U.S. patent application number 14/653551 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for heat exchanger, in particular for a refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES. The applicant listed for this patent is VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES. Invention is credited to Christophe Denoual, Alain Pourmarin, Frederic Tison.
Application Number | 20150354899 14/653551 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47882337 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150354899 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Denoual; Christophe ; et
al. |
December 10, 2015 |
HEAT EXCHANGER, IN PARTICULAR FOR A REFRIGERANT CIRCULATING IN A
MOTOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A heat exchanger for a refrigerant circulating in a motor
vehicle is disclosed. The exchanger has a first unit for
circulating a first fluid defining first blades for circulating the
first fluid and a second unit for circulating a second fluid
defining second blades for circulating the second fluid. The blades
are layered in a stacking direction of said blades such that an
exchange of heat can take place between the first and second
fluids, where the units permit the first fluid to circulate while
avoiding the second unit, and permitting the second fluid to
circulate while avoiding the first unit.
Inventors: |
Denoual; Christophe; (Noyen
Sur Sarthe, FR) ; Pourmarin; Alain; (La
Suze-Sur-Sarthe, FR) ; Tison; Frederic; (Guecelard,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES |
Le Mesnil Saint Denis |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
Le Mesnil Saint Denis
FR
|
Family ID: |
47882337 |
Appl. No.: |
14/653551 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
December 12, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/076396 |
371 Date: |
June 18, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20130101; F28D
9/005 20130101; F28D 9/0056 20130101; F28D 9/0043 20130101; F28D
9/00 20130101; F28D 7/0025 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 9/00 20060101
F28D009/00; F28F 9/02 20060101 F28F009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2012 |
FR |
1262627 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger for a refrigerant circulating in a motor
vehicle, said exchanger comprising: a first unit for circulating a
first fluid defining first blades for circulating said first fluid;
and a second unit for circulating a second fluid defining second
blades for circulating said second fluid, said blades being layered
in a stacking direction of said blades such that an exchange of
heat can take place between said first and second fluids, said
units permitting the first fluid to circulate while avoiding the
second unit, and permitting the second fluid to circulate while
avoiding the first unit.
2. The exchanger as claimed in claim 1, in which said blades extend
in a longitudinal direction, perpendicular to the stacking
direction, and said first unit comprises collectors for the first
fluid, situated in the area of a longitudinal end edge of the
blades of said first unit, and/or said second unit comprises
collectors for the second fluid, situated in the area of a
longitudinal end edge of the blades of said second unit.
3. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2, in which the
collectors of the first unit are situated facing a longitudinal end
edge of the blades of the second unit, opposite the longitudinal
end edge of the blades of the second unit, in the area of which
said collectors (6a, 6b) of the second unit are present, and/or the
collectors of the second unit are situated facing a longitudinal
end edge of the blades of the first unit, opposite the longitudinal
end edge of the blades of the first unit, in the area of which said
collectors (5a, 5b) of the first unit are present.
4. The exchanger as claimed in claim 2, in which said units
comprise plates, stacked in said stacking direction, said plates
being paired in order to define said circulation blades, for each
of the fluids.
5. The exchanger as claimed in claim 4, in which the pairs of
plates for each of the fluids exhibit a part protruding from the
pairs of plates for the other fluid, in planes that are orthogonal
to said stacking direction, in such a way as to be able to free up
a zone of said plates, referred to as header plates, for receiving
said collectors.
6. The exchanger as claimed in claim 5, comprising fluid
connections between the plates of the pairs of plates for a same
fluid, situated in the area of said header plates, in such a way as
to form said collectors, said connections being situated externally
to the pairs of plates for said other fluid.
7. The exchanger as claimed in claim 6, in which said fluid
connections comprise stamped end fittings emerging from said
plates, said stamped end fittings coming into contact with the
stamped end fittings of the plate facing the neighboring pair of
plates for the circulation of the same fluid.
8. The exchanger as claimed in claim 6, in which said plates
comprise a longitudinal end edge, referred to as the distal edge,
opposite an opposing longitudinal end edge of said plates, in the
area of which said fluid connections are situated, said distal edge
being situated between two plates facing two neighboring pairs of
plates for the circulation of the other fluid.
9. The exchanger as claimed in claim 8, in which said distal edge
of the plates of one of the units is in proximity to said fluid
connections of the other unit.
10. The exchanger as claimed in claim 8, in which said distal edge
includes a part of the contour of said fluid connections.
11. The exchanger as claimed in claim 1, in which the second unit
comprises at least one pair of terminating plates, in said stacking
direction, comprising a plate exhibiting a longitudinal extension
that is identical with the other plates of said unit and a
terminating plate exhibiting an upper longitudinal extension.
12. The exchanger as claimed in claim 11, in which said second unit
comprises at least one connecting flange for one of the fluids that
is subject to said terminating plate.
13. A heat exchanger unit as claimed in claim 1.
14. The exchanger unit as claimed in claim 13 equipped with a
spacer between said pairs of plates.
15. A heat exchanger comprising: a heat exchanger unit of claim 13;
and a housing for circulating another fluid, said unit being
situated in the interior of said housing in order to permit an
exchange of heat between the fluid circulating in said unit and
said other fluid.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to an exchanger. Although intended
more specifically for applications as an internal exchanger of an
air conditioning circuit or as an exchanger between a refrigerant
and a heat transfer fluid, it may also be utilized more broadly for
any type of exchange of heat between two fluids.
[0002] Numerous configurations of exchangers defining circulation
blades for each of the fluids, between which the exchange of heat
is required to take place, are known in this field. Brazed
exchangers in which the blades are defined by stacked plates,
between which the circulation blades are defined alternately, are
particularly well known. The blades for the circulation of fluid
are joined together by connection elements discharging in the area
of passage openings that are likewise provided in the plates in
such a way that each fluid passes from one of its circulation
blades to the other without penetrating into the circulation blades
of the other fluid. The circulation blades of each of the fluids
are thus traversed by the connection elements of the other
fluid.
[0003] Such a configuration multiplies the brazing zones, in
particular in the area of the junction between the connection
elements and the passage openings of the neighboring plates. It
also multiplies the risks in terms of the sealing between each of
the fluid circuits. Specific sealing tests are thus necessary.
[0004] Furthermore, the zones of the plates that are equipped with
said connection elements contribute not at all or only a little to
the exchange of heat. As a result, they increase the cost of the
exchanger because of the mass of material employed, yet without
improving the efficiency of the thermal exchange.
[0005] The object of the invention is to address the aforementioned
disadvantages, and in this respect it proposes a heat exchanger, in
particular for a refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle, said
exchanger comprising a first unit for circulating a first fluid
defining first blades for circulating said first fluid and a second
unit for circulating a second fluid defining second blades for
circulating said second fluid, said blades being layered in a
stacking direction of said blades such that an exchange of heat can
take place between said first and second fluids. According to the
invention, said units permit the first fluid to circulate while
avoiding the second unit, and permit the second fluid to circulate
while avoiding the first unit.
[0006] In other words, the exchanger is configured in order for the
units to be interleaved one inside the other in such a way as to
ensure an exchange of heat between the two fluids, but without the
first fluid passing though components of the second unit and
without the second fluid passing through components of the first
unit.
[0007] Such a configuration in the form of units makes it possible
to avoid causing connection elements between the blades for the
circulation of one of the fluids to pass across the blades for the
circulation of the other fluid. The zones to be brazed are reduced
in this way, and the risks of leakage from one circuit for the
circulation of a fluid to the other are limited. The test
procedures may be simplified as a result. The zones of circulation
blades which serve not at all or very little for the exchange of
heat are reduced in addition.
[0008] According to different embodiments, which may be taken
together or separately: [0009] said blades extend in a longitudinal
direction, perpendicular to the stacking direction, [0010] said
first unit comprises collectors for the first fluid, situated in
the area of a longitudinal end edge of the blades of said first
unit, and/or said second unit comprises collectors for the second
fluid, situated in the area of a longitudinal end edge of the
blades of said second unit, [0011] said blades are configured in
order to cause a U-shaped circuit to be made for the fluid between
a first of said collectors and a second of said collectors of the
corresponding unit, [0012] the collectors of the first unit are
situated facing a longitudinal end edge of the blades of the second
unit, opposite the longitudinal end edge of the blades of the
second unit, in the area of which said collectors of the second
unit are present, [0013] the collectors of the second unit are
situated facing a longitudinal end edge of the blades of the first
unit, opposite the longitudinal end edge of the blades of the first
unit, in the area of which said collectors of the first unit are
present, [0014] the one and/or the other of said units comprises
plates, stacked in said stacking direction, said plates being
paired in order to define said circulation blades, for the one
and/or the other of the fluids, [0015] the pairs of plates for each
of the fluids exhibit a part protruding from the pairs of plates
for the other fluid, in planes that are orthogonal to said stacking
direction, in such a way as to be able to free up a zone of said
plates, referred to as header plates, for receiving said
collectors, [0016] said exchanger comprises fluid connections
between the plates of the pairs of plates for a same fluid,
situated in the area of said header plates, in such a way as to
form said collectors, [0017] said connections are situated
externally to the pairs of plates for said other fluid, [0018] said
fluid connections comprise stamped end fittings emerging from said
plates, said stamped end fittings coming into contact with the
stamped end fittings of the plate facing the neighboring pair of
plates for the circulation of the same fluid, [0019] said plates
comprise a longitudinal end edge, referred to as the distal edge,
opposite an opposing longitudinal end edge of said plates, in the
area of which said fluid connections are situated, said distal edge
being situated between two plates facing two neighboring pairs of
plates for the circulation of the other fluid, [0020] said distal
edge of the plates of one of the units is in proximity to said
fluid connections of the other unit, and conversely, [0021] said
distal edge includes a part of the contour of said fluid
connections, [0022] said blades comprise a means of disrupting the
flow of the first and/or of the second fluid, such a means being of
the stamped plate type, for example, referred to in this case as a
baffle, which is capable of being integrated into a circuit for the
flow of the first and/or of the second fluid, [0023] the second
unit comprises at least one pair of terminating plates, in said
stacking direction, comprising one plate exhibiting a longitudinal
extension identical to the other plates of said unit and one
terminating plate exhibiting an upper longitudinal extension,
[0024] said second unit comprises at least one connecting flange
for one of the fluids that is subject to said terminating
plate.
[0025] The invention further relates to an exchanger unit such as
the one or the other of the units of the exchanger described
above.
[0026] Said unit may be utilized as a functional component either
in such an exchanger with interleaved units, or in another type of
exchanger.
[0027] Said unit may thus be equipped with a spacer between said
pairs of plates and may serve, in particular, as an evaporator by
exchange with a flow of air.
[0028] It may also be inserted in a housing, and the invention
further relates to another heat exchanger comprising such a heat
exchanger unit and a housing for circulating another fluid, said
unit being situated in the interior of said housing in order to
permit an exchange of heat between the fluid circulating in said
unit and said other fluid.
[0029] These and other characterizing features of the present
invention are illustrated below with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of a heat
exchanger consistent with the invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a view in perspective, partially exploded, of the
exchanger in FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a first plate of the
exchanger in FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of another plate of the
exchanger in FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a side view of one of the fluid circulation units
of the exchanger in FIG. 1, equipped with a fluid connection
flange;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a side view of the other of the fluid circulation
units of the exchanger in FIG. 1, equipped with a single fluid
connection flange; and
[0036] FIG. 7 is a side view of an exchanger utilizing the unit in
FIG. 5, in this case equipped with a supplementary component.
[0037] In the following description, identical references are used
to designate the same or similar elements.
[0038] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention relates to a
heat exchanger, in particular for a refrigerant circulating in a
motor vehicle.
[0039] Said exchanger comprises a first unit 1 for circulating a
first fluid defining first blades 3 for circulating said first
fluid and a second unit 2 for circulating a second fluid defining
second blades 4 for circulating said second fluid. Said blades 3, 4
are layered in a stacking direction D of said blades, such that
exchange of heat can take place between said first and second
fluids.
[0040] Said units 1, 2 are formed, for example, by a component made
of aluminum and/or an aluminum alloy. They can be assembled, for
example, by brazing of said components.
[0041] In FIG. 1, said first unit 1 extends from the top towards
the bottom, while the second unit 2 extends from the bottom towards
the top. An example of the circulation of the fluid in the blades
of the first unit 1 is illustrated by the arrows 1a, 1b, 1c, while
an example of the circulation of the fluid in the blades of the
second unit 2 is illustrated by the arrows 2a, 2b, 2c, on the right
in the figure.
[0042] According to a first illustrative embodiment, said heat
exchanger may be an internal exchanger of an air conditioning
circuit. In other words, said first and second fluids may be a
fluid known as R134a or R1234yf, inter alia, such that the first
unit 1 serves for the circulation of the fluid in a first
temperature and pressure condition, and the second unit 2 serves
for the circulation of the fluid in a second temperature and
pressure condition.
[0043] In another illustrative embodiment, said exchanger ensures
an exchange of heat between said refrigerant and a heat transfer
fluid, such as a mixture of water and antifreeze, in particular
glycol. According to the nature of the refrigerant fluid, this may
then result in the cooling or heating of the heat transfer
fluid.
[0044] Other applications are still possible, however.
[0045] According to the invention, said units 1, 2 permit the first
fluid to circulate while avoiding the second unit 2 and permit the
second fluid to circulate while avoiding the first unit 1. In other
words, the exchanger is configured in order for the units to be
interleaved one inside the other, in this case such as two combs,
but without the first fluid passing through components of the
second unit 2 and without the second fluid passing through
components of the first unit 1. It is possible in this way to
obtain an exchange of heat between the two fluids while avoiding
the more complex flows of the state of the art.
[0046] Such interleaving will be more readily appreciated from an
examination of FIGS. 5 and 6, but without taking into account the
mounting flanges 100, 200 that are present in these figures. FIG. 5
shows the first unit 1, in this case serving for the circulation of
a refrigerant fluid. FIG. 6 shows the second unit 2, in this case
serving for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid. It will thus
be appreciated that the exchanger in FIGS. 1 and 2 results from the
interleaving of the units 1, 2 in each of these figures.
[0047] Again making reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be observed
that said blades 3, 4 in this case extend in a longitudinal
direction L, perpendicular to the stacking direction D. Said first
unit 1 may comprise collectors 5a, 5b for the first fluid, situated
in the area of a longitudinal end edge 7 of the blades 3 of said
first unit 1. Said second unit 2, for its part, may comprise
collectors 6a, 6b for the second fluid, situated in the area of a
longitudinal end edge 8 of the blades 4 of said second unit 1.
[0048] As illustrated by the arrows 1a, 1b, 1c and 2a, 2b, 2c
mentioned above, said blades are configured in this case in order
to cause a U-shaped circuit to be made for said fluid between a
first 5a, 6a of said collectors and a second 5b, 6b of said
collectors of the corresponding unit. The first 5a of the
collectors of the first unit 1 thus constitute an inlet collector
for the first fluid, while the second 5b of the collectors of said
first unit 1 constitute an outlet collector for said first fluid.
Likewise, the first 6a of the collectors of the second unit 2
constitutes an inlet collector for the second fluid, while the
second 6b of the collectors of said second unit 2 constitutes an
outlet collector for said second fluid. In other words, the first
fluid circulates in the first unit 1 by being distributed by the
inlet collector 5a of said first unit 1 in the blades 3 of said
first unit 1, where it follows the U-shaped circuit 1a, 1b, 1c
mentioned above before subsequently penetrating into the
corresponding outlet collector 5b. Likewise, the second fluid
circulates in the second unit 2 by being distributed by the inlet
collector 6a of said second unit 2 in the blades 4 of said second
unit 2, where it follows the U-shaped circuit 2a, 2b, 2c mentioned
above before subsequently penetrating into the corresponding outlet
collector 6b. The circulation of the first fluid in the blades 3 of
said first unit 1 takes place co-currently with the circulation of
the second fluid in the blades 4 of said second unit 2.
[0049] In a variant embodiment (not depicted here), the circulation
of the first fluid in the blades 3 of said first unit 1
advantageously takes place contra-currently with the circulation of
the second fluid in the blades 4 of said second unit 2.
[0050] For the compactness of the exchanger, the collectors 5a, 5b
of the first unit 1 are situated, for example, facing a
longitudinal end edge 10 of the blades of the second unit 2,
opposite the longitudinal end edge 8 of the blades 2 of the second
units 2, in the area of which said collectors 6a, 6b of the second
unit 2 are present. Either individually or in combination, the
collectors 6a, 6b of the second unit 2 are situated facing a
longitudinal end edge 9 of the blades 3 of the first unit 1,
opposite the longitudinal end edge 7 of the blades 3 of the first
unit 1, in the area of which said collectors 5a, 5b of the first
unit 1 are present.
[0051] In other words, said units 1, 2 are mounted head-to-tail.
Still in other words, the blades 3, 4 of each of said units 1, 2
are offset in relation to the blades 3, 4 of the other of said
units 1, 2 in a direction that is orthogonal to said stacking
direction D.
[0052] Said units 1, 2 in this case comprise plates 11, 12, stacked
in said stacking direction, said plates being paired in order to
define said blades 3, 4 and said circuits 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c of
circulation for each of the fluids. According to other embodiments,
said blades may be defined by extruded tubes, bent tubes or any
other means permitting the guiding of a fluid.
[0053] The pairs of plates 11 for the first fluid exhibit a part 13
protruding from the pairs of plates 12 for the second fluid, in
planes that are orthogonal to said stacking direction in such a way
as to be able to free up a zone of said plates, referred to as
header plates, for receiving said collectors 5a, 5b of said first
unit 1. Likewise, the pairs of plates 12 for the second fluid
exhibit a part 14 protruding from the pairs of plates 11 for the
first fluid, in planes that are orthogonal to said stacking
direction in such a way as to be able to free up a zone of said
plates, referred to as header plates, for receiving said collectors
6a, 6b of said second unit 2.
[0054] In other words, said pairs of plates 11 for the first fluid
are connected to one another without passing through the pairs of
plates 12 for the second fluid, and conversely. In other words,
said pairs of plates 11 of the first unit 1 are offset in relation
to the pairs of plates 12 of the second unit 2, in said
longitudinal direction, and conversely.
[0055] Said pairs of plates 11, 12 are advantageously identical in
the same unit, except perhaps for the one or more pairs of plates
including a terminating plate of the stack, as will be described in
more detail below.
[0056] Said exchanger comprises fluid connections 15a, 15b, 16a,
16b between the plates 11, 12 of the pairs of plates for the same
fluid, situated in the area of said header plates 13, 14, in such a
way as to form said collectors 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b. According to the
invention, said connections 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b for one of the
fluids are situated externally to the pairs of plates 11, 12 for
the other fluid.
[0057] Said fluid connections 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b comprise, for
example, stamped end fittings emerging from said plates 11, 12.
Said stamped end fittings 15a, 15b of the plates 11 of the first
unit 1 in this case come into contact with the stamped end fittings
15a, 15b of the plate 11 facing the neighboring pair of plates 11
of said first unit 1. Likewise, said stamped end fittings 16a, 16b
of the plates 12 of the second unit 2 in this case come into
contact with the stamped end fittings 16a, 16b of the plate 12
facing the neighboring pair of plates 12 of said second unit 1.
Said stamped end fittings are provided with fluid passage openings.
Said stamped end fittings 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b in this way bring
about the circulation of fluid from one pair of plates to the
other, in the same unit. Said stamped end fittings 15a, 15b, 16a,
16b of the same collector 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b are situated in this case
in the axial extension one from the other in such a way as to
ensure that said collectors are substantially rectilinear.
According to the invention, the stamped end fittings of the pairs
of plates for the circulation of the first fluid and the stamped
end fittings of the pairs of plates for the circulation of the
second fluid are situated at two opposite longitudinal extremities
of the assembly formed by the two units 1, 2.
[0058] Said plates 11, 12 comprise a longitudinal end edge 17, 18,
referred to as the distal edge, opposite an opposing longitudinal
end edge 19, 20 of said plates, in the area of which said fluid
connections 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b are situated. Said distal edge 17,
18 of the plates 11, 12 for one of the fluids is situated between
two facing plates 11, 12 of two neighboring pairs of plates for the
circulation of the other fluid.
[0059] Said distal edge 17, 18 of the plates 11, 12 of one of the
units 1, 2 is in proximity to said fluid connections 15a, 15b, 16a,
16b of the other unit. In order to ensure good mechanical
stability, said distal edge 17, 18 may include a part of the
contour of said fluid connections 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b.
[0060] As can be appreciated more readily from FIGS. 3 and 4, said
plates 11, 12 of each of the units 1, 2 comprise a base 21, 22, a
raised edge 23, 24 and a brazing lip 25, 26. Said pairs of plates
are formed by two of said plates, intended to be identical, mounted
head-to-tail in such a way that their lips are in contact. Along
the distal edge 17, 18 of said plates 11, 12, the brazing lip 25,
26 of the plates of the one of the units 1, 2 is in contact with
the stamped end fittings 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b of the plates of the
other unit 1, 2. Said plates of the first and/or of the second unit
may also comprise abutments 32 (FIG. 1) extending from said brazing
lips 26, in particular in order to facilitate the stacking of said
plates before brazing.
[0061] Each of said pairs of plates 11, 12 comprises a conduit for
the U-shaped circulation of the corresponding fluid, between a
first of said collectors 5a, 6a permitting the introduction of said
fluid into said conduit, and a second of said collectors 5b, 6b
permitting the exit of said fluid from said conduit.
[0062] Said blades 11, 12 may comprise a baffle 27, 28 for the flow
of the first and/or of the second fluid. In this case, said baffles
define longitudinal channels for the circulation of the first
and/or of the second fluid.
[0063] According to a variant that is not illustrated here, the
desired U-shaped circulation is obtained by a stamped form of the
base of the plates such as a partial central rib starting from the
longitudinal end edges provided with the connecting stamped end
fittings.
[0064] According to another variant, corresponding to the
illustrated exchanger, the inlet collectors 5a, 6a discharge facing
towards first parts of channels of the baffles 27, 28, while the
outlet collectors discharge facing towards a second part of the
channels separated from said first part of the channels 29, 30 by
one or a plurality of central channels 29, 30. In addition, said
plates 11, 12 comprise blocking stamped end fittings 31, 32,
between the connecting stamped end fittings 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b,
closing said one or more central channels 29, 30 at one of their
longitudinal ends.
[0065] Said baffles 27, 28 are advantageously shorter than the base
21, 22 of said plates 11, 12 in order to define a half-turn zone
for the fluids in each of the pairs of plates.
[0066] Referring once again to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the
second unit 2 comprises at least one pair of terminating plates
12a, 12b, in said stacking direction D. Said pair of terminating
plates 12a, 12b in this case comprises a plate 12a, exhibiting a
longitudinal extension that is identical to the other plates of
said second unit 2 and a terminating plate 12b exhibiting an upper
longitudinal extension.
[0067] The upper terminating plate 12b, in the given orientation in
relation to the exchanger in this figure, comprises a protruding
part 34 provided with openings, although not visible here, for the
passage of the first fluid. Said openings enter into correspondence
with the collectors 5a, 5b of the first unit 1. Said upper
terminating plate 12b may, furthermore, exhibit openings, similarly
not visible here, for the passage of the second fluid towards the
corresponding collectors 6a, 6b. Said exchanger in this case
comprises one or more connecting flanges 36, 38 for the one and the
other of the fluids, subject to said terminating plate 12b in the
area of said passage openings. In other words, said second unit 2
in this case comprises not only the one or more connecting flanges
38 for the second fluid, but also the connecting flange 36 for the
first fluid.
[0068] According to a variant corresponding to the units
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of said units may comprise its
own connecting flange 100, 200, as already mentioned, intended
respectively to face the corresponding collectors 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b.
Said pair of upper terminating plates of each of the units 1, 2 is
then identical to the pairs of non-terminating plates.
[0069] In the one and/or the other of these embodiments, the lower
terminating plate 12b, which is still in the orientation depicted
in FIG. 2, of the second unit 2 may comprise a protruding part 40,
equipped with stamped end fittings 42 coming into contact with a
part of the base of the collectors 5a, 5b of the first unit 1.
[0070] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the invention relates to a
further exchanger unit 1, 2 as described above, possibly equipped
with a corresponding connecting flange 100, 200.
[0071] As will be appreciated from what has been stated previously,
said one or more units are configured in such a way as to be
capable of being inserted into a unit of the same configuration,
with or without the same height of the blades 3, 4, by exhibiting a
space 101, 102, open between said pairs of blades 3, 4, in the area
of the longitudinal end edges 7, 8 of said blades.
[0072] Said units 1, 2 may be utilized according to the interleaved
configuration already described or in other configurations, for
example in the form, not illustrated here, of an exchanger
comprising a housing for circulating another fluid and such a unit,
positioned inside said housing, in such a way as to benefit from an
exchange of heat between said other fluid and that circulating in
said unit.
[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 7 for the first unit 1, said one or
more units may be equipped with a spacer 110 between said pairs of
plates 11. They may then serve, in particular, as exchangers with
the air such as evaporators.
* * * * *