Pipe joints or couplings – With assembly means or feature – Particular tool-engaging means or with tool
Patent
1997-02-21
2000-12-19
Arola, Dave W.
Pipe joints or couplings
With assembly means or feature
Particular tool-engaging means or with tool
2851791, 285197, 285222, 2852886, 28528811, 285901, 285906, 138 89, 228136, F16L 3500
Patent
active
061618764
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a connection device for a fluid chamber of a heat exchanger which chamber is bounded by a tubular wall, especially for a condenser manifold in a system for air-conditioning the cabin of a motor vehicle, this device comprising a cylindrical end piece which can fit in an opening made in the said tubular wall, in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of this wall, and can be brazed to this wall so that it is leaktight, and in which end piece there emerges a first bore pointing in the first direction, the first bore communicating with a second bore pointing in a second direction different from the first direction, which emerges on the outside of the device in order to provide connection to a fluid circuit external to the said heat exchanger.
In a known device, the first bore ends, at the opposite end from the end piece, in the second bore which runs parallel to the axis of the tubular wall. The two bores are made in one and the same metal component.
When it is put in the brazing furnace, it is necessary for the connection device to be immobilized with respect to the tubular wall in the relative position it is to occupy after brazing. An external brazing jig may be used for this purpose. However, the deformations of this jig as a result of the thermal cycles make it difficult to maintain the dimensional tolerances needed to carry out the holding function under acceptable conditions. It is therefore desirable to achieve mechanical attachment of the device to the tubular wall. In some cases, especially when the tubular wall is formed of several assembled parts, it is possible to insert a tool into the first bore, from the end of the end piece, in order to flare this end piece and thus obtain this attachment. However, this option is not always available. Moreover, the L-shaped cavity formed by the first bore and the second bore of the device of the prior document also does not allow a flaring tool to be inserted through this device.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks and to allow a tool to be inserted for deforming the end piece irrespective of the configuration of the tubular wall.
The invention is particularly aimed at a device of the type defined in the introduction, and makes provision for the first bore also to emerge, at its opposite end to the end piece, in such a way as to allow the insertion therein of a tool capable of deforming the end piece radially outward in order to attach it mechanically to the inside of the tubular wall before brazing, and for the device to include a shut-off member which can be put in place at the said opposite end and be fixed therein by brazing in order to close the first bore in a sealed way after the said tool has been withdrawn.
Optional features of the device according to the invention, which may be presented in addition or as alternatives, are given below: it can press against at least one generatrix of the tubular wall. shoulder of the first bore. beyond the outer face of the disk and able to be knocked over at least partially onto this face by deformation in order to hold the disk in place before brazing.
Another subject of the invention is a method for connecting a heat exchanger fluid chamber bounded by a tubular wall by means of a device as defined hereinabove, in which method the device is shifted in the first direction so as to fit the end piece into the said opening of the tubular wall, a tool is inserted inside the first bore, using which tool the end piece is deformed radially outward in order to attach it mechanically to the inside of the tubular wall, the tool is withdrawn, the shut-off member is put in place at the said opposite end of the first bore, and the end piece is secured to the tubular wall and the first bore is closed by the shut-off member, in leaktight fashion by brazing.
If there is/are a/any projection (projections), then before brazing is carried out this/these is/are knocked down onto the outer face of the tubular
REFERENCES:
patent: 1801006 (1931-04-01), Jacoby
patent: 1841523 (1932-01-01), Crowe et al.
patent: 1861314 (1932-05-01), McAndrew
patent: 2286566 (1942-06-01), Norton
patent: 3289287 (1966-12-01), Guritz
patent: 4811759 (1989-03-01), Billoue
patent: 5207461 (1993-05-01), Lasko
patent: 5785119 (1998-07-01), Watanabe et al.
Arola Dave W.
Valeo Thermique Moteur
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