Multichannel tube heat exchanger, in particular for motor vehicle

• US 20020134538A1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
• Original Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
• Inventors: Moreau, Sylvain
• Granted Patent: US 6,749,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/173
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/035 with U-flow or serpentine-flow inside the conduits F28D1/0341 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0391 a single plate being bent to form one or more conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/05391 with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits combined with a particular flow pattern, e.g. multi-row multi-stage radiators
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/022 with multiple channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2225/08 for header boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0204 for elongated header box, e.g. with transversal and longitudinal partitions

Abstract

The invention concerns a heat exchanger comprising an array of tubes (10) mounted between two fluid boxes (28, 46) via respective manifolds (16) and designed to be run through by a fluid. The tubes (10) comprise each several channels separated by at least a longitudinal partition and are arranged in a single row, parallel to tow large surfaces of the exchanger, such that the fluid circulation takes place in at least two layers parallel to the large surfaces of the exchanger and formed each by part of tube channels. One at least of the fluid boxes (28, 36) comprises an internal longitudinal partition dividing the fluid box into at least two longitudinal sections communicating with the two layers respectively. The invention is in particular applicable to air conditioning evaporators.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, in particular an evaporator, comprising a bank of tubes mounted between two fluid chambers by means of respective manifolds and suitable for being traversed by a fluid, wherein the tubes (10) each include several channels (12) separated by at least one longitudinal partition (68) and are arranged along a single row, parallel to two large faces (F1, F2) of the exchanger, wherein the circulation of the fluid takes place in at least two layers (SN1, SN2;

SN3, SN4) parallel to the large faces of the exchanger and each formed by a part (G1;

G2) of the channels (12) of the tubes, and wherein at least one of the fluid chambers (28, 46) comprises an internal longitudinal partition (48, 68) suitable for dividing the manifold chamber into at least two longitudinal compartments communicating respectively with the two layers.

2. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one (28) of the fluid chambers comprises at least one transverse partition (52) suitable for dividing the fluid chamber into at least two transverse compartments (58, 60;

64) at least one of which establishes a communication between two layers.

3. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 1 and 2, wherein each layer is divided into at least two sub-layers (SN1, SN2;

SN3, SN4) linked in series and in which the circulation of the fluid takes place in counter-current mode from one sub-layer to the next one.

4. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each manifold (16) includes apertures (18) surrounded by collars (20) for the insertion of the extremities (14) of the tubes (10) of the bank, and is equipped with a flat surface (22, 24) for brazing of a fluid chamber (28, 46).

5. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 4, wherein each fluid chamber (28, 46) comprises a flat contour (30, 66) and at least one coplanar partition (48, 52;

68) suitable for being brazed against the flat surface (24) of the manifold (16).

6. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 4 and 5, wherein the flat surface (24) of each manifold (16) forms part of a manifold plate (22) affixed by brazing onto the manifold and including apertures (26) aligned with the apertures (18) of the manifold.

7. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 6, which comprises at least one lug (45) originating from one edge of the manifold (16) or from the manifold plate (22), or from the fluid chamber (28;

46), the said lug being folded over respectively onto one edge of the fluid chamber (28;

46), or onto one edge of the manifold (16) or of the manifold plate (22).

8. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the extremity (14) of at least one longitudinal partition (78) of the tube (10) is positioned substantially at the level of the flat surface (22, 24), in such a way that this longitudinal partition (78) of the tube can be brazed onto an internal longitudinal partition (48, 68) of the fluid chamber.

9. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the fluid chambers (28, 46) are each formed by stamping of a metal plate in order to define the flat contour (30, 66) and the coplanar partition(s).

10. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the fluid chambers (28, 46) comprises at least one inlet or outlet pipe (54, 56) for fluid.

11. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each tube (10) is an extruded tube.

12. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each tube (10) is formed from a piece of sheet metal (80) folded and closed by longitudinal brazed joints (88).

13. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each tube (10) is formed from two stamped sheet metal plates (90) which are brazed together so as to be leaktight.

14. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the channels (12) of the tubes (10) are separated by partitions (78) having respective thicknesses (A, B, C, D, E) which decrease from a central region of the tube towards the periphery.

15. The heat exchanger as claimed in one of claims 1 to 14, which is produced in the form of an evaporator for an air-conditioning apparatus.