Cooler fan module of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooler fan module (1), in particular of a motor vehicle, having a fan shroud (3) which has a fan wheel recess (5) and having a cooler (2) which is connected to or can be secured to the fan shroud (3), wherein in the region of joint interfaces (4) between the cooler (2) and the fan shroud (3), a cooler-side joint element (9) and a latching element (10) are provided in each case, and wherein the fan shroud (3) has joint contours (11) corresponding to the cooler-side joint elements (9) and latching contours (12) corresponding to the latching elements (10).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Radiator fan module of a motor vehicle

[0003] The invention relates to a preferably electrically (electrically motor-driven) radiator fan module, in particular of a motor vehicle, with a fan frame and with a radiator fastened or attachable to the fan frame.

[0004] Modern internal combustion engines, especially four-stroke engines in motor vehicles, are typically cooled with a coolant that is circulated through the vehicle's internal combustion engine. The coolant absorbs the heat energy generated by the engine and dissipates it. The heated coolant flows through a heat exchanger, also known as a radiator, which is mounted on the front of the vehicle. An air stream through the radiator absorbs the heat energy from the coolant and cools it down before the cooled coolant flows back to the internal combustion engine, thus completing the coolant circuit.

[0005] To convey the air through the radiator, a cooling fan, also known as a fan system or fan device, is provided in front of the radiator (upstream) or behind the radiator (downstream) in the direction of flow. This fan typically has a fan wheel, usually driven by an electric motor, as the air conveying element. Such a fan wheel is rotatably mounted within a fan wheel recess in the form of a continuous opening in a fan shroud. The fan shroud is typically connected to the radiator and, together with it, forms a cooling fan module.

[0006] Due to the manufacturing process and the interaction of the components to be connected in the cooling fan module, the tolerances of the fan shroud and / or the cooler can be very large. This leads to problems during installation of the cooling fan module and can cause unwanted noise between the fan shroud and the cooler.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a suitable cooling fan module. In particular, a mechanical interface between the cooler and the fan shroud is to be provided that is particularly suitable in terms of ease of installation, tolerance compensation, and / or the lowest possible noise generation.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims (subclaims).

[0009] The following provides information regarding the spatial directions in a motor vehicle coordinate system (vehicle coordinate system) regarding the typical position or orientation of a radiator fan module or a radiator and fan shroud of the motor vehicle relative to its body. The abscissa axis (X-axis) is oriented along the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the ordinate axis (Y-axis) along the vehicle's transverse direction, and the applicate axis (Z-axis) along the vehicle's height.

[0010] The radiator fan module is particularly intended and configured for installation in a motor vehicle, for example, for mounting on a body part in the engine compartment. The radiator fan module comprises a radiator and a fan shroud attached thereto, in particular via mechanical joining interfaces or brackets, or connectable to the radiator. The fan shroud suitably has at least one opening or recess (fan wheel recess) for a fan wheel, preferably driven by an electric motor.

[0011] In the area of ​​the (mechanical) joining interfaces between the cooler and the fan shroud, also referred to below as brackets, joining elements and a suitably equal number of locking elements are provided, preferably on the cooler side. The fan shroud has joining contours corresponding to the cooler-side joining elements and locking contours corresponding to the locking elements.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the respective locking element is a locking hook molded onto the cooler. The corresponding locking contour is preferably a locking recess on the frame, into which the cooler-side locking element engages in the joint between the cooler and the fan frame.

[0013] Additionally or alternatively, a number of spring elements are expediently provided in the area of ​​the joining interfaces between the cooler and the fan shroud. The respective spring element is preferably arranged in the area of ​​one of the joining elements, for example, between one of the joining elements and the associated locking element. The spring elements, which are preferably integrally formed on the cooler, suitably rest against the fan shroud at the free end under spring preload. In other words, the fan shroud and the cooler are held together by means of the spring elements provided in the area of ​​the brackets or the joining interfaces, preventing any relative movement.

[0014] This prevents or at least reduces noise from the cooling fan module.

[0015] Preferably, the joining elements and the locking elements are provided on opposite radiator sides, particularly those extending in the Z direction relative to the vehicle coordinate system. The corresponding joining contours and locking contours are provided on opposite frame sides, particularly those extending in the Z direction relative to the vehicle coordinate system.

[0016] According to an expedient embodiment, one of the cooler-side joining elements is designed as a plug-in pin, in particular a cylindrical one, with a round, in particular a circular, pin cross-section. Suitably, one of the joining contours corresponding to the respective cooler-side joining elements is designed as a round, in particular a circular, plug-in opening. Additionally or alternatively, one of the cooler-side joining elements is designed as a plug-in pin, in particular with a curved or trapezoidal pin cross-section, and the corresponding joining contour is designed as a curved or trapezoidal plug-in opening. Particularly preferred are a round, in particular circular or cylindrical, plug-in pin and a plug-in pin with a curved or trapezoidal cross-section, preferably on the cooler, as well as corresponding joining contours, preferably on the fan shroud.

[0017] The radiator suitably comprises at least two, preferably four, joining elements and at least two, preferably four, locking elements, as well as at least two, preferably four, spring elements. It is particularly expedient for the radiator to have two spaced-apart joining elements on opposite sides of the radiator, each extending in the Z direction relative to a vehicle coordinate system, and two locking elements associated with each of these, as well as two spring elements associated with each of these and the corresponding joining elements.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the cooler comprises four joining and locking elements, each suitably including a spring element, as holders, which are designed for corresponding joining interfaces in the fan shroud. The lower left holder expediently comprises a round plug pin with a circular dome as the joining element, as well as the spring element and the locking element for creating a snap-in function on the cooler, which snaps into the corresponding interface-side contour of the fan shroud.

[0019] The upper left bracket advantageously has a plug-in pin with a curved, preferably trapezoidal, geometry as a spring element, and the spring element and the locking element for creating a snap-in function on the cooler, which engages into a corresponding bore as the joining contour of the fan shroud. Alternatively, the upper left bracket on the cooler can also be designed as a round or circular-cross-sectional joining element. The upper and lower right brackets advantageously have a plug-in pin with a rectangular geometry as a joining element, and the spring element and the locking element for creating a snap-in function on the cooler, which engages into a corresponding bore as the joining contour of the fan shroud.

[0020] The combination of round and curved or trapezoidal mountings in the form of correspondingly designed plug-in pins as joining elements, preferably on the cooler side, enables rotation of the cooler relative to the fan shroud, or rotation of the fan shroud relative to the cooler, around the correspondingly round or circular joining element. The plug-in pin with the curved or trapezoidal geometry as a joining element and the corresponding joining contour, particularly in the fan shroud, allow the rotational movement to follow to the desired extent, which enables particularly effective tolerance compensation. The snap-in connections, particularly in conjunction with the spring elements, enable a particularly easy-to-handle and reliable joining connection between the cooler and the fan shroud.

[0021] The advantages achieved by the invention are, in particular, that the joining interfaces between a cooler and a fan frame formed by holders in the form of joining, locking or spring elements provide a cooler fan module in which even large (manufacturing) tolerances can be compensated and undesirable noise development is excluded or at least significantly reduced.

[0022] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. In the drawings:

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a cooling fan module with a cooler and a fan frame connected to it at joining interfaces,

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the cooler with a number of joining elements and locking elements as well as spring elements, in particular as holders in the area of ​​the joining interfaces, Fig. 3 shows a sectional view along the line III-III in Fig. 1, two different plug-in locking connections in the area of ​​an upper and a lower left joining interface between the cooler and the fan frame,

[0025] Fig. 4 in a sectional view along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1 the joint in the area of ​​the upper left joint interface between the cooler and the fan frame,

[0026] Fig. 5 shows a section V in Fig. 1 on a larger scale with a curved joining element of the cooler in a corresponding joining contour of the fan frame,

[0027] Fig. 6 in a sectional view along the line VI-VI in Fig. 1 the joint in the area of ​​the lower left joint interface between the cooler and the fan frame,

[0028] Fig. 7 shows a section VII in Fig. 1 on a larger scale with a round joining element of the cooler in a corresponding joining contour of the fan frame,

[0029] Fig. 8 in a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 1, the joint in the area of ​​the upper right joint interface between the cooler and the fan frame, and

[0030] Fig. 9 in a sectional view along the line IX-IX in Fig. 1 the joining connection in the area of ​​the lower right joining interface between the cooler and the fan shroud.

[0031] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a cooling fan module 1 with a cooler 2 and a fan shroud 3 attached to it. The fan shroud 3 is connected to the cooler 2 via mechanical joining interfaces 4, which are also referred to simply as brackets below. The fan shroud 3 has a recess (fan wheel recess) 5. This recess has an inner retaining ring 6, which is connected to an inner ring 8 via struts 7. This inner ring 8 is provided or configured, in a manner not shown in detail, to hold an electric motor driving a fan wheel.

[0033] As can be seen in conjunction with Figures 2 to 7, the holders provided in the area of ​​the joining interfaces 4 between the cooler 2 and the fan frame 3 are formed from cooler-side joining elements 9 and locking elements 10. The fan frame 3 has joining contours 11 in the form of plug-in openings that correspond to the cooler-side joining elements 9, as well as locking contours 12 that correspond to the locking elements 10. The locking elements 10 are locking hooks molded onto the cooler 2. The corresponding locking contours 12 are frame-side locking recesses into which the cooler-side locking element 10 engages in the joining connection between the cooler 2 and the fan frame 3.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows the radiator 2 with the joining elements 9 and the locking elements 10 formed thereon. In the exemplary embodiment, the joining elements 9 and the locking elements 10 are arranged on radiator sides that are opposite in the Y direction and extend in the Z direction, relative to the vehicle coordinate system shown in Fig. 1. The corresponding joining contours 11 and the locking contours 12 are arranged on the fan shroud sides 3 that are opposite in the Y direction and extend in the Z direction.

[0035] In the exemplary embodiment, the joining elements 9, the locking elements 10, the corresponding joining contours 11, and the locking contours 12 are provided on the narrow sides of the rectangular cooler 2 and the likewise rectangular fan shroud 3. The joining elements 9 and the locking elements 10 are clearly visible in the corner areas of the cooler 2, and the joining contours 11 and the locking contours 12 are provided in the corner areas of the fan shroud 3.

[0036] As can be seen from Figures 3 to 7, the respective spring element 13 is provided at the joining interfaces 4 between the cooler 2 and the fan shroud 3 in the area of ​​the joining elements 9 and locking elements 10. The spring element 13 is designed as a bent or curved tab that is integrally formed on the cooler 2 and, in the joined state, rests against the fan shroud 3 on the (inner) side facing the cooler 2 in a mechanically prestressed manner at the tab end.

[0037] As can be clearly seen in Fig. 5, the cooler-side joining element 9 is designed as a plug-in pin with a trapezoidal pin cross-section. The corresponding joining contour 11 of the fan shroud 3 is designed as a curved or trapezoidal plug-in opening. The joining element 9, designed as a plug-in pin, sits with play in the plug-in opening as the corresponding joining contour 11 of the fan shroud 3.

[0038] As can be clearly seen in Fig. 7, the cooler-side joining element 9 is designed as a round or cylindrical plug-in pin with a circular pin cross-section. The joining contour 11 of the fan shroud 3 corresponding to this joining element 9 is designed as a round or circular plug-in opening.

[0039] According to Figures 8 and 9, the cooler-side joining elements 9 provided in the exemplary embodiment on the right side of the cooler fan module 1 are designed as rectangular plug-in pins and the corresponding frame-side joining contours 11 are also designed as rectangular plug-in openings.

[0040] During assembly, the cooler 2 is placed on the fan shroud 3 in the X direction. The cooler 2 can be rotated around the circular joining element 9. The contact between the cooler 2 and the fan shroud 3 is a linear contact. The rotational movement is enabled by the curved geometry of the joining element 9 of the cooler 2 (in the exemplary embodiment, the upper left) and the corresponding joining contour 11 of the fan shroud 3. The contact between the cooler 2 and the fan shroud 3 is a surface contact.

[0041] The joining elements 9 on the right side of the cooling fan module 1 in the exemplary embodiment are mounted in the corresponding joining contours 11 of the fan shroud 3. The contact between the cooler 2 and the fan shroud 3 is surface contact. Existing tolerances of the brackets 4 from left to right are compensated by their snap-in function, in particular by means of the locking elements 10.

[0042] In the exemplary embodiment, four mechanical joining interfaces or brackets 4 are provided, namely two joining interfaces or brackets 4 on the right and left sides of the cooling fan module 1. However, more than four mechanical joining interfaces or brackets 4 can also be provided, for example, in the case of a comparatively large cooling fan module 1, three mechanical joining interfaces or brackets 4 on the right side.

[0043] In summary, the invention relates to a cooling fan module 1 with a fan frame 3 having a fan wheel recess 5 and with a cooler 2 connected to the latter or attachable to the latter, wherein in the region of a joining interface 4 between the cooler 2 and the fan frame 3, a cooler-side joining element 9 and a locking element 10 are provided, and wherein the fan frame 3 has joining contours 11 corresponding to the joining elements 9 and locking contours 12 corresponding to the locking elements 10.

[0044] The claimed invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above. Rather, other variants of the invention can also be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art within the scope of the disclosed claims without departing from the subject matter of the claimed invention, for example, including use in hybrid or electric vehicles. In particular, all individual features described in connection with the various exemplary embodiments can also be combined in other ways within the scope of the disclosed claims without departing from the subject matter of the claimed invention. List of reference symbols

[0045] 1 cooling fan module

[0046] 2 Radiator 3 Fan shroud

[0047] 4 Bracket / joining interface

[0048] 5 Fan wheel recess

[0049] 6 retaining ring

[0050] 7 Struts 8 Inner ring

[0051] 9 Joining element

[0052] 10 locking elements

[0053] 11 Joining contour

[0054] 12 Locking contour 13 Spring element

Claims

Claims 1. Radiator fan module (1), in particular of a motor vehicle, with a fan frame (3) and with a cooler (2) connected to the fan frame (3) or attachable thereto, - wherein in the region of a number of joining interfaces (4) between the cooler (2) and the fan frame (3) a cooler-side joining element (9) and a locking element (10) are provided, and - wherein the fan frame (3) has joining contours (11) corresponding to the cooler-side joining elements (9) and locking contours (12) corresponding to the locking elements (10).

2. Radiator fan module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a number of spring elements (13) are provided in the region in the joining interface (4) between the radiator (2) and the fan frame (3).

3. Radiator fan module (1) according to claim 2, characterized in - that the respective spring element (13) is arranged in the region of the respective joining element (9) and the locking element (10) associated therewith, and / or - that the spring elements (13) are formed onto the cooler (2) and rest on the free end of the fan shroud (3) under spring preload.

4. Radiator fan module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking element (10) is a locking hook formed on the cooler (2) and the corresponding locking contours (12) are a frame-side locking recess or opening into which the cooler-side locking element (10) engages in the joint connection between the cooler (2) and the fan frame (3).

5. Cooling fan module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that - that the radiator-side joining elements (9) and locking elements (10) are provided on opposite and / or - with respect to a vehicle coordinate system (X, Y, Z) - Z-direction radiator sides, and - that the corresponding joining contours (11) and locking contours (12) are provided on opposite and / or - with reference to a vehicle coordinate system (X, Y, Z) - Z-direction running frame sides.

6. Radiator fan module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one of the cooler-side joining elements (9) is designed as a plug-in pin with a round, in particular circular, pin cross-section.

7. Radiator fan module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that one of the joining contours (11) corresponding to the respective cooler-side joining element (9) is designed as a round, in particular circular, plug-in opening.

8. Radiator fan module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that one of the cooler-side joining elements (9) is designed as a plug-in pin with a curved, in particular trapezoidal, pin cross-section and the corresponding joining contour (11) is designed as a trapezoidal plug-in opening.

9. Cooling fan module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that that the radiator (2) has at least two, preferably four, joining elements (9) and at least two, preferably four, locking elements (12) and / or at least two, preferably four, spring elements (13).

10. Radiator fan module (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the radiator (2) has, on opposite radiator sides, in particular running in the Z direction with respect to a vehicle coordinate system (X, Y, Z), two spaced-apart joining elements (9) and two locking elements (12) respectively assigned to these and / or spring elements (13) assigned to the corresponding joining elements (9).

Images