BRACKET FOR A RECEIVER DRIER

Abstract

A heat exchanging module (1) comprising a heat exchanger (2) and a bottle (6), the bottle (6) being attached to the heat exchanger (2) at one first longitudinal end (63) of the bottle (6), said heat exchanging module (1) comprising at least one attachment mean (10) located at a second longitudinal end (64) of the bottle (6), said attachment mean (10) restricting at least one axial movement of the bottle (6) along a longitudinal dimension (5) of said bottle (6).

Claims

1. A heat exchanging module comprising: a heat exchanger; a bottle attached to the heat exchanger at a first longitudinal end of the bottle; and at least one attachment means located at a second longitudinal end of the bottle, said attachment means restricting at least one axial movement of the bottle along a longitudinal dimension of said bottle.

2. The heat exchanging module according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one portion extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of said bottle.

3. The heat exchanging module according to any claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a stop portion extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the bottle.

4. The heat exchanging module according to claim 3, wherein said stop portion comprises at least two radial projections separated from one another by a gap.

5. The heat exchanging module according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a circular portion meant to fit at least partially around the bottle.

6. The heat exchanging module according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanging module comprises a frame, the attachment means being mechanically connected to the frame.

7. The heat exchanging module according to claim 6, wherein the attachment means comprises a first connection mean, and a second connection mean, both first connection means and second connection means being connected to the frame.

8. The heat exchanging module according to claim 7, wherein the frame comprises at least a side wall and an end wall, the attachment means is connected to the side wall of the frame by the first connection means, and to the end wall of the frame by the second connection mean.

9. The heat exchanging module according to claim 7, wherein the first connection means and the second connection means extend in opposite sense in parallel directions.

10. The heat exchanging module according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one securing means that secures the bottle on the attachment means.

11. The heat exchanging module according to claim 10, wherein the securing means comprising at least one mounting clip, and at least one groove which at least partially receives the mounting clip.

12. The heat exchanging module according to claim 1, wherein the bottle is attached to the heat exchanger at the first longitudinal end of the bottle by a coupling means, said coupling means comprises a mounting bracket and a mounting means, the mounting bracket comprising at least one duct which connect the bottle to the heat exchanger.

13. The heat exchanging module according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is crossed by a first circuit configured to receive a refrigerant fluid and a second circuit configured to receive a coolant fluid.

14. A heat exchanging module comprising: a heat exchanger; a bottle attached to the heat exchanger at a first longitudinal end of the bottle; and at least one attachment means located at a second longitudinal end of the bottle, wherein said attachment means restricts a movement of the bottle in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the bottle, wherein the longitudinal dimension of the bottle is a direction along which the bottle extends in its greatest dimension, crossing a terminal end of the bottle.

15. A heat exchanging module comprising: a heat exchanger configured to allow circulation and heat exchange of a refrigerant fluid and a coolant fluid; a tube-shaped bottle attached to the heat exchanger at a first longitudinal end of the bottle, the bottle being configured to collect and trap moisture out of the refrigerant fluid and coolant fluid; and at least one attachment means located at a second longitudinal end of the bottle, wherein first longitudinal end of the bottle is a face of the bottle that extends in a perpendicular plane versus a longitudinal dimension of the bottle, wherein the longitudinal dimension of the bottle is a direction along which the bottle extends in its greatest dimension.

Description

[0032] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention can be inferred from the description of the invention hereunder. Various embodiments are represented in the figures, wherein:

[0033] FIG. 1 features a perspective view of a heat exchanging module comprising an attachment mean according to a first embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottle on which is located the attachment mean;

[0035] FIG. 3 represents a heat exchanging module comprising an attachment mean according to a second embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bottle on which is located the attachment mean according to a second embodiment;

[0037] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a bottle and the attachment mean according to the second embodiment.

[0038] In the following description, the longitudinal dimension refers to the dimension along which extends the bottle in its greatest dimension. This longitudinal dimension is represented by reference 5 in the various drawings that will be detailed below.

[0039] FIG. 1 represents a heat exchanging module 1 according to the invention that comprises a heat exchanger 2 and a bottle 6, said bottle 6 being supported by the heat exchanger 2. Optionally, the exchanging module 1 may comprises a frame 4 that mechanically supports the heat exchanger 2.

[0040] The heat exchanger 2 is designed to allow the circulation of a refrigerant fluid and a coolant fluid in two separated but adjacent spaces, to allow a heat exchange between these fluids. To do so, the heat exchanger 2 comprises at least four fluid openings 12, two of them being visible on FIG. 1. The exchange of heat between the fluids take place in a body 3 of the heat exchanger 2, The heat exchanger is designed to operate heat exchange only between the refrigerant fluid and the coolant fluid. In other words, the heat exchanger is not adapted to operate exchange between coolant fluid and air, or fluid refrigerant and air.

[0041] The bottle 6 is tube-shaped, and is designed to collect and trap moisture out of a fluid which circulate inside of it. The bottle 6 is receiver drier for an AC loop used in vehicle.

[0042] Said bottle 6 is connected to the heat exchanger 2 by a coupling mean 8. The attachment of the bottle 6 through the coupling mean 8 is located at a first portion 60 of the bottle 6. In a more precise description, the bottle 6 is attached to the heat exchanger 2 at one first longitudinal end 63 of the bottle 6, said first longitudinal end 63 being a face of the bottle that extends in a perpendicular plane versus the longitudinal dimension 5 of the bottle 6.

[0043] In this embodiment, coupling mean 8 comprises a mounting bracket 80 which support the bottle 6 and a mounting screw which secure the bottle 6 onto the mounting bracket 80. The mounting bracket 80 is connected to the heat exchanger 2 and include at least one duct. Said duct is designed to allow the flow of refrigerant fluid from the heat exchanger 2 to the bottle 6, or from the bottle 6 to the heat exchanger 2 or to another element.

[0044] The heat exchanging module 1 further comprises the frame 4 designed to allow the fastening of the heat exchanger 2 and of the bottle 6, and of other elements of the heat exchanging module 1, or the fastening of the heat exchanging module 1 to an external support, for example a body of a vehicle. In this embodiment, said frame 4 comprises an end wall 40, a side wall 42 and a mounting arm 44. According to this embodiment, the frame 4 is made of metal.

[0045] The end wall 40 lies on a side of the heat exchanger 2 opposed to the bottle 6, and extend in a first plane. The side wall 42 extends in a second plane which is perpendicular to the first plane. The side wall 42 comprises a bended zone 43 that is collaborating with an attachment mean 10.

[0046] A mounting arm 44 is an extension of the end wall 40, and connects to the end wall 40 by a mounting mean which can be a screw, a mounting clip or any other type of mounting mean. Different mounting arms 44 allow to add different types of attachment mean 10.

[0047] The frame 4 is also comprising a supporting area 45 which can be made by an extension of the side wall 42 or of the end wall 40. The supporting area 45 comprise at least one finger 47, here two fingers, that allows a sliding fastening of the heat exchanging module on the vehicle. The end wall 40 comprises a fixation area 49 dedicated to attachment of the frame 4 on the body of the vehicle.

[0048] The bottle 6 is also connected to the frame 4 through the attachment mean 10. Said attachment mean 10 is located at a second portion 62 of the bottle 6, said second portion 62 being located at the opposite of the first portion 60 of the bottle 6 along the longitudinal dimension 5.

[0049] The attachment mean 10 is connected to the frame 4, and specifically to the side wall 42 on one hand and to the end wall 40 through the mounting arm 44 on the other hand, in particular via the bended zone 43 and via the mounting arm 44.

[0050] FIG. 2 features more specifically the bottle 6 and the attachment mean 10.

[0051] The attachment mean 10 have a circular portion 100 which partially circle the bottle 6. A first connection mean 110 and a second connection mean 120 are made on the circular portion 100. Said first and second connection means are radially oriented with regards to the circular portion 100. Said first connection mean 110 globally extends radially and parallel to the longitudinal dimension 5 of the bottle 6, for example toward the first portion 60 of the bottle 6. Said second connection mean 120 globally extends radially and perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension 5 of the bottle 6.

[0052] The first connection mean 110 is designed to allow the fixture of the attachment mean 10 to the side wall 42 of the frame 4. In this embodiment, the first connection mean 110 comprises a mounting clip 112 which enters a hole in the side wall 42 to partially secure the attachment mean 10 on the side wall 42 of the frame 4.

[0053] The second connection mean 120 is designed to allow the fixture of the attachment mean 10 to the end wall 40 of the frame 4 through the mounting arm 44. In this embodiment, the second connection mean 120 is connected to the mounting arm 44 by a screw 124 which collaborates with a tapped hole 122, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0054] Together, the first connection mean 110 and the second connection mean 120 tighten the attachment mean 10 to the frame 4.

[0055] In this embodiment, both the first connection mean 110 and the second connection mean 120 act in parallel directions, which means that only one movement is needed to attach the attachment mean 10 onto the frame 4.

[0056] Other types of connection means may be used without exiting the scope of the invention, as long as the attachment mean 10 may be separated from the frame 4 without damaging one or the other. For example, any of the first connection mean 110 or the second connection mean 120 can be replaced by a screw, a mounting clip, a hook or any other connection mean.

[0057] In the invention, the attachment mean 10 limits an axial movement of the bottle 6 along the longitudinal dimension 5 of the bottle 6, It can be made in different manner, but an example is at least one portion extending in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension 5. The portion crosses the longitudinal dimension 5 and necessary enters in mechanical interference with a second longitudinal end 64 of the bottle 6, said second longitudinal end 64 being opposite to the first longitudinal end 63 of the bottle.

[0058] The portion forms a stop portion 102 that abuts this second longitudinal ends 64 of said bottle 6. Said stop portion 102 brings together a first end 104 of the circular portion 100 and a second end 106 of the circular portion 100, and lies atop the bottle 6. Atop the bottle 6 means that the stop portion 102 lies on the longitudinal end 64 of the bottle 6.

[0059] The attachment mean 10 of the first embodiment comprises a large stop portion 102, and a small stop portion 103, the small one being made like an indentation.

[0060] The stop portion 102, 103 limits the movement of the bottle 6 in the longitudinal dimension. This relieves the stress upon the coupling mean 8 of the bottle 6 onto the heat exchanger 2, to avoid the rupture of either the bottle 6, the coupling mean 8 or the heat exchanger 2, and to lengthen the lifespan of the whole heat exchanging module 1.

[0061] The attachment mean 10 may also limit the movement of the bottle Fin a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension 5. This arrangement limits the mechanical stress endured by the coupling mean 8 and the risk of breaking.

[0062] It should be noted that the frame 4 is made of steel, from a single piece or made of differences pieces assembled all together to form the frame 4.

[0063] A second embodiment of the invention is represented in the FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 displays a heat exchanging module 1 similar to the heat exchanging module 1 of FIG. 1, in which it comprises a heat exchanger 2, a frame 4 having an end wall 40, a mounting arm 44 and a side wall 42, a bottle 6 connected to the heat exchanger 2 by a coupling mean 8 comprising a mounting bracket 80, a mounting screw and at least one duct, and an attachment mean 10 which attach the bottle 6 to the heat exchanging module 1, advantageously via the frame 4.

[0064] The second embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment especially by the structure of the attachment mean 10, The similarities and differences between the two embodiments are further shown on FIG. 4.

[0065] Like the attachment mean 10 of the first embodiment, the attachment mean 10 of the second embodiment comprises a circular portion 100, a stop portion 402, a first connection mean 110 and a second connection mean 120.

[0066] The circular portion 400 extends around the second portion 62 of the bottle 6 and onto the longitudinal end 64 of said bottle 6. This particular arrangement means that the attachment mean 10 is specific to a bottle 6 type of a given diameter.

[0067] The stop portion 102 comprises a plurality of radial projections 130, here six, each pair of radial projections 130 being separated by a gap 132, These radial projections 130 of the stop portion 102 fulfill the same goal as the stop portion 102 of the first embodiment, by limiting the movement of the bottle 6 in its longitudinal dimension 5.

[0068] The first connection mean 110 and the second connection mean 120 are configured in the very same way as in the first embodiment: the first connection mean 110 comprises a mounting clip 112 which connects the attachment mean 10 to the side wall 42 of the frame 4, the second connection mean 120 comprises a screw 124 which collaborates with a tapped hole 122 made in the second connection mean 120, as shown in FIG. 3. The first, connection mean 110 and the second connection mean 120 have an arm that extends in a parallel plane, said plane being perpendicular to said longitudinal dimension 5. The first connection mean 110 extends toward the first portion 60 of the bottle 6.

[0069] A shown in FIG. 5, the attachment mean 10 further comprises a securing mean 134, which participates in the support of the bottle 6. This securing mean 134 is configured to restrict movement between the bottle and the attachment means 10 in two opposite sense of the longitudinal dimension 5.

[0070] Said securing mean 134 comprises a groove 138 located on the second portion 62 of the bottle 6, Said groove 138 can be continuous or doted around the bottle 6.

[0071] The securing mean 134 also comprises at least one clipping mean 136, which is located on the circular portion 100 of the attachment mean 10.

[0072] When the bottle 6 is inserted in the attachment mean 10, the clipping mean 136 of the securing mean 134 are deformed and pushed away from the bottle 6 due to the diameter of the bottle 6 being larger than the diameter defined by the clipping mean 136, When the bottle 6 is fully inserted in the attachment mean 10, for example when the longitudinal end 64 is abutting at least one radial projections 130, the clipping mean 136 get into the groove 138 securing the attachment mean 10 to the bottle 6. The securing mean 134 authorize the separation of the bottle 6 and the attachment mean 10. Any displacement of the bottle 6 along the longitudinal dimension 5 is restricted thanks to this securing mean 134.

[0073] In a possible embodiment of the invention, the groove 138 is located on the attachment mean 10 while the clipping mean 136 are located on the bottle 6.

[0074] Preceding description clearly illustrate how the invention fulfills its objective, as laid out in the preamble, and offers a heat exchanging module 1 comprising a bottle 6 and having a mean to attach the bottle 6 to said heat exchanging module 1 at two distinct portions of the bottle 6, said bottle being restricted in its longitudinal movement compared to the heat exchanger 2.

[0075] Several modifications and improvement might be applied by the person skilled in the art to the heat exchanging module 1 as defined above, as long as an attachment mean 10 of a bottle 6 is implemented.

[0076] In any case, the invention cannot and should not be limited to the embodiments specifically described in this document, as other embodiments might exist. The invention shall spread to any equivalent mean and any technically operating combination of means.