Catalytic motor vehicle radiator

Abstract

A catalytic motor vehicle radiator for cooling a coolant flowing through it has a catalytically acting surface for converting a pollutant into an environmentally compatible material, a temperature sensor for sensing a coolant temperature, and an attachment point for attaching the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor has an attachment for attaching the temperature sensor to the attachment point of the catalytic motor vehicle radiator, and includes an electrical identification unit for identifying the catalytic motor vehicle radiator. The attachment interacts with an attachment point of the catalytic motor vehicle radiator in such a way that, if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator, the temperature sensor is destroyed.

1 . A catalytic motor vehicle radiator for cooling a coolant which flows through the motor vehicle radiator, comprising: 
 a catalytically acting surface for converting a pollutant into a material which is more environmentally compatible,    a temperature sensor for sensing a coolant temperature, and    an attachment point for attaching the temperature sensor,    wherein the temperature sensor has an attachment means for attaching the temperature sensor to the attachment point of the catalytic motor vehicle radiator,    wherein the temperature sensor comprises an electrical identification unit for identifying the catalytic motor vehicle radiator, and    wherein the attachment means of the temperature sensor interacts with the attachment point on the catalytic motor vehicle radiator in such a way that the temperature sensor is destroyed if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator.    
     
     
         2 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means of the temperature sensor interacts with the attachment point in such a way that, if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator, a sensing housing breaks and electronics of the temperature sensor become functionally incapable.  
     
     
         3 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means of the temperature sensor interacts with the attachment point in such a way that a conductor track in the temperature sensor is disconnected if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator.  
     
     
         4 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means of the temperature sensor interacts with the attachment point in such a way that, if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator, the attachment means is damaged beyond repair.  
     
     
         5 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor has a predetermined break point.  
     
     
         6 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor has, as the attachment means, a spring element which, when the temperature sensor is attached, hooks onto the attachment point so that the temperature sensor is connected to the motor vehicle radiator in such a way that it cannot be released without destruction.  
     
     
         7 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the attachment point also has a spring element which interacts with the spring element provided as the attachment means of the temperature sensor in such a way that the temperature sensor is hooked onto the attachment point so that it cannot be released without destruction.  
     
     
         8 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment point has a spring element which, when the temperature sensor is attached to the attachment point, hooks onto the temperature sensor in such a way that the temperature sensor cannot be released without destruction.  
     
     
         9 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means includes a first attachment part and a second attachment part, the first attachment part being permanently connected to the temperature sensor, and when the temperature sensor is mounted in an anticipated fashion on the attachment point which is provided between the first attachment part and the second attachment part, a connection is brought about which cannot be released without destruction.  
     
     
         10 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the second attachment part comprises an electrical component which is necessary for functioning of the temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is not functionally capable until an anticipated interaction of the first attachment part with the second attachment part.  
     
     
         11 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the attachment means of the temperature sensor interacts with the attachment point in such a way that a conductor track in the temperature sensor is disconnected if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator.  
     
     
         12 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the attachment means of the temperature sensor interacts with the attachment point in such a way that, if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator, the attachment means is damaged beyond repair.  
     
     
         13 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the attachment means of the temperature sensor interacts with the attachment point in such a way that, if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator, the attachment means is damaged beyond repair.  
     
     
         14 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor has a predetermined break point.  
     
     
         15 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the temperature sensor has a predetermined break point.  
     
     
         16 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the temperature sensor has a predetermined break point.  
     
     
         17 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor has, as the attachment means, a spring element which, when the temperature sensor is attached, hooks onto the attachment point so that the temperature sensor is connected to the motor vehicle radiator in such a way that it cannot be released without destruction.  
     
     
         18 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the attachment point also has a spring element which interacts with the spring element provided as the attachment means of the temperature sensor in such a way that the temperature sensor is hooked onto the attachment point so that it cannot be released without destruction.  
     
     
         19 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the attachment point has a spring element which, when the temperature sensor is attached to the attachment point, hooks onto the temperature sensor in such a way that the temperature sensor cannot be released without destruction.  
     
     
         20 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the attachment means includes a first attachment part and a second attachment part, the first attachment part being permanently connected to the temperature sensor, and when the temperature sensor is mounted in an anticipated fashion on the attachment point which is provided between the first attachment part and the second attachment part, a connection is brought about which cannot be released without destruction.  
     
     
         21 . The catalytic motor vehicle radiator as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the second attachment part comprises an electrical component which is necessary for functioning of the temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is not functionally capable until an anticipated interaction of the first attachment part with the second attachment part.  
     
     
         22 . A process of providing tamper-proof recognition of a catalytic motor vehicle radiator for cooling a coolant which flows through the motor vehicle radiator, the radiator including a catalytically acting surface for converting a pollutant into a material which is more environmentally compatible, a temperature sensor for sensing a coolant temperature, and an attachment point for attaching the temperature sensor, the process comprising: 
 attaching the temperature sensor to the attachment point of the catalytic motor vehicle radiator,    identifying the catalytic motor vehicle radiator, and    destroying the temperature sensor if the temperature sensor is removed from the catalytic motor vehicle radiator.