FR2755222A1 - HEAT EXCHANGER CONTAINING A COLLECTOR BOX WITH TWO ADJACENT COMPARTMENTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The manifold box (10) of the heat exchanger is formed by assembling a metal half-box (12) with a generally U-shaped section delimited by a bottom face (54) and two side faces (56 , 58) and of a metal half-box (14) having a section delimited by a bottom face (82) and by at least one side face (84, 86), the half-boxes being joined and assembled by brazing the along respective assembly regions so as to form an interior partition (56) to delimit two adjacent compartments (18, 20) allowing the circulation of a fluid in the two parts (30, 32) of a bundle of tubes ( 26). Application in particular to heat exchangers for motor vehicles.

Description

- 2755222

  The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a heat exchanger comprising a manifold with two adjacent compartments.

for motor vehicle.

  More particularly, the invention relates to a heat exchanger of the type comprising a manifold comprising an outer wall, an inner partition and a manifold plate which jointly delimit two adjacent compartments suitable for communicating respectively with two

parts of a bundle of tubes.

  Heat exchangers of this type are already known which are

  used in a heating and / or air conditioning system

motor vehicle station.

  In particular, such a heat exchanger can be traversed by a hot heat transfer fluid, generally the coolant of the vehicle engine, to heat an air flow which sweeps the tubes of the bundle and

  which is intended to be sent into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

  A manifold of the aforementioned kind allows the fluid to

  circulate in two separate passes corresponding respective-

ment to the two parts of the beam.

  The two compartments of the manifold can be longitudinal compartments separated by a longitudinal partition, in which case the two parts of the bundle of

  tubes are two adjacent plies which are located respective-

  along two large faces of the heat exchanger

  heat. The fluid thus adopts a so-called metho-

  dique. To form the two layers, either two rows of tubes or a row of double-channel tubes can be used,

also called "bi-channel tubes".

  The bundle tubes are connected, at one end, to the aforementioned manifold which is usually provided with two tubes serving respectively for the inlet and the

outlet of the heat transfer fluid.

  At their other end, the tubes are interconnected by suitable means, for example by U-connectors, by brackets, by direct communication between the tubes, etc.,

  so as to make the two layers communicate.

  The compartments of the manifold can, as a variant, be transverse compartments separated by a transverse partition, in which case the fluid circulates in two sub-beams by adopting a U-shaped circulation. On the side opposite to the manifold with two compartments, the two sub-beams communicate with one another

  manifold without partition.

  The aforementioned manifolds are generally obtained by molding a plastic material, the outer wall and the partition being made in one piece by molding a plastic material. A manifold of this type is

  taught by publication FR-A-2 572 797.

  It is also known to form the external wall from a stamped metal sheet and to form the partition from another sheet whose periphery is brazed, on the one hand to the external wall, and on the other to the collector plate, as taught by the publication

FR-A-2 711 236.

  These known manifolds have the disadvantage of being relatively bulky, which is particularly troublesome when the heat exchanger is designed to be placed in a limited volume, as is the case in particular of a heating box and / or motor vehicle air conditioning. In addition, another drawback of these known manifolds is that they cannot receive tubing of

  fluid circulation only in well-defined locations

born.

  When the manifold is made of plastic material

  that the possibilities of setting up and orienting the pipes are limited due to constraints linked to the

molding and demolding.

  In addition, when using a metal header box,

  that, the connection of the pipes is generally made on the bottom of the outer wall, which may require

  the use of bent tubing, therefore bulky.

  The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the drawbacks

mentioned above.

  To this end, it offers a heat exchanger of the type defined in the introduction, in which the outer wall and the partition of the manifold are formed by the assembly.

  of a first open-face metal half-box presented

  both a generally U-shaped section delimited by a bottom face and two opposite lateral faces and a second open-face metal half-box having a section delimited by a bottom face and at least one lateral face, the half boxes being joined and assembled by brazing along respective assembly regions so that the interior partition of the manifold is issued

  at least one side face of the first half-box.

  In a first embodiment of the invention, the second half-box also has a generally U-shaped section delimited by a bottom face and two opposite lateral faces, the internal partition of the manifold being from a lateral face of the first half-box and at least part of a side face of the

  second half-box, these two side walls being available

  adjacent lands and constituting the assembly regions.

  In this first embodiment, the two adjacent side walls may extend over substantially the same height so as to both come into contact with the collector plate. This gives a reinforced interior partition. As a variant, the two adjacent side walls may extend over different heights so that only the side face of the first half-box comes into contact with the collector plate. This saves material. In a second embodiment of the invention, the second half-box has a generally L-shaped section delimited by a bottom face and a side face so that the internal partition of the manifold is

  only from a side face of the first half

  box, the assembly regions being formed by the lateral face of the first half-box on the one hand and by a free edge of the bottom face of the second half-box on the other hand.

  The side faces of the first and second half

  box can be longitudinal faces which delimit two adjacent longitudinal compartments separated by a longitudinal partition, the two parts of the bundle being

two layers of tubes.

  This allows for a circulation heat exchanger

  methodical as indicated above.

  As a variant, the lateral faces of the first and of the second half-boxes can be transverse faces which then delimit two adjacent transverse compartments separated by a transverse partition, the two parts of the bundle constituting sub-beams allowing circulation in a U shape. the manifold with two compartments is formed by the assembly of two manifold half-boxes which constitute two adjoining half-shells assembled between

them by soldering.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the regions of assembly of the two half-boxes comprise combined holding means to ensure the temporary maintenance of the two half-boxes before their assembly by brazing. These holding means also make it possible to keep the two joining regions joined together during their brazing. These holding means advantageously comprise at least two folded tabs depending on one of the two half-boxes and suitable for fitting into shaped openings

  conjugates in the other half-box.

  It is particularly advantageous to use folded legs in the shape of a U, which makes it possible to ensure a better tightening of the assembly regions one against the other in view

of their assembly by brazing.

  Each half-box also has two other side faces.

  the opposites, which makes it possible to delimit an open face of general rectangular contour suitable for being closed by the

collector plate.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, at least one of the two half-boxes has a raised boss relative to the bottom face to allow the

  connection of a fluid circulation pipe.

  This boss preferably has two lateral faces in

  opposite, at least one of which extends one of the lateral faces

  those of the corresponding half-box.

  One of the lateral faces of the boss advantageously comprises

  an opening to allow connection of the tubing.

  This allows the direct connection of a pipe in a direction generally perpendicular to the two

  tablecloths, thus avoiding the use of bent tubing.

  The two half-boxes are advantageously each formed by stamping a metal sheet, preferably made of aluminum alloy. This metal sheet is advantageously provided with a plating

solder on both sides.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the collector plate is provided with a peripheral rim for

  the fitting of the two half-boxes.

  This characteristic contributes to good provisional retention of the manifold and the front manifold

brazing of the assembly.

  In another aspect, the invention relates to a collection box

  heat exchanger including two half-boxes

  metallic as defined above.

  In the following description, given by way of example, we

  refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a front view of a heat exchanger provided with a manifold according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the two half-boxes of the manifold before assembly; - Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 after assembly of the two half-boxes; - Figure 5 is another partial perspective view of the two assembled half-boxes; - Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger provided with a manifold with two longitudinal compartments;

  - Figure 7 is a partial schematic perspective view

  tive of the two half-boxes of the exchanger of Figure 6;

  - Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a sample

  heat gor comprising a manifold with two transverse compartments; and

  - Figure 9 is a partial schematic perspective view

  tive of the two half-boxes of the collector box of the sample

Figure 8.

  Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2 which represent a heat exchanger which, in the example, constitutes a

  radiator for heating the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle

  the. The heat exchanger comprises a manifold 10 formed by the assembly of two half-boxes 12 and 14 which each have a cross section in general shape

  of U (Figure 2). These two half-boxes delimit, joint-

  ment with a collector plate 16, also called "hole plate", two adjacent longitudinal compartments 18 and 20

(figure 2).

  The half-boxes 12 and 14 are fitted into the collecting plate by means of a peripheral rim 17 which comprises

the latter.

  The half-boxes 12 and 14 are respectively provided with an inlet pipe 22 and an outlet pipe 24 for the circulation of a heat-transfer fluid which, in the example, is

  the fluid used to cool the vehicle engine.

  The heat exchanger further comprises a bundle 26 formed

  of a multiplicity of flat tubes 28, called "bi-tubes

  channels ". These tubes each have an 8-shaped section and thus delimit two adjacent channels 30 and 32 communicating respectively with the compartments 18 and 20 (FIG. 2). The channels 30 and 32 have respective ends 34 and 36 engaged in corresponding holes 38 and 40 of the collector plate 16. In addition, the channels 30 and 32 have opposite free ends 42 and 44 which are closed, for example by pinching the wall of the tube, or by any other

obturation means.

  Furthermore, the channels 30 and 32 of each tube 28 communicate

  quent between them, on the side opposite to the manifold 10, by openings 46 (Figure 2) formed through a

  partition separating channels 28 and 32.

  The heat transfer fluid (Figure 2) enters the heat exchanger through the pipe 22 (arrow F1), reaches the compartment 18 and then circulates in a first ply formed by the respective channels 30 of the tubes 28 (arrow F2). Then, the fluid passes through the openings 46 of the tubes 28 (arrow F3) to reach the respective channels 32 of the tubes 28. The fluid circulates in the channels 32 to form a second ply (arrow F4) which is parallel to the first ply, the circulation in the second layer being in the opposite direction with respect to that in the first layer. The fluid then reaches compartment 20 and leaves the heat exchanger

  via outlet pipe 24 (arrow F5).

  Thus, the heat exchanger allows a circulation of the fluid in two parallel layers, also called "methodical circulation", the circulation in the two layers being

  each time near two large faces 48 and 50 of the sample

heat goreur (figure 2).

  As can be seen in Figure 1, the heat exchanger further comprises a multiplicity of intermediate elements 52, of corrugated shape, forming fins for heat exchange

and arranged between the tubes 28.

  Thus, the beam 26, formed by the tubes 28 and the interca-

  52, can be swept by an air flow which exchanges heat with the heat transfer fluid so as to be

  warmed up, to heat the passenger compartment.

  We now refer to Figure 3 to describe the

  structure of the two half-boxes 12 and 14.

  These two half-boxes are each formed separately by stamping a metal sheet, advantageously of aluminum alloy, provided on its two faces with a plating of

solder.

  The half-box 12 is generally oblong and comprises a bottom face 54 connected to two opposite lateral faces 56 and 58 (longitudinal faces) and to two opposite lateral faces 60 and 62 (transverse faces) (FIG. 1). The faces 56 and 58 are parallel to each other, as are the faces

and 62.

  Thus, the half-box 12 has a U-shaped cross section whose bottom is formed by the face 54 and the branches by the longitudinal faces 56 and 58. The latter end with respective end edges 66 and 68 parallel between them (Figures 3 to 5). In the example,

  two branches of the U have the same length.

  The half-box 12 has a boss 70 in elevation relative to the bottom face 54. This boss 70 has an upper face 72 which is part of the bottom face 54, which rises progressively from the transverse face 62 towards

the transverse face 60.

  The boss 70 is further delimited by two lateral faces

  74 and 76 which extend the longitudinal sides respectively

  56 and 58. The face 74 is provided with a circular opening

  78 (FIG. 5) for connecting the tubing 22.

  Furthermore, the longitudinal face 56 comprises (FIG. 3) a plurality of spaced openings 80 situated on the same line, extending parallel and at a distance from the edge 66, and

  whose function will be explained later.

  The half-box 14 comprises a bottom face 82 connected to two opposite lateral faces 84 and 86 (longitudinal faces) as well as to two opposite lateral faces 88 and 90 (transverse faces) (FIG. 1). The half-box 82 has, in cross section, the shape of a U, the bottom of which is formed

  by the face 82 and the two branches by the longitudi-

  nales 84 and 86. It should be noted that the face 86 extends over a lower height than the face 84, so as to form, in cross section, a U whose branches are of different lengths. The face 86 has an end edge 92 which is extended by a multiplicity of legs 94, folded in a U shape, located in alignment with each other. These tabs are intended to engage in the respective openings 80

of the half-box 12.

  The longitudinal face 84 ends with an edge 96. The bottom face 82 does not have a boss, that is to say that it extends in a plane whose distance from the edge 96 is constant. The bottom face 82 has an opening 98

  (Figures 3 and 4) for the installation of the outlet tubing

tie 24.

  To manufacture the heat exchanger of Figures 1 and 2, we

  first brings together the two half-boxes 12 and 14 in engagement

  giant tabs 94 of the half-box 14 in the openings of the half-box 12, which ensures a provisional maintenance of the two half-boxes, which are thus joined against one another. Then, the two half-boxes thus joined are fitted into the collector plate 16, thanks to its peripheral rim 17 (Figures 1 and 2). After fitting, the end edges 66 and 68 of the half-box 12, as well as the end edge 96 of the half-box 14 are in abutment against the collecting plate 16, which makes it possible to delimit the two compartments 18 and 20. The longitudi-

  nale 56 of the half-box 12 constitutes a longitudi-

  nale of separation between compartments 18 and 20.

  Furthermore, the manifold thus formed by the assembly

  blocking of the two half-boxes 12 and 14 and the collector plate 16 is assembled to the harness 26 and is further connected to the

tubing 22 and 24.

  The assembly can then be placed in a suitable oven intended to ensure the brazing of the various components together. It should be noted that the tabs 94 and the openings 80 described above make it possible to keep the longitudinal faces 56 and 86 applied tightly against each other.

  the other, which promotes good bonding by soldering.

  Thus, in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, the longitudinal faces 56 and 86 constitute the regions

  respective assembly of the half-boxes 12 and 14.

  The boss 70 formed on the half-box 12 makes it possible to directly connect the tube 22 in a direction perpendicular to the two plies of fluid circulation, which was not

possible so far.

  Furthermore, the tubing 24 is connected directly to the bottom face 82 of the half-box 14, that is to say that its

  direction extends parallel to the plane of the two layers.

  In the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, the manifold 10 is also formed by the assembly of two

  half-boxes 12 and 14 delimiting longitudi-

  for circulation in two layers N1, N2.

  Compared to the previous embodiment, the main

  pale difference lies in the fact that the manifold 14 has a generally L-shaped section delimited by the bottom face 82 and the side face 84. The bottom face 82, instead of being extended by another side face, stops at a free edge or end edge 100 which constitutes one of the assembly regions. This free edge is intended to come into contact with the lateral face 56 of the half-box 12 near the connection of this lateral face 56 with the bottom face 54. It should be noted that the lateral faces 88 and 90 of the half -box 14 come

  also in contact with the side face 56 of the half

  box 12 by their respective free edges.

  In the embodiment of Figures 8 and 9, the manifold 110 is formed of two half-boxes 112 and 114 delimiting two transverse compartments 118 and 120 to allow circulation of the fluid in two parts P1 and P2 of the bundle, which constitute two sub-beams. At their other end, the tubes of the bundle are connected to a manifold 102 devoid of a partition wall, which makes it possible to produce a U-shaped circulation. The half-boxes

  112 and 114 cooperate with a collecting plate 116.

  The half-box 112 has a generally U-shaped section delimited by a bottom face 154 and two opposite lateral faces 156 and 158 (transverse faces). The half-box 114 has an L-shaped section delimited by a bottom face 182 and a side wall 184 (transverse wall). The bottom face 182 ends with a free edge 200 which allows the assembly of the half-box 114 with the side face 156

from the half-box 112.

  Alternatively, the manifold 114 could have a general U-shaped section and have another side wall 186 (transverse wall) opposite the wall 184, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 9. In such a case, the transverse partition would be formed by this other side wall 186 of the half-box 114 and by the wall 156

from the half-box 112.

  Of course, the invention is susceptible of numerous variant embodiments.

  Thus, it is possible to predict that each of the two half

  boxes does not have a boss, or even that each of them has a boss, and this depending on the

  constraints on the location of the heat exchanger.

  Furthermore, although the invention has been described more particularly

  with reference to a heating radiator of

  the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, it can be applied

  other types of heat exchangers.

Claims (18)

Claims   1. Heat exchanger of the type comprising a collecting box comprising an external wall, an internal partition and a collecting plate which jointly delimit two adjacent compartments (18, 20; 118, 120) suitable for communicating respectively with two parts (30, 32; N1, N2; P1, P2) of a bundle of tubes (26), characterized in that the external wall and the partition of the manifold (10; 110) are formed by the assembly of a first half - open-face metal box (12; 112) having a generally U-shaped section delimited by a bottom face (54; 154) and two opposite lateral faces (56, 58; 156, 158) and a second half - metal box (14; 114) with open face having a section delimited by a bottom face (82; 182) and by at least one lateral face (84, 86; 184, 186), and in that the two half boxes (12, 14; 112, 114) are joined and assembled by brazing along assembly regions re spectives so that the interior partition of the manifold (10; 110) comes from at least one side face (56; 156) of the first half-box (12; 112).   2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, character-   laughed in that the second half-box (12; 112) also has a generally U-shaped section delimited by a bottom face (82; 182) and two opposite lateral faces (84, 86; 184, 186), and in that the internal partition of the manifold (10; 110) comes from a side face (56; 156) of the first half-box and from at least part of a side face (86; 186) of the second half-box, these   two lateral faces being arranged adjacent and constituting killing the assembly regions.   3. Heat exchanger according to claim 2, character-   risé in that the two adjacent side walls (56, 86; 156, 186) extend over substantially the same height of   both come into contact with the collecting plate trice (16; 116).   4. Heat exchanger according to claim 2, character-   risé in that the two adjacent side walls (56, 86; 156, 186) extend over different heights so   that only the lateral face (56; 156) of the first half   box comes into contact with the collector plate (16; 116).   5. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, character-   laughed in that the second half-box (14; 114) has a generally L-shaped section delimited by a bottom face (82; 182) and a lateral face (84; 184) so that the   inner partition of the manifold comes only-   ment of a side face (56; 156) of the first half-box, the assembly regions being formed by the side face (56; 156) of the first half-box and by a free edge   (100; 200) from the second half-box.   6. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to   , characterized in that the lateral faces (56, 58) of the first half-box (12) and the lateral faces (84, 86) of the second half-box (14) are longitudinal faces which delimit two adjacent longitudinal compartments (18 , 20) separated by a longitudinal partition (56), and in that the two parts of the bundle are two plies of tubes (N1, N2).   7. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to   5, characterized in that the lateral faces (156, 158) of the first half-box (112) and the lateral faces (184, 186) of the second half-box (114) are transverse faces which delimit two adjacent transverse compartments ( 118, 120) separated by a transverse partition (156), and in that the two parts of the beam are two sub-beams (P1, P2) authorizing a U-shaped circulation.   8. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to   7, characterized in that the assembly regions (56, 86) of the two half-boxes (12, 14) comprise means for   maintenance combined (94, 80) to ensure the provisional maintenance   evening of the two half-boxes before their assembly by brazing.   9. Heat exchanger according to claim 8, characterized in that the holding means comprise at least   two folded legs (94) depending on one of the two half   boxes (12, 14) and suitable for fitting into openings   (80) of conjugate forms provided in the other half-box.   10. Heat exchanger according to claim 9, character-   laughed in that the legs (94) are folded in a U-shape.   11. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1   to 10, characterized in that each half-box (12, 14) further comprises two other opposite lateral faces (60, 62; 88, 90), which makes it possible to delimit an open face of generally rectangular outline suitable for being closed over there manifold plate (16).   12. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1   to 11, characterized in that at least one of the two half   boxes has a boss (70) raised above the bottom face (54) to allow connection of a   fluid circulation tubing (22).   13. Heat exchanger according to claim 12, character-   laughed in that the boss (70) has two side faces (74, 76) facing each other, at least one of which extends one of the   lateral faces (56, 58) of the half-box (14).   14. Heat exchanger according to claim 13, character-   rised in that one of the lateral faces (74) of the boss (70) has an opening (78) for the connection of the tubing (22).   15. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1   to 14, characterized in that the two half-boxes (12, 14; 112, 114)) are each formed by stamping a sheet   metallic, preferably aluminum alloy.   16. Heat exchanger according to claim 15, character-   risé in that the metal sheet is provided with a plating of solder on both sides.   17. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1   16, characterized in that the collector plate (16; 116) is provided with a peripheral rim (17) for interlocking two half-boxes (12, 14).   18. Collecting box for heat exchanger, characteristic   in that it comprises two metal half-boxes (12,   14; 112, 114) as defined in one of the claims 1 to 17.