Heat exchanger protection device

Abstract

Protective device (1) for a heat exchanger (11) arranged on the front wall of a motor vehicle, wherein the heat exchanger (11) comprises a bundle (12) of tubes (13) through which a first fluid (24) can flow and which is bounded by an inlet surface (15) and an outlet surface (16), wherein the inlet surface (15) is configured such that a second fluid (25) flows through the bundle (12) of tubes (13) and exchanges heat with the first fluid (24), wherein the protective device (1) comprises a series of longitudinal elements (2) for protecting the tubes (13) which are configured to face the inlet surface (15), and a frame (3) which supports the series of longitudinal protective elements (2) and is designed for connecting the protective device (1) to the heat exchanger (11), wherein the frame (3) is made of a first material,while the series of longitudinal protective elements (2) consists of a second material that is more flexible than the first material, wherein the protective device (1) has fastening means (8) designed to fasten the protective device (1) to the heat exchanger (11), characterized in that each longitudinal protective element (2) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube (13) it protects and the height of a section through a longitudinal protective element (2) corresponds to the thickness of a tube (13).

Description

[0001] The various aspects of the present invention relate to the field of heat exchangers and in particular to the protection of heat exchangers arranged on the front wall of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Heat exchangers interact with a fluid circulation loop to create an exchange of heat between the fluid and air from outside the vehicle, which is directed to flow through these heat exchangers.

[0003] These heat exchangers consist of several stacked tubes with spacers between them. The fluid circulates within the tubes and exchanges heat with the outside air flowing through the spacers.

[0004] These heat exchangers are conventionally located on the front wall of motor vehicles and on the upstream side of the engine, which is located in the engine compartment of the vehicle, to optimally capture air from outside.

[0005] Due to the position of these heat exchangers on the front wall, the vehicle's heat exchanger closest to the front is exposed to the projection of debris or gravel, which can damage or even perforate the fluid circulating pipes. The side of the pipes of this heat exchanger, facing the front of the vehicle, is exposed to the gravel and debris thrown up by the vehicle.

[0006] To protect these heat exchangers, it is known to arrange a protective grid in front of them, which can retain the gravel or any other ejected particles and thus prevent impacts on the exchanger tubes. For example, FR 3 035 956 A1 discloses the arrangement of a protective grid on the upstream side of the heat exchanger(s) of the motor vehicle by clipping this grid onto the heat exchanger.

[0007] The protection provided by this grid improves the situation, but is not entirely satisfactory, as the vibration following the impact of a gravel stone can cause the grid to break.

[0008] Furthermore, WO 2011 / 106063 A2 discloses a refrigerated shelf module which is used to present products in a refrigerated manner in a food store.

[0009] In DE 10 2015 200 199 A1 a bumper device for a vehicle is also described.

[0010] A heat exchanger is also known from US 5 441 100 A.

[0011] In WO 98 / 50751 A1 a protective device for a motor vehicle heat exchanger is described, in which elastic protective elements are attached to the heat exchanger's support tubes.

[0012] A dust filter comprising a mesh clamped in a frame is known from generic CN 2 794 936 Y.

[0013] Accordingly, the object of the invention is to improve the strength of the heat exchanger tubes, which are exposed to the risk of being hit by gravel or other thrown parts.

[0014] The problem is solved according to the invention by the device according to claim 1.

[0015] One aspect of the invention comprises a device for protecting a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a bundle of tubes through which a first fluid can flow and which is bounded by an inlet surface and an outlet surface, wherein the inlet surface is configured such that a second fluid flows through the bundle of tubes and exchanges heat with the first fluid, wherein the protective device comprises a series of longitudinal elements for protecting the tubes, which are configured to face the inlet surface, and a frame that supports the series of longitudinal protective elements and is designed for connecting the protective device to the heat exchanger, the frame being characterized in that the frame is made of a first material, while the series of longitudinal protective elements is made of a second material that is more flexible than the first material.

[0016] The elastic modulus of the first material is between 2300 and 16000 MPa, and the elastic modulus of the second material is between 1.5 and 100 MPa. It is evident that the first material is more rigid and harder than the second, so the frame forms a structural support for the protective device, while the series of longitudinal protective elements acts as shock absorbers.

[0017] It should be noted that the series of longitudinal protective elements is designed such that at least one longitudinal element of the series at least partially covers one side of a tube in the bundle. The longitudinal elements are thus straight or substantially straight and arranged with an inclination to one another that is identical to or similar to the inclination of the heat exchanger tubes.

[0018] The first material is advantageously a polypropylene or a polyamide, which is particularly enriched with glass fibers, carbon fibers or natural fibers.

[0019] The second material is a thermoplastic elastomer or natural rubber. It could also be an ethylene propylene diene monomer elastomer. Generally speaking, the second material is any material capable of dampening and withstanding the impact generated by a projectile flung at a speed of sixty kilometers per hour against the longitudinal element.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the frame has at least one post attached to several longitudinal protective elements, the post being designed to face the inlet surface of the heat exchanger. The post then forms a mechanical support for several longitudinal elements extending in a transverse direction, e.g., perpendicular to the direction of extension of the longitudinal elements. A post of this type extends along the inlet surface of the heat exchanger and crosses the second fluid entering the heat exchanger through this inlet surface.

[0021] Instead of or in addition to the above explanations, the frame may have a surround that encircles the rows of longitudinal protective elements. In one example, the frame consists solely of the surround. In another example, the frame includes the surround and the posts described above.

[0022] The invention also relates to a heat exchanger device with a heat exchanger comprising a bundle of tubes through which a first fluid can flow and which is bounded by an inlet surface and an outlet surface, wherein the inlet surface is designed such that it is through which a second fluid flows, which exchanges heat with the first fluid, and with a protective device as described in the present document, which is attached to the heat exchanger.

[0023] In such a situation, the longitudinal elements of the series of longitudinal protective elements are arranged in front of the sides of the tubes of the heat exchanger bundle, so that they protect these sides from an impact caused by a flung part.

[0024] The invention finally comprises a motor vehicle having a heat exchanger device on its front wall as described in the present document, characterized in that the heat exchanger device is designed such that the protective device is oriented towards the front of the vehicle.

[0025] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment, which is given solely for illustrative purposes with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: - Fig. 1 a perspective front view of a protective device according to the present invention; - Fig. 2 a perspective front view of a heat exchanger device according to the invention; and - Fig. 3 a sectional view along the in Fig. Line II shown in 2.

[0026] A first object of the invention is a protective device 1, the function of which is to protect a heat exchanger from impacts of flung particles that are responsible for puncturing a tube of the heat exchanger. When assembled, this heat exchanger and this protective device 1 form a second object of the invention in the form of a heat exchanger device, as shown in Fig. 2 or in Fig. 3 is shown.

[0027] In Fig. 1 The protective device 1 has the general form of a grid which is to be arranged in front of the heat exchanger with respect to the direction of circulation of an airflow which flows through a heat exchanger.

[0028] The protective device 1 has at least one series of or more longitudinally extending protective elements 2, of which in Fig. 1 Only some are provided with reference numerals to prevent excessive complication of the figure. The protective device 1 also has at least one frame 3, the function of which is to provide mechanical strength to the several longitudinal protective elements 2. In other words, this frame 3 is an element that supports the series of longitudinal protective elements 2.

[0029] The longitudinal elements 2 are parallel or substantially parallel to each other. Depending on the arrangement of the heat exchanger on the vehicle, the longitudinal elements 2 can be oriented horizontally or vertically. This series of longitudinal protective elements 2 lies in a position independent of the orientation of the heat exchanger. Fig. 1 visible plane A, wherein this plane is traversed by the airflow intended to flow through the heat exchanger.

[0030] These longitudinal elements 2 form absorption zones that can absorb a vibration wave following the impact of a piece of gravel, thus preventing the gravel from penetrating the pipe protected by the impacted longitudinal element. In this sense, the longitudinal elements are longitudinal protective elements 2 of the pipes.

[0031] Each longitudinal element 2 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe it protects. The longitudinal element 2 thus forms an elongated protective element for the pipe. This longitudinal element 2 takes the form of a strip or a band. The cross-section of the longitudinal element 2 is, for example, circular, oval, rectangular, or square.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the frame 3 has at least one post 4 extending transversely to the direction in which the longitudinal elements 2 extend. Such a post 4 connects at least two longitudinal elements 2, but it is evident that in the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 1, the posts 4 connect each of the longitudinal elements 2 and mechanically fasten the longitudinal elements 2 to one another, whereby a space is defined between these longitudinal elements 2, which in particular corresponds to a transverse distance that separates the two tubes of the heat exchanger. Fig. Figure 1 shows the presence of four posts 4, although it is obvious that the invention is not limited to this number and the protective device 1 could comprise more than four or fewer than four posts 4. Each post 4 lies in a plane that is parallel to, and advantageously coincides with, the plane A in which the series of longitudinal protective elements A lies.

[0033] Instead of or in addition to the post described above, the frame 3 can have a surround 5 that encircles the row of longitudinal protective elements 2. This surround 5 then forms a structural element that supports the row of longitudinal protective elements 2. The surround 5 also serves as the mechanical connection between the protective device 1 and the heat exchanger.

[0034] The frame 5, for example, has a cuboid shape, in particular a rectangular shape. It has two long sides 6 which are connected by two lateral sides 7. According to the example from Fig. 1 The series of longitudinal protective elements 2 is attached to the lateral sides 7 of the enclosure 5. In the situation where the frame 3 has the posts 4, these are connected to the longitudinal sides 6 of the enclosure 5 and extend, for example, parallel to the lateral sides 7 of the enclosure 5.

[0035] The protective device 1 also includes fastening means 8 designed to fasten the protective device 1 to the heat exchanger. In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the fastening means 8 are formed by fixing projections 9 that protrude from the frame 3, in particular from the edging 5. These fixing projections 9 lie in a plane that runs transversely to the plane A into which the row of longitudinal protective elements 2 is inserted, so that they are attached to an outlet surface of the heat exchanger.

[0036] The protective device 1 is a single-piece component made of two different materials. A first material is used, due to its mechanical restraint properties, to form the structure of the protective device 1, i.e., the frame 3 described above. The second material is used, due to its damping properties and, in particular, its shock-absorbing properties. The second material is used to manufacture the series of longitudinal protective elements 2, which are arranged to protect one side of the heat exchanger tubes against which the protective device 1 is pressed. The protective device 1 is thus a two-material element produced by a joint forming process or by forming, whereby the second material is then formed onto the first.

[0037] The first material is a polymer. For example, the first material used to make frame 3 is polypropylene or polyamide. Each of these polymers can be reinforced with glass or carbon fibers. These fibers can also be natural fibers. Finally, these polymers can be reinforced with talc or chalk.

[0038] The second material is a polymer. The second constituent material of the series of longitudinal protective elements 2 is a thermoplastic material, e.g., thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic polyamide (TPA), styrene block copolymers (TPS) based on SBS or SEBS (two-phase sequence copolymers with hard and soft segments), or of the thermoplastic copolyester (TPC) type. In another example, the second material is a physical mixture of a thermoplastic and an elastomer of an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) or propylene (PP).

[0039] The second material is more flexible than the first. For example, the elastic modulus of the first material is between 2300 and 16000 MPa, while the elastic modulus of the second material is between 1.5 and 100 MPa. In another frame of reference, the impact resistance of the first material is between 3 kJ / m². 2 and 90 kJ / m 2 The Shore A hardness of the second material is between 20 and 95. The elongation at break of the second material is between 300% and 1000%.

[0040] It is evident here that the first material of the protective device 1 provides mechanical strength by supporting the series of longitudinal protective elements 2, while the second material provides the property of damping impacts, especially impacts caused by ejected parts such as gravel.

[0041] The Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows the heat exchanger device 10, which comprises the heat exchanger 11 and the protective device 1. This heat exchanger device 10 is depicted in an orthonormal system with axes Oxyz, where direction Ox illustrates a direction along which a second fluid 25 can move and flow through the heat exchanger device 10, while direction Oy illustrates a direction perpendicular to direction Ox along which a first fluid 24 can move in the heat exchanger 11. Finally, direction Oz is perpendicular to the other two directions mentioned above and illustrates the verticality of the heat exchanger device 10.

[0042] The heat exchanger 11 comprises a bundle 12 of tubes 13 and discharge elements 14, which are organized in an alternating stack of tubes and discharge elements in the direction of oz. Fig. 2. Some longitudinal elements 2 of the protective device 1 have been deliberately concealed to show the pipes 13 of the bundle 12. There are as many longitudinal protective elements 2 as there are pipes 13, with the pipes 13 then being covered by a longitudinal element 2.

[0043] The tubes 13 of the heat exchanger 11 are arranged horizontally and are designed to allow flow of the first fluid 24, e.g., a heat transfer fluid such as glycol-containing water if the heat exchanger 11 is a radiator, a cooling fluid if the heat exchanger 11 is a condenser, or a gaseous coolant or an incoming airflow if the heat exchanger 11 is a turbocharger air cooler. Each tube 13 consists of two large longitudinal walls 22 connected by two small longitudinal walls, thereby defining a channel for the circulation of the first fluid 24. Each of the small longitudinal walls forms a side 23 of the tube 13, one of these sides being exposed to the second fluid 25 flowing through the bundle 12 of the heat exchanger 11.

[0044] The discharge elements 14 are, for example, ribs or spacers equipped with louvered baffles, each rib or spacer being arranged between two immediately adjacent tubes 13. The space between two tubes 13, in which a discharge element 14 is arranged, is designed to be permeated by the second fluid 25, for example, by an airflow from outside the vehicle that is to house the heat exchanger device 10. Heat transfer thus takes place via the tubes 13 and the discharge elements 14 between the first fluid 24 and the second fluid 25.

[0045] In the direction of Ox, the heat exchanger 11 is bounded by an inlet surface 15 and an outlet surface 16. The inlet surface 15 is the one through which the second fluid 25 is to flow when it enters the bundle 12 of the heat exchanger 11, while the outlet surface 16 is the one through which the second fluid 25 is to flow when it exits the bundle 12 of the heat exchanger 11. The inlet surface 15 lies, for example, in a plane that is parallel to and advantageously coincides with a plane running through the side of each tube 13 of the bundle 12.

[0046] In the direction of Oy, the heat exchanger 11 is bounded by a first distributor housing 17 and a second distributor housing 18, each arranged at one longitudinal end of the tubes 12. The first distributor housing 17 comprises a first bushing 19 and a second bushing 20 through which the first fluid 24 can enter and exit the heat exchanger 11. Finally, the heat exchanger 11 has at least one fixing device 21 by means of which the heat exchanger assembly 10 can be attached to a front surface of a motor vehicle.

[0047] In the direction of Oz, the stack of pipes 13 and drainage elements 14 is flanked by two flanges 26, which extend longitudinally from the first distributor housing 17 to the second distributor housing 18.

[0048] The protective device 1 is arranged on the heat exchanger 11 such that the series of longitudinal protective elements 2 faces the inlet surface 15, i.e., is arranged opposite and in front of the inlet surface 15. The plane A in which the series of longitudinal protective elements 2 lies thus runs parallel or substantially parallel to the inlet surface 15 of the heat exchanger 11, with a projection of the series of longitudinal protective elements 2 resting on the sides of the tube 13 that form the inlet surface 15.

[0049] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, at least one of the longitudinal elements 2 covers, or advantageously all longitudinal elements 2 in the series cover, the side 23 of a tube 13. In other words, each longitudinal element 2 covers the side of the tube 13 to which it is assigned. In this sense, a longitudinal element 2 is arranged in front of a side 23 of a tube 13. The side 23 of the tube 13 is thus protected by the longitudinal element 2, which is made of a shock-absorbing material.

[0050] It should be noted that in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 of the frame 3 is pressed against the inlet surface 15 of the heat exchanger 11. The surround 5 encloses the bundle of tubes 13, while the posts 4 lie in front of the inlet surface 15. The fasteners 8 are used to attach the protective device 1 along the flanges 26 of the bundle 12 to the heat exchanger 11 and to hold it at the outlet surface 16 of the heat exchanger 11.

[0051] Fig. Figure 3 shows a vertical cross-section of the bundle 12 of the heat exchanger device 10 between two posts 4 along line II in Fig. 2. These Fig.Figure 3 shows in particular the shape of a section of the longitudinal elements 2 that form the series of longitudinal protective elements 2. In this example, this section is circular, and its diameter corresponds to at least one thickness of the pipes 13, i.e., a distance measured between the large longitudinal walls 22 and perpendicular to at least one of these walls. Of course, this is merely an example, and the section of the longitudinal element could have any shape, provided that this section covers the side 23 of the pipe 13.

[0052] The features, variants, and various embodiments of the invention can, of course, be combined in different ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In specific variants of the invention, it may be considered that it comprises only a selection of the features described below, independent of the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to distinguish the invention from the prior art. In this respect, modifications of the invention within the scope of the claims are possible.

Claims

[1] Protection device (1) for a heat exchanger (11) arranged on the front wall of a motor vehicle, wherein the heat exchanger (11) comprises a bundle (12) of tubes (13) through which a first fluid (24) can flow and which is delimited by an inlet surface (15) and an outlet surface (16), wherein the inlet surface (15) is designed such that a second fluid (25) flows through the bundle (12) of tubes (13) and exchanges heat with the first fluid (24), wherein the protection device (1) comprises a series of longitudinal elements (2) for protecting the tubes (13), which are designed such that they are arranged facing the inlet surface (15), and a frame (3) which carries the series of longitudinal protection elements (2) and is designed for connecting the protection device (1) to the heat exchanger (11), wherein the frame (3) consists of a first Material consists,while the row of longitudinal protective elements (2) is made of a second material which is more flexible than the first material, the protective device (1) comprising fastening means (8) designed to fasten the protective device (1) to the heat exchanger (11), , characterized by that each longitudinal protective element (2) extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe (13) it protects and the height of a section through a longitudinal protective element (2) corresponds to the thickness of a pipe (13). [2] Protective device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the elastic modulus of the first material is between 2300 and 16000 MPa and the elastic modulus of the second material is between 1.5 and 100 MPa. [3] Protective device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first material is a polypropylene or a polyamide. [4] Protective device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second material is a thermoplastic elastomer or a natural rubber. [5] Protection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the frame (3) has at least one post (4) which is fastened to a plurality of longitudinal protection elements (2), the post (4) being designed such that it is arranged facing the inlet surface (15) of the heat exchanger (11). [6] A protective device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (3) comprises a border (5) which surrounds the row of longitudinal protective elements (2) at the periphery. [7] Heat exchanger device (10) with a heat exchanger (11) comprising a bundle (12) of tubes (13) through which a first fluid (24) can flow and which is delimited by an inlet surface (15) and an outlet surface (16), wherein the inlet surface (15) is designed such that it is flowed through by a second fluid (25) which exchanges heat with the first fluid (24), and with a protection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which is attached to the heat exchanger (11). [8] Heat exchanger device (10) according to claim 7, in which the longitudinal elements (2) of the row of longitudinal protection elements (2) are arranged in front of the sides (23) of the tubes (13) of the bundle (12) of the heat exchanger (11) so as to protect these sides (23) from an impact caused by a projected part. [9] Motor vehicle having on the front wall a heat exchanger device (10) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized by that the heat exchanger device (10) is designed so that the protective device (1) is aligned towards the front of the vehicle.

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