Assembly comprising a cooling device including two blindly connected cooling circuits and its assembly method.

Abstract

An assembly comprising a cooling device including two blindly connected cooling circuits and its assembly method. One aspect of the invention relates to an assembly 1 comprising a first and a second housing 4, 5 forming a sealed housing 45. The assembly includes a cooling duct 6 comprising two blindly connected cooling circuits 62, 63 within the sealed housing 45 by a male fitting 61 and a female fitting 60 receiving the male fitting 61, forming an inter-fitting gap 69. The assembly 1 includes a fitting gasket 71 sealing the inter-fitting gap 69 and the cooling duct 6, and a housing gasket 72 sealing the inter-fitting gap 69 and the sealed housing 45.The assembly also includes a vent 8 opening onto the inter-fitting gap 69 to ensure an outlet of a cooling fluid circulating in the cooling duct 6 to the outside in case of a leak from the fitting seal 71. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly comprising a cooling device including two blindly connected cooling circuits and its assembly method. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of cooling devices comprising two cooling circuits connected blindly in a housing.

[0002] The present invention relates to an assembly, in particular an electrical machine comprising this assembly having two cooling circuits connected in a sealed housing by two fittings and its assembly method. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Assemblies comprising a first cooling circuit for cooling a device and a second cooling circuit for cooling an apparatus are known. The terms "apparatus" and "device" are similar in the application and serve only to distinguish between them. These two circuits can be connected in series or in parallel to circulate a fluid that cools the apparatus and the device. For example, a first housing allows the first cooling circuit to be assembled against the device, and the apparatus is attached to the second housing against the first cooling circuit. For various reasons, the two cooling circuits may be blindly connected within the sealed housing.

[0004] For example, in the case of an electrical machine comprising the assembly, the device is a stator and the apparatus is an electronic unit controlling and powering the stator winding. For reasons of size, reliability, and cost, there is an assembly called embedded electronics, in which the second housing is mounted against the first housing. In this case, the first and second circuits can be blindly connected in a housing formed between the first and second housings, which contains the electronic components of the electronic unit.

[0005] However, during a leak test in such a blind connection, it is not possible to determine whether the leak is at the junction (the connection) between the two cooling circuits or elsewhere, leading to the complete failure of the assembly. Furthermore, if a leak occurs at the junction between the two cooling circuits, there is a risk that the liquid will enter the sealed housing, potentially causing short circuits and therefore a risk of fire.

[0006] There is therefore a need to have an assembly comprising two blindly connected cooling circuits in a sealed housing, the sealing of which is verifiable and effective. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention provides a solution to the problems mentioned above by allowing leak detection during blind assembly of two fittings from two cooling circuits in a sealed housing. More specifically, the invention uses a vent at the fitting to test / verify a leak between the two fittings, particularly in the event of incorrect positioning of a seal between the two fittings during blind assembly.

[0008] One aspect of the invention relates to a cooling assembly comprising: • a first casing and a second casing forming a watertight compartment, • a cooling duct comprising: • a first cooling circuit comprising at least one part located in the first housing outside the housing, including a first connection having at least one part located in the housing, • a second cooling circuit located in the dwelling, comprising a second fitting connected to the first fitting connecting the first cooling circuit to the second cooling circuit, forming a cooling duct, • The first or second fitting is connected to the other, forming an inter-fitting gap between them. • a connecting joint that provides a watertight seal between the inter-fitting gap and the cooling duct, • a housing seal that provides a watertight separation between the inter-fitting gap and the housing, • a vent opening into a defined area of ​​the inter-fitting clearance between the fitting seal and the housing seal to ensure the outlet of a cooling fluid circulating in the cooling duct to the outside in the event of a leak from the fitting seal, • the housing seal to prevent the intrusion of fluid into the sealed housing from the outside through the vent.

[0009] Thanks to the invention, by fitting the two housings together (or one inside the other) in a sealed manner to form the sealed housing, the two fittings are connected together, linking the two cooling circuits into a conduit of Cooling, to circulate a cooling fluid from one circuit to another. Due to the blind connection of the two fittings and because the fitting gasket is compressed between them, it is not possible to see inside whether the fitting gasket is correctly positioned or defective. Thus, the inter-fitting clearance is formed between the housing gasket and the fitting gasket, and the vent allows for testing or checking for leaks between the two blindly mounted fittings in the sealed housing, particularly in case of incorrect positioning of the fitting gasket. The housing gasket prevents external fluid from entering the sealed housing through the vent or the cooling fluid in case of a faulty fitting gasket. A leak test can be performed to verify that the gaskets are correctly positioned.

[0010] Finally, the vent allows for easy verification by means of a fluid circulation test. For example, compressed air pressure is sent through one end into the cooling duct, and a plug or pressure sensor is mounted at the other end of the cooling duct. If the connection seal is incorrectly positioned during assembly or if it has become porous (after a period of use), the fluid, in this case compressed air, will escape through the vent without damaging a device sensitive to a cooling fluid, mounted in the sealed housing.

[0011] The assembly may include the device housed in the sealed compartment, cooled by the second circuit. The assembly may also include the device cooled by the first cooling circuit.

[0012] By "cooling duct" in the phrase "connecting joint separating the inter-connecting gap and the cooling duct" is meant the circulation volume of the cooling duct.

[0013] By exterior, we mean outside the assembly, that is to say outside the sealed housing.

[0014] In addition to the characteristics just mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the assembly according to one aspect of the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics from the following paragraphs, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0015] According to a first embodiment, the first fitting and the second fitting each comprise a radial face with an axial end, opposite each other, forming between them the inter-fitting gap, • each radial face with axial end comprising: • an opening of the first or second circuit opposite each other, • a radial sealing surface between housings sandwiching the housing joint, • a radial sealing surface of the connection sandwiching the connection joint, • in which one of the two axial end radial faces comprises a vent surface located between the radial sealing surface of the connection and the radial sealing surface of the housing open to the vent.

[0016] This embodiment simplifies blind assembly since there is no need to insert one fitting into the other.

[0017] According to one example, the first or second fitting includes a wall comprising a fitting joint groove, for example circular, surrounding the opening and in that the fitting joint is located in the fitting joint groove.

[0018] According to one example, the first or second fitting includes a wall comprising a housing joint groove, for example circular, surrounding the opening and optionally the fitting joint groove and in that the housing joint is located in the housing joint groove.

[0019] In these two examples, the corresponding groove makes it possible to improve the retention and correct positioning of the corresponding seal during blind assembly.

[0020] According to a second embodiment, which is a variant of the one described above, the first or second fitting is a male fitting, and respectively the first or second fitting is a female fitting surrounding the male fitting, the gap between the fittings being between the inner surface of the female fitting and the outer surface of the male fitting. The gap between the fittings is thus defined, on the one hand, between an inner surface of the female fitting surrounding the male fitting and an outer surface of the male fitting surrounded by the female fitting, and on the other hand, between the fitting gasket and the housing gasket. A wall comprising a surface delimiting a portion of the watertight housing compresses the housing gasket against the male fitting. The surface delimiting a portion of the housing may be a wall of the casing integral with the female fitting, or the female fitting itself.

[0021] According to an example of this embodiment, the first fitting (or second female fitting) comprises: • a first wall comprising an inner surface surrounding the inter-fitting clearance and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the vent passing through the first wall from the inner surface to the outer surface and • a second wall extending from the first wall comprising: • an internal surface and • opposite the internal surface, an internal surface delimiting the watertight housing.

[0022] According to one example, the external surface is covered by a wall of the first housing or the second housing, pierced by the vent.

[0023] According to one example, the external surface is a surface delimiting an open volume of the vent.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the connecting joint is an axially compressed joint between a radial surface of the first joint and a radial surface of the second joint. The connecting joint is therefore axially compressed.

[0025] A radial surface is a surface in a plane perpendicular to an axis of direction of fluid flow in the fitting or of insertion of the male fitting into the female fitting.

[0026] For example, the male fitting and the female fitting each comprise a first and a second wall of revolution of different diameter and a shoulder of corresponding shape between the two walls of revolution, and the fitting seal is mounted compressed between the two radial surfaces each formed by the corresponding shoulder.

[0027] According to an example of the first embodiment, which is a variant of the preceding embodiment, the connecting seal is a radial seal surrounding the first or second fitting and is surrounded respectively by the second or first female fitting, compressing it against the first or second fitting. The connecting seal is thus compressed radially between the two fittings. The radial direction is perpendicular to an axis, called the axial axis, of the direction of fluid flow in the two fittings or of insertion of the male fitting into the female fitting.

[0028] For example, the first or second male fitting includes a cylindrical wall comprising an internal surface forming a volume of the first or second cooling circuit and an external surface of revolution comprising a groove of revolution housing a part of the fitting seal.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the housing seal is a radial seal surrounding the first fitting and compressed against the male fitting by a surface of revolution of the wall comprising a surface delimiting a part of the housing.

[0030] According to a variant of this embodiment, the housing joint is an axially compressed axial joint between a radial surface of the second fitting and a radial surface of the first fitting or of the wall comprising a surface delimiting a part of the housing.

[0031] According to an example of the preceding variant or embodiment, the wall comprising a surface delimiting a part of the housing is a wall of the first connection.

[0032] According to a variant of this example, the wall comprising a surface delimiting a part of the housing is a wall of the first or second housing.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the first housing and the second housing each comprise a peripheral wall mounted against each other delimiting a contour of the housing, and the assembly further includes a peripheral seal mounted between the two peripheral walls to seal the housing, the housing seal being surrounded by the peripheral wall of the first or second housing.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the first and second housings each comprise, respectively, a first and second bottom wall delimiting the housing. In one example, the first housing and / or the second housing comprises, respectively, the first or second fitting, which is a single unit with, respectively, the first or second bottom wall.

[0035] According to an example of this embodiment, the first housing comprises one-piece walls, the first bottom wall delimiting a portion of the housing, at least one wall forming at least a portion of the first cooling circuit, and at least one wall forming the first one-piece connection with the first housing. The one-piece walls may, for example, be molded.

[0036] According to an example of a combination of the two preceding embodiments, the first or second housing further comprises: • A chimney extending into the housing from the back wall and / or the perimeter wall to the first connection, comprising an internal volume open to the outside of the assembly, the vent comprising the internal volume of the chimney and an opening passing through the first connection, extending from the internal volume to the gap between the connections. The housing is sealed against the vent and the chimney opening by means of the housing gasket.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the second cooling circuit is a single unit with boundary walls of the second housing comprising an external surface, the second cooling circuit includes, opposite the first fitting, an inlet or outlet fitting passing through an opening in the second housing.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the first cooling circuit comprises at least one channel formed by a wall of the first housing. The first cooling circuit therefore comprises at least one part that is integral with the first housing.

[0039] According to an example of this embodiment, the first cooling circuit includes a part formed between a groove in the first housing and an external surface of a device to be cooled, for example a stator.

[0040] According to an example of this embodiment, the first fitting is a single piece with a main body of the first housing.

[0041] According to another embodiment, the first cooling circuit is formed by a cooling block mounted on the first housing.

[0042] Another aspect of the invention relates to an electrical machine comprising: • an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, with or without one or more characteristics of the different embodiments described above, • a stator mounted rigidly to the first housing, against the first cooling circuit to cool it, the stator comprising a winding including phase outputs, • an electronic unit electrically connected to the phase outputs of the stator to control and power the winding, the electronic unit being housed in the housing against the second cooling circuit.

[0043] By "mounted securely", we mean "mounted against" or "mounted on" or even "mounted in", for example overmolded.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the housing comprises a delimited area between two bottom walls of the first and second box and a phase output area located in the first box open to the main housing area, in which the phase outputs are located in the phase output area.

[0045] According to one example, the machine includes a rotor and the housing includes an air gap area between the rotor and the stator and the first housing includes a removable cover axially sealing the air gap area.

[0046] According to one variant, the first housing includes a cable gland closing the phase output area and the phase outputs pass through the cable gland.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the second cooling circuit comprises a thermal surface, the electronic unit comprising a block of electronic components fixed, for example glued by a thermal paste, to the thermal surface, the second cooling circuit further comprising an inlet fitting passing through the second housing in a sealed manner.

[0048] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for assembling an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, comprising: • a step of mounting the first housing against the second housing by blindly connecting the first fitting to the second fitting while compressing the fitting seal and the housing seal, • a leak test after the assembly stage, including: • a sub-step of connecting a plug or a pressure measuring sensor to an inlet or outlet fitting of the cooling duct, • a sub-step of connecting a compressor to a respective outlet or inlet fitting of the cooling duct, • a sub-step of pressurizing a fluid in the cooling duct by the compressor, in which if a loss of If the cooling pressure is below a threshold value, the leak test is validated.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the method further comprises, before the step of mounting the first housing against the second housing: • a step of mounting a cooling block for the second cooling circuit in the second case, the cooling block being connected to the second fitting • a leak test step of the second cooling circuit by applying pressure between the second fitting and a fitting of the cooling block opposite the second fitting.

[0050] According to one example, the method includes prior to the step of mounting the cooling block, a step of mounting an electronic block of a device in the second housing, and in which the step of mounting the cooling block is carried out by applying a cooling surface of the cooling block against the electronic block.

[0051] According to one example, the method includes a step of mounting an electronic block of a device against a cooling surface of the cooling block against the electronic block. This step can be carried out before or at the same time as the step of mounting the first housing against the second housing.

[0052] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0053] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting of the invention.

[0054] [Fig.1] shows a schematic representation according to a cross-section of an assembly according to a first example of a first embodiment.

[0055] [Fig.2] shows a schematic representation according to a cross-section of a machine electrical comprising an assembly according to a second example of a first embodiment.

[0056] [Fig.3a] shows a three-dimensional exploded view representation of part of a electrical machine comprising an assembly according to a third example of the first embodiment.

[0057] [Fig.3b] shows an enlargement of an area of ​​[Fig.3a].

[0058] [Fig.4a] shows a three-dimensional view of part of a first housing and of a first connection of the assembly according to the third example of the first embodiment.

[0059] [Fig.4b] shows another three-dimensional view of part of the first housing and the first connection of the [Fig.4a].

[0060] [Fig. 5] shows a three-dimensional view of an example of a second housing, of the second cooling circuit and a device of the assembly according to the third example.

[0061] [Fig.6] shows a schematic representation according to a cross-section of an assembly according to a fourth example of the first embodiment.

[0062] [Fig.7] shows a schematic representation according to a cross-section of an assembly according to an example of a second embodiment.

[0063] [Fig.8a] shows a schematic representation according to a cross-section of an assembly according to an example of a third embodiment.

[0064] [Fig.8b] shows a schematic representation according to a view of a radial face axial end of a first fitting of the whole of the [Fig.8a].

[0065] [Fig.8c] shows a schematic representation according to a view of a radial face axial end of a second fitting of the assembly [Fig. 8a]. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting of the invention.

[0067] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a cross-section of assembly 1 of an example of a first embodiment. Certain parts of the various schematic diagrams in the different figures are simplified and enlarged compared to reality to improve the understanding and explanation of this example of the invention.

[0068] The cooling assembly 1 comprises a first housing 4 and a second housing 5 forming a sealed compartment 45. In this case, the first housing 4 and the second housing 5 each comprise, respectively, a first and second peripheral wall 47, 57 defining a perimeter of the compartment 45, and a first and second bottom wall 40, 50 defining the height of the compartment 45. The shapes of the peripheral walls 47, 57 and the bottom walls 40, 50 are shown in a schematic diagram but may have different shapes and thicknesses.

[0069] Each peripheral wall 47, 57 includes a rim 570, 470 mounted against each other. The two rims 570, 470 can be used to fix the two housings 4, 5 by means of fasteners, for example, bolts or screws. The assembly 1 further includes, in this example, a peripheral seal 73 mounted between the two rims 570, 470 to make the housing 45 watertight with respect to the outside, at the level of a gap between these two rims 570, 470. According to another example not shown, the assembly includes a sealant bonded between the two rims 570, 470. In this example, the seal is a flat seal, but it could be another type of seal. In this example, the peripheral seal 73 is mounted in a so-called axial manner, compressed and sandwiched between the two peripheral walls 47 and 57. Of course, the peripheral seal 73 could to be mounted radially by surrounding one of the two peripheral walls 47, 57 and being surrounded by the other peripheral wall 57, 47 being compressed "radially" between these two peripheral walls 47, 57. Thus a radial joint is a joint compressed perpendicular to the direction of connection of the male and female fittings and an axial joint is a joint compressed parallel to the direction of connection.

[0070] Assembly 1 comprises a cooling device forming a cooling duct 6 comprising a first cooling circuit 62 and a second cooling circuit 63 connected to each other. The first cooling circuit 62 is schematically shown comprising at least a portion located in the first housing 4, outside the recess 45. The first cooling circuit 62 is integral with the first housing 4 before being mounted against the second housing 5. The first cooling circuit 62 comprises at least one first connection and includes at least a portion of the first connection formed in the first housing 4 within the sealed recess 45. In this example, assembly 1 comprises a device to be cooled 9 mounted on the housing 4 against walls (some of which are not shown due to the cross-section) of the first cooling circuit 62 for cooling purposes.

[0071] The first cooling circuit 62 comprises, in this example, in addition to the first fitting, a block 620 comprising a main channel 621 connected in a sealed manner to the first fitting and various cooling channels 622 each comprising an end open to the main channel 621, for cooling the device to be cooled 9. The block 620 comprises, in this example, a second main channel 623 connecting another end of each of the cooling channels 622.

[0072] The first fitting 60 and the block 620 can, according to another example, be monobloc.

[0073] The cooling device includes a second cooling circuit 63 housed in the sealed housing 45. The assembly 1 includes a device 3 housed in the sealed housing 45 and the second cooling circuit 63 is suitable for cooling the device 3.

[0074] The second cooling circuit 63 is attached to the second housing 5 before (and after) the mounting of the first housing 4 against the second housing 5. The second cooling circuit 63 thus allows the device 3 located in the sealed housing 45 to be cooled.

[0075] In this example, the device 3 comprises a first block 31 and a second block 32; for example, the two blocks are electronic units. The second cooling circuit 62 comprises a first cooling surface 631 and a second cooling surface 632. The first block 31 can be pre-mounted either in the first housing 4 against the first cooling surface 631 or in the second housing 5, and then can be mounted blindly. against the first cooling surface 631 during the assembly of the first case 4 against the second case 5. The second block 32 is previously mounted in the second case 5 against the second cooling surface 632 between the bottom wall 50 of the second case 5 and the second cooling circuit 63.

[0076] On the other hand, the second cooling circuit 63 includes a second fitting located in the housing 45. The second fitting is suitable for connecting with the first fitting linking the first cooling circuit 62 to the second cooling circuit 63. In this example, the cooling block 630 is therefore connected to the second fitting 61.

[0077] In this example, the first fitting is a female fitting 60 and the second fitting is a male fitting 61, the male fitting 61 being inserted into the female fitting 60. However, this could be reversed as in the example of the second embodiment shown in [Fig.7] explained below.

[0078] The first cooling circuit 62 includes, opposite the first fitting 60, a third fitting 65, which is female but could be male. The third fitting 65 is mounted on the block 620 and is connected to the second main channel 623 in a sealed manner.

[0079] The second cooling circuit 63 includes, opposite the first fitting 60, a fourth fitting 66, in this case female but could be a male fitting.

[0080] In this example, the fourth fitting 66 is an inlet of the cooling fluid into the cooling duct 6 and the third fitting 65 is an outlet of the cooling fluid from the cooling duct 6.

[0081] [Fig.5], the second cooling circuit 63 comprises a block of Cooling 630, in this example, comprises a plurality of cooling channels 633 arranged and connected in parallel, only one of which is shown in [Fig. 1], but it could be a single channel, for example, serpentine in shape. Each cooling channel 633 forms the first cooling surface 631 and the second cooling surface 632 of the second cooling circuit 63, as shown. According to another example not shown, two channels are in parallel such that one of the two channels runs along one cooling surface and the other channel runs along the other surface. The cooling channels 633 are connected on one side to the second fitting 61, in this case the male fitting, and on the other side to a main inlet channel 634 connected to the fourth fitting 66.

[0082] The second fitting 61 and the first fitting 60 each comprise a base and a connecting portion that are blindly connected in the housing 45 when the first housing 4 is mounted to the second housing 5. The base is the unconnected portion, and the connecting portion of the second male fitting 61 is entirely surrounded by the connecting portion of the first female fitting 60. In this example, the first fitting 60 is sealed against the first housing 4. In this case, the first housing 4 is overmolded onto the first fitting 60. According to another example, the cooling device may include a gasket mounted between the first housing 4 and the first fitting 60. According to other examples of this embodiment shown in Figures 3a to 5 and in [Fig. 6], the first fitting 60, in this case female, is a single piece, for example molded with the body of the first housing 4.

[0083] The cooling device includes an inter-connection set 69 (which is simplified and enlarged in the schematic diagram shown in [Fig.1]) formed between the second connection 61, here in this case male, and the first connection 60, here in this case female.

[0084] The assembly includes a connecting gasket 71 which is compressed between the first fitting 60 and the second fitting 61 so as to seal the inter-fitting gap 69 and the cooling duct 6. In this example, the connecting gasket 71 is a radial gasket surrounding the second male fitting 61, which is surrounded by the first female fitting 60. Grooves may be formed in the second male fitting 61 and / or the first female fitting 60 to improve the retention of the connecting gasket 71 during the blind connection of the second male fitting 61 to the first female fitting 60 when mounting the first housing 4 against the second housing 5.

[0085] A first housing seal 72 is mounted compressed between the first housing 4 and the male fitting 61 so as to seal the inter-fitting gap 69 and the housing 45. The first housing seal 72 can, according to other examples, be compressed between another element fixed to the first housing 4 and another element fixed to the second housing 5.

[0086] In this example, the first housing seal 72 is a radial seal surrounding the male fitting 61 and is compressed against the male fitting 61 by a surface of revolution of a wall, here of the first housing 4, comprising a surface delimiting a part of the housing 45.

[0087] The first housing seal 72, the connecting seal 71, each connecting part of the male fittings 61 and female fittings 60 are surrounded by the peripheral wall 47, 57 of the first housing 4 in this example but could be surrounded according to another example by the wall of the second housing 5.

[0088] The inter-connection clearance 69 is defined between the connection seal 71 and the first housing seal 72. To allow for the discharge of a cooling fluid to the outside from the cooling line 6 in the event of a misaligned or damaged connection seal 71, a vent 8 is formed. In this case, the vent 8 comprises, on the one hand, an opening 80 passing through a first wall 601 of the female fitting 60 surrounding the inter-fitting gap 69 and on the other hand an open volume 81 to the outside passing through a wall of the first housing 4. The inter-fitting gap 69 is thus open to the outside by means of the vent 8. This makes it possible to check if the fitting seal 71 is incorrectly positioned, or damaged.

[0089] The housing seal 72 thus prevents the intrusion of fluid into the sealed housing 45 from the outside through the vent 8 or from the cooling fluid in the event of a leak through the connection seal 71.

[0090] In this example, the first housing 4 includes a chimney 48 extending from an internal surface 401 of the bottom wall 40 into the housing 45 forming the open volume 81 passing through the bottom wall 40 and opening onto an external surface 400 of the bottom wall 40 to be open to the outside of the assembly 1. This chimney makes it possible to limit the intrusion of pressure from a fluid from the outside on the first housing seal 72 thus reducing the risk of entering the sealed housing 45 even if the first housing seal 72 is defective or poorly positioned.

[0091] In particular, in this example, the first wall 601 of the first female fitting 60 which surrounds the inter-fitting gap 69 comprises an internal surface surrounding (delimiting) the inter-fitting gap 69 and an external surface delimiting the open volume 81 of the vent 8, but could also be covered by a wall of the first housing 4 through which the opening 80 passes.

[0092] The second female fitting 60 further comprises a second wall 645 extending from the first wall 601 comprising an internal surface surrounding (delimiting) the inter-fitting gap 69 and opposite the internal surface, an internal surface delimiting the sealed housing 45.

[0093] In this example, the second female fitting 60 has a first part of cylindrical revolution shape and a second part of cylindrical revolution shape of smaller external diameter, the first part of cylindrical revolution shape having an angular section formed by a part of the second wall 645 and another angular section formed by the first wall 601. Fig. 4a and 4b represent another example of an assembly 1, representing in particular these different angular sections.

[0094] The assembly includes a second housing seal 76 between the fourth fitting 66 and the bottom wall 40, allowing the housing 45 to be sealed from the outside. The second housing seal 76 and the peripheral seal 73 can be easily inspected from the outside, unlike the fitting seal 71 and the housing seal 72. The tightness of the housing 45 can be checked by a normally closed valve (not shown) or by any other means.

[0095] Fig. 2 shows a representation of a cross-section of a schematic diagram of an electrical machine 10 comprising an assembly according to a second example of this first embodiment.

[0096] According to this example, the device to be cooled 9 is a stator 2 of an electrical machine 10.

[0097] The assembly is identical to that of the first example in [Fig.1] except with regard to the characteristics described in the following paragraphs.

[0098] The first housing 4 differs from the first example in that it includes a first part 624 of the first cooling circuit 62, the first part 624 being connected to the first fitting 00O in a sealed manner. The first housing 4 further includes at least one groove 46 open on the first part 624, surrounding the electrical machine 2. The electrical machine 10 comprises a stator 2 and a rotor 20 and a rotating shaft 21 integral with the rotor 20. The rotor 20 is surrounded by the stator 2. The stator 2, together with an external surface of the stator 2, forms a second part forming a cooling channel 622 of the first cooling circuit 62. The groove 46 has, for example, a helical shape with one end opposite the first part 624 forming an outlet (not shown) of the first cooling circuit 62. The outlet may have a female or male connection like that shown in the third example in [Fig. 3a] explained below.

[0099] According to this second example, the first cooling circuit 62 comprises only one cooling channel 622 but could include several. For example, several cooling channels 622 could be mounted in parallel as in the case of the first example, for example each having an axial direction, that is to say parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor 20, and connecting a first channel and a second main channel.

[0100] As in the case of the first example, in this second example, the female fitting 60 is the first fitting mounted integrally with the first housing 4, blindly connected to the male fitting 61 integrally with the second housing 5 during the mounting of the first housing 4 with the second housing 5. As in the case of the first example, in this second example, the connecting seal 71 is radial and provides a seal between the cooling duct 6 and the inter-fitting gap 69, the housing seal 72 is radial and provides a seal between the sealed housing 45 and the inter-fitting gap 69, and the vent 8 includes the opening 80 connected to the open volume 81 of the chimney 45 of the first housing 4.

[0101] In this example, the device 3 is electrically connected to the cooled device, here the stator 2. Indeed, the stator 2 comprises a winding including phase outputs 23 passing through a phase output chamber 423 of the first housing 4. The wall of The base 40 delimits the watertight housing 45. Thus, each of the phase outputs 23 can be connected to a connection block 33 of the device 3.

[0102] The device 3 housed in the sealed housing 45 includes other blocks, some of which are not cooled by the second cooling circuit 63, such as the connection block 32.

[0103] Fig. 3a shows a three-dimensional exploded view of a part of the electrical machine 10 comprising an assembly according to a third example of the first embodiment.

[0104] The first housing 4 comprises a housing body 49 defining a housing volume 454 of the sealed housing 45. The housing volume 454 is surrounded by the peripheral wall 47 and is defined between the bottom 40 and the opening delimited by the rim 470 of the peripheral wall 47. The housing volume 454 is connected to a second housing volume of the second housing 5 when the two housings 4 and 5 are nested together. The first housing 4 also comprises a device body 42 integral with the housing body 49, to receive the device, here the stator 2 of the electric machine 10. In this example, the device body 42 encloses the stator 2, a portion of whose winding can be seen. In this example, the first fitting 60 is a one-piece female fitting with the housing body 49 of the first housing 4.The first fitting 60 is molded here but could be printed (3D printing), or machined, in the same material, with the housing body 49 and the device body 42 of the housing 4.

[0105] A [Fig.4a] represents a three-dimensional view at the level of the first Fitting 60 on the side of the housing volume 454 and [Fig. 4b] represents a three-dimensional view at the level of the first fitting 60 on the external side. As in the first and second examples, the vent 8 comprises an opening 80 connected to an open volume 81 of a monobloc chimney 48 with the first fitting 60 and the housing body 49. The first fitting 60 and the chimney 48 are surrounded by the peripheral wall 47.

[0106] The first female fitting 60 has a shape of revolution comprising several cylindrical portions. As can be seen in [Fig. 4a], the first female fitting 60 has a first wall 601 and a second wall 645. The second wall 645 of the first female fitting 60 has an angular cross-section of a cylindrical portion of revolution. The first wall 601 has another angular cross-section of a cylindrical portion of revolution, the angular cross-section of the second wall 645 extending from the first wall 601.

[0107] As in the second example, the device body 42 comprises the first part 624 of the first cooling circuit 62 connected to the first female fitting 60 in a sealed manner. Furthermore, the device body 42 has a groove The non-visible helical channel forms the cooling channel with the external surface of the stator body 2. The groove forms an outlet for the first cooling circuit 62. The outlet has a male fitting 65. However, the outlet fitting 65 could also be female.

[0108] The first cooling circuit 62 is formed mainly by a monobloc main body with boundary walls of the first housing 4. Each boundary wall comprises an outer surface. The second cooling circuit 62 comprises, opposite the first connection, the outlet connection 65 passing through an opening in a boundary wall of the first housing 4 connected to the monobloc main body.

[0109] The second housing 5 shown in another view in [Fig. 5] is similar to that of the second or first example. The second fitting 61 of the second cooling circuit 63, integral with the second housing 5, is a male fitting. The device 3 is a block mounted against the cooling surface 631 of the second cooling circuit 63. The cooling circuit 63 comprises a cooling block 630 including a plurality of parallel channels or a single serpentine channel.

[0110] The second male fitting 61 includes a first groove 607 for receiving the housing seal 72 (not shown) [Fig. 3b]. In this example, the housing seal 72 is mounted between the first fitting 61 and the second one-piece fitting 60 with the housing body 49 of the first housing 4 to seal the gap between the fittings 69 and the sealed housing 45. The second fitting 61 includes a second groove 617 for receiving the first fitting seal 71 (not shown) and a third groove 617' for receiving a second fitting seal mounted in series with the first fitting seal 71 to reduce the risk of leakage. Another housing seal (not shown) can also be mounted in series to reduce the risk of fluid entering the sealed housing 45 through the vent 8.

[0111] In this example, the fourth fitting 66 is a male fitting intended to be connected to an external fitting passing through the second housing 4.

[0112] A fourth example of an assembly 1 according to this first embodiment is shown in cross-section according to a schematic diagram in [Fig. 6]. This fourth example is similar to that of the third example, except that the housing seal 72 is axial, the first cooling circuit 62 is different, and it comprises a single connecting seal 71, which is also axial. The first cooling circuit 62 comprises a block 620, as in the first example, including cooling channels 622 connected in a sealed manner to a main channel 621 formed in the first housing 4.

[0113] As in the third example, the first fitting 60 is female and is one piece with the housing 4. The first cooling circuit further comprises a second main channel 623 connected to the cooling channels 622 and to an outlet fitting 65.

[0114] The axial connecting gasket 71 is therefore compressed axially between a radial surface of the second fitting 61 (here the radial surface is an end of the male fitting, but it could be a shoulder) and a radial surface of the first fitting 60. The axial housing gasket 72 is compressed axially between a radial surface of the second fitting 61 and a radial surface of a wall 472 comprising a surface delimiting a portion of the sealed housing 45. Of course, the connecting gasket 71 and / or the housing gasket 72 can be radial, as in the previous examples.

[0115] Assembly 1 further includes a circuit 635 comprising a fitting connected to an inlet fitting 66 of the second cooling circuit 63. The circuit 635 passes through the first housing 5 to form an inlet of the cooling duct 6. This circuit 635 is connected to the inlet fitting 66 of the second cooling circuit 63 before the two housings 4, 5 are joined. According to another example not shown, this circuit 635 is connected to the inlet fitting 66 of the second cooling circuit 63 blindly; the assembly then includes, at this connection, a connecting gasket, a housing gasket, and a vent between the outside and a fitting set formed between the connecting gasket and the housing gasket, as in one of the examples described previously or, in particular, as in one of the examples of the second embodiment.Indeed, the inlet fitting 66 of the second circuit 63 is represented as a female fitting, like the second fitting of the second circuit 63 in the second embodiment described below in relation to [Fig.7].

[0116] The cooling device 9 is not shown in this figure.

[0117] Fig. 7 represents a schematic diagram of a section of an assembly according to an example of a second embodiment.

[0118] In this second embodiment, the first fitting 60' of the first cooling circuit 62 is a male fitting and the second fitting 61' of the second cooling circuit 63 is a female fitting. The various features of the examples described above apply to this second embodiment.

[0119] The first cooling circuit 62 comprises, as in the fourth example of the first embodiment, a block 620 including channels 622 and an outlet fitting 65, but could be as in the first, second or third embodiment (except that the first fitting is a male fitting 61).

[0120] In this example, the connecting joint 71 and the housing joint 72 are each radial, but according to other examples the connecting joint 71 and / or the housing joint 72 may be axial, as in the fourth example of the first embodiment. The joint peripheral 73 is radial and is compressed between the first peripheral wall 47 and the second peripheral wall 57.

[0121] In addition, the vent 8 includes an opening 80 passing through the second fitting 61' open to the inter-fitting gap 69, an open volume 81 of a chimney 58 and optionally, as shown, an opening 82 passing through the first peripheral wall 47 open to the outside of the assembly 1. The chimney 58 extends here from an internal surface of the peripheral wall 57 of the second housing 5 towards the second fitting 61'. The opening 82 passes through a portion of the first peripheral wall 47 between one end of the first peripheral wall 47 and the peripheral seal 73, that is to say, upstream of the peripheral seal 73 in the gap between the two peripheral walls 47, 57, with respect to the outside of the assembly 1.

[0122] Fig. 8a represents a schematic diagram of a section of an assembly according to an example of a third embodiment.

[0123] In this third embodiment, the first fitting 60" of the first cooling circuit 62 is a fitting comprising a disc-shaped wall and the second fitting 61" of the second cooling circuit 63 is another fitting with a disc-shaped wall. The various features of the examples described above apply to this third embodiment, in particular according to the second example of the first embodiment shown schematically in [Fig. 2].

[0124] In this second embodiment, the first fitting 61” and the second fitting 60” are connected like flanges, being pressed against each other. The first fitting 61” and the second fitting 60” each comprise a first and second radial axial end face 609, 619, respectively, facing each other axially with respect to the direction of fluid flow in the two fittings. Figures 8b and 8c respectively show the first and second radial axial end faces of the first and second fittings 60”, 61”, in which hatching and dashed lines allow visualization of the different depths of the surfaces of each of the radial axial end faces 609, 619. In this example, the first and second fittings 60”, 61”, each comprise a circular cylindrical peripheral surface but could have other shapes. The inter-fitting gap 69 is formed between these two radial faces of axial end 609, 619.In this embodiment, the first radial axial end face 609 therefore includes an opening 602 of the first circuit 62 opposite the opening 603 of the second circuit 63 located on the second radial axial end face 619, forming the connection between the two cooling ducts 62, 63.

[0125] The first radial end axial face 609 further comprises a first radial sealing surface for the connection 605 and the second radial end The axial end face 619 includes a second radial sealing surface 615 (here, an area of ​​a flat surface of the second radial end face 619) shown between two dashed circles. The first and second radial sealing surfaces 605 and 615 sandwich the connecting gasket 71. In this example, the first fitting 60" includes, on its first radial end face 609, a first circular groove in the wall of the first fitting 60", surrounding the opening 602, the bottom of which forms the first radial sealing surface 605. The connecting gasket 71 is mounted in a compressed sandwich against the first and second radial sealing surfaces 605 and 615.

[0126] The first axial end radial face 609 comprises a first radial housing sealing surface 606, and the second axial end radial face 619 comprises a second radial housing sealing surface 616 (here, an area of ​​the flat surface of the second axial end radial face 619). The first and second radial housing sealing surfaces 606 and 616 sandwich the housing gasket 72. In this example shown, the first fitting 61" comprises, on the first axial end radial face 609, a second circular groove surrounding the first circular groove. The bottom of the second circular groove forms the first radial housing sealing surface 606, in which the housing gasket 72 is mounted and compressed against the second radial housing sealing surface 616 formed on the second fitting 61".

[0127] In this example, the second axial end radial face 619 is a flat radial surface but could have complementary circular grooves or instead of those of the first axial end radial face 609.

[0128] In this example the connecting seals 71 and housing seals 72 are axial and radial seals by compressing in the grooves but could be only axial seals in the form of a washer.

[0129] In this embodiment, the first axial end radial face 609 comprises a circular vent surface 608 surrounding the first radial sealing surface of the connection 605 and is surrounded by the first radial sealing surface of the housing 606. In this instance, the first connection 61" comprises a circular groove around the opening 80, forming part of the inter-connection gap, the bottom of which corresponds to the vent surface 608. The first connection 61" further comprises an opening 80, as in the other examples, axially traversing the wall of the first connection 61" open onto the circular vent surface 608 and connected to the internal volume 81 of the chimney 48, together forming the vent 8.

[0130] According to another example of this second embodiment, the second fitting 61” includes the vent surface and includes the opening 80 connecting the interfitting gap 78 and internal volume 81 of the vent 8.

[0131] In the various examples described of the different embodiments, each connection or each cooling circuit can be made from a separate part or molded with the corresponding housing body.

[0132] A method for assembling assembly 1 according to one of the examples of the different embodiments will now be described.

[0133] The method includes a step of mounting the first housing 4 against the second housing 5 by blindly connecting the first fitting 60 to the second fitting 61 while compressing the fitting gasket 71 and the housing gasket 72. The connection of the first fitting 60 to the second fitting 61 connects the first to the second cooling circuit 62, 63 forming the cooling duct 6. This step may include a step of installing a peripheral gasket 73 if necessary and securing the two housings 4, 5 by means of fasteners such as screws, bolts, glue, rivets, etc. The first fitting 60, 60', 60" can be mounted respectively around, in, or against the second fitting 61, 61', 61".

[0134] The process may include, prior to this assembly step: • a substep of mounting a cooling block 630 of the second cooling circuit 63 in the second housing 5, the cooling block being connected in a sealed manner to the second fitting 61, • a step of mounting the electronic block 3 against a cooling surface 631 of the cooling block 630 of the second cooling circuit 63, • a leak test step of the cooling block 630 by applying pressure between an outlet 65 and the second fitting 61 to check the connection between the cooling block 630 and the second fitting 61.

[0135] The steps previously described in the preceding paragraph apply to the first housing 4, the first cooling circuit 62 and the device to be cooled 9.

[0136] The method includes a leak test step after the assembly step, comprising: • a sub-step of connecting a plug or a pressure measuring sensor to an inlet or outlet fitting 66, 65 of the cooling duct 6, • a substep of connecting a compressor to another connection respectively outlet 65 or inlet 66 of the cooling line 6, • a substep of pressurizing the cooling line 6 by applying a fluid pressure in the cooling line, in which if the pressure loss at the outlet of the other cooling line 6 is less than a threshold value, the leak test is validated.

[0137] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.

Claims

1.

2. Demands Cooling assembly (1) comprising: - a first housing (4) and a second housing (5) forming between them a watertight compartment (45), - a cooling duct (6) comprising • a first cooling circuit (62) comprising at least a part located in the first housing (4) outside the housing (45), comprising a first connection (60, 60', 60") comprising at least a part located in the housing (45), • a second cooling circuit (63) located in the housing (45), comprising a second fitting (61,61', 61”) connected with the first fitting connecting the first cooling circuit (62) to the second cooling circuit (63) forming the cooling duct (6), • the first and second fittings are connected to each other, forming an inter-fitting gap between them (69) - a connecting gasket (71) providing a watertight seal between the inter-fitting gap (69) and the cooling duct (6), - a housing gasket (72) providing a watertight seal between the inter-fitting gap (69) and the housing (45), - a vent (8) opening into an area of ​​the inter-fitting clearance (69) delimited between the fitting seal (71) and the housing seal (72) to ensure an outlet of a cooling fluid circulating in the cooling duct (6) to the outside in the event of a leak from the fitting seal (71), - the housing seal (72) which prevents the intrusion of fluid into the sealed housing (45) from the outside through the vent (8). Cooling assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first fitting (61”) and the second fitting (60”) each comprise an axial end radial face (609, 619), opposite each other forming between them the inter-connection gap (69), - each axial end radial face (609, 619) comprising: • an opening (602, 603) of the first or second circuit (62, 63) opposite each other, • a housing radial sealing surface (606, 616) of the housing sandwiching the housing gasket (72), • a connection radial sealing surface (605, 615) sandwiching the connection gasket (71), - wherein one of the two axial end radial faces (609, 619) comprises a vent surface (608) located between the connection radial sealing surface (605) and the housing radial sealing surface (606) open to the vent (8).

3. Cooling assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first fitting (60') or the second fitting (61) is a male fitting and respectively the first fitting (60) or the second fitting (61') is a female fitting surrounding the male fitting, the inter-fitting gap being located between the internal surface of the female fitting and the external surface of the male fitting.

4. Cooling assembly (1) according to claim 3 in which the first fitting (60) or second fitting (61) female comprises - a first wall (601) comprising an inner surface surrounding the inter-fitting gap (69) and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the vent (8) passing through the first wall (601) from the inner surface to the outer surface and - a second wall (645) extending from the first wall (610) comprising: • an inner surface and • opposite the inner surface, an inner surface delimiting the housing (45).

5. Cooling assembly (1) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the connecting seal (71) is a radial seal surrounding the first or second male fitting (60', 61) and is surrounded by the second or first female fitting (61, 60'), compressing it against the first or second male fitting (60', 61).

6. Cooling assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the connecting joint (71) is an axially compressed joint between a radial surface of the first fitting (60, 60”) and a radial surface of the second fitting (61, 61”).

7. Cooling assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing seal (72) is an axially compressed seal between a radial surface of the second fitting (60, 60”) and a radial surface of a wall (472) comprising a surface delimiting a portion of the sealed housing (45) or of the first fitting (61, 61”).

8. Cooling assembly (1) any one of the preceding claims 3 to 6, wherein the housing seal (72) is a radial seal surrounding the first or second male fitting (60', 61) and compressed against the first or second fitting (60', 61) by a surface of revolution of a wall comprising a surface delimiting a part of the housing (45).

9. Cooling assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which: - the first housing (4) and the second housing (5) each comprise a peripheral wall (47, 57) mounted against each other delimiting a contour of the housing (45), - the assembly further comprises a peripheral seal mounted between the two peripheral walls (45, 57) to seal the housing (45), the housing seal (72) being surrounded by the peripheral wall (47, 57) of the first housing (4) or second housing (5).

10. Cooling assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first housing (4) and the second housing (5) each respectively comprise a first and second bottom wall (40, 50) delimiting the housing (45), the first housing (4) and / or second housing (5) respectively comprise the first and / or second fitting which is monobloc with the first and / or second bottom wall respectively.

11. Cooling assembly (1) according to the preceding claims 9 and 10, wherein the first or second housing further comprises a chimney (48) extending in the housing (45) from the bottom wall (40, 50) and / or the peripheral wall (47, 57) to the first fitting (60), comprising an internal volume (81) open to the outside of the assembly (1), the vent (8) comprising the internal volume (81) of the chimney (48) and an opening (80) passing through the first fitting (60) extending from the internal volume to the inter-fitting gap (69).

12. Cooling assembly (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the first housing (4) comprises monobloc walls, the first bottom wall delimiting a part of the housing (45), at least one wall forming at least a part of the first cooling circuit (62) and at least one other wall forming the first monobloc connection with the first housing (4).

13. An electrical machine (10) comprising: - an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, - a stator (2) mounted integrally with the first housing (4), against the first cooling circuit (62) for cooling it, the stator (2) comprising a winding including phase outputs (20). - an electronic unit (3) electrically connected to the phase outputs (20) of the stator for controlling and supplying the winding, the electronic unit (3) being housed in the housing (45) against the second cooling circuit (63).

14. A method for assembling an assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, comprising: - a step of mounting the first housing (4) against the second housing (5) by blindly connecting the first fitting (60) to the second fitting (61) while compressing the fitting seal (71) and the housing seal (72), - a leak test after the assembly step, comprising: • a substep of connecting a plug or a pressure measuring sensor to a fitting

15. inlet or outlet (65, 66) of the cooling duct (6), • a sub-step of connecting a compressor to a respective outlet or inlet fitting (66, 65) of the cooling duct (6), • a sub-step of pressurizing a fluid in the cooling line (6) by the compressor, in which if a pressure loss in the cooling line (6) is less than a threshold value, the leak test is validated. A method for assembling an assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein, before the step of mounting the first housing (4) against the second housing (5), the method comprises: - a step of mounting a cooling block (630) of the second cooling circuit (63) in the second housing (5), the cooling block (630) being connected to the second fitting (61), - a leak test step of the second cooling circuit (63) by applying pressure between the second fitting and a fitting of the cooling block (630) opposite the second fitting (61).

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