Radiator core support structure and its assembly method

Abstract

A radiator core support structure comprises a radiator core support and a heat exchanger. The former has a through-hole, and a fixing hole on its the lower portion. The latter has a pipe projecting rearward and introduceable in the through-hole and a lower mounting pin projecting downward from its bottom portion. The fixing hole is formed as an elongate hole extending toward the front side so that the pipe can be kept free from an interference between the pipe and the radiator core support when the lower mounting pin is inserted in a front side of the fixing hole and the heat exchanger is turned rearward around the front side of the fixing hole to stand erect. Then, the fixing hole allows the mounting pin to be slid rearward for introducing the pipe through the through-hole.

1 . A radiator core support structure comprising: 
 a radiator core support to be fixed to a vehicle body, the radiator core support having an obstructing portion formed with a through-hole communicating a front side and a rear side thereof and a lower portion formed with a fixing hole on an upper surface of the lower portion; and    a heat exchanger provided with a pipe projecting rearward from the heat exchanger to be introduced through the through-hole of the radiator core support when the heat exchanger is attached to the radiator core support, the heat exchanger having a bottom portion with a lower mounting pin projecting downward from the bottom portion to be inserted in the fixing hole when the heat exchanger is attached to the radiator core support, wherein    the fixing hole is formed as an elongate hole extending toward the front side so that the pipe can be kept free from an interference between the pipe and the radiator core support when the lower mounting pin is inserted diagonally from a front side of the radiator core support into a front side of the fixing hole and the heat exchanger is turned rearward around the front side of the fixing hole to stand erect, the fixing hole allowing the lower mounting pin to be slid rearward for introducing the pipe through the through-hole.    
   
   
       2 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the lower mounting pin comprising a lower left mounting pin and a lower right mounting pin which are apart from each other in a lateral direction of the vehicle body when the heat exchanger is attached to the radiator core support, and wherein    the fixing hole comprises a left fixing hole and a right fixing hole for receiving the lower left mounting pin and the lower right fixing pin, respectively.    
   
   
       3 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the lower portion of the radiator core support has a slide-preventing hole, and wherein    the lower mounting pin comprises a lower left mounting pin and a lower right mounting pin which are apart from each other in a lateral direction of the vehicle body, one of the lower left and right mounting pins being inserted in the fixing hole and the other of the lower left and right mounting pins being inserted in the slide-preventing hole when the heat exchanger is attached to the radiator core support.    
   
   
       4 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 3 , wherein 
 the pipe comprising a first pipe and a second pipe disposed under the first pipe, and wherein    the slide-preventing hole receives the lower mounting pin arranged at a side of the first pipe, and the fixing hole receives the lower mounting pin arranged at a side of the second pipe.    
   
   
       5 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 3 , wherein 
 the heat exchanger has an upper left mounting pin and an upper right mounting pin on a top portion of the heat exchanger, the upper left and right mounting pins being apart from each other in a lateral direction of the heat exchanger and supported by an upper potion of the radiator core support so that the heat exchanger is fixed by three-point support of the upper left and right mounting pins and the one of the lower left and right mounting pins inserted in the slide-preventing hole.    
   
   
       6 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 an elastic member insertable in and slidable along the fixing hole and formed to receive the lower mounting pin.    
   
   
       7 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 6 , further comprising 
 a holder for retaining a fixed position of the elastic member at a rear side of the fixing hole.    
   
   
       8 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 7 , wherein 
 the holder is an elastic plug insertable in the front side of the fixing hole.    
   
   
       9 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 8 , wherein 
 the elastic plug is integrally connected with the elastic member by a connecting portion.    
   
   
       10 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 7 , wherein 
 the holder is a bracket attachable to the lower part of the radiator core support and contactable to the elastic member.    
   
   
       11 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the obstructing portion is a shroud portion.    
   
   
       12 . The radiator core support structure of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the heat exchanger is at least one of a radiator and a condenser.    
   
   
       13 . The radiator core support structure assembly method comprising: 
 preparing a radiator core support to be fixed to a vehicle body, the radiator core support having an obstructing portion formed with a through-hole communicating a front side and a rear side thereof and a lower portion formed with a fixing hole on an upper surface of the lower portion;    preparing a heat exchanger provided with a pipe projecting rearward from the heat exchanger to be introduced through the through-hole of the radiator core support when the heat exchanger is attached to the radiator core support, the heat exchanger having a bottom portion with a lower mounting pin projecting downward from the bottom portion to be inserted in the fixing hole when the heat exchanger is attached to the radiator core support;    inserting the lower mounting pin diagonally from a front side of the radiator core support into a front side of the fixing hole;    turning the heat exchanger rearward around the front side of the fixing hole to stand erect, where the pipe is kept free from an interference between the pipe and the radiator core support while turning the heat exchanger; and    moving the heat exchanger rearward in a substantially horizontal direction so that the lower mounting pin can slide along the fixing hole and the pipe can be introduced through the through-hole.    
   
   
       14 . The radiator core support structure assembly method of  claim 13 , further comprising 
 inserting an elastic member in the fixing hole to receive the lower mounting pin and slidable along the fixing hole.    
   
   
       15 . The radiator core support structure assembly method of  claim 13 , wherein 
 the lower mounting pin comprises a lower left mounting pin and a lower right mounting pin which are apart from each other in a lateral direction of the vehicle body when the heat exchanger is attached to the radiator core support, and wherein    the fixing hole comprises a left fixing hole and the right fixing hole for receiving the lower left mounting pin and the lower right fixing pin, respectively.    
   
   
       16 . The radiator core support structure assembly method of  claim 13 , wherein 
 the lower portion of the radiator core support has a slide-preventing hole, and wherein    the lower mounting pin comprises a lower left mounting pin and a lower right mounting pin which are apart from each other in a lateral direction of the vehicle body, one of the lower left and right mounting pins being inserted in the fixing hole and the other of the lower left and right mounting pins being inserted in the slide-preventing hole when the heat exchanger is attached to the radiator core support.    
   
   
       17 . The radiator core support structure assembly method of  claim 16 , wherein 
 the heat exchanger has an upper left mounting pin and an upper right mounting pin on a top portion of the heat exchanger, the upper left and right mounting pins being apart from each other in a lateral direction of the heat exchanger and supported by an upper potion of the radiator core support so that the heat exchanger is fixed by three-point supporting of the upper left and right mounting pins and the one of the lower left and right mounting pins inserted in the slide-preventing hole.    
   
   
       18 . The radiator core support structure assemble method of  claim 14 , wherein 
 the elastic member is retained by a holder.    
   
   
       19 . The radiator core support structure assembly method of  claim 13 , wherein 
 the obstructing portion is a shroud portion.    
   
   
       20 . The radiator core support structure assembly method of  claim 13 , wherein 
 the heat exchanger is at least one of a radiator and a condenser.