Engine cooling structure having fan module sandwiched between condenser and radiator

Abstract

An engine cooling structure ( 20 ) includes a condenser ( 22 ) constructed and arranged to be disposed on a grille side of a vehicle, a radiator ( 24 ) constructed and arranged to be disposed on an engine side of a vehicle, and an engine cooling fan module ( 26 ) sandwiched directly between the condenser and radiator. The module has at least one motor ( 28 ) driving at least one fan ( 30 ) such that when the fan moves air, air is pulled through the condenser and pushed through the radiator.

1 . An engine cooling structure comprising:
 a condenser constructed and arranged to be disposed on a grille side of a vehicle,   a radiator constructed and arranged to be disposed on an engine side of a vehicle, and   an engine cooling fan module sandwiched directly between the condenser and radiator, the module having at least one motor driving at least one fan such that when the fan moves air, air is pulled through the condenser and pushed through the radiator.   
   
   
       2 . The engine cooling structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fan module includes a shroud having an opening therein, the fan and motor being carried by the shroud within the opening. 
   
   
       3 . The engine cooling structure of  claim 2 , wherein the shroud has a first side and an opposing second side with the opening there-between, the condenser substantially covering the first side and the opening, and the radiator substantially covering the second side and the opening. 
   
   
       4 . The engine cooling structure of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second sides are generally rectangular and the radiator and condenser are each generally rectangular. 
   
   
       5 . An engine cooling structure comprising:
 a condenser constructed and arranged to be disposed on a grille side of a vehicle,   a radiator constructed and arranged to be disposed on an engine side of a vehicle, and   means, sandwiched directly between the condenser and radiator, for moving air, such that air is pulled through the condenser and pushed through the radiator.   
   
   
       6 . The engine cooling structure of  claim 5 , wherein the means for moving air includes a fan module including a shroud having an opening therein, and a fan and motor carried by the shroud within the opening. 
   
   
       7 . The engine cooling structure of  claim 6 , wherein the shroud has a first side and an opposing second side with the opening there-between, the condenser substantially covering the first side and the opening, and the radiator substantially covering the second side and the opening. 
   
   
       8 . The engine cooling structure of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second sides are generally rectangular and the radiator and condenser are each generally rectangular. 
   
   
       9 . A method of isolating an engine cooling fan module of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 providing a condenser,   providing a radiator, and   locating an engine cooling fan module directly between the condenser and the radiator so that when a fan of the engine cooling module moves, air is pulled through the condenser and pushed through the radiator.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fan module includes a shroud having an opening therein, the fan and a motor driving the fan being carried by the shroud within the opening. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the shroud has a first side and an opposing second side with the opening there-between, the method including substantially covering the first side and the opening with the condenser and substantially covering the second side and the opening with the radiator. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second sides are generally rectangular and the radiator and condenser are each generally rectangular.