TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR COOLING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a thermal regulation device, particularly a cooling device, for an electrical component capable of generating heat during operation, specifically a cooling device for at least one battery or battery cells of a vehicle, for example, a vehicle. The vehicle may be of a land, sea, or air type.

[0002] It is now common practice to equip electric, internal combustion, or hybrid vehicles with electrical energy storage systems that provide power to the various components of the vehicle. These electrical energy storage systems are generally composed of electrical energy storage cells positioned within a battery pack.

[0003] Today, automakers are striving to provide more powerful electric and hybrid vehicles with increased electric range. To achieve this, more and more battery packs, and / or larger battery packs, are being installed in these electric and hybrid vehicles. It is common practice to install all or at least some of these battery packs in the vehicle floor, roughly spanning the entire width of the vehicle.

[0004] It is understood that, during vehicle operation, battery packs can generate a significant amount of heat and therefore be subject to temperature increases that can, in some cases, cause damage or even destruction. Consequently, cooling them is essential to maintain their condition and thus ensure the vehicle's reliability, range, and performance. Furthermore, battery pack operation can be less efficient in low temperatures, as the electrical or electronic components within these packs require a period of warm-up time before operating at full capacity.

[0005] To achieve this, one or more thermal regulation devices designed to regulate the temperature of the battery packs are implemented to ensure the heating and / or cooling functions of the electrical or electronic components inside these battery packs and thus optimize the operation of the various components.

[0006] These thermal regulation devices are generally traversed by a heat transfer fluid which can, depending on the needs, either absorb the heat emitted by each battery pack in order to cool it down or provide heat if the temperature of the battery pack is insufficient for its proper functioning.

[0007] It is particularly well known that in battery packs, where electrical energy storage cells are arranged vertically side by side to form multiple successive rows, thermal regulation devices are used. These devices consist of a tube positioned between two rows of cells, through which a heat transfer fluid circulates. The contact between the tube and the cells allows for the removal or addition of heat via the heat transfer fluid. To manage the supply and removal of the heat transfer fluid, a fluid collection box is located at one end of the tube, and inlet and outlet pipes for the heat transfer fluid are connected to this collection box.More specifically, when several thermal regulation devices are arranged in parallel to be inserted respectively between two rows of cells, and the ducts must be connected successively to each collection box of the thermal regulation devices, it is known to form respectively the inlet duct and the outlet duct of heat transfer fluid by a succession of tubular portions among which sleeves are attached to each collection box and additional connecting means are interposed between the sleeves to fix them to each other and allow a sealed passage of heat transfer fluid within each of the tubular portions.

[0008] The size of battery packs must increase to meet the growing electrical power demands of modern electric and hybrid vehicles, and the number of cell rows—and therefore the number of tubes interposed between these cell rows for thermal regulation—must also increase. As a result, connecting the conduits to the various collection boxes can be tedious due to the large number of components that need to be assembled.

[0009] Furthermore, the multiplication of the number of parts and their respective manufacturing tolerances implies larger assembly clearances and increased complexity for the realization of this assembly.

[0010] An example of a thermal control device for cooling electrical energy storage devices consists of a thermal control device comprising a tube configured to be in contact with the electrical energy storage devices and comprising at least one heat transfer fluid circulation channel, a collection box disposed at one end of the tube and comprising collection chambers communicating fluidly with at least one circulation channel of the tube, and at least two connecting sleeves disposed on either side of the collection box and configured to communicate with the same collection chamber, the connecting sleeves having distinct shapes relative to each other.

[0011] Other thermal regulation devices are known from GB-A-2586058 and WO-A-2018206894.

[0012] Demand is ever increasing for thermal regulation devices for cooling electrical energy storage components where the efficiency of heat exchange is improved.

[0013] For ease of manufacturing, at least the collection boxes of such thermal regulation devices are formed by stamping, for example from metals such as aluminum. Stamping allows for the relatively simple creation of reliefs, but this technique does not allow for the formation of right angles. Indeed, stamping creates a rounded shape, referred to here as the stamping radius, resulting in approximations of reliefs that are assumed to be straight.

[0014] When the collection box has different compartments, it is common practice to separate them using raised sections of the box itself, or a partition. However, due to the radius of the stamping, it is impossible to place the tube in direct contact with the vertical wall of traditional collection boxes. This is because the contact is not perfect due to the rounded shape, where the straight tube is pushed against the partition in the collection box. Consequently, a leak (known as a bypass) occurs between the incoming and outgoing flows. As a result, cooling performance is reduced.

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

[0016] The present invention thus relates to a thermal regulation device for cooling electrical energy storage devices, the thermal regulation device comprising a tube configured to be in contact with at least one electrical energy storage device, the tube comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid circulation channels, at least one first collection box disposed at a first end of the tube, the first collection box comprising at least two shells configured to be assembled together to form a collection chamber communicating fluidly with the plurality of circulation channels of the tube, at least one of said shells, preferably both shells, comprising at least one separating partition having an end configured to be in contact with an end of the tube when the two shells are assembled with said tube,in order to separate the collection chamber into at least two parts that are watertight with respect to each other when the shells are assembled, each of the parts communicating fluidly respectively with a part of the plurality of circulation channels, characterized in that at least one separating partition, preferably both, is obtained by stamping, and in that the base of said separating partition comprises a stamped part forming a groove, the groove being configured to include the angle due to the stamping, so that the end of the separating partition presents a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube.

[0017] The technical solution consists of positioning a groove at the bottom of the partition wall so that this groove includes the stamping radius, without interfering with the tube.

[0018] Advantageously, this ensures the verticality of the wall of the separating partition in contact with the end of the tube in order to guarantee a watertight contact between the two elements and thus ensure the separation between the flows of the collection box.

[0019] Preferably, this invention may have several optional aspects: According to one feature of the invention, the end of the partition wall of each shell has a vertical wall configured to be in continuous contact with the end of the tube. According to another feature of the invention, the partition wall is in contact with the tube at at least one channel of the plurality of distribution channels. According to another feature of the invention, the channel in contact with the partition wall is solid. According to another feature of the invention, the channel in contact with the partition wall is empty, the partition wall being sized to obstruct the channel when the two shells of the collector box are assembled with the tube. According to another feature of the invention, the device includes a second stamped end at the top of the partition wall, configured to reduce the stamping radius of said top so that the end of the partition wall has a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube..

[0020] This advantageously allows for obtaining the smallest possible radius at the top of the wall.

[0021] In other words, the second stamping reduces the stamping radius present at the angle between the face of the end of the separating partition, intended to be placed in contact with the face of the end of the tube, and the face forming the top of the separating partition.

[0022] According to another feature of the invention, the second stamped part is formed so as to obtain a substantially right angle at the top.

[0023] According to one feature of the invention, the device includes a second collection box at a second end of the tube opposite the first end of the tube comprising the first collection box, the second collection box being identical to the first collection box.

[0024] According to one feature of the invention, the two hulls are symmetrical.

[0025] According to one feature of the invention, the groove has a depth of between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm.

[0026] Advantageously, the depth of this groove is dimensioned so that it allows the radius at the base of the wall to be concealed and preferably also to be filled by the brazing joint.

[0027] According to one feature of the invention, the collection box is made of metal such as aluminum or of plastic.

[0028] According to one feature of the invention, at least one of the shells, preferably both, includes orifices.

[0029] According to one feature of the invention, at least two connecting sleeves, preferably four, are configured to communicate fluidly with the collection chamber, preferably with each part of the collection chamber, the connecting sleeves preferably having distinct shapes relative to each other.

[0030] The invention also relates to a thermal regulation system comprising several thermal regulation devices as described above, and several electrical storage elements arranged in a row, the regulation devices being connected to each other by their sleeves and being configured to be in contact with said rows of storage elements.

[0031] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a thermal regulation device as described above, which comprises the following steps: two shells are supplied which are stamped to form a partition separating the collection chamber, the partition separating comprising at its base a stamped groove presenting the stamping radius, also called residual stamping, the two shells are assembled together to form said collection box forming the collection chamber, a tube comprising a plurality of circulation channels (8) for heat transfer fluid is supplied, which is introduced into the collection box, so that one end of the tube is in contact with one end of the partition separating, the assembly of the shells and the tube is fixed by brazing, gluing, welding, clipping, ultrasonics, or a mixture of these.

[0032] According to one feature of the invention, the groove forming the stamping is made in a second stamping step.

[0033] According to one feature of the invention, the method further includes a step of stamping the top of the separating partition, so as to reduce the stamping radius of said top so that the end of the separating partition has a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube.

[0034] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description on the one hand, and several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a perspective representation of a battery pack as a whole, equipped with several electrical energy storage components and a plurality of thermal regulation devices, as an example; Fig. 2 ] is a detailed view of several electrical energy storage components and one end of several thermal regulation devices, seen on the figure 1 ; Fig. 3 ] is a schematic perspective representation in which the distribution box has been partially depicted (a single shell) to make its internal structure visible and to make visible the internal structure of the tube to one end of which the distribution box is attached; Fig. 4 ] is a schematic detail in perspective of the exploded view of the thermal regulation device; [ Fig. 5 ] is a schematic view of a hull according to a first embodiment; [ Fig. 6 ] represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermal regulation device according to a second embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 7 ] is a detail seen from above ( fig. 7A ) of a thermal regulation device according to a second embodiment, and facing ( fig. 7B ) according to the DD section present on the figure 7A . ; [ Fig. 8 ] is a perspective representation of a thermal regulation device according to a third embodiment in which the U-shaped circulation of the heat transfer fluid intended to circulate in this device has been represented by solid arrows; [ Fig. 9 ] is a perspective representation of a thermal regulation device according to a fourth embodiment in which the I-shaped circulation of the heat transfer fluid intended to circulate in this device has been represented by solid arrows;

[0035] The features, variations, and different embodiments of the invention may be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variations of the invention may include only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from prior art.

[0036] In the following description, the terms "longitudinal," "transverse," and "vertical" refer to the orientation of a thermal control device according to the invention. A longitudinal direction corresponds to a principal extension direction of a thermal control device, and a transverse direction corresponds to a direction substantially perpendicular to a principal extension plane of a thermal control device and to a principal extension direction of a hydraulic connection sleeve of the thermal control device, this transverse direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, a vertical direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0037] The present invention thus relates to a thermal regulation device (4) for cooling electrical energy storage units (2), the thermal regulation 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 circulation channels (8) for heat transfer fluid, at least one first collection box (10) disposed at a first end of the tube (61), the first collection box (10) comprising at least two shells (11) configured to be assembled together to form a collection chamber (26) communicating fluidly with the plurality of circulation channels (8) of the tube (6), at least one of said shells (11), preferably both shells (11), comprising at least one separating partition (5) having an end configured to be in contact with an end of the tube (6) when the two shells are assembled with said tube, in order to separate the collection chamber (26) into at least two parts (26a, 26b) sealed from each other when the shells are assembled, each of the parts communicating fluidly respectively with a part of the plurality of circulation channels (8), characterized in that at least one separating partition, preferably both, is obtained by stamping,and in that the base of said separating partition comprises a stamped part (9) forming a groove, the groove being configured to include the angle due to the stamping, so that the end of the separating partition (5) presents a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube (61).

[0038] It is understood that the heart of the invention lies in the presence of a stamping contiguous to the end of the separating partition intended to be brought into contact with the end of the tube of the device in order to include the stamping radius in said stamping and obtain a completely straight end of the separating partition.

[0039] This advantageously allows for total improved contact between said partition separating the box and said tube.

[0040] This ensures that the two faces are perfectly vertical, preventing the tube from contacting the residual stamping angle of the box, specifically the partition, and thus guaranteeing a seal between the two parts. Ultimately, this allows for separation between the incoming and outgoing fluid flows, resulting in improved and more durable heat exchange.

[0041] The invention as just described makes it possible to meet the objectives it had set for itself, namely to offer a safe and leak-free electrical energy storage device.

[0042] The present invention further comprises the following features, taken alone or in combination: In some embodiments, the end of the partition wall of each shell has a vertical wall configured to be in continuous contact with the end of the tube. In some embodiments, the partition wall is in contact with the tube at at least one channel of the plurality of distribution channels. In some embodiments, the channel in contact with the partition wall is solid. In some embodiments, the channel in contact with the partition wall is hollow, the partition wall being sized to obstruct the channel when the two shells of the collector box are assembled with the tube.In some embodiments, the device includes a second stamping (not shown) at the top of the separating partition, configured to reduce the stamping radius of said top so that the end of the separating partition (5) has a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube (61).

[0043] This advantageously allows for obtaining the smallest possible radius at the top of the wall.

[0044] In other words, the second stamping makes it possible to reduce the stamping radius present at the angle between the face of the end of the separating partition, intended to be placed in contact with the face of the end of the tube (61), and the face forming the top of the separating partition.

[0045] In a particular embodiment, the second stamping is formed so as to obtain an almost right angle at the apex.

[0046] In some embodiments, the device includes a second collection box at a second end of the tube opposite the first end of the tube comprising the first collection box, the second collection box being identical to the first collection box.

[0047] In some embodiments, the two hulls are symmetrical.

[0048] In some embodiments, the groove has a depth of between 0.05mm and 0.2mm.

[0049] In some embodiments, the collection box (10) is made of metal such as aluminum or of plastic.

[0050] In some embodiments, at least one of the shells, preferably both, includes openings.

[0051] In some embodiments, at least two connecting sleeves (18, 18a, 18b), preferably four, are configured to communicate fluidly with the collection chamber (26), preferably with each part of the collection chamber (26), the connecting sleeves (18, 18a, 18b) preferably having distinct shapes relative to each other.

[0052] In some embodiments, a thermal control system comprising several thermal control devices (4) as described above, and several electrical storage elements arranged in a row, the control devices being connected to each other by their sleeves and being configured to be in contact with said rows of storage elements. In some embodiments of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: two shells are supplied which are stamped to form a partition separating the collection chamber, the partition separating comprising at its base a stamped groove having the stamping radius, also called residual stamping, the two shells are assembled together to form said collection box forming the collection chamber, a tube (6) comprising a plurality of circulation channels (8) for heat transfer fluid is supplied, which is introduced into the collection box, so that one end of the tube is in contact with one end of the partition separating, the assembly of the shells and the tube is fixed by brazing, gluing, welding, clipping, ultrasonics, or a mixture of these.

[0053] In some embodiments, the process further includes a step of stamping the top of the separating partition, so as to reduce the stamping radius of said top so that the end of the separating partition (5) has a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube (61).

[0054] There figure 1 represents several cooling devices 4 with several tubes 6 assembled by their pair of sleeves 18, with the cells 2, with the insulating shells.

[0055] There figure 2 represents a detail of the figure 1 showing in more detail the connection between different cooling devices.

[0056] There figure 3 represents a view of the device in which one of the shells 11 and part of the collection box have not been shown. Thus, only one shell 11 and only one part of the collection box 10 to which it is attached are shown.

[0057] There figure 3 makes particularly visible the fact that the collection box 10 of the thermal regulation device 4 includes within it at least one collection chamber 26 communicating fluidly with at least one of the circulation channels 8 formed within the tube, and more particularly one of the circulation sets 21, 22 formed by several channels.

[0058] In certain embodiments, as illustrated by way of non-limiting example, the collection box 10 is formed by two parts joined and fixed or welded together, with fastening means around the periphery of the shells. At least one part includes attachment tabs 40 that allow the half-shells to be held together before a brazing operation that fixes the position of the half-shells and secures the collection box.

[0059] Each part of the collection box has two hollows 42 formed by deformation of said part and a rib 44 arranged between the two hollows. It is understood that when the two parts are fixed to each other, the hollows 42 of each part are arranged opposite each other to form the collection chambers 26 previously mentioned, and the ribs 44 of each part are in contact with each other to form a separating partition 46 which delimits and separates the collection chambers 26 from each other.

[0060] This central wall 46 is intended to be in contact with a solid surface of the tube forming a sealing zone 48, devoid of circulation channels, in order to ensure a tight contact and to prevent fluid present in a first collection chamber from flowing into the other collection chamber, or into channels which should not be connected to this first collection chamber.

[0061] Each hollow 42 is defined by a bottom wall 41 which is pierced by an orifice 43 substantially in its center. This orifice allows fluid to pass between the collection chamber 26 formed by the hollow and a connecting sleeve 18 of the pair of connecting sleeves opening into this collection chamber 26.

[0062] In other words, the connecting sleeves are configured to communicate with each collection chamber, and it is understood that the sleeves arranged on either side of the collection box are configured to communicate with the same collection chamber.

[0063] There figure 4 represents a simplified and exploded view of the tube 6 between the two shells 11 each comprising a separating partition 5 whose stamped base ends with a stamped groove 9 carrying the stamping radius and allowing the wall of the end of the separating partition 5 to be completely straight.

[0064] There figure 5 shows in detail this stamping at the base of the separating partition 5, which can be done at the same time or in a later stage.

[0065] Preferably, the stamping forming the groove or channel 9 is made in the opposite direction to the stamping forming the separating partition 5.

[0066] In certain embodiments, as non-limitingly represented in the figure 6 , the two shells 11 are identical, and each includes a stamping forming the separating partition 5 and a stamping forming a groove or channel 9.

[0067] In fact, advantageously, both shells 11 are each made from a single part number to optimize costs. Assembly is thus carried out between two identical parts that can be reversed relative to each other.

[0068] There figure 7 represents a collection box 10 seen from above, and its internal section where groove 9 can be seen.

[0069] There figure 7A allows us to locate the DD section ( figure 7B ). There figure 7B This represents a particular embodiment in which the grooves 9 and the fact that the vertical wall of each half-box obstructs two channels can be seen. The number of obstructed channels can vary and depends on the device design. In some alternative embodiments, only one channel is obstructed.

[0070] The size of the electrical energy storage device 4 can thus easily be increased without this implying a multiplication of assembly operations.

[0071] In an alternative embodiment, the second collection box differs from the first box and forms, for example, a reversing section. This advantageously allows the outlet of the channels of the tube, supplied with fluid from a portion of the collection chamber forming the fluid inlet zone, to be connected to the inlet of the channels of the tube connected to a portion of the collection chamber forming the fluid outlet zone.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, each shell includes 2 ports allowing the inlet and outlet of fluid through the connecting sleeves 18. These sleeves may come as part of the material with each shell, or be assembled and fixed subsequently.

[0073] In some embodiments, the device is configured to allow U-shaped or I-shaped fluid circulation.

[0074] For example, an electrical energy storage device 1, specifically designed to equip an electric or hybrid vehicle, comprises several sets of electrical energy storage components 2, also referred to hereafter as electrical energy storage cells, and several thermal regulation devices 4 arranged near these cells to allow heat exchange between them.

[0075] Electrical energy storage devices are notably in the form of cylindrical cells, here with a circular cross-section, arranged vertically, that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse plane in which the electrical energy storage device is mainly located.

[0076] The electrical energy storage devices 2 are arranged in successive rows 3, parallel to each other, and each row, or set of electrical energy storage devices, extends mainly longitudinally.

[0077] Thermal regulation devices 4 are arranged between two rows 3 of adjacent electrical energy storage elements, including a tube 6 which is configured to be in contact with the electrical energy storage elements 2 of these two adjacent rows 3.

[0078] In the example illustrated in the figure 1 , the rows 3 are arranged in a staggered pattern relative to each other, that is to say with a longitudinal offset of the storage elements of one row relative to the storage elements of the neighboring row, which allows to optimize the footprint of the electrical energy storage device 1, and the thermal regulation devices 4 each have a corrugated tube 6 so as to be able to be in contact with each of the electrical energy storage elements 2 of the two rows 3 between which they extend respectively.

[0079] In an alternative embodiment, the thermal regulation devices 4 each comprise a flat-shaped tube 6.

[0080] A heat transfer fluid circulates inside this corrugated tube 6 to exchange heat with the electrical energy storage devices 2, via the tube's heat-conducting wall. Specifically, when the electrical energy storage devices 2 need to be cooled due to a temperature increase during operation, the heat transfer fluid absorbs the heat and transfers it away from the electrical energy storage device 1.

[0081] Each thermal regulation device 4 includes, to enable this heat exchange, the previously mentioned tube 6, here of corrugated shape, within which is formed a plurality of circulation channels 8 of heat transfer fluid, and at least one collection box 10 which is disposed at a longitudinal end of the tube 6 and which has the purpose of collecting the fluid from an inlet conduit 14 of heat transfer fluid and distributing it in the circulation channel(s) 8 within the tube 6 and / or has the purpose of collecting the heat transfer fluid at the outlet of the tube 6 and directing it into an outlet conduit 16 of heat transfer fluid.

[0082] In other words, the heat transfer fluid is intended to flow through the supply duct, and at each collection box encountered by the supply duct, a portion of the heat transfer fluid is directed to that collection box and the associated thermal control device, and another portion of the heat transfer fluid is directed through the continuation of the supply duct to feed the next collection box.

[0083] As a non-limiting example, when the cooling device is used to cool automotive battery cells, the sleeves, collection box and tube are made of a conductive material such as metal, in particular aluminium.

[0084] As a non-limiting example of a cooling device, the heat transfer fluid inlet 14 and the heat transfer fluid outlet 16 are formed by the direct cooperation of connecting sleeves 18 attached to two adjacent collection boxes 10, without any intermediate devices arranged between these connecting sleeves 18, it being understood where appropriate that a sealing gasket may be carried by one of the connecting sleeves and be in contact with the other connecting sleeve at the level of the direct connection zone between the sleeves.

[0085] The characteristics relating to the connecting sleeves 18, enabling in particular the direct cooperation as mentioned, will be described in more detail below.

[0086] However, it can be noted at this stage of the description, based on the illustrations of figures 1 And 2, that two connecting sleeves 18 extend on either side of a collection box 10 to form a pair 19, and that the two connecting sleeves 18 of this pair preferably have a different shape from each other as illustrated, so as to allow the sleeve of a first type 18a associated with a first collection box 10 to be connected directly to a sleeve of the second type 18b associated with a second collection box 10, without it being necessary to provide additional means of connection.

[0087] There figure 8 illustrates an example of the thermal regulation device, in which the fluid circulation is said to be in U, that is to say with the same portion of heat transfer fluid circulating in both directions within the tube 6 after passing through a return box 20 at one of the longitudinal ends of the tube.

[0088] More specifically, the thermal regulation device 4 in this first embodiment comprises a tube 6 and at each of its longitudinal ends a collection box 10 and a return box forming a reversing section 20.

[0089] The tube 6 has several channels 8 formed within it, distributed into two circulation sets which are distinguished in that the same portion of heat transfer fluid circulates in the first direction of circulation S1 within the channels of a first circulation set 21 and in a second direction of circulation S2, opposite to the first direction of circulation S1, within the channels of a second circulation set 22.

[0090] The collection box 10, located at a first longitudinal end 12 of the tube, is equipped with connecting sleeves 18 to allow the inlet and outlet of the heat transfer fluid. The collection box 10 is configured to guide the fluid circulating in the connecting sleeves 18, which form the heat transfer fluid inlet conduit 14, towards one part of the channels, here the channels of the first circulation set 21, within the tube, and to guide the fluid exiting the tube through the other part of the channels, here the channels of the second circulation set 22, into the connecting sleeves 18, which form the heat transfer fluid outlet conduit 16.

[0091] The return box 20, located at a second longitudinal end of the tube 6, does not have connecting sleeves and is only fluidically connected to the tube 6. The return box 20 is configured to guide the fluid flowing in one direction in one part of the circulation channels to the other part of the circulation channels so that it flows in the other direction.

[0092] There figure 9 illustrates a second example of a thermal regulation device 4, in the circulation of the heat transfer fluid is said to be in I, that is to say with the same portion of heat transfer fluid which only circulates in one direction within the tube 6.

[0093] More particularly, the thermal regulation device 4 in this second embodiment comprises a tube 6 and at each of its longitudinal ends a collection box 10 according to the invention.

[0094] Here again, the tube 6 has several channels 8 formed within it, distributed into two circulation sets which are distinguished this time in that two different portions of fluid can circulate distinctly within the tube, in their respective channel sets. A first portion of heat transfer fluid can thus circulate in the first direction of circulation S1 within the channels of the first circulation set 21 and a second portion of heat transfer fluid can circulate in a second direction of circulation S2, opposite to the first direction of circulation, within the channels of the second circulation set 22.

[0095] This configuration results, as illustrated by the arrows visible on the figure 4 , two separate circuits. A first circuit C1 has a fluid inlet through a first sleeve of a first collection box, a passage of part of this fluid through the tube in a first direction of circulation while the other part of this fluid continues its path in the supply conduit towards a nearby thermal regulation device, and an outlet of the fluid via a first sleeve of the second collection box after passing through the tube, to join fluid coming from the nearby thermal regulation device.And a second circuit C2 includes a fluid inlet through a second sleeve of the second collection box, a passage of part of this fluid through the tube in a second direction of circulation while the other part of this fluid continues its path in the supply conduit towards a nearby thermal regulation device, and an outlet of the fluid via a second sleeve of the first collection box after passing through the tube, to join fluid from the nearby thermal regulation device.

[0096] The invention relates primarily to a device comprising shells produced by stamping. However, it can be applied to all processes that generate a radius at the base of a wall. Thus, the present invention also relates, among other things, to a similar device in which the separating partition is produced by machining, the groove also being produced by machining.

[0097] The invention is not limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated herein, and also extends to any equivalent means or configuration and to any technical combination employing such means. By way of non-limiting example, and as previously mentioned, the shapes of the sleeves can vary since the connecting sleeves of one thermal regulation device to another can cooperate directly with each other. LISTE DES SIGNES DE REFERENCE

[0098] 1. Electrical energy storage device 2. Electrical energy storage unit 3. Cell row 4. Thermal control devices 5. Separating partition 6. Tube 61. Tube end 48. Central channel 8. Heat transfer fluid circulation channel 9. Embossed, Groove 10. Collection box 11. Shells 12. Longitudinal end 14. Inlet duct 16. Outlet duct 18. Connecting sleeves 18a. First type sleeve 18b. Second type sleeve 20. Transfer box 26. Collection chambers 40. Means of cooperation 41. Bottom wall 42. Hollow 43. Orifice

Claims

1. Thermal regulation device (4) for cooling electrical energy storage components (2), the thermal regulation device (4) comprising a tube (6) configured to be in contact with at least one electrical energy storage component, the tube comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid circulation channels (8), at least one first collection box (10) arranged at a first end of the tube (61), the first collection box (10) comprising at least two shells (11) configured to be assembled together to form a collection chamber (26) fluidically communicating with the plurality of circulation channels (8) of the tube (6), at least one of said shells (11), preferably both shells (11), comprising at least one separator partition (5) having an end configured to be in contact with an end of the tube (6) when the two shells are assembled with said tube, in order to separate the collection chamber (26) into at least two parts (26a, 26b) sealed from one another when the shells are assembled, each of the parts fluidically communicating respectively with a portion of the plurality of circulation channels (8), characterized in that at least one separator partition, preferably both, is obtained by stamping, and in that the base of said separator partition comprises a stamped recess (9) forming a groove, the groove being configured to accommodate the angle due to stamping, so that the end of the separator partition (5) presents a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube (61).

2. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the end of the separator partition of each shell has a vertical wall configured to be in continuous contact with the end of the tube.

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the separator partition is in contact with the tube at at least one channel of the plurality of distribution channels.

4. Device according to the preceding claim, in which the channel in contact with the separator partition is solid.

5. Device according to claim 3, in which the channel in contact with the separator partition is empty, the separator partition being dimensioned to obstruct the channel when the two shells of the collector box are assembled with the tube.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the device comprises a second stamped recess at the top of the separator partition, configured to reduce the stamping radius of said top so that the end of the separator partition (5) presents a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube (61).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which 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, the second collection box being identical to the first collection box.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the two shells are symmetrical.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the stamped recess (9) forms a groove having a depth between 0.05 mm and 0.2 mm.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the collection box (10) is made of metal such as aluminum or plastic.

11. Thermal regulation device (4) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one of the shells, preferably both, comprises openings.

12. Device according to the preceding claim, in which at least two connection sleeves (18, 18a, 18b), preferably four, are configured to fluidically communicate with the collection chamber (26), preferably with each part of the collection chamber (26), the connection sleeves (18, 18a, 18b) preferably having distinct shapes from one another.

13. Thermal regulation system comprising several thermal regulation devices (4) according to one of the preceding claims, and several electrical storage components arranged in a row, the regulation devices being connected to each other by their sleeves and being configured to be in contact with said rows of storage components.

14. Method of assembling a thermal regulation device (4) according to one of claims 1 to 12, which comprises the following steps: - providing two shells that are stamped to form a separator partition of the collection chamber, the separator partition comprising at its base a stamped recess forming a groove having the stamping radius, also called residual stamping, - assembling the two shells with each other to form said collection box forming the collection chamber, - providing a tube (6) comprising a plurality of heat transfer fluid circulation channels (8), which is introduced into the collection box, so that an end of the tube is in contact with an end of the separator partition, - fixing the assembly of the shells and the tube, by brazing, gluing, welding, clipping, ultrasound, or a mixture thereof.

15. Method of assembling a thermal regulation device (4) according to the preceding claim, which further comprises a step of stamping the top of the separator partition, so as to reduce the stamping radius of said top so that the end of the separator partition (5) presents a face parallel to the face of the end of the tube (61).