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EP-4737839-A1 - A COOLING ASSEMBLY

EP4737839A1EP 4737839 A1EP4737839 A1EP 4737839A1EP-4737839-A1

Abstract

The object of the invention is, among others, a cooling assembly (1) for a motor vehicle comprising: - at least one first heat exchanger (100) comprising a pair of first manifolds (11, 12) extending in a first direction and a plurality of first tubes (15) stacked between the first manifolds (11,12), - at least one second heat exchanger (200) comprising a pair of second manifolds (21, 22) extending in a second direction, and a plurality of second tubes (25) stacked between the second manifolds (21,22), - at least one securing means (500), wherein the securing means (500) comprises at least one first component (510) located on the first heat exchanger (100) and at least one second component (520) protruding directly from the second manifold (21, 22) along the second direction, wherein the first component (510) is configured to be coupled with the second component (520) so that the second heat exchanger (200) is immobilized with respect to the first heat exchanger (100), wherein at least part of the second component (520) is unitary with at least one of the second manifolds (21, 22).

Inventors

  • FAJKIS, Michal
  • PAWLAK, Damian
  • MIKULEC, DENIS
  • MARTA, Dominik

Assignees

  • Valeo Electrification

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241029

Claims (15)

  1. A cooling assembly (1) for a motor vehicle comprising: - at least one first heat exchanger (100) comprising a pair of first manifolds (11, 12) extending in a first direction and a plurality of first tubes (15) stacked between the first manifolds (11,12), - at least one second heat exchanger (200) comprising a pair of second manifolds (21, 22) extending in a second direction, and a plurality of second tubes (25) stacked between the second manifolds (21,22), - at least one securing means (500), wherein the securing means (500) comprises at least one first component (510) located on the first heat exchanger (100) and at least one second component (520) protruding directly from the second manifold (21, 22) along the second direction, wherein the first component (510) is configured to be coupled with the second component (520) so that the second heat exchanger (200) is immobilized with respect to the first heat exchanger (100), wherein at least part of the second component (520) is unitary with at least one of the second manifolds (21, 22).
  2. The cooling assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second component (520) leveled with the second manifold (21, 22).
  3. The cooling assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second component (520) protrudes beyond the outline of the second tubes (25), so that the first component (510) is coplanar with the second tubes (25).
  4. The cooling assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first component (510) at least partially intersects the second component (520).
  5. The cooling assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first component comprises a base portion (511) projecting substantially in perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and an active portion (512) projecting directly from the base portion (511) and in parallel at least to the first direction.
  6. The cooling assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the active portion (512) is any of the lip (512a), or at least one clip (512b), or the combination of two (512a), (512b).
  7. The cooling assembly (1) according to claim 6, wherein the clip (512b), is configured to immobilize the second heat exchanger (200) with respect to the first heat exchanger (100) in a direction parallel to second direction and perpendicular to the second direction.
  8. The cooling assembly (1) according to claim 6,wherein the lip (512a) is configured to immobilize the second heat exchanger (200) with respect to the first heat exchanger (100) at least in a direction parallel to second direction.
  9. The cooling assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the second manifolds (21, 22) comprises a second header (24) configured to receive an open ends of the second tubes (25), a second cover (26) configured to form a fluid-tight connection with the second header (24).
  10. The cooling assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the second component (520) is located on the second header (24) or the second component (520) is located on the second cover (26).
  11. The cooling assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second component (520) comprises at least one receiving portion (522) configured to receive at least part of the first component (510) in a direction perpendicular to the second direction.
  12. The cooling assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the receiving portion (522) comprises an opening (522b), the opening (522b) surrounding at least part of the first component (510).
  13. The cooling assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the receiving portion (522) is U-shaped portion (522a), wherein free ends of said U-shaped portion (522a) are facing away from the second manifold (21,22).
  14. The cooling assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first heat exchanger (100) is arranged with respect to the second heat exchanger (200) so that the first manifolds (11, 12) are arranged perpendicularly with respect to the second manifolds (21, 22).
  15. The cooling assembly (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second heat exchanger (200) is coupled with the first heat exchanger (100) by moving the second heat exchanger (200) in a direction perpendicular to the second direction.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a cooling assembly. In particular, the invention relates to the cooling assembly for a motor vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heat exchangers in motor vehicles are usually responsible for thermal management of the powertrain, the air conditioning system, the power steering system, and other. This includes, for example, internal combustion vehicles, hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, wherein the proper management of the heat can reflect on emissions, fuel or energy consumption, maximal driving range, etc. The heat exchangers these days are usually made of metal components, such as aluminum assembled with synthetic components, such as plastic. The sub-components responsible for heat exchange, such as the heat exchanger core comprising tubes assembled with the headers are usually made of metal component, whereas the sub-components responsible for delivering or collecting the media, such as tanks, are usually made synthetic material. The evolution of motor vehicles includes improving the existing solutions by supporting them with electronics, as well as implementing new solutions. Therefore, there is an increased interest in reducing the size and weight of particular sub-components of the motor vehicle. On the other hand, reducing the size of, for example, heat exchangers will directly influence the thermal performance of the whole motor vehicle. The size of the heat exchanger may be reduced by implementing specific architectures that provide the same or better efficiency while using the smaller amount of space. As the result, the packaging in the motor vehicle may increase. Nowadays, the reduction of weight of sub-components is one of the main factors that determines not only the final price of the vehicle, but also its total carbon footprint. The less material is used for production of, for example, synthetic sub-components, the less waste is produced both during vehicle's production and after vehicle's service life, whenever the sub- components of the vehicle are scrapped or re-cycled. Moreover, the less the vehicle weights, the smaller fuel consumption may be achieved. Consequently, the vehicle emits less pollution during its service life. Further, the lightweight cooling assemblies are good incentive for car manufacturers, because it may allow them to meet strict emissions requirements. The car manufacturers constantly seek for more economical solutions that would fulfill the efficiency and weight requirements. Therefore, the research centers need to find a compromise between several factors in order to provide their customers with an ultimate, inexpensive, efficient and lightweight cooling assembly. The existing solutions focus mainly on reducing the size of particular sub-components or decreasing the distance between the heat exchangers. Usually the headers of at least two heat exchangers are assembled in the close vicinity in order to reduce the total dimensions of created cooling module. The known cooling modules focus mainly on assembling process of two or three heat exchangers, wherein the particular sub-components provide means of attaching one heat exchanger to the other. However, none of the known documents suggests further improvements regarding cost and weight reduction. Concerning the problems featured by the state of the art, it is desirable to create a cooling module comprising several heat exchangers, which would be of good feasibility and which would significantly reduce the production cost. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is, among others, a cooling assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: at least one first heat exchanger comprising a pair of first manifolds extending in a first direction and a plurality of first tubes stacked between the first manifolds; at least one second heat exchanger comprising a pair of second manifolds extending in a second direction, and a plurality of second tubes stacked between the second manifolds, at least one securing means, wherein the securing means comprises at least one first component located on the first heat exchanger and at least one second component protruding directly from the second manifold along the second direction, wherein the first component is configured to be coupled with the second component so that the second heat exchanger is immobilized with respect to the first heat exchanger, wherein at least part of the second component is unitary with at least one of the second manifolds. Advantageously, the second component leveled with the second manifold. Advantageously, the second component protrudes beyond the outline of the second tubes, so that the first component is coplanar with the second tubes. Advantageously, the first component at least partially intersects the second component. Advantageously, the first component comprises a base portion projecting substantially in perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and an active portion projecting