Abstract:
A distributor incorporates a heat exchanger mounted in the interior space of the distributor while being made integral with the wall of the body of the distributor by at least one side flange. The distributor is characterized in that its two constituent parts (5 and 5′) are joined by welding opposing joining edges (6 and 6′), the edges (6, 6′) being connected physically to one another in an airtight manner along a contact area (7) in the form of a peripheral continuous band, surrounding the outer periphery of the flange (4), and mechanically connected, in a localized and discontinuous way, to the flange (4) by engagement at through openings (8) and/or at deformed or radius-chamfered areas of the latter. A process of manufacturing the distributor is also described.