EP2491328B1 - Heat exchanger header - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a collector for heat exchanger and a heat exchanger equipped with such a collector.

The invention will find, in particular, its applications in the field of condensers for heating or cooling devices of motor vehicles.

However, although particularly intended for such an application the exchanger can be used in other areas using exchangers with collectors in two parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In some heat exchangers, a two-part type collector called bipartite collector or bipartite fluid box is used.

More specifically, this type of collector comprises a first lower part or collector plate which comprises a bottom and longitudinal walls.

This type of manifold also comprises an upper part forming a lid, this upper part coming to receive flanges forming an inlet and / or outlet for a fluid passing through the heat exchanger and / or flanges forming fixing lugs allowing the heat exchanger to be fixed on a support.

A tube heat exchanger generally comprises one or two collectors whose lower part has parallel slots for receiving the ends of the tubes in which the fluid passing through the exchanger circulates, said fluid opening through the end of said tubes into an interior volume. of the collector.

The various components of the exchanger are generally metallic, especially aluminum alloy, and are assembled by brazing. To ensure good quality brazing, it is necessary to assemble the components beforehand, precisely.

Thus, the assembly of a heat exchanger comprises many preliminary assembly steps. In the case of a bipartite collector, in addition to the assembly of the metal tubes, a first connection is made between the lower and upper portions of the collector, a second connection between the inlet / outlet flanges and the upper part of the collector. and a third assembly between the upper part and the different fixing lugs.

These different assemblies require two or three steps according to the assembly methods known to those skilled in the art; the assembly process of the exchanger is therefore complex especially as the assemblies use different technologies including crimping, clinching or welding.

Thus, a first method of assembly is known in which the cover is crimped by clips provided at the bottom, the inlet / outlet flange is maintained by flaring a collar of the cover and the tab is fixed by a clip of the tab through the wall of the lid.

A second method of assembly is also known in which the lid is also crimped on the lower part by means of staples arranged on the lower part, while the inlet / outlet flange is crimped by a staple disposed on the lower part. cover and that the fixing lug is attached to the cover by means of a TIG type weld.

A third method of assembly is also known in which the cover is crimped into the lower part of the manifold while the flange
input / output and the bracket are secured to the lid by clinching operations.

We also know of the document DE4232018A1 an assembly mode in which the lid and the flange are crimped in the lower part of the collector.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose a collector for a heat exchanger whose structure of the various components makes it possible to assemble the lower part of the collector and of the cover and at least of the inlet / outlet flange (s) into one only crimping operation when the aforementioned components have been positioned relative to each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a collector according to the features of claim 1.

• ladite bride est choisie parmi les composants suivants :
  • bride de connection, définissant une entrée et/ou sortie de fluide et permettant la réception d'une conduite,
• le collecteur comprend au moins deux dites brides,
• les profils de la ou desdites brides de connexion, et/ou de la ou desdites brides de fixation sont tous identiques,
• lesdits bords longitudinaux sont prévus repliés tout le long dudit collecteur,

According to different embodiments:

• said flange is selected from the following components:
  • connection flange, defining an inlet and / or outlet of fluid and allowing the reception of a pipe,
• the collector comprises at least two said flanges,
• the profiles of the one or more connection flanges, and / or of the one or more fastening flanges are all identical,
• said longitudinal edges are provided folded along the length of said manifold,

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger comprising at least one collector as mentioned above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• la figure 1 représente de manière schématique et en perspective un exemple de réalisation d'une partie de l'échangeur comportant un collecteur réalisé conformément à l'invention;
• la figure 2 représente une vue agrandie d'un détail de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue transversale, selon une première coupe, de l'exemple de réalisation de l'échangeur représenté à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue transversale, selon une seconde coupe, de l'exemple de réalisation de l'échangeur représenté à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de coupe d'une variante de réalisation, la coupe étant effectuée selon une orientation identique à celle des figures 3 et 4.

The present invention will be better understood on reading a detailed example of embodiment with reference to the appended figures, provided by way of non-limiting example, among which:

• the figure 1 shows schematically and in perspective an embodiment of a part of the exchanger comprising a collector made according to the invention;
• the figure 2 represents an enlarged view of a detail of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a transverse view, in a first section, of the embodiment of the exchanger shown in FIG. figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is a transverse view, in a second section, of the embodiment of the exchanger shown in FIG. figure 1 ;
• the figure 5 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment, the section being made in an orientation identical to that of the Figures 3 and 4 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figure 1 partially shown a heat exchanger 1. It comprises a bundle of tubes 100, intended to be traversed by a fluid exchanging heat with a flow of air through the exchanger, alternating with inserts 110, arranged between the tubes 100 to increase the exchange surface.

Said heat exchanger 1 also comprises a bipartite collector 2, with a lower part 3 and an upper part 4. That being so, the terms "lower" and "upper" do not presage the orientation of the collector or the orientation of the collector. exchanger in which said collector is used, the exchanger can be oriented so as to allow circulation vertical flow of fluid flowing through its tubes.

The lower part 3 forms the base of the collector 2 and comprises a bottom 5, longitudinal walls 6 terminated by longitudinal edges 7, for example rectilinear, and transverse walls 8.

The upper part 4 forms the cover of the collector 2. The dimensions of the cover 4 are designed to allow insertion and reception of the cover 4 between the longitudinal walls 6, when the longitudinal edges 7 are in the upright position.

The exchanger 1 further comprises two fluid inlet / outlet flanges 9 each allowing the reception of a fluid line (not shown in the accompanying figures).

The exchanger 1 also comprises two other flanges forming two fastening lugs 10. These fastening lugs 10 make it possible to secure the exchanger 2 to a support (not shown in the appended figures), according to various fixing possibilities. known to those skilled in the art.

Referring this time to Figures 2 and 3 it is seen that the inlet / outlet flange 9 has a particular profile 11. This profile 11 allows the reception, at the flanks 12 of the flange 9, the longitudinal edges 7, once the latter folded.

Specifically, the profile 11 allows the insertion of the inlet / outlet flange 9 between the longitudinal edges 7 when they are in the upright position and the crimping of the flange 9 by folding said longitudinal edges 7 on the flanks 12.

In the exemplary embodiment according to the invention and represented in the figure 3 , the profile 11 has a groove 13 formed in a flank 12 of the flange 9 and on its other side 12 a protrusion 14.

The protrusion 14 has a lower face 15 substantially matching the shape of the lid 4 and a side face 16 abutting the inside of the longitudinal wall 6 of the lower part 3. In this way, when the longitudinal edges 7 are folded for one in the groove 13 and for the other on the protrusion 14, on the one hand the crimping of the flange 9 on the cover 4 is obtained and on the other hand the clasping of the cover 4 between the flange 9 and the lower part 3.

The crimping of the flange 9 therefore makes it possible to securely hold the cover 4 between the lower part 3 and the flange 9 in a single crimping operation.

Advantageously, the groove 13 and the protrusion 14 extend over the entire length of the flanks 12 of the flange 9.

Advantageously, the fixing lugs 10 are also designed to be secured to the lid 4 and the lower part 3 simultaneously with the crimping operation of the flanges 9.

To do this, and referring mainly to the figure 4 it is anticipated that the profile 17 of the fixing lugs 10 comprises, for example, two wedge-shaped ends 18.

Each corner 19 matches the surface of the cover 4 and fits into the space formed between the cover 4 and the longitudinal walls 6 of the lower part 3. The fastening between the fixing lugs 10, the cover 4 and the lower part is obtained when the longitudinal edges 7 are folded over the corners 19 preventing any movement of spacing of the tabs 10 vis-à-vis the cover 4 and the lower part 3.

It is important to point out that the dimensions of the groove 13 and the protrusion 14 are calculated to be compatible with an angle of inclination determined between the flange 9 and a plane of symmetry of the collector 2.

This inclination is obtained by varying the length of the protrusion 14 and the depth of the groove 13. It is thus possible to precisely obtain different inclinations of the flange 9 with respect to the collector 2. referring to the figure 3 a possible example of inclination between the flange 9 and the collector 2, the inclination being controlled by the dimensions of the groove 13 and the protrusion 14.

In the same way, the orientation of the fixing lug 10 with respect to the collector 2 is controlled by varying the length of the corners 19. In the embodiment of the appended figures and as particularly visible in FIG. figure 4 , the corners 19 are substantially identical, however, to obtain other inclinations, may be provided corners 19 of non-identical lengths.

As illustrated in figure 5 the exchanger may also comprise a bottle 40, provided in fluid communication with the collector. In a manner known to those skilled in the art, such a bottle is oriented parallel to the collector 2 and has a wall 42, defining an inner volume 44. Such a bottle serves, in particular, to define a fluid storage volume and / or to facilitate phase separation, when associated with a condenser. Said bottle may also be equipped with a filter and / or a desiccant cartridge, not shown.

Said collector may then be provided with a flange, as mentioned above, this time defining a flange 30 for attaching the bottle 40, said attachment flange 30 possibly being provided in continuity of material of the bottle 40. In the example shown, the fastening flange 30 is of the excrescence type 14 or corners 19.

It is also important to emphasize that to position the cover 4 in the lower part 3 during the folding of the longitudinal edges is provided at the longitudinal walls 6 and / or transverse walls 8 local deformation or extra thickness. This local deformation or thickening constituting a stop 20 preventing the cover 4 from sinking into the bottom of the lower part 3 by forcing on the longitudinal walls 6.

However, it should be noted that, in known manner, the collector 2 may comprise partitions dividing its internal volume into several parts, each connected to a given number of tubes of the exchanger, defining fluid circulation passes, with to effect an alternating circulation of the fluid in an alternating direction from one pass to another.

In such a case and according to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the cover 4 can bear on the lower part 3 by means of said partitions and / or transverse walls 8 alternatively and / or complementary to a support made by the stops 20.

It can thus be seen that the proposed structure makes it possible simultaneously to crimp the various types of flanges 9, 10, 30 provided for the collector 2, while ensuring the maintenance of the cover 4.

More precisely, the folded edges 7 will be present, for example, at the level of said flanges, at least at the level of at least one of said flanges, and it is the crimping of said flange (s) by the folded edges 7 which will block the lid 4 on the lower part 3. It can also be provided folded edges 7 beyond said flanges to ensure a locking position of the lid not only by the flanges but also by the folded parts, then in direct contact with said cover, provided beyond the flanges.

The method of assembling the exchanger consists in carrying out a first step of positioning the cover 4 of the collector 2. To do this, the cover 4 is inserted into the lower part 3 until it reaches the stop 20. different flanges input / output 9 are positioned on the cover 4. This positioning of the flange 9 is easy since it is sufficient to move vertically the flanges 9 to the contact with the cover 4 by matching the openings provided on the cover 4 with those provided on the flanges 9.

In the embodiment illustrated, the heat exchanger 1 has fastening lugs 10 at the collector 2, the positioning of the fastening lugs 10 is consequently also carried out. However, this step is naturally omitted when the fastening lugs 10 are not removed. disposed on the cover of the collector 2 or in a degraded embodiment of the invention wherein the fastening lugs 10 are fixed in a conventional manner on the lid 4 in particular by welding or stapling.

The method of assembly of the exchanger 1 then consists in carrying out a step of folding the longitudinal edges 7. This folding step makes it possible to position the end of the longitudinal edges 7 in the grooves 13 and on the protuberances 14 of the flanges 9 and as appropriate, on the corners 19.

When the longitudinal edges 7 are placed on the flanks 12 of the flanges 9 and cover the corners 19 of the attachment lugs 10, the crimping of the flanges 9 and lugs 10 is performed and the cover 4 of the collector 2 is clamped. The assembly of the various components 3, 4, 9 and 10 is therefore performed simultaneously in a single crimping operation.

Other features of the invention could also have been envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

In another embodiment, the grooves 13 and the protuberances 14 of the flanges 9 extend only partially along the length of the components 9 and 10.

Instead of being rectilinear, the longitudinal edges 7 may be in the form of crimping tabs distributed along the sidewalls, for example regularly and / or so as to coincide with the locations of the grooves, excrescences and / or corners flanges, the assembly being performed after folding said crimping tabs.

Claims (6)

1. Header for a heat exchanger, said header comprising a lower part (3) having two longitudinal edges (7), an upper part (4) forming a cover, and at least one flange (9), said flange (9) having a profile (11) that allows longitudinal edges (7) of the header, which come at least locally bent over, to be accepted at its flanks (12) so that the flange (9) can be crimped to said cover (4) while at the same time the cover (4) can be held on said lower part (3), characterized in that the profile (11) on one flank (12) has a groove (13) able to accept the end of a first bent-over longitudinal edge (7) and, on the other flank (12), has a protrusion (14) able to be at least partially covered by the end of the second bent-over longitudinal edge (7), the groove (13) and the protrusion (14) being dimensioned so as to be compatible with a set angle of inclination between the flange (9) and the header (2).
2. Header according to Claim 1, in which said flange is chosen from the following components:

   - a connecting flange (9) defining a fluid inlet and/or outlet and able to accept a pipe.
3. Header according to Claim 2, comprising at least two of said flanges (9).
4. Header according to Claim 3, in which the profiles of said connecting flange or flanges are all identical.
5. Header according to any of the preceding claims, in which said longitudinal edges (7) are bent over along the entire length of said header.
6. Heat exchanger comprising at least one header according to any of the preceding claims.

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