Device for coupling an evaporator to an expansion valve

Abstract

The invention relates to a device ( 28 ) for coupling a heat exchanger, such as an evaporator ( 10 ), to an expansion valve ( 26 ), in particular for a vehicle, said exchanger and said expansion valve being provided with ports ( 18, 20, 22, 24 ) for the inlet/outlet of fluid, at least one ( 24 ) of the ports of the expansion valve not being aligned with one ( 18 ) of the ports of the exchanger, said device including a first part ( 30 ), intended for being assembled and seemed to the exchanger and/or the evaporator, said first part ( 30 ) being capable of defining, with at least one adjacent part, at least one first fluid passage intended for connecting said non-aligned ports ( 18, 24 ), said adjacent part being selected among a second part ( 32 ) of said device, said exchanger and/or said expansion valve.

1 . A device for coupling a heat exchanger to an expansion valve for a vehicle, said exchanger and said expansion valve being provided with fluid inlet/outlet ports, at least one of the ports of the expansion valve not being aligned with one of the ports of the exchanger, said device comprising:
 a first part configured to be joined and fixed to the exchanger, said first part defining, with at least one neighboring part, a first fluid passage intended to couple said non-aligned ports,   said neighboring part being chosen from a second part of said device, said exchanger and/or said expansion valve.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first part is intended to be pressed fiat onto the exchanger and comprises through holes which cooperate respectively with the ports of the exchanger, and   said second part is intended to be pressed flat onto the first part and comprises two through holes which cooperate respectively with the ports of the expansion valve,   the through holes of the first and second parts being in fluidic communication to define said first passage as well as a second passage intended to couple the other ports of the exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the through holes of the first part are formed respectively by an opening or slit of elongate form, defining, with said exchanger and/or said second part, said first passage, and by an orifice, defining said second passage. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , in which at least a part of the slit has an incurved form about an axis of the orifice of the first part. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the incurved part of the slit has a radius of curvature, taken substantially at the middle of the slit, which is substantially equal to a center distance between the through holes of the second part. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the slit comprises a rectilinear part of which one end is linked to the incurved part of the slit and of which the opposite end is intended to cooperate with a port of the exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , in which one of the through holes of the second part emerges in the incurved part of the slit of the first part. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first part is formed by a plate or a sheet. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the sheet is stamped, the sheet comprising at least two indented zones at the bottom of which the holes are formed by drilling. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second part is formed by a metal block, and the through holes are formed by orifices. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising tubular bushings into which some of the holes of the second part emerge. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , in which some of said tubular bushings protrude on a face of the second part, which is situated on the side opposite the first part, and are intended to be inserted into the ports of the expansion valve. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , in which some of said tubular bushings protrude on a face of the second part, which is situated on the side of the first part, and are inserted into the holes of this first part. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly comprising:
 a heat exchanger;   an expansion valve; and   a coupling device as claimed in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         15 . A method for mounting a device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the part or parts are pressed flat and fixed onto one another and/or between said exchanger and said expansion valve, depending on the desired angular position of the expansion valve. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an evaporator. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger is an evaporator.