WO2014048960A1

WO2014048960A1 - Collector plate for a heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: WO2014048960A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/069922
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolas Cormet; Abdellatif OUHSSAKOU; Olivier GOBLET; Stéphane POTTEAU
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2012-09-28
Filing date: 2013-09-25
Publication date: 2014-04-03
Also published as: FR2996297B1; FR2996297A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a collector plate (1) for a heat exchanger, comprising a part (2) for receiving tubes from a heat exchanger bundle of said exchanger, said tube-receiving part being provided with openings (4) for receiving said tubes, said plate comprising a channel (5) defining the perimeter of said tube-receiving part, said channel (5) being able to cooperate with a cover that forms, with said collector plate, a collector box of said exchanger, said plate also comprising a plurality of corrugations (6), said corrugations being arranged between the openings (4) located between at least one of the ends (10) of the plate (1) in a direction of extension of said plate and part of said channel, arranged opposite. The invention also relates to a collector box comprising such a collector plate and to a heat exchanger comprising such a collector box.

Description

Slip plate for heat exchanger.

The invention relates to a collector plate for a heat exchanger, a collector box comprising such a collector plate, and a heat exchanger comprising such a collector box.

It will find its applications in the field of motor vehicles in particular in the form of charge air coolers or cooling radiators of coolant cooling the engine. However, other applications of the invention are also conceivable.

It is known to supply the engine of a vehicle with air having been compressed after passing through the compressor of a turbo compressor. It is also known to cool the hot compressed air before sending it to the engine.

This is done using exchangers, called charge air coolers, for heat exchange between the supercharging air and a cooling fluid such as air at room temperature. Such exchangers comprise a heat exchange bundle provided with an alternation of charge air circulation tubes and air circulation dividers, the tubes and the spacers being in contact in order to allow a heat transfer between the fluids.

In such exchangers, the tubes open into manifolds, which guide the charge air at the inlet and outlet of the heat exchange bundle.

It is in particular known to use collector plates which hold the tubes at their ends. They are provided with orifices through which the tubes open into the collection box. In addition, the manifold includes a lid attached to said plate, which is configured to close an interior volume when placed on the plate. Thus, the charge air circulates in the interior volume of the box, at the inlet and / or at the outlet of the tubes.

In order to increase the heat exchange, it is also known to add inserts or disrupters inside the tubes. Generally, they are accordion folded plates, attached to the tubes by the tops of the folds. Their function is to increase the heat exchange surface and strengthen the pressure resistance of the tubes.

For the assembly of the exchanger, it is known to use brazing. This technique consists of heating the parts of the exchanger, pre-assembled, at a temperature above the melting temperature of a filler metal. Fixing parts is performed by capillary diffusion on the surface of the parts of said filler metal.

Such a method, however, has the disadvantage of causing expansion of the metal during the operation. Thus, when the parts to be assembled are small or slightly thick, significant expansion can occur and cause deformation of parts, which will not be properly fixed.

This is particularly the case of the tubes and spacers located at the orifices placed near transverse edges of the collector plates. Indeed, the metal strip, separating said orifices from said transverse edges of the plate, is deliberately narrow to keep a plate size suitable, given the size of the beam. Therefore, when soldering the interlayer, the assembly at this level does not perform properly. As the metal strip is not strong enough to prevent deformation, said tubes and said neighboring orifices deform and the tops of the spacers are no longer in contact with the wall of the tubes. They remain detached, even after soldering.

Nevertheless, although localized, these defects have important repercussions on the performances of the heat exchanger, in particular concerning the reliability with the use. Tests have shown that only a single interlayer not properly brazed, so that the exchanger is completely unusable. Indeed, the exchanger is locally weakened by this defect which quickly generates a mechanical break.

To solve this problem, it is hardly possible to use a thick plate that would weigh down the set, or even a plate with only a thicker edge. In addition, with one of these methods, the result would not be assured.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve the brazing result and proposes for this purpose a collector plate for a heat exchanger, comprising a part for receiving tubes coming from a heat exchange bundle of said exchanger, said part of receiving the tubes being provided with orifices intended to receive said tubes, said plate comprising a groove delimiting the perimeter of said tube-receiving part, said groove being adapted to cooperate with a lid, intended to form with said collecting plate a collecting box of said exchanger, said plate further comprising a plurality of corrugations, arranged between the orifices placed between at least one end of the plate in a direction of extension of said plate and a portion of said groove, located vis-a-vis.

It is thus proposed, according to the invention, a solution according to which the collector plates are structurally reinforced against deformation by a simple, inexpensive and easy to implement. For this purpose, it is more specifically proposed to carry out corrugations, in other words embossings or bosses, in a localized part of the plate.

The invention may have the following additional features, taken together or separately:

said corrugations have a rib shape, oriented in said extension direction,

said corrugations have a circular shape,

said corrugations are arranged in a direction perpendicular to said extension direction and the ratio of the number of corrugations is at least 1 for 20 mm, in said direction perpendicular to said direction of extension, said ratio is about 7 for 80mm,

said orifices have a rectangular shape adapted to cooperate with flat tubes of similar shape,

said orifices are bordered, at least partially, by a collar for holding said tubes,

said corrugations are formed by stamping.

The invention also relates to a header box comprising a header plate according to the invention. It may have the following additional features, taken together or separately:

the corrugations are oriented from the inside to the outside of the box,

- Said plate comprises crimping teeth adapted to ensure the attachment of the cover to the header plate. The invention also relates to a heat exchanger comprising a header box according to the invention. It may have the following additional features, taken together or separately:

the tubes comprise interleaves, inside the tubes,

the spacers are fixed inside the tubes and the tubes are fixed to the plate by brazing.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment given by way of illustration with reference to the appended figures. In these figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary plate of a heat exchanger with corrugations according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view of the part marked II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view from above of the plate of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in the direction A-A of FIG. 3;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a heat exchanger.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the invention relates to a collector plate 1 of a heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle. Here it has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises a part 2 for receiving tubes coming from a heat exchange bundle.

Said tube receiving portion 2 is provided with orifices 4. In the example, the orifices 4 are arranged in a single row, one parallel to the other, in a direction corresponding to the direction of longitudinal extension of the tube. the plaque.

To facilitate the sealing of a cover with which it is likely to form a header, the plate has a groove 5 defining its perimeter. Said groove 5 serves to accommodate a seal, not shown, intended to be compressed by an edge or foot of the cover, said edge or foot of the cover inserted into the groove.

According to the invention, the plate comprises a plurality of corrugations 6 arranged between the orifices 4 placed between at least one of the ends 10 of the plate 2, in a direction of extension of the plate, here said longitudinal extension, and a portion of said groove 5 located vis-à-vis. Said corrugations 6 are thus located, in the example, along the transverse edge or edges of said plate. Said corrugations 6 prevent deformation of the orifices 4 located closer to the portion of the groove 5 along the one or more ends, namely here the orifices, said in the following end orifices, along the transverse edges of the plate. They make it possible to stiffen the metal strip separating the end ports 4 from said portion of the groove 5 located vis-a-vis. In addition, it should be noted the importance of having several said corrugations 6 along said portion of the groove 5, so that the reinforcement is effective.

Thus, in the example of the figures, the corrugations 6 are five in number, arranged linearly between the groove and the end orifice or holes, at a distance equal to one another. This arrangement is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal extension of the plate, the end ports 4 being in first and last position in said extension direction.

Advantageously, the corrugations 6 are obtained by a stamping process, producing a bump, said convex, on one side of the plate, and a hollow, said concave, on the other side. The corrugations 6 are advantageously oriented in the same direction as the groove 5. In other words, the groove 5 and the corrugations 6 are respectively concave or convex on the same face of the plate 2.

Figure 2 shows a groove 5 with two edges 7, 8 extending upwardly on each side of the bottom 9 of said groove. According to the orientation given by the figures, the corrugations 6 and the groove 5 are concave on the top of the plate, and convex on the underside.

In the embodiment shown, the corrugations 6 have a rib shape, oriented in said direction of longitudinal extension. In other words, they extend perpendicular to the direction of the edge where they are located. This orientation makes the corrugations 6 more effective against the risk of deformations, the force needed to provoke them becoming more important.

According to another embodiment, not shown in the figures, the corrugations have a circular shape. This configuration provides a sufficient structural reinforcement. It is particularly interesting for a plate of reduced size, when the space between the end ports and the groove is restricted.

As stated before, it takes several corrugations along the throat. Preferably, the ratio of the number of corrugations is at least 1 for 20 mm, according to said direction perpendicular to said longitudinal extension direction. Therefore, for a tube 80mnn wide, it takes at least four corrugations arranged along the throat to obtain sufficient reinforcement. The plate shown in Figures 5 has five along each of the transverse edges 10 for orifices 4 with a width of about 80mm.

Even more advantageously, the ratio is 7 for a tube about 80mm wide.

In order to ensure the joining of the tubes in the orifices, the latter are lined with a retaining collar 1 1. These collars January 1 form a rim that enlarges the contact surface between the plate 2 and each of said tubes. Advantageously, the flanges 1 1 widen progressively from the surface of the tubes towards the inside of the manifold. In other words, said collars are oriented towards the outside of the box. They can be interrupted at the side edges of said orifices.

Said plate 1 further comprises, for example, crimping teeth 12, adapted to ensure the fixing of the cover to the collector plate 1. They extend along the perimeter of the plate 1, from the outer edge 7 of the groove. These teeth 12 serve to lock the cover on the plate 1 during assembly. As already said, the lid may be provided with a box foot located on the contour of its opening, the latter being capable of being inserted into the groove 5. Advantageously, said box foot forms a shoulder at the base of the lid, so that the crimping teeth 12 block the lid, when they are bent on the shoulder.

Preferably, the plates 1 and therefore the corrugations 6 are formed by stamping. This is a technique that is easy to implement and makes it possible to obtain corrugations 6 convex on one face and concave on the other.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the invention further relates to a manifold 20,

21 comprising such a plate 1 and a heat exchanger 30 comprising such a box 20, 21.

The tubes 3 of the exchanger are, for example, flat. This configuration makes it possible to gain in heat exchange surface. Said tubes 3 have two large opposite parallel flat faces, connected by lateral edges of the tube. The width of the tube, the distance between the lateral edges of the tube, and the height, the distance between the two large faces of the tube. Said orifices of the collector plate have of course a corresponding shape. The box 20, 21 has a lid 22 attached to the plate 1. The lid 22 is configured to create a substantially closed volume when it is secured to the plate 1. The box 20, 21 distributes the air in the tubes 3 and / or receives the air coming from said tubes 3, at the inlet and / or at the outlet of the exchanger.

In the arrangement of the plate of Figures 1 to 4, the corrugations have a shape oriented from the inside towards the outside of the box 20, 21. In other words, they are concave on the inside of the box, and convex on the outer side. In this way, the stamping is performed on the same side of the plate 1 as for the groove.

The heat exchanger 30 comprises a heat exchange bundle comprising said tubes 3. These bring the fluid from the first manifold 20 to the second manifold 21. Here, the tubes 3 are superimposed parallel to each other. The ends of the tubes 3 are secured to the manifold 20, 21, in the orifices of the plate 1.

Said tubes 3 may be in contact with spacers 31 for the circulation of a cooling air flow. The spacers 31 are fixed by their vertices 32 to the walls of two adjacent tubes 3. Said tops 32 are oriented in the direction of the air flow, therefore perpendicular to that of the tubes 3. Thus arranged, the tubes 3 are subjected to the action of air passing between them through the spacers 31, this causing a heat transfer fluid passing through the tubes 3 to the air, the fluid temperature is then lowered. The circulation of the two fluid types is perpendicular to one another.

In addition, the tubes 3 comprise interleaves or turbulators, not shown, inside said tubes 3, to improve the heat exchange and the resistance to the internal pressure of said tubes.

For the assembly, the elements are fixed to each other by soldering.

They are, for example, aluminum and / or aluminum alloy.

Thanks to the invention, said spacers or turbulators located inside the tubes are properly brazed to said tubes, even for spacers or turbulators tubes corresponding to the end ports of said collector plates, the latter being made more resistant to deformation using said corrugations.

Claims

1. Collector plate (1) for heat exchanger (30), comprising a receiving part (2) of tubes (3) coming from a heat exchange bundle of said exchanger, said tube receiving part being provided with orifices (4) for receiving said tubes, said plate comprising a groove (5) defining the perimeter of said tube receiving portion, said groove (5) being adapted to cooperate with a cover (22) intended to form with said plate a collector box (20, 21) of said exchanger, said plate further comprising a plurality of corrugations (6) disposed between the orifices (4) placed between at least one of the ends (10) of the plate (1), according to a direction of extension of said plate, and a portion of said groove (5), located vis-a-vis.

The header plate of claim 1, wherein the corrugations (6) are rib-shaped, oriented in said extension direction.

3. Collector plate according to claim 1, wherein the corrugations (6) have a circular shape.

A header plate according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the corrugations (6) are arranged in a direction perpendicular to said extension direction and the ratio of the number of corrugations is at least 1 for 20mm, according to said direction perpendicular to said extension direction.

The header plate of claim 4, wherein said ratio is about 7 for 80mm.

A header plate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the corrugations (6) are formed by stamping.

A header box (20, 21) comprising a header plate (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

The header box of claim 7, wherein the corrugations (6) are oriented from the inside to the outside of the box.

9. collector box according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein said plate comprises crimping teeth (12) adapted to ensure the fixing of the cover (22) to the collector plate (1).

Heat exchanger (30) having a manifold (20, 21) according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

1 1. Heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein the tubes (3) comprise spacers, inside said tubes (3).

12. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 1, wherein the spacers are fixed inside the tubes (3) and the tubes (3) are fixed to the plate

(1) by brazing.