FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a service member for replacing a broken mounting assembly of a vehicle cooling module. The invention further relates to a vehicle cooling module with a service member and a combination thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicles of all kinds, for example motor vehicles, passenger cars and trucks, have cooling components for a cooling system. Usually, cooling radiators are located at the front of the vehicle, behind the bumper. These are therefore often damaged during a head-on collision, even at low speeds. If the water tank or the core of the cooling element is damaged, the radiator is out of order and the vehicle cannot be driven to the nearest repair shop and must be towed away. In addition, if the water tank or, more generally, the cooling radiator is damaged, the radiator must be replaced with a new radiator, resulting in high repair costs. It is already known from the state of the art to mount the radiator or more generally the vehicle cooling module on the vehicle with mounting assemblies. In the event of a frontal collision, these mounting assemblies break off and the radiator itself remains undamaged. After an accident, the mounting assembly must be replaced.

In known solutions, the vehicle cooling module is fitted with a separate plastic fixing element, e.g. a dovetail on successive cooling modules. In the event of an accident, this separate plastic fixing element is replaced by an identical part. This solution requires an additional part, i.e. the separate plastic fixing element, to be attached not only to one vehicle cooling module as a repair solution after an accident, but to all successive cooling modules. This means additional working time and thus additional costs.

There is a need for a service member which can be easily attached to a vehicle cooling module after an accident, thus minimizing the costs for the repair. There is also a need for a vehicle cooling module that is mounted in such a way that in the event of a head- on collision the water tank will not leak and that is easy to repair with a service member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is, among others, a servicing member for a vehicle cooling module, comprising a first element with a bumper portion, a first fixing interface located on the first element for fixing to the vehicle module, a second element connected to the first element, a second fixing interface located on the second element for fixing the servicing member to a vehicle structure, wherein the first element is connected with the second element by a connection portion adapted to controllably break upon imparting a predetermined force to the bumper portion, wherein the first fixing interface comprises a tongue portion, the tongue portion being adapted for releasable connection with a slot in the vehicle cooling module, the first fixing interface comprising a first side wall extending adjacent to the tongue portion between said tongue portion and the bumper portion so that a free space is created between the tongue portion and the first side wall.

Preferably, wherein the tongue portion is of plate-like shape and rectangular cross- section.

Preferably, the tongue portion comprises a blocking section adapted for frictional fixing in a slot of a vehicle cooling module.

Preferably, the bumper portion is adapted to work along the impact axis, and the tongue portion extends along a tongue axis perpendicular to impact axis.

Preferably, the first side wall extends along an axis Yw perpendicular to the impact axis Xb and the tongue axis Zt. Preferably, the service member further comprises a second side wall extending parallel to the first side wall on the opposite side of the tongue portion.

Preferably, the service member further comprises a top wall extending over the tongue portion when looked along an axis Yt going through the tongue portion parallel to the Yw axis.

Preferably, the top wall is inclined with respect to the tongue portion.

Preferably, the service member further comprises a bottom wall extending below the tongue portion when looked along an axis Yt going through the tongue portion parallel to the Yw axis, the bottom wall being located on the opposite side of the tongue portion with respect to the top wall.

Preferably, the bottom wall is inclined with respect to the tongue portion.

Preferably, the service member further comprises a face wall perpendicular to the first side wall, wherein the tongue portion protrudes from the face wall.

Preferably, the first side wall comprises a through-hole for a screw.

Another object of the invention is an assembly comprising a service member as described and a vehicle cooling module, the vehicle cooling module comprising a slot and at least one contact side wall, the service member being attached to the vehicle cooling module so that the tongue portion is introduced into the slot and the first side wall is in contact with the contact side wall.

Another object of the invention is an assembly comprising a service member as described and a vehicle cooling module, wherein the contact side wall comprises a through-hole for a screw coaxial with the through hole of the service member for fixing together the vehicle cooling module and the service member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Examples of the invention will be apparent from and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1a-1c show breaking of the mounting assembly and replacement by a service member according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the service member in a perspective view; Figs. 3a and 3b show the service member in top view with a closer view on connection portion;

Fig. 4 shows another perspective view of the service member;

Fig. 5 shows cross-section view of the service member;

Fig. 6 shows a vehicle cooling module portion after removal of broken mounting assembly;

Fig. 7 shows a vehicle cooling module portion with a service member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Figs. 1a-1c show breaking of the mounting assembly of a vehicle cooling module 50 and replacement by a service member 1 according to the invention. Once the vehicle hits an object, a force is transferred from car beam by crash bumper 61 to vehicle cooling module 50. Mounting element 62, serving as attachment means of the vehicle cooling module 50 to vehicle’s structure, breaks in a predetermined place. If the radiator is not damaged, the crash bumper 61 is removed, the broken area is polished off and a service member 1 is mounted on the cooling module. The details of the service member 1 will be explained below.

Fig. 2 shows the service member 1 in a perspective view. In general, the service member 1 comprises a first element 10 with a bumper portion 11 and a second element 20 connected to the first element 10. The function of the first element 10 is to receive impact from the car beam or other vehicle components. The first element 10 is also used for mounting the service member 1 to the vehicle cooling module 50. The second element 20 is intended for mounting the service member 1 to the vehicle structure. What follows is that the second element 20 serves as mounting means for the vehicle cooling module 50.

Figs. 3a and 3b show the service member 1 in top view with a closer view on connection portion 30. The first element 10 is connected with the second element 20 by a connection portion 30 adapted to controllably break upon imparting a predetermined force to the bumper portion 11. In particular, the connection portion 30 comprises a connecting arm 31 between the first element 10 and the second element 20. Preferably, there is a plurality of connecting arms 31. At least one of the arms 31 has a weakened portion 32 intended to break more easily than the rest of the arms 31. This may be realized by selectively reducing the thickness of the arm. In this case, there are three arms 31 connecting the first and second elements 10, 20, wherein the middle one has a weakened portion 32. Thanks to this weakened portion 32 it is possible to control the propagation of the crack line to run only through the arms 31 , without going in the direction of either the first element 10 or the second element 20. Fig. 4 shows another perspective view of the service member 1 , while Fig. 5 shows a cross-section view. On the first element 10 there is located a first fixing interface 12 for fixing the service member 1 to the vehicle module 50, while on the second element 20 there is located a second fixing interface 22 for fixing the servicing member 1 to the vehicle structure. The first fixing interface 12 comprises a tongue portion 13. The tongue portion 13 is adapted for releasable connection with a slot 51 in the vehicle cooling module 50. In other words, the tongue portion 13 is shaped and dimensioned so that it can be inserted into a dedicated slot 51 in the vehicle cooling module 50 so that it is securely attached thereto, while retaining a possibility of detachment. Preferably, the tongue portion 13 is of plate-like shape and rectangular cross-section. The cross-section of the tongue portion 13 may be decreasing along its length for improved securing within the slot 51. The tongue portion 13 may comprise a blocking section 14 adapted for frictional fixing in a slot 51 of a vehicle cooling module 50. This blocking section 14 can be for example locally enlarged thickness. The first fixing interface 12 comprises a first side wall 15 extending adjacent to the tongue portion 13 between said tongue portion 13 and the bumper portion 11 so that a free space is created between the tongue portion 13 and the side wall 15. In general, the bumper portion 11 is adapted to work along the impact axis Xb, and the tongue portion 13 extends along a tongue axis Zt perpendicular to impact axis Xb. The first side wall 15 extends along an axis Yw perpendicular to the impact axis Xb and the tongue axis Zt. Preferably, the first side wall 15 is a flat wall which extends from the tongue portion 13 substantially below the tongue portion 13, preferably at a distance at least double the thickness of the tongue portion 13 measured along axis Yt.

As shown in Fig. 5, there is a free space between the tongue portion 13 and the first side wall 15 when viewed along an axis Xt parallel to the impact axis Xb, the axis Xt going through the tongue portion 13. The service member 1 may further comprise a second side wall 16 extending parallel to the first side wall 15 on the opposite side of the tongue portion 13. Additionally, the service member 1 may further comprise a top wall 17 extending over the tongue portion 13 when looked along an axis Yt going through the tongue portion 13 parallel to the Yw axis. The top wall 17 may inclined with respect to the tongue portion 13. There may be also a bottom wall 18 extending below the tongue portion 13 when looked along an axis Yt going through the tongue portion 13 parallel to the Yw axis, the bottom wall 18 being located on the opposite side of the tongue portion 13 with respect to the top wall 17. This bottom wall 18 may be inclined with respect to the tongue portion 13. The tongue portion 13 may protrude from a face wall 19 which is perpendicular to the first side wall 13. In any case, there is a space created at least between the tongue portion 13 and the first side wall 15 into which a portion of the vehicle cooling module is introduced for secured connection which enables force transfer upon impact received through the bumper portion 11. Because the force may be transferred securely, the connection portion 30 is allowed to break controllably. This particular design allows to achieve this in a simple and cost effective manner.

The first side wall 15 may comprise a hole 19 for a screw, for example a through-hole, enabling more secure connection to the vehicle cooling module 50.

Fig. 6 shows a vehicle cooling module 50 portion after removal of broken mounting assembly. In the same perspective, Fig. 7 shows the vehicle cooling module portion with the service member. The vehicle cooling module 50, in this case part of a radiator, has a slot 51 and at least one contact side wall 53. When the service member 1 is attached to the vehicle cooling module 50, the tongue portion 13 is introduced into the slot 51 and the first side wall 15 is in contact with the contact side wall 53. In this manner, a secure arrangement is created between the cooling module 50 and the service member 1. Preferably, the vehicle cooling module 50 comprises also a front contact wall 52 which after assembly is facing, and preferably is in contact, with the face wall 19 of the service member 1. If there is a plurality of face walls on the vehicle cooling module 50 as shown in Fig. 6, the service member 1 can in fact encapsulate them and a correct positioning of the service member may be ensured after inserting the tongue portion 13 into the slot 51 of the vehicle cooling module 50. The inclined top wall 17 and bottom wall 18 can follow the shape of the vehicle cooling module 50 for better alignment and protection of the connection. In Fig. 7, the top wall 17 is not inclined.

The contact side wall 53 may comprise a hole or a through-hole 54 for a screw coaxial with the through hole 19 of the service member for fixing together the vehicle cooling module 50 and the service member 1 in a secured manner. In such case, a screw is inserted into both of the openings after assembly, and removed if needed for another replacement of the servicing member if another crash occurs.

In any case, the service member may after assembly and upon crash will break within the connection area 30. The components thereof may then be removed and another servicing member may be mounted. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to the advantage.