Plug-in device for a cylinder of a condenser

Abstract

A plug-in device for a cylinder of a condenser, this plug-in device comprising: a plug designed to plug, preferably removably, an opening of the cylinder, a functional component designed to interact with a refrigerant fluid in the cylinder, this functional component being designed to be mounted, removably or non-removably, on the plug with the possibility of rotating with respect to this plug.

Claims

1. A plug-in device for a cylinder of a condenser, the plug-in device comprising: a plug configured to removably plug an opening of the cylinder; and a separator configured to impose a flow path on a refrigerant fluid in the cylinder, the separator being mounted, removably or non-removably, on the plug and configured to rotate with respect to the plug; wherein the separator is configured to be mounted on the plug by an annularly shaped clip-fastening part, and wherein the clip-fastening part comprises a continuous annular bead and openings adjacent to the bead.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which the plug comprises a complementary clip-fastening part.

3. The device according to claim 2, in which the clip-fastening part of the separator and the complementary clip-fastening part of the plug are designed to be able to be free to rotate relative to one another, once assembled.

4. The device according to claim 1, in which the plug is configured to be screwed onto the cylinder and comprises a screw thread.

5. A method for assembling a cylinder, comprising: mounting a separator on a plug of a plug-in device according to claim 1.

6. A cylinder comprising: a plug-in device having a plug configured to removably plug an opening of the cylinder; and a separator configured to impose a flow path on a refrigerant fluid in the cylinder; wherein the separator is mounted on the plug by an annularly shaped clip-fastening part and configured to rotate with respect to the plug; and wherein the clip-fastening part comprises a continuous annular bead and openings adjacent to the bead.

Description

(1) Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the description given hereafter by way of indication with reference to the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view of a condenser and of a cylinder according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a view in cross section of a plug according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the plug of FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 is view in cross section of a functional component formed by a separator according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of a functional component formed by a filter according to the invention.

(7) FIG. 1 illustrates a condenser 1, a cylinder 2 and an internal heat exchanger 3. These three components of an air conditioning loop are combined to form an assembly or system through which there passes a refrigerant fluid symbolized by arrows referenced 4.

(8) The condenser 1 comprises a core bundle 6 through which there passes a flow of air external to the vehicle. This core bundle comprises a multitude of flat tubes 11 which extend transversely with respect to the external air flow. These flat tubes 11 carry the refrigerant fluid 4 between a first header tank 13 and a second header tank 14. These header tanks 13 and 14 are therefore fluidically connected to each flat tube 11 and are partitioned into a refrigerant fluid distribution chamber in groups of flat tubes thus forming passes 7, 8 and 9 for the circulation of the refrigerant fluid. The partitioning of the header tanks is performed by separators 15 installed across the header tank so as to force the refrigerant fluid to circulate in the relevant pass.

(9) Installed between each flat tube 11 is an insert or fin 12 the purpose of which is to increase the surface area for exchange of heat between the refrigerant fluid and the external air flow.

(10) These header tanks 13, 14 therefore respectively form a first side 10 of the core bundle 6 and a second side 16 flanking the core bundle and on the opposite side of the core bundle 6 to the first side 10.

(11) The refrigerant fluid 4 enters the system via a high-pressure inlet orifice 5 of the condenser 1, this inlet orifice 5 being more particularly installed on the wall of the first header tank 13 and in the upper part thereof.

(12) A cylinder 2 is mounted against the second side 16. By way of example, the cylinder 2 and the header tank 14 may share a wall 19 which thus jointly delimits the internal volume of the cylinder 2 and the internal volume of the header tank 14.

(13) This cylinder takes the form of a tube extending over substantially the entire height of the core bundle 6 and inside which there is installed a desiccant 17 and a filter 18. The desiccant 17 has the function of capturing water particles circulating in the refrigerant fluid 4, whereas the filter 18 captures solid particles circulating in the refrigerant fluid and which are the result of the wearing of the components of the air conditioning loop.

(14) The system according to the invention comprises a first duct 28 and a second duct 50 which extend in the core bundle 6 of the first side 10 to the second side 16.

(15) The first duct 28 places a distribution chamber 51 delimited by the walls of the second header tank in communication with a high-pressure inlet 52 of the internal heat exchanger 3, this inlet being positioned facing the first duct 28 in the lower part of the internal heat exchanger. The refrigerant fluid 4 therefore circulates from the distribution chamber towards the internal heat exchanger. This communication is established by means of an outlet orifice 20 of the condenser which is made in the wall of the distribution chamber 51 and in the first duct 28.

(16) The second duct 50 places a high-pressure outlet 53 of the internal heat exchanger in communication with the cylinder 2, more particularly with the internal volume thereof in which the desiccant 17 extends. This communication is established via an inlet 34 in the wall 19 of the cylinder 2, substantially facing the second duct 50 and above the filter 18.

(17) The internal heat exchanger comprises means which are organized in such a way that the circulation of the refrigerant fluid, here subjected to high pressure and high temperature, ascends vertically through the internal heat exchanger after having arrived via the high-pressure inlet 52, then descends vertically towards the high-pressure outlet 53 before entering the second duct 50.

(18) A refrigerant outlet 25 from the cylinder is provided.

(19) The condenser may of course be arranged differently.

(20) FIGS. 2 to 5 depict elements of a plug-in device 90 for a cylinder according to the invention, this plug-in device comprising:

(21) a plug 100 designed to plug, removably, an opening 101 of the cylinder 2, a functional component 200; 300, designed to interact with a refrigerant fluid in the cylinder 2; this functional component 200; 300 being designed to be mounted, removably or non-removably, on the plug with the possibility of rotating with respect to this plug 100.

(22) The functional component is selected from a filter 300, designed to filter impurities in the refrigerant fluid, and a separator 200 designed to impose a flow path on the refrigerant fluid.

(23) The separator 200 is designed to separate an inlet 34 and an outlet 25 of the cylinder, notably so as to force the refrigerant to pass through a filter, notably in the bottom part, and through a dip tube in order to raise the refrigerant back up to the upper part of the condenser, towards a supercooling pass.

(24) The functional components 200 and 300 are designed to be mounted on the plug 100 by clip-fastening.

(25) Each functional component 200, 300 comprises a clip-fastening part 400 of substantially annular shape.

(26) The clip-fastening part 400 comprises an annular bead 401 and openings 402 substantially adjacent to the bead 401.

(27) The plug 100 comprises a complementary clip-fastening part 101, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(28) This clip-fastening part 101 of the plug 100 comprises a cavity 102 designed to accept the clip-fastening part 400 of the functional component 200; 300.

(29) This cavity 102 comprises an annular groove 103 to accept the bead 401 of the functional component 200; 300.

(30) This groove 103 may have an insertion rim 104 which is flared to allow removable assembly of the functional component with respect to the plug. As an alternative, this rim 104 may be straight and prevent the functional component from being removed once it is in place on the plug 100.

(31) The complementary clip-fastening parts 101 and 400 are designed to be able to be free to rotate with respect to one another.

(32) As an alternative, the clip-fastening part of the functional component is of the female type and the clip-fastening part of the plug is of the male type.

(33) The plug 100 is designed to be screwed onto the cylinder 2 and comprises a screw thread 110, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(34) The plug 100 further comprises annular seals 111 housed in grooves 112 to provide sealing once mounted on the cylinder 2.

(35) As illustrated in FIG. 4, the separator 200 comprises an annular seal 202 housed in a groove 203.

(36) The separator 200 comprises a flange 205 adjacent to the clip-fastening part 400.

(37) The separator also accepts a pipe on the opposite side to the clip-fastening into the plug, so that the refrigerant can ascend from the bottom towards the top of the cylinder, the supercooling pass being at the top in this application.

(38) As illustrated in FIG. 5, the filter 300 comprises a sealing lip 302 designed to press against a wall of the cylinder 2. Because the filter does not turn with respect to the cylinder, notably while it is being fitted, the lip 302 is spared, namely does not become worn by friction against the cylinder.

(39) The plug 100 can just as well accept the separator 200 as the filter 300, according to choice.