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BR-112023010054-B1 - Fan enclosure for mounting a heat exchanger module in a vehicle structure.

BR112023010054B1BR 112023010054 B1BR112023010054 B1BR 112023010054B1BR-112023010054-B1

Abstract

FAN ENCLOSURE FOR MOUNTING A HEAT EXCHANGER MODULE ON A VEHICLE STRUCTURE, AND HEAT EXCHANGER MODULE. A heat exchanger module mountable to a vehicle structure via the first and second sides of the heat exchanger module. The heat exchanger module includes a fan enclosure. The fan enclosure is a structural fan enclosure. The fan enclosure includes first and second structural supports extending from the fan enclosure, one on the first side and one on the second side. The fan enclosure is attached to at least one of a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger by at least one fastener extending through the fan enclosure.

Inventors

  • Michael Kis
  • Casey McIntosh

Assignees

  • MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20211203
Priority Date
20201203

Claims (15)

  1. 1. FAN ENCLOSURE (2) FOR MOUNTING A HEAT EXCHANGER MODULE (1) IN A VEHICLE STRUCTURE (8), characterized by comprising: an air outlet (10) on a first side of the fan enclosure (2); an air inlet (12) on a second side of the fan enclosure (2) which is spaced in a depth direction from the first side; an air chamber (14) extending between the air inlet (12) and the air outlet (10); an air chamber wall (16) which defines at least partially the air chamber (14); an external support wall (18) which extends in the depth direction and is spaced from the air chamber wall (16), the fan enclosure (2) having a periphery (17) and the external support wall (18) representing an external surface to said periphery (17); a first support structure (20) which extends outward from the external support wall (18); a second support structure (22) extending outward from the external support wall (18); and a plurality of internal support walls (28) extending between the air chamber wall (16) and the external support wall (18), the plurality of internal support walls (28) representing internal surfaces to said periphery (17), wherein the first support structure (20) and the second support structure (22) are configured to be used for mounting the heat exchanger module (1) in the vehicle structure (8), such that the heat exchanger module (1) is structurally supported by the fan enclosure (2).
  2. 2. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 1, characterized by a plurality of internal support walls (18) connecting the air chamber wall (16) and the support wall (18).
  3. 3. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 2, characterized by a plurality of internal support walls (28) connecting at oblique angles to the air chamber wall (16).
  4. 4. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 2, characterized by a plurality of internal support walls (28) connecting at oblique angles to the support wall (18).
  5. 5. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 4, characterized in that a portion of the air chamber wall (16) and a portion of the outer support wall (18) are concentric.
  6. 6. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 5, characterized by a plurality of internal support walls (28) connecting the air chamber wall portion (16) and the external support wall portion (18).
  7. 7. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 5, characterized by a plurality of internal support walls (28) connecting the air chamber wall portion (16) to the external support wall portion (18) along the same radial section of the concentric portion of the air chamber wall (16) and the concentric portion of the external support wall (18).
  8. 8. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer support wall (18) includes a first outer support wall on a first side of the fan enclosure (2) and a second outer support wall on a second side of the fan enclosure (2), wherein at least one of the plurality of inner support walls (28) extends from the first outer support wall, and wherein at least one of the plurality of inner support walls (28) extends from the second outer support wall.
  9. 9. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 1, characterized by a plurality of internal support walls (28) extending from the air chamber wall (16) to the external support wall (18).
  10. 10. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 1, characterized in that the fan enclosure has a plane that intersects at least a portion of the air outlet, wherein the outer support wall (18) includes a first outer support wall on a first side of the fan enclosure and a second outer support wall on a second side of the fan enclosure; wherein the first structural support (20) is fixed to the first outer support wall; wherein the second structural support (22) is fixed to the second outer support wall; and wherein the first structural support (20) and the second structural support (22) each include a bottom wall (52) located in the plane.
  11. 11. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 10, characterized in that the first structural support (20) and the second structural support (22) each include a rear wall (56) extending from the respective lower wall (52); and wherein the lower wall (52) of the first structural support (20) and the second structural support (22) each includes an orifice (54).
  12. 12. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 1, characterized in that the first structural support (20) and the second structural support (22) are located in radially opposite positions on the fan enclosure (2).
  13. 13. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 10, characterized in that the first structural support (20) and the second structural support (22) each include at least two through holes (54).
  14. 14. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 10, characterized in that the first structural support (20) and the second structural support (22) each include at least two through holes in the lower wall (52).
  15. 15. FAN ENCLOSURE (2), according to claim 1, further characterized by comprising: a first support configured to receive a fastener for a heat exchanger (4, 6), the first support being spaced from the first structural support (20) and the second structural support (22); and a second support configured to receive a fastener for the heat exchanger (4, 6), the second support being spaced from the first structural support (20) and the second structural support (22).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE WITH RELATED ORDERS [001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/121,224, filed December 3, 2020. The disclosure of the above application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [002] The invention relates to vehicle kinematic chain heat exchanger modules and vehicle heat exchanger systems for regulating the temperature of vehicle components depending on vehicle conditions and the temperature of the heat exchanger fluids, and especially to the way in which such heat exchanger modules are mounted to the vehicle. The heat exchanger modules were mounted to vehicles by modular structures that are fixed to the vehicle in the vehicle structure or other location and to which the heat exchangers are attached and supported. The modular structures provided adequate support for the heat exchangers in such a configuration due to the structural strength of the modular structures. There are also frameless designs for heat exchanger modules, but they require extra structural supports, such as braces or extra support by means of the structure or tank configuration of the heat exchangers. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [003] According to one embodiment of the invention, a fan enclosure for mounting a heat exchanger module to a vehicle structure includes: an air outlet on a first side of the fan enclosure; an air inlet on a second side of the fan enclosure distanced in a depth direction from the first side; an air chamber extending between the air inlet and the air outlet; an air chamber wall that at least partially defines the air chamber; a support wall that extends in the depth direction and distances from the air chamber wall; a first structural support extending outward from the support wall; a second structural support extending outward from the support wall; and a plurality of internal walls extending between the air chamber wall and the support wall. [004] According to one embodiment of the invention, a heat exchanger module includes a plurality of heat exchangers and a fan enclosure. The plurality of heat exchangers are arranged consecutively in a depth direction of the heat exchanger module. The plurality of heat exchangers have a first side and a second side. The plurality of heat exchangers further include: a first heat exchanger with a first core with a first core depth in the depth direction; and a second heat exchanger with a second core with a second core depth in the depth direction. The second heat exchanger includes a first mounting bracket on the first side and a second mounting bracket on the second side. The fan enclosure is located at one end of the heat exchanger module in the depth direction. The fan enclosure includes: an outer wall extending in the depth direction; an inner wall extending in the depth direction; a first frame support; and a second frame support. The outer wall defines at least a portion of a cavity that extends in the depth direction. The inner wall extends in the depth direction and also defines the cavity. The first structural support extends from the outer wall on the first side. The second structural support extends from the outer wall on the second side. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the cavity are positioned over an air chamber configured to receive a fan. The fan enclosure is attached to each of the first and second heat exchangers by a fastener that extends through the fan enclosure. The heat exchanger module is configured for mounting to a vehicle frame by means of the first structural support and the second structural support. The cavity is divided by a plurality of partition walls that extend from the outer wall to the inner wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [005] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a heat exchanger module of the present embodiment. [006] FIG. 2 is a front view of a heat exchanger module of the present embodiment. [007] FIG. 3 is a side view of a heat exchanger module of the present embodiment. [008] FIG. 4 is a front view of a fan enclosure of the present embodiment. [009] FIG. 5 is a side view of a fan enclosure of the present embodiment. [010] FIG. 6 is a rear view of a fan enclosure of the present embodiment. [011] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a fan enclosure of the present embodiment. [012] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a fan enclosure of the present embodiment. [013] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a heat exchanger module of another embodiment. [014] FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of a heat exchanger module of another embodiment. [015] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a heat exchanger module, according to yet another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [016] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the construction details and component arrangement set forth in the following description o