U.S. patent application number 14/233780 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-10 for connection flange and associated collector box and heat exchanger.
This patent application is currently assigned to VALEO SYSTEME THEMIQUES. The applicant listed for this patent is Laurent Moreau. Invention is credited to Laurent Moreau.
Application Number | 20140190674 14/233780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46551559 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140190674 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Moreau; Laurent |
July 10, 2014 |
Connection Flange And Associated Collector Box And Heat
Exchanger
Abstract
A connection flange for a collector box of a heat exchanger for
a vehicle defines a fluid inlet and/or a fluid outlet. The flange
comprises a fixing adaptor for mounting the heat exchanger on a
fixing support (e.g. a mounting bracket) of the vehicle. The fixing
adaptor is produced separately from the flange. A collector box
comprising such a connection flange and a heat exchanger comprising
such a collector box are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Moreau; Laurent; (Reims,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Moreau; Laurent |
Reims |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
VALEO SYSTEME THEMIQUES
Le Mesnil Saint Denis
FR
|
Family ID: |
46551559 |
Appl. No.: |
14/233780 |
Filed: |
July 20, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
July 20, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/064359 |
371 Date: |
March 20, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/175 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 1/05375 20130101;
F28F 2275/122 20130101; F28F 2255/16 20130101; F28F 9/02 20130101;
F28F 9/0253 20130101; F28F 9/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/175 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20060101
F28F009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 21, 2011 |
FR |
FR11/56643 |
Claims
1. A connecting flange for a collector box of a heat exchanger for
a vehicle, said flange defining a fluid inlet and/or a fluid
outlet, said flange comprising a fixing adapter for fixing the heat
exchanger to a fixing support of the vehicle, said fixing adapter
being produced separately from said flange.
2. The flange as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing
to house said fixing adapter, wherein said housing his produced by
extrusion in the direction of extrusion of said flange.
3. The flange as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing adapter is
screwed to said flange.
4. The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing adapter is
crimped into said housing of said flange.
5. The flange as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flange and said
fixing adapter are joined together by brazing.
6. The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing adapter is
crimped to said housing of said flange and is configured to hold
said fixing adapter and said flange during brazing.
7. The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing is
produced in the form of a groove.
8. The flange as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing adapter is
produced in the form of a fixing strip.
9. The flange as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fixing strip is
bent in such a way that at least one end of said fixing strip is
configured to come into contact with a complementary surface of the
fixing support of the vehicle.
10. The flange as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing adapter
is made of aluminum.
11. The flange as claimed in claim 1, having a profile configured
to accept complementary crimping means associated with a collector
box, wherein said profile is produced by extrusion in the direction
of extrusion of said flange.
12. A fluid collector box for a heat exchanger for a vehicle,
wherein said collector box comprises at least one flange as claimed
in claim 1.
13. The collector box as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a
fluid header and a cover to close said header, wherein said header
has crimping means configured to be bent over onto said at least
one flange.
14. A heat exchanger for a vehicle, said heat exchanger comprising
at least one fluid collector box, wherein said at least one
collector box comprises at least one flange as claimed in claim
1.
15. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 14, further defined as a
condenser for an air conditioning circuit in the vehicle.
16. The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing adapter
is screwed to said flange.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a flange of a collector box of a
heat exchanger, notably for a motor vehicle.
[0002] Heat exchangers used in motor vehicles for example as
condensers in an air conditioning circuit, are already known.
[0003] Such a circuit generally comprises a compressor, a gas
cooler or condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator. The
condenser is designed to condense and/or cool the first fluid by
exchange of heat with the second fluid.
[0004] In this case, the first fluid used may be a refrigerant,
such as a Freon-based fluid, and the second fluid may be a coolant
such as air.
[0005] In general, the heat exchanger comprises a heat exchange
core bundle and a collector box.
[0006] The collector box in certain known solutions may be produced
in two parts, with a header to accept the ends of the tubes and a
cover that is fixed to the header to close the collector box,
sealing it. The cover is generally able to accept connecting
flanges that form inlets/outlets for a fluid that is to pass
through the heat exchanger.
[0007] However, a first connecting flanges solution entails a
machining operation in order to make the connection to the
header.
[0008] Flanges produced by extrusion in a different direction of
extrusion from the aforementioned first flanges have been proposed
so that a zone for crimping to the header can be produced easily
that makes it possible to dispense with the additional machining
operation needed to make this connection.
[0009] Moreover, the cover is generally also able to accept
adapters for fixing the exchanger to a support of the motor
vehicle.
[0010] As a cost reduction measure, it is known practice for this
fixing function to be performed using the connecting flanges.
[0011] However, in the embodiment variant whereby the flanges are
extruded in a different direction of extrusion by comparison with
the known first flanges, incorporating fixing adapters onto the
flange entails a significant additional machining operation.
[0012] This machining operation generally leads to an additional
cost and goes against the desire to reduce costs by creating the
fixing function on the connecting flanges.
[0013] It is therefore an objective of the invention to alleviate
these various drawbacks of the prior art.
[0014] To this end, one subject of the invention is a connecting
flange for a heat exchanger collector box, said flange defining a
fluid inlet and/or outlet, characterized in that said flange
comprises an adapter for fixing said exchanger to a fixing support
of the vehicle, said adapter being produced separately from said
flange.
[0015] Said flange may further comprise one or more of the
following features, considered separately or in combination: [0016]
said flange comprises a housing to house said fixing adapter, such
that said housing is produced by extrusion in the direction of
extrusion of said flange; [0017] said fixing adapter is screwed to
said flange; [0018] said flange and said fixing adapter are joined
together by brazing; [0019] said fixing adapter is configured to be
crimped into said housing of said flange; [0020] said fixing
adapter crimped to said flange is configured to hold said fixing
adapter and said flange during brazing; [0021] said housing is
produced in the form of a groove; [0022] said fixing adapter is
produced in the form of a fixing strip; [0023] said strip is bent
in such a way that at least one end of said strip is configured to
come into contact with a complementary surface of said fixing
support; [0024] said fixing adapter is made of aluminum; [0025]
said flange has a profile configured to accept complementary
crimping means associated with a collector box, and said profile is
produced by extrusion in the direction of extrusion of said
flange.
[0026] The invention also relates to a fluid collector box for a
heat exchanger notably for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one
connecting flange defining a fluid inlet and/or outlet as defined
hereinabove.
[0027] According to one embodiment, the collector box comprises a
fluid header and a cover to close said header, and said header has
crimping means configured to be bent over onto said at least one
connecting flange.
[0028] The invention further relates to a heat exchanger, notably
for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one collector box
comprising at least one connecting flange as defined
hereinabove.
[0029] According to one embodiment, said exchanger is a condenser
notably for an air conditioning circuit in a motor vehicle.
[0030] Further features and advantages of the invention will become
more clearly apparent from reading the following description, given
by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and from studying
the attached drawings in which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a heat exchanger,
[0032] FIG. 2 is a partial view depicting a header and a connecting
flange of the exchanger of FIG. 1,
[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connecting flange of
FIGS. 1 and 2,
[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fixing strip for fixing
the exchanger to a support of the vehicle, and
[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the connecting flange and of
the fixing strip when they have been assembled.
[0036] In these figures, elements that are substantially identical
bear the same references.
[0037] FIG. 1 is a simplified depiction of a heat exchanger 1 such
as a condenser of an air conditioning circuit, comprising a core
bundle made up of a multiplicity of tubes 3, arranged in one or
more rows of tubes 3.
[0038] The exchanger 1 in the example illustrated comprises two
fluid collector boxes 5 to allow a fluid to be admitted so that it
can flow through the core bundle and the fluid can then be
removed.
[0039] For this purpose, fluid inlet and outlet flanges 7 are
provided, these according to the example illustrated being mounted
on a collector box 5.
[0040] The connecting flanges 7 are, for example, made of aluminum
or aluminum alloy.
[0041] A collector box 5 may comprise a first part forming a header
9 to accept the ends of the tubes 3.
[0042] The collector box 5 may further comprise a cover 11 to close
the box 5. The header 9 and the associated cover 11 thus delimit a
cavity into which the ends of the tubes 3 open.
[0043] The header 9 and the cover 11 are, for example, produced as
two distinct parts.
[0044] As is best visible in FIG. 2, the header 9 is, by way of
example, substantially U-shaped overall with two lateral branches
13. To that end, the header 9 has a multiplicity of mutually
parallel transverse slits the shape of which is adapted to fit that
of the tube 3 ends that pass through the header 9.
[0045] Moreover, the lateral branches 13 of the header 9 have
respectively at their ends, crimping means 15 which are intended to
be bent over toward the inside of the cavity delimited by the
header 9 and the cover 11, so as to press against the external face
of the cover 11. The "external face" means that face of the cover 9
that faces toward the outside of the cavity.
[0046] The crimping means 15 are, in the example illustrated,
produced by the longitudinal margin 15 of the header 9.
[0047] The cover 11 for its part has a shape that complements that
of the header 9.
[0048] According to the embodiment illustrated, the cover 11 is
also substantially U-shaped overall with two lateral branches 17.
The U shape of the cover 11 is the opposite of the U-shape of the
header 9. That allows the header 9 and the cover 11 to nestle
together and allows the longitudinal margins 15 of the header 9 to
crimp onto the cover 11, more specifically onto the external face
of the cover 11.
[0049] To achieve that, the distance separating the external faces
of the lateral branches 17 of the cover 11 is substantially equal,
with a lesser value, to the distance separating the internal faces
of the lateral branches 13 of the header 9.
[0050] By analogy with "external face", "internal face" means a
face facing toward the inside of the cavity.
[0051] Furthermore, the crimping means 15 of the header are also
configured to be crimped onto the connecting flange 7.
[0052] To that end, the connecting flange 7 has a shape that
complements the crimping means 15 here formed by the longitudinal
margins 15 of the header 9.
[0053] More specifically, on its flanks 19 and 21, the connecting
flange 7 has a profile suited to accepting the longitudinal margins
of the header 9.
[0054] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3,
the connecting flange 7 has a groove 23 for example on at least one
flank 19. During crimping, the longitudinal margins of the header 9
are bent over into this groove 23.
[0055] The other flank 21 of the flange 7 may for example have an
end stop 25 against which the inside of a longitudinal margin 15
comes into contact when bent over.
[0056] Further, the flange 7 at its end in contact with the cover
11 has a shape that complements that of the cover 11 so as to
follow the shape of the cover 11. In the example illustrated, the
end of the flange 7 is substantially U-shaped.
[0057] Thus, when the longitudinal margins 15 of the header 9 are
bent over, the flange 7 and the header 9 are crimped together and
at the same time the cover 11 is held between the flange 7 and the
header 9.
[0058] This particular profile of the flange 7 allows simplified
connection between the collector box 5 and the connecting flange 7
by crimping, without the need to perform special machining on the
connecting flange 7 in order to fit it.
[0059] Specifically, this special profile of the flange 7 is
created by extrusion. This extrusion is done in the direction of
extrusion depicted schematically by the arrow A in FIG. 3.
[0060] Moreover, fixing adapters 27 (cf FIG. 1) for fixing the
exchanger 1 to a fixing support of the vehicle (not depicted) are
provided. The issue is notably one of holding such an exchanger 1
in the environment under the hood of the vehicle.
[0061] It may be necessary for these fixing adapters 27 to
correspond to "standard" locations within the vehicle. What that
means is that these fixing adapters 27 have to offer fixing
surfaces that are at the same locations as in the prior art.
[0062] To reduce costs, the connecting flanges 7 advantageously
comprise such fixing adapters 27.
[0063] The connecting flanges 7 that have the particular profile as
described hereinabove offer, on their flanks 19, 21, planar
surfaces able to accept fixing adapters 27.
[0064] The fixing adapters 27 are, for example, made of aluminum or
aluminum alloy.
[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 1, each connecting flange 7 may
comprise a fixing adapter 27.
[0066] The fixing adapter 27 is, for example, secured to the
associated connecting flange 7 by brazing.
[0067] For that, provision is made for a flange 7 to comprise a
housing 29 (visible in FIG. 3) to house a fixing adapter 27 and to
allow the flange 7 and the fixing adapter 27 to be assembled.
[0068] This housing 29 is made in the flange 7 by extrusion and in
the same direction of extrusion as the flange 7, indicated
schematically by the arrow A in FIG. 3.
[0069] This housing 29 is produced at the same time as the flange
7.
[0070] Creating the housing 29 that houses the fixing adapter 27 in
the same direction of extrusion as the flange 7 makes it possible
to limit production costs. It dispenses with the additional costs
of machining the flange 27 in order to make fixing adapters on the
flange 7.
[0071] According to the example illustrated, the housing 29 is
produced in the form of a groove.
[0072] More specifically, the housing 29 is, for example, a
crimping groove.
[0073] As an alternative, provision may be made for the fixing
adapter 27 for example to be screwed to the flange 7 or even
screwed into the housing 29.
[0074] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5,
the fixing adapters 27 are, for example, produced in the form of
fixing strips 27.
[0075] Such a fixing strip 27 is better visible in FIG. 4.
[0076] The fixing strip 27 has a shape that complements the housing
29 of the connecting flange 7; this shape further being adapted so
that it offers fixing surfaces at the so-called "standard"
locations within the vehicle.
[0077] Thus, according to the example illustrated, the fixing strip
27 offers an assembly part 31 that complements the groove 29 of the
flange 7.
[0078] This assembly part 31 is substantially U-shaped overall with
a central branch 31a and two lateral branches 31b and 31c extending
one on either side of the central branch 31a.
[0079] This U shape allows the strip 27 to be mounted in the rail
29 in such a way that the strip 27 also at least partially envelops
part of the flanks 19 and 21 of the flange 7.
[0080] Furthermore, the fixing strip 27 is bent at least at one end
31b, 31c.
[0081] In that way, the end or ends can come into contact with a
complementary surface (not depicted) of the support to which the
exchanger 1 is to be fixed. This complementary surface may be a
so-called "standard" location according to the practices of the
prior art.
[0082] According to the embodiment described, the fixing strip 27
is bent on both sides, to form two fixing surfaces 33 and 35 which
fall at the so-called "standard" locations for fixing to the
exchanger support (not depicted).
[0083] The strip 27 described therefore forms a substantially
staircase shape on either side.
[0084] As stated previously, the housing 29 is, for example, a
crimping groove. In this case, the fixing strip 27 is crimped into
the groove 29.
[0085] This crimping allows the fixing strip 27 and the connecting
flange 7 to be held together so that they can be brazed to join
them together definitively.
[0086] It will therefore be appreciated that a connecting flange 7
comprising a fixing adapter housed in a housing made in the same
direction of extrusion as the flange makes it possible to reduce
production costs because, on the one hand, the function of
mechanically fixing the exchanger to the vehicle environment is
performed by the flange and, on the other hand, there is no need to
plan additional machining of the flange 7 in order to perform this
function.
[0087] Such a connecting flange 7 may therefore have the preferred
design described hereinabove that allows a simple joint to be
achieved by crimping the connecting flange 7 to the collector box
5.
* * * * *