EP0364363B1 - Rapid-connection device for a header box with expansion chamber - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an assembly according to the preamble of claim 1 as described in Patent Application FR-A-2,579,308.

This assembly can be provided for a heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a bundle of tubes formed either by U-shaped tubes connecting the two chambers of the fluid box to one another, or by straight tubes divided into two groups which respectively connect the two chambers to a second fluid box located opposite the first. This quick coupling device replaces the conventional devices comprising an inlet nozzle and an outlet nozzle protruding at two locations remote from the fluid box, and on which are threaded by separate operations of the flexible hoses.

However, it has been found that this device has the drawback of not being able to be used in the case where the fluid box is surmounted by an expansion tank.

The object of the invention is to provide an assembly of the type defined above which can be used when the box fluid is formed in one piece with an expansion tank.

According to the invention, the openings are formed in a wall portion separating the fluid box from an expansion vessel also formed by said part and whose internal volume is adjacent to the two chambers, and the connecting member penetrates into the expansion tank.

Advantageously, the partition of the fluid box is substantially flat over its entire extent and the inlet and outlet openings are arranged on either side of the plane of the partition.

The invention also provides that the fluid box and / or the expansion tank on the one hand, the connecting member on the other hand, have mutual locking means in the connection position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting member comprises two inlet and outlet pipes extending substantially parallel to the partition wall and having respective lateral openings which respectively correspond to the inlet openings and outlet from the fluid box.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the connecting member comprises a plug through which the inlet and outlet pipes pass and closing an opening of the expansion vessel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the plug engages in a tubular housing belonging to the part which forms the fluid box and the expansion vessel, this housing being defined, over part of its circumference, by a protruding rim on the outer wall of the fluid box.

Means can also be provided according to the invention to connect a degassing circuit to the expansion tank. In this case, the connecting member may include a degassing tube passing through the plug and opening directly into the expansion tank.

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle en élévation, partiellement en coupe selon la ligne I-I de la figure 2, d'un échangeur de chaleur de véhicule automobile comportant un dispositif de raccord rapide selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle de l'échangeur, partiellement en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1; et
• la figure 3 est une vue partielle en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2.

Other advantages of the invention will emerge from the description given below of an exemplary embodiment, and from the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial elevational view, partially in section along line II of Figure 2, of a motor vehicle heat exchanger comprising a quick coupling device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial view of the exchanger, partially in section along the line II-II of Figure 1; and
• FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 1 to 3 partially illustrate a motor vehicle heat exchanger comprising at least one fluid box, here an upper fluid box 6, associated with a manifold 16.

The latter is traversed by the upper ends of tubes 17 of a bundle of tubes oriented vertically and each extending substantially over the entire width of the fluid box 6, said tubes being able to communicate via their lower end with a fluid box lower (not shown). The fluid box 6 is surmounted by an expansion vessel 7 formed in one piece molded with it. The fluid box is divided internally, in its longitudinal direction, into two chambers 10 and 11 by a fully planar partition 12 extending transversely. The partition 12, molded in one piece with the fluid box, is in leaktight connection by its lower end with the manifold 16, and is connected by the remaining part of its perimeter to the wall of the fluid box, and in particular to a flat wall portion 18 in which are formed, on either side of the partition and in the vicinity thereof, two circular openings 8 corresponding to the chambers 10 and 11 respectively. The portion 18, parallel to the manifold 16, constitutes a partition wall between the chambers 10 and 11 on the one hand and the interior of the expansion tank on the other hand, the water box and the expansion tank being separated of each other on the remaining part of their extent. The molded part forming the water box and the expansion vessel have a tubular sleeve 19 of horizontal axis surrounding an opening 20 provided on a wall of the expansion vessel. The upper part of the sleeve 19 is opposite the expansion tank and is connected directly to its wall, while the lower part of the sleeve is constituted by a flange 19 ′ projecting from a portion of the side wall 21 of the fluid box .

The connecting member 1 of the device according to the invention, molded in one piece, comprises a plug 5 which engages in the sleeve 19 to close the opening 20 of the expansion tank. In the example shown, the plug 5 comprises a bottom wall 22 and an annular rim 23 projecting towards the expansion vessel from the periphery of the wall 22. A seal 13 is interposed between the sleeve 19 and the rim 23. The bottom wall 22 is crossed by two fluid inlet and outlet pipes 2 and 3 whose axes, like that of the sleeve 19 and the plug 23, are parallel to the plane of the wall portion 18 Tubing 2 and 3 are open at their outer end to the expansion tank, to be connected to flexible pipes, and their inner ends penetrate into said vase. Inside the expansion vessel, the ends of the pipes 2 and 3 have lateral openings 24 which, when the plug is properly pressed into the sleeve, coincide respectively with the two openings 8 of the chambers of the fluid box . The pipes 2 and 3 are shaped so as to come to be applied tightly on the face of the wall portion 18 facing the expansion tank, while allowing practically no communication between the inside of the pipes and the inside of the tank. expansion. A third tube 4, parallel to the tubes 2 and 3, projects outwards from the bottom wall 22 of the plug to be connected to a degassing circuit, and communicates with the interior of the expansion vessel by its inner end 25 connected to the wall 22.

The connecting member 1 has two flexible tabs 14 projecting inwards from the wall 22 and cooperating with openings provided on ribs 15 integral with the expansion tank and / or the fluid box to ensure locking mutual of the two parts.

Claims (8)

1. An assembly comprising a component defining a fluid manifold (6) for a heat exchanger, including a fluid inlet chamber and a fluid outlet chamber (10, 11) separated from each other by a bulkhead (12), and having, adjacent to each other, inlet and outlet ports (8) for the two chambers, together with an integral connecting portion (1) which is provided with at least two fluid passages (2, 3) and which is adapted to be mounted on the fluid manifold in such a way that the two said fluid passages communicate respectively with the two ports of the fluid manifold, characterised in that the ports are formed in a wall portion (18), separating the fluid manifold from an expansion chamber (7) which is also defined by the said component, with the hollow interior of the expansion chamber being adjacent to the two chambers, and that the connecting portion penetrates into the expansion chamber.
2. An assembly according to Claim 1, characterised in that the bulkhead (12) of the fluid manifold is substantially flat over its whole extent, and that the inlet and outlet ports are disposed on either side of the plane of the bulkhead and in the vicinity of the latter.
3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the fluid manifold and/or the expansion chamber on the one hand, and the connecting portion on the other hand, define means (14, 15) for locking them together in the connected position.
4. An assembly according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the connecting portion includes two inlet and outlet tube portions (2, 3) extending substantially parallel to the said wall portion (18) and having respective lateral apertures (24) which come respectively into register with the inlet and outlet ports (8) of the fluid manifold.
5. An assembly according to Claim 4, characterised in that the connecting portion comprises a plug element (5) through which the inlet and outlet tube portions extend, and which obturates an aperture (20) of the expansion chamber.
6. An assembly according to Claim 5, characterised in that the plug element (5) is engaged in a tubular housing (19) which is part of the component that defines the fluid manifold and the expansion chamber, this housing being defined, over part of its circumference, by a projecting flange (19) on the outer wall (21) of the fluid manifold.
7. An assembly according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that it further includes means (4, 25) for connecting a de-gassing circuit to the expansion chamber (7).
8. An assembly according to one of Claims 5 and 6 and Claim 7, characterised in that the connecting portion includes a de-gassing tube portion (4) extending through the plug element (5) and opening directly into the expansion chamber.

Images