Mounting structure
The described mounting structure for fan shrouds distributes stress and ensures strength with a simple configuration using a lower and upper bracket, addressing the issue of stress concentration in conventional designs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DAIMLER TRUCK AG
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-15
AI Technical Summary
Conventional fan shroud mounting structures in vehicles concentrate stress on brackets, leading to a need for additional reinforcing members, which complicates the structure and increases weight.
A mounting structure comprising a lower bracket with an extension portion and an upper bracket with a widened connecting surface and vertical support, distributing stress and reinforcing the connection points to ensure strength without additional parts.
The structure ensures strength with a simple configuration using two parts, reducing weight and mitigating stress concentration, while maintaining structural integrity.
Smart Images
Figure 2026078654000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to an attachment structure of a fan shroud that surrounds a fan and is attached to a heat exchanger for heat exchange with vehicle parts.
Background Art
[0002] Vehicles are equipped with heat exchangers for heat exchange with vehicle parts. For example, vehicles with an engine as a drive source are equipped with heat exchangers such as radiators and oil coolers to keep the engine temperature within a normal range. Also, in electric vehicles with a running motor as a drive source, heat exchangers are installed to keep the temperature of the motor and the battery, which is the power source of the motor, within a normal range respectively. Patent Document 1 below discloses a structure in a truck having a cab at the front of the vehicle, where an engine and a heat exchanger are arranged below the cab. In the structure of Patent Document 1, a heat exchanger, a fan, and a fan shroud that surrounds the fan are provided on the front side of the engine. In this structure, the front end portion of the fan shroud is fixed to the rear surface of the heat exchanger.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In a structure where a heat exchanger and a fan shroud are arranged on the front side of the engine as in Patent Document 1 above, the heat exchanger and the fan shroud are supported by brackets fixed to the engine side. Specifically, a bracket fixed to the engine side supports the fan shroud, and the heat exchanger is mounted on the engine side via the bracket and the fan shroud. In this type of fan shroud mounting structure, stress tends to concentrate on the bracket (especially at the connection point between the bracket and the fan shroud) because it supports heavy components such as heat exchangers. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure sufficient strength in the fan shroud mounting structure.
[0005] One possible way to ensure the strength of the mounting structure is to add reinforcing members, for example. However, increasing the number of parts would lead to a more complex and heavier mounting structure. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the conventional fan shroud mounting structure in terms of ensuring the strength of the mounting structure with a simple configuration. This invention was conceived in light of the above-mentioned challenges, and one of its objectives is to ensure the strength of the mounting structure with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] This project was undertaken to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems and can be implemented in the following forms or applications.
[0007] The mounting structure relating to this application example is a mounting structure for attaching a fan shroud, which surrounds the outer circumference of a fan for circulating gas to a heat exchanger mounted on a vehicle, together with the heat exchanger on the component side. This mounting structure comprises a lower bracket having an extension portion extending from a base attached to the component in a first direction toward the side where the fan shroud is located, and an upper bracket having a connecting surface portion superimposed on the upper surface of the extension portion of the lower bracket and connected to the extension portion, and a support portion connected to the connecting surface portion in the first direction and supporting the fan shroud. In the lower bracket, the extension portion has a widening shape, which widens as it moves from the base toward the first direction when viewed from above. In the upper bracket, the connecting surface has a widened shape that overlaps the extension when viewed from above, and the support portion has a vertical surface that rises from the first edge of the connecting surface and supports the fan shroud, and a reinforcing surface that rises from the side edge of the connecting surface and is connected to the side edge of the vertical surface.
[0008] According to this application example, the extended portion of the lower bracket and the connecting surface portion of the upper bracket each have a widened shape, which increases the strength of the mounting structure, suppresses stress concentration, and distributes stress. Furthermore, since the vertical surface is reinforced by the reinforcing surface, the strength of the upper bracket can be increased. In addition, because the upper bracket has a three-sided shape (triaxial bending shape) in which the vertical surface, which rises from the edge of the connecting surface, and the reinforcing surface, which rises from the side edge of the connecting surface, are folded relative to the connecting surface, the concentration of stress on the vertical surface that directly supports the fan shroud can be mitigated and the stress can be distributed.
[0009] In addition, because the connecting surface has a wide shape, the area of the vertical surface can be increased, which widens the area of the connection point between the upper bracket and the fan shroud, making it easier to distribute stress. Thus, with this mounting structure, strength can be ensured with a simple configuration consisting of only two parts: a lower bracket and an upper bracket. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce weight compared to techniques that require the addition of reinforcing members to ensure strength. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] According to this method, the strength of the mounting structure can be ensured with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0011] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of a mounting structure according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic side view showing a vehicle to which the mounting structure of Figure 1 is applied. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of a key part, extracted from a portion of Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0012] The embodiments (appearances, examples of application) of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely illustrative, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications or applications of techniques not explicitly shown in these embodiments. Each configuration of the embodiments described below can be modified in various ways without departing from their spirit. Furthermore, they can be selected or combined as needed.
[0013] In the following explanation, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are defined relative to the vehicle. That is, the vehicle length direction corresponds to the "front-rear direction." The vehicle width direction corresponds to the "left-right direction," and left and right are determined relative to the vehicle's forward-facing orientation. The vehicle height direction corresponds to the "up-down direction." In Figures 1 to 3, the "front-rear direction" is indicated by symbol D1, the "vehicle width direction" by symbol D2, and the "up-down direction" by symbol D3.
[0014] [1. Structure] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting structure 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of a vehicle 1 to which this mounting structure 10 is applied, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a part of the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 2 extracted. First, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the configuration of the vehicle 1 to which the mounting structure 10 according to this embodiment is applied will be described. Note that in FIGS. 2 and 3, a part of the vehicle 1 is omitted.
[0015] The vehicle 1 is, for example, a truck having a cab 2 and side frames 3, and has four wheels including a pair of left and right front wheels 4 and a pair of left and right rear wheels 5. The cab 2 is mounted on the side frames 3 at the front of the vehicle 1. The side frames 3 are the framework of the vehicle 1. A mounted object 6 is mounted on the upper side of the side frames 3 behind the cab 2.
[0016] The vehicle 1 is, for example, an engine vehicle equipped with an engine 7 (FIG. 2 includes a transmission) as a drive source. The engine 7 is disposed below the cab 2. In front of the engine 7, a fan shroud 8 and a radiator 9 are disposed. Note that the engine 7, the fan shroud 8, and the radiator 9 are shown by broken lines in FIG. 2.
[0017] The radiator 9 is an example of a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange with components mounted on the vehicle 1. Here, the heat exchanger has a function of performing heat exchange with components to be cooled, that is, at least one of the functions of heating and cooling the components. In this embodiment, as an example of the heat exchanger, the radiator 9 having a function of cooling components is taken as an example, and the component to be cooled is the engine 7. As is well known, the radiator 9 is a device that exchanges heat with the engine 7 via a fluid (coolant), and the fluid (coolant) circulates inside and exchanges heat with the outside air to cool the coolent. As the coolent, cooling water, cooling oil, or the like can be used.
[0018] A fan shroud 8 is provided behind the radiator 9 and in front of the engine 7 (i.e., between the radiator 9 and the engine 7). The fan shroud 8 is a cover member that surrounds the outer periphery of a fan 9A (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 3) attached to the radiator 9. The fan 9A is composed of an axial flow fan and is a blower (radiator fan) for actively circulating gas (air) from the radiator 9 to the engine 7. Specifically, the fan 9A is provided behind the radiator 9 and in front of the engine 7 (i.e., between the radiator 9 and the engine 7) with its rotation axis in a posture that coincides with the vehicle length direction D1.
[0019] The fan shroud 8 includes a cylindrical tube portion 8A that surrounds the outer periphery of the fan 9A, a ring portion 8B provided on the rear surface side of the tube portion 8A, and a duct portion 8C provided on the front surface side of the tube portion 8A. The ring portion 8B is an annular part that forms an attachment surface for attaching the fan shroud 8 to the engine 7 side. The duct portion 8C is a cylindrical part that surrounds a space forming a flow path for air to flow between the fan 9A and the radiator 9.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the rear end surface (left side in the figure) of the ring portion 8B (fan shroud 8) is attached to the front end surface (right side in the figure) of the engine 7 via an attachment structure 10. Also, the front end surface of the duct portion 8C (fan shroud 8) is fixed to the rear surface side of the radiator 9. The attachment structure 10 is a structure for attaching the fan shroud 8 together with the radiator 9 to the engine 7 side. The attachment structure 10 shown in FIG. 3 is configured to connect the front end and the lower surface side of the engine 7 and the rear end and the lower surface side of the fan shroud 8. Specifically, the attachment structure 10 is composed of two members, a lower bracket 11 attached to the engine 7 side and an upper bracket 12 that supports the fan shroud 8.
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the attachment structure 10 viewed from the upper right rear. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lower bracket 11 includes a base portion 11A attached to the engine 7 (part) and an extension portion 11B extending from the base portion 11A in the first direction (in this case, forward, which is one side of the vehicle length direction D1, and the upper right side in Figure 1) toward the side where the fan shroud 8 is located.
[0022] The lower bracket 11 is the part of the mounting structure 10 that is fixed to the engine 7 side, and is made of sheet metal. The thickness of the sheet metal can be set appropriately in consideration of both strength and weight. As shown in Figure 1, the base portion 11A and the extension portion 11B form a planar shape extending in the vehicle length direction D1 and the vehicle width direction D2. The base portion 11A is provided with two screw holes 14 for attaching bolts 13 (see Figure 3) for fixing it to the lower surface of the engine 7. The length (dimension in the vehicle length direction D1) L1 and width (dimension in the vehicle width direction D2) W1 of the base portion 11A are set to appropriate dimensions that allow for the provision of two screw holes 14 and ensure sufficient strength to attach the lower bracket 11 to the engine 7.
[0023] The extension portion 11B is the part that connects the upper bracket 12 to the lower bracket 11. The extension portion 11B is provided with two screw holes 16 for attaching bolts 15 for connecting the upper bracket 12. The extension portion 11B is connected to the front of the base portion 11A and has a widening shape, with the width increasing as it extends forward (first direction) from the base portion 11A when viewed from above.
[0024] Specifically, the extension portion 11B is formed in a tapered shape, with its width widening outward in the vehicle width direction D2 (downward right in Figure 1) as it moves forward. The rear end of the extension 11B is connected (integrated) with the front end of the base 11A, and its width is set to be the same as the dimension W1 of the base 11A in the vehicle width direction D2. In other words, the width of the rear end of the extension 11B is defined by the width W1 of the base 11A. On the other hand, the width W2 at the front end of the extension 11B is set to be greater than the width W1 at the rear end of the extension 11B. That is, the inequality W1 < W2 holds true.
[0025] The width W2 and length L2 of the extension portion 11B are set to ensure the strength of the mounting structure 10 and to secure a large area that can distribute stress. The larger the width W2 and length L2 of the extension portion 11B, the greater the strength and area that can be secured. However, if the width W2 and length L2 of the extension portion 11B are too large, it will lead to an increase in the size and weight of the component. The length L2 of the extension portion 11B is part of the total length L3 of the lower bracket 11. Specifically, the sum of the length L1 of the base portion 11A and the length L2 of the extension portion 11B is the total length L3 of the lower bracket 11.
[0026] Furthermore, in the lower bracket 11 shown in Figure 1, a hanging surface 11C is provided that is connected to the inner side edge (left side in this case) in the vehicle width direction D2 of the base portion 11A and the extension portion 11B, and extends downward from the said side edge. The downward-hanging surface 11C is a planar region provided to reinforce the strength of the lower bracket 11, and extends in the vehicle length direction D1 and the vehicle height direction D3. The lower bracket 11 shown in Figure 1 can be described as having an L-shape, with a base portion 11A and an extension portion 11B extending in the vehicle length direction D1 and the vehicle width direction D2, and a hanging surface 11C extending in the vehicle length direction D1 and the vehicle height direction D3. This L-shape reinforces the strength of the lower bracket 11.
[0027] The upper bracket 12 is the part of the mounting structure 10 that supports the fan shroud 8, and is made of sheet metal. The thickness of the sheet metal can be set appropriately in consideration of both strength and weight. The upper bracket 12 is provided with a connecting surface portion 12A that is connected to the extension portion 11B of the lower bracket 11, and a support portion 12B that supports the fan shroud 8. The connecting surface portion 12A is the part that is superimposed on the upper surface of the extension portion 11B and connected to the extension portion 11B, and two screw holes 17 are provided at locations corresponding to the two screw holes 16 of the extension portion 11B. The upper bracket 12 and the lower bracket 11 are connected to each other by fastening bolts 15 and nuts 18 with the connecting surface portion 12A superimposed on the upper surface of the extension portion 11B so as to align the positions of the screw holes 16 and 17.
[0028] The connecting surface portion 12A has a widened shape that overlaps with the extension portion 11B when viewed from above. The widened shape of the connecting surface portion 12A serves the same purpose as the widened shape of the extension portion 11B, namely, to ensure the strength of the mounting structure 10 and to secure a large area that can distribute stress. Specifically, the connecting surface portion 12A has a shape that is substantially the same as the extension portion 11B when viewed from above, that is, it is formed in a tapered shape in which the width widens outward in the vehicle width direction D2 (downward right in Figure 1) as it moves forward (upper right in Figure 1).
[0029] In the upper bracket 12 shown in Figure 1, the width W3 at the rear end of the connecting surface portion 12A is set to be approximately the same as the width W1 at the rear end of the extension portion 11B (the width of the base portion 11A). Also, the width W4 at the front end of the connecting surface portion 12A is set to be approximately the same as the width W2 at the front end of the extension portion 11B. Furthermore, the length L4 of the connecting surface portion 12A is set to be the same as the length L2 of the extension portion 11B. That is, the following relationships hold: width W3 ≈ width W1, width W4 ≈ width W2, and length L4 ≈ length L2. Note that "approximately the same" includes being the same dimension or being not the same but being able to be considered approximately the same dimension.
[0030] The support portion 12B is connected to the front side of the connecting surface portion 12A and is the part that supports the fan shroud 8. Specifically, the support portion 12B includes a vertical surface portion 12C that rises from the front end edge 12F (the end edge in the first direction) of the connecting surface portion 12A and supports the fan shroud 8. The vertical portion 12C is a planar portion that extends in the vehicle width direction D2 and the vehicle height direction D3, and is connected to the rear end surface of the ring portion 8B (see Figure 3) of the fan shroud 8. The vertical portion 12C is provided with screw holes 20 for attaching bolts 19 (see Figure 3) that connect the rear end surface of the ring portion 8B (see Figure 3) and the vertical portion 12C. The width of the rear end of the vertical surface 12C is set to be approximately the same as the width W4 of the front end of the connecting surface 12A. In other words, because the connecting surface 12A has a widened shape, the width of the vertical surface 12C can be set wider, which further increases strength and makes it easier to distribute stress.
[0031] In the upper bracket 12 shown in Figure 1, the vertical surface 12C includes an inclined surface 12D. The inclined surface 12D is the point where the connecting surface 12A and the vertical surface 12C are joined, and it is an inclined region that slopes upward toward the front. In other words, the vertical surface 12C in Figure 1 is not erected directly in a nearly vertical direction from the front end of the connecting surface 12A which extends in a nearly horizontal direction (vehicle length direction D1 and vehicle width direction D2), but is erected via the inclined surface 12D. This inclined surface 12D further increases the strength of the upper bracket 12 and makes it easier to distribute stress.
[0032] Furthermore, the support portion 12B includes a reinforcing surface portion 12E that rises from the side edge 12G of the connecting surface portion 12A and is connected to the side edge 12H of the vertical surface portion 12C. The reinforcing surface portion 12E forms a planar region extending in the vehicle length direction D1 and the vehicle height direction D3, and is provided to reinforce the upper bracket 12. Specifically, the reinforcing surface portion 12E rises from the side edge 12G (a side edge extending in the vehicle length direction D1) located on the inside of the vehicle width direction D2 (in this case, the left side) in the connecting surface portion 12A, and its front end edge 12F is connected to the side edge 12H (a side edge extending in the vehicle height direction D3) located on the inside of the vehicle width direction D2 (in this case, the left side) in the vertical surface portion 12C (more specifically, the inclined surface 12D).
[0033] This upper bracket 12 has an L-shape in which a vertical surface portion 12C, which extends in the vehicle width direction D2 and the vehicle height direction D3, is folded relative to a connecting surface portion 12A, which extends in the substantially horizontal direction (vehicle length direction D1 and vehicle width direction D2). Furthermore, since this upper bracket 12 has a reinforcing surface portion 12E, which extends in the vehicle length direction D1 and the vehicle height direction D3, folded relative to the connecting surface portion 12A in addition to the vertical surface portion 12C, it can be said that this upper bracket 12 has a three-sided shape (three-axis bent shape) in which the vertical surface portion 12C and the reinforcing surface portion 12E are folded relative to the connecting surface portion 12A.
[0034] The upper bracket 12 described above increases the area of the vertical surface portion 12C that directly supports the fan shroud 8 (ring portion 8B), widens the connecting surface portion 12A connected to the vertical surface portion 12C, and provides a reinforcing surface portion 12E, thereby increasing strength and making it easier to distribute stress.
[0035] [2. Action and Effects] According to the mounting structure 10 of the above embodiment, the extension portion 11B of the lower bracket 11 and the connecting surface portion 12A of the upper bracket 12 each have a widened shape, which increases the strength of the mounting structure 10, suppresses stress concentration, and distributes stress.
[0036] Furthermore, since the vertical surface portion 12C is reinforced by the reinforcing surface portion 12E, the strength of the upper bracket 12 can be increased. In addition, since the upper bracket 12 has a three-sided shape in which the vertical surface portion 12C, which is raised from the front end edge 12F of the connecting surface portion 12A, and the reinforcing surface portion 12E, which is raised from the side edge 12G of the connecting surface portion 12A, are folded relative to the connecting surface portion 12A, the concentration of stress on the vertical surface portion 12C that directly supports the fan shroud 8 can be mitigated and the stress can be distributed.
[0037] In addition, because the connecting surface portion 12A has a wide shape, the area of the vertical surface portion 12C can be increased, which widens the area of the connection region between the upper bracket 12 and the fan shroud 8, making it easier to distribute stress. Thus, according to the mounting structure 10 of this embodiment, strength can be ensured with a simple configuration consisting of only two parts: the lower bracket 11 and the upper bracket 12. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce weight compared to techniques that ensure strength by adding reinforcing members.
[0038] [3. Others] The above mounting structure 10 configuration is just one example. For example, the lower bracket 11 does not necessarily have to have a hanging surface 11C. Furthermore, the mounting structure 10 for attaching the fan shroud 8 to the engine 7 can be provided in locations other than the underside of the engine 7 and the fan shroud 8. In addition, the mounting structure 10 for attaching the fan shroud 8 to the engine 7 can be provided in multiple locations. That is, the above-mentioned mounting structure 10 may be applied to locations other than the underside of the engine 7 and the fan shroud 8, or it may be applied to multiple locations.
[0039] Furthermore, the mounting locations for the fan shroud 8 and radiator 9 are not limited to below the cab 2. For example, the fan shroud 8 and radiator 9 may be mounted on the outside of the side frame 3 in the vehicle width direction. Also, the heat exchanger is not limited to the radiator 9, but may be any heat exchanger that exchanges heat with components mounted on the vehicle 1, such as an oil cooler. Furthermore, the components to be cooled by the heat exchanger are not limited to the engine 7. For example, the components to be cooled may be at least one of the motor for driving the electric vehicle and the battery which is the power source for the motor. In other words, vehicle 1 is not limited to an engine vehicle, but may also be an electric vehicle. Also, the type of vehicle 1 is not limited to a truck, but may be any type of vehicle such as a bus or passenger car. Furthermore, although the configuration in which the upper bracket 12 has a three-faced shape (three-axis bent shape) has been described, this three-axis bent shape may be a shape having three faces folded along the three axes x, y, and z, or a shape having three faces folded along two parallel x axes and one y axis. In addition, the upper bracket 12 is not limited to a three-faced shape and may have four or more planar shapes. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0040] 1 vehicle 2 Cab 3 Side Frames 4 Front wheels 5 Rear wheels 6 Bodywork 7 Engine 8 Fan Shroud 8A cylinder part 8B Ring section 8C Duct section 9. Radiator (heat exchanger) 9A Fan 10. Mounting structure 11 Lower Bracket 11A base 11B Extension part 11C Drooping surface 12 Upper Bracket 12A Connecting surface part 12B Support part 12C Elevation 12D sloped surface 12E Reinforced surface part 12F Front edge 12G side edge 12H side edge 13 volts 14 screw holes 15 volts 16 screw holes 17 screw holes 18 nuts 19 volts 20 screw holes D1 Vehicle length direction D2 Vehicle width direction D3 Vehicle Height Direction L1~L4 Length W1~W4 Width
Claims
[Claim 1] A mounting structure for attaching a fan shroud, which surrounds the outer circumference of a fan for circulating gas through a heat exchanger attached to a heat exchanger that exchanges heat with a component mounted on a vehicle, to the component side together with the heat exchanger, A lower bracket having an extension portion that extends from a base attached to the aforementioned part toward the first direction which is the side on which the fan shroud is located, The lower bracket comprises a connecting surface portion superimposed on the upper surface of the extension portion of the lower bracket and connected to the extension portion, and an upper bracket having a support portion connected to the connecting surface portion in the first direction and supporting the fan shroud, In the lower bracket, the extension has a widening shape, which increases in width from the base towards the first direction when viewed from above. In the upper bracket, the connecting surface has a widened shape that overlaps the extended portion when viewed from above, and the support portion has a vertical surface that rises from the first edge of the connecting surface and supports the fan shroud, and a reinforcing surface that rises from the side edge of the connecting surface and is connected to the side edge of the vertical surface. A mounting structure characterized by the following features.