Fluidic connection tube

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger (2), in particular for a vehicle (4), comprising at least one fluidic connection tube system (6) configured to receive a heat transfer fluid, a bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes (8), and at least one header tank (10) comprising a header plate (12) on which the bundle of tubes (8) is mounted. The header plate (12) comprises at least one fluid opening (14) forming a fluid inlet or fluid outlet, and the fluidic connection tube system (6) is assembled with the header plate (12) opposite the fluid opening (14). The fluidic connection tube system (6) comprises a first connection section (61) parallel to the tubes (8) of the bundle, a second connection section (62) connecting to the fluid opening (14), and a transition section (63) between the two connection sections.

Description

FLUID CONNECTION TUBE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The scope of the present invention relates to a heat exchanger, particularly for a vehicle. The vehicle is of the land, sea and air type. Technological background of the invention

[0002] A heat exchanger, especially for a vehicle, includes, in a way known per se, at least one collector box (or water box), mounted at the end of a bundle of tubes through which a heat transfer fluid circulates.

[0003] The heat exchanger further comprises two collector plates (or "collectors") through which the ends of the tubes of the bundle pass. Each collector plate is covered with a lid to form the collector box.

[0004] In this particular case, the first collection box distributes the heat transfer fluid flowing through the tubes from a fluid inlet formed by a first cover. The second collection box collects the heat transfer fluid that has flowed through the tubes and directs it to a heat transfer fluid outlet formed by the second cover. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention aims in particular to reduce the size of the heat exchanger while optimizing its mechanical resistance.

[0006] The invention thus relates to a heat exchanger, particularly for a vehicle, said exchanger comprising: • at least one fluidic connection pipe configured to receive a heat transfer fluid; • a bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes; • a collector plate on which the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes is mounted, the collector plate having at least one fluid opening forming a fluid inlet or a fluid outlet of the collector plate, and in which the fluidic connection tube is assembled with the collector plate opposite the fluid opening, characterized in that at least one fluidic connection tube comprises: • a first connection section to a supply or collection pipe for heat transfer fluid, the first connection section being parallel to the tubes of the bundle; • a second connection section to the fluid opening; and • a transition section between the first connecting section and the second connecting section.

[0007] Thanks to the invention, and in particular because the fluid connection tube is assembled with the collector plate opposite the fluid opening, the overall size of the heat exchanger is reduced, either by its thickness or along a plane perpendicular to the plane defined by the tube bundle. This simplifies the management of the connectors that can be attached to the tube.

[0008] In addition to reducing bulk, the invention also offers better mechanical resistance to mechanical fatigue, particularly induced by cyclic pressure phenomena, the failures of which are often located around the tubing, for example made of plastic.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, a median axis longitudinally traversing the first connecting section is distinct from a median axis traversing the second connecting section, said median axes being axes traversing all the cross sections by passing through their centers.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the two median axes are spaced apart along the principal direction of elongation of the collector plate.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes defines a plane, the two median axes being contained in this plane.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the first connecting section moves away from the second connecting section while moving away from the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat transfer fluid tube bundle comprises an end tube on each side of this bundle.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the first connecting section is at least 50% contained within a distance from a longitudinal end of the collector plate to the extreme tube of the bundle closest to that end of the collector plate, preferably at least 80%, and even more preferably entirely contained within said distance.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat exchanger comprises two collector boxes facing each other on either side of the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes, each collector box comprises a collector plate, the first connecting section of at least one of the collector boxes is contained in a volume formed by the two collector plates.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat exchanger comprises two fluidic connection tubes having the same characteristics.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic connection tubes are on the same side of the heat transfer fluid tube bundle.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic connection tubes are on either side of the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the first connecting section has a circular cross-section, the second connecting section has an oblong cross-section, and the transition section allows for the gradual change from the circular section to the oblong section.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic connection tubing is assembled by being brazed with the collector plate.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the collector plate includes a collar that defines the fluid opening. The fluid connection tube is assembled with the collar, notably by being brazed to the collar. The collar has, at its free end, a raised edge defining a substantially cylindrical circumference.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic connection tubing is brazed with this edge raised from the collar.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, this raised edge connects to the collector plate by a flared portion.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid opening has an oblong shape along the longitudinal direction of the collecting plate.

[0025] Alternatively, the fluid opening can have a circular shape.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the collar is formed from the same material as the collector plate, which is produced, for example, by cutting and stamping.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the tube bundle is assembled on the collector plate on an assembly area that extends between a longitudinal end of the collector plate and the location on the collector plate where the fluidic connection tubing is located.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat exchanger comprises two collection boxes on either side of the tube bundle.

[0029] Alternatively, the connecting pipe(s) can be attached to a clip fixed to the collector plate.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the collar extends outwards from the collector box.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic connection tubing is brazed onto an outer face of the collar.

[0032] In other words, the fluid connection tube has an internal diameter at its junction with the collar that is approximately equal to the external diameter of the collar. Therefore, the fluid connection tube remains outside the collector box.

[0033] The internal diameter of the fluid connection pipe can be relatively large compared to the external diameter of the collector box, which does not increase the pressure drop of the fluid flowing between the collector box and the fluid connection pipe. In other words, this "inverted" collar improves the flow of heat transfer fluid in the fluid connection pipe by reducing pressure drop.

[0034] In another embodiment of the invention, the fluidic connection tubing is brazed onto an inner face of the collar.

[0035] In other words, the fluid connection tube has an external diameter at its junction with the collar that is approximately equal to the internal diameter of the collar. Therefore, the fluid connection tube remains inside the collector box.

[0036] In another embodiment of the invention, the collar extends into the inside of the collection box.

[0037] In this case, the fluidic connection tubing is introduced inside the collar to be assembled with this collar.

[0038] This implies that the fluidic connection tube at the junction with the collar has an external diameter that is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the collar in order to be able to insert the fluidic connection tube into the fluid opening.

[0039] In yet another example of implementation, the fluid opening is formed by a simple cut in the collector plate.

[0040] In this case, the collector plate lacks a collar at the junction with the fluidic connection tubing.

[0041] In this case, the fluidic connection tubing is brazed to the collector plate, across its thickness.

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic connection tube has a bead which rests on the collector plate and the fluidic connection tube has an end wall which engages inside the collector box through the fluid opening of the collector plate.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the bead rests on an extreme portion connecting the outer face and the inner face of the collector plate, said extreme portion being part of the free end of the collar.

[0044] Alternatively, the bead rests against the outer face of the collector plate. List of figures

[0045] Other features, details, and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description and several examples. of implementation given for guidance purposes only and not as a limitation, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, on which: • Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a heat exchanger according to an example of its implementation; • Figure 2 is a schematic and partial cross-sectional representation of an example of an embodiment of the invention; • Figure 3 is a schematic and partial cross-sectional representation of a heat exchanger according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; • Figure 4 is a schematic and partial cross-sectional representation of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the invention; • Figure 5 is a schematic and partial cross-sectional representation of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the invention; • Figure 6 is a schematic and partial cross-sectional representation of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the invention. Detailed description

[0046] The features, variations, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variations of the invention may include only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from prior art.

[0047] In the following description, identical elements or elements with identical functions are marked with the same reference numeral. For the sake of brevity, only the differences between the presented embodiments are described.

[0048] Figure 1 shows a heat exchanger 2 for a vehicle 4, said exchanger 2 comprising: two fluidic connection tubes 6, and configured to receive a heat transfer fluid; • a bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes 8; • a collecting plate 12 on which is mounted the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes 8, the collecting plate 12 having a fluid opening 14, having an oblong shape along the longitudinal direction of the collecting plate 12, forming respectively a fluid inlet or a fluid outlet of the collecting plate 12, and a plastic cover 13, configured to cover the collecting plate 12.

[0049] The fluidic connection tubes 6, on either side of the tube bundle 8, are assembled by being brazed with the collector plates 12 opposite the respective fluid opening 14.

[0050] As illustrated in Figure 2, each fluidic connection pipe 6 includes a first connection section 61 to a supply or collection pipe for the heat transfer fluid. The first connection section 61 is parallel to the tubes 8 of the bundle. Each fluidic connection pipe 6 also includes a second connection section 62 to the fluid opening 14, and a transition section 63 between the first connection section 61 and the second connection section 62.

[0051] A median axis M1 longitudinally traversing the first connecting section 61 is distinct from a median axis M2 traversing the second connecting section 62. By median axis, one must understand an axis traversing all the cross sections passing through their centers.

[0052] The two median axes M1, M2 are spaced apart along the principal direction of elongation of the collector plate 12. In addition, the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes 8 defines a plane, and the two median axes M1, M2 are included in this plane.

[0053] The first connecting section 61 moves away from the second connecting section 62 while also moving away from the heat transfer fluid tube bundle 8.

[0054] The heat transfer fluid tube bundle 8 includes an end tube 81 on each side of this bundle. The first connecting section 61 is at least 50% contained within a distance L1 extending from a longitudinal end 30 of the collector plate 12 to the end tube 81 of the bundle nearest to this end 30 of the collector plate 12, preferably at least 80%, even more preferably entirely contained within said distance L1.

[0055] The first connecting section 61 is contained within a volume formed by the two collector plates 12 facing each other on either side of the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes 8.

[0056] In the illustrated embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 comprises two fluidic connection tubes 6 with identical characteristics. These fluidic connection tubes 6 can be arranged on the same side of the heat transfer fluid tube bundle 8, or, as illustrated in Figure 1, on opposite sides of the heat transfer fluid tube bundle 8.

[0057] The first connecting section 61 has a circular cross-section, while the second connecting section 62 has an oblong cross-section. The transition section 63 allows for the gradual change from the circular to the oblong cross-section.

[0058] The collector plates 12 each have a collar 20 that defines the fluid opening 14. The fluid connection tubes 6 are assembled by brazing them to the respective collars 20. The collars 20 have, at their free end 22, a raised edge 24 defining a substantially cylindrical circumference. The fluid connection tubes 6 are brazed to these raised edges 24 of the respective collars 20. These raised edges 24 connect to the respective collector plates 12 via flared portions 26.

[0059] The collars 20 are formed from the same material as the collector plates 12 which are made, for example, by cutting and stamping.

[0060] The tube bundle 8 is assembled on the collector plates 12 on assembly areas which each extend between a longitudinal end 30 of the collector plate 12 and the location 32 on the collector plate 12 where the respective fluidic connection tubing 6 is located.

[0061] In examples of embodiments of the invention particularly visible in figures 3 and 4, the collars 20 extend outwards from the collection boxes 10.

[0062] As illustrated in Figure 3, the fluidic connection tubes 6 are brazed onto external faces 38 of the respective collars 20.

[0063] In other words, the fluidic connection tubes 6 have internal diameters Dintt at the junctions with the collars 20 which are substantially equal to the external diameters Dextc of the collars 20. Thus, the fluidic connection tubes 6 remain outside the collector boxes 10.

[0064] The internal diameters Dintt of the fluidic connection tubes 6 can be relatively large compared to the external diameters Dextc of the collector boxes 10, which does not increase the pressure losses of the fluid flowing between the collector boxes 10 and the fluidic connection tubes 6. In other words, these "inverted" collars 20 improve the flow of heat transfer fluid in the fluidic connection tubes 6 by reducing pressure losses.

[0065] In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the fluidic connection tubes 6 are brazed onto inner faces 50 of the respective collars 20.

[0066] In other words, the fluidic connection tubes 6 have external diameters Dextt at the junction with the collars 20 which are substantially equal to the internal diameters Dintc of the collars 20. Thus, the fluidic connection tubes 6 remain inside the collector boxes 10.

[0067] In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure 5, the collars 20 extend into the inside of the collection box 10.

[0068] In this case, the fluidic connection tubes 6 are introduced inside the collars 20 to be assembled with these collars 20.

[0069] This implies that the fluidic connection tubes 6 at the junctions with the collars 20 have external diameters Dextt which are substantially equal to the internal diameters Dintc of the collars 20 in order to be able to insert the fluidic connection tubes 6 into the fluid openings 14.

[0070] In another example of an embodiment still visible in figure 6, the fluid openings 14 are formed by a simple cut of the collector plates 12.

[0071] In this case, the collector plates 12 are without a collar at the junctions with the fluidic connection tubes 6.

[0072] In this case, the fluidic connection tubes 6 are brazed with the collector plates 12, over their thickness.

[0073] As illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, the fluidic connection tubes 6 have ridges 60 which bear against the collecting plates 12 and the fluidic connection tubes 6 each have an end wall 64 which engages inside the collecting box 10 through the fluid opening 14 of the respective collecting plate 12.

[0074] As illustrated in Figure 4, the ridges 60 rest on extreme portions 65 connecting the outer faces 38 and the inner faces 50 of the collector plates 12, said extreme portions 65 being part of the free ends 22 of the collars 20.

[0075] Alternatively, as can be seen in particular in figures 5 and 6, the ridges 60 rest on the outer faces 38 of the collector plates 12.

[0076] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but is susceptible to numerous variations accessible to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands Claim 1. Heat exchanger (2), in particular for a vehicle (4), said exchanger comprising: • at least one fluidic connection tube (6) configured to receive a heat transfer fluid; • a bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes (8); • a collecting plate (12) on which the heat transfer fluid tube bundle (8) is mounted, the collecting plate (12) having at least one fluid opening (14) forming a fluid inlet or a fluid outlet of the collecting plate (12), and in which the fluid connecting tube (6) is assembled with the collecting plate (12) opposite the fluid opening (14), characterized in that the at least one fluid connecting tube (6) comprises: • a first connection section (61) to a supply or collection pipe for heat transfer fluid, the first connection section (61) being parallel to the tubes (8) of the bundle; • a second connection section (62) to the fluid opening (14); and • a transition section (63) between the first connecting section (61) and the second connecting section (62). Claim 2. Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that a median axis (M1) longitudinally traversing the first connecting section (61) is distinct from a median axis (M2) traversing the second connecting section (62), said median axes (M1, M2) being axes traversing all the cross sections by passing through their centers. Claim 3. Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the two median axes (M1, M2) are spaced apart from each other along the principal direction of elongation of the collector plate (12). Claim 4. Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the bundle of heat transfer fluid tubes (8) defines a plane, the two median axes (M1, M2) being included in this plane. Claim 5. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the first connecting section (61) moves away from the second connecting section (62) while moving away from the heat transfer fluid tube bundle (8). Claim 6. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat transfer fluid tube bundle (8) comprises an end tube (81) on each side of this bundle. Claim 7. Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first connecting section (61) is at least 50% contained within a distance (L1) from a longitudinal end (30) of the collecting plate (12) to the extreme tube (81) of the bundle closest to this end (30) of the collecting plate (12), preferably at least 80%, more preferably entirely contained within said distance (L1). Claim 8. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two collector boxes (10) facing each other on either side of the heat transfer fluid tube bundle (8), each collector box comprising a collector plate (12), the first connecting section (61) of at least one of the collector boxes (10) is contained in a volume formed by the two collector plates (12). Claim 9. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two fluidic connection tubes (6) having the same characteristics. Claim 10. Heat exchanger (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the fluidic connection tubes (6) are on the same side of the heat transfer fluid tube bundle (8). Claim 11. Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fluidic connection tubes (6) are on either side of the heat transfer fluid tube bundle (8). Claim 12. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connecting section (61) has a circular cross-section, the second connecting section (62) has an oblong cross-section and the transition section (63) allows the gradual change from the circular section to the oblong section. Claim 13. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluidic connection tube (6) is assembled by being brazed with the collector plate (12). Claim 14. Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 13, characterized in that the collecting plate (12) has a collar (20) which defines the fluid opening (14) and the fluid connection tube (6) is assembled with the collar (20), in particular by being brazed with the collar (20). Claim 15. Heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid opening (14) is formed by a simple cut in the collector plate (12).

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