FR2848621A1 - Degasification chamber for internal combustion engine, has envelope consisting of two semi-shells which is provided with walls portions extending from internal face of shells - Google Patents

Abstract

The chamber has an envelope consisting of two semi-shells (2, 2) assembled on level of a zone of peripheral junctions of the chamber. The semi-shell is provided with walls portions extending from an internal face of the shells. The wall delimits communicating compartments or rooms realized in co-operation with function of degasification. A peripheral edge carries an interface from junction of the semi-shells. An Independent claim is also included for a procedure for manufacturing a body of a degasification chamber.

Description

- 1

DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to the production of containers, in particular of tanks having several internal compartments, and relates to a degassing box formed of two parts and a method of manufacturing such a box.

  The manufacture of sealed hollow containers from several parts or separate parts has been known for many years.

  For reasons of cost, weight, manufacturing reliability and compatibility of materials, these containers are often made of plastic. This is particularly the case for most fluid tanks equipping a motor vehicle, especially for the degassing box. However, these degassing boxes also having a complex internal structure, in particular a set of internal walls 15 providing a compartmentalization of the interior volume. and to perform the degassing function.

  Currently, two methods of manufacture are mainly used to manufacture these degassing boxes.

  A first known solution is to separately supply two complementary half-plates and an insert piece intended to form the internal compartmentalization structure, and to assemble the two half-plates to form the casing of the box, after having placed the insert in the box. one of the two half-hulls.

  However, this solution requires the manufacture of three separate parts 25 and does not guarantee the exact positioning of the insert in the envelope after assembly, or any sealing between compartments. In addition, a possible mispositioning of said insert can compromise the quality, particularly the sealing, of the assembly of the two half-shells.

  A second known solution is to separately form two half-shells each of which is provided with inner wall portions forming inner partition walls halves.

  These two half-shells are assembled at their peripheral edges and at the edges of the opposite wall halves, to form the degassing box with its integrated compartmentalization structure. Nevertheless, in addition to the complexity of the assembly to be carried out and the precision required to do this, the resulting degassing box has areas of stress concentrations detrimental to the cohesion and overall strength of said box.

  The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. For this purpose, it relates to a degassing box, in particular a degassing box also forming a coolant reservoir for a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine, essentially comprising a body composed, on the one hand, of an outer shell, preferably of substantially spherical shape, consisting of two complementary half-shells assembled at a circumferential peripheral junction zone contained in an assembly plane and, on the other hand, a functional assembly of internal separating walls delimiting compartments or communicating chambers cooperating with the degassing function, said envelope being provided with several external end pieces each opening into one of the aforementioned compartments or chambers and formed integrally with one or other of said two half-shells forming the envelope, box characterized in that that half-shell is provided with one or more wall portions formed integrally with it and extending from the inner face of the relevant half-shell to beyond the plane containing the peripheral edge carrying the junction interface of the half-shell concerned, said wall portions of the two halves forming by association, in the assembled state of said two halves, the functional assembly of inner partition walls of the body of said box of degassing, each wall portion forming a total of one of said partition walls.

  The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings, in which: FIGS. 3 are exploded perspective views, at different angles, of a degassing box according to the invention, showing the two constituent parts before assembly; FIG. 4 is a partially sectional side elevational view in section (according to A-A of FIG. 5C) of a degassing box according to the invention; FIGS. 5A and 5B are respectively views from below of the half-shell forming the upper part of the degassing tank and from above of the half-shell forming the lower part of said tank; FIG. 5C is a top view partly in transparency and partly in section of a degassing box according to the invention, and FIG. 6 is a view in transparency, in a direction similar to that of FIG. a box or a degassing tank during assembly by nesting of its two constituent parts.

  The present invention relates to a degassing box 1, in particular a degassing box also forming a cooling liquid reservoir for a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine, essentially comprising a body composed, on the one hand, of an outer shell 2, 2 ', preferably of substantially spherical shape, consisting of two complementary half-shells 2 and 2' assembled at a circumferential peripheral junction zone 3 contained in an assembly plane P 'and, d on the other hand, a functional assembly of interior partition walls 4, 5, 6 delimiting compartments or chambers 4 ', 5', 6 'communicatively cooperating with the degassing function, said envelope being provided with a plurality of outer ends 7 to 10 each opening into one of the aforesaid 25 compartments or chambers 4 ', 5', 6 'and formed integrally with one or the other of said two half coques 2 or 2 'forming the envelope.

  According to the invention, each half-shell 2, 2 'is provided with one or more wall portions 4, 5, 6 formed in one piece with it and extending from the face internal of the half-shell 2 30 or 2 'concerned beyond the plane containing the peripheral edge 1 1 or 1l' carrying the junction interface of the half-shell concerned, said wall portions 4, 5, 6 of the two half-shells 2 and 2 'forming by association, in the assembled state of said two half-shells 2 and 2', the functional assembly of internal separation walls of the body of said degassing box 1, each portion of wall 4, 5, 6 forming in full one of said partition walls. - 4

  Thus, the body of the degassing box 1 is formed by the assembly of only two elementary constituent parts 2 and 2 ', each in one piece.

  These constituent parts are each composed of a half shell 2 or 2 'with its end pieces 7, 8, 9, 10 and its wall portion or portions 4, 5, 6 integrated, the latter constituting formations projecting beyond the interior volume defined by the half-shell 2, 2 'from which they are derived and having ends forming part of or supported by a surface substantially corresponding to the inner face of the wall of the half-shell 2', 2 opposite, when said two half-shells are assembled.

  The realization of the wall portions 4, 5, 6 in one piece with one of the two half-shells 2 or 2 'ensures a good structural unit and a perfect seal at the transition zones between walls and a half -coques corresponding.

  The absence of mutual assembly at said portions of walls 4, 5, 6 or between them and the respective complementary half-shell makes it possible to guarantee, in addition, good continuity of the assembly at the peripheral edges of the half 2 and 2 'and the absence of formation of stress concentration zones.

  Preferably, the half-shells 2, 2 'with their wall portions 4, 5, 6 and their end pieces 7 to 10 formed integrally with them are made by injection molding thermoplastic material, optionally filled, and are assembled between them by vibration welding or by mirror welding in a continuous and sealed manner at their circumferential peripheral edges 11 and 11 provided with suitable junction interfaces.

  In order to provide chambers or compartments 4 ', 5', 6 'whose partitioning is relatively sealed, the wall portion or portions 4, 5, 6 of each half-shell 2, 2' rests (s) by a part at least of its or their free edge (s) against the inner face of the other half-shell 2, 2 ', in the assembled state of the body of said degassing box 1 (that is, ie after completion of mirror or vibration welding).

  Optionally, the corresponding zones of the inner face of the half-plates 2, 2 'against which the ends of the wall portions 4, 5, 6 of the respective complementary half-shell come into application may be provided with specific configurations forming with said ends baffles or similar sealing structures by complementarity of shapes, to ensure isolation and good quality separation between the various internal compartments of the box.

  As shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings, and according to a characteristic of the invention, the functional assembly of interior partition walls 4, 5, 6 delimits in particular two elongate chambers 4 'and 5' which are cylindrical and concentric, preferably with a cross section. substantially circular, extending over the entire height of the internal volume of said degassing box 1, said two cylindrical chambers 4 'and 5' being formed by two tube-shaped wall portions 4 and 5, arranged one in the other coaxially, and each belonging to one of the two half-shells 2 and 2 'half-spherical, the chamber 4' formed by the inner tubular wall portion 4 opening at one of its longitudinal ends on a tip 7 forming a filling opening of the box 15 1 and at its opposite end on a nozzle 9 intended to be connected to a loading circuit portion, the annular section volume 12 located between the both tubular wall portions 4 and 5 being in fluid connection with a tip 10 for connection to a circuit portion connected to a radiator, and said tubular wall portions 4 and 5 defining said concentric and coaxial chambers 4 'and 5 'having cutouts 13, 14 allowing fluid communication between these chambers 4' and 5 'and the volumes surrounding them respectively.

  Advantageously, the cutout 14 of the outer tubular wall portion 5 consists of a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of said portion and the cutout 13 of the inner tubular wall portion 4 is made so as to provide a passage 13 ' between this wall portion 4 and the casing 2, 2 'of the body of the degassing box 1 at its proximal end of the end piece 9 intended to be connected to a loading circuit portion. In addition, longitudinally extending lateral wings 15, 15 '30 are advantageously formed on the inner tubular wall portion 4 or outer portion 5 so as to divide longitudinally the annular section volume 12 into two compartments, one of which communicates with the passage 13 'provided by the cutout 13 of the inner tubular wall portion 4 with the chamber 4' defined by this portion 4 and the other communicating through the passage provided by the slot 14 with the internal volume of the degassing box 1 located outside the outer tubular wall portion 5. - 6

  With a view to preventing the formation of a vortex or vortex in the chamber 4 'during the suction of the liquids present by the tip 9 forming the pipette, and thus the suction of gas by the latter, said inner chamber 4' may be provided with a segmentation structure, such as, for example, a profiled structure of cross-section inner walls formed integrally with the inner tubular wall 4 and extending into the volume of the half-shell 2 'corresponding (not shown).

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the functional assembly of internal partition walls 4, 5, 6 also delimits with the two half-shells 2 and 2 'a receiving chamber 6' into which a mouthpiece 8 for be connected to a circuit portion connected to the cooling means of the motor, the wall portion 6 forming said chamber having a generally sectional shape with a substantially U-shaped cross-section, the ends of the flanges of which are directed towards the inner faces of said two halves. shells 2, 2 'and match the internal curvature of the corresponding envelope parts opposite.

  According to an embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, the degassing box comprises a first half-shell 2 which forms the upper part of the body of said box 1 and which comprises the wall portion tubular inner 4 and the wall portion 6 defining the receiving chamber 6 ', said inner tubular wall portion 4 straight extension extending in the continuity of the nozzle 7 providing the filling opening. The outer prominent portion of the tip 7 may include a thread 25 for mounting a screw cap 7 '.

  Said degassing box 1 then also comprises a second half-shell 2 'which forms the lower part of the body of said box 1 and which comprises the straight-extending outer tubular wall portion 5, the end-piece 10 intended to be connected to a portion of circuit connected to a radiator through the portion of the envelope of said half-shell 2 'and opening on the inner face of said outer tubular wall portion 5. Moreover, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, 9 mouthpiece opens into the bottom of said half-shell 2 '.

  In this embodiment, the assembly plane P 'of the two half-shells 2 and 2' will preferably be located substantially horizontally in the final mounting position of said degassing box, -7 the longitudinal axis of the tubular wall portions 4 and 5 extending substantially perpendicular to this plane.

  Of course, the tubular walls 4 and 5 will comprise, at their ends near the nozzle 7, orifices or 5 perforations allowing the passage of gas for evacuation by the plug 7 '(not shown).

  As shown in Figures 1 and 5 of the accompanying drawings, and according to another characteristic of the invention, the outer tubular wall portion 5 has on its outer face a niche structure 16, for example in the form of a wall recess 16 'possibly extended by protruding radial side walls 16 ", facing an opening 17 of the envelope portion of the lower half-shell 2', said opening 17, preferably extended by an outer end, being intended to receive a measuring probe or a level sensor whose sensitive end is disposed in said niche 16. In order to provide a level measurement timing volume and simultaneously a volume of tranquilization for a reliable measurement, the walls 16 'and 16 "of the niche-like structure 16 together with the envelope portion of the lower half-shell 2' form a substantially closed compartment, open in its upper part and communicating with - the volume between the shell portion of the upper half-shell 2 and the outer tubular wall 5, said walls 16 'and 16 "being provided with passage orifices 16"' establishing a fluid communication calibrated 25 with, respectively, on the one hand, the cylindrical chamber 5 ', preferably facing the cutout 13, and, on the other hand, the volume between the envelope portion of the lower half-shell 2' and the wall tubular outer 5, preferably at the height of the opening 17.

  In order to quickly mount the degassing box on its support (car body), at least one of the two half-shells 2, 2 ', preferably the lower half-shell 2' may comprise means fastening by elastic engagement 18, preferably formed in one piece with said half-shell.

  Such fastening means are in particular described and represented in the French patent application No. 01 12236 of 21 September 2001 in the name of the applicant. - 8

  The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a body of a degassing box 1 as described above and shown for example in the accompanying figures.

  This process is characterized in that it consists in separately manufacturing two complementary half-shells 2 and 2 'intended to together provide the outer casing of the body of the degassing box 1, each of said half-shells 2, 2' comprising formed in one piece with it, on the one hand, one or more wall portions 4, 5, 6 extending from the inner face of the half-shell 2 or 2 'concerned up to beyond 10 of the plane containing the circumferential peripheral edge 11, 11 'of the latter and, on the other hand, one or more outer ends 7, 8, 9, 10, to preassemble the two half-shells 2 and 2' by introducing the parts protruding, beyond the plane of the edge, the wall portion or portions 4, 5, 6 of each half-shell 2, 2 'in the other half-shell 2', 2, so as to form a functional unit interior partition walls delimiting communicating compartments or chambers 4 ', 5', 6 'intended to be realized in cooperation with the degassing function, the end pieces 7 to 10 opening each into one of the said compartments or chambers 4 ', 5', 6 ', to intimately apply the peripheral edges to one another 11 and 11 'of the two half-shells 2 and 2' and, finally, to perform a vibration weld or a mirror weld along the entire length of said edges 1 1 and 1 l 'of the contact for the purpose of assembly of said two half-shells.

  The degassing box 1 is thus formed by assembling only two constituent parts, each formed of a half-shell 2, 2 'with its wall portions and its integrated tips, the two parts being only physically connected to one another at the same time. a circumferential annular zone 11, 11 '.

  In order to facilitate the aforementioned pre-assembly and to stiffen the final assembly of the degassing box 1, it may be provided that certain parts of the wall portions 4, 5, 6 of the two half-shells 2 and 2 'form guide means cooperating and indexing means in relative position of said two half-shells 2 and 2 'during assembly.

  Thus, the wings 15 and 15 'formed on the inner tubular wall portion 4 may, during the pre-assembly, slide in contact on the inner face of the outer tubular wall portion 5 and the portion of the wall portion 6 corresponding to the core of the U slide in surface contact on the outer face of said outer wall portion (Figure 4).

  Moreover, the free end of the wall portion 6 may comprise a cutout 6 "conforming to the outer surface of the end piece 10 extending to said outer wall portion 5.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing as far as the field of protection of the invention. -

Claims (14)

  1) Degassing box, in particular degassing box also forming a coolant reservoir for a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine, essentially comprising a body composed, on the one hand, of an outer envelope, preferably of substantially spherical shape, consisting of two complementary half-shells assembled at a peripheral circumferential junction zone contained in an assembly plane and, secondly, a functional assembly of inner partition walls delimiting compartments or communicating chambers cooperating with the degassing function, said casing being provided with a plurality of outer end-pieces each opening into one or more of said compartments or chambers formed integrally with the casing; one or the other of said two half-shells forming the casing, box (1) characterized in that each half-shell (2, 2 ') is provided one or more wall portions (4, 5, 6) formed integrally therewith and extending from the inner face of the half-shell (2 or 2 ') concerned beyond the plane containing the peripheral edge (l1 or 1 l ') carrying the junction interface of the half-shell concerned, said wall portions (4, 5, 6) of the two half-shells (2 and 2 ') forming by association, in the assembled state of said two half-shells (2 and 2'), the functional assembly of inner partition walls of the body of said degassing box (1), each wall portion (4, 5, 6) forming all of one of said partition walls.  2) A degassing box according to claim 1, characterized in that the half-shells (2, 2 ') with their wall portions (4, 5, 6) and their ends (7 to 10) formed of a single are formed by injection molding thermoplastic material, optionally filled, and are assembled together by mirror welding or vibration welding in a continuous and sealed manner at their peripheral circumferential edges (1 1 and 1 l ') provided with suitable junction interfaces.   3) A degassing box according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the wall portion or portions (4, 5, 6) of each half-shell (2, 2 ') is (are) supported by at least part of its free edge (s) against the inner face of the other half-shell (2, 2 '), in the assembled state of the body of said degassing box (1) ) and form (s), where appropriate, with the corresponding application areas of said inner face of the baffles.   4) degassing box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the functional assembly of inner partition walls (4, 5, 6) defines in particular two elongate chambers (4 'and 5') cylindrical and concentric, preferably of substantially circular section, extending over the entire height of the internal volume of said degassing box (1), said two cylindrical chambers (4 'and 5') being formed by two wall portions in the form of tubes (4 and 5), arranged one inside the other coaxially, and each belonging to one of the two half-shells (2 and 2 ') half-spherical, the chamber (4') formed by the portion of inner tubular wall (4) opening at one of its longitudinal ends on a tip (7) forming a filling opening of the box (1) and at its opposite end on a tip (9) intended to be connected to a portion charging circuit, the annular section volume (12) located between said two tubular wall portions (4 and 5) being in fluid connection with a tip (10) for connection to a circuit portion connected to a radiator, and said tubular wall portions (4 and 5) ) Defining said concentric and coaxial chambers (4 'and 5') having cut-outs (13, 14) allowing fluid communication between said chambers (4 'and 5') and surrounding volumes respectively. 5) A degassing box according to claim 4, characterized in that the cutout (14) of the outer tubular wall portion (5) consists of a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of said portion, in that the cutout (13) of the inner tubular wall portion (4) is formed so as to provide a passage (13 ') between this wall portion (4) and the casing (2, 2') of the body of the degassing box (1) at its proximal end of the tip (9) to be connected to a charging circuit portion and in that longitudinally extending lateral wings (15, 15 ') are formed on the inner tubular wall portion (4) or outer wall portion (5) so as to longitudinally divide the annular section volume (12) into two compartments, one of which communicates through the passage (13 ') provided by the cut-out (13) of the inner tubular wall portion (4) with the chamber (4 ') defined thereby. (4) and the other communicates through the passage provided by the slot - 12 (14) with the internal volume of the degassing box (1) located outside the outer tubular wall portion (5).   6) Degassing box according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the inner chamber (4 ') is provided with a segmentation structure, such as for example a profiled structure of inner walls with cross-section. cross, formed integrally with the inner tubular wall (4) and extending into the volume of the corresponding half-shell (2 ').  7) A degassing box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the functional assembly of inner partition walls (4, 5, 6) also delimits with the two half-shells (2 and 2 '). ) a receiving chamber (6 ') into which a tip (8) opens to be connected to a circuit portion connected to the engine cooling means, the wall portion (6) forming said chamber 15 having a generally profiled shape section substantially U-shaped, the ends of the flanges are directed towards the inner faces of said two half-shells (2, 2 ') and match the internal curvature of the corresponding casing parts opposite.   8) A degassing box according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that it comprises a half-shell (2) which forms the upper part of the body of said box (1) and which comprises the inner tubular wall portion ( 4) and the wall portion (6) delimiting the receiving chamber (6 '), said straight-tubular inner tubular wall portion (4) extending in the continuity of the mouthpiece (7) providing the opening filling.   9) A degassing box according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a half-shell (2 ') which forms the lower part of the body of said box (1) and which comprises the outer tubular wall portion (5) with rectilinear extension, the tip (10) intended to be connected to a circuit portion connected to a radiator passing through the part of the envelope of said half-shell (2 ') and opening on the internal face of said portion of outer tubular wall (5).   10) degassing box according to claim 9, characterized in that the outer tubular wall portion (5) has on its outer face a niche-shaped structure (16), for example in the form of a recess wall (16 ') possibly extended by prominent radial side walls (16 "), located opposite an opening (17) - 13 of the envelope portion of the lower half-shell (2'), said opening (17) ), preferably extended by an outer end, being intended to receive a measuring probe or a level sensor whose sensitive end is disposed in said recess (16).   11) A degassing box according to claim 10, characterized in that the walls (16 'and 16 ") of the niche-shaped structure (16) together with the envelope portion of the lower half-shell (2') a substantially closed compartment, open in its upper part and communicating with the volume between the envelope portion of the upper half-shell (2) and the outer tubular wall (5), said walls (16 'and 16 ") being provided with passage orifices (16 "') establishing a calibrated fluidic communication with, respectively, on the one hand, the cylindrical chamber (5'), preferably facing the cutout (13), and, on the other hand , the volume between the envelope portion of the lower half-shell (2 ') and the outer tubular wall (5), preferably up to the opening (17).   12) A degassing box according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one of the two halves (2, 2 '), preferably the lower half-shell (2'), comprises means snap fastening device (18).   13) A method of manufacturing a body of a degassing box according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it consists in separately manufacturing two complementary half-shells (2 and 2 ') intended to provide together the outer casing of the body of the degassing box (1), each of said half-shells (2, 2 ') comprising, formed integrally with it, on the one hand, one or more wall portions (4, 5, 6) extending from the inner face of the semicoque (2 or 2 ') concerned to beyond the plane containing the circumferential peripheral edge (11, 1 1') of the latter and, on the other hand, one or more outer ends (7, 8, 9, 10), to pre-assemble the two half-plates (2 and 2 ') by introducing the protruding parts, beyond the plane of the edge, of the portion or portions wall (4, 5, 6) of each half-shell (2, 2 ') in the other half-shell (2', 2), so as to constitute a functional assembly of walls of se internal partitions defining compartments or chambers (4 ', 5', 6 ') communicating (e) s intended to perform cooperatively the degassing function, the end pieces (7 to 10) each opening into one ( e) of said compartments or chambers (4 ', - 14 5', 6 '), to intimately apply against each other circumferential circumferential edges (11 and I') of the two half-shells (2 and 2 ') and, finally, to perform a vibration weld or a mirror weld along the entire length of said edges (11 and 11') contact for the final assembly of said two half-shells.   14) A manufacturing method according to claim 13, characterized in that some portions of the wall portions (4, 5, 6) of the two half-shells (2 and 2 ') form cooperating guiding means and indexing means in position relative of said two half-shells (2 and 2 ') 10 during their assembly.