Heat exchanger, in particular for a refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The exchanger has a first unit for circulating a first fluid defining first blades for circulating the first fluid and a second unit for circulating a second fluid defining second blades for circulating the second fluid. The blades are layered in a stacking direction of said blades such that an exchange of heat can take place between the first and second fluids, where the units permit the first fluid to circulate while avoiding the second unit, and permitting the second fluid to circulate while avoiding the first unit.

1 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle, said exchanger comprising:
 a first unit for circulating a first fluid defining first blades for circulating said first fluid; and   a second unit for circulating a second fluid defining second blades for circulating said second fluid, said blades being layered in a stacking direction of said blades such that an exchange of heat can take place between said first and second fluids, said units permitting the first fluid to circulate while avoiding the second unit, and permitting the second fluid to circulate while avoiding the first unit.   
     
     
         2 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said blades extend in a longitudinal direction, perpendicular to the stacking direction, and said first unit comprises collectors for the first fluid, situated in the area of a longitudinal end edge of the blades of said first unit, and/or said second unit comprises collectors for the second fluid, situated in the area of a longitudinal end edge of the blades of said second unit. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the collectors of the first unit are situated facing a longitudinal end edge of the blades of the second unit, opposite the longitudinal end edge of the blades of the second unit, in the area of which said collectors ( 6   a ,  6   b ) of the second unit are present, and/or the collectors of the second unit are situated facing a longitudinal end edge of the blades of the first unit, opposite the longitudinal end edge of the blades of the first unit, in the area of which said collectors ( 5   a ,  5   b ) of the first unit are present. 
     
     
         4 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , in which said units comprise plates, stacked in said stacking direction, said plates being paired in order to define said circulation blades, for each of the fluids. 
     
     
         5 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the pairs of plates for each of the fluids exhibit a part protruding from the pairs of plates for the other fluid, in planes that are orthogonal to said stacking direction, in such a way as to be able to free up a zone of said plates, referred to as header plates, for receiving said collectors. 
     
     
         6 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 5 , comprising fluid connections between the plates of the pairs of plates for a same fluid, situated in the area of said header plates, in such a way as to form said collectors, said connections being situated externally to the pairs of plates for said other fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 6 , in which said fluid connections comprise stamped end fittings emerging from said plates, said stamped end fittings coming into contact with the stamped end fittings of the plate facing the neighboring pair of plates for the circulation of the same fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 6 , in which said plates comprise a longitudinal end edge, referred to as the distal edge, opposite an opposing longitudinal end edge of said plates, in the area of which said fluid connections are situated, said distal edge being situated between two plates facing two neighboring pairs of plates for the circulation of the other fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 8 , in which said distal edge of the plates of one of the units is in proximity to said fluid connections of the other unit. 
     
     
         10 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 8 , in which said distal edge includes a part of the contour of said fluid connections. 
     
     
         11 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the second unit comprises at least one pair of terminating plates, in said stacking direction, comprising a plate exhibiting a longitudinal extension that is identical with the other plates of said unit and a terminating plate exhibiting an upper longitudinal extension. 
     
     
         12 . The exchanger as claimed in  claim 11 , in which said second unit comprises at least one connecting flange for one of the fluids that is subject to said terminating plate. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . The exchanger unit as claimed in  claim 13  equipped with a spacer between said pairs of plates. 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a heat exchanger unit of  claim 13 ; and   a housing for circulating another fluid, said unit being situated in the interior of said housing in order to permit an exchange of heat between the fluid circulating in said unit and said other fluid.