AT525658B1 - cooler - Google Patents

Abstract

Heat exchanger (1), in particular oil-air cooler, for heat exchange between a first fluid, in particular hydraulic oil, and a second fluid, in particular air, comprising: a number of first flow channels (2) for the passage of the first fluid, a number of second flow channels (3) for the passage of the second fluid, a distributor tank (7) for dividing the first fluid between first ends of the first flow channels (2), a collection tank (8) for collecting the first fluid emerging from second ends of the first flow channels (2). , an outlet (10), in particular for a suction connection (10A), for draining off, in particular sucking off, the first fluid from the collection container (8), a filter (11) with a filter element (12) for filtering the first fluid before it enters the outlet (10), the filter (11) being arranged inside the collection container (8) in such a way that the first fluid is guided from the outside through the filter element (12) into an interior space (14) of the filter (11).

Description

Description

The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular an oil-air cooler, for exchanging heat between a first fluid, in particular hydraulic oil, and a second fluid, in particular air, comprising:

a number of first flow channels for the passage of the first fluid,

a number of second flow channels for the passage of the second fluid,

a distribution tank for distributing the first fluid to first ends of the first flow channels,

a collection container for collecting the first fluid emerging from second ends of the first flow channels,

an outlet, in particular for a suction connection, for draining, in particular sucking off, the first fluid from the collection container,

a filter having a filter element for filtering the first fluid prior to entering the outlet.

A generic cooling device is known from WO 2005/093357 A1, in which a filter unit is arranged in the direction of flow of the fluid, here a hydraulic medium, behind a cooling unit. The cooling unit is designed as a finned cooler. The fluid ducts open on both sides into fluid collection spaces that extend along the longitudinal sides of the cooling unit. In this prior art, the filter unit is arranged outside of the fluid collection space. The filter element is housed in its own filter housing. The contaminated fluid flows through the filter element from the outside to the inside, so that the fluid is discharged through the inside of the filter element. Filtering ensures that the cleaned fluid cannot form deposits in the connected hydraulic equipment. Fluid cleaned off by the filter element is discharged via a discharge line into a separate collection tube within the collection space. Furthermore, connection points are provided with which the cleaned fluid is discharged from the collecting tube. However, this construction is structurally very complex. Another disadvantage is the large amount of installation space, which is associated with the lateral arrangement of the filter housing.

[0003] CN 203926234U shows a cooler in which a filter is arranged horizontally in a collecting space above the cooling channels. However, a separate filter housing is disadvantageously provided. Furthermore, the filter is comparatively short, which limits the filter effect. The filter protrudes on one side through a mounting opening into the collection space. Another disadvantage is that the cooled fluid has to be drained off on the side of the assembly opening.

The CN 103994130A shows a similar cooler with the disadvantages described above.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to alleviate or eliminate at least individual disadvantages of the prior art. This object is achieved with a heat exchanger according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the filter is arranged inside the collection container in such a way that the first fluid is guided from the outside through the filter element into an interior space of the filter.

Advantageously, the first fluid can flow from the second ends of the first flow channels inside the collection container directly, i.e. without passing through a filter housing, to the outside of the filter element, on which the first fluid is filtered, i.e. particles, in particular deposits, are removed . After filtering, the first fluid can be drained from the interior of the filter via the outlet. A filter line can thus be integrated into the collection container. The outlet is advantageously connected to the inside of the filter, which can always be kept free of dirt. For example, no dirt can get into the outlet if the filter is on the inside of the collection tank before assembly

been placed on a dirty surface. As a result, the first fluid can be made available with a high degree of purity at the outlet. This is particularly advantageous when the heat exchanger is designed as a cooler for hydraulic oil, which is supplied from the outlet of a hydraulic device of a machine, for example a construction machine. A compact, space-saving design is achieved by arranging the filter inside the collection container. Since the flow through the filter element is from the outside to the inside, viewed in the radial direction, the collecting container, which is in particular a collecting box, can form the filter housing for the filter element. Advantageously, a separate filter housing around the filter element can be omitted. The collection container has a plurality of walls, in particular two narrow sides, two longitudinal sides and an upper side, which enclose a collection space on the inside, into which the second ends of the first flow channels for the first fluid directly open. The filter preferably extends over the arrangement of first flow channels, so that imaginary vertical extensions of the first flow channels pass through the filter element. The filter preferably has a hollow-cylindrical basic shape, with which the interior space for receiving the filtered first fluid is defined.

Due to the arrangement of the filter, contamination of the fluid lines, in particular of oil lines, and thus of the entire system can be avoided when the filter is changed.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the location and direction information, such as "top", "bottom", "horizontal", "vertical" refer to the intended use of the heat exchanger.

In a preferred embodiment, the filter element is exposed inside the collection container, in particular over its entire length (i.e. extension in the direction of the longitudinal axis). Thus, the first fluid entering the distribution container via the second ends of the first flow channels can flow directly to the outside of the filter element, be filtered on the outside of the filter element and pass through the filter element into the interior space within the filter element. Advantageously, the distributor tank forms the filter housing in which the filter element is arranged in an exposed manner. A filter housing that is separate from the distributor tank can thus be dispensed with.

In order to discharge the first fluid, preferably hydraulic oil, and make it available to a construction machine, for example, the outlet in a preferred embodiment has a preferably essentially cylindrical outlet part, in particular an outlet connection piece, which protrudes into the interior of the filter. Advantageously, the connection part can be made slim as a result of the connection to the interior of the filter. The interior is preferably completely surrounded by the filter element in the circumferential direction. The first fluid can thus flow from radially outside of the filter element through filter pores of the filter element into the interior of the filter, and from there be guided out of the collection container via the outlet part. In a preferred embodiment, the filter element is tubular, in particular hollow-cylindrical, with the outlet part having a cylindrical design corresponding to the filter element. The outlet part has an outlet channel, with which the first fluid is discharged from the collection container to the outside. The outlet channel can be connected to a suction line in order to suck the first fluid from the interior of the filter via the outlet part into the suction line outside the collection container.

In a preferred embodiment, a suction connection can be connected to the connection part, preferably in different orientations to the direction of flow within the connection part.

For stable mounting and for safe installation of the filter by means of the outlet part, it is favorable if the filter is arranged with an essentially precise fit on the outlet part, in particular pushed onto the outlet part. In this embodiment, the outlet part discharges the first fluid on the one hand and holds the filter element on the other hand, preferably at a distance from the second ends of the first flow channels.

In a preferred embodiment, a maintenance cover for closing a

access opening leading into the interior of the collection container is provided for replacing the filter. By removing the maintenance cover, an access opening is exposed, which is dimensioned such that the filter can be inserted through the access opening into the collection container and removed from the collection container. The maintenance cover is preferably connected to the collection container via a detachable connection, for example via a screw connection.

In order to keep the filter in the desired position within the collection container, it is advantageous if the maintenance cover has a retaining part, in particular a retaining pin, which projects into the interior of the filter, for retaining the filter. It is particularly preferred if the filter is held in position on the one hand by the outlet part and on the other hand by the holding part. In the case of a cylindrical design of the filter element, it is advantageous if the holding part is designed as a cylindrical holding pin which protrudes into the interior of the filter. In addition, it is advantageous if the filter can be installed not only with a single predetermined installation direction in the collection container, but in two installation positions rotated by 180°.

If the maintenance cover and the outlet are provided on opposite sides, in particular on two opposite narrow sides, of the collection container, the outlet part can be particularly effectively protected from contamination during installation and removal of the filter.

[0017] The spatial separation of the maintenance cover from the (oil) outlet, in particular also from a suction connection connected thereto, allows the line routing on the vehicle to be optimized. The incoming and outgoing lines can be attached in particular to the side facing the vehicle axle, which reduces line lengths and enables a more compact and protected design. At the same time, the ease of servicing remains unchanged because the maintenance cover is on the outside of the vehicle and is therefore easily accessible for maintenance work. Preventing contamination when changing the filter has already been addressed above.

In a preferred embodiment, a first longitudinal end of the filter is held by the outlet part and a second longitudinal end of the filter is held by the holding part of the maintenance cover. With this design, a stable mounting of the filter is achieved at opposite longitudinal ends. Another advantage is that incorrect positioning of the filter in the collection container is reliably avoided, since the maintenance cover can only be attached to the collection container if the filter is mounted on the holding part on the maintenance cover and is therefore correctly positioned.

In a preferred embodiment, the maintenance cover, in particular on the holding part, has at least one through-opening to form a filter bypass, through which unfiltered first fluid can be guided into the interior of the filter. A valve is preferably provided, in particular in the interior of the holding part of the maintenance cover. When the valve is in an open position, the unfiltered first fluid can be guided through the passage opening of the maintenance cover into the interior of the filter and drained off via the outlet. In a closed position of the valve, the unfiltered first fluid cannot get into the interior of the filter. The valve is preferably switched from the closed to the open position when a pressure at the outlet reaches a predetermined value. This can be the case, for example, when the first fluid can no longer pass through the filter element. By releasing the filter bypass, it can be ensured that first fluid, even unfiltered, is provided at the outlet.

In a preferred embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the filter element is arranged essentially horizontally. In this embodiment, the flow can flow through the first flow channels from bottom to top. The collection container extends transversely to the first flow channels above the first flow channels. The filter is positioned horizontally across and spaced from the second ends of the flow channels.

The collection container is preferably cuboid with two vertical narrow sides,

two vertical long sides and a horizontal top. The length of the collection container is the horizontal extension parallel to the long sides. The width of the collection container is the horizontal extension parallel to the narrow sides. The height of the sump is the vertical extent of the sump.

The filter element preferably extends over essentially the entire length of the collecting container. As a result, particularly effective filtering of the first fluid can be achieved.

In one embodiment, the collection container and/or the maintenance cover are made of metal, in particular aluminum. The filter may include a metal filter holder structure. The filter element with the filter pores can be made of paper and/or metal and/or microfiber.

The invention is explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

1 to 4 show different views of a heat exchanger according to the invention, which is designed as an oil-air cooler for providing cooled hydraulic oil for a suction line.

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of parts of the cooler. 6 shows a sectional view of the cooler in the area of the collecting container.

1 to 4 show a heat exchanger 1, which in the embodiment shown is designed as a cooler for cooling a first fluid, here hydraulic oil, by exchanging heat with a second fluid, here air. The heat exchanger 1 has a multiplicity of first flow channels 2 which preferably extend parallel to one another, for example in the vertical direction. The first fluid flows upwards from first (lower) ends to second (upper) ends of the first flow channels 2 . A plurality of second flow channels 3 are formed in intermediate spaces between the first flow channels 2, through which the second fluid, in this case cooling air, flows. The cooling air is guided through the second flow channels 3 with the aid of a fan 4 . In the embodiment shown, the fan 5 has a fan wheel 5 which rotates about an axis 5A. At the lower end of the heat exchanger 1, the first fluid is conducted into a distributor tank 7 via an inlet 6, which is an oil inlet in the example shown. The distributor tank 7 encloses a distributor space on the inside, to which the first fluid is supplied via the inlet 6 . The first flow or fluid channels 2 open into the common distributor space of the distributor container 7 so that the first fluid is guided from the distributor space upwards through the first flow channels 3 . A collecting container 8 is arranged above the first flow channels 2, which on the inside encloses a uniform, i.e. not divided, collecting space 9 into which the second ends of the first flow channels 2 open. The collection container 8 has a first narrow side 8A, a second narrow side 8B, two long sides 8C and a top 8D. For the sake of clarity, the collection container 8 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 with a lower height and in simplified form. The collection container 8 is open on the underside towards the first flow channels 2 .

The heat exchanger 1 also has one, preferably precisely one, outlet 10 for discharging the cooled first fluid from the collection container 8 . In the embodiment shown, the outlet 10 is connected to a suction port 10A, which can be connected to a hydraulic line of a construction machine (not shown) via a suction line (not shown).

The heat exchanger 1 also has feet 22 with which the heat exchanger can be parked on a (horizontal) floor surface. The feet 22 can have assembly openings 23 with which the heat exchanger 1 can be fixed on the floor surface.

Furthermore, a filter 11 is provided, which is designed to separate solid particles from the first fluid before the first fluid enters the suction port 10A. The filter 11 is arranged entirely inside the collecting tank 8, i.e. inside the collecting space 9 delimited by the walls of the collecting tank 8.

In the embodiment shown, the filter 11 has a filter element 12 with a hollow-cylindrical basic shape. In the embodiment shown, the filter element 12 has filter folds. The filter element 12 has a multiplicity of filter pores through which the first fluid can pass. The longitudinal axis 11A of the filter element 12 extends horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the collection container 8, i.e. from the first narrow side 8A to the second narrow side 8B of the collection container 8.

The filter 11 is arranged in an exposed manner inside the collection container 8, i.e. without a surrounding filter housing, such that the first fluid first impinges on the outside of the filter element 12 (cf. arrows 13 in Figure 6). As a result, the dirt particles, for example hose or pump abrasion and air pollution, are discharged on the outside of the filter element 12 . The first fluid flows through the filter pores of the filter element 12, viewed in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis 11A of the filter element 12, from the outside to the inside. Thus, after filtering on the outside of the filter element 12, the first fluid reaches an interior space 14, which the filter element 12 encloses on the inside. The outlet 10 has an outlet part 15 which, in the embodiment shown, is designed as a cylindrical outlet socket which extends from a first narrow side 8A of the collection container 8 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the filter element 12 into the interior space 14 of the filter 11 . The filter 11 is arranged with a substantially precise fit on the outlet part 15 such that a first longitudinal end of the filter 11 is supported by the outlet part 15 . In the embodiment shown, the filter 11 is pushed onto the outlet part 15 without tools. The outlet part 15 has an outlet channel 15A, which connects to the interior space 14 of the filter element 12 . The first fluid can thus be discharged from the interior 14 of the filter 11 via the outlet channel 15A from the collection container 8 in the longitudinal direction of the filter 11 (cf. arrow 16).

The collection container 8 has an access opening 17 which is closed with a maintenance cover 18 when in the assembled state of use. In the embodiment shown, the access opening 17 provided with the maintenance cover 18 is provided on a second narrow side 8B opposite the first narrow side 8A of the collection container 8 . The maintenance cover 18 has a maintenance cover plate 18A, which is mounted on the outside on the second narrow side 8B of the collection container 8, in the embodiment shown with screws 18B. The access opening 17 is larger than the cross-section of the filter 11, so that the filter 11 can be removed from the collection container 8 or inserted into the collection container 8 with the maintenance cover 18 removed, for example to replace a used filter 11 with a new filter 11. The maintenance cover 18 has on the inside facing the collecting chamber 9 a holding part 19 , here a cylindrical holding pin, which extends essentially with a precise fit into the interior 14 of the filter 11 . Thus, the first longitudinal end of the filter 11 is held by the outlet part 15 and the second longitudinal end of the filter 11 is held by the holding part 19 of the maintenance cover 18 .

The maintenance cover 18 has at least one passage opening 20 leading into the interior 14 of the filter 11, in which, for example, a sensor unit 21, in particular a contamination indicator, can be arranged, with which an operating parameter, in particular the degree of contamination of the filter 11, can be measured can.

In addition, the maintenance cover 18, in particular on the holding part 19, can have at least one through-opening to form a filter bypass, through which unfiltered first fluid can be guided into the interior of the filter 11. A valve is preferably provided, in particular inside the holding part 19 of the maintenance cover 18 . When the valve is in an open position, the unfiltered first fluid can be guided through the passage opening of the maintenance cover 18 into the interior of the filter 11 and discharged via the outlet 10 . In a closed position of the valve, the unfiltered first fluid cannot get into the interior of the filter 11 . The valve is preferably switched to the open position when a pressure at the outlet 10 reaches a predetermined value. As a result, damage, for example to a pumping device connected to the outlet 10, can be avoided.

REFERENCE LIST:

1 heat exchanger 2 first flow channels for oil

3 second flow channels for air

4 fans

5 fan wheel 5A axis

6 inlet

7 distribution tank

8 collection containers

8A first narrow side of the collection container 8B second narrow side of the collection container 8C long sides of the collection container 8D top side of the collection container

9 gathering room

10 outlet

10A suction connection

11 filters

11A longitudinal axis

12 filter element

13 arrows

14 interior

15 outlet part

15A exhaust port

16 arrows

17 access port

18 maintenance cover

18A service cover plate

19 holding part

20 passage opening

21 sensor unit

22 feet

23 mounting holes

Claims (9)

patent claims 1. Heat exchanger (1), in particular oil-air cooler, for exchanging heat between a first fluid, in particular hydraulic oil, and a second fluid, in particular air, having: a number of first flow channels (2) for the passage of the first fluid, a number of second flow channels (3) for the passage of the second fluid, a distributor tank (7) for dividing the first fluid between first ends of the first flow channels (2), a collection container (8) for collecting the first fluid emerging from second ends of the first flow channels (2), an outlet (10), in particular for a suction connection (10A), for draining, in particular sucking off, the first fluid from the collection container (8), a filter (11) having a filter element (12) for filtering the first fluid before entering the outlet (10), characterized in that the filter (11) is arranged inside the collection container (8) in such a way that the first fluid is guided from the outside through the filter element (12) into an interior space (14) of the filter (11). 2. Heat exchanger (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter element (12) is arranged in an exposed manner inside the collecting container (8). 3. Heat exchanger (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet (10) has a preferably essentially cylindrical outlet part (15), in particular an outlet socket, which projects into the interior (14) of the filter (11). . 4. Heat exchanger (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the filter (11) is arranged with an essentially precise fit on the outlet part (15), in particular pushed onto the outlet part (15). 5. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a maintenance cover (18) for closing an inside the collecting container (8) leading access opening (17) for replacing the filter (11) is provided. 6. Heat exchanger (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the maintenance cover (18) has a holding part (19) projecting into the interior (14) of the filter (11), in particular a holding pin, for holding the filter (11). 7. Heat exchanger (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the maintenance cover (18) and the outlet (10) are provided on opposite sides of the collecting container (8). 8. Heat exchanger (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that a first longitudinal end of the filter (11) is held by the outlet part (15) and a second longitudinal end of the filter (11) by the holding part (19) of the maintenance cover (18). 9. Heat exchanger (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (11A) of the filter element (12) is arranged substantially horizontally. 1 sheet of drawings