Cover structure for heat exchanger having resinous tank

Abstract

In a cover structure for restricting adhesion of foreign materials such as an antifreezing agent to a resinous tank of a heat exchanger, a cover member is arranged such that its first end is in the proximity of a boundary between a core portion and the resinous tank of the heat exchanger and its second end is adjacent to an opening through which air is introduced. The cover member blocks the foreign materials entering from the opening and restricts. Also, the cover member directs the air having passed through the opening toward the core portion. Thus, the tank is less likely to deteriorate due to adhesion of the foreign materials. Further, efficiency of heat exchange of the core portion improves.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cover structure for a heat exchanger, which is located adjacent to an opening through which air is introduced and has a core portion for performing heat exchange and a resinous tank connected to the core portion, the cover structure comprising: 
 a cover member including a wall that has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein the cover member is disposed such that the first end is adjacent a boundary between the core portion and the tank and the second end is adjacent to the opening so that the wall directs the air passing through the opening toward the core portion.    
     
     
         2 . The cover structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover member is fixed to a frame that supports the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         3 . The cover structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the cover member has a protrusion and the frame is formed with a hollow, wherein the cover member is fixed to the frame by engagement of the protrusion and the hollow.  
     
     
         4 . The cover structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the cover member is formed with a hollow and the frame has a protrusion, wherein the cover member is fixed to the frame by engagement of the protrusion and the hollow.  
     
     
         5 . The cover structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover member is fixed to a wall of the tank.  
     
     
         6 . The cover structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the cover member has a protrusion and the wall of the tank is formed with a hollow, wherein the cover member is fixed by engagement of the protrusion and the hollow.  
     
     
         7 . The cover structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the cover member is formed with a hole and the wall of the tank has a protrusion, wherein the cover member is fixed by engagement of the protrusion and the hollow.  
     
     
         8 . The cover structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank is located on the top of the core portion and the second end of the wall is located adjacent to a top end of the opening.  
     
     
         9 . The cover structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank is made of nylon 66.  
     
     
         10 . The cover structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover member is disposed such that the wall restricts foreign materials passing through the opening from adhering to the tank.  
     
     
         11 . A front end structure of a vehicle comprising: 
 a grill provided at a front end of the vehicle, wherein the grill defines an opening through which air is introduced;    a heat exchanger located adjacent to the grill in an engine compartment, wherein the heat exchanger has a core portion for performing heat exchange between the air and a fluid flowing inside of the core portion, and a tank connected to an end of the core portion; and    a cover member including a wall, wherein the wall is disposed such that its first end is adjacent to a boundary between the core portion and the tank and its second end, which is opposite to the first end, is adjacent to an end of the opening, so that the cover member directs the air passing through the grill toward the core portion and restricts foreign materials from adhering to the tank.    
     
     
         12 . The front end structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger is supported in an engine compartment by a frame, and the cover member is fixed to the frame.  
     
     
         13 . The front end structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover member is formed with a fixing portion extending from the wall and the fixing portion is fixed to a wall of the tank.  
     
     
         14 . The front end structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the tank is made of nylon 66.  
     
     
         15 . The front end structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the tank is connected to a top end of the core portion and the second end of the wall is adjacent to a top end of the opening.