DEVICE FOR ASSEMBLING A HEAT EXCHANGER OF AN AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS WITH A RADIATOR FOR COOLING THE ENGINE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The present invention consists in a thermal module (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a main radiator (2) and at least one auxiliary heat exchanger (3, 4) mounted on the main radiator (2) by means of a junction member (13) disposed between the main radiator (2) and at least one first auxiliary heat exchanger (3), The junction member (13) is principally formed of at least two shaft bearings (14, 15) attached to the first auxiliary heat exchanger (3) and nested inside respective open flanges (16, 17) formed on one of the lateral sides (7, 8) of the main radiator (2).

Secondarily, the junction member (13) carries a plurality of auxiliary heat exchangers (3, 4) fixed to one another in staggered succession and composing a thermal submodule mounted on the main radiator (2) by means of the junction member (13).

Claims

1. A thermal module for a motor vehicle, comprising: a main radiator; and at least one auxiliary heat exchanger mounted on the main radiator by a mounting device, the mounting device comprising a junction member disposed between the main radiator and at least one first auxiliary heat exchanger, wherein the junction member includes at least two shaft bearings attached to the first auxiliary heat exchanger and configured to cooperate with at least two open flanges provided on one of the lateral sides of the main radiator.

2. The thermal module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft bearings are extended by a lug configured to be interengaged with a lateral end edge of the first heat exchanger.

3. The thermal module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said two flanges are disposed at a distance from one another with the axial orientation in which said junction member extends.

4. The thermal module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft bearings are retained inside respective flanges by elastic clipping.

5. The thermal module as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of said flanges includes a removable and/or retractable member for closing the opening that said flanges include.

6. The thermal module as claimed in claim 5, wherein removable member is a flexible tongue incorporated in at least one of the flanges, configured to deform elastically to allow the shaft bearings to enter the flanges and to resume its shape spontaneously after introduction of the shaft bearings into the flanges.

7. The thermal module as claimed in claim 1, wherein two shoulders respectively formed on at least one of the shaft bearings bear axially against at least one of the flanges, opposing mobility of the first auxiliary heat exchanger on the main radiator in both of the two opposite axial directions in which the shaft bearings extend.

8. The thermal module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary heat exchanger includes a hook cooperating with at least one lug of the main radiator to oppose mobility of the first auxiliary heat exchanger in both of the opposite directions in which it extends laterally extending between its lateral edges.

9. The thermal module according to claim 1, wherein the main radiator and said first auxiliary heat exchanger are disposed parallel to one another in the general plane in which they extend.

10. The thermal module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the junction member carries a thermal submodule comprising a set of auxiliary heat exchangers fixed to one another by means of the junction member in staggered succession in a direction perpendicular to their general plane.

11. The thermal module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the junction member procures the mounting of a first auxiliary heat exchanger on the main radiator and the mounting of a second auxiliary heat exchanger on the first auxiliary heat exchanger.

12. The thermal module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the thermal submodule comprises said at least one first auxiliary heat exchanger and at least one second auxiliary heat exchanger mounted on and parallel to the first auxiliary heat exchanger by a fixing means at least in part disposed between the junction member and the second auxiliary heat exchanger.

13. The thermal module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fixing means comprises at least one cage formed on the junction member and housing a tab equipping the second auxiliary heat exchanger at its lateral edge nearer the junction member.

14. The thermal module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cage constitutes a member for retaining the tab at least in accordance with an orientation parallel to the axial direction in which the shaft bearings extend and an orientation perpendicular to the general plane of the second auxiliary heat exchanger.

15. The thermal module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cage is interengaged with the nearer lateral edge of the second auxiliary heat exchanger to oppose mobility of the second auxiliary heat exchanger in at least one of the two directions in which the second auxiliary heat exchanger extends laterally extending between its lateral edges.

16. The thermal module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fixing means comprises at least one stop provided on the first auxiliary heat exchanger at its lateral edge opposite that close to the junction member, the stop being interengaged with the nearer lateral edge of the second auxiliary heat exchanger to oppose its mobility with at least one orientation perpendicular to the general plane of the second auxiliary heat exchanger.

17. The thermal module as claimed in claim 16, wherein the stop is mounted on and reversibly fixed to the first auxiliary heat exchanger.

18. The thermal module as claimed in claim 16, wherein the cage and the stop are conjointly in antagonistic bearing engagement against the second auxiliary heat exchanger, opposing its mobility respectively in both of the two opposite directions in which the second auxiliary heat exchanger extends laterally extending between its lateral edges.

19. The thermal module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shaft bearings are each individually fixed to the first auxiliary heat exchanger.

20. The thermal module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shaft bearings are interconnected by a rod extending parallel to the axial direction in which the shaft bearings extend.

21. The thermal module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rod and the lug or lugs (lip) form a one-piece assembly.

22. The thermal module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rod is a slide nested over the nearer lateral edge of the first auxiliary heat exchanger.

23. The thermal module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the fixing means comprises at least one cage formed on the junction member and housing a tab equipping the second auxiliary heat exchanger at its lateral edge nearer the junction member, and wherein said at least one cage is formed on the rod.

24. The thermal module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary heat exchanger is connected to fluid circulation pipes at a lateral edge opposite the edge in contact with the junction member.

25. The thermal module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first auxiliary heat exchanger is an equipment of an air-conditioning installation equipping the motor vehicle.

26. The thermal module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first auxiliary heat exchanger is an evaporator-condenser.

27. The thermal module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the second auxiliary heat exchanger is configured to participate in cooling electrical power members used by an electrical propulsion drive of the motor vehicle.

Description

[0054] Other features, details and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following detailed description given by way of illustration, relating to the embodiments of the invention shown in the figures of the appended drawings, in which drawings:

[0055] FIG. 1 is a front view of a thermal module according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0056] FIG. 2 is a front view of a thermal module according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

[0057] FIG. 3 is a front view of a thermal submodule equipping the thermal module shown in FIG. 2.

[0058] It should first be noted that the figures are used to explain the present invention in detail and in accordance with particular embodiments thereof. Said figures and their description can of course serve if necessary to define the present invention better, both in general and in particular.

[0059] Moreover to clarify and to facilitate the reading of the description to be given of embodiments of the present invention, the common members represented in the various figures are respectively identified in the descriptions specific to those figures by the same reference numbers and/or letters, without involving their individual representation in each of the figures and/or an identical arrangement of said common members between specific embodiments.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a thermal module 1 is intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle, selectively to equip a system for cooling functional members of the motor vehicle. The thermal module 1 comprises a plurality of heat exchangers 2, 3 or 4 that are globally flat and disposed parallel to one another in their general plane. The heat exchangers 2, 3 or 4 comprise a main radiator 2 and one or more auxiliary heat exchangers 3, 4.

[0061] The geometrical references of the heat exchangers 2, 3, 4 the general planes of which are each defined by their height H oriented perpendicularly to their width L that extends between two lateral edges are specified here and now. Thus the thickness E of the heat exchangers 2, 3, 4 is oriented perpendicularly to their general plane. To specify the disposition of the heat exchanges 2, 3, 4 on the vehicle, the latter are shown frontally at the front of the vehicle, their thickness E being oriented along the longitudinal axis along which the vehicle concerned extends between the front and the rear of the vehicle.

[0062] The main radiator 2 is typically assigned to cooling an engine of the vehicle. To this end, the main radiator 2 conventionally incorporates a heat exchange fluid circulation path and is equipped with end-pieces 5, 6 for respectively connecting it to an inlet pipe and to an outlet pipe for fluid. Such end-pieces 5, 6 are respectively provided on the one and the other of the lateral edges 7, 8 of the main radiator.

[0063] The auxiliary heat exchanger or exchangers 3, 4 is or are part of auxiliary cooling systems of the vehicle. The auxiliary heat exchangers also each incorporate a heat exchange fluid circulation path and are individually equipped with end-pieces 9, 10 and 11, 12 for respectively connecting them to an inlet pipe and to an outlet pipe for the fluid that are assigned to them.

[0064] A first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 is for example part of an installation for air-conditioning the passenger compartment of the vehicle. It should be noted here and now that the end-pieces 9, 10 that equip the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 are conjointly disposed on one of its lateral edges, opposite that by means of which the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 is mounted on the main radiator 2. Actually, the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 is mounted on the main radiator 2 by means of a junction member 13 occupying one of its lateral edges.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 is for example part of a system for cooling the electrical power members equipping the vehicle. A cooling system of this kind only equips motor vehicles in which propulsion is at least in part provided by an electric motor, such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle.

[0066] In FIG. 3, the end-pieces 11, 12 equipping the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 are respectively provided at the one and the other of its lateral edges. The second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 is mounted on the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 in staggered succession in the direction of their thickness E, by means of the junction member 13 attached to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 on one of its lateral edges. The first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 is therefore disposed in the middle of the stack comprising the main radiator and the two heat exchangers.

[0067] In all the figures the junction member 13 is attached to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 on one of its lateral edges. The junction member 13 is adapted to be placed between the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 and the main radiator 2, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The junction member 13 fixed to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 is then more particularly mounted by nesting it over the lateral edge 8 of the main radiator 2. The nesting of the junction member 13 on the main radiator 2 procures the installation of the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 parallel to the main radiator 2.

[0068] Referring in particular to the details (a) and (b) of FIG. 2 and to FIG. 3, the junction member 13 comprises to this end at least two shaft bearings 14, 15 fixed, sealed to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 by. The shaft bearings 14, 15 are for example each provided with a fixing lug 14a, 15a for attaching them to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3. The shaft bearings 14, 15 cooperate with radially open flanges 16, 17 attached to the lateral edge 8 of the main radiator 2, being placed at a distance from one another in the direction of their axial orientation or in other words parallel to the height H of the main radiator 2.

[0069] The shaft bearings 14, 15 are inserted inside the flanges 16, 17 by nesting them therein with an orientation essentially parallel to the respective general planes of the main radiator 2 and the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3. The flanges 16, 17 feature flexible tongues 16a adapted to be spread apart to allow the shaft bearings to pass to the interior of the corresponding flange, these flexible tongues being able to revert to their original shape to be housed in notches 14b, 15b formed on the shaft bearings (visible in FIG. 3).

[0070] At least one shaft bearing 15 in question includes at least one shoulder 18, 19 bearing axially, that is to say here in the direction of the height H, on a face of the corresponding flange. Afterwards, the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 is retained on the main radiator 2 in the direction of its height H or in other words according to the axial orientation along which the shaft bearings 14, 15 extend.

[0071] The first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 is installed on the main radiator 2 by laterally sliding the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 in its general plane, in a direction essentially oriented in the direction of its width L. Said lateral sliding causes the shaft bearings 14, 15 to cooperate with the flanges 16, 17 and in a subsidiary manner is completed at the end of travel by slight tilting of the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 at its lateral edge engaged on the junction member 13. Tilting of this kind aims to dispose the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 parallel to the main radiator 2 following the nesting of the shaft bearings 14, 15 inside the flanges 16, 17.

[0072] Moreover, referring to FIG. 2, tilting of this kind enables a hook 20 attached to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 to be engaged with a lug 21 attached to the main radiator 2. The hook 20 is formed by a notch 22 formed through a tongue 23 attached to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 on its lateral edge opposite that to which the junction member 13 is fixed. The hook 20 is engaged on the lug 21 so that the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 is immobilized on the main radiator 2 with an orientation parallel to the direction in which they extend laterally. This cooperation of the hook 20 and the lug 21 enables fixing of the position of the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3, it being understood that fixing by the junction member 13 alone could suffice, because of the clipping of the shaft bearings in the eyelets and retention by the elastic tongues, and the presence of the shoulders forming an abutment.

[0073] In all the figures, the shaft bearings 14, 15 are individually fixed, sealed to the first auxiliary heat exchangers 3 by means of respective fixing lugs 14a, 15a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the shaft bearings 14, 15 are moreover interconnected by a rod 24 that is part of the junction member 13. A rod 24 of this kind is advantageously employed to facilitate the mounting the shaft bearings in the eyelets by simultaneous insertion of the shaft bearings by manipulating only the rod 24. A rod of this kind moreover participates in the installation of the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 on the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 by means of the junction member 13.

[0074] The first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 and the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 are more particularly interconnected by the junction member 13, constituting a thermal submodule 25. The second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 is mounted on the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 in staggered succession in the direction of their thickness E, by means of the junction member 13 attached to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3. A thermal submodule 25 of this kind can be mounted on the main radiator 2 by means of the junction member 13 so that, as already described hereinabove, the stack consists in the succession of the main radiator, the first auxiliary heat exchanger and the second auxiliary heat exchanger.

[0075] A fixing means is at least in part disposed between the junction member 13 and the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4. The fixing means comprises one or more cages 26 fixed to the junction member 13 and each housing a tab 27 equipping the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4. The cages 26 are disposed at a distance from one another on the rod 24 to which the cages 26 are fixed. The cages 26 are attached, sealed to the junction member 13 or molded during the formation of the junction member.

[0076] The cages 26 house the tabs 27 and immobilize the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 on the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 with an orientation parallel to their height H and with an orientation parallel to their thickness E.

[0077] The cages 26 include claws 28 that bear against the nearest lateral edge of the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4. Moreover, the fixing means also comprises at least one stop 29 formed on the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 on its lateral edge opposite that to which the fixing member 13 is fixed and the cage or cages 26 forming the fixing means is or are fixed. The stop 29 is for example fixed to the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 by reversible fixing means, such as by screwing and/or by elastic nesting. The cages 26 and the stop 29 bear antagonistically against the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4, conjointly bringing about its retention in position in the direction of its width on the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3.

[0078] The second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 is mounted on the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3 essentially by laterally sliding the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 in its general plane, in a direction essentially oriented in the direction of its width L. Said lateral sliding brings about the introduction of the tabs 27 inside the cages 26 and the bearing of the cages 26 against the lateral edge of the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4 by means of the claws 28 with which the cages 26 are equipped. The stop 29 is then placed against the second auxiliary heat exchanger 4, by fixing it onto the first auxiliary heat exchanger 3, such as by screwing it on for example.