Cooling module and method of assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9823027-B2
Application number	US-201615008512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 28, 2015
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A cooling module includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a plurality of coupling devices. The first heat exchanger includes a plurality of first brackets. A pair of the first brackets is disposed on each opposing end of the first heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger includes a plurality second brackets. A pair of the second brackets is disposed on each opposing end of the second heat exchanger. Each of the plurality of the coupling devices includes a first opening and a second opening formed therein. One of the coupling devices is positioned on each of the plurality of the first brackets, wherein each of the first brackets is received in one of the first openings of the one of the coupling devices. The second brackets of the second heat exchanger are inserted into respective ones of the second openings of the coupling devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling module, comprising:
a first heat exchanger including a first bracket disposed on a first end of the first heat exchanger, the first bracket having a first leg;
a second heat exchanger including a second bracket disposed on a first end of the second heat exchanger, the second bracket having a second leg; and
a coupling device having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening configured to receive the first leg of the first bracket and the second opening configured to receive the second leg of the second bracket.

2. The cooling module of claim 1 , further comprising a third heat exchanger including a clip disposed thereon, the first bracket having a third leg, the clip configured to receive the third leg of the first bracket.

3. The cooling module of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is configured to receive the first leg of the bracket in a first direction, and the second opening is configured to receive the second leg of the second bracket in a second direction, wherein the first direction is transverse the second direction.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.

6. The cooling module of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are formed from aluminum and the coupling device is formed from a resilient polymeric material.

7. The cooling module of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket includes a first retention feature configured to engage a second retention feature of the coupling device, and the coupling device includes a third retention feature configured to engage the second leg of the second bracket.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first retaining feature is one of a protrusion and a recess, and the second retaining feature is the other of the protrusion and the recess, and the protrusion is received in the recess.

9. A coupling device for a cooling module comprising:
a first opening formed between a first wall and a second wall, the first wall facing the second wall; and
a second opening formed between the second wall and a third wall, the second wall facing the third wall, wherein the first opening is configured to receive a first bracket of the cooling module in a first direction, and the second opening is configured to receive a second bracket of the cooling module in a second direction, wherein the first direction is transverse to the second direction.

10. The coupling device of claim 9 , wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

11. The coupling device of claim 9 , wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction.

12. The coupling device of claim 9 , further comprising a retention feature configured to engage the first bracket of the cooling module.

13. The coupling device of claim 12 , wherein the retention feature is disposed on a flexible tab extending from the second wall of the coupling device.

14. The coupling device of claim 9 , further comprising a retention feature configured to engage the second bracket of the cooling module.

15. A method of assembling a cooling module, comprising:
providing a first heat exchanger including a plurality of first brackets, a pair of the plurality of first brackets disposed on each opposing end of the first heat exchanger;
providing a second heat exchanger including a plurality of second brackets, a pair of the plurality of second brackets disposed on each opposing end of the second heat exchanger; and
providing a plurality of coupling devices, each of the plurality of coupling devices including a first opening and a second opening;
positioning one of the plurality of coupling devices on each of the plurality of first brackets, wherein each of the plurality of first brackets is received in the first opening of the one of the plurality of coupling devices; and
inserting each of the plurality of second brackets of the second heat exchanger into a respective one of the second openings of the plurality of coupling devices.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of second brackets of the second heat exchanger is inserted into the respective one of the second openings of the plurality of coupling devices.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein a first leg of one of the plurality of first brackets of the first heat exchanger is received in the first opening of one of the plurality of coupling devices, and a leg of one of the plurality of second brackets of the second heat exchanger is received in the second opening of one of the plurality of coupling devices.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second opening of the one of the plurality of coupling devices includes a retention feature formed therein, the retention feature configured to secure the leg of the one of the plurality of second brackets within the second opening of the one of the plurality of coupling devices when the one of the plurality of second brackets is inserted in the second opening.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the retention feature is a lip configured to engage an edge of the one of the plurality of second brackets.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein one of the plurality of first brackets includes a first retention feature, and one of the plurality of coupling devices includes a second retention feature, the second retention feature configured to engage the first retention feature to secure the one of the plurality of coupling devices to the one of the plurality of first brackets.

Assignees

• Hanon Systems

Inventors

• Armsden Richard Steven
• Seeds Nigel
• Kelham Thomas James Francis

Classifications

• F28F21/062

  the heat-exchange apparatus employing tubular conduits · CPC title

• F28D1/0461

  Combination of different types of heat exchanger, e.g. radiator combined with tube-and-shell heat exchanger; Arrangement of conduits for heat exchange between at least two media and for heat exchange between at least one medium and the large body of fluid · CPC title

• F28F9/013 Primary

  for tubes or tube-assemblies · CPC title

• F28F21/084

  from aluminium or aluminium alloys · CPC title

• F28F2275/14

  by using form fitting connection, e.g. with tongue and groove · CPC title