Heat Exchanger And Corresponding Flat Tube And Plate

Abstract

A heat exchanger for cooling charge air comprises at least one flat tube for circulation of a fluid. The flat tube is formed by assembling a pair of plates ( 7 ) in such a way as to define a first circulation channel ( 23 ) and a second circulation channel ( 25 ). The circulation channels ( 23, 25 ) communicate with one another at one end to establish substantially “U”-shaped circulation path for the fluid. At least one plate ( 7 ) comprises at least one first rib ( 29 ) and one second rib ( 31 ). The first and second ribs ( 29, 31 ) are substantially “L”-shaped. The first rib ( 29 ) is arranged in the first circulation channel ( 23 ) and the second rib ( 31 ) is arranged in the second circulation channel ( 25 ). A flat tube and a plate for such a heat exchanger are also disclosed.

1 . A heat exchanger for cooling charge air, said exchanger comprising at least one flat tube for the circulation of a fluid, said at least one flat tube being formed by assembling a pair of plates, thereby delimiting a first circulation canal and a second circulation canal, such that said circulation canals communicate with one another at one end to define a substantially U-shaped circulation path for the fluid,
 wherein at least one plate comprises at least one first rib and one second rib which are substantially L-shaped overall, and   wherein said first rib is arranged in said first circulation canal and said second rib is arranged in said second circulation canal.   
     
     
         2 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one plate comprises a central rib, with said central rib projecting into said at least one flat tube to delimit said first and second circulation canals. 
     
     
         3 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one first and second ribs are symmetric about said central rib. 
     
     
         4 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one first rib extends substantially at the center of the width of said first circulation canal, and in wherein said at least one second rib extends substantially at the center of the width of said second circulation canal. 
     
     
         5 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one plate
 comprises a fluid inlet orifice arranged in said first circulation canal, and comprises a fluid outlet orifice arranged in said second circulation canal, and   wherein said at least one first rib is substantially aligned with respect to the center of said inlet orifice, and said at least one second rib is substantially aligned with respect to the center of said outlet orifice.   
     
     
         6 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said substantially L-shaped ribs have rounded edges. 
     
     
         7 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one plate has a plurality of bosses that project into a flow passage for the fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one plate has a width less than or equal to 100 mm. 
     
     
         9 . A flat tube for a heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , said flat tube being formed by assembling a pair of plates, thereby delimiting a first circulation canal and a second circulation canal, such that said circulation canals communicate with one another at one end to define a substantially U-shaped circulation path for the fluid, wherein at least one plate comprises at least one first rib and one second rib which are substantially L-shaped overall, and wherein said first rib is arranged in said first circulation canal and said second rib is arranged in said second circulation canal. 
     
     
         10 . The flat tube as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the two plates of said pair of plates are substantially identical. 
     
     
         11 . The flat tube as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of said plates respectively comprise a central rib and wherein a central rib of a first plate is in contact with a central rib of a second plate. 
     
     
         12 . The flat tube as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said first and second ribs of said first plate are respectively in contact with said first and second ribs of said second plate. 
     
     
         13 . A plate for a flat tube of a heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 9 , said plate delimiting a first circulation canal and a second circulation canal, said circulation canals communicating with one another at one end to define a substantially U-shaped circulation path for the fluid, wherein said plate comprises at least one first rib and one second rib which are substantially L-shaped overall, and wherein said first rib is arranged in said first circulation canal and said second rib is arranged in said second circulation canal. 
     
     
         14 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one first rib extends substantially at the center of the width of said first circulation canal, and wherein said at least one second rib extends substantially at the center of the width of said second circulation canal. 
     
     
         15 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one first rib extends substantially at the center of the width of said first circulation canal, and wherein said at least one second rib extends substantially at the center of the width of said second circulation canal. 
     
     
         16 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one plate comprises a fluid inlet orifice arranged in said first circulation canal, and comprises a fluid outlet orifice arranged in said second circulation canal, and wherein said at least one first rib is substantially aligned with respect to the center of said inlet orifice, and said at least one second rib is substantially aligned with respect to the center of said outlet orifice. 
     
     
         17 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one plate comprises a fluid inlet orifice arranged in said first circulation canal, and comprises a fluid outlet orifice arranged in said second circulation canal, and wherein said at least one first rib is substantially aligned with respect to the center of said inlet orifice, and said at least one second rib is substantially aligned with respect to the center of said outlet orifice. 
     
     
         18 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one plate comprises a fluid inlet orifice arranged in said first circulation canal, and comprises a fluid outlet orifice arranged in said second circulation canal, and wherein said at least one first rib is substantially aligned with respect to the center of said inlet orifice, and said at least one second rib is substantially aligned with respect to the center of said outlet orifice.