FLUID DISTRIBUTION DEVICE COMPRISING A MANIFOLD AND AN EXCHANGE TUBE WITH SEALING MEANS AND A SHOULDER

Abstract

Fluid distribution device comprising a collector (1) and at least one exchanger tube (2), said collector comprising an inlet zone (13) and a distribution zone (14), said exchanger tube (2) receiving fluid from the distribution zone (14) after it has passed through the collector (1), characterized in that said distribution zone (14) comprises fixing means (32). Fig.3

Description

Title of the invention: FLUID DISTRIBUTION DEVICE COMPRISING A COLLECTOR AND AN EXCHANGER TUBE WITH SEALING MEANS WITH SHOULDER

[0001] It is known, from patent application WO2005 / 043021A1, a fluid distribution device comprising two tubes, the second tube receiving fluid from the first tube after it has passed through the connector consisting of two seals, a closed housing for assembling said tubes, fixing means, for example a resin injection making it possible to glue and secure said tubes.

[0002] Such a device has the advantage of easily allowing the assembly of two tubes.

[0003] However, such a device has the disadvantage of not allowing a plurality of tubes on the same collector which can offer multiple outlet connections. Indeed, the assembly used is made in line and does not allow the fluid to be connected and distributed between different tubes or conduits downstream of the supply tube.

[0004] Furthermore, such a device also has the disadvantage of requiring precise mechanical adjustment by a shoulder against which the first tube comes into abutment. Indeed, the presence of the shoulder at the level of the first tube prevents, by the positioning of the second tube, a gap from being present between said tubes so that part of the fluid remains in contact with the fixing means, around the second tube.

[0005] Also, an aim of the present invention is to propose a connection device which overcomes this drawback, by allowing easy and efficient installation of the fluid pipes, and which is simple and economical to produce. Another aim of the present invention is to propose a device allowing the distribution by the collector of the fluid on a plurality of tubes, typically exchanger tubes in the reservoir zone.

[0006] To this end, the invention also relates to a fluid distribution device comprising a collector and at least one exchanger tube, said collector comprising an inlet zone and a distribution zone, said exchanger tube receiving fluid from the distribution zone after it has passed through the collector, characterized in that said distribution zone comprises fixing means.

[0007] Such a fluid distribution device has the advantage of being effective in increasing both the sealing at the distribution zone area and that of the mechanical holding but also makes it possible to contain the sealing means, which may be only an adhesive agent, in the mechanical holding zone without need to install a specific element to contain it in the mechanical holding area.

[0008] According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises a plurality of exchanger tubes.

[0009] According to another characteristic of the invention, the exchanger tubes comprise at least one exchange fin.

[0010] According to another characteristic of the invention, the exchange fin has an orientation substantially perpendicular to the axis of said collector.

[0011] According to another characteristic of the invention, the fixing means comprise a mechanical holding zone.

[0012] According to another characteristic of the invention, the mechanical holding zone comprises a mechanical contact zone and a volume receiving a fixing means.

[0013] According to another characteristic of the invention, the mechanical holding zone comprises a mechanical contact zone and a volume receiving a fixing means.

[0014] According to another characteristic of the invention, the fixing means comprises a multi-component adhesive agent and at least one screw thread.

[0015] According to another characteristic of the invention, the fluid distribution device comprises a collector tube and an exchanger tube inserted into said collector tube, said insertion comprising a volume located between the collector tube and the exchanger tube comprising sealing means and fixing means dividing the volume between said tubes between a fixing zone between said tubes and at least one mechanical holding zone, said mechanical holding zone comprising sealing means characterized in that said sealing means comprise a shoulder.

[0016] According to another characteristic of the invention, a method of assembling a fluid distribution device comprising a collector tube and an exchanger tube, comprising the steps of placing sealing means on said exchanger tube, advantageously guiding the latter through the terminal zone of said exchanger tube into the cavity of said collector tube, holding it in place by one or more fixing means, continuing to manipulate by a movement having a direction substantially parallel to the general plane of said exchanger tube, injecting said fixing means such as an adhesive agent through the lateral orifices of said collector tube, advantageously filling said volume intended to receive said fixing means between said sealing means, maintaining said assembly for the time of solidification of said fixing means of the adhesive agent type, and repeating the assembly action for all of the exchanger tubes.

[0017] The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of several particular embodiments of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: - [Fig.l] is an enlarged sectional view of a fluid distribution device comprising a collector tube and an exchanger tube and comprising sealing means comprising a shoulder according to a particular embodiment of the invention, - [Fig.2] is a sectional view of a fluid distribution device comprising a collector tube and an exchanger tube and its fin, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, - [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a fluid distribution device comprising two collector tubes and a plurality of finned exchanger tubes 20 to 27 according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

[0019] [Fig.l] represents a refrigerant type fluid distribution device comprising a collector tube 1 and an exchanger tube 2 inserted in said collector tube, said insertion comprising a volume 3 located between the collector tube 1 and the exchanger tube 2 comprising sealing means 311, 312 and fixing means 32 dividing the volume 3 between said tubes between a fixing zone 4 between said tubes and at least one mechanical holding zone 41, said mechanical holding zone 41 comprising sealing means characterized in that said sealing means comprise a shoulder 313.

[0020] According to [Fig.l], the device advantageously has a worked shape of conical type at the end of the exchanger tube 2 in order to facilitate the insertion of the exchanger tube 2 into the housing provided for this purpose in the collector tube 1. A second shoulder 202 on the exchanger tube 2 can advantageously be arranged between the start of the fin and the mechanical holding zone 41, in order to mechanically limit the insertion of the exchanger tube 2 into its housing.The device advantageously has, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the general axis of the exchanger tube 2 and the outlet plane of the part containing and / or acting as a collector tube 1, a plurality of tubular-type orifices 11, 12 making it possible to open into the volume 3 at the right angle to the mechanical holding zone 4L. Thus, during assembly, the operation of filling with a sticky agent can be carried out simply by injecting said agent through these orifices until the volume is fully filled, which can be controlled by the evacuation of said agent through the orifice opposite that used for its injection. The mechanical holding zone 41 is advantageously constituted by a mechanical contact zone 411, comprising geometries of the type. screw 52 and a volume 412 located between the exchanger tube 2 and the collector tube 1. This volume 412 is typically made up of the space left vacant by the screw type geometries 52 on both the collector tube 1 and the exchanger tube 2.

[0021] [Fig. 2] represents a refrigerant type fluid distribution device comprising a collector tube 1 and an exchanger tube 2 inserted in said collector tube, said exchanger tube 2 comprising at least one fin 201 for exchanging heat with at least one fluid arranged around said distribution device typically in line with the fin 201.

[0022] [Fig. 3] represents a refrigerant type fluid distribution device comprising two collectors and a plurality of exchanger tubes 2 inserted in said collectors, said exchanger tube 2 comprising at least one fin 201 for exchanging heat with at least one fluid arranged around said distribution device typically in line with the fin 201 and / or between the plurality of fins. Each of said collectors comprises at its inlet at least one inlet zone 13 followed within said collector by a distribution zone 14, bringing the fluid from an external circuit of the refrigerant cycle type (for example compressor, expander, exchanger, etc.) to the inlet of each exchanger tube 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, etc. Thus this assembly makes it possible to share the refrigerant fluid between each exchanger tube 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27... .In addition, each exchanger tube is thus mechanically connected at each of its ends to a collector.Thus, the installation in a larger assembly of the storage tank type is facilitated by the sole manipulation and installation of said collectors. The connection made by said adhesive agent advantageously makes it possible to orient the exchanger tubes so that the fins are substantially arranged perpendicular to the main plane formed by said tubes, before solidification of said adhesive agent. The arrangement of said tubes makes it possible to distribute the fluid, typically water, between said fins. Furthermore, this type of assembly by simultaneous gluing of tubes with the two collectors makes it possible to advantageously resolve the technical constraints, both mechanical and execution. Thus, an advantage induced by this assembly technique makes it possible to establish a greater mechanical tolerance, in particular on the lengths of the different exchanger tubes 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, ... with fins.

[0023] Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated, which has been given only as an example. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Fluid distribution device comprising a collector (1) and at least one exchanger tube (2), said collector comprising an inlet zone (13) and a distribution zone (14), said exchanger tube (2) receiving fluid from the distribution zone (14) after it has passed through the collector (1), characterized in that said distribution zone (14) comprises fixing means (32).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises a plurality of exchanger tubes (20, 21, 22, ...).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said exchanger tubes (20, 21, 22, ...) comprise at least one exchange fin (201).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said exchange fin (201) has an orientation substantially perpendicular to the axis of said collector (1).

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means (32) comprise a mechanical holding zone (41).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said mechanical holding zone (41) comprises a mechanical contact zone (411) and a volume (412) receiving a fixing means (5).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said fixing means (5) comprises a multi-component adhesive agent (51) and at least one screw thread (52).

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