EP1120620B1 - Heat exchange module, more especially for automotive vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A heat-exchange module has a main exchanger and at least one secondary exchanger, each including a body with fluid-circulation tubes and with a clipping device for fixing the secondary exchanger onto the main exchanger so that the same airflow can pass through the bodies of the exchangers. The clipping device has at least one comb-shaped component including a fitting device for fitting onto a first of the exchangers, and at least one first row of teeth having between them, pair by pair, a gap of a shape corresponding to the cross section of the fluid-circulation tubes of the second of the exchangers, so as to clip the body of this second exchanger onto the comb-shaped component.

Description

The present invention relates to a module for exchanging heat, comprising a main exchanger and at least one secondary exchanger each comprising a body provided with tubes fluid circulation, and latching means for fix the secondary exchanger on the main exchanger of so that the same air flow can pass through the bodies respective of said exchangers. US-A-3,938,587 shows such a heat exchanger.

Such exchangers are generally in the form a body provided with fluid circulation tubes and fins heat exchange with the outside environment. This body is arranged between two manifolds that distribute the fluid in the circulation tubes.

It is known to assemble on a main exchanger, such than a vehicle engine cooling radiator automobile, one or more secondary exchangers in order to constitute a set, also called module, ready to be installed in the vehicle. This secondary exchanger is usually consisting of an air cooler supercharging of the engine or an air conditioning condenser.

The assembly of the secondary exchanger (s) on the exchanger principal is usually obtained through lugs integral with the secondary exchanger and screws introduced into the manifolds of the exchanger main. Assembly systems have also been proposed by fitting or snapping on the manifolds.

These known assemblies of primary and secondary exchangers have the disadvantage of requiring operations costly in time and tools.

On the other hand, the connecting members between the exchangers main and secondary occupy a certain volume which harms the compactness of the module. In fact, the manifolds have a significant thickness. The thickness of the module is therefore not conditioned by the cumulative thicknesses of body of exchangers, i.e. tube assemblies, but by the cumulative thicknesses of the manifolds, significantly more important.

In addition, these liaison bodies have a certain transverse dimensions and therefore do not allow have the same exchange surface for exchangers main and secondary.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

More particularly, the invention aims to provide a heat exchange module, the production of which, and in particular assembly operations, as simple as possible.

The invention also aims to provide such a module heat exchange which, as far as possible, does not no assembly parts between the exchangers main and secondary.

The invention further aims to provide a method of making a heat exchange module that does not require any operation assembly or, when this is not possible, by with a minimum.

The invention also aims to provide such a module heat exchange thinner than those of art prior.

The invention also aims to provide a module heat exchange with exchange characteristics thermal improvements.

des moyens de montage sur un premier desdits échangeurs, et

au moins une première rangée de dents présentant entre elles, deux par deux, un intervalle de forme correspondant sensiblement à la section transversale des tubes de circulation de fluide du deuxième desdits échangeurs, de manière à encliqueter le corps de ce deuxième échangeur sur ledit organe en forme de peigne pour le fixer au premier échangeur.

To this end, the invention relates to a heat exchange module, comprising a main exchanger and at least one secondary exchanger each comprising a body provided with fluid circulation tubes, and latching means for fixing the secondary exchanger on the main exchanger so that the same air flow can pass through the respective bodies of said exchangers,
wherein said latching means comprise at least one comb-shaped member comprising:

mounting means on a first of said exchangers, and

at least a first row of teeth having between them, two by two, a shape interval corresponding substantially to the cross section of the fluid circulation tubes of the second of said exchangers, so as to snap the body of this second exchanger onto said member in comb shape to fix it to the first exchanger.

The exchangers are therefore assembled by their body, by through their tubes and shaped organs comb.

This results in a simplification of the assembly of the module. heat exchange.

The module may also have dimensions less important. Indeed, the comb-shaped organs can be entirely in the space between the bodies and do not in this case do not extend beyond the cross section of the exchangers. In addition, the bodies can also be brought together as we wish.

This therefore also results in a lower thickness for the module, and a possibility of having for each exchanger maximum exchange area.

In a particular embodiment, said means of mounting of the comb-shaped member on the first of said exchangers include a second row of teeth with between them, two by two, a form interval substantially corresponding to the cross section of fluid circulation tubes of the first of said exchangers, so as to snap said comb-shaped member onto the body of the first exchanger.

In another particular embodiment, said means for mounting the comb-shaped member on the first said exchangers include a set of holes in which are engaged the fluid circulation tubes of the first exchanger.

The comb-shaped member may include a strip of support and teeth substantially in the plane of the band, the plane of this organ being substantially perpendicular to the plans of the exchanger bodies.

Alternatively, said comb-shaped member may include a support strip and teeth in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the strip, the plane of the strip is finding substantially parallel to the planes of the bodies of exchangers.

More particularly, the heat exchange module according to the invention can comprise at least two organs in the form of comb, said organs belonging to two sides of a frame assembly arranged to receive said heat exchangers through the comb-shaped organs.

Even more particularly, the heat exchange module according to the invention may include a tubular frame with two comb-shaped members whose support bands are arranged inside the frame, along two sides opposite of the latter, in a middle part of these sides in the axial direction.

In a particular embodiment, the organ in the form of comb has a recess, preferably substantially parallel to the exchanger plane, between the mounting means on the first exchanger and the first row of teeth.

The recess can extend over the entire length of the comb-shaped organ or only at the ends of this last.

This arrangement makes it possible to assemble exchangers of dimensions different.

réaliser lesdits échangeurs,

réaliser au moins un organe en forme de peigne comportant des moyens de montage sur un premier desdits échangeurs, et au moins une première rangée de dents présentant entre elles, deux par deux, un intervalle de forme correspondant sensiblement à la section transversale des tubes de circulation de fluide du deuxième desdits échangeurs,

monter ledit organe en forme de peigne sur le premier échangeur, et

encliqueter le corps du deuxième échangeur sur ledit organe en forme de peigne.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a heat exchange module comprising a main exchanger and at least one secondary exchanger each comprising a body provided with fluid circulation tubes, and latching means for fixing the secondary exchanger on the main exchanger so that the same air flow can pass through the respective bodies of said exchangers,
this process comprising the steps consisting in:

make said exchangers,

making at least one comb-shaped member comprising means for mounting on a first of said exchangers, and at least one first row of teeth having between them, two by two, a form interval corresponding substantially to the cross section of the circulation tubes of fluid from the second of said exchangers,

mount said comb-shaped member on the first exchanger, and

snap the body of the second exchanger onto said comb-shaped member.

In a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, said comb-shaped member is mounted on the first exchanger during the realization of the latter.

In another embodiment, said shaped organ of comb is snapped onto the body of the first exchanger after completion of the latter.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un module d'échange de chaleur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un cadre de module d'échange de chaleur selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté d'un organe en forme de peigne du module d'échange de chaleur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de cet organe monté sur le module ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de côté d'un organe en forme de peigne selon un autre mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de côté d'un module d'échange de chaleur comprenant au moins un organe en forme de peigne selon la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue partielle en perspective de deux échangeurs assembles conformément à un autre mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective d'un organe en forme de peigne utilisé dans l'assemblage de la figure 7 et
• la figure 9 est une vue en perspective d'un organe en forme de peigne selon un autre mode de réalisation.

We will now describe, by way of a limiting example, particular embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchange module according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a heat exchange module frame according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 3 is a side view of a comb-shaped member of the heat exchange module of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a view of this member mounted on the module;
• Figure 5 is a side view of a comb-shaped member according to another embodiment;
• Figure 6 is a side view of a heat exchange module comprising at least one comb-shaped member according to Figure 5;
• Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of two exchangers assembled in accordance with another embodiment;
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a comb-shaped member used in the assembly of FIG. 7 and
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of a comb-shaped member according to another embodiment.

We see in Figure 1 a heat exchange module comprising two heat exchangers, namely a radiator 1 of cooling of a motor vehicle engine provided with its motor-fan unit 2, and an air conditioning condenser 3.

The radiator 1 consists in a known manner of a body 4 mounted between two manifolds 5 and 6, the box manifold 6 being provided with inlet pipes 7 and coolant outlet.

The body 4 is produced from a bundle of tubes horizontal 8 for fluid circulation (figure 4), not shown individually in Figure 1. These tubes are here circular section tubes distributed on two layers perpendicular to the AV direction of travel of the vehicle.

The condenser 3 also consists of a body 9 mounted between two manifolds 10 and 11, the manifold 10 being provided with inlet and outlet pipes 12 fluid.

The body 9 is produced from a bundle of tubes of horizontal fluid circulation 13 (Figure 4). Tubes 13 are internally partitioned flat tubes, again called multi-channel tubes, the plane of which is arranged parallel to the AV direction of the vehicle. These tubes 13 are distributed on a single tablecloth perpendicular to the direction AV.

We will see below that the heat exchangers 1 and 3 are assembled by their bodies 4 and 9 respectively, via of two comb-shaped members 14, one of which section is shown in detail in Figure 3.

Each member 14 has a generally flat shape elongated, with a solid central strip 15 provided along each of its long sides of a row of couple of teeth, 16, 17 respectively, thus forming two opposite combs in the plan of the strip 15.

The pairs of teeth 16 are spaced at the transverse pitch of the tubes 8, and form between these teeth a slot 18 of width slightly smaller than the diameter of the tubes 8. This slot has two enlarged zones, one 19 at the bottom of the slot, and the other 20 near the edge of the slit.

The enlarged zones 19 and 20 generally have a shape circular with a diameter substantially equal to that of the tubes 8. Their centers are spaced along slot 18 of a distance substantially equal to the distance between the two tube sheets 8.

The pairs of teeth 17 are spaced at the transverse pitch of the tubes 13, and form between these teeth a slot 21 of a depth substantially equal to the width of the tubes 13 and of a width substantially equal to the thickness of these tubes.

Each slot 21 has a rounded bottom and is partially closed by a holding spout 22 projecting from the end of each tooth inward of the slot.

The members 14 are made for example of plastic, and are cut on demand according to the height of the heat exchange module. As shown in Figure 4, each organ is snapped in the first place for example on the tubes 8 of the exchanger 1 by its teeth 16, then the tubes 13 of the exchanger 3 are snapped onto the teeth 17 of the member 14 for assembling the module.

The plane of each organ 14 is therefore, in the present embodiment, substantially perpendicular to the planes plies of tubes 8 and 13. The bands 15 of each member 14 provide lateral sealing function for flow air between the two exchangers.

Figure 2 shows a variant in which the teeth 23 to engage the exchanger 1, and 24 to snap on the exchanger, 3, are mounted on a frame 25.

The frame 25 has, in the direction of the arrow AV, a generally tubular shape with rectangular section, of dimensions slightly greater than the plan dimensions of heat exchangers 1 and 3.

In the axially middle zone of the frame 25, two bands 26 are attached to the opposite vertical sides of this frame, protruding towards the inside of the latter, therefore substantially perpendicular to the direction of the arrow AV. The teeth latching 23 and 24 are arranged along the edge inside the bands 26, perpendicular to the plane of these strips, therefore protruding in the direction of the arrow AV.

The shape and pitch of the teeth 23 are identical to those of the teeth 16, as well as the shape and pitch of teeth 24 are identical to those of teeth 17.

The assembly of the heat exchange module is then done by successively engaging the tubes 8 of the exchanger 1 and 13 of exchanger 3 on frame 25, via teeth 23 and 24 respectively.

In this case, the lateral seal between the two exchangers is provided by the frame 25 which forms a circulation nozzle of air in which the two exchangers are interposed.

The tubular frame 25 may have axially, that is to say in the direction of the arrow AV, a dimension substantially equal to the thickness of the module, which it therefore substantially envelops totally.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The comb-shaped member 27 (FIG. 5) always includes a solid central strip 28 but, if one of the longitudinal edges of this band is always provided with pairs of teeth 29 for the locking of the tubes of one of the heat exchangers heat, its other edge has holes 30 of shape and dimensions corresponding to the tubes of the other heat exchanger heat. In this case, the two exchangers (Figure 6) are single-ply exchangers of flat tubes

The heat exchange module is then assembled by including the members 27 during the production of the exchanger corresponding to holes 30. The second exchanger is then snapped onto teeth 29.

It will be observed that this embodiment allows assembly three heat exchangers, providing a second row of teeth on the other side of the holes 30, along the edge of the member 27 opposite the teeth 29.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the two exchangers 1 and 3 of different dimensions and assembled using a comb shape 31 comprising, as described above, holes 32 for the passage of the heat exchanger tubes 1 and teeth 33 for receiving the tubes of the exchanger 3.

In this case, however, the comb-shaped organ 31 has a substantially perpendicular recess 34 to the planes of said member in which the holes 32 are formed and teeth 33, recess located between the plane in which are formed the holes 32 and the plane in which are formed teeth 33, and which is therefore after mounting substantially parallel to the plans of exchangers 1 and 3.

The recess 34 is here carried out in two parts at ends of the comb-shaped member 31. The teeth 33 which are linked to this setback therefore only appear in these end parts.

Figure 9 shows a comb-shaped member 35 which is an alternative embodiment of the comb-shaped member 31 Figures 7 and 8. The same references have been used.

However, in the latter case, the recess 34 extends over the entire length of the comb-shaped member 35, same therefore as the teeth 33. Furthermore the holes of passage of the heat exchanger tubes 1 have been replaced by teeth 36.

It will be observed that, in the case of teeth, provision is made in the comb-shaped members 31 and 35 of the end hooks 37, as an extension of the teeth 33, which ensure or to strengthen the snap of the comb-shaped organ on the respective exchanger.

The heat exchange modules in Figures 7 to 9 can have one or two comb-shaped members such as those which have just been described, to one or each of their ends.

The presence of a setback between the means. mounting (teeth or holes) on the first exchanger and the teeth for the snap-in of the second exchanger makes it possible to assemble two exchangers of different dimensions. In other words, this offset allows the assembly of two exchangers whose respective bodies, i.e. their respective tubes, have different lengths.

Of course, the offset can be achieved over the entire length of the comb-shaped organ or only at the ends of the latter regardless of the type of means of mounting (teeth or holes) used for assembling the first exchanger.

Claims (14)

1. Heat exchange module comprising a main exchanger (1) and at least one secondary exchanger (3), each comprising a body (4, 9) fitted with fluid-circulation tubes (8, 13) and snap-fastening means for fixing the secondary exchanger onto the main exchanger so that the same air flow can pass through the respective bodies of the said exchangers,
   characterized in that the said snap-fastening means comprise at least one member (14; 23, 24, 26; 27; 31; 35) in the form of a comb comprising

   means (16; 23; 30; 32; 36) for mounting on a first of the said exchangers, and

   at least a first row of teeth (17; 24; 29; 33) having, between them, in pairs, a space of a shape corresponding roughly to the cross section of the fluid circulation tubes of the second of the said exchangers so as to snap-fasten the body of this second exchanger onto the said comb-shaped member in order to fix it to the first exchanger.
2. Heat exchange module according to Claim 1, in which the said means for mounting the said comb-shaped member on the first of the said exchangers comprise a second row of teeth (16; 23; 36) having, between them, in pairs, a space of a shape corresponding roughly to the cross section of the fluid circulation tubes of the first of the said exchangers, so as to snap-fasten the said comb-shaped member onto the body of the first exchanger.
3. Heat exchange module according to Claim 1, in which the said means for mounting the comb-shaped member on the first of the said exchangers comprise a set of holes (30; 32) in which the fluid circulation tubes of the first exchanger are engaged.
4. Heat exchange module according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said comb-shaped member comprises a support strip (15; 28) and teeth more or less in the plane of the strip, the plane of this member lying roughly perpendicular to the planes of the bodies of the exchangers.
5. Heat exchange module according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said comb-shaped member comprises a support strip (26) and teeth in a plane roughly perpendicular to the plane of the strip, the plane of the strip lying roughly parallel to the planes of the bodies of the exchangers.
6. Heat exchange module according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, comprising at least two comb-shaped members, the said members belonging to two sides of a mounting surround (25) designed to accommodate the said heat exchangers via the comb-shaped members.
7. Heat exchange module according to Claims 5 and 6 together, comprising a tubular surround (25) with two comb-shaped members the support strips (26) of which are arranged on the inside of the surround, along two opposed sides thereof, in a central part of these sides considered in the axial direction.
8. Heat exchange module according to Claim 1 in which the said comb-shaped member (31; 35) has a discontinuity (34) between the means (32; 36) for mounting on the first exchanger and the first row of teeth (33).
9. Heat exchange module according to Claim 8, in which the discontinuity (34) extends over the entire length of the comb-shaped member (31; 35).
10. Heat exchange module according to Claim 8, in which the discontinuity (34) runs only at the ends of the comb-shaped member (31; 35).
11. Heat exchange module according to one of Claims 8 to 10, in which the discontinuity (34) is roughly parallel to the plane of the exchangers (1, 3).
12. Method for producing a heat exchange module comprising a main exchanger (1) and at least one secondary exchanger (3) each comprising a body (4, 9) fitted with fluid circulation tubes, and snap-fastening means for fixing the secondary exchanger onto the main exchanger so that the same air flow can pass through the respective bodies of the said exchangers, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in:

    producing the said exchangers (1),

    producing at least one comb-shaped member (14) comprising means (16) of mounting on a first of the said exchangers, and at least a first row of teeth (17) having, between them, in pairs, a space of a shape that roughly corresponds to the cross section of the fluid circulation tubes of the second of the said exchangers,

    mounting the said comb-shaped member (14) on the first exchanger (1), and

    snap-fastening the body (9) of the second exchanger (3) onto the said comb-shaped member.
13. Method according to Claim 12, in which the said comb-shaped member is mounted on the first exchanger when the latter is being produced.
14. Method according to Claim 12, in which the said comb-shaped member is snap-fastened onto the body of the first exchanger after the latter has been produced.

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