Patent ID: 8136579
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: F28F

Abstract:
1. A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle having a bundle of tubes ( 2 ) and spacers interposed between the tubes in the bundle to promote heat exchange, the bundle being delimited by two end spacers ( 70 , 71 ), the exchanger also having two header plates, designed to have the ends of the bundle passing through them, and at least one side plate ( 50 , 51 ) positioned on one of the end spacers, characterized in that the side plate has at least one expansion area ( 80 ) to compensate for the longitudinal expansion of the side plate, and in that the cross section of the side plate in the expansion area is substantially U-shaped, wherein the side plate has a substantially flat central web ( 500 ), bordered by two longitudinal flanges ( 501 , 502 ), the flanges ( 501 , 502 ) being connected to the central web ( 500 ) in the expansion area ( 80 ), and wherein the expansion area ( 80 ) comprises an opening ( 800 ) formed in the central web ( 500 ) and two lateral bends ( 871 , 872 ) pointing towards an inside of the side plate, the lateral bends being positioned on either side of a longitudinal axis of the side plate (a) and each lateral bend extending over part of the flanges and over a corresponding part of the area of connection of the flanges to the central web.