Assembly for a thermal management module

Abstract

Assembly for a thermal management module The invention relates to an 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 tank (10) is mounted on the support (50) in a removable manner. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly for a thermal management module

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly for a thermal management module of a heat transfer fluid, in particular for a vehicle.

[0002] The vehicle can be land, sea or air.

[0003] Generally speaking, we are seeking to reduce the size of components in vehicles. This is a major challenge. In the context of a vehicle heat pump, one avenue of work is to compact all of its components, in particular the refrigerant circuit and the heat transfer fluid circuit.

[0004] The invention aims in particular at such an aim.

[0005] 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 removable manner.

[0006] The degassing tank allows heat transfer fluid loaded with air bubbles to be freed from the air bubbles before joining a cooling circuit of the heat transfer fluid. This allows proper operation of this cooling circuit.

[0007] The invention makes it possible to have an assembly which offers ease of maintenance because the tank can be dismantled, separated from the support for a maintenance operation, for example in order to change the heat transfer fluid of the thermal management module.

[0008] The invention also makes it possible to have a grouping of several fluidic functions of a heat pump, here a grouping of the degassing tank function and support of additional fluidic functions.

[0009] The invention makes it possible in particular to avoid the need for additional tubing / pipes to fluidly connect different components together. These fluid connections are made directly by channels formed on the support.

[0010] The invention makes it possible in particular to reduce costs because the invention makes it possible to do without numerous pipes to connect the components.

[0011] The invention thus makes it possible to reduce the space occupied by the assembly, which makes it possible to reduce 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, in particular 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 comprises at least one removable fixing member configured to hold this degassing tank against the support, and allow it to be dismantled.

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

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the snap-fastening member comprises at least one elastically deformable tab with a hooking head configured to cooperate with the complementary snap-fastening member when the snap-fastening is carried out. The number of elastically deformable tabs may be two or more. When the base is part of the support which carries the fluidic function component, the complementary snap-fastening member may be formed on a plate formatting the support. This complementary snap-fastening member is for example an opening into which an elastically deformable tab of the degassing tank can be inserted in order to ensure the snap-fastening. This opening has for example a rectangular, or circular or oblong section.

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

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the degassing tank is closed by a cover bearing 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 circumference.

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

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the cover comprises a removable cap cooperating with a degassing vent of 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 side walls which face each other and a bottom wall opposite the cover.

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

[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, in 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 cover, and a deep bottom portion, further from the cover.

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

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

[0027] Alternatively, the removable fixing member 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 with each other 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 comprises 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 interior volume of the degassing tank.

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

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the seat is connected to the first and second plates forming the channels, in particular perpendicularly.

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

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

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, a seal, in particular an annular seal, is interposed between this fluid connection end piece and the connection orifice of the support.

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

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

[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 with a submerged rotor.

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

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the pump comprises 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 produced 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 closure device configured to alternately pass from a closed state to an open state, where, in the closed state, the first closure device prevents fluid contained in the degassing tank from flowing through this first closure device, and, in the open state, the first closure device is configured to allow fluid to pass through this first closure device.

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

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

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[0061] According to one aspect of the invention, the support is made of plastic or metal. The term "fluidic function" means a function participating in the operation of the assembly, for example chosen to act on the flow of a heat transfer fluid or to measure a parameter linked to the fluid or its flow in channels. 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. According to one aspect of the invention, the pump is actuable by an electric motor. According to one aspect of the invention, the heat transfer fluid is a cooling fluid such as water, in particular glycolated water. Alternatively, the heat transfer fluid is chosen from: a dielectric fluid, a refrigerant fluid such as R 134a, R1234yf or R744. 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. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given as an illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which: - [Fig.l] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, an assembly according to an example of implementation of the invention; - [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically and partially, according to a different view, the assembly of [Fig.l]; - [Fig.3] illustrates, schematically and partially, the support of the assembly of [Fig.l]; - [Fig.4] illustrates, schematically and partially, according to another view, the support of [Fig.3];

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

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

[0064] - [Fig.7] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, the reservoir of the assembly of [Fig.l];

[0065] - [Fig.8] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, according to another view, the support of the assembly of [Fig.l]

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

[0067] - [Fig. 10] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, a support for assemble with the degassing tank of [Fig.9];

[0068] - [Fig.l 1] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, the assembly obtained with the degassing tank of [Fig.9] and supported by [Fig. 10],

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

[0070] - [Fig. 13] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, a support for assemble with the degassing tank of [Fig. 12]

[0071] - [Fig. 14] illustrates, schematically and partially, a second device of closing the support according to a variant of the invention,

[0072] - [Fig. 15] illustrates, schematically and partially, a degassing tank at assemble with the support of [Fig. 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] The tank 10 is mounted on the support 50 in a removable manner so as to be able to separate them during a maintenance operation.

[0075] It is advantageous for the thermal management module 100 to be compact.

[0076] The heat transfer fluid may be glycolated water.

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

[0078] As can be better seen in Figures 7 and 8, the removable fixing member 11 is a snap-fastening member configured to cooperate by snap-fastening with a complementary snap-fastening member on a base 40 (in dotted lines in [Fig.8]).

[0079] This base 40 may be part of the support 50 or be a separate part assembled with the support 50. A more detailed example of the snap-fastening system is described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.

[0080] The latching member 11 comprises elastically deformable tabs 12 each with a hooking head 14 configured to cooperate with the complementary latching member when the latching is carried out.

[0081] The degassing tank 10 is closed by a cover 15 bearing 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, being of rectangular circumference.

[0083] The cover 15 is a part attached to the degassing tank 10, and is fixed there, for example by welding.

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

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

[0086] The degassing tank 10 has an interior cavity 23 of variable depth, with this depth being maximum in the part of the cavity which opens onto a fluid connection end piece 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, in a direction perpendicular to this plane of the annular rim 16.

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

[0089] The removable fixing member 11 is formed on a wall of the tank 10. In particular, according to the example illustrated, the removable fixing 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 fixing member 11 can be formed on one of the flat side walls 19 of the tank 10.

[0091] As visible in Figures 3 to 6, the support 50 comprises a first plate 51 and a second plate 52 assembled with each other 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 plate 51 and 52 are joined along a joint plane PJ.

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

[0096] The seat 60 comprises a bearing face 61 provided with a connection orifice 62 communicating a channel 53 of the support 50 with an interior 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 a concavity directed towards the degassing tank 10.

[0098] The seat 61 connects to the first and second plates 51 and 52 perpendicularly.

[0099] The degassing tank 10 comprises the fluid connection end piece 22, made in one piece with the rest of the degassing tank 10, and configured to engage in the connection orifice 62 of the seat 60.

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

[0101] An annular seal 65 is interposed between this fluid connection end piece 22 and the connection orifice 62 of the support.

[0102] The degassing tank 10 comprises a non-return valve 66 configured so as to prevent any possible return of heat transfer fluid through the fluid connection end piece 22.

[0103] The degassing tank 10 comprises a purge element 67 configured to allow its purge, when the degassing tank is dismantled.

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

[0105] These pump rotors are parallel.

[0106] Each pump 70 comprises 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 comprises several fluid connection pipes.

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

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

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

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

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

[0114] The snap-fastening tabs 80 are each provided with a hooking head 84 configured to cooperate with a complementary snap-fastening member when the snap-fastening is carried out. These snap-fastening tabs 80 together form a removable fixing member, on the outside of the bottom wall of the tank, on the very deep bottom portion 25.

[0115] In the example described, the complementary snap-fastening member is an opening 85 into which an elastically deformable tab 80 of the degassing tank 10 is inserted in order to ensure snap-fastening. This opening 85 here has a rectangular 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 present under a base 89 made in one piece with the plate 87. The degassing tank 10 rests on this base 89 when snap-fastening is carried out, as illustrated in [Fig. 11].

[0116] [Fig. 12] shows a first closure device 90 belonging to the degassing tank 10 and configured to alternately pass from a closed state to an open state. 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. In the open state, the first closure device 90 is configured to allow fluid to pass through this first closure device 90, to communicate the degassing tank 10 and a channel of the support 50.

[0117] The first closure device 90 (in the closed state) makes it possible to keep the fluid in the degassing tank 10 during a disassembly operation separating the degassing tank from the support.

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

[0119] As seen in Fig. 13, the support 50 comprises a needle 95 configured so that, when the degassing tank 10 is mounted on the support 50, this needle 95 presses on the ball 91 of the first closure device 90 and brings the ball 91 into its open position, so that the first closure device 90 passes into the open state. This makes the degassing function possible.

[0120] [Fig. 14] shows a second closure device 190 belonging to the support 50 and configured to alternately pass from a closed state to an open state. In the closed state, the second closure device 190 prevents fluid contained in the support 50 from flowing through this second closure device 190. In the open state, the second closure device 190 is configured to allow fluid to pass through this second closure device 190, to communicate the degassing tank 10 and a channel of the support 50.

[0121] The second closure device 190 (in the closed state) makes it possible to keep the fluid in the support 50 during a disassembly operation separating the degassing tank from the support.

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

[0123] As seen in Fig. 15, the degassing tank 10 comprises a needle 195 configured so that, when the degassing tank 10 is mounted on the support 50, this needle 195 presses on the ball 191 of the second closure device 190 and brings the ball 191 into its open position, so that the second closure device 190 goes into the open state. This makes the degassing function possible.

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 tank (10) is mounted on the support (50) in a removable manner, the support comprising a seat (60) on which the degassing tank (10) rests, the seat (60) comprising 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).

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 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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).

11. Assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (50) is provided with a second closure device (190) configured to alternately pass from a closed state to an open state, where, 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).

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