Header of a heat exchanger provided with a member for retention and/or angular positioning of a device for distribution of a refrigerant fluid

Abstract

The invention concerns a header (4) for a heat exchanger adapted to have a refrigerant fluid (FR) passed through it and comprising a wall (4a-4d) delimiting a chamber (6) accommodating a device (7) for distribution of the refrigerant fluid (FR) inside the chamber (6), the distribution device (7) comprising at least one conduit (8a, 8b) extending between two ends (20a, 20b; 29a, 29b) along a longitudinal axis (A1), at least a first end (20a) of the conduit (8a) being provided with an inlet opening (10) for the admission of the refrigerant fluid (FR) to the interior of the distribution device (7), the distribution device (7) being provided with at least one orifice (11) oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis (A1) for the evacuation of the refrigerant fluid (FR) from the distribution device (7) to the chamber (6), characterized in that it comprises at least one member (17a, 17b) for retaining the distribution device (7) inside the chamber (6) at least in part made in one piece with the wall (4a-4d) of the header (4).

Claims

1. A header for a heat exchanger adapted to have a refrigerant fluid passed through it and comprising: a wall delimiting a chamber accommodating a distribution device for distribution of the refrigerant fluid inside the chamber, wherein the chamber and the distribution device are coaxial along a longitudinal axis centered on a transversely median axis of the header that extends in a longitudinal direction of the header, the distribution device comprising at least one conduit extending between two ends along the longitudinal axis, at least a first end of the conduit being provided with an inlet opening for the admission of the refrigerant fluid to the interior of the distribution device, the distribution device being provided with at least one orifice oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis for the evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the distribution device to the chamber; and at least one member for retaining the distribution device inside the chamber at least in part made in one piece with the wall of the header, wherein the retaining member comprises at least one finger made in one piece with the wall of the header and an opening delimited by the conduit, the at least one finger being accommodated in the opening and centered on the longitudinal axis to form a plug in the opening, wherein the wall of the header comprises at least one cover, wherein a cross-section of the at least one cover has a profile in a shape of a semi-circle extending a full length of the at least one cover, and wherein the at least one cover extends along the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one flange is disposed at a longitudinal end of the cover and the at least one flange is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the at least one cover comprises an opening to receive a notch of the at least one flange.

2. The header according to claim 1, comprising at least one member for angular positioning of the distribution device inside the chamber at least in part made in one piece with the wall of the header.

3. The header according to claim 2, wherein the retaining member and/or the angular positioning member is at least in part made in one piece with the flange.

4. The header according to claim 3, wherein the flange forms a plug for closing the distribution device at one longitudinal end of the conduit, termed the second end, opposite the first end of the conduit along the longitudinal axis.

5. The header according to claim 2, wherein the angular positioning member comprises at least two portions of complementary shape to one another, a first portion made in one piece with the wall of the header cooperating by nesting with a second portion formed in an end face at one of the longitudinal ends of the conduit.

6. The header according to claim 5, wherein the distribution device comprises at least two conduits, a first conduit provided with the inlet opening being surrounded by a second conduit provided with the orifice, the first conduit including at least one passage for the evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the first conduit to a channel for circulation of the refrigerant fluid formed between the first conduit and the second conduit.

7. The header according to claim 6, wherein the retaining member comprises a sleeve that receives a second end of the second conduit.

8. The header according to claim 6, wherein the first portion cooperates with a pair of second portions one formed in an end face at the second end of the first conduit and the other formed in an end face at a second end of the second conduit.

9. A method of manufacturing the header according to claim 1, the method comprising: installing and retaining the distribution device in the chamber and in position relative to the header with the aid of the retaining member; positioning the distribution device angularly around the longitudinal axis with the aid of the angular position member; and simultaneously fastening the distribution device and the wall of the header that delimits the chamber together.

10. A heat exchanger equipped with a header configured to allow a refrigerant fluid pass through it, the header comprising: a wall delimiting a chamber accommodating a distribution device for distribution of the refrigerant fluid inside the chamber, wherein the chamber and the distribution device are coaxial along a longitudinal axis centered on a transversely median axis of the header that extends in a longitudinal direction of the header, the distribution device comprising at least one conduit extending between two ends along the longitudinal axis, at least a first end of the conduit being provided with an inlet opening for the admission of the refrigerant fluid to the interior of the distribution device, the distribution device being provided with at least one orifice oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis for the evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the distribution device to the chamber; and at least one member for retaining the distribution device inside the chamber at least in part made in one piece with the wall of the header, wherein the retaining member comprises at least one finger made in one piece with the wall of the header and an opening delimited by the conduit, the at least one finger being accommodated in the opening to form a plug in the opening, wherein the wall of the header comprises at least one cover, wherein a cross-section of the at least one cover has a profile in a shape of a semi-circle extending a full length of the at least one cover, and wherein the at least one cover extends along the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one flange is disposed at a longitudinal end of the cover and the at least one flange is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the at least one cover comprises an opening to receive a notch of the at least one flange.

Description

(1) Other features, details and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description given hereinafter by way of illustrative example, with reference to the drawings of the appended sheets, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of a heat exchanger comprising a header equipped with a device for distribution of a refrigerant fluid inside the header.

(3) FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views of a header accommodating a device for distribution of a refrigerant fluid according to one embodiment of the invention, in partially exploded view in FIG. 2 and assembled in FIG. 3.

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial view in longitudinal section of the header represented in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the header represented in FIGS. 2 to 4, as seen from a second of its longitudinal ends.

(6) FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the distribution device represented in FIGS. 2 to 5, as seen from a second of its longitudinal ends.

(7) FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the second longitudinal end of the header represented in FIGS. 2 to 6, as seen from inside the header and after removal of the distribution device.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the header represented in FIGS. 2 to 7, as seen from a first of its longitudinal ends.

(9) FIG. 9 is a partial exploded perspective view of the first longitudinal end of the header represented in FIG. 8, carrying a first longitudinal end of the distribution device.

(10) It should first be noted that the figures disclose the present invention in detail and in accordance with particular ways of implementing it. Said figures and the detailed descriptions thereof can of course if necessary serve to define the invention better.

(11) In FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 1 is for example dedicated to cooling a flow of air FA passing through it for heat treating air from the passenger compartment of a vehicle, notably a motor vehicle, or for example to cool a unit of the vehicle in use.

(12) For example, the heat exchanger 1 may be dedicated to cooling a liquid used to cool a unit of the vehicle in use, such as one or more batteries supplying electrical energy to an electric drive train of the vehicle.

(13) The heat exchanger 1 comprises a bundle 2 of tubes 3 disposed between a header 4 and a return box 5. The header 4 extends in a longitudinal direction D1 oriented perpendicularly to a direction D2 in which the tubes 3 extend between the header 4 and the return box 5. The header 4 comprises a wall delimiting a chamber 6 accommodating a device 7 for distribution of a refrigerant fluid FR, for feeding the header 4 with refrigerant fluid FR.

(14) To this end, the distribution device 7 comprises at least one conduit 8 with a longitudinal axis A1 that is for example centred inside the chamber 6. A first longitudinal end 9a of the distribution device 7 is provided with an inlet opening 10 for the admission of the refrigerant fluid FR to the interior of the distribution device 7. A second longitudinal end 9b of the distribution device 7 is closed.

(15) The conduit 8 includes along the longitudinal axis A1 a plurality of orifices 11 for distributing the refrigerant fluid FR admitted into the distribution device 7 to the chamber 6. The refrigerant fluid FR then circulates inside the chamber 6 to the tubes 3 to cool the flow of air FA, after which it is evacuated from the heat exchanger 1 through an outlet orifice 12.

(16) In the example shown, the outlet orifice 12 discharges into a compartment 13 for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid FR from the heat exchanger 1 that is adjacent to a compartment of the header 4 forming the chamber 6. The heat exchanger 1 is in this case a “U” type circulation heat exchanger. According to a variant, the outlet orifice 12 may be formed through the return box 5. In this case, the heat exchanger 1 is an “I” type circulation heat exchanger.

(17) It will be noted that the invention is applicable to any heat exchanger 1 comprising a header 4 accommodating a distribution device 7 extending at least in part along the longitudinal axis A1 inside the chamber 6. The distribution device 7 can comprise one or more conduits disposed radially around the longitudinal axis.

(18) In FIGS. 2 to 4, a header 4 according to the invention is configured to equip a heat exchanger, such as the heat exchanger 1 shown for example in FIG. 1. The header 4 comprises a wall comprising wall elements 4a-4d that delimit between them the chamber 6 that is to receive the distribution device 7 inside the header 4.

(19) According to the embodiment shown, the distribution device 7 extends longitudinally inside the chamber 6 along the longitudinal axis A1, being for example centred on a transversely median axis A2 of the header 4 that extends in the longitudinal direction D1 of the header 4.

(20) The wall elements 4a-4d constituting the wall of the header 4 are welded to one another and comprise at least one cover 4b. These wall elements 4a-4d may also comprise a header plate 4a capped by the cover 4b. The header plate 4a includes openings 16 for evacuation of the refrigerant fluid FR from the header 4 to the tubes 3 of the heat exchanger 1. Transverse wall elements 4c, 4d are disposed between the cover 4b and the header plate 4a, being disposed at the longitudinal ends of the header 4, in its longitudinal direction D1.

(21) The transverse wall elements 4c, 4d are more particularly formed at least in part by flanges 14, 15 that delimit the chamber 6 in the longitudinal direction D1 of the header 4. The flanges 14, 15 extend between the cover 4b and the header plate 4a, and in contact therewith, in a transverse direction DT perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D1 of the header 4. The cover 4b forms a cap to close the chamber 6 by being welded to the header plate 4a and to the flanges 14, 15, which are also welded to the header plate 4a.

(22) The distribution device 7 is retained at each of its longitudinal ends 9a, 9b on the transverse wall elements 4c, 4d of the header 4 by a retaining member 17a, 17b, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 to 4 and in accordance with modalities shown in FIGS. 4 to 9. Such retention is effected for example by simultaneous welding with the rest of the components of the header 4, notably the walls 4a to 4d thereof.

(23) In FIGS. 4 to 9, the distribution device 7 shown by way of example comprises a first conduit 8a provided with the inlet opening 10 and surrounded by a second conduit 8b provided with the orifices 11. In the example shown, the first conduit 8a and the second conduit 8b are coaxial. According to a variant the distribution device 7 can comprise a single conduit 8 provided with the inlet opening 10 and the orifices 11.

(24) The distribution device 7 is mechanically retained inside the chamber 6 by means of retaining members 17a, 17b. The distribution device 7 is angularly positioned by an angular positioning member 18. The retaining members 17a, 17b and the angular positioning member 18 are each and independently of one another made in one piece with the wall 4a-4d of the header 4, notably with the transverse wall elements 4c, 4d. The retaining members 17a, 17b and/or the angular positioning member 18 are notably formed from the constituent material of the transverse wall elements 4c, 4d.

(25) Accordingly, the transverse wall elements 4c, 4d firmly retain the distribution device 7 at each of its longitudinal ends 9a, 9b by means of the retaining members 17a, 17b and the angular positioning member 18 that they incorporate. The distribution device 7 is therefore retained at a rigorously controlled position inside the chamber 6 along and/or around the longitudinal axis A1, relative to the longitudinal direction D1 of the header 4.

(26) The transverse wall elements 4c, 4d more particularly retain the distribution device 7 inside the chamber 6 via each of its longitudinal ends 9a, 9b. The distribution device 7 is therefore centred on and angularly positioned around the longitudinal axis A1 via the transverse wall elements 4c, 4d, which for example take the form of flanges 14, 15, as mentioned above. The longitudinal ends 9a, 9b of the distribution device 7 are configured to be welded to the transverse wall elements 4c, 4d at least via the retaining members 17a, 17b and/or the angular positioning member 18. In FIG. 4 and more visible in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second longitudinal end 9b of the distribution device 7 is configured to be welded to a first flange 14, via a first retaining member 17a and an angular positioning member 18. In FIG. 9, the first longitudinal end 9a of the distribution device 7 is configured to be welded to a second flange 15 via a second retaining member 17b.

(27) The first flange 14 is a first transverse wall element 4c disposed at the second end 9b of the distribution device 7. The second flange 15 is a second transverse wall element 4d disposed at the first end 9a of the distribution device 7. It will be noted that the first flange 14 forms a member for closing the distribution device 7 at its second longitudinal end 9b.

(28) When the first retaining member 17a is a centring member, the distribution device 7 is then centred and optionally angularly positioned on the first flange 14 via its second longitudinal end 9b. The distribution device 7 is also centred on the second flange 15 via cooperation between its first longitudinal end 9a and the second retaining member 17b, the latter then being a member for centring the distribution device in the chamber 6 of the header 4.

(29) The distribution device 7 can be welded to the flanges 14, 15 at the same time as welding together the wall elements 4a-4d constituting the wall of the header 4 and/or at the same time as welding the tubes 3 of the heat exchanger 1 to the header plate 4a.

(30) In FIG. 7, the first retaining member 17a comprises a finger 19a configured to be accommodated inside an opening 19b of the first conduit 8a. The finger 19a is centred on the transversely median axis A2 of the header 4 and on the longitudinal axis A1 of the distribution device 7. The distribution device 7 is therefore retained at least by the finger 19a nesting inside the opening 19b of the first conduit 8a.

(31) Moreover, the finger 19a advantageously forms a plug for closing the first conduit 8a at its opposite second end 20b, along the longitudinal axis A1, its first end 20a provided with the inlet opening 10, to force the evacuation of the refrigerant fluid from the first conduit 8a via the passages 36 that it includes.

(32) The angular positioning member 18 is configured with a first portion 21 formed on the first flange 14 as shown in FIG. 7. The first portion 21 cooperates through complementarity of shapes with at least one second portion 22a, 22b formed in an end face 23a, 23b of the first conduit 8a and/or the second conduit 8b, as shown in FIG. 6. The first portion 21 and the second portion or portions 22a, 22b extend in the transverse direction DT, or in other words radially relative to the longitudinal axis A1 and/or to the transversely median axis A2 of the header 4. The distribution device 7 is therefore angularly immobilized at a predefined position on the transverse wall 4c formed for example by the first flange 14.

(33) The first portion 21 is notably configured as a rib 24 extending the finger 19a perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis A1 or in other words in the transverse direction DT. The second portions 22a, 22b are notably configured as at least one first notch 25a formed on the end face 23a of the first conduit 8a and/or a second notch 25b formed on the end face 23b of the second conduit 8b, as is clear from FIG. 6. Alternatively, at least one rib may be formed at the end of the distribution device 7 and at least one notch may be formed on the first flange 4c.

(34) The finger 19a and the rib 24 are formed during an operation of shaping the first flange 4c, such as by drawing or by casting, for example. The finger 19a and the rib 24 are made from the material 26 constituting the first flange 14.

(35) According to the embodiment of the distribution device 7 shown, the first conduit 8a is surrounded, at a non-zero transverse distance, by the second conduit 8b to form between them a channel 27 for circulation of the refrigerant fluid FR, prior to its evacuation from the distribution device 7 via the orifices 11. In a situation of this kind, the first retaining member 17a then comprises a sleeve 28 formed by the wall 26 of the first flange 4c.

(36) The sleeve 28 accommodates a second end 29b of the opposite second conduit 8b, along the longitudinal axis A1, at its first end 29a close to the first end 20a of the first conduit 8a. The first conduit 8a and the second conduit 8b are thus centred along the longitudinal axis A1 relative to one another at the second end 9b of the distribution device 7. The first retaining member 17a can thus become a member for centring the second conduit 8b relative to the first conduit 8a.

(37) The distribution device 7 is therefore retained, possibly centred, on the wall 4a-4d of the header 4 at its second longitudinal end 9b via the finger 19a accommodated in the opening 19b of the first conduit 8a and/or via the sleeve 28 receiving the second conduit 8b.

(38) The first flange 14 then forms the member for closing the distribution device 7 at its second longitudinal end 9b. The first flange 14 incorporating the first retaining member 17a and the angular positioning member 18 then more particularly closes the channel 27 at the second longitudinal end 9b of the distribution device 7.

(39) In FIG. 4 and in FIG. 9, the second retaining member 17b comprises a first bearing 30 supporting the first end 9a of the distribution device 7 via the second conduit 8b for example. The first bearing 30 is formed in a sleeve 31 welded to the second flange 15.

(40) The sleeve 31 is welded to the second flange 15 on its side oriented toward the outside of the header 4. The sleeve 31 includes a cylindrical part 31a that forms the first bearing 30 of the distribution device 7. The cylindrical part 31a of the sleeve 31 is extended by a flared part 31b welded around a cylinder 32 that the second flange 15 includes and that surrounds at a transverse distance the distribution device 7. The sleeve 31 is therefore centred on the transversely median axis A2 of the header 4 and on the longitudinal axis A1.

(41) As can notably be seen in FIG. 4, the sleeve 31 then forms a member for closing a space E1 formed inside the chamber 6 around the distribution device 7. The space E1 is delimited between the wall 4a-4d of the header 4 and the distribution device 7, occupying the interior volume of the header 4 around the distribution device 7.

(42) The space E1 therefore forms a path for circulation of the refrigerant fluid FR evacuated from the distribution device 7 to the openings 16 in the header plate 4a. The refrigerant fluid is then evacuated from the header 4 to feed with refrigerant fluid FR the tubes 3 of the heat exchanger 1.

(43) The sleeve 31 also forms a fluidic connection interface between the distribution device 7 and a conduit 33 for feeding the refrigerant fluid FR to the inlet opening 10. The refrigerant fluid FR fed by the conduit 33 therefore flows toward the inlet opening 10 of the distribution device 7, to feed it with refrigerant fluid FR.

(44) Moreover, the first conduit 8a and the second conduit 8b are centred relative to one another at their first end 20a, 29a via a second bearing 34 formed between them. To this end, the first conduit 8a includes at its first end 20a a flange 35 in contact with an interior face of the second conduit 8b, at its first end 29a. An exterior peripheral face of the flange 35 is therefore welded to the interior face of the second conduit 8b.

(45) The second bearing 34 also forms a member for closing the distribution device 7 at its first end 9a. To be more specific, the second bearing 34 forms a member for closing the channel 27 at the first end 9a of the distribution device 7. The channel 27 is thus closed at each of the longitudinal ends 9a, 9b of the distribution device 7 by the second bearing 34 on the one hand and by the first flange 14 on the other hand.

(46) The retention of the distribution device 7 in position on the wall 4a-4d of the header 4 is achieved rigorously without impeding rapid and easy mounting of the distribution device 7 inside the chamber 6. The distribution device 7 can be threaded in a mounting direction SM parallel to the transversely median axis A2 of the header 4.

(47) In the mounting direction SM, the distribution device 7 is threaded from its second end 9b through the second flange 15, and then slides in the mounting direction SM toward the first flange 14. The distribution device 7 can therefore slide inside the chamber 6 until its second end 9b is placed inside the first flange 14.

(48) At the end of the sliding of the distribution device 7 inside the chamber 6, the second end 29b of the second conduit 8b is introduced into the sleeve 28, the finger 19a is introduced into the first conduit 8a and the rib 24 is introduced into the first notch 25a and the second notch 25b. Accordingly, after mounting the distribution device 7 by sliding it on the wall 4a-4d of the header 4, the distribution device 7 is retained, or even centred, at each of its ends 9a, 9b and/or angularly positioned at its second end 9b on the transverse wall elements 4c, 4d that the wall 4a-4d of the header 4 comprises. A structure of this kind advantageously enables prepositioning of the components of the header 4, guaranteeing absence of movement prior to their simultaneous brazing in an appropriate furnace.

(49) In FIGS. 4 and 6, the first conduit 8a includes the passages 36 through which the refrigerant fluid FR admitted to the interior of the first conduit 8a can be evacuated to the channel 27. The passages 36 are aligned on a first straight line segment L1 and the orifices 11 formed in the second conduit 8b are aligned on a second straight line segment L2.

(50) The first straight line segment L1 and the second straight line segment L2 may be parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis A1, being angularly offset relative to one another about the longitudinal axis A1. In the example shown, the first straight line segment L1 and the second straight line segment L2 are angularly offset by 180 degrees, being disposed on respective opposite sides of the longitudinal axis A1 in the transverse direction DT, the passages 36 opening substantially facing the openings 16 whereas the orifices 11 open substantially toward the cover 4b of the header 4. In FIG. 4, the refrigerant fluid FR fed by the conduit 33 is admitted to the interior of the first conduit 8a through the inlet opening 10, and is then evacuated from the first conduit 8a via the passages 36 to the channel 27. The refrigerant fluid FR then circulates inside the channel 27 around the first conduit 8a, prior to its evacuation from the distribution device 7 via the orifices 11 to the space E1 formed inside the chamber 6. The refrigerant fluid FR sprayed from the distribution device 7 then circulates around the distribution device 7 to the openings 16 that the header plate 4a includes, to feed each of the tubes 3 of the heat exchanger 1 with refrigerant fluid FR.

(51) According to the example shown, the refrigerant fluid FR is sprayed from the distribution device 7 inside the chamber 6 transversely opposite the openings 16 in the header plate 4a, relative to the longitudinal axis A1. The path followed by the refrigerant fluid FR inside the space E1 to the openings 16 in the header plate 4a is therefore optimized. The circulation of the refrigerant fluid FR inside the channel 27 and/or inside the space E1 encourages its mixing between a liquid phase and a gas phase, prior to its distribution to the tubes 3 of the heat exchanger 1 via the openings 16 in the header plate 4a.

(52) The header 4 is fabricated in the following manner: the distribution device 7 is installed in the chamber 6, for example by sliding it longitudinally, and retained in position relative to the header 4 with the aid of the retaining member 17a, 17b, optionally, the distribution device 7 is positioned angularly around the longitudinal axis A1 with the aid of the angular position member 18, for example by rotating the distribution device 7 until the rib is inserted into the notch or notches, the distribution device 7 and the wall 4a-4d of the header 4 that delimits the chamber 6 are simultaneously fastened together, for example by brazing in a furnace.

(53) The heat exchanger 1 obtained offers particularly high performance at lower cost, notably thanks to the rigorous and reliable retention in position of the distribution device 7 on the wall 4a-4d of the header 4 and/or thanks to the optimization achieved of the mixture of the refrigerant fluid FR between a liquid phase and a gas phase, prior to its distribution from the header 4 to the tubes 3 of the heat exchanger 1.