Heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle, and side sealing device therefor

A side sealing device for a heat exchanger, in particular of the type intended for use in a motor vehicle and comprising a bundle of tubes fitted with fins, the tubes in the bundle having opposed ends, said bundle having first and second large faces for inlet and outlet of an external heat exchanger fluid and two opposite side faces lying parallel to the general direction of the tubes in the bundle, the improvement wherein the side sealing device comprises a plate substantially in the shape of an elongate rectangle having a longitudinal extent and opposed ends, and resilient snap-fitting means on said plate opposed ends for snap-fitting engagement with the tubes on the heat exchanger, said snap-fitting means comprising pivoted tabs at the opposed ends of the plate resiliently deformable to engage between the ends of the tubes in the bundle in a manner whereby the engaged snap-fitting means precludes movement of said sealing device relative to the heat exchanger independent of other means, said plate being engageable over one of said side faces of the bundle.