Tube of a heat exchanger and heat exchanger comprising such a tube

Abstract

The invention relates to a tube (6) of a heat exchanger, the tube (6) extending mainly along a longitudinal direction and the tube (6) extending between two opposite lateral edges (21, 22) of the tube (6). The tube (6) comprises a plurality of canals (15a, 15b) that are parallel to the longitudinal direction. The tube (6) comprises a single first rank canal (15a) that is delimited by at least a first lateral edge (21) of the tube (6) and two first rank side walls (16a). The tube (6) comprises at least a second rank canal (15b) that is delimited by at least two second rank side walls (16b). A thickness (19) of both first rank side walls (16a) of the first rank canal (15a) is bigger than a thickness (19) of any second rank side wall (16b) of a second rank canal (15b) of the tube (6) and a thickness (19) of the first lateral edge (21) of the tube (6) is bigger than a thickness (19) of any second rank side wall (16b) of a second rank canal (15b). The tube (6) is obtained by folding a single sheet (23).

1 . A tube of a heat exchanger, the tube ( 6 ) extending mainly along a longitudinal direction and between two opposite lateral edges of the tube, the tube comprising:
 a plurality of canals that are parallel to the longitudinal direction;   a single first rank canal that is delimited by at least a first lateral edge of the tube and two first rank side walls;   at least a second rank canal that is delimited by at least two second rank side walls,   wherein a thickness of both first rank side walls of the first rank canal is bigger than a thickness of any second rank side wall of a second rank canal of the tube, and   wherein a thickness of the first lateral edge of the tube is bigger than a thickness of any second rank side wall of a second rank canal.   
     
     
         2 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of any first rank side wall of the first rank canal is at least twice bigger than the thickness of any second rank side wall of a second rank canal of the tube and wherein the thickness of the first lateral edge of the tube is at least twice bigger than the thickness of any second rank side wall of a second rank canal. 
     
     
         3 . The tube according to  claim 1 , wherein each first rank side wall of the first rank canal comprises at least two folds of a same folded sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The tube according to  claim 3 , wherein a fold is delimited by a longitudinal fringe of the folded sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The tube according to  claim 3 , wherein a fold of one of the first rank side wall is an internal fold of the first rank canal and a fold of the opposite first rank side wall is an external fold of the first rank canal. 
     
     
         6 . The tube according to  claim 3 , wherein the tube is made of the same folded sheet, the folded sheet comprising at least two plies joined together, each ply comprising a side wall of each canal and at least a groove separating two contiguous canals. 
     
     
         7 . The tube according to  claim 6 , wherein the plies are symmetrical with respect to a lateral plan of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . The tube according to  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal fringe of the external fold and the longitudinal fringe of the internal fold are oriented towards the groove located between the first rank canal and a second rank canal. 
     
     
         9 . The tube according to  claim 6 , wherein the side wall of a first ply faces a side wall of a second ply and wherein the groove of a first ply joins the groove of a second ply. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 at least one tube comprising:   a plurality of canals that are parallel to the longitudinal direction;   a single first rank canal that is delimited by at least a first lateral edge of the tube and two first rank side walls;   at least a second rank canal that is delimited by at least two second rank side walls,   wherein a thickness of both first rank side walls of the first rank canal is bigger than a thickness of any second rank side wall of a second rank canal of the tube, and   wherein a thickness of the first lateral edge of the tube is bigger than a thickness of any second rank side wall of a second rank canal.   
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing a tube according to any  claim 3 , wherein the tube is realized by bending a sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 making a plurality of grooves within the bending sheet along internal delimitating lines that are parallel to a first longitudinal fringe of the sheet;   bending a first external part comprising the first longitudinal fringe of the sheet at 180° over a first internal part of the sheet to make an internal fold of a first rank canal;   bending a first portion of the sheet at 180° over a median longitudinal line of the sheet;   bending a second external part comprising a second longitudinal fringe of the sheet at 180° over the first portion of the sheet to make an external fold of the first rank canal; and   brazing the folded sheet to realize the tube.