Temperature control device, in particular for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention mainly relates to a temperature control device (4) comprising: a tube (6) configured to be in contact with at least one electrical energy storage unit, the tube comprising a plurality of flow channels (8) for a heat transfer fluid, and at least one first header (10) comprising at least two housings (11) configured to be assembled together, at least one of the housings comprises at least one separating partition in order to divide the header chamber (26) into at least two mutually sealed parts when the housings are assembled, characterised in that the at least one separating partition (5) is obtained by stamping and in that the base of said separating partition (5) comprises a stamped part (9) forming a groove in which the header chamber (26) is inserted. The groove is configured to include an angle formed by a punching operation such that the face of the end of the separating partition (5) is parallel to the face of the end (61) of the tube.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a heat regulating device, in particular a cooling device, in particular for electrical components which may release heat during operation, in particular for cooling at least one battery or battery pack of a vehicle, such as a vehicle. The vehicle may be a land vehicle, a sea vehicle or an air vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Nowadays, it is known that electric, thermal or hybrid vehicles are equipped with electrical energy storage units that allow the different elements of the vehicle to be supplied with electricity. These electrical energy storage units are usually constituted by electrical energy storage cells located in a battery pack.

[0003] Nowadays, automobile manufacturers are seeking to provide more powerful electric or hybrid vehicles, and the electric autonomy of these vehicles is also increased. For this purpose, more and more battery packs and / or increasingly larger battery packs are installed on these electric or hybrid vehicles. It is known that the entirety or at least a part of these battery packs is installed in the floor of the vehicle, substantially covering the entire width of the vehicle.

[0004] It should be understood that when the vehicle is running, the battery pack releases a lot of heat, which causes the temperature to rise, which in some cases can damage or even destroy the battery pack. Therefore, it is essential to cool the battery packs in order to keep them in good condition and ensure the reliability, mileage and performance level of the vehicle. In addition, in low temperature conditions, the battery packs may work less efficiently because the electrical or electronic components equipped with these battery packs need time to increase the temperature before working at full capacity.

[0005] For this purpose, one or more thermal regulation devices designed to regulate the temperature of the battery packs are used to ensure heating and / or cooling functions of the electrical or electronic components inside these battery packs, thereby optimizing the operation of the different components.

[0006] These thermal conditioning devices are usually passed through by a heat transfer fluid, which can absorb the heat released by each battery pack in order to cool the battery pack, or provide heat when the battery pack temperature is insufficient to ensure its normal operation, as required.

[0007] In a battery pack, the energy storage cells are arranged vertically one after another, so as to form a plurality of continuous rows of cells, and as is known, the heat regulating device has a tube arranged between two rows of cells, in which a heat transfer fluid can circulate. The contact between the tube and the cells allows the release or supply of heat energy via the heat transfer fluid. In order to manage the inflow and discharge of the heat transfer fluid, a fluid collecting box is arranged at one end of the tube, to which an inlet duct and an outlet duct of the heat transfer fluid are connected. More specifically, when a plurality of heat regulating devices are arranged in parallel so as to be inserted between two rows of cells, the ducts must be connected in turn to each collecting box of the heat regulating devices, and as is known, the inlet duct and the outlet duct of the heat transfer fluid are formed by a continuous tube section, which includes a sleeve fastened to each collecting box and an additional connecting device inserted between the sleeves, so as to fix them to each other and allow the heat transfer fluid to pass in a sealed manner in each tube section.

[0008] The size of the battery packs must become larger and larger to meet the growing energy requirements of modern electric or hybrid vehicles, and therefore the number of rows of batteries and the number of tubes inserted between these rows for thermal regulation must increase. As a result, connecting the tubes to the different collection boxes can be laborious due to the large number of components that need to be assembled with each other.

[0009] Furthermore, the increase in the number of components and their respective manufacturing tolerances means a larger assembly set and increased complexity in order to achieve such assembly.

[0010] An example of a thermal regulation device for cooling an electrical energy storage unit consists of a thermal regulation device comprising: a tube configured to contact the electrical energy storage unit and comprising at least one heat transfer fluid flow channel; a collecting box disposed at one end of the tube and comprising a collecting chamber, the collecting chamber being fluidically connected to at least one flow channel of the tube; and at least two connecting sleeves disposed on both sides of the collecting box and configured to be connected to the same collecting chamber, and the connecting sleeves have different shapes from each other.

[0011] There is an even greater need for thermal conditioning devices for cooling electrical energy storage units whose heat exchange efficiency is improved.

[0012] For reasons of ease of manufacture, at least the collecting box of such a heat regulating device is formed by stamping, for example from a metal such as aluminium. Stamping thus enables the protrusion to be formed in a relatively simple manner, but this technique does not allow for the formation of right angles. In fact, stamping produces a rounded portion, here called a stamping radius, which produces an approximate shape of the protrusion that is assumed to be a straight line.

[0013] When the collection box comprises different compartments, it is known to separate the compartments by means of projections on the trough itself, by means of separating partitions.

[0014] However, due to the punching radius, it is not possible to place the tube in contact with the vertical wall of a conventional collecting box. In fact, due to the rounded portion, the straight tube is pushed into the collecting box until it abuts against the separating partition, and the contact is not complete. Thus, there is a leakage (called bypass) between the inflow and outflow. Therefore, the cooling performance is reduced. Summary of the invention

[0015] The present invention aims to solve this technical problem by proposing a specific device allowing to improve the cooling performance.

[0016] Thus, the present invention relates to a thermal conditioning device for cooling an electrical energy storage unit, the thermal conditioning device comprising a tube arranged to be in contact with at least one electrical energy storage unit and the tube comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid circulation channels;

[0017] at least one first collection box disposed at the first end of the tube, the first collection box comprising at least two shells configured to be assembled together to form a collection chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of flow channels of the tube,

[0018] At least one of the shells, preferably two shells, includes at least one separating partition, one end of which is configured to contact one end of the tube when the two shells are assembled with the tube so as to divide the collecting chamber into at least two parts, and when the shells are assembled, the two parts are sealed relative to each other, and each part is fluidically connected to a part of the multiple flow channels, characterized in that at least one separating partition, preferably two separating partitions, are obtained by stamping, and in that the base of the separating partition includes a stamped portion forming a groove, and the groove is configured to include an angle formed by stamping, so that the face of the end of the separating partition is parallel to the face of the end of the tube.

[0019] The solution therefore consists in positioning the groove at the bottom of the wall separating the partitions in such a way that it comprises a stamped radius without interfering with the tube.

[0020] Advantageously, this makes it possible to ensure the verticality of the wall of the separating partition in contact with the end of the tube, thereby ensuring the sealing contact between the two elements and thus the separation between the flows of the collecting boxes.

[0021] Preferably, the present invention may have multiple optional aspects:

[0022] According to one feature of the invention, the end of the separating partition of each housing has a vertical wall configured to be in continuous contact with the end of the tube.

[0023] According to one feature of the invention, the separating partition is in contact with the tube in the region of at least one channel of the plurality of distribution channels.

[0024] According to one feature of the invention, the channel in contact with the separating partition is full.

[0025] According to one feature of the invention, the passage is empty in contact with the separating partition, the separating partition being dimensioned so as to block the passage when the two shells of the collecting box are assembled with the tube.

[0026] According to one feature of the invention, the device includes a second stamping portion at the top of the separation partition, which is configured to reduce the stamping radius of the top so that the face of the end of the separation partition is parallel to the face of the end of the tube.

[0027] This advantageously makes it possible to obtain the smallest possible radius at the top of the wall.

[0028] In other words, the second stamping portion makes it possible to reduce the stamping radius that exists in the area of ​​the angle between the face of the end of the separation partition (the face of the end is arranged to contact the face of the end of the tube) and the face forming the top of the separation partition.

[0029] According to another feature of the invention, the second punched portion is formed so as to obtain an angle close to a right angle in the region of the top portion.

[0030] According to one feature of the invention, the device comprises a second collection box at a second end of the tube, opposite to the first end of the tube comprising the first collection box, and the second collection box is identical to the first collection box.

[0031] According to one feature of the invention, the two housings are symmetrical.

[0032] According to one feature of the invention, the depth of the groove is between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm.

[0033] Advantageously, the depth of the groove is dimensioned so as to allow the bottom of the wall to have a smaller radius, and preferably so that this radius is also filled by the weld joint.

[0034] According to one feature of the invention, the collection box is made of metal or plastic material, the metal being, for example, aluminum.

[0035] According to one feature of the invention, at least one of the housings, preferably both housings, comprises an orifice.

[0036] According to one feature of the invention, at least two connecting sleeves, preferably four connecting sleeves, are arranged to communicate with the collecting chamber, preferably with each portion of the collecting chamber, the connecting sleeves preferably having mutually different shapes.

[0037] The invention also relates to a heat regulation system comprising a plurality of heat regulation devices as described above, and a plurality of electrical energy storage units arranged in a row, the regulation devices being connected to each other by their bushings and being arranged to be in contact with the rows of storage units.

[0038] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a thermal regulating device as described above, said method comprising the following steps:

[0039] - providing two shells and punching them to form a separating partition of the collecting chamber, the separating partition comprising at its base a punched portion forming a groove having a punched radius, also called a remaining punched portion,

[0040] - assembling the two shells to each other to form said collecting box, which forms a collecting chamber,

[0041] - providing a tube comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid flow channels (8) and introducing the tube into the collecting box so that one end of the tube is in contact with one end of the separating partition,

[0042] - The components of the housing and the tubes are fixed by brazing, bonding, welding, clamping, ultrasonic or a combination thereof.

[0043] According to one feature of the invention, the punched area forming the groove is produced in a second punching step.

[0044] According to one feature of the invention, the method further comprises the step of punching the top of the separation partition so as to reduce the punching radius of said top so that the face of the end of the separation partition is parallel to the face of the end of the tube. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become more apparent on the one hand by reading the following description and on the other hand by reading a number of exemplary embodiments which are given by way of information and without any limiting meaning with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack as a whole, which is equipped with a plurality of electrical energy storage units and a plurality of thermal regulation devices according to one example;

[0047] FIG2 is a detailed view of one end of the plurality of electrical energy storage units and the plurality of thermal regulators shown in FIG1;

[0048] Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view in which the distribution trough (single shell) is partially shown so as to make its internal structure visible and to make visible the internal structure of the tube to which the distribution trough is fixed at one end;

[0049] Fig. 4 is a schematic detail of an exploded perspective view of a thermal conditioning device;

[0050] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a housing according to a first embodiment;

[0051] FIG6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a heat regulating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 7 is a detail of a top view (FIG. 7A) and a front view (FIG. 7B) along section DD in FIG. 7A of the heat regulating device according to the second embodiment;

[0053] 8 is a perspective view of a heat conditioning device according to a third embodiment, wherein a U-shaped flow for a heat transfer fluid flowing through the device is indicated by solid arrows;

[0054] 9 is a perspective view of a thermal conditioning device according to a fourth embodiment, wherein type I circulation for a heat transfer fluid circulating in the device has been indicated by solid arrows. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The features, variants and different embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other according to various combinations, as long as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. In particular, it is conceivable that the variant of the present invention only includes a selection of the features described below, which does not include the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to give technical advantages and / or distinguish the present invention from the prior art.

[0056] In the following description, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse" and "vertical" refer to the orientation of the thermal conditioning device according to the invention. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main extension direction of the thermal conditioning device, the transverse direction corresponds to a direction substantially perpendicular to the main extension plane of the thermal conditioning device and to the main extension direction of the hydraulic connection sleeve of the thermal conditioning device, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, the vertical direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction.

[0057] The invention therefore relates to a thermal conditioning device (4) for cooling an electrical energy storage unit (2), the thermal conditioning device (4) comprising a tube (6) arranged to be in contact with at least one electrical energy storage unit, the tube comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid flow channels (8),

[0058] a first collecting box (10) disposed at the first end (61) of the tube, the first collecting box (10) comprising at least two shells (11) configured to be assembled with each other to form a collecting chamber (26) in fluid communication with a plurality of flow channels (8) of the tube (6),

[0059] At least one of the shells (11), preferably two shells (11), includes at least one separating partition (5), one end of which is configured to contact one end of the tube (6) when the two shells are assembled with the tube, so as to divide the collection chamber (26) into at least two parts (26a, 26b), when the shells are assembled, the two parts are sealed relative to each other, and each part is fluidically connected to a part of the multiple flow channels (8), characterized in that at least one separating partition, preferably two separating partitions, is obtained by stamping, and the base of the separating partition includes a stamped portion (9) forming a groove, and the groove is configured to include an angle formed by stamping, so that the surface of the end of the separating partition (5) is parallel to the surface of the end (61) of the tube.

[0060] It should be understood that the core of the present invention lies in the presence of a stamped portion adjacent to the end of the separation partition, which end of the separation partition is used to contact the end of the tube of the device so as to include a stamped radius in the stamped portion and obtain a completely straight separation partition end.

[0061] This advantageously allows for improved integral contact between the separating partition of the trough and the tube.

[0062] In practice, this makes it possible to ensure the mutual perpendicularity of the two faces without the tube coming into contact with the remaining punched angles of the slot, or more precisely with the partition, thus ensuring the tightness of the two parts relative to each other. Ultimately, this allows separation between the inflowing and outflowing fluids and therefore an improved and lasting heat exchange.

[0063] The invention that has just been described makes it possible to meet the objective that it has set itself, namely to propose an electrical energy storage device 1 that is reliable and leak-free.

[0064] The present invention also includes the following features, which can be used alone or in combination:

[0065] In some embodiments, the end of the separation partition of each housing has a vertical wall configured to be in continuous contact with the end of the tube.

[0066] In some embodiments, the separating partition is in contact with the tube in the region of at least one channel of the plurality of distribution channels.

[0067] In some embodiments, the channel in contact with the separation partition is full.

[0068] In some embodiments, the passage in contact with the separation partition is empty, and the separation partition is sized to block the passage when the two shells of the collection box are assembled with the tube.

[0069] In some embodiments, the device includes a second stamping portion (not shown) at the top of the separation divider, and the second stamping portion is configured to reduce the stamping radius of the top so that the face of the end of the separation divider (5) is parallel to the face of the end of the tube (61).

[0070] This advantageously makes it possible to obtain the smallest possible radius at the top of the wall.

[0071] In other words, the second stamping portion makes it possible to reduce the stamping radius, which exists in the angle area between the face of the end of the separation partition (the face of the end is arranged to contact the face of the end (61) of the tube) and the face forming the top of the separation partition.

[0072] In a specific embodiment, the second punched portion is formed to obtain an angle close to a right angle in the top region.

[0073] In some embodiments, the device includes a second collection box at a second end of the tube, the second end being opposite the first end of the tube including the first collection box, and the second collection box is identical to the first collection box.

[0074] In some embodiments, the two housings are symmetrical.

[0075] In some embodiments, the depth of the groove is between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm.

[0076] In some embodiments, the collection box (10) is made of metal or plastic material, the metal being, for example, aluminum.

[0077] In some embodiments, at least one of the housings, preferably both housings, comprises an aperture.

[0078] In some embodiments, at least two connecting sleeves (18, 18a, 18b), preferably four connecting sleeves, are configured to be connected to the collection chamber (26), preferably to be connected to the fluid of each part of the collection chamber (26), and the connecting sleeves (18, 18a, 18b) preferably have different shapes from each other.

[0079] In some embodiments, the thermal regulation system comprises a plurality of thermal regulation devices (4) as described above, and a plurality of electrical storage cells arranged in a row, the regulation devices being connected to each other via their sleeves and being configured to contact the rows of storage cells.

[0080] In some embodiments related to the method according to the present invention, the method comprises the following steps:

[0081] - providing two shells and punching them to form a separation partition of the collecting chamber, the separation partition comprising at its base a punched portion forming a groove with a punched radius, also called a residual punched portion,

[0082] - assembling the two shells to each other to form said collecting box, which forms a collecting chamber,

[0083] - providing a tube (6) comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid circulation channels (8) and introducing the tube into the collecting box so that one end of the tube is in contact with one end of the separating partition,

[0084] - The components of the housing and the tube are fixed by brazing, bonding, welding, snap-fitting, ultrasonic or a combination thereof.

[0085] In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of punching the top of the separation partition so as to reduce the punching radius of the top so that the surface of the end of the separation partition (5) is parallel to the surface of the end of the tube (61).

[0086] FIG. 1 shows a plurality of cooling devices 4 having a plurality of tubes 6 assembled by paired sleeves 18 thereof, batteries 2 and an insulating housing.

[0087] FIG. 2 shows a detail of FIG. 1 , which illustrates the connection between the different cooling devices in more detail.

[0088] Figure 3 shows a view of the device, in which one of the housings 11 and a part of the collection box are not shown. Thus, a single housing 11 and a single part of the collection box 10 are shown, to which the housing 11 is fixed.

[0089] Figure 3 shows in particular the fact that the interior of the collection box 10 of the heat conditioning device 4 has at least one collection chamber 26, which is fluidically connected to at least one of the flow channels 8 formed in the tube, more specifically, to one of the flow components 21, 22 formed by a plurality of channels.

[0090] In some embodiments, as shown by way of non-limiting example, the collection box 10 is formed of two parts attached and fixed or welded to each other, and the fixing means are located at the periphery of the shell. At least one of the parts has attachment struts 40 that allow the half shells to be held together before the welding operation that fixes the position of the half shells and the stability of the collection box.

[0091] Each section of the collection box has two cavities 42 formed by deformation of the section, and a rib 44 disposed between the two cavities. It should be understood that when the two sections are fixed to each other, the cavities 42 of each section are disposed relative to each other to form the above-mentioned collection chamber 26, and the ribs 44 of each section contact each other to form a separation partition 46 that defines the collection chamber 26 and separates each collection chamber from each other.

[0092] The central wall 46 is used to contact with the solid surface of the tube (which forms a sealing area 48 without a flow channel) to ensure sealing contact and prevent the fluid present in the first collection chamber in the collection box from flowing into another collection chamber or into a channel that is not necessarily connected to the first collection chamber.

[0093] Each cavity 42 is defined by a bottom wall 41 pierced substantially in its centre by an orifice 43. This orifice allows the passage of fluid between the collecting chamber 26 formed by the cavity and the connection sleeve 18 of the pair of connection sleeves opening into this collecting chamber 26.

[0094] In other words, the connecting sleeves are configured to communicate with the collecting chambers respectively, and it can be understood that the sleeves provided on both sides of the collecting box are configured to communicate with the same collecting chamber.

[0095] Figure 4 shows a simplified exploded view of the tube 6 between two shells 11, each shell comprising a separator partition 5, the stamped base of which is terminated by a stamped groove 9 which reduces the stamping radius and allows the walls of the ends of the separator partition 5 to be completely straight.

[0096] FIG. 5 shows in detail the punched portion of the base of the separation partition 5 , which can be produced simultaneously or in different steps.

[0097] Preferably, the punched portion forming the groove or channel 9 is produced in the opposite direction to the punched portion forming the separating partition 5 .

[0098] In some embodiments, as shown in a non-limiting manner in FIG. 6 , the two shells 11 are identical and each shell has a stamped portion forming the separating partition 5 and a stamped portion forming the groove or channel 9 .

[0099] In fact, advantageously, both housings 11 are formed from the same single part reference, so as to optimize costs. Assembly is thus achieved between two identical parts, which can be inverted relative to each other.

[0100] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the collecting box 10 and a cross section of its interior, in which the groove 9 can be seen.

[0101] FIG. 7A makes it possible to locate the section DD ( FIG. 7B ). FIG. 7B shows a specific embodiment in which the grooves 9 can be seen and the fact that the vertical walls of each half-groove block two channels. The number of channels blocked may vary and depends on the design of the device. In some alternative embodiments, a single channel is blocked.

[0102] It is therefore possible to easily increase the size of the electric energy storage device 4 without involving an increase in assembly operations.

[0103] In an alternative embodiment, the second collecting box is different from the first tank and forms, for example, a return flow section. This advantageously makes it possible to connect a channel outlet of a tube, which is supplied with fluid from a portion of the collecting chamber forming a fluid inlet zone, to a channel inlet of a tube, which is connected to a portion of the collecting box forming a fluid outlet zone.

[0104] In a preferred embodiment, each housing includes two ports to allow fluid to flow in and out through connecting sleeves 18. These sleeves may be formed integrally with each housing, or assembled and secured subsequently.

[0105] In some embodiments, the device is configured to allow U-type or I-type flow of fluid.

[0106] By way of example, an electrical energy storage device 1, in particular for equipping electric or hybrid vehicles, comprises a plurality of assemblies of electrical energy storage cells 2, also referred to hereinafter as electrical energy storage batteries, and a plurality of thermal conditioning devices 4 arranged near the batteries in order to enable heat exchange between the batteries.

[0107] The energy storage unit has in particular the shape of a cylindrical battery, in this case of circular cross-section, which is arranged vertically, that is to say perpendicularly to the longitudinal and transverse planes in which the energy storage device is mainly located.

[0108] The energy storage cells 2 are in particular arranged in successive rows 3 which are parallel to one another, and each row or assembly of energy storage cells extends predominantly in the longitudinal direction.

[0109] The thermal conditioning device 4 is arranged between two adjacent rows 3 of electrical energy storage cells and in particular comprises a tube 6 which is arranged to be in contact with the electrical energy storage cells 2 of the two adjacent rows 3 .

[0110] In the example shown in Figure 1, the rows 3 are arranged in a staggered manner relative to each other, that is, the storage cells of one row have a longitudinal offset relative to the storage cells of an adjacent row, so that the size of the energy storage device 1 can be optimized, and each thermal regulation device 4 includes a corrugated tube 6 so as to be able to contact each of the energy storage cells 2 of the two rows 3, and these tubes 6 extend between the two rows 3 respectively.

[0111] In an alternative embodiment, each heat regulating device 4 comprises a tube 6 of flat shape.

[0112] The heat transfer fluid is used to circulate in the corrugated tube 6 so as to be able to exchange heat energy with the energy storage unit 2 through the heat conductive wall of the tube. It is worth noting that when the energy storage unit 2 must be cooled as the temperature rises during its operation, the heat transfer fluid is used to recover the heat energy and discharge the heat energy from the energy storage device 1.

[0113] In order to allow such thermal energy exchange, each heat regulating device 4 comprises: the above-mentioned tube 6, in this case a corrugated tube, in which a plurality of channels 8 for circulating a heat transfer fluid are formed; and at least one collecting box 10, which is arranged at one longitudinal end of the tube 6, for collecting the fluid from the heat transfer fluid inlet conduit 14 and distributing the fluid to one or more circulation channels 8 in the tube 6, and / or for collecting the heat transfer fluid at the outlet of the tube 6 and directing the fluid to the heat transfer fluid exhaust conduit 16.

[0114] In other words, the heat transfer fluid is used to circulate in the inlet duct, and at each collecting box encountered by the inlet duct, part of the heat transfer fluid is directed to the collecting box and the associated thermal regulation device, while another part of the heat transfer fluid is directed through the remaining part of the inlet duct to supply the subsequent collecting box.

[0115] As a non-limiting example, when the cooling device is used to cool automotive battery cells, the sleeve, the collecting box and the tube are made of an electrically conductive material, such as metal, in particular aluminum.

[0116] As a non-limiting example of a cooling device, the heat transfer fluid inlet conduit 14 and the heat transfer fluid exhaust conduit 16 are formed by direct fit of connecting sleeves 18 fastened to two adjacent collecting boxes 10 without arranging any intermediate device between these connecting sleeves 18. It should be understood that, where appropriate, the sealing gasket can be carried by one of the connecting sleeves and abut against the other connecting sleeve in the direct connection area between the sleeves.

[0117] Those features associated with the connecting sleeve 18 which in particular enable the above-described direct fit will be described in more detail below.

[0118] However, it can be noted that, according to the illustrations of Figures 1 and 2, at this stage of the description, two connecting sleeves 18 extend on both sides of the collection box 10, thereby forming a sleeve pair 19, and as shown in the figure, the two connecting sleeves 18 of the sleeve pair preferably have different shapes from each other so as to allow a first type of sleeve 18a associated with a first collection box 10 to be directly connected to a second type of sleeve 18b associated with a second collection box 10 without the need to provide additional connecting devices.

[0119] FIG8 shows an example of a heat regulating device in which the flow of the fluid is referred to as U-flow, that is, the same portion of the heat transfer fluid flows in both directions in the tube 6 after passing through the reflux groove 20 at one of the longitudinal ends of the tube.

[0120] More specifically, in this first embodiment, the heat conditioning device 4 includes a tube 6 , and includes a collection box 10 and a return groove forming a return portion 20 at each longitudinal end of the tube 6 .

[0121] The tube 6 includes a plurality of channels 8 formed therein, which are divided into two flow components. The difference between the two flow components is that the same portion of the heat transfer fluid flows in the channel of the first flow component 21 along a first flow direction S1, and flows in the channel of the second flow component 22 along a second flow direction S2 opposite to the first flow direction S1.

[0122] The collecting box 10 disposed at the first longitudinal end 12 of the tube is equipped with a connecting sleeve 18 to allow the inflow and discharge of the heat transfer fluid. The collecting box 10 is configured to guide the fluid circulating in the connecting sleeve 18 that contributes to forming the heat transfer fluid inlet conduit 14 to a portion of the channel in the tube (in this case, the channel in the first circulation component 21), and to guide the fluid leaving the tube through another portion of the channel (in this case, the channel in the second circulation component 22) to the connecting sleeve 18 that contributes to forming the heat transfer fluid discharge conduit 16.

[0123] The reflux groove 20 provided at the second longitudinal end of the tube 6 does not include any connecting sleeve and is only fluidically connected to the tube 6. The reflux groove 20 is configured to guide the fluid flowing in one direction in a portion of the flow channel to another portion of the flow channel to flow in another direction.

[0124] FIG. 9 shows a second example of a heat conditioning device 4 in which the circulation of the heat transfer fluid is referred to as type I circulation, that is to say that the same portion of the heat transfer fluid circulates in one direction only inside the tubes 6 .

[0125] More specifically, in this second embodiment, the heat conditioning device 4 comprises a tube 6 and, at each longitudinal end of the tube 6 , a collecting box 10 according to the invention.

[0126] Likewise, the tube 6 includes a plurality of channels 8 formed therein, which are divided into two flow assemblies, the difference between which is that two different parts of the fluid can flow in their respective channel assemblies in the tube. Thus, the first part of the heat transfer fluid can flow in the channels of the first flow assembly 21 along a first flow direction S1, while the second part of the heat transfer fluid can flow in the channels of the second flow assembly 22 along a second flow direction S2 opposite to the first flow direction.

[0127] This configuration creates two independent circuits, as indicated by the arrows visible in Figure 4. The first circuit C1 comprises a fluid inlet through a first sleeve of a first collecting box, a portion of the fluid passing through the tube in a first flow direction, while another portion of the fluid continues along its path through the delivery conduit in the direction of an adjacent thermal conditioning device, and the fluid, after having passed through the tube, flows out through the first sleeve of a second collecting box, thereby joining the fluid coming from the adjacent thermal conditioning device. And, the second circuit C2 comprises a fluid inlet through a second sleeve of a second collecting box, a portion of the fluid passing through the tube in a second flow direction, while another portion of the fluid continues along its path through the delivery conduit in the direction of an adjacent thermal conditioning device, and the fluid, after having passed through the tube, flows out through the second sleeve of the first collecting box, thereby joining the fluid coming from the adjacent thermal conditioning device.

[0128] The invention relates primarily to a device comprising a housing made by stamping. However, the device can be applied to all processes that produce a radius at the bottom of the wall. Therefore, the invention also relates in particular to a similar device in which the separating partition is made by machining and the groove is also made by machining.

[0129] However, the invention is not limited to the means and configurations described and shown here, and it also extends to any equivalent means or configurations and any technical combination using such means. As a non-limiting example, and as already explained above, the shape of the sleeves can vary, as long as the respective connecting sleeves for connecting one thermal regulating device to another thermal regulating device can directly cooperate with each other.

[0130] Reference Symbols List

[0131] 1.Electric energy storage device

[0132] 2.Electric energy storage unit

[0133] 3. Battery row

[0134] 4. Heat regulation device

[0135] 5. Separate the dividers

[0136] 6. Tube

[0137] 61. End of the tube

[0138] 48.Center Channel

[0139] 8. Heat transfer fluid flow channel

[0140] 9. Stamping parts, grooves

[0141] 10. Collection Box

[0142] 11. Housing

[0143] 12. Longitudinal end

[0144] 14. Imported catheter

[0145] 16. Discharge catheter

[0146] 18.Connecting sleeve

[0147] 18a. First type casing

[0148] 18b. Second type of casing

[0149] 20. Reflux trough

[0150] 26. Collection Room

[0151] 40. Matching devices

[0152] 41. Bottom wall

[0153] 42. Cavity

[0154] 43. Orifice

Claims

1. A heat regulating device (4) for cooling an electric energy storage unit (2), the heat regulating device (4) comprising: a tube (6) configured to be in contact with at least one electrical energy storage unit, the tube comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid flow channels (8), at least one first collecting box (10) disposed at the first end (61) of the tube, the first collecting box (10) comprising at least two shells (11) configured to be assembled with each other to form a collecting chamber (26) in fluid communication with the plurality of flow channels (8) of the tube (6), At least one of the shells (11), preferably two shells (11), includes at least one separating partition (5), one end of which is configured to contact one end of the tube (6) when the two shells are assembled with the tube so as to divide the collecting chamber (26) into at least two parts (26a, 26b), when the shells are assembled, the at least two parts are sealed relative to each other, and each part is fluidically connected to a part of the multiple flow channels (8), characterized in that at least one separating partition, preferably two separating partitions are obtained by stamping, and that the base of the separating partition includes a stamping portion (9) forming a groove, and the groove is configured to include an angle formed by stamping, so that the surface of the end of the separating partition (5) is parallel to the surface of the end (61) of the tube.

2. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The end of the separation partition of each housing has a vertical wall configured to be in continuous contact with the end of the tube.

3. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The separating partition is in contact with the tube in the region of at least one channel of the plurality of distribution channels.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The channel in contact with the separation partition is full.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The passage is empty in contact with the separation partition, and the separation partition is dimensioned to block the passage when the two shells of the collection box are assembled with the tube.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The device includes a second punching portion at the top of the separation partition, the second punching portion being configured to reduce the punching radius of the top so that the face of the end of the separation partition (5) is parallel to the face of the end (61) of the tube.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The device comprises a second collection box at a second end of the tube, the second end being opposite to the first end of the tube comprising the first collection box and the second collection box being identical to the first collection box.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The two shells are symmetrical.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The punching portion (9) forms a groove with a depth between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The collection box (10) is made of metal or plastic material, and the metal is, for example, aluminum.

11. A thermal conditioning device (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: At least one of the housings, preferably both housings, comprises an aperture.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein: At least two connecting sleeves (18, 18a, 18b), preferably four connecting sleeves, are configured to communicate with the collection chamber (26), preferably with each part of the fluid of the collection chamber (26), and the connecting sleeves (18, 18a, 18b) preferably have different shapes from each other.

13. A thermal regulation system comprising a plurality of thermal regulation devices (4) according to any of the preceding claims, and a plurality of electrical storage cells arranged in a row, the regulation devices being connected to each other by their bushings and being arranged to be in contact with the row of storage cells.

14. A method for assembling a thermal conditioning device (4) according to one of claims 1 to 12, the method comprising the following steps: - providing two shells and punching them to form a separation partition of the collection chamber, the separation partition comprising at its base a punched portion forming a groove having a punched radius, the groove also being referred to as a residual punched portion, - assembling the two shells to each other to form the collection box, which forms the collection chamber, and - providing a tube (6) comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid circulation channels (8) and introducing the tube into the collecting box so that one end of the tube is in contact with one end of the separating partition, - Fixing the components of the housing and the tube by brazing, bonding, welding, snap-fitting, ultrasonic or a combination thereof.

15. The method for assembling a heat regulating device (4) according to claim 14 further comprises the step of punching the top of the separation partition to reduce the punching radius of the top so that the surface of the end of the separation partition (5) is parallel to the surface of the end (61) of the tube.

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