Heat exchanger tube and corresponding heat exchanger

Abstract

The strip of material (11) forming the tube (5) is folded on itself such as to define at least one fold (13) formed by two strip portions (13a, 13b) with continuity of material. At least one strip portion (13a, 13b) of the fold (13) is a strip portion (13a, 13b) for protecting the tube (5) in the event of an impact from an element outside the tube (5) and is formed in an intermediate part (11 b) of the strip of material (11).

1 . A tube for a heat exchanger made from a strip of material,
 the strip of material having two end parts joined such as to form the tube,   the strip of material forming the tube is folded on itself such as to define at least one fold formed by two strip portions with continuity of material such that at least one strip portion of the fold:
 is a strip portion for protecting the tube in the event of an impact from an element outside the tube, and 
 is formed in an intermediate part of the strip of material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tube as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate part lacks a join zone between the two end parts to close the tube in a sealed manner. 
     
     
         3 . The tube as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one fold is formed along at least one lateral side of the tube. 
     
     
         4 . The tube as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strip of material is folded such as to form a protuberance extending from the tube toward the exterior of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The tube as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the protuberance has a thickness at least equal to twice the material thickness of the strip of material. 
     
     
         6 . The tube as claimed  claim 4 , wherein the protuberance forms, with the general plane of extension of the tube, a non-zero angle of the order of 30°. 
     
     
         7 . The tube as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the protuberance extends over a width equal to at least twice and to at most ten times the material thickness of the strip of material. 
     
     
         8 . The tube as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strip of material is folded in the direction of the height of the tube, such as to form an excess thickness of material. 
     
     
         9 . The tube as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the height of the strip portions of said at least one fold is of the order of the height of the tube. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a bundle of tubes, each tube of the bundle of tubes being made from a strip of material, the strip of material having two end parts joined such as to form each tube,   wherein the strip of material forming each tube is folded on itself such as to define at least one fold formed by two strip portions with continuity of material such that at least one strip portion of the fold:
 is a strip portion for protecting each tube in the event of an impact from an element outside each tube, and 
 is formed in an intermediate part of the strip of material. 
   
     
     
         11 . A tube for a heat exchanger made from a strip of material,
 the strip of material comprising two end parts joined such as to form the tube, the tube comprising two lateral ends and an intermediate part;   wherein the strip of material forming the tube is folded on itself such as to define at least one fold formed by two strip portions with continuity of material such that at least one strip portion of the fold:
 is a strip portion for protecting the tube in the event of an impact from an element outside the tube, and 
 is formed in the intermediate part of the strip of material, 
   wherein the intermediate part is the portion of the tube that does not include the lateral ends of the tube and is a longitudinal extension corresponding to the longitudinal extension of the tube.