CN112805526A

CN112805526A - Reinforced heat exchanger comprising stacked plates

Info

Publication number: CN112805526A
Application number: CN201980046694.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D.佩纳桑切斯; D.塞巴斯蒂安; P.布鲁纳; J.埃斯科斯
Original assignee: Valeo Termico SA
Current assignee: Valeo Termico SA
Priority date: 2018-07-19
Filing date: 2019-07-12
Publication date: 2021-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-12
Also published as: EP3598049B1; WO2020016132A1; EP3824237A1; US20210302111A1; EP3598049A1; CN112805526B

Abstract

A heat exchanger (2) comprises a stacked plate (4), the stacked plate (4) comprising a lower plate (20) on which other plates (22) are stacked. The heat exchanger (2) further comprises a fixed plate (6) and a reinforcing plate (8) between the fixed plate (6) and the lower plate (20). The reinforcing plate (8) has reinforcing elements (24) obtained by cutting and folding the material of the reinforcing plate (8).

Description

Reinforced heat exchanger comprising stacked plates

Technical Field

In the field of heat exchangers for motor vehicles, it is known to use heat exchangers comprising stacked plates, so as to circulate two fluids alternately between adjacent pairs of plates. Such heat exchangers are used, for example, as oil coolers for engine oil. Oil and coolant are circulated along the respective sides of each intermediate plate of the plate stack.

Background

The heat exchanger may further comprise a fixing plate for fixing the stacked plates in a motor vehicle. The stack of plates is for example welded to a fixing plate which is itself fixed to the vehicle, for example by screws.

A reinforcing plate between the fixed plate and the stacked plate is also known from US2007084809-a and EP 2267390-a.

However, these designs are expensive and can still be improved in terms of mechanical endurance.

Disclosure of Invention

One aspect of the present invention relates to a heat exchanger including a stacked plate including a lower plate on which other plates are stacked, and a fixed plate and a reinforcing plate between the fixed plate and the lower plate, wherein the fixed plate has a reinforcing element obtained by cutting and folding of a reinforcing plate material.

The reinforcing element thus obtained brings about reinforcement while still allowing flexibility. Moreover, this method allows to control the position and shape of the reinforcing elements at a reasonable cost.

It has also been found to be optimal to have reinforcing elements around only two corners.

In particular embodiments, the heat exchanger may comprise one, several or any combination of the following technical features:

the reinforcing elements are only one or more corners of the lower plate. Having the stiffening element in only one of the corners allows for reinforcement at the corner while also providing greater flexibility to the remainder of the lower plate. Thus, the lower plate may follow slight deformations in places where the constraint is not strict, thereby alleviating the constraint in the interface between the reinforcing plate and the lower plate.

The reinforcing elements are only around the two corners of the lower plate.

For each reinforcing corner there is only one reinforcing element.

The reinforcing member is in contact with the lower plate.

The shape of the reinforcing element is complementary to the shape of the lower plate.

The height h of the reinforcing element, measured from the top planar surface of the fixing plate, is preferably at least half the height h' of the peripheral edge of the lower plate, measured from the top major planar surface of the reinforcing plate.

The inner surface of the reinforcing element follows the outer surface of the lower plate.

The reinforcing elements are continuous around respective corners of the lower plate.

The stiffening plate has only two stiffening elements.

The reinforcing plate is a substantially flat plate.

The stiffening plate is a flat plate, except for the area of the stiffening element.

The plate has two holes for fluid communication and the stiffening element is located adjacent to the two holes.

These two holes are used for the inlet and outlet of a fluid, in particular oil, respectively.

The lower plate has corresponding holes opposite to the two holes for the passage of the fluid of the reinforcing plate, respectively in the two corners of the lower plate reinforced by the reinforcing elements.

The fixing plate has a planar surface that receives the fixing plate and a protrusion that surrounds the reinforcing plate.

The protrusion is a peripheral edge of the fixing plate.

The peripheral edge is present along at least 50% of the contour of the stiffener plate.

The fixed plate has two holes for fluid communication opposite the corresponding holes of the reinforcing plate.

The fixing plate has a hole for fixing the heat exchanger in the motor vehicle.

The reinforcing plate has holes for fixing opposite to the corresponding holes of the reinforcing plate.

The stacked plates define two circuits for two respective fluids, the circuits being configured such that the two fluids alternately circulate between adjacent plate pairs.

Each circuit flows along a respective side of each intermediate plate of the stacked plates.

Each intermediate plate in the stack has an aperture for circulating two fluids through each intermediate plate.

The lower plate has two holes for the inlet and outlet, respectively, of one of the two fluids, in particular oil.

The end plate opposite the lower plate has two holes for the inlet and outlet, respectively, of the second of the two fluids, in particular the coolant.

The heat exchanger is an oil cooler.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising: a stacked plate including a lower plate on which the other plates are stacked; the heat exchanger further comprises a fixing plate; and a reinforcing plate between the fixing plate and the lower plate, the fixing plate having a reinforcing element, and wherein the method comprises the act of cutting and folding the reinforcing element from the material of the reinforcing plate.

In particular embodiments, the method may include one, several or any combination of the following features:

the cutting and folding of the stiffening element is done by a single movement of the tool, in particular the cutting dye (cutting dye).

The cutting and folding is done in one step.

All the stiffening elements made of the stiffening sheet by cutting and folding are completed in a single step.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger including stacked plates, fixed plates, and reinforcing plates between the fixed plates and the stacked plates;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a reinforcing plate present in the heat exchanger of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lower plate, reinforcing plate and fixing plate of the stacked plates present in the heat exchanger of FIG. 1, and the first substrate of the stacked substrates on top of the lower plate;

fig. 4 is a sectional view of the fixing plate, the reinforcing plate and the lower plate shown in fig. 3.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a heat exchanger 2 typically used for oil cooling. The heat exchanger comprises stacked plates 4, fixed plates 6 and reinforcing plates 8 between the fixed plates 6 and the stacked plates 4.

The heat exchanger includes a coolant inlet 10 and a coolant outlet 12 through a top end plate 14 in the stack of plates. The coolant is for example a water and glycol based liquid commonly used for engine cooling. In fig. 2 and 3, the oil inlet 16 and the oil outlet 18 are also visible through the lower plate 20 in the stacked plate 4, through the reinforcement plate 8 and through the fixing plate 6. The heat exchanger is therefore intended to be used as an oil cooler, for example for cooling the oil of an engine of a motor vehicle. However, the heat exchanger may also be used for heat exchange between other fluids, for example between a water and glycol based liquid and a refrigerant such as 12234 yf.

The stacked plates 4 of the heat exchanger are designed such that two fluids are alternately circulated between adjacent plate pairs. That is, each fluid circulates along a respective side of each intermediate plate 22 (also referred to as a "base plate") of stacked plates 4. The base plate 22 has holes for circulating two fluids through each plate.

This type of stacked plates 4 is commonly used and known to those skilled in the art.

The reinforcement plate 8, which is shown in more detail in fig. 2 to 3, is a substantially flat plate having two reinforcement elements 24 around two corners 26 of the lower plate 20. These two stiffening elements 24 are more closely shown in fig. 4 and are obtained by cutting and folding the material from the stiffening sheet.

As shown in fig. 4, inner surface 28 of reinforcing element 24 contacts outer surface 30 of peripheral edge 32 of lower plate 20. Preferably, the inner surface 28 of the reinforcing element 24 has a shape complementary to the shape of the outer surface 30 and is therefore in contact along the entire corner 26.

The height h of the reinforcing element 24, as measured from the top planar surface 34 of the fixing plate 6, is preferably at least half the height h' of the peripheral edge 32 of the lower plate 20, as measured from the top major planar surface 36 of the reinforcing plate 8.

The cutting and folding of the reinforcing element 24 is preferably performed by a single movement of a cutting dye (cutting dye) or any other suitable tool. But alternatively may be performed in two steps using two different tools/devices. All the stiffening elements 24 of the stiffening sheet 8 made by cutting and folding are preferably completed in a single step.

As shown, the reinforcing elements 24 are preferably present only around the two corners 26 of the lower plate 20. Alternatively, there may be four reinforcing elements 24 around each corner 26 of the lower plate 20, but this is a less preferred solution.

Also preferably, the reinforcing elements 24 are one piece (or "continuous") around their respective corners 26. That is, each corner 26 is reinforced by only one reinforcing element. A more reliable reinforcement is found compared to having a plurality of reinforcement elements at certain corners.

Again preferably, the reinforced corner is a corner near the

holes

16 and 18 for fluid communication of oil. If the inlets and outlets for the water and glycol based coolant are also designed to pass through the reinforcement plate 8 and the fixing plate 6, which is also a possible option, the reinforcement elements will be near the inlets and outlets for the oil and there will be no reinforcement elements near the inlets and outlets for the water and glycol based coolant.

The reinforcing plate 8 has fixing holes 38 opposite to the corresponding fixing holes of the fixing plate 6, for example to receive fixing screws intended to fix the heat exchanger in a motor vehicle. Alternatively, the reinforcing plate has no fixing holes, and the fixing plate 6 is fastened to the automobile through holes outside the reinforcing plate.

The reinforcing plate 8 also has positioning projections 42, or more generally positioning elements, which cooperate with corresponding positioning elements 42 of the lower plate 20. In this particular example, the positioning elements 42 of the lower plate 20, the reinforcing plate 8 and the fixing plate 6 are projecting columns, the projecting columns of each

plate

20, 6 and 8 being respectively identical.

The fixing plate 6 shown in figures 2, 3 and 4 serves to receive the reinforcing plate and to fix the heat exchanger 2 to the motor vehicle, thanks to the fixing holes 44 opposite to the fixing holes 38 of the reinforcing plate 8. The fixation may be performed using a set screw or any other suitable fixation element, such as a bolt.

The fixed plate 6 has a top planar surface 34 (fig. 4), the top planar surface 34 receiving a bottom planar surface 46 of the reinforcing plate, the two surfaces being in contact with each other. Alternatively, the fixing plate 6 and the reinforcing plate 8 may have any other suitable geometry.

The fixing plate 6 has a peripheral edge 48 surrounding the reinforcing plate 8 for reinforcing the fixing plate 6.

Preferably, the peripheral edge 48 extends along substantially the entire contour of the reinforcing plate 6. In the figures, there are only two regions 52 without the peripheral edge 48, but the peripheral edge 48 is still present around at least 50% of the contour of the stiffening plate 6.

Finally, as is generally known, the stacked plates 4 are made of the same base plate, upper plate (not shown) and top end plate 14.

As shown in fig. 3, the lower plate 20 has two

holes

54 and 56. There are non-functioning holes for the lower plate 20, since these holes do not have corresponding holes in the reinforcing plate 8 and the fixing plate 6.

The lower plate 20 also has

holes

58 and 60 for oil circulation.

The substrates 22 are all identical. They have holes 62 for oil circulation and holes 64 for coolant circulation.

Also, each substrate is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the adjacent substrate. Thus, it is not necessary to make two different types of panels as is well known.

The first group of substrates is intended to circulate oil over the substrates 22. The holes 62 for oil circulation are in the same plane as the major planar surfaces of the plates and the holes 66 for coolant circulation are elevated so that they are in close contact with the bottom planar surface of the upper base plate, which is rotated 180 degrees.

The second half (second half) of the base plates 22 of the stacked plates have holes 64 for coolant in the plane of the major planar surfaces of these base plates 22, and the holes 62 for oil circulation are raised so that they are in close contact with the bottom surface of the upper plate. The coolant will circulate on the top side of the second type of substrate.

It is important that each of base plate 22, lower plate 22 and upper plate (not shown) in stacked plate 4 have a peripheral edge 32 of the same shape. The peripheral edge 32 of each plate receives the outer surface of the peripheral edge 32 of the upper plate in a tight manner. This design is also referred to as a "tub" design, where each tub panel receives an upper tub panel in a tight manner along the peripheral edge 32.

The top endplate has only holes 66 and 68 for receiving coolant inlets and outlets. Alternatively, as mentioned above, the inlet and outlet of the coolant could also be on the sides of the fixed plate 6, in which case there would be no flow holes in the top end plate 14.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger (2) comprising a stacked plate (4) comprising a lower plate (20) on which other plates (22) are stacked, and the heat exchanger (2) comprising a fixed plate (6) and a reinforcing plate (8) between the fixed plate (6) and the lower plate (20), wherein the reinforcing plate (8) has reinforcing elements (24) obtained by cutting and folding of the material of the reinforcing plate (8).

2. The heat exchanger (2) of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing elements (24) are only around one or more corners of the lower plate (20).

3. The heat exchanger (2) according to claim 1 or 2,

the reinforcing elements (24) are only around two corners of the lower plate (20).

4. The heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims,

the reinforcing element (24) is in contact with the lower plate (20).

5. The heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims,

the shape of the reinforcing element (24) is complementary to the shape of the lower plate (20).

6. The heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims,

the stiffening plate (8) is a substantially flat plate.

7. The heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims,

the reinforcing plate (8) has two holes (16, 18) for the passage of a fluid, the reinforcing element (24) being located in the vicinity of the two holes (16, 18).

8. The heat exchanger (2) of claim 7,

the lower plate (20) has corresponding holes (58, 60) opposite the two holes (16, 18) for the passage of fluid of the reinforcing plate (8), the two holes (58, 60) of the lower plate (20) being located respectively in the two corners (26) of the lower plate (20) reinforced by the reinforcing element (24).

9. The heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims,

the fixing plate (6) has a planar surface (34) receiving the reinforcement plate (8) and a protrusion (48) surrounding the reinforcement plate (8).

10. The heat exchanger (9) according to claim 8 or 9,

the protrusion (48) is a peripheral edge of the fixing plate (6).

11. The heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims,

the stacked plates (4) define two circuits for two respective fluids, the circuits being configured so that the two fluids circulate alternately between adjacent pairs of plates (22).

12. The heat exchanger (2) according to any one of the preceding claims,

the heat exchanger (2) is an oil cooler.

13. A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger (2), the heat exchanger comprising: a stacking plate (4) comprising a lower plate (20) on which the other plates (22) are stacked; the heat exchanger further comprises a fixing plate (6) and a reinforcement plate (8) between the fixing plate (6) and the lower plate (20), the fixing plate (6) having reinforcement elements (24), and wherein the method comprises the action of cutting and folding the reinforcement elements (24) from the material of the reinforcement plate (8).

14. The method of claim 1, wherein,

the cutting and folding of the reinforcing element (24) is accomplished by a single movement of the tool.