Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
  • F28F9/001—Casings in the form of plate-like arrangements; Frames enclosing a heat exchange core
  • F28F9/002—Casings in the form of plate-like arrangements; Frames enclosing a heat exchange core with fastening means for other structures
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
  • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
  • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
  • F28D2021/008—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for vehicles
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F2230/00—Sealing means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
  • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
  • F28F2275/00—Fastening; Joining
  • F28F2275/08—Fastening; Joining by clamping or clipping

Definitions

• the present application relates to a front panel module for a motor vehicle, in particular for a hybrid or electric vehicle, and it relates more particularly to such systems comprising a frame configured to carry one or more heat exchangers that these systems comprise.
• Such systems are used both for vehicles with an internal combustion engine and for electric or hybrid vehicles.
• current electric drive means use increasingly powerful batteries to improve the motor performance and comfort of the vehicle, while increasing the range of the vehicle.
• the increase in battery power must be accompanied by research on means of rapid charging.
• Fast charging stations are known which use electrical powers greater than 50 kW.
• such powers are accompanied by heat dissipation in the vehicle battery, which, if it is not discharged, can cause irreversible damage therein such as a reduction in its service life or a limitation of its speed. dump.
• thermoregulate the batteries In order to prevent such damage, it is necessary to thermoregulate the batteries, and in particular to cool them.
• motor vehicles are conventionally equipped with heat exchange systems capable of transferring calories from one fluid to another.
• a ventilation duct guides the incoming cold air to one or more heat exchangers, which can be arranged in a hermetically sealed encapsulation box also encapsulating a ventilation assembly.
• the fan motor unit operates at high speeds, thereby generating a high overpressure within the housing.
• Such an overpressure is likely to cause on the one hand the leakage of fresh air, that is to say the passage of air outside the housing without passing through the exchanger (s), and if necessary a recirculation hot air from outside the housing, which has the effect of reducing thermal performance.
• the sealing of the encapsulation housing therefore becomes essential, in particular at the level of the components passing through the housing, such as the inlet and outlet pipes of the heat exchanger, which constitute zones of weakness which may be at origin of air leaks.
• Sealing devices can be implemented in the encapsulation box, at the level of the passages of tubing passages through the box. It should be noted that such a problem is not limited to electric and hybrid vehicles, the circuits of heat transfer fluids as previously described can also be integrated within the ventilation, heating or air conditioning systems of vehicles with thermal engine.
• the known devices have many disadvantages, however. Due to the variability of the diameters and types of pipes making up the heat exchange systems, these sealing devices are very often difficult to adapt and must be made to specific dimensions in order to ensure optimal sealing at the gauge pipes. variables for which they are intended.
• the invention fits into this context and aims to remedy this drawback, by proposing a front panel module comprising effective sealing means for hermetic encapsulation of the heat exchangers in the housing associated with the system and which is easy to assemble.
• the invention provides a support frame configured to carry a heat exchanger comprising a flange for the passage of coolant, the frame comprising a side wall in which a lumen is formed configured to be traversed by the flange, characterized in that that the side wall has at least one flange disposed in the vicinity of one end of the lumen and arranged at least partially across the lumen so as to define an insertion path for the flange inclined relative to the normal to the wall lateral, said flange being further configured to form a pivot point of the flange.
• the side wall has two edges arranged at least partially across the lumen, each edge extending from edges delimiting opposite ends of the lumen;
• the flanges each have a proximal end linked to the side wall and a distal free end, the distal free end of each flange being configured to bear on a surface of the flange when the latter is in place as part of support;
• edges each have a bent shape, extending in longitudinal projection from the side wall in opposite directions along the normal to said side wall;
• the distal free end of the flange extending longitudinally from the side wall towards the inside of the frame is configured to serve as a bearing surface for the flange to form said pivot point in the lumen; e. the edges are configured in a bent portion so that their distal end is closer to the center of the lumen than their proximal end;
• the minimum dimension between two edges of the distal ends of the two flanges is greater than the dimension between these two edges in a projection plane coincident with the elongation plane of the side wall.
• the invention also relates to a front panel module comprising a support frame according to one of the preceding claims and at least one heat exchanger carrying an inlet or outlet flange for coolant, said flange being in abutment against at least one bearing surface formed by a flange of said support frame.
• the flange may have at its free end at least one edge capable of abutting against a flange of the support frame.
• the invention further relates to a method of assembling a heat exchanger with an inlet / outlet flange for refrigerant in a support frame as defined above.
• the method implements a step of inserting the flange into the lumen produced in a side wall of the support frame, with an insertion position along a plane which has an angle of inclination between 10 ° and 80 ° with respect to the plane in which the heat exchanger is positioned at the end of assembly, the insertion step aimed at causing the flange to penetrate through the lumen avoiding the flange (s).
• the method also implements a step of pivoting the flange in the lumen to give the heat exchanger its end of assembly position, substantially perpendicular to the side wall.
• the method comprises at least two successive stages, the first corresponds to a movement in translation while the second corresponds to a movement in rotation.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a front panel module according to one aspect of the invention, in closed configuration with a ventilation duct coming to be fixed on a support frame housing at least one exchanger heat (here not visible), [Figure 1] making visible in particular a first side of the frame and sealing devices capable of allowing passage to the pipes of one of the heat exchangers;
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the front panel module presented in [ Figure 1], when in the open configuration, with the ventilation duct removed so as to clear the interior of the frame support and make accessible the heat exchanger (s) housed there;
• FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the support frame illustrated in [Figure 2] and of a heat exchanger being assembled in the support frame, the perspective angle rendering here visible a second side of the frame opposite the first side visible in [ Figure 2], the second side comprising a sealing arrangement at the level of a fluid inlet flange of a heat exchanger as in accordance with the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a side view of the frame of [Figure 3], without the heat exchanger, making visible an opening formed in the second side of the frame and able to accommodate the visible inlet flange in [Figure 3];
• Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the second side of the frame at the opening along the V-V section plane visible in [Figure 4];
• [23] [Figure 6] and [Figure 7] are partial views and from different perspective angles of the heat exchanger illustrated in [ Figure 3], [ Figure 6] making the passage flange more visible fluid configured to cooperate with the opening formed in the second side of the frame visible in [Figure 4];
• Figure 8 illustrates a first step in a method of inserting a flange of a heat exchanger illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, in a lumen of the frame illustrated in Figures 3 and 4;
• Figure 9 illustrates a second step of a method of inserting a flange of a heat exchanger illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, in a lumen of the frame illustrated in Figures 3 and 4;
• Figure 10 illustrates a third step in a method of inserting a flange of a heat exchanger illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, in a lumen of the frame illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.
• a front panel module 1 comprises at least one heat exchanger 2 housed in an encapsulation box formed by a support frame 4 for the heat exchanger and at least one conduit for ventilation 6 configured to cooperate with said frame and guide fresh air towards this frame to force it through the heat exchanger.
• the support frame 4 also called a support frame, corresponds to a rigid structure, more precisely a rigid plastic frame with four uprights delimiting a surface in which the heat exchanger 2 and possibly a power unit are arranged. fan.
• the support frame ensures the continuity of the ventilation duct 6 , or in other words, the supporting frame corresponds to a part of the flow duct 6
• the invention relates to a front panel module, and an associated support frame for supporting one or more heat exchangers, a side wall of the frame having a light configured to be crossed by a flange of an exchanger, the light being associated with flanges limiting the passage section of this light in such a way that they involve a biased insertion of the heat exchanger so that the flange can follow a path d insertion between the flanges, these flanges also forming a support for the pivoting of the heat exchanger towards its functional position and of baffles to reduce the entry or exit of air through the lumen formed in the support frame.
• a longitudinal axis L will be defined as an axis parallel to the direction of main circulation of the air flow through the support frame and each heat exchanger, and the lateral orientations Lt and transverse T will be defined as orientations perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
• FIG. 1 Such a system 1 is shown in particular schematically in [Figure 1] and [ Figure 2], respectively in the closed and open configuration.
• the heat exchanger (s) 2 are housed in the support frame 4, which is configured to allow the ventilation duct 6 to be fixed.
• the support frame 4 and the ventilation duct 6 are configured to form, when they are assembled one on the other so as to adopt a so-called “closed” configuration, the encapsulation box housing so hermetic the heat exchanger (s).
• the ventilation duct 6 has a ventilation opening 8 open on the front face of the motor vehicle, thus allowing the entry of fresh air flow which it redirects into the encapsulation unit, towards the heat exchanger (s) 2.
• This ventilation duct has, at an end opposite to the ventilation opening, a rear end face 10, brought into contact, in the closed configuration illustrated in [ Figure 1], with the support frame 4.
• the support frame can form a support, on its face opposite to that receiving the ventilation duct, for a ventilation assembly comprising a frame integral with the frame and a motorized propeller disposed across the frame to facilitate air circulation through the front panel module.
• the support frame 4 has two side walls 1 1, 12 and two transverse walls 13, 14, which define an open volume for accommodating between the walls one or more heat exchangers 4.
• An end face is defined front 16 of the support frame as being the face intended to be in contact with the ventilation duct 6, and more particularly with the rear end face 10 of this ventilation duct, and a rear end face is defined 18 the face intended to be in contact with the ventilation assembly.
• this front end face 16 facing the front of the vehicle as illustrated by the arrow AV on [ Figure 1], that, in the example illustrated, fresh air is brought into the frame to pass through the exchangers.
• Each heat exchanger 2 has an exchange surface 20 and at least one manifold 21 disposed laterally by relative to this exchange surface, as well as at least one flange 22 for the passage of refrigerant for the entry or exit of fluid in the exchange surface, the refrigerant being caused to exchange calories with the air crossing the exchange surface.
• Each flange 22 extends projecting from the manifold of the exchanger, substantially in the main elongation plane of the exchanger, that is to say perpendicular to the side walls 11, 12 participating in defining the support frame 4.
• the flanges allowing the connection of the exchanger to a refrigerant circuit here not shown, are arranged so as to pass through the support frame 4 at the passage zones 24 defined when the exchanger is assembled on the frame.
• the front panel module 1 is equipped with sealing element 26 at the passage zones 24 on a first wall side 1 1 of the frame.
• This sealing device can take any form without departing from the context of the invention.
• FIGS. 3 and 4 The invention is more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the support frame 4 is rotated so as to make the second side wall 12 visible.
• the second side wall 12 is here ribbed so as to form square cells.
• the second side wall 12 of the support frame 4 has, in the vicinity here of a vertical end, that is to say in a zone of junction with a transverse wall 13, a lumen 28 forming a passage through the second side wall 12.
• the lumen 28 is arranged around a main axis 30 of direction normal or substantially normal to the side wall 12.
• the light 28 is configured to receive a flange 22 of a heat exchanger and to allow on the one hand the fixing of the flange and therefore of the exchanger relative to the support frame and to propose on the other hand a structure once the heat exchanger is assembled which is sufficiently leaktight. According to the invention, this dual function is achieved only by an appropriate arrangement of ribs forming in the light passage area 28 baffles and support surfaces for the flange and the heat exchanger. Thus, it is not necessary to provide additional sealing means to be interposed between the support frame and the heat exchanger.
• the lumen 28 defines a passage of parallelepiped shape, opening on one side at an external face 31 of the side wall 12 and on the other side at level of an internal face 32 opposite this side wall.
• a clearance zone 33 is formed to allow the positioning of the flange head visible on [Figure 3]
• the light 28 is bordered by two flanges which reduces the passage section.
• a first flange 34 is disposed at a first longitudinal end 35 of the lumen 28, on the side of the front end face 16 of the support frame 4.
• a second flange 36 is disposed in longitudinal opposition, at a second longitudinal end 37 on the side of the rear end face 18 of the support frame 4.
• the first rim 34 has in section the shape of a first lug of angled shape projecting from the external face 31 of the side wall 12.
• the first rim 34 comprises a first portion 38 extending in substantially perpendicular projection the edge of the outer face defining the lumen 28, at the first longitudinal end of the lumen as previously described.
• This first portion 38 extends in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the main axis 30 of the lumen 28.
• the first flange 34 also includes a first return edge 40 which extends the first portion opposite the side wall 12.
• This first return edge 40 comprises in particular a first return portion 42 which directly extends the first portion in the direction of the main axis 30 of the lumen 28, by reducing the passage section of the lumen 28, and a second portion deflection 44 which forms the free end of the first flange and which extends parallel to the first portion 38, so as to form a stepped profile intended to reduce the passage section of the light 28.
• the second deflection portion 44 has a first support face 45 and a second support face 47, for the respective support of an edge of a flange once the associated heat exchanger is assembled in the support frame.
• the first bearing face 45 is turned towards the axis 30 of the light and the second bearing face 47 is turned away from the side wall 12 of the frame support 4.
• the second rim 36 has in section the shape of a second bent lug extending projecting from the internal face 32 of the side wall 12.
• the second rim 36 comprises a first part 46 extending in substantially perpendicular projection the edge of the inner face defining the lumen 28, at the second first longitudinal end of the lumen as previously described.
• This first part 46 extends in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the main axis 30 of the light 28.
• the second flange 36 also includes a second return edge 48 which directly extends the first part in the direction of the main axis 30 of the light, by reducing the passage section of the light 28.
• the second return edge 48 has a bearing surface 50 for the edge of a flange once the associated heat exchanger is assembled in the support frame.
• the distal ends of the flanges 34, 36 can be separated from one another, in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the main axis 30 of the lumen 28, by a distance of between 20 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 40 mm and 70 mm (please check these values).
• the light 28 is configured to allow the passage of a flange 22 of a heat exchanger as illustrated in [ Figure 6] and in [ Figure 7]
• the heat exchanger 2 is of rectangular shape and comprises at the level of a manifold 21 a flange 22 extending in an elongation direction 23.
• the flange is also of rectangular shape and comprises two channels 52 allowing circulation d '' a refrigerant inside the heat exchanger.
• the flange is more particularly arranged near a vertical end edge of the heat exchanger to promote the passage of the coolant entering or leaving the heat exchanger.
• the flange 22 is configured so that at its free end 54, two opposite edges of the flange are extended by an edge 56, 58.
• the flange 22 thus has a particularly visible “T” shaped profile.
• each border 56, 58 an inner face, facing the manifold from which the flange protrudes, and an outer face, facing away from the heat exchanger and the manifold .
• the shape of the lumen 28 forming a passage and ledges formed in the side wall is provided to allow the insertion of such a flange with an insertion angle relative to the direction of the axis 30 of the lumen 28, then tilting it into a functional position in which the associated heat exchanger is arranged in a plane comprising the axis of the light, and also to allow an adjusted arrangement of the edges provided in the side wall around the flange to ensure a sealing function for the encapsulation box.
• the minimum dimension D1 between two edges of the distal ends of the two flanges 34, 36, arranged diagonally, is greater than the dimension D2 between these two edges in a projection plane coincident with the elongation plane of the side wall.
• the dimension to allow passage to the flange between the flanges is greater when the heat exchanger arrives with an inclination relative to its functional position in the frame once assembled, and the flanges are dimensioned so that this inclined insertion is mandatory.
• the method implements a first step of positioning the heat exchanger in the support frame 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8, so that the free end 54 of the flange 22 is disposed opposite the light 28 in which it is desired to pass it.
• the heat exchanger is inserted with a positioning similar to that illustrated in [Figure 3], namely a positioning at an angle to the final position of the heat exchanger in the support frame.
• the main plane of elongation of the heat exchanger when it is inserted in the first stage of the process is inclined with respect to the main plane of elongation of the heat exchanger when it is assembled as part of support 4, with an angular value a as illustrated in [ Figure 8], with reference to the axes of the flange and the light.
• the value of the angle a of inclination of the heat exchanger during its insertion into the support frame in the first step of the process is between 10 and 80 °.
• the heat exchanger is not moved in a direction parallel to a plane in which it is in the operating position, and that it is also not inserted perpendicular to this position plane operating, that is to say parallel to the direction of circulation of the air flow through the heat exchangers.
• the tilt angle value can be between 30 ° and 45 ° (please check if these values reflect what you were considering).
• the heat exchanger is then moved in the direction of the lumen 28, so as to insert the free end 54 of the flange 22 in the lumen 28 according to a translational movement.
• the flange is introduced into the lumen until the edges 56, 58 of the flange protrude from the side wall of the support frame and are found in the clearance zone 33.
• edges first pass beyond the second flange 36, arranged projecting from the internal face 32 of the side wall 12 and therefore the first to be opposite the flange during inserting the heat exchanger into the frame.
• the two edges of the flange can pass between this second rim 36 and the edge delimiting the passage at the first longitudinal end of the light thanks to the inclined insertion of the heat exchanger.
• the edges pass beyond the first rim 34, it being understood that the minimum dimension D1 is greater than the longitudinal dimension D of the flange which is defined in particular by the protruding dimension of the two edges.
• the heat exchanger is pivoted so that the axis of elongation of the flange becomes parallel or substantially parallel to the main axis 30 of the lumen 28.
• This pivoting takes place in particular around a pivot axis defined by the contact between the flange 22 and the bearing surface 50.
• the weight of the heat exchanger promotes contact between a side wall 60 of the flange and the bearing surface 50 of the second flange 36 so as to form a constant pivot axis during pivoting.
• the pivoting continues until the flange 22 blocks the light 28, as can be seen in [ Figure 10].
• the pivoting continues until a contact between the side wall 61 of the flange opposite to the side wall 60 of the flange serving to define the pivot axis and the first bearing face 45 of the first flange 34.
• the heat exchanger and the associated flange 22 are arranged in a plane comprising the axis 30 of the lumen 28.
• the lumen 28 is configured so that the flanges 34, 36 are in contact and / or close to the walls of the flange, so as to limit the passage of an air flow through the side wall 12 of the support frame 4, and improve the thermal performance of the front panel module.
• the front panel module 1 may further comprise a shutter device comprising a set of shutter flaps capable of pivoting in rotation so as to vary the flow rate of the air flow, said device shutter is arranged in the ventilation duct 6 upstream of the heat exchanger relative to the flow of the air flow.
• the shutter device further comprises a support frame having bearings so as to carry the shutters.
• the axes of rotation allow the shutters to pass from an opening configuration to a closing configuration.
• the opening configuration is equivalent to placing (by rotation) the shutters in such a way that they obstruct the passage of the air flow as little as possible while orienting it appropriately.
• the closing configuration amounts to placing the shutters so that they oppose the flow of air flow F as much as possible by their front surface, in cooperation with the other shutters.
• the heat exchanger and the support frame 4 can be inclined relative to the shutter device.
• the median planes of the support frame 4 and of the shutter device form an angle different from 0 ° (not zero), in particular an angle included in a difference between 10 and 80 °, more precisely in a deviation between 30 ° and 60 °.
• Such an arrangement makes it possible to reduce the steric bulk of the front face module 1.
• the present invention provides a support frame and an associated front panel module configured to allow a sealed assembly of a heat exchanger in a support frame without it being for much necessary to provide sealing elements in elastomer for example, which in addition to the cost of an additional part can represent mounting difficulties in the case of a support frame forming part of a heat exchanger encapsulation housing.
• the invention cannot however be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here, and it also extends to any equivalent means or configuration and to any technical combination operating such means.
• the shape of the flanges could be different as soon as it involves a diagonal insertion of the heat exchanger and that it allows this heat exchanger to tilt around a pivot axis formed by one of the ribs. also forming a baffle for sealing the support frame.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
• Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
• Details Of Heat-Exchange And Heat-Transfer (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=66542405

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (15)

• 2018
  • 2018-12-19 FR FR1873291A patent/FR3090842B1/fr active Active
• 2019
  • 2019-12-02 EP EP19839346.4A patent/EP3899404B1/de active Active
  • 2019-12-02 JP JP2021535673A patent/JP7383710B2/ja active Active
  • 2019-12-02 US US17/414,846 patent/US11946708B2/en active Active
  • 2019-12-02 CN CN201980085062.8A patent/CN113196000B/zh active Active
  • 2019-12-02 WO PCT/FR2019/052884 patent/WO2020128194A1/fr not_active Ceased

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