Heat exchange – Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections – With manifold type header or header plate
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-25
2001-10-02
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections
With manifold type header or header plate
C165S175000, C165S153000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296051
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to heat exchangers, in particular for motor vehicles.
It concerns more particularly a heat exchanger of the type comprising a bundle of tubes and of fins, in which the ends of the tubes are introduced into the holes of a manifold plate, as well as a manifold box having an open face delimited by a peripheral rim, and in which heat exchanger the manifold plate is provided with crimping means suitable for coming to bear against the peripheral rim of the manifold box while compressing a sealing gasket.
Heat exchangers of this type are already known, which are used in motor vehicles, in particular in order to cool the engine or heat the passenger compartment.
In known heat exchangers of this type, the manifold plate is usually provided with collars through which the ends of the tubes of the bundle pass.
Distinction is made between two main types of heat exchangers: exchangers of the mechanically assembled type, and exchangers of the brazed type.
In the first case, the ends of the tubes are received in the collars of the manifold plate with the insertion of corresponding collars forming part of the sealing gasket. The collars of the sealing gasket are compressed by widening of the tubes.
In the second case, the ends of the tubes are received directly in the collars of the manifold plate, and are brazed to it.
The sealing between the manifold plate and the manifold box is ensured by the sealing gasket's perimeter, which is received in a peripheral groove of the manifold plate that forms a kind of gutter. This groove receives both the perimeter of the sealing gasket and the manifold box's rim, against which the crimping means of the manifold plate come to bear. These crimping means may be produced, for example, in the form of tongues folded against the rim of the manifold box.
The presence of this peripheral groove has hitherto been indispensable in order to make it possible both to accommodate the perimeter of the sealing gasket, as well as the rim of the manifold box, and to hold this rim during the crimping operation. This is because, without the presence of this groove, the peripheral rim of the manifold box would tend to move inward under the effect of the high pressures which are exerted during the crimping operation.
However, the presence of this groove, which surrounds a generally flat bottom of the manifold plate, increases the space requirement, especially the width requirement, of the heat exchanger. This is because the space requirement of the manifold plate proper is much greater than that of the bundle, which is usually defined by the fins.
In current vehicles, however, the space allocated to the equipment is increasingly limited, and it is found necessary to be able to reduce the space requirement of the heat exchangers, while retaining comparable thermal performance.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to afford a solution to this problem.
To that end, it proposes a heat exchanger of the type defined in the introduction, in which the manifold plate is generally plane, and in which an insertion plate is mounted on the manifold plate on the side next to the manifold box, this insertion plate being provided with openings for the ends of the tubes to pass through and being delimited by a peripheral rim forming a lateral stop for the rim of the manifold box.
Hence, the manifold plate of the exchanger of the invention is plane and is without a peripheral groove, which makes it possible to limit its space requirement compared with known manifold plates that are provided with a peripheral groove.
The insertion plate, which is mounted on the manifold plate, gives a lateral stop for the rim of the manifold box, so that this rim is held laterally during the crimping operation.
Another advantage of this insertion plate is that it allows flush fitting of the ends of the tubes which, previously, protruded into the volume delimited jointly by the manifold plate and the manifold box. This leads to a significant reduction of the pressure head loss associated with the admission of a fluid, in particular a coolant, into the tubes of the heat exchanger.
Further, the presence of this insertion plate makes it possible to reduce the internal volume delimited by the manifold box and the manifold plate, and therefore the mass of the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger.
According to one advantageous characteristic of the invention, the peripheral rim of the manifold box internally delimits a peripheral recess suitable for allowing flush fitting of the peripheral edge of the insertion plate in order to hold it in position.
Preferably, the openings of the insertion plate are arranged in front of the ends of the tubes, and they each have an edge which is widened in the direction of the manifold box in order to favor the admission of a fluid into the tubes.
The insertion plate is advantageously made of plastic.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the sealing gasket is suitable for being accommodated between the manifold plate, on the one hand, and the rim of the manifold box as well as the insertion plate, on the other.
In one embodiment of the invention, the ends of the tubes are received in collars of the manifold plate while compressing corresponding collars of the sealing gasket, which makes it possible to carry out assembly of the mechanical type.
In this case, the ends of the tubes form widenings received in the openings of the insertion plate.
In a heat exchanger of this type, it is advantageous to supply a protective plate which is placed between the manifold plate and the fins of the bundle in order to protect the collars of the sealing gasket.
This is because, without the presence of this protective means, the parts of the collars of the sealing gasket which protrude on the side next to the bundle could be damaged by external agents.
In another embodiment of the invention, the ends of the tubes are received and brazed in collars of the manifold plate in order to give an assembly of the brazed type.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3415315 (1968-12-01), Donaldson et al.
patent: 4401157 (1983-08-01), Cadars
patent: 4582127 (1986-04-01), Moranne
patent: 5123482 (1992-06-01), Abraham
patent: 5219024 (1993-06-01), Potier
patent: 5311934 (1994-05-01), Potier
patent: 5355944 (1994-10-01), Potier
patent: 5431218 (1995-07-01), Lelievre
patent: 5901784 (1999-05-01), Potier
patent: 0 334 817 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 0 372 187 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 2 031 669 (1970-11-01), None
patent: 2 549 614 (1984-08-01), None
patent: 2 742 528 (1997-07-01), None
Mahe Christian
Sahnoun Abdel-Jalil
Duong Tho Van
Lazarus Ira S.
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Valeo Termique Moteur
LandOfFree
Heat exchanger with reduced space requirement, in particular... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Heat exchanger with reduced space requirement, in particular..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Heat exchanger with reduced space requirement, in particular... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2582087