Collector box for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A collector box for a motor vehicle includes a collector for receiving heat exchange tubes and a cover mounted on the collector. The collector box extends in a longitudinal direction and has a cross section with a maximum height (h) and a maximum width (l). The collector is a metal profile delimited at its longitudinal ends by two end walls which extend in a substantially transverse plane. These two end walls are mounted on the metal profile, and the maximum height (h) of the collector box is greater than or equal to at least one and a half times the width (l) of the collector.

1 . A collector box for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a collector for receiving heat exchange tubes; and   a cover mounted on the collector, the collector box extending in a longitudinal direction and having a cross section with a maximum height and a maximum width, the collector being a metal profile delimited at its longitudinal ends by two walls extending in a substantially transverse plane, called the end walls, the two end walls being mounted on the metal profile,   wherein the maximum height of the collector box is greater than or equal to at least one and a half times the maximum width of the collector.   
     
     
         2 . The collector box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collector in a cross section has a contour comprising at least one curved part extending over a length L curve , this length L curve  being greater than or equal to 40% of the maximum width (l) of the collector box ( 10 ). 
     
     
         3 . The collector box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the end walls ( 13 ) are brazed or crimped onto the profile. 
     
     
         4 . The collector box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover is made of metal. 
     
     
         5 . A radiator for a motor vehicle, comprising a collector box as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         6 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising heat exchange tubes, wherein the heat exchange tubes are extruded tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the cover of the collector box has a cross section with a maximum inner width, the tubes having a maximum outer width in this cross section, the inner width of the cover being very slightly greater than the maximum width of a tube, this width being defined such that l i ≦l t +2 mm (millimeters). 
     
     
         8 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 5 , comprising heat exchange fins arranged between the tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the tubes have a width between 10 and 22 millimeters, preferably between 12 and 16 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 5 , configured to cause the circulation of a fluid comprising water or water and an ethylene-glycol mixture. 
     
     
         11 . A method for production of a collector for a collector box as claimed in  claim 1 , during which the collector is obtained by production of a metal profile, comprising a profiling step followed by a cutting step.