Cooling Assembly Axial Stop Prevents Fan Radiator Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cooling assemblies in motor vehicles are prone to arm flexion due to manufacturing tolerances and mounting clearances, leading to potential contact between the fan propeller and the radiator, which can cause damage and leaks.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating axial stops between the arms and the radiator to limit arm flexion, either through integrated molding or additional attachment, ensuring the fan motor support is securely wedged and preventing contact with the radiator core.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the fan propeller is arranged as close as possible to the radiator beam to reduce axial size, then the axial size of the cooling assembly is reduced, but the risk of contact between the propeller and radiator increases due to arm flexion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaxial size of cooling assemblyVSAvoidrisk of contact between propeller and radiator

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by positioning the axial stop in advance to counteract the flexion of the arm before contact occurs. The axial stop is placed at a location that prevents the arm from flexing enough to cause propeller-radiator contact, thereby preemptively eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining compact axial dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of manufacture

If the support arms are made flexible to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and mounting clearances, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the risk of arm flexion causing propeller-radiator contact increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidrisk of contact between propeller and radiator

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The axial stop acts as an intermediary element between the support arm and the radiator. It mediates the interaction by providing a controlled stopping point that prevents excessive flexion while still allowing the arm to accommodate manufacturing tolerances and mounting clearances during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the axial stop is added to prevent arm flexion, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of propeller-radiator contactVSAvoidcomplexity of support structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The axial stop can be merged with existing components of the support structure or radiator assembly. By integrating the axial stop into the existing design rather than adding it as a completely separate component, the increase in device complexity is minimized while still achieving the reliability improvement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3194195B1Cooling assembly for a functional unit to be cooled, comprising a radiator and a ventilator support

Publication Date: 2018.12.05 RENAULT SA

Figure 1~5
Figure 6A~9
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AI summary

A fluid cooling assembly for a functional member to be cooled, provided with a radiator (2), and a support (10) comprising a central portion (12) for holding a motor-fan (14), and arms (20) starting at said central portion, the ends of which are attached to radiator tanks (6) disposed on the sides of said radiator, characterised in that it comprises, on at least one arm (20), an axial stop (50) arranged before the end attachment means (30) for attaching same to the radiator tank (6), which rests against the radiator (2) in such a way as to axially wedge said arm.