Module system for formation of a radiator device, and charge air cooler and radiator liquid cooler formed by such a module system

Abstract

Module system for formation of a radiator device ( 1 ′″) for a motor vehicle comprising a basic module ( 10 ) and two or more supplementary modules ( 40, 40′ ) which are connectable to the basic module. Each module comprises an inlet tank ( 11, 41 ), an outlet tank ( 12, 42 ) and a radiator element ( 13, 43 ) which extends between the inlet tank and the outlet tank. The first inlet tank ( 11 ) of the basic module is provided with a first connecting outlet at an upper end and a second connecting outlet at a lower end, each of which outlets is connectable to the second inlet of the inlet tank ( 41 ) of respective supplementary modules. The first outlet tank ( 12 ) of the basic module is similarly provided with a first connecting inlet at an upper end and a second connecting inlet at a lower end, each of which connecting inlets is connectable to the outlet of the outlet tank ( 42 ) of respective supplementary modules.

1 . A module system defining a radiator device for a motor vehicle, which system comprises:
 a basic module comprising:   a main inlet connectable to a pipeline of a motor vehicle for feeding a circulating cooling medium from the pipeline into the radiator device defined by the module system;   a first inlet tank connected to the main inlet, the first inlet tank also has a first connecting outlet;   a main outlet connectable to the pipeline of the motor vehicle for discharging the cooling medium from the radiator device into the pipeline;   a first outlet tank connected to the main outlet, the first outlet tank has a second connecting outlet;   a first radiator element which extends between the first inlet tank and the first outlet tank of the basic module, the first radiator element has first throughflow ducts through which the cooling medium flows from the first inlet tank to the first outlet tank of the basic module while the cooling medium gives off heat to its surroundings;   a supplementary module connected to the basic module, the supplementary module comprising:
 a second inlet tank having a second inlet configured for connection to the first connecting outlet of the basic module; 
 a second outlet tank having a second outlet configured for connection to the first connecting inlet of the basic module; 
 a second radiator element which extends between the second inlet tank and the second outlet tank of the supplementary module, the second radiator element has second throughflow ducts through which the cooling medium flows from the second inlet tank to the second outlet tank while giving off heat to its surroundings; 
 the first connecting outlet of the basic module of the first inlet tank is connectable to the second inlet of the second inlet tank of the supplementary module; and 
 the outlet tank of the basic module has a first connecting inlet connectable to the second outlet of the second outlet tank of the supplementary module. 
   
     
     
         2 . A module system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises two or more of the supplementary modules. 
     
     
         3 . A module system according to  claim 14 , wherein each connecting outlet of the first inlet tank of the basic module comprises a first connecting portion configured to engage with a corresponding second connecting portion of the second inlet of the second inlet tank of a respective one of the supplementary modules; and
 each connecting outlet of the first outlet tank of the basic module comprises a third connecting portion configured to engage with a corresponding fourth connecting portion of the second outlet of the second outlet tank of a respective one of the supplementary modules.   
     
     
         4 . A module system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second inlet tank and the second outlet tank of the supplementary module is elongate and each has two opposite ends, the second inlet of the second inlet tank of the supplementary module is situated at a corresponding first end of the second inlet tank and the second outlet of the outlet tank of the supplementary is situated at a corresponding first end of the second outlet tank. 
     
     
         5 . A module system according to  claim 4 , wherein the second ends of the second inlet tank and of the second outlet tank of the supplementary module is closed. 
     
     
         6 . A module system according to  claim 1 , further comprising the supplementary module has a valve situated either close to the second inlet of the second inlet tank of the supplementary module or close to the second outlet of the second outlet tank of the supplementary module, and the valve is switchable between a closed state in which it is configured to keeping the respective second inlet or second outlet closed, thereby preventing cooling medium from passing through, and an open state in which the valve is configured to keep the respective second inlet or second outlet open, thereby allowing cooling medium to pass through. 
     
     
         7 . A module system according to  claim 6 , wherein the valve is supported for pivoting in the supplementary module so as to be pivotable about a pivot pin between its closed and open states. 
     
     
         8 . A module system according to  claim 7 , wherein the valve is in the form of a valve flap. 
     
     
         9 . A module system according to  claim 1 , wherein the basic module and the supplementary modules have their respective inlet tanks and outlet tanks comprised of metal, and wherein the module system defines a radiator device comprising a charge air cooler. 
     
     
         10 . A module system according to  claim 1 , wherein the basic module and the supplementary modules have their respective inlet tanks and outlet tanks comprised of plastic material where the module system forms a radiator device comprising a radiator liquid cooler. 
     
     
         11 . A charge air cooler, comprising a module system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A radiator liquid cooler, comprising a module system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A module system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first connecting outlet of the inlet tank of the basic module is toward an upper end of the inlet tank of the basic module;   the second connecting outlet of the inlet tank of the basic module is toward a lower end of the outlet tank;   the first connecting inlet of the outlet tank of the basic module is toward an upper end of the outlet tank of the basic module; and   the second connecting inlet of the outlet tank of the basic module is at a lower end of the outlet tank.   
     
     
         14 . A module system according to  claim 1 , further comprising two or more of the supplementary modules; and
 each of the first connecting outlets of the first inlet tanks of the basic module is connected to the first inlet of the second inlet tank of each supplementary module.   
     
     
         15 . A module system according to  claim 2 , wherein two of the supplementary modules are of mutually different heights.