Patent ID: 6973959
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: F01N,F28D,F28F,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A heat exchanger for cooling motor vehicle exhaust gases, which heat exchanger is to be fitted into an exhaust line of the vehicle and having at least three tubes in contact by way of their outer walls with cooling air, in which the exhaust gases are brought to circulate, the exchanger comprising an outer casing of sheet metal that is substantially cylindrical in shape and through the lateral wall of which there pass openings, in which casing the tubes are fixed by holding means in substantially parallel arrangements inside the casing, a pipe for the admission of exhaust gases into the casing of the heat exchanger which pipe is connected to the exhaust line upstream of the heat exchanger, an exhaust gas evacuation pipe connected to the exhaust line downstream of the heat exchanger, and exhaust gas distribution means arranged inside the casing of the heat exchanger, the exhaust gas distribution means allowing the exhaust gases to be passed from the admission pipe to the evacuation pipe along a path that passes in succession, in an axial direction, through each of the tubes of the plurality of tubes along their entire length, at least four collectors delimited, inside the metal casing of the heat exchanger by two axial-end cupels or outer cupels that are arranged transversely and close the axial ends of the metal casing of the heat exchanger, and by at least four inner cupels that are each arranged along the entire inner transverse cross-section of the metal casing, at a distance from the axial ends of the metal casing of the heat exchanger, in which a first collector is delimited between a first outer cupel, through which there passes the exhaust gas admission pipe opening into the collector, and by a first inner cupel, a second collector is delimited between a first inner cupel and a second inner cupel, which are arranged in a first end zone of the metal casing on the side of the exhaust gas admission pipe, a third collector is delimited between a third inner cupel and a fourth inner cupel, in a second end zone of the metal casing on the side of the exhaust gas outlet pipe, and a fourth collector is delimited by a fourth inner cupel and the second outer cupel through which there passes the exhaust gas outlet pipe, and in which a first tube of the plurality of tubes passes at one of its ends through the first cupel and the second cupel and at its other end through the third inner cupel, so as to open at one of its ends into the first collector and at its other end into the third collector, a second tube of the plurality of tubes passes at one of its axial ends through the second inner cupel and at its other axial end through the third inner cupel, so as to open at its first end into the second collector and at its second end into the third collector, and the third tube of the tube assembly passes at one of its ends through the second inner cupel and at its other axial end through the third inner cupel and the fourth inner cupel, so as to open at one of its ends into the second collector and at its other end into the fourth collector.