Heat Exchanger With Stacked Plates

Abstract

A heat exchanger ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of stacked plates ( 4, 12, 14 ) inside a box ( 5 ). The plurality of stacked plates ( 4, 12, 14 ) enable an exchange of heat between a first and a second fluid (C, G) circulating in contact with the plurality of stacked plates ( 4, 12, 14 ). The plurality of stacked plates ( 4, 12, 14 ) comprise a stress area ( 70 ) intended to withstand heat variations that may cause mechanical stress. The heat exchanger ( 1 ) further comprises a reinforcement ( 71 ) that is in contact with the stress area ( 70 ) and the box ( 5 ).

1 . A stacked plate heat exchanger ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ) inside a box ( 5 ), said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ) is intended to allow exchange of heat between a first and a second fluid (C, G) circulating in contact with said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ), said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ) comprising a stress zone ( 70 ) intended to experience thermal variations liable to create mechanical stresses, with a reinforcement ( 71 ) in contact with said stress zone ( 70 ) and said box ( 5 ). 
     
     
         2 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ) are arranged in pairs, each pair of plates defining a circulation layer for the first fluid (C), each plate ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ) comprising a pressed zone having pressed pockets ( 38 ) for the passage of the first fluid (C) from one circulation layer to another circulation layer, with said stress zone ( 70 ) corresponding to said pressed zone. 
     
     
         3 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchange zone intended to encourage exchange of heat between the first and the second fluid (C, G), and a bypass zone able to allow the second fluid (G) to bypass said heat exchange zone, said bypass zone corresponding to said stress zone ( 70 ), said reinforcement ( 71 ) allowing the second fluid (G) to circulate freely over an entire exchange zone. 
     
     
         4 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ) comprise, at said stress zone ( 70 ), a bent-over edge ( 75 ) extending in a plane perpendicular to a plane in which said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ) extend so that contact between said reinforcement ( 71 ) and said stress zone ( 70 ) is at least via said bent-over edge ( 75 ). 
     
     
         5 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said box ( 5 ) comprises two lateral walls ( 18 ,  19 ) facing a peripheral edge of said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ), and a lower wall ( 22 ) and/or an upper wall ( 23 ) which is/are situated at the top and at the bottom of said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ). 
     
     
         6 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said reinforcement ( 71 ) is in contact with one of said lateral walls ( 18 ) of said box ( 5 ), with said lateral wall ( 18 ) situated in the proximity of said stress zone ( 70 ). 
     
     
         7 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said reinforcement ( 71 ) is in contact with said upper wall ( 23 ) and/or with said lower wall ( 22 ). 
     
     
         8 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said upper wall ( 23 ) of said box ( 5 ) comprises a first housing ( 76 ) accommodating said reinforcement ( 71 ). 
     
     
         9 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said lateral wall ( 18 ) of said box ( 5 ) in contact with said reinforcement ( 71 ) comprises a second housing accommodating said reinforcement ( 71 ). 
     
     
         10 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein an upper end ( 62 ) and/or a lower end of said reinforcement ( 71 ) comprises a first flange, extending in a plane parallel to the plane in which said upper and lower walls ( 22 ,  23 ) of said box ( 5 ) extend so that contact between said reinforcement ( 71 ) and said upper wall ( 23 ) and/or between said reinforcement ( 71 ) and said lower wall ( 22 ) is flat-to-flat. 
     
     
         11 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a top of said reinforcement ( 71 ) comprises a protrusion ( 80 ) espousing an upper part ( 81 ) of said lateral wall ( 18 ) of said box ( 5 ) in contact with said reinforcement ( 71 ). 
     
     
         12 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a lateral end ( 61 ) of said reinforcement ( 71 ) comprises a second flange ( 72 ), extending in a plane parallel to the plane in which said lateral wall ( 18 ) of said box ( 5 ) in contact with said reinforcement ( 71 ), referred to as left-hand wall ( 18 ), extends, so that contact between said reinforcement ( 71 ) and said left-hand wall ( 18 ) of said box ( 5 ) is flat-to-flat. 
     
     
         13 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement ( 71 ) comprises at least one clip ( 85 ) which clips onto said box ( 5 ). 
     
     
         14 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said reinforcement ( 71 ) is continuous from an upper edge to a lower edge of said reinforcement ( 71 ) so that said reinforcement ( 71 ) is in contact with all of said plurality of stacked plates ( 4 ,  12 ,  14 ). 
     
     
         15 . An air intake module for a motor vehicle engine comprising an exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a heat exchange zone intended to encourage exchange of heat between the first and the second fluid (C, G), and a bypass zone able to allow the second fluid (G) to bypass said heat exchange zone, said bypass zone corresponding to said stress zone ( 70 ), said reinforcement ( 71 ) allowing the second fluid (G) to circulate freely over an entire exchange zone. 
     
     
         17 . The exchanger ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said reinforcement ( 71 ) is in contact with said upper wall ( 23 ) and/or with said lower wall ( 22 ).