Inlet pipe for a heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to an intake pipe (1) for a heat exchanger (100), said intake pipe (1) comprising a box (11) and a cover (12), said box (11) comprising at least one opening (40) provided in said box (11), said cover (12) comprising a peripheral edge (50), said peripheral edge (50) surrounding an internal portion (51) of the cover (12), the cover (12) being arranged to cover the opening (40), the peripheral edge (50) being secured to said box (11) by welding, said intake pipe (1) being characterized in that said box (11) is assembled to the internal portion (51) using at least one reinforcing member (60), in particular two reinforcing members (60). Abstract figure: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Intake duct for a heat exchanger Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, in particular for motor vehicles. Prior art

[0002] It relates more particularly to a heat exchanger comprising a heat exchange bundle determining first circulation channels for the circulation of a gas to be cooled, and second circulation channels for the circulation of a coolant. Such a heat exchanger can be produced in particular in the form of a supercharging air cooler for a motor vehicle heat engine, the gas to be cooled then being constituted by the supercharging air of the engine.

[0003] Indeed, supercharged or turbo-compressed thermal engines, in particular diesel engines, are supplied with compressed air called supercharging air coming from a turbo-compressor operated by the engine's exhaust gases.

[0004] However, this compression has the effect of heating the air which is at too high a temperature and it is desirable, for proper operation of the engine, to cool it in order to lower its temperature before its admission into the engine cylinders. For this, a heat exchanger called a charge air cooler is conventionally used. This cooler has the function of cooling the charge air by heat exchange with another fluid such as outside air or a liquid such as water from the engine cooling circuit, thus forming an air / air or liquid / air type exchanger.

[0005] In a known manner, a heat exchanger, and more precisely a charge air cooler, comprises heat exchange and fluid flow elements in which fluids circulate, exchanging heat with each other. Many combinations of fluids can be envisaged, whether liquids and / or gases. Many structural configurations are conceivable. Exchangers are known comprising a heat exchange bundle comprising a stack of plates arranged parallel to each other in one or more rows parallel to each other, these plates being arranged to define on the one hand first circulation channels for a first fluid and on the other hand second circulation channels for a second fluid by exchanging heat with the first fluid.

[0006] These plates can be alternated with flow disturbance elements of a fluid, for example a gaseous fluid such as charge air. According to a known solution, an exchanger comprises an intake pipe and an exhaust pipe for the gaseous fluid such as charge air, arranged on either side of the bundle. These pipes allow the intake and exhaust of the charge air through the exchanger.

[0007] The intake and exhaust pipes of such an exchanger are subjected to mechanical and thermal stresses. The gas intake pipe, in particular, must be capable of withstanding the high pressures and temperatures of the exhaust gases from the turbocharger. The invention aims in particular to provide a heat exchanger capable of adapting to the mechanical stresses and temperature conditions on the gas intake manifold side. The invention also aims to provide such a heat exchanger which is particularly suitable as a charge air cooler. Summary

[0008] To this end, the present invention provides an inlet duct for a heat exchanger, said inlet duct comprising a box and a cover. Said box also comprises at least one opening provided in said box. The intake box cover includes a peripheral edge, said peripheral edge surrounding an inner portion of the cover. The lid is arranged to cover the opening of the box, so that the internal portion faces said opening. The peripheral edge is secured to the box by welding, preferably by vibration welding. The intake duct is characterized in that the box is assembled to the internal portion of the cover using at least one reinforcing member, in particular two reinforcing members.

[0009] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, said box is configured to be arranged at one end of a heat exchange bundle of the heat exchanger. Said box comprises, in addition to the opening, an inlet and an outlet. The outlet of said box is directly connected to the heat exchange bundle.

[0010] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the opening of the box is surrounded by a perimeter, the peripheral edge of the cover being secured to the perimeter of the opening.

[0011] The reinforcing member makes it possible to mechanically reinforce the weld. Attaching the internal portion of the lid to the box makes it possible to optimize the mechanical reinforcement by distributing the forces over a “more central” area. The forces applied by the reinforcing member are thus distributed over the entire peripheral edge.

[0012] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing members are chosen from screws or nuts or rivets.

[0013] In this way, the screws or nuts or rivets make it possible to reinforce the connection of the cover to the box.

[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the box comprises at least one first passage, in particular a through passage, said first passage being configured to cooperate with the reinforcing member, in particular with a screw.

[0015] The reinforcing member passes through the first passage of the box.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the internal portion of the cover comprises at least one first orifice, in particular a blind orifice, said first orifice being configured to cooperate with the reinforcing member.

[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, each of the first orifices of the internal portion is positioned opposite each of the passages of the box.

[0018] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first orifice comprises a thread, said thread being configured to cooperate with the reinforcing member, in particular with a screw.

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing member, for example the screw, passes through the first passage of the box to fit the thread of the first orifice.

[0020] The reinforcing member thus passes through the first passage of the box to be housed in the first orifice of the internal portion of the cover. In the case of a first threaded orifice, the cooperation of said thread with the reinforcing member exerts a force, this force reinforcing the connection of the cover and the box.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the internal portion of the cover comprises at least one rib, in particular two ribs, said rib extending from the internal portion towards the box.

[0022] The rib is in particular made of a material with the cover. Said rib extends from the internal portion of the cover towards the box. The rib fulfills two functions. The first function is to guide the air along the intake duct. The second function is to serve as mechanical reinforcement for the cover.

[0023] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, said rib comprises at least one first orifice.

[0024] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing members are fixing lugs belonging to the box and / or to the internal portion of the cover.

[0025] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the box and the cover are made of plastic material.

[0026] The plastic material allows for a low weight of the intake pipe, as well as a high modularity of shape, the use of plastic allowing modify the geometry of the box and the lid by adapting the tools.

[0027] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the entrance of the box has a circular section.

[0028] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the outlet of the box has a substantially rectangular section.

[0029] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the box comprises at least one second passage, in particular a through passage, in particular two second passages, said second passages preferably being arranged around the entrance of the box.

[0030] The second passages cooperate with fasteners to secure the inlet of the intake duct to an air inlet channel. The fasteners do not pass through the opening.

[0031] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the cover comprises at least one second orifice, in particular a blind orifice, in particular two second orifices, each of the second orifices being in particular arranged opposite a second passage. In particular, the second orifices comprise a thread, said thread being configured to cooperate with fixing members, in particular screws.

[0032] In this way, the fixing members pass through the second passages of the box and cooperate with the threads of the second holes of the cover. In this way, not only is the air inlet channel fixed to the inlet of the intake duct, but the cover is also fixed to the box by means of the fixing members.

[0033] Thus, the cover is secured to the box at the peripheral edge, by welding, but also by means of the reinforcing members and the fixing members.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the box comprises at least one third orifice, in particular blind, in particular two third orifices, the third orifices comprising a thread, said thread cooperating with fixing members, in particular screws.

[0035] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the intake pipe forms an elbow, in particular an elbow between 160° and 200°.

[0036] The invention also relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a supercharging air cooler, comprising an intake duct according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0037] Other characteristics, details and advantages will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the attached drawings, in which:

[0038] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a heat exchanger comprising an inlet pipe according to the invention.

[0039] [Fig.2] is an exploded view of the intake duct of [Fig. 1].

[0040] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the intake duct box of [Fig. 1] Description of the embodiments

[0041] In order to facilitate the reading of the figures, the different elements are not necessarily represented to scale. In these figures, identical elements bear the same references. Certain elements or parameters may be indexed, that is to say designated for example by first element or second element, or first parameter and second parameter, etc. This indexing is intended to differentiate similar, but not identical, elements or parameters. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element or parameter over another. It is thus possible to interchange the names 'first', 'second', 'third', etc.

[0042] The invention relates to an intake duct 1 for a heat exchanger 100, in particular an exchanger for cooling the charge air for a heat engine, such as a motor vehicle diesel engine. Such a heat exchanger 100 is shown [Fig.l]. Such a heat exchanger 100 may be a so-called "air-liquid" exchanger, that is to say an exchanger in which the fluids which exchange heat are air and a liquid such as water. In the case of a charge air cooler, the liquid is preferably water from the so-called "low temperature" cooling circuit of said engine; it is typically glycolated water. Of course, the invention is not limited to motor vehicle charge air coolers and may be applied to other types of heat exchangers.

[0043] The heat exchanger 100 shown in [Fig.l] comprises a heat exchange bundle 20 which, in the example, is formed by an assembly of stacked plates. The heat exchange bundle 20 is framed on the one hand by a gas inlet pipe 1 and on the other hand by a gas outlet pipe 2. The two gas inlet pipes 1 and gas outlet pipes 2 are, in the example illustrated, assembled respectively on two opposite faces of the heat exchange bundle 20. The gas outlet pipe 2 can be fixed directly or indirectly to the cylinder head of the engine. The inlet pipes 1 and outlet pipes 2 can be produced by molding to the desired shape and are assembled on either side of the heat exchange bundle 20.

[0044] The inlet pipe 1 for a heat exchanger 100 comprises a box 11 and a cover 12. As shown [Fig.l], said box 11 is configured to be arranged at one end of a heat exchange bundle 20 of the heat exchanger 100.

[0045] The box 11 is shown in more detail [Fig.2]. The box 11 comprises an inlet 31 and an outlet 32, the outlet 32 ​​being arranged opposite the heat exchange bundle. heat 20.

[0046] The box 11 comprises an opening 40, shown [Fig.3], and arranged in the box 11. The opening 40 of the box 11 is surrounded by a perimeter 4L

[0047] The cover 12, shown in particular [Fig.2], comprises a peripheral edge 50, said peripheral edge 50 surrounding an internal portion 51 of the cover 12.

[0048] The cover 12 is arranged to cover the opening 40, so that the internal portion 51 of the cover faces the opening 40.

[0049] The peripheral edge 50 of the cover 12 is secured to the box 11 by welding, preferably by vibration welding. In particular, the peripheral edge 50 of the cover 12 is secured to the periphery 41 of the opening 40.

[0050] In the example illustrated [Fig.2], the box 11 is assembled to the internal portion 51 using two reinforcing members 60.

[0051] The reinforcing members 60 make it possible to mechanically reinforce the weld. Attaching the internal portion 51 of the cover 12 to the box 11 makes it possible to optimize the mechanical reinforcement by distributing the forces over “a more central area”. The forces applied by the reinforcing members 60 are thus distributed over the entire peripheral edge 50.

[0052] The reinforcing members 60 are preferably chosen from screws or nuts or rivets.

[0053] In this way, the screws or nuts or rivets make it possible to reinforce the connection of the cover 12 to the box 11.

[0054] In the embodiment shown [Fig.2], the box 11 comprises two first through passages 61, said first passages 61 being configured to cooperate with the reinforcing members 60, here with screws.

[0055] The reinforcing members 60 pass through the first passages 61 of the box 11.

[0056] The internal portion 51 of the cover 12 comprises two first orifices 62, configured to cooperate with the reinforcing members 60.

[0057] Each of the first orifices 62 of the internal portion 51 is positioned opposite each of the passages 61 of the box 11.

[0058] The first orifices 62 comprise threads, said threads being configured to cooperate with the reinforcing members 60, here with screws.

[0059] The reinforcing members 60 pass through the first passages 61 of the box 11 to fit the threads of the first orifices 62.

[0060] The reinforcing members 60 thus pass through the first passages 61 of the box 11 to be housed in the first orifices 62 of the internal portion 51 of the cover 12. The cooperation of the threads with the reinforcing members 60 exerts a force, this force reinforcing the connection of the cover 12 and the box 11.

[0061] The internal portion 51 of the cover 12 comprises two ribs 70, said ribs 70 extending from the internal portion 51 towards the box 11.

[0062] The ribs 70 are made of a single material with the cover 12. Said ribs extend from the internal portion 51 of the cover 12 towards the box 11. The ribs 70 fulfill two functions. The first function is to guide the air along the intake duct 1. The second function is to serve as mechanical reinforcement for the cover 12.

[0063] The ribs 70 comprise the first orifices 62.

[0064] According to an exemplary embodiment not shown, the reinforcing members 60 may be fixing lugs belonging to the box 11 and / or to the internal portion 51 of the cover 12.

[0065] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the box 11 and the cover 12 are made of plastic material.

[0066] The plastic material makes it possible to have a low weight of the intake pipe 1, as well as a great modularity of shape, the use of plastic making it possible to modify the geometry of the box 11 and the cover 12 by adapting the tools.

[0067] The inlet 31 of the box 11 is of circular section.

[0068] The outlet 32 ​​of the box 11 has a substantially rectangular section.

[0069] The box 11 comprises two second passages 63, said second passages 63 being arranged around the inlet 31 of the box 11.

[0070] The second passages 63 cooperate with fixing members to fix the inlet 31 of the intake duct 1 to an air inlet channel. The fixing members do not pass through the opening 40.

[0071] The cover 12 comprises at least two second orifices 64, each of the second orifices 64 being arranged opposite a second passage 63, the second orifices 64 comprising a thread, said thread being configured to cooperate with fixing members, here screws.

[0072] In this way, the fixing members pass through the second passages 63 of the box 11 and cooperate with the threads of the second orifices 64 of the cover 12. In this way, not only is an air inlet channel fixed to the inlet 31 of the intake duct 1, but the cover 12 is also fixed to the box 11 by means of the fixing members.

[0073] Thus, the cover 12 is secured to the box 11 at the peripheral edge 50, by welding, but also by means of the reinforcing members 60 and the fixing members.

[0074] The box 11 comprises two third blind orifices 65, the third orifices 65 comprising a thread, said thread cooperating with fixing members, here screws.

[0075] The intake pipe 1 forms an elbow, in particular an elbow between 160° and 200°.

Claims

Claims

1. An intake duct (1) for a heat exchanger (100), said intake duct (1) comprising a box (11) and a cover (12), said box (11) comprising at least one opening (40) provided in said box (11), said cover (12) comprising a peripheral edge (50), said peripheral edge (50) surrounding an inner portion (51) of said cover (12), the cover (12) being arranged to cover the opening (40), so that the inner portion (51) faces said opening (40), the peripheral edge (50) being secured to said box (11) by welding, preferably by vibration welding, said intake duct (1) being characterized in that said box (11) is assembled to the inner portion (51) using at least one reinforcing member (60), in particular two reinforcing members (60).

2. Intake duct (1) according to the preceding claim, the reinforcing members (60) being chosen from screws or nuts or rivets.

3. Intake duct (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the box (11) comprising at least one first passage (61), in particular a through passage, said first passage (61) being configured to cooperate with the reinforcing member (60), in particular with a screw.

4. Intake duct (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the internal portion (51) of the cover (12) comprising at least one first orifice (62), in particular blind, said first orifice (62) being configured to cooperate with the reinforcing member (60).

5. Intake duct (1) according to claims 3 and 4, each of the first orifices (62) of the internal portion (51) being positioned opposite each of the passages (61) of the box (11).

6. Intake duct (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 5, the first orifice (62) comprising a thread, said thread being configured to cooperate with the reinforcing member (60), in particular with a screw.

7. Intake duct (1) according to the preceding claim, in combination with claim 5, the reinforcing member (60), for example the screw, passing through the first passage (61) of the box (11) to fit the thread of the first orifice (62).

8. An intake duct (1) according to any preceding claim, the inner portion (51) of the cover (12) comprising at least at least one rib (70), in particular two ribs (70), said rib (70) extending from the internal portion (51) towards the box (H).

9. Intake duct (1) according to the preceding claim, in combination with claim 4, the rib (70) comprising the at least one first orifice (62).

10. Heat exchanger (100), in particular charge air cooler, comprising an intake duct (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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