Heat exchanger for a cooling system for an automotive vehicle

Abstract

Title: Heat exchanger for a cooling system for a motor vehicle. The invention relates to a heat exchanger (2) for a cooling system (1) for a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger (2) comprising a core held by water boxes (5) arranged on two opposite edges of the core, said water boxes (5) being configured to collect a heat transfer fluid intended to circulate within the core of the heat exchanger (2), the heat exchanger (2) being characterized in that it comprises a water pump (3) integrated into one of said water boxes (5). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Heat exchanger for a cooling system for a motor vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for a cooling system for a motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a cooling system for a motor vehicle comprising such a heat exchanger. The present invention also relates to an arrangement of a motor vehicle chassis comprising such a heat exchanger and / or such a cooling system.

[0002] In a motor vehicle, each powertrain needs a cooling circuit which allows the components of the powertrain to be cooled in order to avoid risks due to overheating of said components.

[0003] Such a cooling circuit conventionally comprises at least one heat exchanger, an expansion tank which serves as a reservoir for a heat transfer liquid intended to circulate within the cooling circuit, a pump which makes it possible to regulate the flow rate of said heat transfer liquid and fluid connections for connecting the various components of the cooling circuit together in order to ensure a passage for the heat transfer liquid.

[0004] With the tightening of anti-pollution standards and the increasing use of electric motors, cooling requirements are increasingly important, which leads to an increase in the complexity of cooling systems, in particular due to the increase in the number of components to be cooled.

[0005] We are thus observing an increase in the number of heat exchangers within cooling systems, which leads to a greater length of the cooling circuits. To ensure an optimal or even sufficient flow rate in these longer and more complex cooling circuits, it is necessary to integrate additional pumps. However, the volume available in an engine compartment is limited, the choice of locations for water pumps is therefore restricted.

[0006] Thus, one objective of the invention is to propose a more compact alternative so as to save space, and less complex, so as to simplify the fluid connections in the cooling circuit. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention relates to a heat exchanger for a cooling system for a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger comprising a bundle of plates or tubes held by water boxes arranged on two opposite edges of the bundle, said water boxes being configured to collect a ca- carrier intended to circulate inside the heat exchanger bundle, the heat exchanger being characterized in that it comprises a water pump integrated in one of said water boxes.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the water pump has a body of generally cylindrical shape with circular bases, and the diameter of the circular bases of the cylindrical water pump is less than the height of said water pump.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the height of the water pump is less than or equal to the height of the water box.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the water pump is configured to generate a power of between 60W and 100W and / or to generate a flow rate of between 15L / min and 25L / min and more particularly equal to 20L / min.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the water box comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and the water pump is arranged at the fluid outlet of the water box.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a single single-piece part forming the water box and a housing of the water pump integrated into said water box.

[0013] The invention also relates to a cooling system for a motor vehicle comprising a heat exchanger as defined above, a main water pump and an additional water pump, the additional water pump corresponding to the water pump integrated in said heat exchanger.

[0014] The invention also relates to an arrangement of a motor vehicle chassis comprising a heat exchanger as defined above and / or a cooling system as defined above, the water boxes of the heat exchanger extending in a vertical direction in the state mounted in a motor vehicle and the water pump having a body of generally cylindrical shape with an axis extending in the vertical direction.

[0015] The arrangement of a motor vehicle chassis may further comprise a crossbar for a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger being arranged at the rear of the crossbar of the chassis, the water pump of said exchanger being located lower than the crossbar.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a heat exchanger as defined above and / or a cooling system as defined above, and / or an arrangement of a motor vehicle chassis as defined above. Presentation of figures

[0017] These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of different particular embodiments made without limitation in relation to the attached figures among which:

[0018] [Fig.l] is a schematic representation of an arrangement of a vehicle chassis known from the state of the art.

[0019] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a heat exchanger according to a embodiment of the invention.

[0020] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of an arrangement comprising a heat exchanger according to the invention.

[0021] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of the arrangement of [Fig.3] as seen from above. Detailed description

[0022] In this document, the X axis designates the longitudinal axis of a vehicle. When moving forward and in a straight line, the vehicle moves from rear to front in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The X axis is oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle, that is to say in the direction of reverse travel. The Y axis designates the transverse axis of the vehicle. The Y axis is oriented from left to right, left and right being defined according to the point of view of a driver of the vehicle. The Z axis designates the axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. The vehicle is considered to be resting on horizontal ground. The Z axis is a vertical axis, oriented from bottom to top. The X, Y and Z axes form an orthogonal reference frame.This same reference, defined by reference to a vehicle, will also be used to describe the heat exchanger, the cooling system and the arrangement of a motor vehicle chassis, even considered outside the vehicle, since it is intended for mounting in a specific orientation in the vehicle.

[0023] Furthermore, the term "water" in "air / water radiator" or in "water pump" designates a heat transfer fluid which may be different from water. The heat transfer fluid may in particular be water-based with additives to prevent scaling of the circuit and to withstand freezing, in particular glycolated water.

[0024] A cooling system 1 for a motor vehicle generally comprises one or more heat exchangers 2 which are connected to a cooling circuit inside which a heat transfer fluid is intended to circulate. This heat transfer fluid may in particular be glycolated water.

[0025] A cooling system 1 may in particular comprise three separate heat exchangers 2 for application to a hybrid engine comprising an electric machine and a combustion engine to be cooled, including a heat exchanger 2 which provides a low-temperature air / water radiator function dedicated to the electrical power components, a heat exchanger which provides a function of high temperature air / water radiator dedicated to the combustion engine and a heat exchanger which provides a condenser function for an air conditioning circuit.

[0026] Such a cooling system 1 generally comprises a main water pump and, as in the present case, an additional water pump 3, also called an auxiliary water pump.

[0027] The heat exchangers 2 of the cooling system are conventionally arranged behind a front face of a motor vehicle, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4. In an arrangement 10' known from the state of the art illustrated in [Fig.l], the space between a front crossmember of the motor vehicle and the heat exchanger(s) 2' of the cooling system 1' is dedicated to the compression of all the constituent elements of the front of the vehicle, such as the bumper, the shock absorbers and the front crossmember in order to limit the impact on the components stacked behind during a low-speed impact. This generally causes the additional water pump 3' to be offset. In the example illustrated in [Fig.l], the additional water pump 3' is arranged on a pump support which is fixed to the left front side member of the motor vehicle. The additional 3' water pump is located at the junction between the front pendant and the cradle.Relocating the 3' water pump in this way involves extending the pipes within the cooling circuit and / or making the cooling circuit connections more complex in order to ensure the circulation of the heat transfer fluid in said cooling circuit.

[0028] This arrangement 10' can prove problematic, because in the event of an impact at low speed, for example a speed less than or equal to 15 km / h, the components of the structure at the front of the vehicle are likely to deform under the effect of the impact. More particularly, a portion of the front crossmember, such as the crossmember bar 4' and / or the front part of a side member will be crushed under the effect of such an impact. These deformations can directly impact the components of the cooling circuit. The deformations of the front crossmember bar 4' and / or the front part of a side member can cause a malfunction of the exchanger(s) and the cooling system 1', and the parts of this cooling system 1' are quite expensive to repair.

[0029] An embodiment of a heat exchanger 2 according to the invention is illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The heat exchanger 2 comprises a bundle, which may comprise plates or tubes between which there are fins for the circulation of air connected to water boxes 5 arranged on two opposite edges of the bundle. In addition to serving as a supporting structure for the bundle, the water boxes 5 are configured to collect the heat transfer fluid intended to circulate inside the bundle of the heat exchanger 2.

[0030] Furthermore, the heat exchanger 2 comprises a water pump 3 integrated in one of said water boxes 5. This is the additional water pump 3. The cooling system 1 therefore comprises a main water pump and an additional or auxiliary water pump 3, the latter then corresponding to the water pump 3 integrated in said heat exchanger 2. The additional water pump 3 can be immersed in the heat transfer liquid.

[0031] The water pump 3 integrated in one of the water boxes 5 of the heat exchanger 2 has a body of generally cylindrical shape. The generally cylindrical shape refers to the general shape of the body of the water pump 3. The generally cylindrical shape ignores certain added parts such as hydraulic or electrical connectors, or even fixing elements.

[0032] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the pump body of generally cylindrical shape has an axis extending in a vertical direction, that is to say parallel to the Z axis.

[0033] The pump body of generally cylindrical shape comprises two circular bases 6 arranged parallel to each other along the vertical axis Z and a casing 7 which extends between the peripheral edges of said circular bases 6 so as to connect them together. The casing 7 extends perpendicular to the surfaces of the two circular bases 6.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 comprises a single single-piece part which forms the water box 5 and the body of the water pump 3 integrated into said water box 5. This embodiment has the advantage of being particularly compact and therefore of freeing up space in the cooling system 1. Furthermore, by integrating the body of the water pump 3 into the water box 5 using a single single-piece part, there is no longer any need to use a support to hold the additional water pump 3 within the arrangement 10, which has an economic advantage in addition to making the cooling system 1 more compact. The absence of a support also makes it possible to free up space within the cooling system. This is particularly visible when comparing the arrangement 10 of [Fig. 3] where the cooling system comprises a heat exchanger according to the invention with the arrangement 10 of [Fig.l] which illustrates the state of the art.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, the height of the water pump 3 is less than or equal to the height of the water box 5 along the vertical axis Z, as illustrated in [Fig.2]. This height may be less than half or one third of the height of the upright.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the circular bases 6 of the cylindrical water pump 3 is less than the height of said water pump 3. Thus, the vertical dimension of the water pump is greater than its lateral dimension: the water pump 3 is thus long and thin, which facilitates its arrangement 10 within water box 5 of heat exchanger 2.

[0037] According to one example, the height of the water pump 3 is between twice the diameter of the circular bases 6 and ten times the diameter of the circular bases. Other ratios between the height of the water pump 3 and the diameter of the circular bases 6 of this same water pump 3 can be envisaged.

[0038] Preferably, the water pump is sized according to the power to be supplied by the electric motor to which it is connected for rotation.

[0039] According to one example, the water pump 3 is configured to generate a power of between 60W and 100W. In addition or as an alternative, the water pump 3 is configured to generate a flow rate of between 15L / min and 25L / min and more particularly equal to 20L / min.

[0040] The water box 5 may comprise a fluid inlet 8 and a fluid outlet 9. The water pump 3 is then arranged at the fluid outlet 9 of the water box 5, as illustrated in [Fig. 2]. More precisely, the fluid outlet 9 of the water box 5 may be located at a level between the two circular bases 6 of the generally cylindrical body of the water pump 3 or above the two circular bases 6 of the generally cylindrical body of the water pump 3. The proximity between the fluid outlet 9 of the water box 5 and the additional water pump 3 facilitates the immersion of the water pump 3 in the heat transfer liquid collected in the water box 5.

[0041] Optionally, the casing 7 which forms the lateral face of the pump body of the water pump 3 of generally cylindrical shape may comprise at least one fluid connection allowing the additional water pump 3 to be connected to other components of the cooling circuit in the cooling system 1.

[0042] Furthermore, the pump body of the water pump 3 may comprise a fastening element configured to fasten the heat exchanger 2 to a part of an arrangement 10 comprising said heat exchanger 2.

[0043] A heat exchanger 2 with an additional water pump 3 integrated in one of the water boxes 5 of said exchanger 2 can be integrated into a cooling system 1 and into a motor vehicle compartment according to a particularly advantageous arrangement 10, as illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0044] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 3], the water boxes 5 of the heat exchanger 2 extend in a vertical direction when mounted in a motor vehicle. In other words, the water boxes 5 of the heat exchanger 2 extend parallel to the vertical axis Z when the heat exchanger is mounted in the cooling system 1. In this way, the generally cylindrical body of the water pump 3 has an axis also extending in the vertical direction, parallel to the vertical axis Z.

[0045] Such an arrangement 10 may prove to be more compact than the arrangement 10 of the prior art illustrated in [Fig. 1]. It will be noted that integrating the additional water pump 3 into one of the water boxes 5 of the heat exchanger 2 makes it possible to simplify the structure of the cooling circuit by reducing the length of the pipes and / or by reducing the number of fluid connections between the heat exchanger 2 and the additional water pump 3.

[0046] This arrangement 10 therefore comprises a heat exchanger 2 as described above and it further comprises a crossbar 4 for a motor vehicle. In this arrangement 10, the exchanger is arranged at the rear of the crossbar 4 of the chassis, and the water pump 3 of said heat exchanger 2 is located lower than the crossbar 4. This is illustrated in [Fig.3].

[0047] By "lower" is meant here that seen from the front, the generally cylindrical body of the water pump 3 is located below the crossbar 4. Thus, whatever the point of the cylindrical body of the water pump 3 considered, this point is positioned below any point of the crossbar 4, therefore lower than any point of the crossbar 4. In other words, if we consider that the vehicle is resting on horizontal ground, whatever the point of the cylindrical body of the water pump 3 considered, this point is closer to the horizontal ground than the crossbar 4.

[0048] According to one example, there is a gap of a few centimeters between the crossbar 4 and the circular base closest to the water pump 3 along the vertical axis Z. This gap is for example between five centimeters and twenty-five centimeters.

[0049] In addition to being located lower than any point on the crossbar 4, the water pump 3 is also positioned set back from this same crossbar 4. In other words, the water pump 3 is located behind the crossbar 4.

[0050] According to an example illustrated in [Fig.4], there is a gap of a few centimeters between the crossbar 4 and the axis of the cylindrical body of the water pump 3 along the longitudinal axis X. This gap is for example between five centimeters and fifteen centimeters.

[0051] This location of the water pump 3 is advantageous because in the event of an impact at low speed, for example a speed of less than or equal to 10 km / h, the probability that the components of the structure at the front of the vehicle which are caused to deform under the effect of the impact will strike the water pump 3 is lower, given that the water pump 3 is located lower than the crossbar 4. The advantageous location of the water pump 3 within the arrangement 10 can allow a reduction in the damage suffered in the event of an impact against the front face of the vehicle at low speed. The advantageous location of the water pump 3 within the arrangement 10 contributes thus the repairability of the motor vehicle in the event of an accident.

Claims

Claims

1. Heat exchanger (2) for a cooling system (1) for a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger (2) comprising a bundle of plates or tubes held by water boxes (5) arranged on two opposite edges of the bundle, said water boxes (5) being configured to collect a heat transfer fluid intended to circulate inside the bundle of the heat exchanger (2), the heat exchanger (2) being characterized in that it comprises a water pump (3) integrated in one of said water boxes (5).

2. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water pump (3) has a body of generally cylindrical shape with circular bases (6) and in that the diameter of the circular bases (6) of the water pump (3) of cylindrical shape is less than the height of said water pump (3).

3. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the water pump (3) is less than or equal to the height of the water box (5).

4. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water pump (3) is configured to generate a power of between 60W and 100W and / or to generate a flow rate of between 15L / min and 25L / min and more particularly equal to 20L / min.

5. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water box (5) comprises a fluid inlet (8) and a fluid outlet (9) and in that the water pump (3) is arranged at the fluid outlet (9) of the water box (5).

6. Heat exchanger (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises the same single-piece part forming the water box (5) and a housing of the water pump (3) integrated into said water box (5).

7. Cooling system (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a heat exchanger (2) according to one of the preceding claims, a main water pump and an additional water pump (3), the additional water pump (3) corresponding to the water pump (3) integrated in said heat exchanger (2).

8. Arrangement (10) of a motor vehicle chassis comprising a heat exchanger (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and / or a cooling system (1) according to claim 7, ca- characterized in that the water boxes (5) of the heat exchanger (2) extend in a vertical direction when mounted in a motor vehicle and characterized in that the water pump (3) has a body of generally cylindrical shape with an axis extending in the vertical direction.

9. Arrangement (10) of a motor vehicle chassis according to the preceding claim, further comprising a crossbar (4) for a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger (2) being arranged at the rear of the crossbar (4) of the chassis, and characterized in that the water pump (3) of said exchanger is located lower than the crossbar (4).

10. Motor vehicle comprising a heat exchanger (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and / or a cooling system (1) according to claim 7 and / or an arrangement (10) of a motor vehicle chassis according to one of claims 8 or 9.

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