Heat Exchanger Pipe And Heat Exchanger Incorporating Such Pipes

Abstract

The invention relates to a pipe ( 2 ) of a heat exchanger ( 1 ) comprising a strip ( 9 ) bent about itself such as to define an internal volume ( 10 ) of the pipe ( 2 ). The strip ( 9 ) comprises first and second edge portions ( 15, 16 ) joined such as to divide the internal volume ( 10 ) into at least two channels. The first edge portion ( 15 ) has two distinct parts, referred to as first and second contact parts ( 18, 22 ), in contact with the second edge portion ( 16 ) and a third contact part ( 20 ), located between the first and second contact parts ( 18, 22 ). The third contact part ( 20 ) is in contact with a zone of the strip ( 9 ) opposite the second edge portion ( 16 ) across the internal volume ( 10 ) of the pipe ( 2 ). The invention also relates to a heat exchanger ( 1 ) incorporating such pipes ( 2 ).

1 . A pipe ( 2 ) of a heat exchanger ( 1 ), the pipe ( 2 ) comprising a strip ( 9 ) bent about itself to define an internal volume ( 10 ) of the pipe ( 2 ), the strip ( 9 ) having a first edge portion ( 15 ) and a second edge portion ( 16 ) joined together to divide the internal volume ( 10 ) into at least two channels, wherein the first edge portion ( 15 ) has first and second contact parts ( 18 ,  22 ), in contact with the second edge portion ( 16 ) and a third contact part ( 20 ), located between the first and second contact parts ( 18 ,  22 ), the third contact part ( 20 ) being in contact with a zone of the strip ( 9 ) opposite the second edge portion ( 16 ) across the internal volume ( 10 ) of the pipe ( 2 ). 
     
     
         2 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the second edge portion ( 16 ) is flat. 
     
     
         3 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the first contact part ( 18 ) and the second contact part ( 22 ) are flat. 
     
     
         4 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the pipe ( 2 ) has two flat walls ( 11 ,  12 ) opposing one another across the internal volume ( 10 ), with the second edge portion ( 16 ) defining a part of one of the walls ( 11 ,  12 ). 
     
     
         5 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 4 , in which the distance between the two flat walls ( 11 ,  12 ) is less than or equal to 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 5 , in which the distance between the two flat walls ( 11 ,  12 ) is less than or equal to 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the first edge portion ( 15 ) includes a shoulder ( 23 ) oriented towards the inside of the pipe ( 2 ) such that a distal extremity ( 24 ) of the second edge portion ( 16 ) is arranged to face the shoulder ( 23 ). 
     
     
         8 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the first contact part ( 18 ) is linked to the third contact part ( 20 ) by a first inclined leg ( 19 ), and the second contact part ( 22 ) is linked to the third contact part ( 20 ) by a second inclined leg ( 21 ). 
     
     
         9 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 8 , in which the first inclined leg ( 19 ), the third contact part ( 20 ), and the second inclined leg ( 21 ) are arranged consecutively and form a “V” shape in a plane perpendicular to an axis of longitudinal extension (A) of the pipe ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the third contact part ( 20 ) is located in a central zone of the pipe ( 2 ). 
     
     
         11 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the strip ( 9 ) has portions ( 17 ) that come into contact with the parts of the strip ( 9 ) opposing one another across the internal volume ( 10 ) of the pipe ( 2 ) to define supplementary channels ( 30 ,  31 ,  32 ,  33 ). 
     
     
         12 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the strip ( 9 ) has stamped portions ( 27 ,  28 ) that may or may not come into contact with the parts of the strip ( 9 ) opposing one another across the internal volume ( 10 ) of the pipe ( 2 ). 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger ( 1 ) including at least one pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 2 , in which the first contact part ( 18 ) and the second contact part ( 22 ) are flat. 
     
     
         15 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 2 , in which the pipe ( 2 ) has two flat walls ( 11 ,  12 ) opposing one another across the internal volume ( 10 ), with the second edge portion ( 16 ) defining a part of one of the walls ( 11 ,  12 ). 
     
     
         16 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 3 , in which the pipe ( 2 ) has two flat walls ( 11 ,  12 ) opposing one another across the internal volume ( 10 ), with the second edge portion ( 16 ) defining a part of one of the walls ( 11 ,  12 ). 
     
     
         17 . A pipe ( 2 ) according to  claim 14 , in which the pipe ( 2 ) has two flat walls ( 11 ,  12 ) opposing one another across the internal volume ( 10 ), with the second edge portion ( 16 ) defining a part of one of the walls ( 11 ,  12 ).