Heat exchanger and associated method for producing same

Abstract

The present invention concerns a heat exchanger ( 1 ) comprising: a tube bundle ( 2 ) comprising a plurality of tubes ( 20 ) arranged parallel to each other and spacers ( 21 ) arranged between said tubes ( 20 ), a collector plate ( 4 ) comprising holes ( 43 ) respectively bordered by first flanges ( 44 ) into which ends ( 22 ) of the tubes ( 20 ) are inserted, the tube bundle ( 2 ) being brazed and the collector plate ( 4 ) comprising at least one compressible seal ( 41 ) forming second flanges ( 45 ), the second flanges ( 45 ) being compressed between the first flanges ( 43 ) and the ends ( 22 ) of the tubes ( 20 ) in order to provide a tight seal between said ends ( 22 ) of the tubes ( 20 ) and the corresponding first flanges ( 43 ).

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes arranged parallel to each other and spacers arranged between said tubes; and   a collector plate comprising holes respectively bordered by first flanges into which ends of the tubes are inserted,   wherein the tube bundle is brazed and the collector plate comprises at least one compressible seal forming second flanges, the second flanges being compressed between the first flanges and the ends of the tubes in order to provide a tight seal between said ends of the tubes and the corresponding first flanges.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least the end of each tube has an oblong cross section. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ends of the tubes comprise a first flaring and a bearing area compressing the compressible seal. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ends of the tubes comprise at least one second flaring extending above the compressible seal. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the second flaring is produced over a limited portion of the ends of the tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rate of compression of said second flanges is between 25% and 35%. 
     
     
         7 . A method for producing a heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising the following steps:
 a) assembling a tube bundle comprising a plurality of tubes arranged parallel to each other and spacers arranged between said tubes,   b) brazing the tubes to the spacers,   c) assembling a collector plate provided with holes bordered by first flanges with a cross section corresponding to the ends of the tubes and equipped with a compressible seal forming second flanges suitable for being engaged respectively through the holes,   d) inserting the ends of the tubes into the holes of the collector plate so as to compress the second flanges of the compressible seal.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the step d) of inserting the ends of the tubes into the holes of the collector plate so as to compress the second flanges comprises a first sub-step of inserting the ends of the tubes into the holes of the collector plate and a second sub-step of producing a first flaring and a bearing area at the ends of the tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the step d) of inserting the ends of the tubes into the holes of the collector plate so as to compress the second flanges comprises a step of press-fitting the ends of the tubes into the holes of the collector plate, at least said ends being larger in size than the openings of the second flanges. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising an additional step of producing at least one second flaring at the ends of the tubes extending above the compressible seal. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the second flaring is produced over a limited portion of the ends of the tubes.