# US 2014/0190674 A1 · Connection Flange And Associated Collector Box And Heat Exchanger

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- Number: US 2014/0190674 A1
- Document ID: US20140190674A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/233,780
- Filed: 2012-07-20
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-21
- Assignees: Valeo Systeme Themiques
- Inventors: Laurent Moreau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190674A1

## CPC

- F28F 9/02: Header boxes; End plates
- F28D 1/05375: {with particular pattern of flow, e.g. change of flow direction (F28D1/05391 takes precedence)}
- F28F 9/002: {with fastening means for other structures}
- F28F 9/0253: {with multiple channels, e.g. with combined inflow and outflow channels}
- F28F 2255/16: extruded
- F28F 2275/122: by crimping, caulking or clinching
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)

## Abstract

A connection flange for a collector box of a heat exchanger for a vehicle defines a fluid inlet and/or a fluid outlet. The flange comprises a fixing adaptor for mounting the heat exchanger on a fixing support (e.g. a mounting bracket) of the vehicle. The fixing adaptor is produced separately from the flange. A collector box comprising such a connection flange and a heat exchanger comprising such a collector box are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connecting flange for a collector box of a heat exchanger for a vehicle, said flange defining a fluid inlet and/or a fluid outlet, said flange comprising a fixing adapter for fixing the heat exchanger to a fixing support of the vehicle, said fixing adapter being produced separately from said flange.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flange as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing to house said fixing adapter, wherein said housing his produced by extrusion in the direction of extrusion of said flange.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The flange as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing adapter is screwed to said flange.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing adapter is crimped into said housing of said flange.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The flange as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flange and said fixing adapter are joined together by brazing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing adapter is crimped to said housing of said flange and is configured to hold said fixing adapter and said flange during brazing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing is produced in the form of a groove.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The flange as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing adapter is produced in the form of a fixing strip.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The flange as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fixing strip is bent in such a way that at least one end of said fixing strip is configured to come into contact with a complementary surface of the fixing support of the vehicle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The flange as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixing adapter is made of aluminum.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The flange as claimed in claim 1, having a profile configured to accept complementary crimping means associated with a collector box, wherein said profile is produced by extrusion in the direction of extrusion of said flange.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A fluid collector box for a heat exchanger for a vehicle, wherein said collector box comprises at least one flange as claimed in claim 1.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The collector box as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a fluid header and a cover to close said header, wherein said header has crimping means configured to be bent over onto said at least one flange.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A heat exchanger for a vehicle, said heat exchanger comprising at least one fluid collector box, wherein said at least one collector box comprises at least one flange as claimed in claim 1.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 14, further defined as a condenser for an air conditioning circuit in the vehicle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The flange as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixing adapter is screwed to said flange.