End plate with area of weakness for a heat exchanger

Abstract

The present invention relates to an end plate for a heat exchanger, running longitudinally, comprising at least one opening ( 5, 5′, 5 ″), said opening ( 5, 5′, 5 ″) forming a cut in the end plate ( 1 ), and at least two areas of weakness ( 6, 6 ′), characterized in that the two areas of weakness ( 6, 6 ′) are situated in distinct parallel planes. It also relates to an exchanger equipped with such an end plate.

1 . An end plate ( 1 ) for a heat exchanger, running longitudinally, said end plate ( 1 ) comprising at least one opening ( 5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″,  9 ,  9 ′,  10 ,  10 ′,  12 ,  12 ′,  13 ,  13 ′), said opening ( 5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″,  9 ,  9 ′,  10 ,  10 ′,  12 ,  12 ′,  13 ,  13 ′) forming a cut in said end plate ( 1 ), and at least two areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″), characterized in that said two areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) are situated in distinct parallel planes. 
     
     
         2 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said two areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) are the only material elements that form a discontinuity in said cut such that the said cut is interrupted only by said two areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″). 
     
     
         3 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  characterized in that said end plate ( 1 ) comprises a substantially flat web ( 4 ) from which at least one projection ( 2  or  3 ) extends. 
     
     
         4 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said end plate ( 1 ) comprises two projections ( 2 ,  3 ) extending from said flat web ( 4 ). 
     
     
         5 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said at least one projection ( 2  or  3 ) has a substantially square, rectangular, or round cross section. 
     
     
         6 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said end plate ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of openings ( 5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″,  9 ,  9 ′,  10 ,  10 ′,  12 ,  12 ′,  13 ,  13 ′). 
     
     
         7 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said opening ( 5 ,  5 ′,  5 ″,  9 ,  9 ′,  10 ,  10 ′,  12 ,  12 ′,  13 ,  13 ′) extends linearly, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said end plate ( 1 ). 
     
     
         8 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) have a reduction in thickness of material ( 15 ). 
     
     
         9 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one of said areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) is situated on a flat portion ( 4 ). 
     
     
         10 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one of said areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) is situated on a curved, bent, or sinusoidal portion ( 7 ,  7 ′). 
     
     
         11 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said two areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) are situated respectively on an upper face of said at least one projection ( 2  or  3 ) and on said flat web ( 4 ). 
     
     
         12 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) are all situated on one and the same linear axis (AA). 
     
     
         13 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) are situated on different linear axes. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising two headers connected by a core of tubes and of inserts, characterized in that said heat exchanger comprises at least one end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , characterized in that said end plate ( 1 ) is fixed to at least one of the ends or sides of said core. 
     
     
         16 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said end plate ( 1 ) comprises a substantially flat web ( 4 ) from which at least one projection ( 2  or  3 ) extends. 
     
     
         17 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 16 , characterized in that said end plate ( 1 ) comprises two projections ( 2 ,  3 ) extending from said flat web ( 4 ). 
     
     
         18 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said at least one projection ( 2  or  3 ) has a substantially square, rectangular, or round cross section. 
     
     
         19 . An end plate ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said two areas of weakness ( 6 ,  6 ′,  11 ,  11 ′,  11 ″,  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″) are situated respectively on an upper face of said at least one projection ( 2  or  3 ) and on said flat web ( 4 ).