Abstract: The invention is applicable to heat exchangers, eg. the radiator of a water-cooled internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. Said radiator is of the type having a bundle of tubes with a water box fixed to each end thereof. One of the water boxes (20) has a passage (36) for degassing the cooling liquid. The passage comprises an internal partition (40) in the water box (20) and a conduit (50) leading to an expansion chamber (26). The water box (20), the passage partition (40) and the conduit (50) are all parts of the same single piece moulding. The expansion chamber (26) is advantageously part of the same moulding also. Effective degassing is thus provided without there being any need to add a specific degassing tube to the water box. Cost is thus reduced.

Abstract: A stopper (11) is disclosed for fixing to the end of an inlet tube (10) to a heat exchanger circuit such as a radiator for an internal combustion engine or an associated expansion chamber. The stopper comprises a body (12) housing a set of rated overpressure and underpressure valves (27 to 33) and a cylindrical skirt (15) having bayonet-fixing means (20) for fixing to the end of the inlet tube. The set of valves is mounted on a plate (21) located inside the stopper housing and so arranged as to enable direct communication independently of the set of valves between the inside and the outside of the heat exchanger circuit when the stopper is in an intermediate position between its position for fully closing the inlet tube and its open position, the communication being prevented when the stopper is in the fully closed position.

Abstract: In a liquid flow heat exchanger, such as the radiator in the cooling circuit for an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger proper comprises a bundle of tubes (10) having at least a first water box (11) mounted at one end thereof and serving as a manifold chamber giving access to the ends of the tubes in the bundle. A passage (20) is provided for degassing the liquid, and the passage passes through the mid portion of the bundle of tubes (10) to connect the first water box (11) to an expansion chamber (16). Preferably the passage includes one of the tubes (21) in the bundle.

Abstract: The water box and expansion chamber for the radiator of an internal combustion engine radiator may be moulded as a single piece. The water box (12) and the expansion chamber (11) are connected in the usual way near the top by a degassing duct. Near the bottom it is important to provide suction in the expansion chamber to ensure effective degassing. Suction may either be provided by a channel (21) enabling the main outlet flow of fluid from the radiator to entrain fluid from the expansion chamber, or it may be provided by a separate suction outlet (30) for connection to a pump. Different kinds of engine use different suction systems. The present invention allows both systems to be catered for by a single type of device in which the unwanted suction path is readily closed off, either during the original moulding operation (e.g. wall 31) or by means of a stopper (20) that provides a path when inserted in out orientation, but which closes a path when turned to another orientation.

Abstract: A water box (10) and an expansion chamber (11) for a heat exchanger, in particular for a radiator in a motor vehicle, form a single structrue. The expansion chamber (11) and the water box (10) are interconnected by a degassing conduit (24-27) which injects a mixture of gas and liquid substantially tangentially into the expansion chamber. The expansion chamber has a suction orifice (14) through which liquid is drawn into the heat exchanger circuit. Means (35) are provided in the expansion chamber to slow down or prevent rotational motion of the liquid inside the expansion chamber in the vicinity of the suction orifice (14). This serves to reduce the amount of gas that is accidentally entrained into the liquid circuit from the degassing conduit.

Abstract: The expansion chamber (25) and the water box (24) are interconnected by a degassing passage or duct (28) and by a suction orifice (29). The expansion chamber also has a bottom end which is connected (via 27) to a suction inlet (21) of a pump (11) for circulating liquid in said cooling circuit. One way valve means (40) are provided to close said suction orifice to prevent liquid in the water box from flowing into the expansion chamber and to open said orifice to enable liquid to flow in the opposite direction. The invention is particularly applicable to degassing the cooling liquid while a diesel engine is warming up from a cold start.