RADIATOR ASSEMBLY FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE, AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING A RADIATOR ASSEMBLY ON A BODY STRUCTURE OF AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE
A radiator assembly for an automotive vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a radiator of a radiator unit and at least one decoupling element for fixing the radiator to a vehicle body structure. The at least one decoupling element is connected to the radiator and comprises a first section contained in the radiator unit and a second section protruding from the radiator unit, a junction plane between the first section and the second section being designed as a weak link.
1 . A radiator assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising
a radiator of a radiator unit; and
at least one decoupling element adapted to fix the radiator to a vehicle body structure; the at least one decoupling element comprising:
a first section contained in the radiator unit,
a second section protruding from the radiator unit, and
a junction plane between the first section and the second section is designed as a weak link.
2 . The radiator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one decoupling element is formed of a plastic material.
3 . The radiator assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one decoupling element is formed of an elastomer.
4 . The radiator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one decoupling element is a grommet.
5 . The radiator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first section is contained in a first retaining structure inside a radiator tank.
6 . The radiator assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the first section of is adapted to connect to the first retaining structure with positive locking.
7 . The radiator assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one part of the second section of is contained in a second retaining structure of the vehicle body structure to fix the radiator assembly to the vehicle body structure.
8 . The radiator according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one part of the second section is designed to be connected with positive locking to the second retaining structure of the vehicle body structure.
9 . A method for mounting a radiator assembly on a body structure of an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of
providing a radiator unit comprising at least one first retaining structure for receiving a first section of a decoupling element;
providing a vehicle body structure comprising at least one second retaining structure for receiving a second section of the decoupling element;
providing at least one decoupling element comprising the first section and the second section, a junction plane between the first section and the second section being designed as a weak link; and
inserting the first section of the at least one decoupling element into a first retaining structure and the second section into a second retaining structure.
10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one decoupling element is formed of a plastic material.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one decoupling element is formed of an elastomer.
12 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising a step of providing a grommet as the at lease one decoupling element.
13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first section of the at least one decoupling element is connected with a positive locking to the first retaining structure
14 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein at least one part of the second section is connected with positive locking to the second retaining structure of the vehicle body structure.