MXPA97001401A - Condenser with integrated deposit for installation of air conditioning of automobile vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A condenser for a cooling circuit run by a cooling fluid and comprising a bundle of tubes (12), mounted between a first collecting box (16) and a second collecting box (18), an inlet (22) for the cooling fluid gaseous, an outlet (24) for the condensed refrigerant fluid, as well as a tank (20) suitable for being traversed by the cooling fluid, said tank being housed in the collection box (16) and in communication, by means of at least one opening (52, 54) with a part located downstream (P3, P4) of the beam, on the side of the outlet (24) of the condenser, has application in air conditioning for motor vehicles

Description

CONDENSER WITH INTEGRATED DEPOSIT PflRñ INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING IN A VEHICLE AUTOMOTIVE The invention relates to a capacitor suitable for forming part of a refrigeration circuit, for example, of an air-conditioning installation for autonomous vehicles. More particularly, it refers to a condenser for a fluid-regulated refrigeration circuit. coolant, comprising a bundle of tubes mounted between two collector boxes, an inlet for the gaseous refrigerant fluid, an outlet for the condensed refrigerant fluid, as well as a tank suitable for being traversed by the refrigerant fluid. In a cooling circuit of this type, the refrigerant fluid is sent in the superheated vapor phase, under the action of a compressor, to the condenser, where it is successively cooled or "de-superheated", condenses in a phase liquid hot, then "sub-cool" to a cold liquid phase. The condensed and cooled refrigerant fluid is then sent, by means of a decompressor, to the evaporator, where its heat changes with a flow of air to be sent to the interior of the vehicle. In the evaporator, the refrigerant fluid is transformed to the vapor phase, while the air flow is cooled to provide the conditioned air. The refrigerant fluid in the vapor phase leaves the evaporator to reach the compressor again and carry out a new operating cycle. In condensers of this type, the reservoir is normally formed to the shape of a separate container, also called a "bottle", which is placed in the circuit between the condenser and the decompressor. It is also known, from the French patent application No. 93 10325, a condenser of this type in which the tank is integrated into the condenser when it is externally fixed to one of the collector boxes. This known solution makes it necessary to provide connections and clamping legs between the tank and the collecting box, which complicates the assembly of the condenser, mainly the welding operations. In addition, said known solution increases the space occupied by the condenser, due to the fact that the tank is located on the outside of one of the collector boxes. fldionally, the outer deposit is a false element that generates vibrations at the condenser level. The main purpose of the invention is to solve the aforementioned drawbacks. Consequently, it proposes a condenser of the type defined in the introductory part, in which the reservoir is formed in the form of a container housed in a first collecting box and communicating, by means of at least one opening, with a part downstream of the container. beam, towards the side of the condenser outlet. A) Yes. ues, it is no longer necessary to provide connections or clamping legs between the tank and the collection box, due to the fact that the tank is housed inside the collector box. It is also possible to form the reservoir and the collecting box in one piece, which requires less complex and less prolonged assembly operations. This substantially simplifies the welding operations. The capacitor of the invention also has the advantage of less interference, due to the fact that the outer reservoir has been eliminated. In addition, it has a better resistance to vibrations due to the fact that it eliminates any false element located on the outside of the collecting box. In a first embodiment of the invention, the collecting box comprises a tubular side wall, while the tank comprises a side wall separated, at least in part, from the side wall of the collecting box; transverse partitions are provided between the side wall of the collecting box and the side wall of the tank, to define peripheral compartments that communicate with different parts of the tube bundle to allow a multipath circulation of the cooling fluid in the tube bundle. Advantageously, the side wall of the tank comprises an opening for the inlet of the cooling fluid coming from a peripheral compartment and an outlet for the outlet of the condensed cooling fluid towards a second peripheral compartment., which communicates with the condensate output through a part of the beam. In this way, the condensed refrigerant fluid passes through the reservoir and then exits the condenser, after having passed through a part of the bundle. In the variant, the reservoir comprises an end opening that allows the inside of the reservoir to be communicated with a compartment that is provided in the first collecting box, and communicating with the condenser outlet; said outlet being provided in the first collecting box. In this first embodiment of the invention, the side wall of the reservoir is preferably tubular and coaxial with the tubular side wall of the collecting box, while the transverse partitions are annular and the peripheral compartments also have an annular section. In a variant of the embodiment, the side wall of the tank is curved and connected in two opposite generatrices of the side wall of the collecting box, while the traversal partitions have the shape of a half moon and the peripheral compartments also have a section in the form of a half moon.

In another embodiment of the invention, the collection box comprises a tubular side wall, while the tank comprises a tubular side wall that is coaxial with the side wall of the collection box, extends over one part of the collection box and empties into another part of the collecting box by means of an open end; the annular partition being provided between the side wall of the collecting box and the side wall of the tank, at the level of the open end of the latter. In this way, the side wall of the tank extends only in a part of the height of the first collecting box. The second collecting box normally lacks the reservoir and, therefore, it is advantageous that the inlet and the outlet of the condenser are provided in this second collecting box. In another embodiment of the invention, the second collecting box also houses a second tank that communicates, by means of at least one opening, with a part downstream of the bundle, next to the outlet of the condenser. Preferably, the second collecting box comprises a tubular side wall, while the second tank also comprises a side wall spaced, at least in part, from the side wall of the collecting box; transverse partitions are provided between the side wall of the second hopper and the side wall of the second reservoir to define peripheral compartments communicating with different parts of the bundle to allow a multipath passage of the refrigerant fluid in the bundle of tubes. Preferably, the side wall of the second reservoir is tubular and coaxial with the tubular side wall of the second reservoir; the transverse partitions being annular and the peripheral compartments also having an annular section. According to another characteristic of the invention, the side wall of the second tank comprises an opening that allows the inside of the tank to be connected to a peripheral compartment of the second tank, into which the outlet of the condenser opens. In another variant of the embodiment, the first reservoir and the second reservoir have respective open ends, which open into two end compartments formed, respectively, in the first collecting box and in the second collecting box; said two end compartments communicate with each other by a part of the beam tubes. This variant of the mode offers the advantage of separating, in the first step of the refrigerant fluid, the liquid and vapor phases, in order to improve the performance of the condenser. In the description given below, by way of example only, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view, in partial section, of a condenser according to a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken following the two lines II-II of Figure 1 from one to the other. Figure 3 is a partial view, similar to that of Figure 1, for a variant of the modality. Figure 4 is an elevational view of the condenser reservoir of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a top view of the reservoir of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a detail, on a larger scale and in section, of the reservoir of the figure 4. Figure 7 is a partial sectional view of a capacitor according to a second embodiment of the invention. Figure 8 is a sectional view, following the two lines VIII-VIII of Figure 7 from one another. Figure 9 is a partial sectional view of a condenser according to a third embodiment of the invention. Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken along the line X-X of Figure 9. Figure 11 is an elevational view and partly in section of a condenser according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. Figure .12 is a section view, turned B following the line XII-XII of figure 11. Figure 13 is a sectional view, taken along the line XIII-XIII of figure 10. Figure 14 is a view similar to that of figure 11 in a variant of the modality; and Figure 15 is an elevational view in partial section of a capacitor according to a variant of the embodiment of Figure 1. The capacitor of Figure 1 comprises a beam. .10, formed by a plurality of flat tubes 12, between which there are arranged spacers 14, of general shape or dull / forming heat exchange fins. The beam 10 is mounted on a first collector box 16 and a second collector box 18, tubular in shape, with circular section and parallel axes. The collecting box 16 houses a reservoir 20 inside it, while the collecting box 18 is provided with a tubular inlet opening 22 for the admission of a refining fluid, in the form of superheated steam, and a tubular opening. outlet 24 for the exit of the cooling fluid in the form of a cooled liquid phase. 01 passing through the heat exchanger, the cooling fluid is successively cooled or "de-superheated", condenses to hot liquid phase, then "subcoolled" to cold liquid phase by means of a thermal change with an air flow that b the bundle 10. The collecting box .18 is bounded by a tubular side wall 26, closed at its two ends by two end walls 28 and 30; and is provided with two internal partitions 32 and 3, arranged in selected positions. The tubes 12 of the beam communicate with the collecting box 18, by means of appropriate openings, provided in the side wall 26. The first collecting box 16 comprises a tubular side wall 36 of circular section, with a diameter greater than the side wall 26, and provided with two open ends 38 and 40. The tank 20 comprises a side wall 42 of tubular shape, of circular section, and housed inside the side wall 36. The wall 42 extends substantially to the top of the first collecting box (as defined between its ends 38 and 40); and said side wall 42 is closed by two end walls 44 and 46, which are continued to the inside of the side wall 36 to close at the same time the ends 38 and 40 of the collector box 16. Two transverse annular partitions 48 are also provided. and 50 between the walls 36 and 42, between the positions selected to define annular compartments, into which the tubes 12 of the beam open, by virtue of the openings provided in the wall 36. The cooling fluid can thus circulate in the condenser , between the entrance 22 and the exit 24, by means of a circuit of several steps, also called "of multiple steps". The fluid first arrives in a compartment Cl defined in the collection box 18 between the wall 28 and the partition 32. The cooling fluid then passes (arrow Fl), through a part Pl of the bundle, to an annular peripheral compartment C2, limited between the walls 36 and 42 and between the wall 44 and the partition 48. Next, the fluid passes (slurry F2) through a part P2 of the bundle, to a compartment C3, limited in the hopper 1 (3 between the partitions 32 and 34. From there, the fluid arrives (milk F3) by means of a part P4 of the bundle, to a compartment 04 limited between the walls 36 and 42 and between the partitions 48 and 50. The fluid then penetrates the reservoir 20 (milk F4), through an inlet opening 52, provided in the side wall 42. The fluid then leaves the reservoir through an outlet opening 54 (arrow F5) to reach a compartment C5, limited by the side walls 36 and 42 and the end wall 45 and the annular partition 50 Then, the fluid enters (arrow F6), through a part P4 of the bundle, into a container C6 of the collecting box 18, into which the outlet tubular opening 24 opens. When the fluid enters the reservoir 20 through the opening 52, it is in the liquid phase and is then subcooled as it passes through the part P4 of the beam, which is located downstream. The tank 20 makes it possible to absorb variations in the volume of the refrigerant fluid as a function of expansion phenomena. In the modality of figure 1, the transverse baffles 48 and 50 are formed by annular elements connected between the side wall 36 of the collector box 16 and the side wall 42 of the tank 20. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 6, to which reference will now be made, the transverse annular partitions are obtained by localized deformation of the side wall 42 of the tank, so that peripheral annular flanges 56 and 58 are left resting against the inner face of the side wall 36. Reference will now be made to the figures 7 and 8, which refer to a capacitor with structure very similar to the one just described. In this embodiment, the reservoir 20 comprises a side wall 60, curved in shape, whose generatrices are parallel to those of the tubular wall 36 of the collecting box 16. The wall 60 has a U-shaped section, terminated by two parallel edges. 62 and 64 (FIG. 8) that are connected in two generatrices 55 and 68, diametrically opposite, of the side wall 36. The wall 60 thus limits, inside the collecting box 16, a volume whose cross section resembles the of a half moon, and in which the tubes of the beam end. This space is divided by two transverse partitions 70 and 72, placed in the same positions as partitions 48 and 50, or as partitions 56 and 58, to define the components C2, C4 and C5. The partitions 70 and 72 have a half-moon shape and the compartments C2, C4 and C5 also have a section in the shape of an half moon. In addition, the wall 60 is provided with two openings 52 and 54, similar to those described above. The operation of the capacitor of Figures 7 and 8 is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, or that of Figures 3 to 6. Reference will now be made to Figures 9 and 10 to describe another embodiment of the invention, which resembles to those described previously. The reservoir 20 here comprises a side wall 74 of circular tubular shape, coaxially located inside the side wall 36 of the collecting box 16. In this embodiment, the wall 74 extends only in a part of the height of the collecting box 16, which in the example, is substantially half of said height. The tubular wall 74 has an open end 76, closed by an end wall 44, similar to that described above. In addition, it has an open end 78 that opens directly into a second part of the collecting box 16, which is in direct communication with the tubes of the parts P3 and P4 of the beam. An annular partition 80 is provided between the side wall 36 of the hopper and the side wall 74 of the reservoir, at the level of its open end 78. Be this way; a compartment C2, similar to that described above, is limited by the side walls 36 and 74, the end wall 44 and the annular partition 90.

The operation of the capacitor of FIGS. 9 and 10 is similar to that of the modalities described above. In the embodiment of figures 11 to 13, to which reference will now be made, the collecting box 16 is provided with a reservoir 20, similar to that described above when referring to figure 3. However, the collecting box 16 and deposit 20 have smaller sections than in the recedent mode. In fact, the second collecting box 18 also houses a second tank 82, which extends to the entire height of the second collecting box. The reservoir 82 comprises a tubular side wall 84, of circular section, which is coaxially housed in the tubular wall 26. The wall 84 is closed by two end walls 86 and 88 which play the role of the end walls 28 and 30, previously described . Finally, the wall 84 is bent to form two annular flanges 90 and 92, which form a transverse partition, and arranged in the same positions as the partitions 32 and 34, as in the modalities that were described above when reference was made to the Figures 1 to 8. From the above it results that the collecting box 18 comprises three compartments Cl, C3 and C6, which have here a void of fi ce. The side wall 84 is provided with an opening 94, which allows the communication of the interior of the tank 80 with the peripheral compartment C6 of the collecting box 18, where the outlet 24 of the condenser opens. In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 13, the collector boxes IB and 18 have substantially the same diameter as the tanks 20 and 82. The latter two allow to compensate for the volume variations of the refrigerant fluid in the liquid state. Reference will now be made to the modality of the figure .14, which resembles that of figures 11 to 13. As in the previous modality, the collector boxes 16 and 18 receive, respectively, two tanks 20 and 82. However, these two tanks have a lower height than in the preceding embodiment, and have two open ends, respectively 96 and 98, which are spaced from the respective end walls 44 and 86. The open ends 6 and 98 are closed by two annular partitions 100 and 102, obtained here by deformation of the walls of the tanks to form ridges. The open end 96 of the first reservoir 20 thus opens into a carrier C7, which communicates via a part P5 of the bundle (in the example, formed by three tubes), with a compartment C8, formed in the upper part of the collecting box .18 and communicating with the interior of the reservoir 82 by means of the open end 9B. This mode allows to separate, at the end of the third step (part P3, arrow F3), the liquid and vapor phases, to improve the performance of the condenser. In fact, if the steam is introduced into the tank 20, said steam has a tendency to rise to reach the compartment C7, then to the compartment CB, through the part P5 of the beam, as shown by the arrow F7. Said steam is then condensed and enters the condensed state in compartment C8 to then reach inside the tank 32 and be taken out of the condenser through the opening 94 of the tank 82 and, from there, through the outlet 24. The condenser shown in FIG. Figure 15 is similar to that of Figure 1, except that two transverse partitions 104 ,. 106, are provided between the side wall 36 of the collector box 16 and the side wall 42 of the tank. However, unlike the embodiment of Figure 1, no opening has been provided through this side wall. In this way two compartments C2 and C4 are defined between the side wall of the tank and the side wall of the collecting box. As seen in Figure 16, the transverse partition 106 is located near the end wall 46. The reservoir thus comprises an end opening 108 that allows communication of the interior of the reservoir with a compartment C6, provided in the lower part of the box collector 16. In this mode, the outlet 24 of the condenser is provided in the collector box 16 and communicates directly with the compartment C6. The cooling fluid enters through the inlet 22 into the second collecting box 18, then runs through the tubes of the bundle, as indicated by arrows Fl, F2, F3, F4 and F5; to reach compartment C6, before leaving the condenser through outlet 24, provided in the first collection box .16. The invention is not limited to the modalities described above, by way of example, but extends to other variants, mainly as regards the relative arrangement and the number of tubes that form the different parts of the beam. The invention has particular application in air conditioning installations for motor vehicles.

Claims (15)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - Condenser for a cooling circuit run by a cooling fluid, comprising a tube bundle (10) mounted between a first collection box (16) and a second collection box (18), an inlet (22) for the gaseous refrigerant fluid, one outlet (24) for the condensed refrigerant fluid, as well. as a reservoir (20) suitable for being traversed by the re-directing fluid; characterized in that the tank (20) is formed in the form of a container housed in the first collecting box (16) and communicating, by means of at least one opening (52, 54) with a part of the beam arranged downstream (P3). , P) on the output side (24) of the capacitor. 2"- Condenser according to claim 1, further characterized in that the collecting box (16) comprises a tubular side wall (36), the tank (20) comprises a side wall (42, 60) spaced at least in part, of the side wall (36) of the collecting box (16), and transverse partitions (48, 50, 56, 58, 70, 72, 104, 106) are provided between the side wall (36) of the collecting box and the side wall (42, 60) of the tank (20) to define peripheral compartments (C

2, C4,. C5) that communicate with different parts (Pl, P2, P

3, P4) of the beam to allow a multi-pass circulation of the cooling fluid in the tube ha23. - Condenser according to claim 2, further characterized in that the side wall (42) of the tank (20) comprises an opening (52) for the inlet of the cooling fluid coming from a peripheral compound (C4) and an outlet (54). ) to draw the condensed fluid to another peripheral compartment (C5), which communicates with the outlet (24) of the condenser through a part (P4) of the beam (10).

4. Condenser according to claim 2, further characterized in that the reservoir comprises an end opening (108) that establishes communication between the interior of the reservoir and a container (C6) provided in the first collecting box (115) and communicating with the exit (26); and said outlet (26) is provided in the first collecting box (16).

5. Condenser according to any of claims 2 to 2, further characterized in that the side wall (42) of reservoir (20) is tubular and coaxial with the tubular side wall (36) of the collection box (16); the transverse partitions (48, 50; 56, 58) are annular, and the peripheral compartments (C2, C4, C5) also have an annular section.

6. Condenser according to claim 5, further characterized in that the transverse partitions are formed by annular elements (48, 50, 104, 106) disposed between the side wall (36) of the collection box (16) and the side wall (42) of the deposit (20).

7. - Condenser according to claim 5, further characterized in that the lateral walls are obtained by deformation of the side wall (42) of the tank (20) to define annular flanges (55, 58).

8. Condenser according to any of claims 2 to 2, further characterized in that the side wall (60) of the tank is curved and connected in two opposed genera (66, 68) of the side wall (36) of the collection box (16); the transverse partitions (70, 72) are half-moon shaped and the peripheral compartments (C2, C, C5) also have a half-moon section.

9. - Condenser according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first collection box (16) comprises a tubular side wall (36) and the first tank (20) comprises a tubular side wall (74) that is coaxial with the wall side (36) of the collecting box and extends in a part of the collecting box, flowing into another part of the collecting box by means of an open end (78); an annular partition (80) being provided between the side wall (36) of the collector box and the side wall (74) of the tank (20), at the level of the open end (78) of the latter.

10. Condenser according to any of claims 1 to 9, further characterized in that the second collecting box (18) is devoid of deposit and the inlet (22) and the outlet (24) of the condenser are provided in the 2G second collecting box.

11. Condenser according to any of claims 1 to 9, further characterized in that the second collecting box (.18) also houses a reservoir (82) that communicates, by means of at least one opening (9), with a part of the beam (10) located downstream (P4) on the side of the outlet (24) of the condenser.

12. - Condenser according to claim 11, further characterized in that the second collection box (18) comprises a tubular side wall (26) and the second tank (82) comprises a side wall (84) spaced at least in part from the side wall (26) of the collector box and in that transverse baffles (90, 92) are provided between the side wall (26) of the second collector box (18) and the side wall (84) of the second tank (82) for define peripheral compartments (Cl, C3, C6) that communicate with different parts ÍP1, P2, P3, P) of the beam, to allow a circulation in multiple passes of the refrigerant fluid, in the tube bundle.

13. Condenser according to any of claims 11 and 12, further characterized in that the side wall (84) of the second tank (82) is tubular and coaxial with the tubular side wall (26) of the second collection box (IB); the transverse partitions (90, 92) are annular and the peripheral compartments (Cl, C3, C6) also have an annular section.

14. - Condenser according to any of claims 12 and 13, further characterized in that the side wall (84) of the second tank (82) comprises an opening (94) that allows communication between the interior of the tank and a periferic compartment (C6) ) of the second collecting box (18), into which the outlet (24) of the condenser flows.

15. Condenser according to any of claims 11 to 1, further characterized in that the first reservoir (20) and the second reservoir (82) have respective open ends (96, 98) that open into two end compartments (C7, C8). ), respectively formed in the first collecting box (16) and in the second collecting box (.18); and said two end compartments (C7, C8) communicate with each other by a part (P5) of the beam tubes.