Patent Description:
Heat exchangers, and particularly liquid-cooled condensers, are designed to enable the circulation of a coolant fluid and a refrigerant fluid in adjacent but yet separated spaces, to allow the exchange of heat between the fluids. These exchanges cause a change in the state of the refrigerant fluid, from gas to liquid. The refrigerant fluid is pumped through the refrigerant circuit by a compressor, which can only accept the refrigerant fluid in a gas state.

A receiver drier bottle is implemented in the refrigerant fluid circuit to collect and trap liquid and moisture out of the refrigerant fluid, as well as for filtering purposes. Due to the way this bottle is attached to a heat exchanger, the bottle tends to vibrate, which can cause damage to the junction between the bottle and the heat exchanger on which it is located. Document <CIT> shows a module according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Some solutions were developed to solve this problem. Unfortunately, said solutions do not fulfill their aim entirely, as they either consume a lot of space, a scarce resource in an engine compartment, or require altering or designing an entire new way to hold the bottle.

The invention aims at offering an alternative to the existing yet incomplete solutions to the problem exposed hereabove, by allowing a compact and efficient attachment of the bottle on the heat exchanging module without the need to modify any part of the air conditioning system; and which ensure a minimal space consumption.

The present invention consists in a heat exchanging module comprising a heat exchanger, a frame and a bottle, the heat exchanger being attached to the frame, the bottle being attached to the heat exchanger by a first attachment means at a first portion of the bottle, the bottle being attached to the frame with a second attachment mean located at a second portion of the bottle, wherein the second attachment mean comprises a first connection mean, and a second connection mean, both first connection mean and second connection mean being connected to the frame; wherein the frame comprises at least a first side wall, a second side wall and an end wall in between said first side wall and said second side wall, the second attachment mean being connected to the first side wall of the frame by the first connection mean, and to the second side wall of the frame by the second connection mean, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall extend parallelly each other, wherein the first side wall of the frame extends on a first side of the heat exchanger, the second side wall of the frame extending on a second side of the heat exchanger opposed to said first side of the heat exchanger.

A heat exchanging module according to this description allows the restriction of the movement of the bottle whatever the vibration the bottle may have to suffer, without a space-costly arrangement of the refrigerant fluid circuit. An additional advantage of this invention is that the modification of the heat exchanging module necessary to the accommodation of the invention is minimal, which allows to cut the cost of conception. Yet another advantage lies in the fact that the second attachment mean does not damage the bottle, either during its set-up or if the elements need to be separated for maintenance or replacement.

The heat exchanging module according to the invention preferably comprises at least one of the following parameters, either alone or in combination with another:.

Various embodiments are represented in the figures, wherein:.

In the following description, the axial dimension refers to the dimension along which extends the bottle in its greatest dimension. This axial dimension is represented by reference <NUM> in the various drawings that will be detailed below.

<FIG> represents a heat exchanging module <NUM> according to the invention and having a fame <NUM>, a heat exchanger <NUM> and a bottle <NUM>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> is designed to allow the circulation of a refrigerant fluid and a coolant fluid in two separated but adjacent spaces, to allow a heat exchange between the fluids. To do so, the heat exchanger <NUM> comprises at least four fluid openings <NUM>, two of them being visible on <FIG>. The exchange of heat between the fluids take place in a body <NUM> of the heat exchanger <NUM>. The heat exchanger is designed to operate heat exchange only between the refrigerant fluid and the coolant fluids. In other words, the heat exchanger is not adapted to operate exchange between coolant fluid and air, or fluid refrigerant and air.

The bottle <NUM> is tube-shaped, and is designed to collect and trap moisture out of a fluid which circulate inside of it. The bottle <NUM> is receiver drier for an AC loop used in vehicle.

Said bottle <NUM> is connected to the heat exchanger <NUM> by a first attachment mean <NUM>. The attachment of the bottle <NUM> through the first attachment mean <NUM> is located at a first portion <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>. In this embodiment, first attachment mean <NUM> comprises a mounting bracket <NUM> which support the bottle <NUM> and a mounting screw which secure the bottle <NUM> onto the mounting bracket <NUM>. The mounting bracket <NUM> is connected to the heat exchanger <NUM> and include at least one duct. Said duct is designed to allow the flow of at least one fluid from the heat exchanger <NUM> to the bottle <NUM>, or from the bottle <NUM> to the heat exchanger <NUM> or to another element.

The heat exchanging module <NUM> further comprises a frame <NUM> designed to allow the fastening of the heat exchanger <NUM> and of the bottle <NUM>, and of other elements of the heat exchanging module <NUM>, or the fastening of the heat exchanging module <NUM> to an external support, for example a body of a vehicle. In this embodiment, said frame <NUM> comprises an end wall <NUM>, a side wall <NUM> and a mounting arm <NUM>. According to this embodiment, the frame <NUM> is made of metal.

The end wall <NUM> lies on a side of the heat exchanger <NUM> opposed to the bottle <NUM>, and extend in a first plane. The side wall <NUM> extends in a second plane which is perpendicular to the first plane. The side wall <NUM> comprises a bended zone <NUM> that is collaborating with a second attachment mean <NUM>.

A mounting arm <NUM> is an extension of the end wall <NUM>, and connects to the end wall <NUM> by a mounting mean which can be a screw, a mounting clip or any other type of mounting mean. Different mounting arms <NUM> allow to add different types of second attachment mean <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> is also comprising a supporting area <NUM> which can be made by an extension of the side wall <NUM> or of the end wall <NUM>. The supporting area <NUM> comprise at least one finger <NUM>, here two fingers, that allows a sliding fastening of the heat exchanging module on the vehicle. The end wall <NUM> comprises a fixation area <NUM> dedicated to attachment of the frame <NUM> on the body of the vehicle.

The bottle <NUM> is also connected to the frame <NUM> through the second attachment mean <NUM>. Said second attachment mean <NUM> is located at a second portion <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>, said second portion <NUM> being located at the opposite of the first portion <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> along the axial dimension <NUM>.

The second attachment mean <NUM> is connected to the frame <NUM>, and specifically to the side wall <NUM> on one hand and to the end wall <NUM> through the mounting arm <NUM> on the other hand, in particular via the bended zone <NUM> and via the mounting arm <NUM>.

<FIG> features more specifically the bottle <NUM> and the second attachment mean <NUM>.

The second attachment mean <NUM> have a circular portion <NUM> which partially circle the bottle <NUM>. A first connection mean <NUM> and a second connection mean <NUM> are made on the circular portion <NUM>. Said first and second connection means are radially oriented with regards to the circular portion <NUM>. Said first connection mean <NUM> globally extends radially and parallel to the axial dimension <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>, for example toward the first portion <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>. Said second connection mean <NUM> globally extends radially and perpendicular to the axial dimension <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>.

The first connection mean <NUM> is designed to allow the fixture of the second attachment mean <NUM> to the side wall <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first connection mean <NUM> comprises a mounting clip <NUM> which enters a hole in the side wall <NUM> to partially secure the second attachment mean <NUM> on the side wall <NUM> of the frame <NUM>.

The second connection mean <NUM> is designed to allow the fixture of the second attachment mean <NUM> to the end wall <NUM> of the frame <NUM> through the mounting arm <NUM>. In this embodiment, the second connection mean <NUM> is connected to the mounting arm <NUM> by a screw <NUM> which collaborates with a tapped hole <NUM>.

Together, the first connection mean <NUM> and the second connection mean <NUM> tighten the second attachment mean <NUM> to the frame <NUM>.

In this embodiment, both the first connection mean <NUM> and the second connection mean <NUM> act in parallel directions, which means that only one movement is needed to attach the second attachment mean <NUM> onto the frame <NUM>.

Other types of connection means may be used without exiting the scope of the invention, as long as the second attachment mean <NUM> may be separated from the frame <NUM> without damaging one or the other. For example, any of the first connection mean <NUM> or the second connection mean <NUM> can be replaced by a screw, a mounting clip, a hook or any other connection mean.

In the invention, the second attachment mean <NUM> may limit an axial movement of the bottle <NUM> along the axial dimension <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>. It can be made in different manner, but an example is at least one portion extending in a plane perpendicular to an axial dimension <NUM>. The portion crosses the axial dimension <NUM> and necessary enters in mechanical interference with a longitudinal end <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>.

The portion forms a stop portion <NUM> that abuts this longitudinal ends <NUM> of said bottle <NUM>. Said stop portion <NUM> brings together a first end <NUM> of the circular portion <NUM> and a second end <NUM> of the circular portion <NUM>, and lies atop the bottle <NUM>. Atop the bottle <NUM> means that the stop portion <NUM> lies on a longitudinal end <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>, said longitudinal end <NUM> being located at the second portion <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>.

The second attachment mean <NUM> of the first embodiment comprises a large stop portion <NUM>, and a small stop portion <NUM>, the small one being made like an indentation.

The stop portion <NUM>, <NUM> limits the movement of the bottle <NUM> in the axial dimension. This relieves the stress upon the first attachment mean <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> onto the heat <NUM>, to avoid the rupture of either the bottle <NUM>, the first attachment mean <NUM> or the heat exchanger <NUM>, and to lengthen the lifespan of the whole heat exchanging module <NUM>.

The second attachment mean <NUM> limits the movement of the bottle <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the axial dimension. This arrangement limits the mechanical stress endured by the first attachment mean <NUM> and the risk of breaking.

It should be noted that the frame <NUM> is made of steel, from a single piece or made of differences pieces assembled all together to form the frame <NUM>.

A second embodiment of the invention is represented in the <FIG>. <FIG> displays a heat exchanging module <NUM> similar to the heat exchanging module <NUM> of <FIG>, in which it comprises a heat exchanger <NUM>, a frame <NUM> having an end wall <NUM>, a mounting arm <NUM> and a side wall <NUM>, a bottle <NUM> connected to the heat exchanger <NUM> by a first attachment mean <NUM> comprising a mounting bracket <NUM>, a mounting screw and at least one duct, and a second attachment mean <NUM> which attach the bottle <NUM> to the frame <NUM>.

The second embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment especially by the structure of the second attachment mean <NUM>. The similarities and differences between the two embodiments are further shown on <FIG>.

Like the second attachment mean <NUM> of the first embodiment, the second attachment mean <NUM> of the second embodiment comprises a circular portion <NUM>, a stop portion <NUM>, a first connection mean <NUM> and a second connection mean <NUM>.

The circular portion <NUM> extends around the second portion <NUM> of the bottle <NUM> and onto the longitudinal end <NUM> of said bottle <NUM>. This particular arrangement means that the second attachment mean <NUM> is specific to a bottle <NUM> type of a given diameter.

The stop portion <NUM> comprises a plurality of radial projections <NUM>, here six, each pair of radial projections <NUM> being separated by a gap <NUM>. These radial projections <NUM> of the stop portion <NUM> fulfill the same goal as the stop portion <NUM> of the first embodiment, by limiting the movement of the bottle <NUM> in its axial direction <NUM>.

The first connection mean <NUM> and the second connection mean <NUM> are configured in the very same way as in the first embodiment: the first connection mean <NUM> comprises a mounting clip <NUM> which connects the second attachment mean <NUM> to the side wall <NUM> of the frame <NUM>, the second connection mean <NUM> comprises a screw <NUM> which collaborates with a tapped hole <NUM> made in the second connection mean <NUM>. The first connection mean <NUM> and the second connection mean <NUM> have an arm that extends in a parallel plane, said plane being perpendicular to said axial dimension <NUM>. The first connection mean <NUM> extends toward the first portion <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>.

A shown in <FIG>, the second attachment mean <NUM> further comprises a securing mean <NUM>, which participates in the support of the bottle <NUM>. This securing means is configured to restrict movement between the bottle and the second attachment means <NUM> in two opposite sense of the axial dimension <NUM>.

Said securing mean <NUM> comprises a groove <NUM> located on the second portion <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>. Said groove <NUM> can be continuous or doted around the bottle <NUM>.

The securing mean <NUM> also comprises at least one clipping mean <NUM>, which is located on the circular portion <NUM> of the second attachment mean <NUM>.

When the bottle <NUM> is inserted in the second attachment mean <NUM>, the clipping mean <NUM> of the securing mean <NUM> are deformed and pushed away from the bottle <NUM> due to the diameter of the bottle <NUM> being larger than the diameter defined by the clipping mean <NUM>. When the bottle <NUM> is fully inserted in the second attachment mean <NUM>, for example when the longitudinal end <NUM> is abutting at least one radial projections <NUM>, the clipping mean <NUM> get into the groove <NUM>, securing the second attachment mean <NUM> to the bottle <NUM>. The securing mean <NUM> authorize the separation of the bottle <NUM> and the second attachment mean <NUM>.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the groove <NUM> is located on the second attachment mean <NUM> while the clipping mean <NUM> are located on the bottle <NUM>.

A third embodiment of the invention is represented in the <FIG> and <FIG>. <FIG> displays a heat exchanging module <NUM> similar to the heat exchanging module <NUM> of <FIG>, in which it comprises a heat exchanger <NUM>, a frame <NUM>, a bottle <NUM> connected to the heat exchanger <NUM> by a first attachment mean <NUM> comprising a mounting bracket <NUM>, a mounting screw and at least one duct, and a second attachment mean <NUM> which attach the bottle <NUM> to the frame <NUM>.

In this third embodiment, the frame <NUM> comprises a first side wall <NUM> and a second side wall <NUM>, each side wall being separated from one another by the heat exchanger <NUM>. The first side wall <NUM> and/or the second side wall <NUM> may comprise mounting arm <NUM> that extends from the related walls.

It should be noted that the frame <NUM> of this third embodiment is made of plastic and may be molded as a single part.

The second attachment mean <NUM> comprises a first connection mean <NUM> and a second connection mean <NUM>, designed to allow the fixture of the second attachment mean <NUM> to the frame <NUM>. Turning to <FIG>, the first connection mean <NUM> of the second attachment mean <NUM> is connected to the first side wall <NUM> by a mounting pin <NUM> extending in a first direction, the second connection mean <NUM> of the second attachment mean <NUM> being connected to the second side wall <NUM> by a screw <NUM> which enters a hole <NUM> extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the screw being screwed in the mounting arm <NUM>. Said in other words, the first connection mean <NUM>, especially a pin <NUM>, extends in a first direction that can be parallel to the axial dimension <NUM> of the bottle <NUM>. The second connection mean <NUM>, especially the hole <NUM>, extends in the second direction, said second direction being perpendicular to said first direction.

The second attachment mean <NUM> may be made of a material having vibration dampening properties such as those described in the first embodiment of the invention.

<FIG> illustrates the specificity of the second attachment mean <NUM> of the third embodiment.

The second attachment mean <NUM> according to the third embodiment of the invention comprises a circular portion <NUM> circling all around the bottle <NUM>. The circular portion <NUM> of the second attachment mean <NUM> is opened and comprises a first free end <NUM> and a second free end <NUM>. The circular portion <NUM>, once the first free end <NUM> and the second free end <NUM> brought together, circle the bottle <NUM>, the first free end <NUM> and the second free end <NUM> being positioned in front of the second side wall, more precisely in front of the mounting arm of said side wall. Brought together, the first free end <NUM> and the second free end <NUM> constitutes the second connection mean <NUM>. The first free end <NUM> is facing the second side wall <NUM>, and is therefore located between the second side wall <NUM> and the second free end <NUM>.

Combined with the material of the second attachment mean <NUM>, the wrapping of the first free end <NUM> and the second free end <NUM> around the bottle <NUM> limits the movement of the bottle <NUM> and absorb some of the vibrations endured by the bottle <NUM>.

The flexibility offered by the separation of the first free end <NUM> and the second free end <NUM> before the fixation to the second side wall <NUM> allows an easy insertion of the bottle <NUM> during a mounting process of the heat exchanging module <NUM>. Due to the absence of a stop portion <NUM> or any element overlapping on the longitudinal end <NUM>, the second attachment mean <NUM> according to the third embodiment allows the installation of any type of bottle <NUM> with a given diameter, regardless of the length of said type of bottle measured in the axial dimension <NUM>.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is represented in the <FIG>. <FIG> displays a heat exchanging module <NUM> similar to the heat exchanging module <NUM> of <FIG>, in which it comprises a heat exchanger <NUM> (illustrated here by its two terminal plates), a frame <NUM> having a first side wall <NUM> and a second side wall <NUM>, a bottle <NUM> connected to the heat exchanger <NUM> by a first attachment mean <NUM> comprising a mounting bracket <NUM>, a mounting screw and at least one duct, and a second attachment mean <NUM> which attach the bottle <NUM> to the frame <NUM>.

The second attachment mean <NUM> according to the fourth embodiment comprises a band <NUM>, comprising a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>, as it can best be seen on <FIG>. The first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> are located on opposite longitudinal side of the band <NUM>.

On the first end <NUM> of the band <NUM>, the second attachment mean <NUM> comprises a first connection mean <NUM>, while on the second end <NUM> of the band <NUM>, the second attachment mean <NUM> comprises a second connection mean <NUM>.

The first connection mean <NUM> comprises a hook <NUM> which attach itself on a complementary shaped part of the first side wall <NUM>.

The second connection mean <NUM> comprises a click-in device <NUM>. Such a click-in device <NUM> comprises a plurality of teeth <NUM>, these teeth <NUM> having a slanted face <NUM> and an upright face <NUM>. The slanted face <NUM> of the teeth <NUM> face a jaw <NUM> made on the second side wall <NUM>, or on a dedicated part attached to this side wall <NUM>. Such configuration allows the insertion of a tooth <NUM> in the jaw <NUM> but blocks its removal without loosening the jaw <NUM> first. It also make it easy to assemble the band <NUM> around the bottle <NUM>.

The insertion of the teeth <NUM> in the jaw <NUM> allows to strap the bottle <NUM> against the heat exchanger <NUM>. During the assembling of the heat exchanging module <NUM>, the second attachment mean <NUM> is disposed first by the attachment of the hook <NUM> to the first side wall <NUM>, then by the attachment of the click-in device <NUM> to the second side wall <NUM>, when the second attachment mean <NUM> of the three other embodiments could be attached without a assembling order of any kind.

Several bottle types of different diameters may be used with the same second attachment mean <NUM>, due to the use of the click-in device <NUM>, which allows to control the room available to fit the bottle <NUM>. The second attachment mean <NUM> according to the fourth embodiment allows the installation of bottle <NUM> with different diameters, regardless of the length of said type of bottle measured in the axial dimension <NUM>.

The preceding description clearly illustrate how the invention fulfills its objectives, as laid out in the preamble, and offers a heat exchanging module <NUM> comprising a bottle <NUM> and having a mean to attach the bottle <NUM> to said heat exchanging module <NUM> at two portions of the bottle <NUM>, avoiding mechanical troubles due to vibrations.

Several modifications and improvement might be applied by the person skilled in the art to the heat exchanging module <NUM> as defined above, as long as a second attachment mean <NUM> of a bottle <NUM> is implemented.

Claim 1:
A heat exchanging module (<NUM>) comprising a heat exchanger (<NUM>), a frame (<NUM>) and a bottle (<NUM>), the heat exchanger (<NUM>) being attached to the frame (<NUM>), the bottle (<NUM>) being attached to the heat exchanger (<NUM>) by a first attachment mean (<NUM>) at a first portion (<NUM>) of the bottle (<NUM>), the bottle (<NUM>) being attached to the frame (<NUM>) with a second attachment mean (<NUM>) located at a second portion (<NUM>) of the bottle (<NUM>), characterised in that the second attachment mean (<NUM>) comprises a first connection mean (<NUM>), and a second connection mean (<NUM>), both first connection mean (<NUM>) and second connection mean (<NUM>) being connected to the frame (<NUM>); wherein the frame (<NUM>) comprises at least a first side wall (<NUM>), a second side wall (<NUM>) and an end wall (<NUM>) in between said first side wall (<NUM>) and said second side wall (<NUM>), the second attachment mean (<NUM>) being connected to the first side wall (<NUM>) of the frame (<NUM>) by the first connection mean (<NUM>), and to the second side wall (<NUM>) of the frame (<NUM>) by the second connection mean (<NUM>), wherein the first side wall (<NUM>) and the second side wall (<NUM>) extend parallelly each other, wherein the first side wall (<NUM>) of the frame (<NUM>) extends on a first side of the heat exchanger (<NUM>), the second side wall (<NUM>) of the frame (<NUM>) extending on a second side of the heat exchanger (<NUM>) opposed to said first side of the heat exchanger (<NUM>).