Thermal module for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Title: Thermal module intended to equip a vehicle. The present invention relates to a thermal module (1) intended to be placed on the front face of a motor vehicle, the thermal module (1) comprising a heat exchanger (3), a motor-fan unit (4) and a guiding device (2) for guiding an air flow, characterised in that the guiding device (2) and the motor-fan unit (4) overlap a peripheral edge (33) and are attached to each other at a plurality of attachment zones (5), the guiding device (2) and the motor-fan unit (4) being in contact with each other, the contact between the guiding device (2) and the motor-fan unit (4) being configured to form at least one primary sealing zone comprising at least one baffle and at least one secondary sealing zone in which the guiding device and the motor-fan unit are in planar abutment.

Description

[0001] THERMAL MODULE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle heat treatment systems and more particularly relates to a thermal module intended to be placed on the front of a vehicle and to be traversed by an air flow.

[0003] Vehicles, and in particular motor vehicles, are commonly equipped with a refrigerant circuit and / or a heat transfer fluid circuit used to participate in the heat treatment of different areas or components of the vehicle.

[0004] To heat treat the vehicle interior and / or components of the vehicle's powertrain, a heat exchange is carried out between the previously mentioned fluids and an air flow outside the passenger compartment. For this purpose, the refrigerant fluid and the heat transfer fluid are made to pass through one or more heat exchangers fitted to the vehicle, in particular at the front of the vehicle, the air flow passing through a grille to pass through these heat exchangers.

[0005] Such heat exchangers are commonly arranged within thermal modules, between a guide device, by which the air flow entering through the grille is guided through the heat exchanger, and a motor-fan unit, also known by the acronym "GMV", making it possible, for example when the vehicle is stationary, to force the circulation of the outside air flow through the heat exchanger. The circulation of the air flow within the thermal module, whether when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed, which implies that a large volume of outside air is rushed into the guide device, or when the GMV is operating at high speed, generates an overpressure within the thermal module relative to the environment outside the thermal module.

[0006] Such overpressure is likely to cause air leaks, i.e. air escaping from the thermal module, for example at the junction between the guide device and the heat exchangers, and therefore without having passed through the heat exchanger(s) arranged within the thermal module. Such leaks thus have the effect of reducing the efficiency of the thermal module. It is known to limit leaks within the thermal module by placing one or more layers of rubber, such as EPDM, between the components of the thermal module. It is also known to limit leaks within the thermal module by placing an assembled and / or overmolded part (for example in EPDM) or by gluing or clipping a foam.

[0007] However, such a solution is not satisfactory because it significantly increases the manufacturing cost of a thermal module, particularly by increasing the number of constituent elements of the thermal module.

[0008] The present invention falls within this context and aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and in particular to propose a thermal module in which air leaks are limited without the need for a material specifically dedicated to this function and interposed between the guide device, the heat exchangers and / or the motor-fan unit.

[0009] The invention thus relates to a thermal module intended to be placed on the front face of a motor vehicle, the thermal module comprising a heat exchanger, a motor-fan unit and a device for guiding an air flow, the heat exchanger being arranged between the guiding device and the motor-fan unit, the heat exchanger comprising an internal face arranged opposite the guiding device and an external face opposite the motor-fan unit, the internal face and the external face of the heat exchanger being joined to each other by a peripheral edge, characterized in that the guiding device and the motor-fan unit overlap the peripheral edge of the heat exchanger and are fixed to each other at a plurality of fixing zones each comprising at least one fixing means,the guide device and the motor-fan unit being in contact with each other on the periphery of the peripheral edge of the heat exchanger outside the fixing zones so as to form a sealing device for the thermal module. The motor-fan unit and the guide device are made directly integral with each other by the fixing means. In other words, the guide device and the motor-fan unit are directly fixed to each other, at the level of portions of these components facing each other, without any additional material, intended to ensure a sealing role for the thermal module, being interposed between the motor-fan unit and the guide device. Thus, according to the invention, the contact between the guide device and the motor-fan unit, configured to form a primary sealing zone and a secondary sealing zone,allows the thermal module to be kept watertight without requiring the addition of a sealing material such as elastomers, particularly EPDM (acronym for ethylene-propylene-diene monomer).

[0010] According to a characteristic of the invention, the internal face of the heat exchanger is directly opposite the guide device and the external face of the heat exchanger is directly opposite the motor-fan unit. It is understood that such a characteristic of the thermal module is advantageously obtained by the sealing zones making it possible to dispense with the use of a sealing material specifically dedicated to the sealing function of the thermal module.

[0011] According to a characteristic of the invention, the sealing device comprises at least one primary sealing zone in which the cooperation of the guide device and the motor-fan unit forms a baffle and at least one secondary sealing zone in which the cooperation of the guide device and the motor-fan unit consists of a flat support.

[0012] The baffle present in the primary sealing zone has the effect of lengthening the path taken by the air flow to exit the thermal module and therefore greatly limiting the quantity of air likely to escape at the level of this primary sealing zone.

[0013] The secondary sealing zone includes a flat support which advantageously ensures, during assembly of the thermal module, positioning of the motor-fan unit relative to the guide device taking into account manufacturing tolerances.

[0014] Each of the primary and secondary sealing zones extends along one side of the thermal module outside the fixing zones at which the motor-fan unit and the guide device are secured to each other by means of the fixing means.

[0015] Thus, a baffle sealing zone is associated, that is to say an area which is effective in reducing leaks due to the tortuous path that the air must take to escape through this zone, but which allows for positioning play of one of the components forming the baffle relative to the other, with a primary sealing zone with plane contact, which ensures that air does not pass between the components forming this primary sealing zone.

[0016] According to a characteristic of the invention, the baffle of the primary sealing zone is formed of a groove in which a rib is housed, the groove being formed on the motor-fan unit or the guide device and the rib on the other. Such cooperation makes it possible to simply and effectively produce the baffle present in the primary sealing zone.

[0017] According to a characteristic of the invention, at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the heat exchanger is directly opposite the guide device and / or the motor-fan unit. In other words, the thermal module does away with the use of a specific part (for example, an elastomer such as EPDM or even a foam), the function of which in the prior art is to limit air flow losses between the motor-fan unit and the guide device, by absorbing the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the thermal module. It is understood that the guide device and / or the motor-fan unit comprises flanks intended to be in the vicinity, if necessary in direct contact, with the peripheral edge of the heat exchanger, and that the fixing means and the fixing zones and the sealing zones overlap the peripheral edge of the heat exchanger.According to a characteristic of the invention, the thermal module comprises at least one positioning means making it possible to position the motor-fan unit and the guide device relative to each other. This positioning means makes it possible to adjust the position of the guide device and the motor-fan unit relative to each other easily during assembly of the thermal module. Such an adjustment makes it possible in particular to quickly and simply achieve contact between the guide device and the motor-fan unit to form in particular the sealing device.

[0018] According to a characteristic of the invention, the positioning means is formed of a positioning pin and an orifice, the positioning pin being provided on the guide device or the motor-fan unit and intended to be housed in the orifice provided on the other. It is understood that the positioning pin is intended to be housed in the orifice, the latter having a diameter complementary to the positioning pin to allow its introduction and to adjust by this introduction the position of the guide device relative to the motor-fan unit and therefore the contact between the two to form the sealing device.

[0019] According to a characteristic of the invention, the peripheral edge extends over at least three sides of the heat exchanger, and at least one fixing means is provided at each of the sides of the heat exchanger. The distribution of the fixing means is substantially uniform along the sides of the thermal module. Such a distribution advantageously makes it possible to distribute the forces allowing the motor-fan unit and the guide device to be integral with each other. It should be noted that this distribution of the fixing means makes it possible to limit air flow losses by forcing the motor-fan unit as much as possible against the guide device.

[0020] According to a characteristic of the invention, the fixing means is formed by an elastically deformable tab provided on the motor-fan unit and / or on the guide device and intended to cooperate with a housing provided in the guide device and / or the motor-fan unit. According to a characteristic of the invention, a secondary sealing zone is provided on one side of the peripheral edge of the heat exchanger opposite a side of the peripheral edge of the heat exchanger comprising a primary sealing zone. In such a configuration, the baffle, and for example the rib participating in forming such a baffle, extends mainly along the side of the peripheral edge in a first direction, and the flat support extends parallel to this first direction.In this way, the positioning of the two components, namely the motor-fan unit and the guide device, in contact with each other in the secondary sealing zone can generate, depending on the adjustment due to manufacturing and assembly tolerances, a displacement of the rib within the groove in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. In other words, the secondary sealing zone allows, if necessary, the motor-fan unit and / or the guide device to be slightly deformed in an adjustment direction, perpendicular to the first direction, and the primary sealing zone has a mounting clearance of the rib in the groove, in this same adjustment direction, so that the assembly of the thermal module can take into account, in particular, manufacturing tolerances.In this context, the secondary sealing area and the primary sealing area are arranged on opposite sides considering the adjustment direction.

[0021] According to a second subject, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a thermal module conforming to any one of the characteristics previously mentioned.

[0022] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0023] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a thermal module, in accordance with the invention, intended to be arranged on the front of a vehicle;

[0024] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates an exploded view of the thermal module represented by Figure 1; [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a sectional view of one side of the thermal module at which the contact between a motor-fan unit and a guide device is configured to form a primary sealing zone;

[0025] [Fig.q] schematically illustrates a sectional view of another side of the thermal module at which the contact between the motor-fan unit and the guide device is configured to form a secondary sealing zone;

[0026] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a sectional view passing through a primary sealing area on one side of the thermal module and through a secondary sealing area on another side of the thermal module.

[0027] It should first be noted that while the figures set out the invention in detail for its implementation, these figures can of course be used to better define the invention, where appropriate. It should also be noted that these figures only set out examples of embodiments of the invention.

[0028] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art.

[0029] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0030] In the following detailed description, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse" and "vertical" refer to the orientation of the thermal module in a trihedron L, V, T as arbitrarily defined. A transverse direction corresponds to the stacking direction of the thermal module, this transverse direction being parallel to a transverse axis T of a reference frame L, V, T illustrated in the figures. A vertical direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a vertical axis V of the reference frame L, V, T and this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the transverse axis T. Finally, a longitudinal direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis L of the reference frame L, V, T, this longitudinal axis L being perpendicular to the transverse axis T and to the vertical axis V.

[0031] Figure i illustrates a thermal module i according to an embodiment of the present invention. This thermal module i is intended to equip a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, in order to carry out a heat exchange with an air flow passing through it. For this purpose, the thermal module i comprises at least one air flow guide device 2, a heat exchanger 3 intended to carry out a heat exchange with the air flow, and a motor-fan unit 4. The thermal module 1 extends mainly in a vertical and longitudinal plane, parallel to the vertical axis V and the longitudinal axis L. Like the thermal module 1, the guide device 2, the heat exchanger 3 and the motor-fan unit 4 extend mainly in a vertical and longitudinal plane.

[0032] When the thermal module 1 is assembled, the guide device 2 participates in delimiting a guide duct for the air flow, from an inlet opening 21, through which the air flow is able to enter the thermal module 1, to the heat exchanger 3.

[0033] The thermal module 1 is arranged at the front face of the motor vehicle, and more precisely at an opening made in the bodywork of said vehicle, also called a grille, the air flow coming from outside the vehicle being able to enter the thermal module 1 through this grille. For this purpose, the inlet of the guide device 2 of the thermal module 1, and more precisely the inlet opening 21 of the guide device 2, is arranged at this grille so that the air flow can penetrate, directly or indirectly, into the thermal module 1. It is understood that the inlet opening 21 can be directly placed in contact with the grille or be indirectly connected to the grille, for example by means of a conduit joining the grille to the inlet opening 21.

[0034] The motor-fan unit 4 is arranged opposite the guide device 2, with the heat exchanger 3 interposed between these two components. The motor-fan unit 4 and the guide device come into contact with each other, around the heat exchanger 3, forming different contact zones including a first side 11, a second side 12, a third side 13 and a fourth side 14, each of these sides 11, 12, 13 and 14 forming the periphery of the thermal module 1.

[0035] In what follows, when mention is made of cooperation between the motor-fan unit 4 and the guide device 2, it should be understood that we are talking about a casing of the motor-fan unit, which has an outlet opening 41 through which the air flow is able to exit the thermal module 1. The motor-fan unit 4 further comprises a means for circulating the air flow 42, formed by a propeller comprising a plurality of blades 43, and held in position in the casing of the motor-fan unit. This means for circulating the air flow 42 is able to force the circulation of the air flow within the thermal module, in particular in a direction of circulation going from the inlet opening 21 to the outlet opening 41. This means for circulating the air flow 42 is, in the embodiment shown, electrically powered by a power supply cable 44.

[0036] The air flow entering through the inlet opening 21 then passes through the heat exchanger 3, at which a heat exchange takes place between the air flow and a heat transfer fluid passing through the heat exchanger 3, before leaving the thermal module 1 through the outlet opening 41. It is understood that the heat exchanger 3 is arranged within the thermal module 1 between the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 such that the latter is located across the air flow.

[0037] The guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 are fixed to each other at a plurality of fixing zones 5 each comprising at least one fixing means 50. These fixing means 50 make it possible to secure the motor-fan unit 4 and the guide device 2 directly to each other, trapping the heat exchanger between them. This securing of the motor-fan unit 4 to the guide device 2 allows the guide device 2, the heat exchanger 3 and the motor-fan unit 4 to form a single-piece assembly within which the circulation of the air flow is forced from one opening 21, 41 to the other.

[0038] Furthermore, the thermal module 1 comprises a positioning means 6 allowing, during the assembly of the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4, to position them relative to each other.

[0039] Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the thermal module 1 according to the embodiment represented by Figure 1. More precisely and as can be seen in Figure 2, the guide device 2, the heat exchanger 3 and the motor-fan unit 4 are assembled relative to each other along a stacking axis 100 substantially parallel to the axis T.

[0040] Furthermore, the guide device 2 comprises a support 22 intended to receive the heat exchanger 3. More precisely, the heat exchanger 3 is arranged on the support 22 of the guide device 2 so that an internal face 31 of the heat exchanger 3 bears against the guide device, here bearing against a stop 23 formed by a wall of the guide device opposite the support 22. It is understood that an external face 32 of the heat exchanger 3, opposite the internal face 31, is then intended to be opposite the motor-fan unit 4.

[0041] The heat exchanger 3 comprises an exchange surface 34 configured to be able to be crossed by the flow of external air circulating within the thermal module from the air inlet opening 21 to the air outlet opening 41. This exchange surface here comprises a plurality of tubes within which a heat transfer fluid circulates and the flow of air passing through this exchange surface between the tubes is capable of transferring or recovering calories from this heat transfer fluid via the tubes.

[0042] The internal and external faces 31, 32 of the heat exchanger 3 are joined to each other by a peripheral edge 33. It should be noted that this peripheral edge 33 extends in a direction parallel to the stacking axis 100 when the thermal module 1 is assembled.

[0043] The guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 are configured to overlap the peripheral edge 33 of the heat exchanger 3, when the thermal module 1 is assembled. More particularly, the guide device and the motor-fan unit each comprise flanks arranged at the periphery which extend, substantially along the stacking axis 100, the guide device and the motor-fan unit, and these flanks are brought to overlap the peripheral edge 33 of the heat exchanger 3.

[0044] This covering of the peripheral edge 33 is such that at least a portion of the peripheral edge 33 is directly opposite the guide device 2 and / or the motor-fan unit 4. It is understood that the covering of the peripheral edge 33 by the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 makes it possible to ensure sufficient sealing of the thermal module 1 allowing it to do without a material dedicated to this function interposed between the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4.

[0045] The guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 are fixed to each other by fixing means 50. These fixing means are here carried by the sides of the guide device and the motor-fan unit which cover the peripheral edge.

[0046] As seen in Figure 2, each of the fixing means 50 is formed by the cooperation between an elastically deformable tab 51 and a housing 52. The tab 51 is arranged on the guide device 2 and / or the motor-fan unit 4, and more particularly on one of the sides of the guide device 2 and / or the motor-fan unit 4, and the housing 52 on the other, and more particularly on one of the corresponding sides. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the tab 51 is arranged on one side of the motor-fan unit 4 and the housing 52 is arranged on one side of the guide device 2.

[0047] The tab 51 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse axis T, that is to say substantially parallel to the stacking axis 100, from a portion of the motor-fan unit 4 covering the peripheral edge 33 when the thermal module 1 is assembled, that is to say from one of the sides of the motor-fan unit. This tab 51 is intended to be housed in the associated housing 52 and arranged on a portion of the guide device 2 covering the peripheral edge 33, that is to say on one of the sides of the guide device. For this purpose, the tongue 51 has at a free end a chamfer, making it easier to insert the tongue 51 into the housing 52 with elastic deformation of the tongue 51, and a shoulder, making it possible, following elastic return of the tongue 51 to its initial position, to hold the tongue 51 in the housing 52.This produces a deformation of the snap-on type by elastic deformation, which is particularly simple to implement.

[0048] Such cooperation between the tab 51 and the housing 52 makes it possible to keep the guide device 2 secured to the motor-fan unit 4, the heat exchanger 3 being constrained between the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4.

[0049] In the embodiment shown, the thermal module 1 comprises eight fixing zones 5 distributed uniformly along the entire peripheral edge 33, each of these fixing zones 5 comprising a fixing means 50. It should be noted that this is an exemplary embodiment which does not limit the number of fixing zones 5, but also that other fixing means could be implemented without departing from the context of the invention.

[0050] It should be noted that the introduction of the tab 51 into the associated housing 52 is advantageously adjusted by the positioning means 6. In other words, the positioning means 6 makes it possible to position the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 relative to each other. This positioning means 6 is formed by the cooperation between a positioning pin 61, extending in a direction substantially parallel to the transverse axis T and to the stacking axis 100 and arranged on the motor-fan unit 4, and an orifice 62 arranged on the guide device 2, the positioning pin 61 being intended to be housed in the orifice 62. It should be noted that alternatively, the positioning pin 61 can be arranged on the guide device 2 and the orifice 62 on the motor-fan unit 4, since the positioning pin 61 is intended to be housed in the orifice 62.11 It should also be noted that the peripheral edge 33 extends, according to a characteristic of the invention, on at least three sides. In the embodiment shown, this peripheral edge 33 extends at each of the first, second, third and fourth sides 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the thermal module. Each of the sides 11, 12, 13 and 14 comprises at least one fixing means 50, as well as a sealing zone participating in forming the sealing device.

[0051] Figure 3 very schematically illustrates a sectional view of the second side

[0052] 12 of the thermal module 1 visible in figure 1. At this second side 12, the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 are in contact with each other, being arranged mainly on either side of the heat exchanger 3, and they form a primary sealing zone 7 opposite the peripheral edge 33 of the heat exchanger 3.

[0053] The primary sealing zone 7, produced by the cooperation between the motor-fan unit 4 and the guide device 2, has a baffle shape 72, here formed by the insertion of a rib into a groove. More precisely, the guide device 2 has, at the portion overlapping the peripheral edge 33 at the second side 12, a groove 721. This groove 721 is intended to accommodate a lateral end 71 of the motor-fan unit 4 forming a groove 711 and overlapping the peripheral edge 33. When the groove 711 of the lateral end 71 of the motor-fan unit 4 is housed in the groove 721, the baffle 72 thus formed complicates the passage of air from the inside of the thermal module to the outside of the thermal module so as to limit the losses of the air flow that can escape between the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4.In other words, the baffle 72 disrupts the flow of the air flow caused to escape from the thermal module 1 between the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4, so that the pressurized air flow continues to flow through the heat exchanger 3 rather than escaping to the sides. Thus, the baffle 72 advantageously helps to limit the overall leakage rate of the air flow through the junction of the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 to a rate value of at most 3%. The primary sealing zone 7 extends along the same side of the thermal module 1 outside the fixing zones 5.

[0054] Figure 4 very schematically illustrates a sectional view of the fourth side 14 of the thermal module 1. At this fourth side 14, the guide device 2 and the motor-fan unit 4 are in contact with each other so as to form a secondary sealing zone 8.

[0055] The secondary sealing zone 8 is, like the primary sealing zone 7, formed by the cooperation between the motor-fan unit 4 and the guide device 2. More precisely, this secondary sealing zone 8 is formed, at the level of this fourth side 14 of the thermal module 1, by the cooperation between on the one hand an L-shaped portion 81 and the rib 711 of the lateral end 71.

[0056] The secondary sealing zone 8 comprises a flat support 82 formed by the positioning of the rib 711 against the L-shaped portion 81. More precisely, the rib 711 is pressed against the L-shaped portion 81 so that this contact between the rib 711 and the L-shaped portion 81 makes it possible to generate a seal.

[0057] Furthermore, this secondary sealing zone 8 and more particularly the flat support 82 makes it possible, during the assembly of the motor-fan unit 4 and the guide device 2 with each other, to substantially deform the casing of the motor-fan unit 4 and to adjust the position of each of the ribs 711 arranged on the periphery of this motor-fan unit 4, and in particular of that intended to be housed in the groove 721 to form the first primary sealing zone 7.

[0058] For this purpose, a wall of the L-shaped portion 81, and more particularly that against which the rib 711 is intended to rest, may have an inclination to form a ramp for inserting the rib 711 along this L-shaped portion 81. The result of the shape illustrated in FIG. 4, for a rib having a main elongation dimension in a first direction, here vertical, is a possible deformation in a second perpendicular direction, here longitudinal. The rib 711 intended to be housed in the groove 721 to form the first primary sealing zone 7 is capable of shifting in this second direction, here longitudinal. It is thus advantageous, as mentioned, for the primary sealing zone to be arranged opposite a secondary sealing zone, so that the rib 711 can adjust its position in the width of the groove also in the second direction, here the longitudinal direction.

[0059] It is understood that the flat support 82 formed between the rib 711 and the L-shaped portion 81, that is to say between the motor-fan unit 4 and the guide device 2, makes it possible to position the motor-fan unit 4 and the guide device 2 with a certain degree of freedom relative to each other while ensuring the sealing of the thermal module 1.

[0060] Figure 5 illustrates more specifically the distinction between primary and secondary sealing zones 7 and 8 along the peripheral edge 33 of the thermal module 1. More specifically, Figure 5 schematically illustrates a sectional view passing through a primary sealing zone 7 of the third side 13 and through a secondary sealing zone 8 of the fourth side 14.

[0061] First of all, it should be noted that in order to simplify the understanding of Figure 5, the heat exchanger 3 has been removed from the assembly of the thermal module 1. Of course, the dimensions and the proportions of the different elements present in this Figure 5 take into account an embodiment comprising the heat exchanger 3.

[0062] Figure 5 aims to show the structural difference between a primary sealing zone 7 comprising a baffle 72 and a secondary sealing zone 8 comprising a flat support 82, by illustrating two successive sides 13, 14 of the thermal module. As mentioned previously, the distribution of the primary and secondary sealing zones 7 and 8 of the thermal module 1 is provided so that a secondary sealing zone 8 is provided on a side of the thermal module 1 opposite a side of the thermal module 1 comprising a primary sealing zone 7. In this context, two neighboring sides can be equipped with a primary sealing zone with a baffle or only one side can be equipped with a primary sealing zone.

[0063] More precisely, the distribution of the primary and secondary sealing zones 7 and 8 is carried out so that the stresses linked to the introduction of the rib 711 into the groove 721 to form the sealing zone are absorbed by the flat support 82 of the secondary sealing zone 8, in particular made possible at the time of assembly by the inclined plane formed by one of the walls of the L-shaped portion 81 as previously mentioned.

[0064] The invention, as just described, achieves the aims it set for itself, by proposing a thermal module within which the seal is ensured by direct contact between the motor-fan unit and the guide device. Variants not described here could be implemented without departing from the context of the invention, since, in accordance with the invention, they comprise a thermal module in which direct contact between the guide device and the motor-fan unit makes it possible to create a seal without an added part, and in particular by forming a primary sealing zone with a baffle and a secondary sealing zone comprising at least one flat support.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Thermal module (i) intended to be placed on the front of a motor vehicle, the thermal module (i) comprising a heat exchanger (3), a motor-fan unit (4) and a device (2) for guiding an air flow, the heat exchanger (3) being arranged between the guiding device (2) and the motor-fan unit (4), the heat exchanger (3) comprising an internal face (31) arranged opposite the guiding device (2) and an external face opposite the motor-fan unit (4), the internal face and the external face (32) of the heat exchanger (3) being joined to each other by a peripheral edge (33), characterized in that the guiding device (2) and the motor-fan unit (4) overlap the peripheral edge (33) of the heat exchanger and are fixed to each other at a plurality of fixing zones (5) each comprising at least one fixing means (50),the guide device (2) and the motor-fan unit (4) being in contact with each other around the circumference of the peripheral edge (33) outside the fixing zones (5) so as to form a sealing device for the thermal module., 2. Thermal module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sealing device comprises at least one primary sealing zone (7) in which the cooperation of the guide device (2) and the motor-fan unit (4) forms a baffle (72) and at least one secondary sealing zone (8) in which the cooperation of the guide device (2) and the motor-fan unit (4) consists of a flat support (82).

3. Thermal module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the baffle (72) of the primary sealing zone (7) is formed of a groove (721) in which a rib (711) is housed, the groove (721) being formed on the motor-fan unit (4) or the guide device (2) and the rib (711) on the other.

4. Thermal module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least part of the edge peripheral (33) of the heat exchanger is directly opposite the guide device (2) and / or the motor-fan unit (4). Thermal module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one positioning means (6) making it possible to position the motor-fan unit (4) and the guide device (2) relative to each other. Thermal module (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the positioning means (6) is formed of a positioning pin (61) and an orifice (62), the positioning pin (61) being provided on the guide device (2) or the motor-fan unit (4) and intended to be housed in the orifice (62) provided on the other.Thermal module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the peripheral edge (33) extends over at least three sides of the heat exchanger (3), characterized in that at least one fixing means (50) is provided at each of the sides of the heat exchanger (3). Thermal module according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fixing means (50) is formed by an elastically deformable tab (51) provided on the motor-fan unit (4) and / or on the guide device (2) and intended to cooperate with a housing (52) provided in the guide device (2) and / or the motor-fan unit (4). Thermal module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a secondary sealing zone (8) is provided on one side of the peripheral edge (33) of the heat exchanger opposite to one side of the peripheral edge (33) of the heat exchanger comprising a primary sealing zone (7).Motor vehicle comprising a thermal module (1) intended to be placed on the front of the vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims.

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