TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a radiator and more particularly to a radiator tank or housing with a cover configuration to prevent cracks in the radiator manifold and deformation of the crimped sealing area between the manifold and the tank, i.e. lateral decrimping.

PRIOR ART

[0002] Currently, radiators used in engine cooling systems are subject to high stress in their water tanks and in the manifold during pressure cycle testing. This occurs due to the large dimensions of such water tanks in view of their internal oil coolers, causing undesirable cracks in the manifold and decrimping of the manifold teeth.

[0003] To minimize such problems, the prior art makes use of increased thickness of the tank, the ribs on the tank or even the thickness of the manifold.

[0004] Another solution lies in the provision of ribs that mesh perfectly with the manifold teeth, as can be seen in patent application US 2016/0010931 . As can be understood from Figures 4 and 6 of the aforementioned application, such a solution, as stated above, does not solve the problem of deformation of the sealing area and cracks in the manifold when the radiator is subjected to pressure cycle tests.

[0005] A further solution consists of adding a supplementary reinforcing plate to the manifold in order to increase its cycle pressure resistance. Such a solution can be seen in Figures 3 and 7 of patent application US 2017/0131043. The drawback of such a solution lies in the extremely high cost of adding a metal component to the radiator assembly, which also makes the mounting thereof more complex.

[0006] A different solution lies in adding an internal reinforcing rod to reduce the deformation of the tank during injection and reduce the stress under pressure loading. Document JP2017048982 describes such a solution, as can be seen from Figure 4 thereof. Such a solution, however, has the drawback of allowing the concentration of stress in the internal reinforcing rod and the formation of critical welding lines therein.

[0007] As has been shown, the solutions described in the prior art are not effective in providing a radiator in which cracking in the radiator manifold and deformation of the crimped sealing area are avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention relates to a radiator tank or housing provided with a cover configuration that allows a reduction in stress in the internal groove of the manifold, which tends to reduce the lateral deformation.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a tank with a configuration that makes the cover thereof more effective than those currently available in the art.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a tank with a cover that reduces the stress in the tank without any increase in mass.

[0011] The objects of the present invention are achieved through the provision of a radiator tank or housing consisting of an external casing, the external casing having an upper wall, first and second side walls and bases, the bases of the external casing connecting the tank to the radiator manifold, the external casing being provided with a plurality of external ribs and at least one rib being located internally at the join between the upper wall and each of the first and second side walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description below, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tank section covered with the cover configuration according to the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 is an additional perspective view of a tank section covered with the cover configuration according to the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 is a front view of the tank covered with the cover configured according to the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tank section covered with the cover configuration according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 5 is a top perspective view of a radiator tank covered with the cover configuration according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 6 is a bottom perspective view of a radiator tank covered with the cover configuration according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Figures 1 and 2 show a cover configuration of the radiator tank or housing 10 consisting of an external casing having an upper wall 60, first and second side walls 40, 40’ and bases 50, 50’. The bases 50, 50’ connect the tank to the radiator manifold, engaging with the internal groove of the manifold. The manifold teeth are subsequently crimped to the bases 50, 50’, forming a crimped sealing area.

[0020] The external casing of the tank is provided with a plurality of external ribs 20 and at least one rib 30, 30’ located internally. Each of the plurality of external ribs 20 extends along the first side wall 40, running along the upper wall 60 and finally the second side wall 40’. The join between the upper wall 60 and the first side wall 40 receives, internally, the at least one internal rib 30, while the join between the upper wall 60 and the second side wall 40’ also receives, internally, at least one internal rib 30’. Preferably, the external casing is provided with at least one pair of the at least one internal rib 30, 30’. More preferably, the external casing is provided with a plurality of pairs of the at least one internal rib 30, 30’.

[0021] Preferably, each of the plurality of main ribs 20 extends along at least one portion of the first side wall 40, the upper wall 60 and at least one portion of the second side wall 40’, leaving a region without ribs between the end portion of the main ribs and the base 50 of the external casing.

[0022] The at least one internal rib 30, 30’ is contained in the same geometric plane as at least one of the plurality of external ribs, said same geometric plane being transverse to the length of the external casing of the radiator tank 10, thus offering greater efficiency and resistance to lateral deformation and cracks during the pressure cycle test.

[0023] As can also be understood from Figures 3 and 4, in one embodiment, the thickness of each of the plurality of internal ribs 30, 30’ is greater than the thickness of each of the plurality of external ribs 20. The external ribs 20 are, for example, the same thickness as the first and second side walls 40, 40’ and the upper wall 60 of the tank casing.

[0024] Preferably, such a tank cover configuration is used on tanks with a width to height ratio of less than 1.5. These tanks are more sensitive to lateral deformation in the crimped sealing area of the manifold teeth.

[0025] Figures 5 and 6 show a radiator 10 in which the radiator tank or housing cover configuration according to the present invention can be seen.

[0026] It must be noted that variations, modifications and adjustments to the invention described herein are possible for those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention or its equivalents, as covered in the attached claims and their equivalents.