Collector with a permanent seal for a refrigerant circuit

Abstract

A collector, preferably for a refrigerant circuit for a motor vehicle, which has: a tube, at least one cap, and an axial direction is provided. The tube has at least one narrowing and the at least one cap has at least one bulge (B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 4 ). The at least one bulge (B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 4 ) and the at least one narrowing abut one another such that the at least one cap seals the tube in the axial direction. The at least one cap does not move in the axial direction. The tube has an inner surface. At least one sealing element is placed between the at least one cap and the inner surface. There is no need for a mechanical processing to obtain the fit between the at least one sealing element and the inner surface.

1 . A collector, preferably for a refrigerant circuit for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a tube,   at least one cap, and   an axial direction,   
       wherein the tube has at least one narrowing and the at least one cap has at least one bulge, wherein the at least one bulge and the at least one narrowing abut one another such that the at least one cap seals the tube in the axial direction, wherein the at least one cap does not move in the axial direction. 
     
     
         2 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube has an inner surface, wherein at least one sealing element is placed between the at least one cap and the inner surface. 
     
     
         3 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein there is no mechanical procession to obtain a fit between the at least one sealing element and the inner surface. 
     
     
         4 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube contains a first metallic material, wherein the durability of the first material is greater after the tube has been sealed with a cap. 
     
     
         5 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cap is made of a single piece. 
     
     
         6 . The collector according to  claim 1  in that the at least one first narrowing of the first tube forms a circumferential bead, and the at least one bulge on the at least one first cap forms a circumferential constriction. 
     
     
         7 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second narrowing in the second or third tube forms a circumferential deformation, and the at least one second bulge in the at least one second cap forms a circumferential deformation. 
     
     
         8 . The collector according to  claim 7 , wherein the third tube has at least one more, at least partially contiguous, circumferential bead on the inner surface. 
     
     
         9 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one third narrowing in the fourth tube has a circumferential deformation and a circumferential indentation on the inner surface, wherein the at least one third bulge on the at least one cap forms an offset diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fourth narrowing in the fifth tube contains two circumferential beads and a circumferential deformation, wherein the at least one fourth bulge on the at least one fourth cap forms a circumferential widening. 
     
     
         11 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fifth narrowing on the sixth tube has at least three straight sections, wherein the three straight sections are parallel to the axial direction, wherein the middle section forms a circumferential widening on the sixth tube, wherein the at least one fourth bulge on the at least one fourth cap forms a circumferential widening. 
     
     
         12 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cap contains a second metallic material or a third material made of plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material is deformed near the at least one narrowing. 
     
     
         14 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein there is at least one filter and/or at least one drying agent inside the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube is connected to a connecting plate. 
     
     
         16 . The collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cap is connected to a connecting plate. 
     
     
         17 . A method for producing the collector according to  claim 1 , containing the following steps:
 producing the tube with the connecting plate,   producing an intake line and drain line,   positioning two seals on a first cap,   positioning the first cap on the lower end of the tube,   forming a first narrowing at the lower end of the tube with a radial compression process or a spinning process, such that the tube is sealed at the lower end by the first cap in a fluid-tight manner,   placing at least one filter and/or at least one drying agent in the tube,   positioning two seals on a second cap,   positioning the second cap on the upper end of the tube, and   forming a second narrowing at the upper end of the tube with a radial compression process or spinning process, such that the tube is sealed at the upper end by the second cap in a fluid-tight manner.   
     
     
         18 . A refrigerant circuit for a motor vehicle, containing:
 a compressor   a condenser   an evaporator   a collector according to  claim 1 , wherein the collector is downstream of the condenser in the refrigerant circuit, or the collector is downstream of the evaporator in the refrigerant circuit.