Fixing member for heat exchanger
The resin-based fixing member with insulating legs and claw design addresses the challenge of securely attaching high-temperature heat exchangers to vehicles by preventing insulation peeling and resin degradation, ensuring durable and easy installation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing fixing members made of resin are not suitable for securely attaching heat exchangers with high-temperature outer surfaces to a vehicle body without risking degradation due to heat exposure and potential peeling of insulation materials.
A resin-based fixing member with insulating material on its legs, engaging claws that avoid direct contact with the heat exchanger's surface, and a design that minimizes friction and peeling risks, featuring notches and optional jig receiving recesses for easy attachment.
The solution effectively prevents insulation material peeling and resin degradation while ensuring secure attachment of the heat exchanger to the vehicle body, maintaining durability and ease of installation.
Smart Images
Figure 2026084255000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
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[0001] This specification discloses a fixing member for fixing a heat exchanger to a vehicle body.
Background Art
[0002] Vehicles are equipped with heat exchangers such as condensers of air conditioners and radiators used for engine cooling. The heat exchanger is fixed to the vehicle body using a fixing member.
[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a resin fastener for attaching a heat insulating material to a large draw (a part that supports the floor of a building).
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] It is desired to fix a heat exchanger with a high-temperature outer surface to the vehicle body using a fixing member made of resin with relatively low heat resistance.
[0006] This specification discloses a fixing member provided with a resin main body for fixing a heat exchanger to a vehicle body.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] The heat exchanger fixing member disclosed herein comprises a resin body. The body includes a base fixed to the vehicle body, two legs extending from the base and sandwiching the lateral end of the heat exchanger, and two engaging claws projecting inward from the two legs and engaging into two engaging recesses provided at the lateral end of the heat exchanger. The fixing member further comprises an insulating material disposed on the inner surfaces of the two legs and interposed between the inner surfaces and the lateral end of the heat exchanger. The two engaging claws of the body have tips from which the insulating material is omitted. The two engaging claws of the body are of a length such that when the fixing member is mounted on the heat exchanger, the tips of the two engaging claws do not contact the bottom surfaces of the two engaging recesses of the heat exchanger.
[0008] In this configuration, the two legs of the resin body of the fixing member are in contact with the heat exchanger via the insulating material, and these two legs can hold the heat exchanger, whose outer surface becomes hot.
[0009] During the process of attaching the fixing member to the heat exchanger, the worker spreads the two legs of the main body and places the engaging claws of the two legs on the outer surface of the end of the heat exchanger. Then, the worker slides the fixing member to engage the two engaging claws with the two engaging recesses of the heat exchanger. In this attachment process, if insulation material is placed at the tip of the engaging claws, when the fixing member is slid, the insulation material at the tip of the engaging claws may be dragged along the outer surface of the heat exchanger, and there is a risk that the insulation material in other parts connected to that insulation material may peel off from the main body.
[0010] However, with the above configuration, since there is no heat insulation at the tip of the engaging claw, it is possible to prevent the heat insulation from peeling off the main body in parts other than the tip of the engaging claw. Also, when the fixing member is attached to the heat exchanger, the tip of the engaging claw of the main body does not come into contact with the bottom surface of the engaging recess of the heat exchanger. In other words, there is a gap between the tip of the engaging claw of the main body and the bottom surface of the engaging recess of the heat exchanger. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engaging claw of the main body (made of resin) from deteriorating due to the heat on the outer surface of the heat exchanger.
[0011] In the heat exchanger fixing member of the present disclosure, the main body may include a crotch portion connecting the base portion and the roots of the two legs, and a notch may be provided on the inner surface of the crotch portion.
[0012] With this configuration, when attaching the fixing member to the heat exchanger, the worker can easily spread the two legs of the main body when placing the engaging claws of the two legs on the outer surface of the end of the heat exchanger.
[0013] In the heat exchanger fixing member of the present disclosure, each of the two engaging claws of the main body may have a right-angled triangular shape in a cross-sectional view along the direction in which the two legs extend, with opposite sides located towards the base.
[0014] With this configuration, the tip of the engaging claw is pointed, so when attaching the fixing member to the heat exchanger, after the engaging claws of the two legs are placed on the outer surface of the heat exchanger, the frictional force between the fixing member and the heat exchanger can be reduced when the fixing member is slid along the outer surface of the heat exchanger. In addition, after the engaging claw engages with the engaging recess, the opposite sides (vertical surfaces) of the right-angled triangle of the engaging claw face the inner surface of the engaging recess on the base side of the fixing member, making it difficult for the engaging claw to come out of the engaging recess. In other words, it becomes difficult for the fixing member to come off the heat exchanger.
[0015] In the heat exchanger fixing member of the present disclosure, the inner surfaces of the two legs of the main body may have opposing jig receiving recesses, and a jig that widens the distance between the two legs during the process of mounting the fixing member to the heat exchanger may be inserted into the two jig receiving recesses.
[0016] With this configuration, when attaching the fixing member to the heat exchanger, the worker can easily spread the two legs of the main body when placing the engaging claws of the two legs on the outer surface of the end of the heat exchanger.
[0017] In the heat exchanger fixing member of the present disclosure, the heat exchanger may be a gas cooler for an air conditioning system that uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. [Effects of the Invention]
[0018] According to the technology disclosed in this specification, a heat exchanger can be fixed to a vehicle body using a resin main body of a fixing member.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0019] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the fixing member 30. [Figure 2] It is a front view schematically showing the fixing structure of the gas cooler 16. [Figure 3] It is a view showing the process of attaching the fixing member 30 to the gas cooler 16. [Figure 4] It is a view showing the process of attaching another fixing member 30a to the gas cooler 16. [Figure 5] It is a view showing the process of attaching yet another fixing member 30b to the gas cooler 16.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to equivalent elements in all the drawings, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the terms indicating directions and orientations such as front, rear, left, right, up, and down represent the directions and orientations related to the vehicle. In each figure, the direction of arrow FR represents the front, the direction of arrow UP represents the up, and the direction of arrow LH represents the left.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the fixing member 30. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the fixing structure of the gas cooler 16. FIG. 3 is a view showing the process of attaching the fixing member 30 to the gas cooler 16.
[0022] As shown in Figure 2, the vehicle is equipped with a gas cooler 16. The gas cooler 16 is an air-cooled condenser (radiator) in the air conditioning system that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air to release heat from the refrigerant. The gas cooler 16, together with a compressor, expansion valve, and evaporator (not shown), constitutes a refrigeration cycle. Carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. In a carbon dioxide refrigeration cycle, the outer surface of the gas cooler 16 becomes hot. The fixing member 30 is used to fix the gas cooler 16 to the structure 14 of the vehicle body.
[0023] Note that the gas cooler 16 is just one example of a heat exchanger. The fixing member 30 may be used in heat exchangers other than the gas cooler 16. The heat exchanger may be, for example, a condenser in a refrigeration cycle using a different refrigerant, or a radiator used for cooling an engine, etc.
[0024] As shown in Figure 2, fixing members 30 are positioned at the upper left, lower left, upper right, and lower right ends of the gas cooler 16. The fixing members 30 at the upper left and lower left ends of the gas cooler 16 are fixed to the structure 14 on the left side of the vehicle. The fixing members 30 at the upper right and lower right ends of the gas cooler 16 are fixed to the structure 14 on the right side of the vehicle. In this way, the gas cooler 16 is fixed to the two structures 14 using four fixing members 30.
[0025] Figure 1 shows a fixing member 30 provided at the upper right (upper left in the direction of the vehicle) end of the gas cooler 16 in Figure 2. The fixing member 30 at this upper right end (upper left in the direction of the vehicle) will be described below, but other fixing members 30 have a similar structure and the same mounting method is used. Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the gas cooler 16 and fixing member 30 along line AA in Figure 2. Figures 4 and 5, which will be described later, also show cross-sections of the same location.
[0026] As shown in Figure 1, the fixing member 30 comprises a resin body 32. The body 32 includes a base 34, two legs 36, and two engaging claws 38. The base 34 is fixed to the vehicle body structure 14. The base 34 has through holes 35. The base 34 is bolted to the structure 14 by passing bolts through the through holes 35. The base 34 may also be fixed to the structure 14 using members other than bolts.
[0027] The two legs 36 extend from the base 34. The two legs 36 sandwich the lateral end of the gas cooler 16, as shown in Figure 3(D). The two engaging claws 38 protrude inward from the two legs 36. The two engaging claws 38 engage with two engaging recesses 18 provided on the lateral end of the gas cooler 16.
[0028] As shown in Figure 1, the fixing member 30 is equipped with an insulating material 60. The insulating material 60 is placed on the inner surfaces 48 of the two legs 36. The insulating material is made of, for example, foamed EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber) and is in the form of a sheet. The material and form of the insulating material are not limited. The insulating material 60 is attached to the inner surfaces 48 of the two legs 36. As shown in Figure 3(D), the insulating material 60 is interposed between the inner surfaces of the two legs 36 and the outer surfaces of the lateral ends of the gas cooler 16.
[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the two engaging claws 38 of the main body 32 have tips 39 from which the heat insulating material 60 is omitted. As shown in the enlarged view of reference numeral d1 in Figure 3(D), the two engaging claws 38 of the main body 32 are of a length such that when the fixing member 30 is attached to the gas cooler 16, the tips 39 of the two engaging claws 38 do not come into contact with the bottom surface 19 of the two engaging recesses 18 of the gas cooler 16. As shown in Figure 1, the main body 32 includes a crotch portion 40 that connects the base portion 34 and the roots of the two legs 36. A notch 42 is provided on the inner surface of the crotch portion 40.
[0030] Next, the process of attaching the fixing member 30 to the gas cooler 16 will be described. Figure 3 shows the process of attaching the fixing member 30 to the gas cooler 16. As shown in Figures 3(A) and (B), the worker brings the fixing member 30 close to the lateral end of the gas cooler 16. Then, as shown in Figure 3(C), the worker spreads the two legs 36 of the main body 32 and places the engaging claws 38 of the two legs 36 on the outer end surface of the gas cooler 16. Then, by sliding the fixing member 30, the worker engages the two engaging claws 38 with the two engaging recesses 18 of the gas cooler 16, as shown in Figure 3(D). In this engaged state, the front and rear ends of the end face 22 of the gas cooler 16 are in contact with the inner surfaces of the bases of the two legs 36 via the heat insulating material 60.
[0031] An enlarged view of the area inside the dashed line labeled d1 at the top of Figure 3(D) is shown in the lower left of Figure 3(D). This enlarged view shows the upper (rear side in the direction of the vehicle) engaging claw 38 and engaging recess 18. The lower (front side in the direction of the vehicle) engaging claw 38 and engaging recess 18 have a similar structure, vertically symmetrical to the upper engaging claw 38 and engaging recess 18.
[0032] According to the embodiment described above, the two legs 36 of the resin body 32 of the fixing member 30 are in contact with the gas cooler 16 via the heat insulating material 60, so the two legs 36 can hold the gas cooler 16, whose outer surface becomes hot.
[0033] As described above, in the process of attaching the fixing member 30 to the gas cooler 16, the worker spreads the two legs 36 of the main body 32 and places the engaging claws 38 of the two legs 36 on the outer surface of the end of the gas cooler 16 (see Figure 3(C)). Then, the worker slides the fixing member 30 to engage the two engaging claws 38 with the two engaging recesses 18 of the gas cooler 16 (see Figure 3(D)). In this attachment process, if the heat insulating material 60 is placed on the tip 39 of the engaging claw 38, when the fixing member 30 is slid, the heat insulating material 60 on the tip 39 of the engaging claw 38 may be dragged along the outer surface of the gas cooler 16, and the heat insulating material 60 connected to that part may peel off from the main body 32.
[0034] However, according to the embodiment described above, since there is no heat insulating material 60 at the tip 39 of the engaging claw 38, it is possible to prevent the heat insulating material 60 on parts other than the tip 39 of the engaging claw 38 from peeling off from the main body 32. Also, when the fixing member 30 is attached to the gas cooler 16, as shown in the enlarged view of reference numeral d1 in Figure 3(D), the tip 39 of the engaging claw 38 does not come into contact with the bottom surface 19 of the engaging recess 18 of the gas cooler 16. In other words, there is a gap between the tip 39 of the engaging claw 38 and the bottom surface 19 of the engaging recess 18 of the gas cooler 16. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engaging claw 38 of the main body 32 (made of resin) from deteriorating due to the heat of the outer surface of the gas cooler 16.
[0035] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the main body 32 of the fixing member 30 has a notch 42 on the inner surface of the crotch portion 40. Therefore, when attaching the fixing member 30 to the gas cooler 16, the worker can easily spread the two legs 36 of the main body 32 when placing the engaging claws 38 of the two legs 36 on the outer surface of the end of the gas cooler 16 (see Figure 3(C)).
[0036] In the embodiments described above, the engaging claw 38 was rectangular in cross-sectional view. However, the engaging claw 38 may have a shape other than rectangular in cross-sectional view. Another form of the engaging claw 38, located in the area inside the dashed line labeled d2 in the lower left of Figure 3(D), is shown in the area inside the dashed line labeled d2m in the lower right of Figure 3(D).
[0037] The figure denoted by the reference numeral d2m shows the upper (rear side in the direction of the vehicle) engaging claw 38-1. The lower (front side in the direction of the vehicle) engaging claw 38-1 has a similar structure, symmetrical vertically to the upper engaging claw 38-1. As shown in the figure denoted by the reference numeral d2m, the engaging claw 38-1 has a right-angled triangular shape, with opposite sides 45 located towards the base 34 in a cross-sectional view along the direction in which the leg 36 extends.
[0038] With this configuration, the tip 39 of the engaging claw 38-1 has a pointed shape. Therefore, when attaching the fixing member 30-1 to the gas cooler 16, after the engaging claws 38-1 of the two legs 36 are placed on the outer surface of the gas cooler 16, the frictional force between the fixing member 30-1 and the gas cooler 16 can be reduced when the fixing member 30-1 is slid across the outer surface of the gas cooler 16. In addition, after the engaging claw 38-1 engages with the engaging recess 18, the opposite sides 45 (vertical surfaces) of the right-angled triangle of the engaging claw 38-1 face the inner surface of the engaging recess 18 on the base 34 side of the fixing member, making it difficult for the engaging claw 38-1 to come out of the engaging recess 18. In other words, the fixing member 30-1 is less likely to come off the gas cooler 16.
[0039] Next, another fixing member will be described. Figure 4 shows the process of attaching another fixing member 30a to the gas cooler 16. Fixing member 30a (see Figure 4) has two additional jig receiving recesses 52 compared to the fixing member 30 (see Figure 3) described above. Specifically, the inner surfaces of the two legs 36 of the main body 32 have jig receiving recesses 52 that face each other, as shown in Figure 4(A). The jig receiving recesses 52 may be notches that penetrate from the top surface to the bottom surface of the main body 32. Alternatively, the jig receiving recesses 52 may be notches with a predetermined depth provided on the top surface (or bottom surface) of the main body 32. As shown in Figure 4(B), the bracing rods 93 of the jig 90 that widens the distance between the two legs 36 are inserted into the two jig receiving recesses 52.
[0040] The jig 90 comprises a handle 91, a connecting part 92, and a tension rod 93. The connecting part 92 connects the handle 91 and the tension rod 93. The tension rod 93 may have a tapered shape in which the cross-sectional area gradually decreases from the top to the bottom.
[0041] The worker grasps the handle 91 of the jig 90 and inserts the tension rod 93 of the jig 90 into the two jig receiving recesses 52 of the fixing member 30a, as shown in Figure 4(B). This allows the worker to easily spread the two legs 36 of the fixing member 30a.
[0042] As shown in Figure 4(C), the worker brings the fixed member 30a, with its two legs 36 spread apart, closer to the lateral end of the gas cooler 16. The worker positions the lateral end of the gas cooler 16 between the two engaging claws 38 of the fixed member 30a. Then, the worker pulls the handle 91 of the jig 90 to remove the support rod 93 of the jig 90 from the two jig receiving recesses 52. As a result, as shown in Figure 4(D), the engaging claws 38 of the two legs 36 rest on the outer surface of the end of the gas cooler 16. Then, the worker slides the fixed member 30 to engage the two engaging claws 38 with the two engaging recesses 18 of the gas cooler 16 (see Figure 4(E)).
[0043] The same effects and advantages as those of the fixing member 30 (see Figure 3) described above can be obtained with the fixing member 30a described above.
[0044] Next, another fixing member will be described. Figure 5 shows yet another fixing member 30b. This figure shows the process of attaching the fixing member 30b to the gas cooler 16. As shown in Figure 5(A), this fixing member 30b has a structure in which the fixing member 30 (see Figure 3) described above is divided into two parts in the vertical direction (front-to-back direction in the vehicle direction). As shown in Figure 5, the fixing member 30b employs a sandwich structure.
[0045] The fixing member 30b comprises two fixing member pieces 301 and 302. As shown in Figure 5(B), the worker attaches the fixing member 30b to the gas cooler 16 by sandwiching the lateral end of the gas cooler 16 with the two fixing member pieces 301 and 302. The worker then connects the two fixing member pieces 301 and 302 at the base portion 34. Bolts, clips, rivets, adhesives, etc. may be used for this connection. The worker then fixes the base portion 34 of the fixing member 30b to the vehicle body structure 14.
[0046] Even with this fixing member 30b, the gas cooler 16 can be fixed to the vehicle body structure 14. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0047] 14 Structure, 16 Heat exchanger (gas cooler), 18 Engaging recess, 19 Bottom surface, 22 End surface, 30, 30-1, 30a, 30b Fixing member, 32 Main body, 34 Base, 35 Through hole, 36 Leg, 38, 38-1 Engaging claw, 39 Tip, 40 Crotch, 42 Notch, 48 Inner surface, 45 Opposite side, 52 Jig receiving recess, 60 Insulation material, 90 Jig, 91 Handle, 92 Connecting part, 93 Support rod, 301, 302 Fixing member piece.
Claims
1. A fixing member for fixing a heat exchanger to the vehicle body, Equipped with a resin body, The aforementioned main body is A base fixed to the vehicle body, Two legs extending from the base and flanking the lateral ends of the heat exchanger, It includes two engaging claws that protrude inward from the two legs and engage with two engaging recesses provided at the lateral ends of the heat exchanger, The fixing member further comprises an insulating material positioned on the inner surfaces of the two legs and interposed between its inner surface and the lateral end of the heat exchanger. The two engagement claws of the main body have tips from which the heat insulating material is omitted. The two engaging claws of the main body are of a length such that when the fixing member is attached to the heat exchanger, the tips of the two engaging claws do not come into contact with the bottom surface of the two engaging recesses of the heat exchanger. Fixing component for heat exchangers.
2. A fixing member for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, The main body includes a crotch portion that connects the base portion and the roots of the two legs, A notch is provided on the inner surface of the aforementioned crotch area. Fixing component for heat exchangers.
3. A fixing member for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, Each of the two engaging claws of the main body has a right-angled triangular shape, with opposite sides located towards the base when viewed in cross-section along the direction in which the two legs extend. Fixing component for heat exchangers.
4. A fixing member for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, The inner surfaces of the two legs of the main body have jig receiving recesses that face each other, In the process of attaching the fixing member to the heat exchanger, a jig is inserted into the two jig receiving recesses to widen the distance between the two legs. Fixing component for heat exchangers.
5. A fixing member for a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The heat exchanger is a gas cooler for an air conditioning system that uses carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. Fixing component for heat exchangers.