EP3491316A1

EP3491316A1 - Collector plate, corresponding header box and corresponding heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: EP3491316A1
Application number: EP17748840.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Riondet; Jean-Marc Lesueur; Rémi TOURNOIS; Yves SEYNAT
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques SAS
Priority date: 2016-07-29
Filing date: 2017-07-25
Publication date: 2019-06-05
Also published as: FR3054653B1; FR3054653A1; WO2018020138A1; US20210285732A1; CN109844436A; US11732979B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a collector plate (11) for heat exchanger (1), the collector plate (11) comprising: – a peripheral groove (21) exhibiting a bottom (22), – at least one upper step (25) protruding with respect to the bottom (22) of the said groove (21) over a predefined height (H1), and – at least at one longitudinal end of the collector plate (11) an intermediate portion (27) between the upper step (25) and the said groove (21). According to the invention, at the said at least one longitudinal end of the collector plate (11), the said groove (21) exhibits an interior wall (23) at least one portion of which connects the intermediate portion (27) to the bottom (22) of the said groove (21) and extends over a height (H2) that is non-zero and less than the height (H1) of the upper step (25). The invention also relates to a corresponding header box (3) and to a corresponding heat exchanger (1).

Description

COLLECTOR PLATE, COLLECTOR BOX AND EXCHANGER

THERMAL CORRESPONDENTS

The invention relates to a collector plate, in particular a collecting box for a heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle.

The invention also relates to a collector box and a corresponding heat exchanger.

Heat exchangers used in motor vehicles are already known, such as radiators for example for cooling the engine coolant.

Generally, such a heat exchanger comprises a bundle of tubes and fins interposed between the tubes, and a collection box. This manifold comprises at least two parts: a collector plate receiving the ends of the tubes and a cover which is fixed on the collector plate to close the collector box by compressing a sealing means.

According to a known solution, the header plate comprises a groove or groove intended to facilitate in particular the positioning and the holding in place of the sealing means. The collector plate then has an upper bearing protruding relative to the bottom of the peripheral groove, also called medallion, which is intended to be traversed by the heat exchange tubes. In order to facilitate the design of the collector plate and to avoid an abrupt slope between the bottom of the peripheral groove and the medallion, an intermediate portion between the bottom of the groove and the medallion may be provided, in particular being inclined relative to in the plane defined by the medallion.

At the assembly of the manifold, the lid is positioned on the sealing means and the lid is attached to the header plate to close the manifold. The sealing means thus compressed ensures the sealing of the manifold.

The sealing means is in known manner made of polymer material. However, this material has an instability notably due to temperature and humidity variations.

In order to remedy this drawback, it is known to use an elastic sealing means and to put it under tension. In particular, according to a known solution, the sealing means is stretched around the extreme heat exchange tubes.

However, in the case of a throat header plate, the latter is generally narrow and this can lead to a bad positioning of the sealing means in the groove.

To remedy this, it has been proposed a slotted collector plate having at each longitudinal end of the collector plate, a flat area between the bottom of the peripheral groove and the intermediate portion connecting the groove to the medallion. The orifices conventionally flanked by collars and intended to receive the end tubes are arranged on this flat area. The sealing means is also arranged in this flat area of the groove to be stretched around the end tubes at the assembly of the heat exchanger.

However, when assembling the manifold, for example by crimping the lid on the header plate, the sealing means may not be properly held in place in this flat area of the groove.

Another disadvantage is that during compression of the sealing means by the cover, the sealing means comes into contact with the ends of the heat exchange tubes opening into the manifold box. In particular, in the case of a heat exchanger assembled by brazing, these tubes are thin and the ends of the end tubes in contact with the sealing means can be deformed under the effect of the pressure exerted by the sealing means , thus reducing heat exchange performance.

The invention aims to at least partially overcome these problems of the prior art by providing a header plate for an optimized maintenance of the sealing means to be arranged in the peripheral groove of the collector plate to the assembly of the collector box containing such a collector plate.

For this purpose the invention relates to a collector plate for a heat exchanger, the collector plate comprising:

a peripheral groove having a bottom,

at least one upper bearing protruding with respect to the bottom of said groove over a predefined height, and

- At least one longitudinal end of the header plate, an intermediate portion between the upper bearing and said groove.

According to the invention, at said at least one longitudinal end of the header plate, said groove has an inner wall of which at least one portion connects the portion intermediate at the bottom of said groove and extends over a non-zero height and lower than the height of the upper bearing.

There is therefore no flat area between the bottom of the peripheral groove and the intermediate portion but the inner wall connects the bottom of the peripheral groove to the intermediate portion. This inner wall does not extend over the entire height defined by the upper bearing thus forming a partial groove providing an additional bearing surface for a sealing means intended to be arranged in the peripheral groove, with respect to the solution of the prior art with a flat area joining the bottom of the peripheral groove to the upper bearing. According to one aspect of the invention, the header plate comprises a plurality of orifices for the passage of a plurality of heat exchange tubes of the heat exchanger formed on the upper bearing and the intermediate portion, and said at least one a longitudinal end of the header plate, the end orifice is arranged on the intermediate portion.

In particular, the peripheral groove is devoid of orifice for the passage of a heat exchange tube. Consequently, the end orifice is neither on the upper bearing nor in the peripheral groove, but on the intermediate portion making a transition between the groove and the upper bearing, which makes it possible to increase the bearing surface of the sealing means when it is arranged in the peripheral groove and stretched around collars conventionally bordering the end holes. This optimizes the holding in position of the sealing means during assembly of the manifold, for example by crimping.

According to one embodiment, the inner wall of said groove has in cross section a linear profile extending over a non-zero continuous height and less than the height of the upper bearing.

According to another embodiment, the inner wall of said groove has in cross section an at least partially curved profile. According to one aspect of this embodiment, at least the end sections of the inner wall in the transverse direction of the header plate, extend over a non-zero height and lower than the height of the upper bearing.

Advantageously, the height of said at least one portion of the inner wall of said groove is between one quarter and three quarters of the height of the upper bearing, according to the 1 3

following relation: - // l <H 2≤ - Hl, where H1 corresponds to the height of the upper level and

H2 at the height of said at least one section of the inner wall.

This gives a gradual inclination and the slope is not too high or steep, to obtain a compact collector plate and easy design. The header plate may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken separately or in combination:

the upper bearing extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane along which the bottom of said groove extends;

- Two or three collars are formed on the intermediate portion. This reduces the bulk, especially in the longitudinal direction of the header plate;

the peripheral groove comprises an opposite inner wall and an outer wall connected by the bottom of said groove,

- At said at least one longitudinal end of the header plate, the intermediate portion and the inner wall of said groove extend in different directions and concurrent;

- At said at least one longitudinal end of the header plate, the inner wall of said groove has a slope inclined relative to the plane along which the bottom of said groove. This makes it easier to stamp the material;

- The intermediate portion is inclined relative to the plane defined by the upper bearing, an inclination angle of the order of 5 ° to 25 °, preferably of the order of 10 °. Such angle of inclination is advantageous in terms of the manufacturing process, especially for a stamping of the collector plate.

The invention also relates to a collector box for a heat exchanger comprising:

a collector plate as defined above,

compressible sealing means arranged at least partly in said peripheral groove of the collecting plate, and

a cover provided with a peripheral cover foot at least partially received in said groove of the collector plate, with interposition of the sealing means, so as to close the manifold by compressing the sealing means,

and such that the upper bearing is protruding towards the lid in the assembled state of the collector box.

The sealing means once arranged in the peripheral groove according to the invention is thus held in position in a simple manner. This increases the mechanical strength of the collector box. According to one aspect of the invention, the collector plate comprises protruding collars bordering the orifices, the collars extending towards the inside of the collector box at different heights along the intermediate portion (the size of each of the collars (ie height of the collar between the foot and the top of the collar) being for its part substantially identical for each collar of the collector plate), and the sealing means, before compression, a maximum height less than or equal to the height of the collar the lowest (height compared to the bottom of the throat). According to another possible embodiment, the sealing means may have a height slightly greater than the height of the lower collar (of the order of a few nanometers to 1 or 2 millimeters).

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a bundle of heat exchange tubes. According to the invention, the heat exchanger comprises at least one collector plate as defined above.

According to one aspect of the invention, the heat exchanger comprises two collector boxes as defined above, and the ends of the heat exchange tubes are respectively fixed to the two collector boxes.

According to one aspect of the invention, said beam comprises an alternating stack of heat exchange tubes and heat exchange fins.

Advantageously, the exchanger is assembled by soldering.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view partially showing a heat exchanger comprising a collecting plate according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is a partial perspective view showing the collector plate of the heat exchanger of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view of the collector plate according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 4a is a perspective view partially showing a first alternative embodiment of a seal of the heat exchanger of FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. 4b is a sectional view of the seal; of Figure 4a,

FIG. 4c is a partial sectional view of a seal according to a second variant embodiment,

FIG. 4d is a partial sectional view of a seal according to a third variant embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a lid of the manifold of the heat exchanger of FIGS. 1 and 2, and

- Figure 6 is a partial view showing the inside of the collector box of Figure 2 in the assembled state.

In these figures, the identical elements bear the same references.

The following achievements are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

In certain figures, there is shown a reference L, T corresponding to a horizontal plane, the L axis corresponding to a longitudinal axis and the T axis corresponding to a transverse axis.

In the present description, the terms vertical / horizontal or upper / lower are designated with reference to the arrangement of the elements in the figures, which generally corresponds to the arrangement of the elements in the mounted state in the motor vehicle.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention relates to a heat exchanger 1 for a motor vehicle, in particular for cooling the engine coolant. Advantageously, the invention applies to a heat exchanger 1 brazed, that is to say, the various elements are assembled by brazing.

The heat exchanger 1 comprises at least one manifold 3, generally two manifolds 3, the or each manifold 3 for collecting and distribute a first fluid such as the coolant. More particularly, the invention relates to such a manifold 3 and a collector plate 11 of such a manifold 3.

The heat exchanger 1 further comprises a beam 5 formed of a plurality of heat exchange tubes 7, for example aluminum, arranged in one or more rows of tubes. The heat exchange tubes 7 respectively define one or more channels for the flow of a first fluid, for example the coolant. By way of non-limiting example, the heat exchange tubes 7 are flat tubes. In addition, the heat exchange tubes 7 extend respectively along a longitudinal axis A. In this example, the longitudinal axis A is substantially vertical with reference to the arrangement of the elements in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Only one end of the heat exchange tubes 7 is visible in FIGS. 1 and 2. According to one embodiment, the ends of the heat exchange tubes 7 are respectively fixed to two collecting boxes 3.

The beam 5 may furthermore comprise a plurality of heat exchange fins 9, shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2, arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes 7. The heat exchange fins 9 are advantageously provided so as to disturb the flow of a second fluid such as an air flow between the heat exchange tubes 7, so as to increase the heat exchange surface between the two fluids.

The beam 5 may further comprise two lateral cheeks 10 arranged on either side of the stack of heat exchange tubes 7 and heat exchange fins 9. These side cheeks 10 are assembled by soldering to the rest of the beam 5 in the case of a heat exchanger 1 brazed. As regards more particularly the manifold 3, the latter comprises:

a collector plate 11,

a sealing means such as a seal 13, and

- A lid 15 closing the manifold 3 by compressing the seal 13. The manifold plate 11 is more visible in Figure 3, for example is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The collector plate 11 extends longitudinally in the direction L. The direction T is perpendicular to the direction L, generally in the plane of extension of the collector plate 11.

On the collector plate 11 may be provided fastening means such as crimping tabs 16 intended to be crimped on the edges of the lid 15. For this purpose, the collector plate 11 may have edges or flanges 11b on which are provided the fixing means such as crimping tabs 16. It is for example folded edges 11b.

In addition, the header plate 11 has a plurality of orifices 17 for the passage of the ends of the heat exchange tubes 7. According to the illustrated embodiments, these orifices 17 are respectively flanked by flanges 19. According to the illustrated embodiment , the collars 19 are protruding with respect to the collector plate 11, and extend towards the inside of the collector box 3, when the cover 15 is assembled to the collector plate 11.

The collector plate 11 further comprises a peripheral groove 21 for receiving at least a portion of the seal 13.

As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 1, this peripheral groove 21 has a bottom 22 and a side wall known as the inner wall 23. By internal wall is meant the fact that this wall is located on the inside of the header plate. 11. The groove 21 further has a side wall 24 opposite to the inner wall 23, said outer wall 24. The inner wall 23 is closest to the orifices 17 and the collars 19. The outer wall 24, that is, say the farthest from the orifices 17 and the collars 19, is formed on the edges 11b of the collector plate 11. The two side walls 23, 24 are connected by the bottom 22. The bottom 22 extends for example in a plane substantially perpendicular to the folded edges 11b of the header plate 11.

Furthermore, the manifold plate 11 comprises at least one upper bearing 25 protruding relative to the bottom 22 of the peripheral groove 21. The upper bearing 25 extends over a predetermined height H1 relative to the bottom of the peripheral groove 21. This height H1 of the upper bearing 25 may for example correspond to the extension height of the edges 1 lb of the collector plate 11.

The upper bearing 25 thus extends in a different plane and above the plane along which the bottom 22 of the peripheral groove 21 extends, with reference to the arrangement of the elements in FIGS. 1 to 3. In other words, the upper bearing 25 is raised relative to the bottom 22 of the peripheral groove 21. In particular, the upper bearing 25 extends in a plane parallel to the plane which extends the bottom 22 of the peripheral groove 21. The upper bearing 25 is also called medallion.

At at least one longitudinal end of the header plate 11, preferably at each longitudinal end, the header plate 11 further comprises an intermediate portion 27 connecting the upper bearing 25 to the peripheral groove 21. According to the illustrated embodiment, the portion intermediate 27 is inclined relative to the plane defined by the upper bearing 25 of an inclination angle shown schematically in Figure 1. This inclination angle a is for example of the order of 5 ° to 25 °, preferably of the order of 10 °.

In addition, at one or both longitudinal ends of the manifold plate 11, the inner wall 23 of the peripheral groove 21 has at least one portion connecting the intermediate portion 27 to the bottom 22 of the groove 21 and extending over a height H2 not zero and lower than the height Hl of the upper bearing 25. The heights H1 and H2 are considered with reference to the bottom 22 of the peripheral groove 21.

We also talk about partial throat. Indeed, the height of the inner wall 23 of the peripheral groove 21 corresponds to the minimum height H2 of the intermediate portion 27 and not to the height H1 of the upper bearing 25 (or maximum height of the intermediate portion 27). Thus, at a longitudinal end or preferably at the two longitudinal ends of the collector plate 11, the inner wall 23 is for example smaller than the outer wall 24. Moreover, the orifices 17 advantageously flanked by collars 19 are arranged on the upper bearing 25 and the intermediate portion 27. The header plate 11 has a core comprising the upper bearing 25 and the intermediate portion 27. For example, two or three collars 19 are formed on the intermediate portion 27. This results that the collars 19 are not all at the same height along the intermediate portion 27.

In addition, at at least one longitudinal end of the collector plate 11, the orifice

17 end is arranged on the intermediate portion 27. The collar 19 bordering the end port 17 is arranged on the intermediate portion 27. According to a preferred embodiment, the header plate 11 has such an intermediate portion 27 to both longitudinal ends, and the two end ports 17 are respectively formed on an associated intermediate portion 27.

Thus, the peripheral groove is devoid of orifice 17 for the passage of a tube heat exchange. There is also no flat area between the peripheral groove 21 and the intermediate portion 27. In other words, the intermediate portion 27 is directly connected to the inner wall 23 of the peripheral groove 21 without transitional zone between the two.

According to a first embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 to 3a, the core of the manifold plate 11 on which are formed the orifices 17 advantageously lined with flanges 19, has in cross section a substantially linear profile on the same height. In this case, in a complementary manner, the inner wall 23 also has in cross section a substantially linear profile and extends over a non-zero continuous height H2 and lower than the height H1 of the upper bearing 25.

In addition, according to this first embodiment, the intermediate portion 27 extends, in the longitudinal direction L of the collector plate 11, on an evolutive height between a maximum height H1 and a minimum height H2 non-zero and less than the height. maximum Hl.

According to a second embodiment, the core of the header plate 11 has a cross section at least partially curved.

According to an embodiment not shown, the core of the collector plate 11 may have in cross section a profile following a simple curve of a given radius of curvature.

According to an alternative illustrated in FIG. 3b, the core of the collector plate 11 may have a profile with at least two curves. In this example, the core of the collector plate 11 may have a profile comprising two lateral portions 111 generally having a curve of a first radius of curvature and a central portion 112 joining the lateral portions 111 and generally following a curve of a second radius of curvature. The central portions 112 and 111, for example, each form a bump towards the outside of the collector box in the assembled state, so down in Figure 3b. Alternatively, it could be provided for example that the central portion 112 forms a hump towards the inside of the manifold 11.

In this case, in a complementary manner, the inner wall 23 has in cross section a profile with two end sections generally following the curve of first radius of curvature, and a central section following the curve of second radius of curvature. At least the end portions of the inner wall 23 according to the direction transverse T of the manifold plate 11, extend over a height H2 nonzero and lower than the height Hl of the upper bearing 25.

According to a first variant, it is possible to provide that the minimum height for the lowest point of at least one curve of the profile in cross-section at the level of the inner wall 23 is zero.

According to a second variant, it is possible to provide for the minimum height of the lowest points of each of the curves of the profile in cross-section at the level of the inner wall 23 to be non-zero.

In addition, according to this second embodiment, at least the longitudinal edges of the intermediate portion 27 extend, along the longitudinal direction L of the header plate 11, on an evolutionary height between a maximum height H1 and a minimum height H2 not zero and less than the maximum height Hl.

According to one or other embodiment of the header plate 11, the height H2 of at least one section or the entire inner wall 23 is for example between one-quarter and three-quarters of the height H1 of the upper tier 25, according to the following relationship:

- Hl≤ H2≤-Hl.

4 4

Furthermore, at at least one longitudinal end of the manifold plate 11, the inner wall 23 of the peripheral groove 21 may have a slope. The slope of the side wall 23 is inclined relative to the plane of the opposite side wall 24 and also with respect to the plane along which the bottom 22 of the peripheral groove 21 extends. According to the illustrated example, the plane of the wall 24 is a vertical plane and the plane of the bottom 22 is a horizontal plane with reference to the arrangement of the elements in FIG. 1. The slope of the side wall 23 of the peripheral groove 21 extends in the illustrated example according to a direction different from the direction of extension of the intermediate portion 27. These include concurrent directions.

According to a particular embodiment, the slope is only provided at the longitudinal ends of the header plate 11, that is to say at the small sides of the header plate 11. On the contrary, the side wall 23 does not have a such slope at the long sides of the collector plate 11 and extends substantially parallel to the opposite side wall 24. In this case, the peripheral groove 21 has for example a cross section substantially "U" elsewhere than the longitudinal ends of the collector plate 11.

With reference to FIGS. 4a to 4d, the sealing means such as a seal 13 is described in more detail. It is a compressible seal 13 arranged in the peripheral groove 21 of the collector plate 11 (Figure 1). The seal 13 has a shape complementary to this peripheral groove 21. In this example, the seal 13 has a peripheral portion of substantially rectangular shape with two long sides 13a opposite and two small sides 13b opposite. This peripheral portion may have by way of nonlimiting example a substantially circular cross section. In particular, the short sides 13b of the seal are for example of complementary shape to the slope of the inner wall 23 of the peripheral groove 21 at one or each longitudinal end of the header plate 11 (FIGS. 2). To do this, the seal 13 may have on the lower part at its small sides 13b, a slope arranged on the slope of the inner wall 23 of the peripheral groove 21.

In the assembled state of the header box 3, the seal 13 is arranged between the cover 15 and the header plate 11, the cover 15 compressing the seal 13 to close the manifold 3 while ensuring the sealing of the manifold 3.

Advantageously, the seal 13 is elastic and is energized when it is arranged on the collector plate 11.

In addition, the seal 13 has for example at least one bearing surface 29, better visible in Figures 4a to 4d, configured to bear against one of the collars 19 when the seal 13 is compressed. In particular, at least one bearing surface 29 is arranged against an end collar 19 bordering the first or last orifice 17.

According to the embodiments illustrated, the seal 13 when compressed bears only against a collar 19, in particular by its bearing surfaces 29, and not against a heat exchange tube end 7 opening to The seal 13 has no surface configured to abut against the ends of the heat exchange tubes 7. For this purpose, the seal 13 is kept at a distance from the ends of the heat exchange tubes 7. ends of the heat exchange tubes 7 by interposition of the collars 19 between the seal 13 and the ends of the heat exchange tubes 7. In other words, a collar 19 is always present between the seal 13, and more precisely the bearing surfaces 29, and a heat exchange tube end 7. Thus, in the assembled state of the heat exchanger 1, the seal 13 compressed by the cover 15 is free from any contact with the ends of the heat exchange tubes 7 opening inside the manifold 3 .

According to the embodiments described, the seal 13 comprises at least one holding portion 31, 33 extending in the transverse direction T, that is to say along the width of the seal 13, otherwise here in the direction of the short sides 13b of the seal 13. In particular at least one holding portion 31 extends in the transverse direction T between a small side 13b of the seal 13 and a collar 19 of end. The bearing surface or surfaces 29 of the seal 13 coming against a collar 19 are formed on these holding portions 31 and / or 33, more precisely on one or each side of the holding portions 31, 33.

More specifically, the one or more holding portions 31, 33 are raised relative to the peripheral portion 13a, 13b of the seal 13. In this case, connecting portions 39 connect the holding portion or portions 31, 33 to the peripheral portion 13a, 13b of the seal 13.

One or more holding portions 31 may be transverse shoulder straps 31. In this case, the transverse shoulder straps 31 extend to join the connecting portions 39 respectively connected to a long side 13a of the seal 13. The width a transverse shoulder 31 is substantially equal to the width between two successive collars 19. By way of non-limiting example, the width of a transverse strap 31 is of the order of 2.5 mm to 5 mm.

Alternatively or additionally, one or more holding portions 33 may be formed as lug 33 extending from a connecting portion 39 connected to a large side 13a towards the connecting portion 39 opposite connected to the another large side 13a, without joining, as shown in Figure 4c.

In particular, at least one holding portion 31 may be contiguous with a small side 13b of the seal. According to the examples illustrated in Figures 4a to 4d, it is a transverse strap 31 having one or more recesses 41 to cooperate with the lid 15 as will be described in more detail later.

The holding portions 31 and / or 33 may also have a flat portion 35 on their upper face arranged facing the lid 15 in the assembled state of the manifold 3.

The holding portions 31 and / or 33 are advantageously made in one piece with the peripheral portion 13a, 13b of the seal 13. In order to further simplify the production of such a piece, the peripheral portion 13a, 13b and the holding portions 31 and / or 33 may be made of a single material.

Only one longitudinal end of the seal 13 is visible in the figures. Of course, it is possible for the seal 13 to be shaped similarly to its other longitudinal end with one or more holding portions 31 and / or 33, and in particular the seal 13 according to this second embodiment. realization can be symmetrical with respect to a median plane.

Furthermore, the seal 13 may have before compression a maximum height hmax (Figures 4b to 4d) less than or equal to the height hmin of the collar 19 the lowest (see Figure 2). More specifically, the maximum height hmax corresponds to the height of the holding portions 31, 33 which are raised relative to the peripheral portion 13a, 13b. The collar 19 the lower, meanwhile, is the collar 19 end arranged at the beginning of the intermediate portion 27, that is to say, the closest to the peripheral groove 21. Finally, with reference to FIGS. , 2 and 5, the cover 15 is described in more detail. It may be a cover 15 made of plastic or aluminum alloy.

The cover 15 may have a generally vaulted general shape. In particular, the cover 15 comprises a peripheral cover foot 43 closing the manifold 3 by compressing the seal 13. The expression "cover foot" means the lower part of the cover 15 coming to press on the seal sealing 13 and which cooperates with the collector plate 11 to be fixed, for example by crimping tabs 16 present on the periphery or around the collector plate 11 and which are folded, during crimping, on the lid 15 .

As best seen in Figures 2 and 5, the cover foot 43 has a predefined number of protuberances 45 protruding from the inner wall of the cover leg 43 and extending towards the seal 13 on the plate manifold 11, so as to bear against the seal 13. In particular, the protuberances 45 protrude over a thickness e from the inner wall of the cover foot 43. The protuberances 45 are thus made to the inside the volume defined by the lid 15.

For example, the thickness e is chosen to be large enough so that at least one protuberance 45 of the cover foot 43 bears against a holding portion 31. or 33 of the sealing means 13, in the assembled state of the manifold 3. In particular, one or more protuberances 45 can come to press the holding portion 31 contiguous to the short side 13b of the seal 13 in s engaging on a given height, in a recess 41 provided for this purpose on the holding portion 31. These protuberances 45 maintain the seal 13 in position and prevent it from moving or deforming during the assembly but also during the different thermal cycles of the heat exchanger 1. Thus, the protuberances 45 contribute to maintain the seal 13 so that it remains at a distance from the ends of the heat exchange tubes 7.

In addition, each protrusion 45 has a lower portion 47 which presses on the sealing means 13 as shown schematically in Figure 6. The protuberances 45 are advantageously made in one piece with the cover 15, for example by injection.

The protuberances 45 extend in this example substantially parallel to the axis A.

In addition, according to the illustrated example, the cover foot 43 is offset relative to the vault shape of the cover 15. In other words, the cover foot 43 defines a flange as can be seen in FIG.

The protuberances 45 are in this example aligned with, or in other words arranged in the continuity of, the inner wall of this vault shape of the lid 15, as is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5.

The cover foot 43 has a shape complementary to the shape of the peripheral contour of the collector plate 11, here substantially rectangular. The protuberances 45 may be provided on one or both of the opposite small sides of the cover foot 43. Alternatively or additionally, the protuberances 45 may be provided on one or both of the large opposite sides of the cover foot 43. In particular, protrusion 45 may be arranged between the end collar 19 and the corner of the manifold 3 (see Figure 6).

Furthermore, the protuberances 45 may respectively have a contour reducing the risk of damaging the seal 13 during assembly of the header box 3, for example the corners or edges may be substantially rounded.

Finally, the cover foot 43 may have a counter-form 49, visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, such as a rib extending axially in the direction of the cover foot 43, so as to press between a small side 13b and the holding portion 31 contiguous. Thus, during assembly of the heat exchanger 1, the bundle 5 of heat exchange tubes 7 and the collector plate 11 are brazed together. The seal 13 is put in place in the peripheral groove 21 of the the collector plate 11 and then the cover 15 is crimped onto the collector plate 11, in particular by means of the crimping tabs 16, with the seal 13 inserted between the cover foot 43 and the collector plate 11.

The seal 13 and in particular its peripheral portion 13a, 13b seals between the header plate 11 and the cover 15.

The conformation of the partial groove 21 of the collector plate 11 as described above makes it possible to increase the bearing surface of the seal 13 in the peripheral groove 11 while ensuring the maintenance of the seal 13 during crimping. but also during the thermal cycles of the heat exchanger 1.

Claims

Collector plate (11) for heat exchanger (1), the collector plate (11) comprising:

- a peripheral groove (21) having a bottom (22),

at least one upper bearing (25) protruding with respect to the bottom (22) of said groove (21) over a predefined height (H1), and

at least one longitudinal end of the collecting plate (11), an intermediate portion (27) between the upper bearing (25) and said groove (21),

characterized in that at said at least one longitudinal end of the collector plate (11), said groove (21) has an inner wall (23), at least one of which connects the intermediate portion (27) to the bottom (22) of the said groove (21) and extends over a height (H2) non-zero and lower than the height (H1) of the upper bearing (25).

A header plate (11) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of orifices (17) for the passage of a plurality of heat exchange tubes (7) of the heat exchanger (1) on the upper bearing (25). ) and the intermediate portion (27), and wherein at said at least one longitudinal end of the header plate (11), the end port (17) is arranged on the intermediate portion (27).

Collector plate (11) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the inner wall (23) of said groove (21) has in cross section a linear profile over a height (H2) continuous non-zero and less than the height (H1) of the upper bearing (25).

Collector plate (11) according to one of Claims 1 or 2, in which:

- the inner wall (23) of said groove (21) has in cross section an at least partially curved profile, and in which

- at least the end portions of the inner wall (23) in the transverse direction (T) of the header plate (11), extend over a height (H2) non-zero and less than the height (H1) of upper bearing (25).

A header plate (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the height (H2) of said at least one portion of the inner wall (23) of said groove (21) is between one quarter and three quarters of the height (Hl) of the bearing 1 3

upper (25), according to the following relationship: - Hl <H2≤ - Hl, where Hl corresponds to the height of the upper bearing and H2 to the height of said at least one section of the inner wall.

A header plate (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper bearing (25) extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane along which the bottom (22) of said groove (21) extends. .

7. collector plate (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at said at least one longitudinal end of the header plate (11), the intermediate portion (27) and the inner wall (23) of said groove ( 21) extend in different and concurrent directions.

8. collector plate (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at said at least one longitudinal end of the header plate (11), the inner wall (23) of said groove (21) has a slope inclined by relative to the plane according to which extends the bottom (22) of said groove (21). 9. collector plate (11) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate portion (27) is inclined relative to the plane defined by the upper bearing (25), an angle of inclination (a) of the order of 5 ° to 25 °, preferably of the order of 10 °.

10. Heat exchanger collector box comprising:

a collector plate (11) according to any one of the preceding claims,

a compressible sealing means (13) arranged at least partly in said groove (21) of the collector plate (11), and

a cover (15) provided with a peripheral cover foot (43) received at least partially in said groove (21) of the collector plate (11), with the interposition of the sealing means, so as to close the collecting box (3) compressing the sealing means (13),

and such that the upper bearing (25) protrudes towards the cover (15) in the assembled state of the manifold (3).

11. collector box (3) according to the preceding claim, wherein

the collecting plate (11) comprises protruding collars (19) bordering the orifices (17), the collars (19) extending towards the inside of the manifold (3), at different heights along the intermediate portion (27), and wherein - the sealing means ( 13) has before compression a maximum height Qimax) less than or equal to the height Qimin) of the collar (19) the lowest. 12. Heat exchanger (1), especially for a motor vehicle, comprising a bundle (5) of heat exchange tubes (7), characterized in that it comprises at least one collector plate (11) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9.

13. Exchanger (1) according to the preceding claim, assembled by brazing.