely closing the airflow opening, for example, a targeted airflow is directed past the vehicle, resulting in reduced dynamic pressure at the front end, which leads to energy efficiency benefits, for example. A cooling device of this type is known, for example, from published patent application GB 2 479 044 A. Published patent applications DE 10 2012 109 503 A1 and DE 10 2015 010 102 A1 each disclose a further cooling device with a grid support structure and a closing element designed as a roller blind.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating an improved cooling device which is of simple design and robust construction so that it can withstand the dynamic pressure even at high driving speeds, for example.

[0005] The object underlying the invention is achieved by a cooling device having the features of claim 1. This has the advantage that the closing element itself is designed to be particularly lightweight and advantageously sealing, and that an advantageous design of the support frame ensures that damage to the closing element or the cooling device is prevented in a simple and reliable manner.

[0006] According to the invention, this is achieved in that the closing element is designed as a roller blind which, in a first end position, extends over the support frame, closing the flow opening, and in a second, rolled-up end position, completely exposes the flow opening. Furthermore, the support frame has a grid support structure located in the flow opening with intersecting struts, in particular vertical struts and horizontal struts, for the roller blind. The cooling device according to the invention therefore provides a roller blind as the closing element. In the end position, which completely closes the flow opening, the roller blind tightly seals the flow opening. This is ensured by the flexible, particularly pliable roller blind.The grid support structure ensures that the roller blind cannot be pushed through the airflow opening, so that the sealing function of the roller blind is reliably maintained in the closed position, even in the event of strong headwinds or high flow pressure acting on the roller blind. This protects both the roller blind and the heat exchanger located behind the roller blind - viewed in the direction of flow - from damage. If the roller blind is moved to the second end position so that the airflow opening is completely open, the airflow can flow through the grid support structure and reach the heat exchanger. Advantageously, the grid structure is designed to be flow-optimized so that the airflow flows advantageously through the grid support structure, in particular in such a way that little or no turbulence occurs.This is preferably achieved by an advantageous drop profile of the vertical struts and horizontal struts in the cross section.

[0007] According to the invention, the grid support structure has at least one plate-shaped support element on the side of the grid support structure facing away from the roller blind for contact with the heat exchanger. The support element ensures secure contact of the grid support structure with the heat exchanger in the event that the flow pressure is so high that the roller blind deforms the grid support structure in the direction of the heat exchanger. The plate-shaped support element ensures that the grid support structure contacts the heat exchanger over a wide area, thereby preventing point-like pressure loading of the heat exchanger by the grid support structure. The flat contact ensures improved force transmission from the grid support structure to the heat exchanger, preventing damage to the heat exchanger.In particular, the support element is wider than the struts of the grid support structure to ensure improved contact with the heat exchanger.

[0008] Preferably, the grid support structure has a plurality of such support elements on the side facing away from the roller blind, so that the grid support structure can be supported at multiple points on the heat exchanger without damaging it. In particular, each support element has a contact surface that extends across multiple coolant channels of the heat exchanger. In particular, each support element has a circular contact surface.

[0009] In particular, the respective support element is arranged at an intersection point of horizontal struts and vertical struts in order to ensure optimal force transmission from the grid support structure to the heat exchanger. Particularly preferably, the respective support element has a flow-optimized contour up to the contact surface, viewed in longitudinal section, so that the respective support element offers the lowest possible flow resistance. In particular, the respective support element widens continuously, in particular in a droplet shape, starting from the grid support structure in the direction of the contact surface in order to impair the air flow as little as possible when the flow opening is open. The contact surface of the respective support element is expediently designed to be larger than the side surface of the respective horizontal and vertical strut assigned to the heat exchanger.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one horizontal strut and / or vertical strut is designed as a metal strut. The metal strut provides advantageous robustness and advantageously stiffens the support frame and the lattice support structure.

[0011] At least one vertical strut and / or horizontal strut is preferably also designed as a plastic strut. The plastic strut reduces the weight of the device and enables cost-effective production.

[0012] Preferably, the support frame is made at least substantially of plastic and, in particular, is formed integrally with at least some of the plastic struts. This results in a highly integrated component that allows for easy assembly and is lightweight. The one-piece design also increases the robustness of the device.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one metal strut is at least partially surrounded, in particular overmolded, by the plastic of the support frame and / or a plastic strut. This ensures advantageous integration of the metal strut into the device.

[0014] Preferably, at least one metal strut has at least one opening through which the plastic material of a plastic strut and / or the support frame extends. This ensures an advantageous, positive connection between the metal strut and the plastic material of the support frame and / or the plastic strut. Particularly preferably, the material of a plastic strut extending perpendicular to the metal strut extends through the opening of the metal strut in the intersection area to ensure a particularly strong connection.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that at least one plate-shaped support element is arranged in the region of the opening of a horizontal strut. This provides an advantageous force flow through the grid support structure to the support element and, if applicable, also to the heat exchanger. This advantageously ensures secure support and protection for both the heat exchanger and the grid support structure.

[0016] Preferably, the respective support element is formed integrally with a plastic strut of the lattice support structure. This allows for cost-effective production and assembly of the support element on the lattice support structure. In particular, the support element is co-molded with the plastic strut and, in particular, directly molded onto a metal strut to ensure secure support and a favorable connection between the support element and the metal strut, particularly in the area of ​​the opening.

[0017] Furthermore, at least some of the plurality of support elements preferably have differently sized support surfaces for the heat exchanger. This allows the support surfaces to be adapted, for example, to the design of the heat exchanger to ensure optimal contact points or areas. Optionally, the support surfaces can also be selected depending on the air flow in such a way that the air flow is advantageously distributed or directed to the heat exchanger.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a water cooler with cooling water channels through which air can flow is arranged on the side of the device facing away from the air conditioning condenser. The device is thus located between the water cooler and the heat exchanger, which is designed in particular as an air conditioning condenser, so that the air flow only flows through the flow opening after passing through the water cooler and is fed to the heat exchanger or air conditioning condenser. This results in a particularly compact design of the cooling device with advantageous guidance of the roller blind between the air conditioning condenser and the water cooler.

[0019] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the roller blind has a winding roller that is rotatably mounted on the support frame. Thus, the roller blind is held on the support frame itself and can be rolled up and down using the winding roller to open or close the airflow opening. Arranging the roller blind on the support frame itself ensures simple installation of the cooling device, in particular advantageous pre-assembly of the device.

[0020] The motor vehicle according to the invention with the features of claim 14 is characterized by the cooling device according to the invention. This results in the advantages already mentioned.

[0021] Further advantages and preferred features emerge from the above description and from the claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a cooling device of a motor vehicle in a simplified side view, Figure 2 shows the cooling device in a simplified exploded view, Figure 3 shows a support frame of the cooling device in a perspective view, Figure 4 shows a perspective detailed view of the support frame and Figure 5 shows a sectional view through the advantageous support frame.

[0022] Figure 1 shows in a simplified side view an advantageous cooling device 1, which is assigned to an air inlet opening 2 of a front end of a motor vehicle 3, which is only indicated here. The cooling device 1 extends over the air inlet opening 2, so that airstream, as indicated by arrows 4 in Figure 1 is indicated, flows through the cooling device 1 before it reaches, for example, the engine compartment of the motor vehicle 3.

[0023] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the cooling device 1 comprises a water cooler 5 with a plurality of cooling water channels through which cooling water can flow, an air conditioning condenser 6 which has a plurality of coolant channels through which a coolant can be guided, and a device 7 which is arranged in the flow direction between the water cooler 5 and the air conditioning condenser 6 and serves to influence the air flow through the cooling device 1.

[0024] Figure 2 shows a perspective exploded view of the cooling device 1. Optionally, the cooling device 1 also has a fan 20, which is located behind the air conditioning condenser 6 in the flow direction and has at least one drivable fan wheel for generating an air flow in the absence of airstream.

[0025] The device 7 has a support frame 8 having a flow opening 9 through which the air flow can be guided to the air conditioning condenser 6. The support frame 8 also supports a roller blind 10, which can be rolled up onto a winding roller 11 rotatably mounted on an upper side of the support frame 8 and can be unrolled therefrom in such a way that the roller blind 10 extends completely along the support frame 8, covering and thus closing the flow opening 9. The roller blind 10 is thus made of a flexible, in particular pliable material, for example a textile, so that it closes the flow opening 9 securely and in particular tightly. The roller blind 10 is guided on both sides, for example, in lateral guide grooves 12 of the support frame 8.

[0026] To prevent the roller blind from deforming into a state closing the flow opening 9, the support frame 8 has a grid support structure 13 that extends over the flow opening 9 and is located downstream of the roller blind 10 in the unrolled state, so that the roller blind is pressed against the grid support structure 13 when exposed to wind. The grid support structure 13 has vertical struts 14, which therefore extend vertically during intended use, as well as horizontal struts 15 that cross the vertical struts 14 and extend horizontally during intended use or when the cooling device 1 is installed. According to an alternative embodiment not shown here, the struts can also be designed or arranged at an angle to create a diamond pattern. Other types and orientations of the struts relative to one another can also be effective.

[0027] Figure 3shows a perspective view of a support frame 8 with the grid support structure 13 with a view of the rear side of the support frame 8 facing the air conditioning condenser 6. The support frame 8 is shown without the roller blind 10, wherein bearing receptacles 16 for the drive shaft of the winding roller 11 of the roller blind 10 are formed at the upper end.

[0028] According to the present exemplary embodiment, at least most of the horizontal struts 15 are made of metal, in particular steel. The remaining struts, in particular the vertical struts 14 and the support frame 8 itself, are made of plastic. In particular, the vertical struts 14 and the support frame 8 are formed integrally with one another. In particular, the horizontal struts 15 or the steel struts or metal struts are integrated into the support frame 8 and the vertical struts 14 by overmolding with the plastic material. Advantageously, the horizontal struts 15 made of metal are integrated into the support frame 8 at the ends or overmolding with the material of the support frame 8.

[0029] At some of the intersection points where the vertical struts 14 intersect the horizontal struts 15, the grid support structure 13 has plate-shaped support elements 17 arranged on the side facing away from the roller blind 10, i.e., facing the air conditioning condenser 6. The support elements 17 are of different sizes and each have a contact surface 18, some of which are provided with reference numerals here for clarity. The contact surfaces 18 advantageously lie in a common plane and are each designed to be large enough to extend across several coolant channels of the air conditioning condenser 6.

[0030] The support elements serve to support the grid support structure 13 against the air conditioning condenser 6 located behind it in the event of strong winds acting against the roller and / or the grid support structure 13. The advantageous size of the contact surfaces 18 ensures that the contact force is distributed over a larger area, thus protecting the cooling channels of the air conditioning condenser 6 from damage, particularly from the metal horizontal struts 15.

[0031] Figure 4 shows an enlarged perspective view of an intersection point where a vertical strut 14 crosses a horizontal strut 15. The plastic material of the vertical strut 14 is molded around the horizontal strut 15, so that the vertical strut 15 is securely integrated into the lattice support structure 13 with the vertical struts 14.

[0032] Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section along the vertical strut 14 from Figure 4 that the horizontal strut 15 in the area of ​​the intersection also has an opening 19 through which the plastic material of the vertical strut 14 penetrates, so that the horizontal strut 15 is, on the one hand, completely enclosed by the material of the vertical strut 14, and, on the other hand, is also penetrated by the material. This ensures a particularly strong connection between the horizontal struts 15 and the vertical struts 14. Especially in the area of ​​the intersection, as in Figure 4 shown, one of the support elements 17 is arranged.

[0033] As a result, the support element 17 is located in a particularly advantageous area of ​​the grid support structure 13 and, if necessary, ensures advantageous force transmission to the heat exchanger or the air conditioning condenser 6. While, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the support elements 17 are circular or have a circular contact surface 18, the design of the support elements 17 is fundamentally not limited to this circular shape. Rather, the respective support element 17 can also be square, triangular, polygonal, or oval.

[0034] Advantageously, the support struts 15 made of metal are V-shaped or U-shaped in cross section, wherein the V- or U-shape is open in the direction of the air conditioning condenser 6, i.e. away from the roller blind 10, in order to ensure advantageous robustness of the grid support structure 13.

[0035] The advantageous design of the support frame 8 with the grid support structure 13 provides a compact pre-assembly unit as well as a compact design of the device 7 as a whole, which allows a simple and cost-effective manufacture and assembly of the cooling device 1. List of reference symbols

[0036] 1 Cooling device 2 Air inlet opening 3 Motor vehicle 4 Arrow 5 Water cooler 6 Air conditioning condenser 7 Device 8 Support frame 9 Flow opening 10 Roller blind 11 Winding roller 12 Guide groove 13 Grid support structure 14 Vertical strut 15 Horizontal strut 16 Bearing mount 17 Support element 18 Contact surface 19 Opening 20 Fan

Claims

1. Cooling appliance (1) for a front end of a motor vehicle (3), comprising at least one heat exchanger which has a plurality of coolant channels around which air can flow, and also comprising a device (7) upstream of the heat exchanger, which device has a support frame (8, 9) comprising a throughflow opening (9) for an air flow to the heat exchanger, and has at least one closing element, movably mounted on the support frame (8), for releasing, partially releasing and closing the throughflow opening (9), the closing element being designed as a roller blind (10) which extends over the support frame (8), closing the throughflow opening (9), in a first end position, and completely releases the throughflow opening (9) in a second, rolled-up end position, and the support frame (8) having a lattice support structure (13) which lies in the throughflow opening (9), the lattice support structure comprising intersecting struts, in particular vertical struts (14) and horizontal struts (15), for the roller blind (10),characterized in that the lattice support structure (13) has at least one plate-shaped support element (17) on the side of the lattice support structure (13) which faces away from the roller blind (10), for contact with the heat exchanger, in particular an air conditioning condenser (6).

2. Cooling appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the lattice support structure (13) has a plurality of plate-shaped support elements (17) on the side of the lattice support structure (13) which faces away from the roller blind (10), for contact with the heat exchanger, in particular the air conditioning condenser (6).

3. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the relevant support element (17) is arranged at an intersection of a horizontal strut (15) and a vertical strut (14).

4. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one horizontal strut (15) and / or vertical strut (14) is formed as a metal strut.

5. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one vertical strut (14) and / or horizontal strut (15) is formed as a plastics strut.

6. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support frame (8) is made at least substantially of plastics material, and in particular is formed integrally with at least one plastics strut.

7. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one metal strut is at least partially surrounded, in particular overmolded, by the plastics of the support frame (8) and / or by a plastics strut.

8. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one metal strut has at least one aperture (19) through which the plastics material extends.

9. Cooling appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one plate-shaped support element (17) is arranged in the region of the aperture (19) on the metal strut.

10. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the relevant support element (17) is formed integrally with a plastics strut of the lattice support structure (13).

11. Cooling appliance according to any of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that at least some of the plurality of support elements (17) have differently sized contact surfaces for the heat exchanger.

12. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a water cooler (5) comprising cooling water channels around which air can flow is arranged on the side of the device (7) which faces away from the air conditioning condenser.

13. Cooling appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller blind (10) has a winding roller (11) which is rotatably mounted on the support frame (8).

14. Motor vehicle which has an air inlet opening (2) at a front end, characterized by a cooling appliance (1) according to any of claims 1 to 13 associated with the air inlet opening (2).