Condenser with a separate reservoir for an air conditioning installation, especially for motor vehicles

A condenser for a refrigeration circuit, comprising:

• a first header;
• a second header;
• a tube bundle comprising a multiplicity of tubes mounted between the said first and second headers;
• and a separate reservoir close to the second header, said headers and reservoir being substantially vertical, the second header comprising a header wall and the reservoir comprising a reservoir wall, the header wall defining a first passage and the header wall defining a second passage, said first and second passages being formed through the respective said walls and extending vertically over the height of the reservoir and second header respectively, the condenser further including a metal connecting member comprising a first longitudinal edge portion and a second longitudinal edge portion defining opposed vertical lateral edges of the connecting member and extending over at least the height of the reservoir and second header respectively, the said first and second edge portions being received in the said first and second passages respectively so as to immobilise the reservoir wall and the header wall against each other in the region of the said passages, the connecting member having, in at least one selected location, a bight in a said edge portion for flow of a refrigerant fluid through the bight between the second header and the reservoir, the said first and second edge portions obturating the first and second passages, respectively, except at the said at least one bight.