EP2128548B1 - Manifold heat exchanger and manifold chamber, more particularly for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The heat exchanger comprises a tube bundle (12), a manifold (18) into which the tube bundle opens and a manifold box (20). The manifold and manifold box are formed by two half-shells having flat joints (22,24) assembled along a common joining plane.

Description

The invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, in particular for motor vehicles.

More specifically, it relates to a heat exchanger comprising a bundle of tubes, at least one collector in which the tubes of the bundle open, and a collector box covering the collector.

Such a heat exchanger may constitute, for example, a cooling radiator of the vehicle engine, a heating radiator of the passenger compartment, or an evaporator or a condenser of an air conditioning circuit.

In a heat exchanger of this type, the tube bundle is usually mounted between two manifolds via their respective manifolds, and is adapted to be traversed by a fluid. In the case of an engine cooling radiator or a heating radiator of the passenger compartment, this fluid is the liquid used for cooling the engine. In the case of an evaporator or an air conditioning condenser, this fluid is a refrigerant.

In known heat exchangers, the collector is usually made in the form of a plate which is provided with holes for receiving the ends of the tubes of the bundle. These holes are generally flanked by a collar to facilitate a sealed assembly between the collector and the tubes of the bundle. This assembly can be carried out either by brazing or by means of a seal.

For its part, the manifold that caps the collector is arranged to cooperate sealingly with him. The manifold can be made in the form of a metal piece which is soldered to the manifold.

It is also known to use plastic collector boxes which are crimped on the collector, by means of crimping means, in particular claws, that comprises it.

In any case, the manifold and the manifold constitute very different specific parts which are designed to cooperate with each other.

The document EP0222636A1 discloses a heat exchanger, comprising a bundle of tubes and at least one fluid box mounted at one end of this bundle of tubes by a manifold and connected to a fluid circuit by a manifold which is integrally formed on an extension Lateral of the collector and which opens into a lateral extension of the fluid box covering the lateral extension of the collector.

The documents JPH051896A and US5366008A describe a heat exchanger with tanks formed by the assembly of a collector and a lid, which cooperate together through a shape connection.

The invention aims to simplify the production of collectors and manifolds.

For this purpose, according to the invention, the collector and the header are formed by two half-shells generally symmetrical on either side of a junction plane and having respective flat seals assembled along said junction plane.

It is thus possible to realize the collector and the manifold from identical pieces, namely two half-shells, intended to be joined to one another.

This does not exclude that specific operations are implemented to achieve one of the half-shells, for example that intended to form the collector.

Indeed, it will be necessary to arrange holes in the half-shell forming collector for receiving the tubes of the beam.

In any case, the manufacture of the manifold and the manifold is simplified since these two components use the same half-shell at the base. The collector and the manifold can thus be obtained by common tools.

Moreover, the presence of a flat gasket facilitates and improves the tight junction between the two half-shells.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two half-shells are made of metal, for example aluminum, and their respective flat seals are assembled by brazing.

According to the invention, the respective flat seals are formed towards the inside of the half-shells.

This allows in particular to reduce the size of the collector box. In addition, according to the invention, one of the flat joints thus formed inward forms a stop against the tubes of the beam.

The flat seals may have respective impressions of conjugate shapes which are intended to fit each other by shape cooperation to ensure a positional holding of the two half-shells.

According to yet another particularity of the invention, the collector half-shell further comprises holes for receiving the tubes of the bundle.

A heat exchanger collector box may comprise one or more pipes used for entering or leaving a heat transfer fluid.

According to the invention, and in an alternative embodiment, the two half-shells are formed with half-pipes generally symmetrical with respect to the junction plane, so as to form a complete tubing (also called "spacer"), when the two half-shells are assembled together.

Preferably, the half-shells are each formed by forming a metal sheet. By the term "forming" is meant at least one conventional mechanical operation, such as for example stamping, folding, rolling, etc.

Thus, when the two half-shells are each formed with a half-pipe, the half-pipes are also formed during the forming of the two half-shells.

The presence of flat joints allows to form different arrangements.

Thus, it can be expected that at least one of the flat seals is extended outwardly by a tongue serving, for example, the positioning and / or fixing of the heat exchanger.

In a preferred application of the invention, the heat exchanger also comprises corrugated spacers placed between the tubes, the assembly being formed by brazing.

• la Figure 1 est une vue partielle de côté d'un exemple d'échangeur de chaleur;
• la Figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale selon la ligne II-II de la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un exemple d'ensemble collecteur-boîte collectrice;
• la Figure 4 est une vue partielle en perspective d'un exemple d'échangeur de chaleur, dans lequel le collecteur et la boîte collectrice sont formés chacun avec une demi-tubulure ;
• la Figure 5 est une vue en coupe d'un échangeur de chaleur selon l'invention; et
• la Figure 6 est vue partielle en coupe de deux joints plats munis de moyens de maintien.

In the following description, given by way of example, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 is a partial side view of an example heat exchanger;
• the Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II of the Figure 1 ;
• the Figure 3 is a perspective view of an example of a collector-collector box assembly;
• the Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of an example of a heat exchanger, in which the collector and the header are each formed with a half-pipe;
• the Figure 5 is a sectional view of a heat exchanger according to the invention; and
• the Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of two flat seals provided with holding means.

We first refer jointly to Figures 1 and 2 which partially show a heat exchanger 10 comprising a bundle 12 formed of flat tubes 14, parallel to one another, and between which corrugated inserts 16 are arranged.

At least one end of the beam 12, the tubes 14 are received in a manifold 18, which is capped by a manifold 20 to form a volume that communicates with the tubes 14 of the beam. The assembly can be traversed by a heat transfer fluid which exchanges heat with a flow of air sweeping the beam.

At their other end, the tubes 14 of the bundle are advantageously received in an identical or similar collector (not shown), also capped by a manifold (not shown).

As we see on the Figure 2 , the manifold 18 and the manifold 20 are formed of two generally symmetrical half-shells, assembled on either side of a junction plane P. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these two half-shells are identical and they have respective flat seals 22 and 24 formed around the periphery of the shells and towards the outside.

The two half-shells 18 and 20 are advantageously formed by forming and in particular by stamping a metal sheet, preferably aluminum or aluminum alloy. These two half-shells are formed from the same basic elements and with the same tools. The only difference here lies in the fact that the half-shell forming the collector 18 must be further machined to form elongate holes 26 ( Figure 2 ) each adapted to receive an end of a tube 14. These holes are advantageously formed by cutting with the press. They are advantageously surrounded each by a collar improving the junction between the tube and the collector.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, all the other components of the heat exchanger are made of metal, preferably in the same metal or metal alloy as the collector and the header. The assembly is assembled by brazing, advantageously by passing through the oven, during a single operation.

Thus, the assembly of the manifold and the manifold is made in the same plane of junction with a flat landing against flat of the flat seals 22 and 24.

This design allows for shallow embossing, resulting in a gain of material. In addition, some of the stamping may be common to both half-shells, which reduces the manufacturing time.

In addition, the flat berthing against flat makes it possible to obtain a good soldering. Finally, the presence of the flat seals 22 and 24, which extend at the periphery and outside of the manifold / header assembly, forms a protruding element. This protruding element can be used, for example, for setting the heat exchanger in a housing. This is of interest especially when the heat exchanger must be inserted and mounted in a housing of a heater and / or air conditioning of a motor vehicle.

We now refer to the Figure 3 which shows a collector / collector assembly similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 , but in an alternative embodiment. The main difference here lies in the fact that one flat seals, namely the flat gasket 22, comprises two projecting tongues 28 and 30 which can be used, for example, for setting the heat exchanger in a housing (not shown). We also distinguish on the Figure 3 a claw 32 for holding the two flat seals against each other.

In the embodiment of the Figure 4 , which is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 , the respective half-shells 18 and 20 are each formed with half-pipes 34 and 36 each having a substantially semicircular section. These two half-pipes are generally symmetrical with respect to the junction plane. Thus, when the two half-shells are joined together, the half-pipes 34 and 36 together form a complete pipe 38, also called "spacer".

This pipe serves for the entry or exit of a heat transfer fluid circulating in the heat exchanger. As can be seen from the Figure 4 , the respective flat seals 22 and 24 of the two half-shells continue at the level of the half-pipes 34 and 36, thus improving the tight junction of these two half-pipes between them.

The two half-pipes 34 and 36 are advantageously formed by forming, in particular by stamping, at the same time as the two half-shells, which also facilitates the manufacture. The interface with the tubings can be provided by a brazed element which surrounds the two half-shells.

This embodiment has the advantage of allowing an oblong connection, or even rectangle, on the water box. This also allows a reduction in the height of the manifold, which results in a reduction of the material engaged and a reduction in size.

It also results in the advantage of keeping the passage section of the liquid constant without generating an increase in the speed of the liquid when passing through the tubing or spacer.

This design allows a connection of a tubulure either laterally on the collecting box, either at the end of the latter.

The embodiment of the Figure 5 differs from that of figure 2 in that the respective flat seals 22 and 24 are formed towards the inside of the half-shells, instead of the outside. Under these conditions, the forming of the half-shells can be obtained only by stamping and requires at least one additional operation to fold the flat seals inward.

The fact of having flat joints directed inward makes it possible to reduce the bulk of the collecting box. In addition, one of the flat seals, here the seal 22 forms a stop against the tubes 14 of the beam 12. This allows to automatically position the tubes in the axial direction relative to the manifold.

The fact that the flat seals 22 and 24 are here turned inward does not prevent the production of outwardly protruding elements similar to the tabs 28 and 30 described above. Indeed such elements can be easily obtained by conventional mechanical operations, for example by double folding.

In the embodiment of the Figure 6 , the flat seals 22 and 24 have respective imprints 40 and 42 of conjugate shapes which are intended to fit each other by shape cooperation to ensure a positional holding of the two half-shells. In the example shown, these impressions are obtained by a U-fold of each of the flat seals. These impressions can be made either on the whole or on a portion of the periphery of the half-shells.

The arrangement of such indentations is equally applicable to flat seals directed to the outside ( Figure 2 ) with flat joints directed inwards ( Figure 5 ).

The invention finds particular application to heat exchangers of motor vehicles. Such a heat exchanger may constitute, for example, a cooling radiator of the vehicle engine, a heating radiator of the passenger compartment, or an evaporator or a condenser of an air conditioning circuit.

Claims (8)

1. Heat exchanger comprising a bundle (12) of tubes (14), said heat exchanger comprising
   at least one header/header box assembly comprising a header box capping a header, the header (18) and the header box (20) being formed by two half-shells which are generally symmetrical on either side of a common junction plane (P) and which have respective flat joints (22, 24) assembled along said junction plane, the tubes (14) opening into the header,
   characterized in that the respective flat joints (22, 24) are formed to the inside of the half-shells, and
   in that one of the flat joints (22, 24) which are formed to the inside forms a stop for the tubes (14) of the bundle (12).
2. Heat exchanger according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two half-shells (18, 20) are made of metal, for example aluminium, and in that their respective flat joints (22, 24) are assembled by brazing.
3. Heat exchanger according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the flat joints (22, 24) have respective impressions (40, 42) of complementary shape which are intended to fit together by shape correspondence in order to hold the two half-shells in position.
4. Heat exchanger according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that the half-shell forming the header (18) additionally includes holes (26) for accommodating the tubes (14) of the bundle (12).
5. Heat exchanger according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that the two half-shells (18, 20) are formed with half-pipes (34, 36) which are generally symmetrical with respect to the junction plane (P), so as to form a complete pipe (38), also referred to as a spacer, when the two half-shells are joined together.
6. Heat exchanger according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that the two half-shells (18, 20) are each produced by forming a metal sheet.
7. Heat exchanger according to Claims 5 and 6, taken in combination, characterized in that the two half-pipes (34, 36) are also produced during the forming of the two half-shells (18, 20).
8. Heat exchanger according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that it additionally comprises corrugated inserts (16) arranged between the tubes (14) of the bundle.

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