FR2801664A1 - Condenser for automobile air-conditioner has a collector box and base into which associated reservoir screws are immobilized during assembly brazing by a gripping finger-plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The condenser has two vertical, cylindrical collector boxes (3,4) interconnected by parallel horizontal tubes (5), forming several sets. These carry fluid from an entry pipe (7) at the top of one box (4), in alternate directions, with reversals produced by internal transverse partitions (6). The fluid regains the external circuit via a connection (24) below the lowest partition (6.2) in the other box. Fluid in each of two sections (9.1, 9.2) immediately above has access to an intermediate reservoir (2) via cast aluminum base (13), into the top of which the cylindrical reservoir screws (11). The reservoir runs closely parallel to the box, to which it is clamped (16) at the top (12). At the bottom, the base casting (13) is fixed to the box by brazing to the latter an intermediate C'-section plate (25) previously fixed to the base by its flat center zone, through which pass conduits for the two fluid flows. The box, comprising two semi-cylindrical shells, also to be brazed together, is gripped by two sets of resilient fingers, emerging from either side of the plate. These prevent relative movement during the brazing of the complete condenser, completed in a single pass of the brazing oven, while the gaps between the fingers ensure uninterrupted passage of the bracing compound.

Description

<U> Condenser comprising an integrated reservoir fixed </ U> <U> removable on a base </ U> The invention relates to a condenser, in particular for a cooling fluid in an air conditioning device, the housing of a motor vehicle.

It relates more particularly to a condenser comprising a header and an intermediate reservoir for the treatment and / or accumulation of a fluid, which removably attaches to a base integral with the manifold, traversed by two connecting pipes for the transfer of fluid between the collector box and the tank see.

In such a condenser, as is well known, the intermediate tank can fulfill all or part of the following functions filtration and / or dehydration of the refrigerant, compensation for volume variations of that, separation of the liquid and gaseous phases. Its interposition between an upstream part and a downstream part of the condenser makes it possible to circulate in the latter only fluid in the liquid state, which is thus sub-cooled below the liquid / gas equilibrium temperature. , improving the performance of the condenser and making them relatively independent of the amount of fluid contained in the circuit.

EP-A-0 480 330 discloses, in a vehicle air conditioning condenser, an intermediate reservoir which removably attaches to a base integral with the manifold, traversed by the two connecting lines. This tank is provided at its lower end with a head integral with its wall, which is fixed on the base by means of a screw. The connecting lines extend partly into the base and partly into the head of the tank. In known condensers of this type, the base is generally made in the form of a metal alloy casting, advantageously based on aluminum, which must be brazed on the manifold, together with the bundle of the condenser.

Given the relatively large weight of the base, it may happen that, during the passage of the condenser in the brazing furnace, the base moves relative to the manifold, before it is permanently brazed on the latter.

It may result then a poorly brazed condenser, likely to cause leaks of the refrigerant, or a disengagement of the base, in which case the condenser must be repaired.

The object of the invention is in particular to remedy these disadvantages and to propose simple and convenient means for temporarily fastening the base to the manifold, so that, during the brazing operation, the base is automatically fixed in the correct position.

The invention proposes for this purpose a condenser of the type defined in the introduction, in which the base is equipped with a fastening member provided with resilient tabs adapted to cooperate snap-fastening with the manifold to ensure a temporary fixing of the base on the collector box for their final joining by brazing.

As a result, the base is thus maintained provi by snap on the manifold, and this in the exact position of brazing.

Therefore, when passing through the brazing furnace, it is ensured that the base will remain in the correct position relative to the manifold. Optional features of the invention, whether additional or alternative, are set out below: the fastening member is a metal piece with a generally C-shaped cross-section having a bottom extended by the elastic tabs, the latter comprising at least a first leg and at least a second leg respectively attached to two opposite edges of the bottom.

the fixing member is made as an independent piece and is secured to the base.

the fixing member is a metal sheet, advantageously made of aluminum alloy.

- The bottom of the fixing member is provided with two spaced openings adapted to be traversed respectively by two bosses the base which form the fluid transfer lines - the bottom of the fastener is substantially flat, while the elastic tabs are curved.

- The manifold is formed of two half-shells em packaged by assembly edges of complementary shapes, while the resilient tabs have perforated regions to clear at least partially assembly edges in their brazing.

In the description which follows, made only by way of example, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a front view of a condenser according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the base equipped with the fastener; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 2; and - Figure 4 is a top view of the base and the fastener mounted on a collector box of a condenser (shown partially).

The condenser 1 shown in its entirety in FIG. 1 comprises two collector boxes 3 and 4 elongated vertically and spaced from each other in a horizontal direction, interconnected by a multiplicity of horizontal fluid circulation tubes 5 Each collecting box divided into different chambers by horizontal partitions 6 so that the fluid flows in the tubes 5 alternately from a chamber of the box 3 to a chamber of the box 4 and vice versa, from the upper chamber of the box. 4 which communicates with an inlet pipe 7, to the lower chamber of the box 3.

One of the intermediate partitions of the manifold 3, designated by the reference 6-1, separates from each of the chambers 9-1 and 9-2 located respectively above and below the partition 6-1 , and which communicate with each other exclusively via a reservoir 2, which is vertically elongated and extends along the box 3. The chamber 9-2 is in turn separated from the lower chamber of the box , designated 9-3 by a partition 6-2.

The tank 2, substantially of revolution about a vertical axis, comprises a housing formed of a cylindrical body 10 occupying the greater part of its height, a narrowed neck 11 disposed at its lower part and a narrowed neck 12 disposed at its upper part.

The tank 2 is in mechanical connection and fluid communication with the manifold 3 through a base 13. This base is preferably an aluminum alloy casting, which defines a wall 14 substantially revolution, which delimits a cylindrical housing 15 open upwardly to receive the neck 11 of the tank 10 (Figures 2 and 4).

The narrowed neck 12 reservoir 10 is received in a holding flange 16 (Figure 1) connected to the upper end of the manifold 3.

The wall 14 of the base has an internal thread for fixing by screwing with a thread of complementary shape (not shown) that comprises the narrowed neck 11 of the reservoir 10.

The wall 14 of the base has a stepped cylindrical shape and to this wall is connected externally a web 46 extending substantially in a plane passing through the axis of revolution A of the wall 14 (Figure 4). This web 46 has, on either side of this plane, bulges housing two lines 17, 18 serving as fluid transfer lines and opening into the cylindrical bottom 19 of the base 13. These two lines are provided for the transfer of the refrigerant between the manifold 3 and the tank 2 and serve respectively as inlet and outlet pipes for the coolant.

These ducts 17 and 18 communicate respectively with two bosses 20 and 21 (FIG. 2) which form tubes, spaced from one another, and extending in a direction inclined at an angle B (FIG. in the plane of the sail 46. The bosses 20 and 21 are adapted to pass through the wall of the manifold 3 respectively above and below the partition 6-1. The pipes 17 and 18 comprise respective end caps 22 and 23 adapted to be closed by plugs (not shown).

Thus, the refrigerant from the chamber 9-1 can penetrate the base 13, traverse vertically, from bottom to top, the tank 2 and then cross it vertically from top to bottom to then reach the room 9-2 located immediately below room 9-1.

The base 13 is intended to be brazed by its bosses 20 and 21 on the manifold 3 during assembly of the condenser by soldering. The passages delimited by the lateral bosses 20 and 21 communicate with the chambers 9-1 and 9-2 respectively of the box by holes provided in the tubular wall of the latter.

In a condenser of this type, the fluid entering through the pipe 7 in the upper chamber of the manifold 4 passes through a first group of tubes along the arrow Fl to reach the upper chamber of the box 3, then two other groups of tubes, according to the arrows F2 and F3, to pass into the intermediate chamber of the box 4 and the chamber 9-1 of the box 3. The condensed fluid thus reaching the chamber 9-1 passes from it into an annu lar space the base by a lateral passage and the inclined pipe 17, then enters the tank 2, screwed into the base from the outside of the tubing 17. It then passes through an annular volume where it is dried and filtered. Then, the fluid leaves this volume through the pipe 17 and reaches the chamber 9-2 of the manifold 3 by the horizontal pipe 18 and the corresponding lateral passage of the base. Thus, the tubes 5 and the chambers of the boxes 3 and 4 located higher than the partition 6-1, including the chamber 9-1, constitute a section of the condenser traversed by the fluid upstream of the tank, while the tubes and the rooms below this partition, including room 9-2, constitute a downstream section. The fluid passes from the chamber 9-2 to the lower chamber of the collector box according to the arrow F4, then is conveyed to the chamber 9-3 according to the arrow F5. The fluid leaves the latter chamber, and the condenser, through a tubing 24 (Figure 1). The general structure of the condenser, as just described above, is generally known per se. According to the invention, the condenser is additionally equipped with a fastener 25 which is best seen in FIGS. 2 to 4. This fastener is a metal part with a generally C-shaped section having a bottom 26 generally plane extended by elastic legs. These resilient tabs comprise a first tab 27 and a second tab 28 respectively attached to two opposite edges 29, 30 of the bottom 26.

The fixing member 25 is made in the form of an independent piece and is then secured to the base 13. In the embodiment, this fixing member is a metal sheet, advantageously made of aluminum alloy, which is cut and then shaped by folding and / or rolling. The bottom 26 is substantially flat, while the elastic tabs 27 and 28 are curved.

In the embodiment described, the manifold 3 is formed by the assembly of two half-shells 31 and 32. The half-shell 31 receives the ends of the tubes 5, while the half-shell 32 has two spaced openings in which are introduced respectively the bosses 20 and 21 of the base.

The half-shell 31 has assembly edges 33 and 34 adapted to cooperate respectively with assembly edges of complementary shapes 35 and 36 that includes the shell 32.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the tabs 27 and 28 are shaped to be able to enclose at least partly the half-shell 32 and come to cover the areas defined by the connecting edges 33, 34, 35 and 36. In In particular, the tab 27 covers the assembly edge 33 and the tab 28 the assembly edge 34. The tabs 27 and 28 comprise perforated regions 37, 38 respectively to clear at least part of the above-mentioned assembly edges. view of their soldering. The assembly tabs 27 and 28 thus added, define teeth that are not necessarily in equal numbers. In the case illustrated in Figure 2, the tab 27 has eight teeth, while the leg 28 has only four teeth.

The fastener 25 must be previously secured to the base 13 by introduction of the bosses 20 and 21 in two corresponding openings 39 and 40 formed in the bottom 26 (Figure 3). This can be achieved by a simple press fit. However, it may be possible to achieve a final securing of the fastener 25 on the base 13, for example by crimping.

To realize the condenser, it is then sufficient to set up the base 13 in a suitable position, the tabs 27 and 28 allowing a snap of the base on the collector box 3. Thanks to this latching, it ensures a temporary maintenance of the base which can then be assembled definitively by soldering on the manifold 3. Preferably, the assembly of all the elements of the condenser can be carried out in a single operation, by passing through a brazing furnace.

Generally, this passage is performed on a treadmill However, given the fact that the base is held temporarily snap on the manifold 3, there is no risk that this base moves relative to the manifold 3. Thus, it is ensured that the base is always placed in the correct position relative to the manifold 3 during the soldering operation.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and extends to other variants.

Claims (7)

<U> Claims </ U> Condenser, in particular for a refrigerant fluid in an air-conditioning device of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a collecting box (3) and an intermediate reservoir (2) for the treatment and / or storage of a fluid, which removably attaches to a base (13) integral with the header, traversed by two connecting lines (17, 18) for the transfer of fluid between the header and the reservoir, characterized in that base (13) is equipped with a fastening member (25) provided with resilient tabs (27, 28) adapted to snap-engage with the manifold (3) to provide a temporary fixing of the base (13) on the collector box (13) for their definite joining by soldering. 2. Condenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastener (25) is a metal part C-shaped generally having a bottom (26) extended by the elastic tabs (27, 28) and in that said elastic tabs comprise at least one first tab (27) and at least one second tab (28) respectively attached to two opposite edges (29, 30) of the bottom (26). 3. Condenser according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the fixing member (25) is formed as an independent piece and is secured to the base (13). 4. Condenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fastener (25) is a metal sheet, preferably aluminum alloy. 5. Condenser according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the bottom (26) of the fastener (25) is provided with two spaced apertures (39, 40) to be traversed respectively by two bosses ( 20, 21) of the base (13) forming part of the fluid transfer lines (17, 18). 6. Condenser according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the bottom (26) of the fastener (25) is substantially flat, while the elastic tabs (27, 28) are curved. 7. Condenser according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the manifold (3) is formed of two half-shells (31, 32) nested by assembly edges (33, 35; 34, 36). complementary shapes, characterized in that the resilient tabs (27, 28) comprise perforated regions (37, 38) for at least partially clearing the assembly edges for brazing purposes.