Assembly for a heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle, heat exchanger and associated manufacturing process

Abstract

Assembly with a collection container (1) for a heat exchanger (2), in particular for a motor vehicle, wherein the collection container (1) has a lid (14) and a collection plate (12), wherein the collection container (1) has at least one area designated as an insertion area (16), at the height of which a longitudinal edge (123) of the collection plate (12) is spaced away from the lid (14), so that subsequently the crimping of a retaining component (30) as part of the assembly is possible by bending and crimping a longitudinal section (122) adjacent to the edge of the collection plate (12) onto the retaining component (30), so that a part of the retaining component (30) is then blocked between the lid (14) and the collection plate (12), characterized in that the retaining component (30) is made of plastic.

Description

The invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, particularly for motor vehicles. The invention relates to an assembly comprising a collection container for heat exchangers, a heat exchanger, and a method for manufacturing such an assembly. Heat exchangers are known, particularly in the engine compartment of motor vehicles. These exchangers consist of a block made up of parallel tubes, the block facilitating heat exchange between a first fluid circulating within the tubes and a second fluid circulating between the tubes. The exchangers also have collection tanks connected to the tubes and possibly a desiccant bottle. The collection containers consist of two metal parts: a collection plate and a lid, in which a pressurized fluid circulates. The metal parts are soldered together, ensuring both a secure connection and a high degree of leak-tightness for the collection container. To attach the exchangers to other elements in the engine environment, mounting components are used, such as mounting clamps or desiccant bottle holders, which are firmly connected to the collection containers. In the case of metallic collection containers, according to a first known solution, these components are firmly connected to the container of the collection container by welding, thus at high temperatures, which requires the use of metallic mounting components. To firmly join the components together, it is also known to use forming processes, such as riveting, which require access to the interior of the collection container. In this case, soldering the parts that form the collection container is necessarily required after the attachment of the Mounting component carried out, whereby metallic components are also required in this case due to the high temperatures associated with soldering. Collection containers are also known in which the components are pre-attached to the container when the metal parts of which it is made are crimped. Since, in this method, the soldering of the container also takes place after the crimping process, the use of metallic components is necessary, as known from WO 2012 160 054 A1. Therefore, these collection containers have the major disadvantage that the use of metallic mounting components is unavoidable. Collection containers are also known in which plastic components are added after soldering, for example by means of a screw-nut system or a snap-fit ​​system. These collection containers have the disadvantage of being complex and / or fragile. For example, EP 1 813 902 A1 discloses a heat exchanger with a manifold, wherein the manifold has a dome and a fastening element has a snap-fit ​​element, the dome being capable of being snapped into the snap-fit ​​element. The object of the invention is to solve the aforementioned problems by proposing an assembly with a collection container that eliminates the need for metal mounting components while maintaining simplicity and robustness. To this end, the invention proposes an assembly with a collection container for a heat exchanger, particularly for a motor vehicle. The collection container comprises a lid and a collection plate (which may be soldered together). The collection container has at least one area designated as an insertion area, at the level of which a longitudinal edge of the collection plate is spaced from the lid. This allows for the subsequent crimping of a component by bending a longitudinal section adjacent to the edge of the collection plate onto the component, thus blocking part of the component between the lid and the collection plate. The mounting component is made of plastic. In this way, the assembly according to the invention, including the collection container, makes it possible to crimp non-metallic plastic mounting components, whereby the container of the collection container has been previously sealed by soldering. This result is also achieved by utilizing the existing components of the collection container without the need for additional parts. According to different embodiments, which can be used together or individually: - the longitudinal edge emerges from lateral legs of the collecting plate, - the longitudinal edge is in contact with the lid at the level of areas of the collecting container that differ from the insertion area, - the longitudinal section adjacent to the edge of the collecting plate is thinner in relation to the rest of the lateral legs of the collecting plate, - the collecting plate and the lid are made of metal, - the collecting plate and / or the lid have a U-shape, - the lid and the collecting plate are mounted opposite each other. The assembly can have the following features, either together or individually: - the component has a mounting tab, - the component is provided with a base that is in contact with the lid, - the component is a holder for a desiccant bottle. The invention also relates to a heat exchanger with an assembly as described above. The invention also relates to a method for attaching a component to a collection container as described above, i.e., a method for manufacturing an assembly according to the invention. The method comprises a step in which the component is crimped by bending over the longitudinal section adjacent to the longitudinal edge of the collection plate of the collection container, so that the component is blocked between the lid and the collection plate of the collection container, and the container of the collection container has previously been sealed by soldering. In the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention, which is given merely as an illustrative and non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, the invention is better understood, and further objectives, details, features, and advantages of the invention are clarified: Fig. 1 shows a front view of a part of a heat exchanger with a collection vessel that can be used in the assembly according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a collection vessel that can be used in the assembly according to the invention. Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the collection vessel (section AA). Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the collection vessel (section BB). Fig. 5 shows the heat exchanger from Fig. 1, which is provided with mounting components. Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view (section CC) of an assembly according to the invention. The various figures show a collection container 1 for a heat exchanger, particularly for a motor vehicle. The heat exchanger 2 is, for example, a condenser designed to enable the exchange of thermal energy between a first fluid and a second fluid. In the embodiments described here, the first fluid is advantageously a cooling fluid that circulates within the heat exchanger 2. The second fluid is, for example, a... Ambient air circulating through the radiator grille of a motor vehicle and flowing into an engine compartment to pass through the condenser. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the heat exchanger 2 here comprises a heat exchange block 23, of which only a portion is shown. The heat exchanger 2 is also equipped with collection tanks 1, of which only one of the collection tanks 1 is illustrated. The heat exchange block 23 consists, for example, of tubes 230 in which the first fluid circulates and between which the second fluid circulates. The tubes 230 are advantageously aligned parallel in a direction perpendicular to a main longitudinal direction of the collection tanks 1. The collection tanks 1 are located on two opposite sides of the heat exchange block 23, with the tubes 230 of the heat exchange block 23 opening into the collection tanks 1 at their ends. The heat exchange block 23 may also have fins arranged between the tubes 230. As can be seen particularly in Figures 2, 3 to 4, the collection container 1 is of the "two-part" type, i.e., it has a lid 14 and a collection plate 12, each with a main longitudinal direction parallel to that of the collection container 1. The lid 14 and the collection plate 12 are soldered together lengthwise. The collection container 1 thus formed has a generally tubular shape and extends in its main longitudinal direction between two ends of the collection container 1, which are referred to as axial ends. The collection plate 12 defines a base 124 extended by two lateral legs 126, such that each leg 126 extends longitudinally and continuously from one axial end of the collection container 1 to the other. The collection plate 12 has, for example, a substantially U-shaped cross-section. The legs 126 extend parallel to and opposite each other. It should be noted that each leg 126 has a longitudinal section 122 that adjoins a longitudinal edge 123 of the collection plate 12. The longitudinal edges 123 run parallel to the direction of extension of the collection container 1, with a longitudinal opening 129 between them, which is closed by the cover 14. The base 124 of the collection plate 12 also has, for example, elongated slots formed along its entire length. The slots are parallel to each other and orthogonal to the direction of extension of the collection container 1. The slots are designed to receive the corresponding ends of the parallel pipes 230 and can be surrounded by collars 19, which can be seen in Fig. 2. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, each lateral leg 126 can advantageously have a longitudinal fold and a further longitudinal fold, forming a projection 127. The projection can be obtained, for example, by deforming the leg 126. It extends longitudinally and continuously from one axial end of the collection container 1 to the other and parallel to the longitudinal edges 123. The projection 127 is oriented towards the interior of the collection container 1 and lies along the leg 126 approximately halfway between the longitudinal edge 123 and the base 124 of the collection plate 12. The projection 127 has two inclined surfaces that are joined together at the level of an angular apex 121 of the projection 127. The inclined surface closest to the longitudinal edge 123 advantageously forms a flat base that extends continuously from one end of the collection container 1 to the other.The inclined surface is designed to serve as a position holder for the cover 14. It should be noted that the inclined surface is aligned parallel to a base 140 of the cover 14. The cover 14 advantageously extends longitudinally between the two axial ends of the collection container 1 and has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. The cover 14 comprises the base 140, which is preferably slightly concave. The base 140 is extended by lateral legs 142, which run parallel to and opposite each other and are advantageously shorter than those of the collection plate 12. The lateral legs 142 of the cover 14 extend longitudinally from one axial end of the collection container 1 to the other. The base 124 of the collecting plate 12 and the base 140 of the lid 14 are opposite each other and parallel to each other. It should be noted that the distance, called width, that separates the two lateral legs 142 of the cover 14 is smaller than the distance, called width, that separates the two lateral legs 126 of the collector plate 12. In other words, the dimension, particularly the width of the cover 14, is such that the lateral legs 142 fit oppositely between the lateral legs 126 of the collector plate 12. In this way, each lateral leg 142 of the cover 14 is in contact with a lateral leg 126 of the collector plate 12. The assembly of the lid 14 and the collection plate 12 defines an interior space 10 in which the first fluid is circulated. Due to the interlocking shape of the U-shaped components of the collection plate 12 and the lid 14, the cross-section of the collection container 1 is nearly oval or rectangular with rounded corners. The cover 14 and the collector plate 12 are crimped at the level of the side legs (142, 126) and then soldered together to ensure a tight connection and a seal between the cover 14 and the collector plate 12. The crimping can be carried out, in particular, by crimping a portion of each side leg 126 of the collector plate 12 onto one of the side legs 142 of the cover 14. At each of the longitudinal ends of the collection container 1, walls 18 may be provided for closing the collection container 1. Intermediate walls may also be provided, with which two parts of the collection container 1 can be hermetically sealed from each other. These walls have, for example, a stop for positioning the lid 14. The collection container 1 is further divided into several areas or sections, which are arranged successively from one axial end of the collection container 1 to the other. These areas are distinguished between simple areas 16' and insertion areas 16. The simple areas 16' are regions of the collection container 1 in which the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 of each lateral leg 126 of the collection plate 12 are completely crimped onto the lid 14. In other words, at the level of the simple areas 16', the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 and thus the longitudinal edges 123 are completely in contact with the lid 14. In contrast, the insertion areas 16 are regions of the collection container 1 where the longitudinal edges 123 of the collection plate 12 are spaced away from the lid 14, so that a retaining component 30 can subsequently be crimped between the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 and the lid 14. Thus, at the level of the insertion area 16, the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 are, for example, oriented orthogonally to the base 124 of the collection plate 12. In other words, the insertion areas 16 are designed such that the retaining component 30 can be crimped by subsequently bending the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 onto the retaining component 30 once it is positioned on the lid 14, so that a portion of the retaining component 30 is then blocked on the collection container 1 between the lid 14 and the collection plate 12.In other words, along the insertion areas 16, the lateral legs 126 of the collecting plate 12 are not crimped or only partially crimped onto the cover 14, so that the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 remain at least partially straight and spaced away from the cover 14. It should be noted that at both the insertion areas 16 and the simple areas 16', a portion of each lateral leg 126 of the collecting plate 12 is present that is in contact with and soldered to the cover. In other words, even at the insertion areas 16, the tightness and the secure connection of the collecting container 1 are ensured by continuous soldering along the collecting container 1. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the collection tank 1 is advantageously provided with an inlet flange 20 and an outlet flange 21. The function of the inlet flange 20 and the outlet flange 21 is to ensure the fluidic connections via lines (not shown) between a compressor of the air conditioning circuit and the interior 10 of the collection tank 1 on the one hand, and between the interior 10 of the collection tank 1 and a pressure reducer on the other. The flanges are brazed to the collection tank 1. Crimping by bending the lateral leg 126 is advantageously facilitated by the presence of a hinge area 125 on the leg 126. The hinge area 125 is located at an angle between the adjacent longitudinal section 122 and the remaining lateral leg 126. At the level of the insertion areas 16, the hinge area 125 particularly enables the subsequent crimping of the adjacent longitudinal section 122 and limits the force on the remaining lateral leg 126 of the collector plate 12. At the level of the insertion areas 16, the hinge areas 125 also facilitate simplified crimping of the lateral legs 126 onto the cover 14. The force required for crimping the adjacent longitudinal section 122 of the collector plate 12 onto the cover 14 or onto the mounting component 30 is then lower.This not only reduces the risk of deformation of the collection container 1, but also avoids the use of a part that forms a counter-shape. By thinning the adjacent longitudinal section 122 relative to the remainder of the leg 126, crimping is preferably, but not exclusively, simplified and the hinge area 125 is obtained. The remainder of the leg 126 and the base 124 of the collector plate 12 are, in turn, designed to provide resistance to the pressure of the first fluid. The thinning is achieved by any suitable mechanical process (rolling, expanding, deep drawing, etc.). In other words, the adjacent longitudinal section 122 is thinned, i.e., it has a material thickness that is less than the material thickness at the level of the remaining leg 126 and the base 124 of the collector plate 12. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the collection container 1 before the subsequent crimping of the adjacent longitudinal section 122 around the mounting component 30. In this example, the thinned part extends from the hinge area 125 to the longitudinal edge 123 of the collection plate 12, here in a straight line and essentially parallel from one leg to the other. To simplify the bending by crimping the adjacent longitudinal section 122 of the collector plate 12 onto the cover 14 as much as possible, without risk of breakage, the adjacent longitudinal section 122 is provided to have a thickness that is, for example, between 25% and 75% of the thickness of the remaining lateral leg 126. More precisely, the adjacent longitudinal section 122 is provided to have a thickness that is between 40% and 60%, in particular about 50%, of the thickness of the remaining leg 126. To simplify the bending of the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 at the level of the simple areas in front of the soldered section and to at least partially maintain their distance to the cover, the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 of the collector plate 12 are advantageously provided with slots 128 at the level of the insertion areas 16 before the partial bending. The slots 128 are designed such that they simplify a subsequent bending of the adjacent longitudinal section 122 at the level of the insertion areas 16 in order to firmly connect the mounting component 30. Each of the columns 128 is arranged at the junction between an insertion area 16 and a simple area 16' and opens onto one of the longitudinal edges 123. The columns 128 advantageously extend from the longitudinal edges 123 at the angle between the adjacent longitudinal sections 122 and the remainder of the legs 126. In other words, the columns 128 are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal edges 123 of the collector plate 12 and extend in this direction, having a dimension in this perpendicular direction that essentially corresponds to the distance between the longitudinal edges 123 of the hinge areas 125. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a collection container 1 as described above, which is provided with mounting components 30. The mounting components 30 are intended for attaching the collection container 1 to corresponding brackets of the vehicle. The mounting component 30 can, for example, consist of a base 300 and an extension 302, wherein the extension 302 extends from the base 300 and the base 300 is in contact with the collection container 1. The extension 302 is, for example, a fastening tab and advantageously has, for example, an elongated opening 304 which allows the passage of a connecting element, such as a screw nut. The base 300 extends in a main longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the base 300 is slightly curved at its ends so that it conforms to a convex part of the lid 14. In other words, the base 300 of the mounting component 30 is designed to conform to the shape of the collection container and its lid 14 at the level of the insertion area 16. It should also be noted that the mounting component 30 is designed here in such a way that, when positioned on the collection container 1, two opposite sides of the base 300 are in contact with one of the lateral legs 126 of the collection plate 12, except for a clearance. The mounting component 30 can advantageously be made of plastic, since the soldering of the collection container was carried out before the mounting component 30 was installed. Alternatively, however, the mounting component 30 can be made of another material, for example, metal. As a variant, the mounting component 30 can be a holder for a desiccant bottle. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the mounting component 30 is crimped onto the collection container 1 and onto the lid 14 at the level of the insertion area 16. The mounting component 30 can be crimped, in particular, by bending the adjacent longitudinal section 122 of the manifold 12 onto the base 300 of the mounting component 30 at the level of the insertion area 16. In this way, the mounting component 30 is blocked and firmly connected between the cover 14 and the lateral legs 126 of the manifold 12 by crimping. The opposite sides of the base 300 of the mounting component 30 are blocked, in particular, by crimping between the cover 14 and each of the adjacent longitudinal sections 122. The invention also relates to a heat exchanger with the heat exchange block 23 and the assembly as described above. The assembly and the heat exchanger block 23 are, for example, firmly connected to each other by soldering. The invention also relates to a method for attaching a retaining component to a collection container as described above. The attachment method comprises a step in which the retaining component 30 is crimped by bending over the longitudinal section 122 adjacent to the longitudinal edge 123 of the collection plate 12 of the collection container 1, so that the retaining component 30 is blocked between the lid 14 and the collection plate 12 of the collection container 1. As mentioned above, the crimping of the retaining component 30 takes place at the level of one of the insertion areas 16. The collection tank 1 is pre-assembled by soldering the lid 14 onto the collector plate 12, possibly together with the inlet flange 20 and the outlet flange 21 for the first fluid and / or the walls already mentioned. Soldering the heat exchanger block 23 and the collection tank 1 can be done simultaneously, as they have been pre-assembled.

Claims

Assembly with a collection container (1) for a heat exchanger (2), in particular for a motor vehicle, wherein the collection container (1) has a lid (14) and a collection plate (12), wherein the collection container (1) has at least one area designated as an insertion area (16), at the height of which a longitudinal edge (123) of the collection plate (12) is spaced away from the lid (14), so that the crimping of a retaining component (30) as part of the assembly is subsequently possible by bending and crimping a longitudinal section (122) adjacent to the edge of the collection plate (12) onto the retaining component (30), so that a part of the retaining component (30) is then blocked between the lid (14) and the collection plate (12), characterized in that the retaining component (30) is made of plastic. Assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal edge (123) is in contact with the lid (14) at the level of areas of the collection container (1) that differ from the insertion area (16). Assembly according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the longitudinal edge (123) is formed from lateral legs (126) of the collecting plate (12). Assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal section (122) adjacent to the longitudinal edge (123) of the collecting plate (12) is thinned relative to the remainder of the lateral legs (126). Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting plate (12) and the cover (14) have a U-shape and are mounted opposite each other. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the component (30) has an extension (302). Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the component (30) is provided with a base (300) which is in contact with the cover (14). Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, wherein component (30) is a holder for a desiccant bottle. Heat exchanger (2) with an assembly according to one of the preceding claims. Method for manufacturing an assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising the steps: sealing the vessel of the collection container (1) by soldering and subsequently crimping the retaining component (30) to the collection container (1) by bending the longitudinal section (122) adjacent to the longitudinal edge (123) of the collection plate (12) of the collection container (1), so that the retaining component (30) is blocked between the lid (14) and the collection plate (12) of the collection container (1).

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