Assembly for a thermal management module

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (1) for a heat-transfer fluid thermal management module (100), in particular for a vehicle, which assembly comprises: - a degassing tank (10) configured to allow the heat-transfer fluid to undergo degassing, making it possible to separate a gas, in particular air, present in the heat-transfer fluid, - a support (50) arranged to carry at least one component having a fluidic function, such as a pump (70) or a valve (75), in which assembly the tank (10) is removably mounted on the support (50).

Description

Description Title of the invention: ASSEMBLY FOR A THERMAL MANAGEMENT MODULE [1] The present invention relates to an assembly for a thermal management module for a heat transfer fluid, in particular for a vehicle. [2] The vehicle can be of land, sea or air type. [3] Generally speaking, the aim is to reduce the size of components in vehicles. This is a major challenge. In the context of a vehicle heat pump, one approach is to compact all of its components, particularly the refrigerant circuit and the heat transfer fluid circuit. [4] The invention is specifically aimed at such a purpose. [5] The invention thus relates to an assembly, for a thermal management module of a heat transfer fluid, in particular for a vehicle, comprising: - a degassing tank configured to allow the heat transfer fluid to undergo degassing to separate a gas, in particular air, present in the heat transfer fluid, - a support arranged to carry at least one component with a fluidic function such as a pump or a valve, assembly in which the tank is mounted on the support in a detachable manner. [6] The degassing tank allows the heat transfer fluid, laden with air bubbles, to be freed of these bubbles before entering a heat transfer fluid cooling circuit. This ensures the proper functioning of this cooling circuit. [7] The invention allows for an assembly which offers ease of maintenance because the tank can be disassembled, separated from the support for a maintenance operation, for example in order to change the heat transfer fluid of the thermal management module. [8] The invention also allows for a grouping of several fluidic functions of a heat pump, here a grouping of the degassing tank function and support for additional fluidic functions. [9] The invention makes it possible, in particular, to avoid the need for additional tubing / pipes to fluidly connect different components together. These fluidic connections are made directly by channels formed on the support.

[0010] The invention notably reduces costs because it eliminates the need for many pipes to connect the components.

[0011] The invention thus makes it possible to reduce the space occupied by the assembly, thereby reducing its overall size. In the case of a heat pump, for example, the invention makes it possible to reduce the size of all its components, particularly the various heat transfer fluid circuits.

[0012] In particular, the assembly according to the invention forms a compact module which is part of the heat pump.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank includes at least one removable fastening element configured to hold this degassing tank against the support, and to allow its removal.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the removable fastening member comprises at least one snap-on member configured to cooperate by snap-on with a complementary snap-on member on a base. This base may be part of the support that carries the fluidic component or, alternatively, be a separate part assembled with the support.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the ratcheting member comprises at least one elastically deformable tab with a hooking head configured to cooperate with the complementary ratcheting member when the ratcheting is performed. The number of elastically deformable tabs may There may be two or more. When the base is part of the support that carries the fluidic component, the additional snap-on element may be formed on a plate the same size as the support. This additional snap-on element is, for example, an opening into which an elastically deformable tab of the degassing reservoir can be inserted to ensure snap-on engagement. This opening may have, for example, a rectangular, circular, or oblong cross-section.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the tank is mounted on the support in a demountable manner using at least one mounting element separate from the degassing tank and the support, this mounting element being, for example, a screw or a bolt.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank is closed by a lid resting against an annular rim of the degassing tank.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the annular rim of the degassing tank is flat, in particular having a rectangular perimeter.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the cover is an added part on the degassing tank, and is fixed there, for example by welding.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the lid includes a removable plug cooperating with a vent on the tank. The tank can be filled with fluid through this vent.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank comprises two facing side walls and a bottom wall opposite the lid.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank has a variable depth, with this depth being maximum in the part of the cavity which opens onto a fluidic connection nozzle.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the depth of the cavity is the distance measured between the plane of the annular rim of the cavity and the bottom wall of this cavity, along a direction perpendicular to this plane of the annular rim of the cavity.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the bottom wall of the tank has a shallow bottom portion closer to the lid, and a deep bottom portion further from the lid.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the removable fastening element is formed on one of the walls of the tank. In particular, the removable fastening element can be formed on the bottom wall of the tank, on the shallow bottom portion.

[0026] Alternatively, the removable fixing element is formed on the bottom wall of the tank, on the deep bottom portion.

[0027] Alternatively, the removable fastening element is formed on one of the flat side walls of the tank.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the support comprises a first plate and a second plate assembled together to define at least one channel for the flow of the heat transfer fluid.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the channel is formed by a first surface of the first plate and a second surface of the second plate, these surfaces being joined and together forming a circumference of the channel.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, one of these surfaces is formed in a cavity of the corresponding plate.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the first plate and second plate are joined along a joint plane.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the support includes a seat on which the degassing tank rests.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the seat comprises a support face provided with a connection orifice communicating a channel of the support with an internal volume of the degassing tank.

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, the seat support face on which the degassing tank rests is substantially concave with the concavity directed towards the degassing tank.

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the seat connects to the first and second plates forming the channels, in particular in a perpendicular manner.

[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank includes a fluidic connection nozzle, in particular made in one piece with the rest of the degassing tank, and configured to engage in the connection orifice of the support seat.

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic connection tip has a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, a sealing gasket, in particular an annular one, is interposed between this fluidic connection tip and the connection orifice of the support.

[0039] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank includes a non-return valve configured to prevent any possible return of heat transfer fluid through the fluid connection nozzle.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank includes a purge element configured to allow its purging, in particular when the degassing tank is disassembled.

[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, the support carries at least one pump, in particular two pumps, in particular three pumps, in particular submerged rotor pumps.

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, the pump rotors are parallel.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the pump includes a volute formed on the support, in particular on at least one of the plates forming the support.

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid inlet and / or outlet, in particular in communication with the volute, of the pump is made directly on the support, in particular on at least one of the plates of the support.

[0045] According to one aspect of the invention, the support carries at least one valve having a valve body formed at least partially on the support, in particular on at least one of the plates forming the support.

[0046] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve is a 2-way, 3-way or 4-way valve.

[0047] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank is provided with a first sealing device configured to alternately switch from a closed state to an open state, where, in the closed state, the first sealing device prevents fluid contained in the degassing tank from flowing through this first sealing device, and, in the open state, the first sealing device is configured to allow fluid to pass through this first sealing device.

[0048] According to another aspect of the invention, the support is provided with a second sealing device configured to alternately switch from a closed state to an open state, where, in the closed state, the second sealing device prevents fluid contained in the support from flowing through this second sealing device, and, in the open state, the second sealing device is configured to allow fluid to pass through this second sealing device.

[0049] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank is made of plastic or metal.

[0050] According to one aspect of the invention, the support is made of plastic or metal.

[0051] The term "fluidic function" refers to a function that participates in the operation of the assembly, for example, chosen to act on the flow of a heat transfer fluid or to measure a parameter related to the fluid or its flow in channels.

[0052] According to one aspect of the invention, the component with a fluidic function is chosen from the following elements: - a pump for pumping the heat transfer fluid, - a heat transfer fluid orientation valve, in particular a multi-way valve, - a non-return valve for the heat transfer fluid, - a throttle valve for the heat transfer fluid, - a condensation exchanger, in particular a water condenser, - a cooling exchanger, in particular a water cooler, - an electric heating resistance heating device arranged to heat the heat transfer fluid, - a desiccant bottle, - a filter to filter particles present in the heat transfer fluid, in particular a dielectric fluid.

[0053] According to one aspect of the invention, the pump is actuable by an electric motor.

[0054] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat transfer fluid is a cooling fluid such as water, in particular glycolated water.

[0055] Alternatively, the heat transfer fluid is chosen from: a dielectric fluid, a refrigerant such as R134a, R1234yf or R744.

[0056] The invention also relates to a heat pump, in particular on board a vehicle, comprising an assembly as described above, dedicated to a circuit for the heat transfer fluid.

[0057] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0058] - [Figure 1] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, an assembly according to an example of implementation of the invention;

[0059] - [Figure 2] illustrates, schematically and partially, from a different view, the assembly of [Figure 1];

[0060] - [Figure 3] illustrates, schematically and partially, the support for the assembly of [Figure 1];

[0061] - [Figure 4] illustrates, schematically and partially, from another view, the support of [Figure 3];

[0062] - [Figure 5] illustrates, schematically and partially, a plate of the support of [Figure 3];

[0063] - [Figure 6] illustrates, schematically and partially, another plate of the support of [Figure 3];

[0064] - [Figure 7] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, the reservoir of the assembly of [Figure 1];

[0065] - [Figure 8] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, from another view, the support for the assembly of [Figure 1]

[0066] - [Figure 9] illustrates, schematically and partially, a degassing tank according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0067] - [Figure 10] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, a support to be assembled with the degassing tank of [Figure 9];

[0068] - [Figure 11] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, the assembly obtained with the degassing tank of [Figure 9] and its support of [Figure 10],

[0069] - Figure 12 illustrates, schematically and partially, a first degassing tank closure device according to the invention,

[0070] - [Figure 13] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, a support to be assembled with the degassing tank of [Figure 12]

[0071] - Figure 14 illustrates, schematically and partially, a second device for sealing the support according to a variant of the invention,

[0072] - [Figure 15] illustrates, schematically and partially, a degassing tank to be assembled with the support of [Figure 14],

[0073] Figures 1 and 2 show an assembly 1 for a module 100 for thermal management of a heat transfer fluid, comprising: - a degassing tank 10 configured to allow the heat transfer fluid to undergo degassing making it possible to separate a gas, in particular air, present in the heat transfer fluid, - a support 50 arranged to carry components with a fluidic function, as will be described below.

[0074] Tank 10 is mounted on support 50 in a removable manner so that they can be separated during a maintenance operation.

[0075] It is advantageous that the thermal management module 100 is compact.

[0076] The heat transfer fluid can be glycol water.

[0077] The degassing tank 10 includes a removable fixing member 11 configured to hold this degassing tank 10 against the support 50, and to allow its removal.

[0078] As can be seen more clearly in Figures 7 and 8, the removable fixing member 11 is a snap-fit ​​member configured to cooperate by snap-fitting with a complementary snap-fit ​​member on a base 40 (shown in dotted lines in Figure 8).

[0079] This base 40 can be part of the support 50 or be a separate piece assembled with the support 50. A more detailed example of the snap-fit ​​system is described with reference to figures 9 to 11.

[0080] The snap-on member 11 has elastically deformable lugs 12, each with a hooking head 14 configured to cooperate with the complementary snap-on member when snapping is achieved.

[0081] The degassing tank 10 is closed by a cover 15 resting against an annular rim 16, which delimits an opening of the degassing tank 10.

[0082] This annular rim 16 of the degassing tank 10 is flat, having a rectangular perimeter.

[0083] The cover 15 is an added part on the degassing tank 10, and is fixed to it, for example by welding.

[0084] As illustrated in figure 8, the cover 15 has a removable plug 17 cooperating with a vent 18 of the reservoir 10. The fluid reservoir can be filled through this vent 18.

[0085] The degassing tank 10 has two flat side walls 19 facing each other and a bottom wall 20 opposite the cover 15.

[0086] The degassing tank 10 has an internal cavity 23 of variable depth, with this depth being maximum in the part of the cavity which opens onto a fluidic connection nozzle 22.

[0087] The depth of the cavity 23 is the distance measured between the plane of the annular rim 16 and the bottom wall 20 of this cavity 23, along a direction perpendicular to this plane of the annular rim 16.

[0088] The bottom wall 20 of the tank 10 has a shallow bottom portion 24, closer to the lid 15, and a deep bottom portion 25, further from the lid 15. The deep bottom portion 25 has a concave shape with the concavity directed towards the cavity 23.

[0089] The removable fastening member 11 is formed on a wall of the tank 10. In particular, according to the illustrated example, the removable fastening member 11 is formed on the outside of the bottom wall 20 of the tank, on the shallow bottom portion 24.

[0090] According to a variant of the invention not illustrated, the removable fastening member 11 can be formed on one of the flat side walls 19 of the tank 10.

[0091] As can be seen in figures 3 to 6, the support 50 comprises a first plate 51 and a second plate 52 assembled together to define channels 53 for the flow of the heat transfer fluid.

[0092] Some of the channels 53 are each formed by a first surface 54 of the first plate 51 and a second surface 55 of the second plate 52, these surfaces being joined and together forming a circumference of the channel 53.

[0093] These surfaces 54 and 55 are formed in cavities of the corresponding plate 51, 52.

[0094] The first plate and second plates 51 and 52 are joined according to a joint plane PJ.

[0095] The support 50 includes a seat 60 on which rests the degassing tank 10.

[0096] The seat 60 has a support face 61 provided with a connection orifice 62 communicating a channel 53 of the support 50 with an internal volume of the degassing tank 10.

[0097] The bearing face 61 of the seat 60 on which the degassing tank 10 rests is substantially concave with the concavity directed towards the degassing tank 10.

[0098] Seat 61 connects to the first and second plates 51 and 52 in a perpendicular manner.

[0099] The degassing tank 10 includes the fluid connection nozzle 22, made as a single unit with the rest of the degassing tank 10, and configured to engage in the connection port 62 of the seat 60.

[0100] The fluidic connection tip 22 has a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0101] An annular sealing gasket 65 is interposed between this fluid connection tip 22 and the connection port 62 of the support.

[0102] The degassing tank 10 includes a non-return valve 66 configured to prevent any possible return of heat transfer fluid through the fluid connection fitting 22.

[0103] The degassing tank 10 includes a purge element 67 configured to allow its purging when the degassing tank is disassembled.

[0104] In the example described, the support 50 carries two submersible rotor pumps 70.

[0105] These pump rotors are parallel.

[0106] Each pump 70 includes a volute 71 formed on the support 50, on the plate 51.

[0107] The fluid inlet and outlet 72, in communication with the volute 71, of the pump 70 are made directly on the support, on the plate 51.

[0108] The support 50 carries a valve 75 having a valve body 76 formed on the support 50, with the plate 51. The valve body 76 includes several fluidic connection tubes.

[0109] This 75 valve is a multi-way valve.

[0110] The degassing tank 10 is made of plastic or metal.

[0111] Plates 51 and 52 are made of plastic or metal.

[0112] We will now describe, with reference to figures 9 to 11, an example of a snap-fit ​​system between the degassing tank 10 and the support 50.

[0113] In this example, the degassing tank 10 has two snap-on tabs 80, arranged parallel and with a spacing between them, on the bottom wall 20. These snap-on tabs 80 are made in one piece with the bottom wall 20.

[0114] The 80 snap-on tabs are each equipped with a hook head 84 configured to cooperate with a complementary latching member when latching is performed. These latching lugs 80 together form a removable fixing member, on the outside of the bottom wall of the tank, on the deep bottom portion 25.

[0115] In the example described, the additional latching element is an opening 85 into which an elastically deformable tab 80 of the degassing tank 10 is inserted to ensure snap-on engagement. This opening 85 has a rectangular cross-section defined by a U-shaped wall formed on the plate 87 of the support 50. These U-shaped walls are adjacent to reinforcing ribs 88 located under a base 89 made in one piece with the plate 87. The degassing tank 10 rests on this base 89 when snap-on engagement is achieved, as illustrated in Figure 11.

[0116] Figure 12 shows a first shut-off device 90 belonging to the degassing tank 10 and configured to alternately switch between a closed and an open state. In the closed state, the first shut-off device 90 prevents fluid contained in the degassing tank 10 from flowing through it. In the open state, the first shut-off device 90 is configured to allow fluid to pass through. fluid through this first sealing device 90, to connect the degassing tank 10 and a channel of the support 50.

[0117] The first sealing device 90 (in the closed state) allows the fluid to be kept in the degassing tank 10 during a dismantling operation separating the degassing tank from the support.

[0118] The first sealing device 90 comprises a ball 91 movable in a housing 92 between a closed position and an open position, and a spring 93 exerting a force on the ball 91 tending to return it to the closed position when the ball 91 moves away from the closed position. In the closed position, the ball 91 prevents leakage of fluid contained in the degassing tank 10.

[0119] As shown in Figure 13, the support 50 has a needle 95 configured so that, when the degassing reservoir 10 is mounted on the support 50, this needle 95 presses on the ball 91 of the first sealing device 90 and moves the ball 91 to its open position, so that the first sealing device 90 switches to the open state. This enables the degassing function.

[0120] Figure 14 shows a second shut-off device 190 belonging to the support 50 and configured to alternately switch between a closed and an open state. In the closed state, the second shut-off device 190 prevents fluid contained in the support 50 from flowing through it. In the open state, the second shut-off device 190 is configured to allow fluid to pass through it, connecting the degassing tank 10 to a channel in the support 50.

[0121] The second sealing device 190 (in the closed state) allows the fluid to be kept in the support 50 during a dismantling operation separating the degassing tank from the support.

[0122] The second closing device 190 comprises a ball 191 movable in a housing 192 between a closed position and an open position, and a spring 193 exerting on the ball 191 a force tending to return it to the The sealing position occurs when the ball 191 moves away from the sealing position. In the sealing position, the ball 191 prevents leakage of fluid contained in the support 50.

[0123] As shown in Figure 15, the degassing reservoir 10 has a needle 195 configured so that, when the degassing reservoir 10 is mounted on the support 50, this needle 195 presses on the ball 191 of the second sealing device 190 and moves the ball 191 to its open position, so that the second sealing device 190 switches to the open state. This enables the degassing function.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly (1) for a module (100) for thermal management of a heat transfer fluid, in particular for a vehicle, comprising: - a degassing tank (10) configured to allow the heat transfer fluid to undergo degassing making it possible to separate a gas, in particular air, present in the heat transfer fluid, - a support (50) arranged to carry at least one component with a fluidic function such as a pump (70) or a valve (75), assembly in which the reservoir (10) is mounted on the support (50) in a removable manner.

2. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the degassing tank (10) comprises at least one removable fixing member (11) configured to hold this degassing tank (10) against the support (50), and allow its disassembly.

3. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the removable fixing member comprises at least one snap-fastening member (11) configured to cooperate by snap-fastening with a complementary snap-fastening member on a base.

4. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the degassing tank (10) comprises two side walls (19) which face each other and a bottom wall (20) opposite a cover (15), and in which the bottom wall (20) of the tank has a shallow bottom portion (24), closer to the cover (15), and a deep bottom portion (25), further from the cover (15).

5. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support (50) comprises a first plate (51) and a second plate (52) assembled with each other to define at least one channel (53) for the flow of the heat transfer fluid.

6. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support comprises a seat (60) on which the degassing tank (10) rests.

7. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the seat (60) comprises a bearing face (61) provided with a connection orifice (62) communicating a channel of the support with an interior volume of the degassing tank (10).

8. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the degassing tank (10) comprises a fluid connection end piece (22), in particular made in one piece with the rest of the degassing tank, and configured to engage in the connection orifice (62) of the seat of the support.

9. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support (50) carries at least one pump (70), in particular two pumps, in particular with a submerged rotor.

10. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the pump comprises a volute (71) formed on the support (50), in particular on one of the plates forming the support. [Claim 1 1] Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support (50) carries at least one valve (75) having a valve body formed at least partially on the support, in particular on at least one of the plates forming the support.

12. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the degassing tank (10) is provided with a first closure device (90) configured to alternately pass from a closed state to an open state, where, in the closed state, the first closure device (90) prevents fluid contained in the degassing tank (10) from flowing through this first closure device (90), and, in the open state, the first closure device (90) is configured to allow fluid to pass through this first closure device (90).

13. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support (50) is provided with a second closure device (190) configured to alternately pass from a closed state to a open state, wherein, in the closed state, the second closure device (190) prevents fluid contained in the support (50) from flowing through this second closure device (190), and, in the open state, the second closure device (190) is configured to allow fluid to pass through this second closure device (190).

Images