DE102013226434A1 - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger (19) for vehicle applications, comprising a housing (20) enclosing a tube block (21), wherein within the tube block (21) a first fluid path (24) for a first fluid (25) is formed, wherein a second fluid path (26) surrounding the tube block (21) for a second fluid (27) is formed outside the tube block (21) and inside the housing (20), a housing opening (28, 29) having a seal (31). is enclosed. A simplified manufacturability results when the seal (32) is injection-molded onto a seal carrier (34), which is attached to a housing opening (28, 29) enclosing the opening edge (35) of the housing (20).

Description

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for vehicle applications. The invention also relates to an internal combustion engine equipped with such a heat exchanger.

In internal combustion engines, especially in motor vehicles, different heat exchangers are used. Of particular interest in the present context are high-performance heat exchangers in which a gaseous first fluid is to be cooled with the aid of a liquid second fluid. For example, here exhaust gas cooler, in particular exhaust gas recirculation cooler, and intercooler into consideration.

Such a heat exchanger may usually comprise a housing which encloses a tube block formed with or from a plurality of parallel tubes, wherein a first fluid path is formed within the tube block for a first fluid, while outside of the tube block and within the housing a tube bypassing the tube block second fluid path is formed for a second fluid. The housing has at least two housing openings for the first fluid, wherein the first fluid enters through the one housing opening into the first fluid path, while it exits through the other housing opening from the first fluid path again. At least one of these housing openings is enclosed with a seal. With the help of this seal, the housing is sealed against a connecting pipe in the installed state of the heat exchanger by the first fluid is supplied to the housing and discharged from the housing.

In order to realize such a seal, it is basically possible to provide the housing with a flange-like opening edge which encloses the housing opening and into which an axially open, closed circumferential sealing groove is machined, into which the seal is inserted in the form of a separate component. The seal protrudes axially beyond the opening edge, so that in the mounted state it comes to rest in an axially sealing manner against a flange-like contact surface of the respective connection pipe that fits the opening edge. It has been found that, depending on the sealing material, the insertion of the seal for the assembly is comparatively complicated.

From the EP 2 385 277 A1 a heat exchanger is known, which can be attached via a base plate to an engine block of an internal combustion engine. Through the base plate lead supply channels. The supply channels are enclosed by a circumferential sealing groove. Instead of a separate seal that must be inserted into the sealing groove, the seal is injected directly into the sealing groove in the known heat exchanger.

From the DE 24 47 900 A1 is known a washer for screw, seals are molded on the inner edge.

From the DE 42 42 997 C1 It is known for an oil cooler to attach this via a sealing plate to a flange of an internal combustion engine. The sealing plate consists of a sealing material and is shaped complementary to the connection flange.

From the DE 101 00 934 C1 an intake manifold is known, the connecting flange can be attached via a sealing plate to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The sealing plate consists of a metallic body to which the required seals are molded.

From the DE 10 2004 034 824 A1 a metallic flat gasket is known which consists of a metal plate and sealing elements molded onto it.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of specifying for a heat exchanger of the type mentioned or for an internal combustion engine equipped therewith an improved embodiment, which is characterized in particular by a simplified production. In addition, it is desirable to improve the heat transfer performance of the heat exchanger.

The problem underlying the invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general idea to inject the seal on a seal carrier, which represents a separate component with respect to the housing and which is attached to an opening edge of the housing enclosing the housing opening. By using such a seal carrier, the seal has the spatial geometry even before mounting on the housing, which it should also have after mounting on the housing, whereby the mounting of the seal or the seal carrier on the housing considerably simplified.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the seal on an inner side facing the housing, an inner sealing region, which sealing when attached to the housing seal carrier with the opening edge cooperates, and on an outer side facing away from the housing have an outer sealing region, which cooperates sealingly in the installed state of the heat exchanger, for example, with the aforementioned connection pipe. Thus, two separate sealing areas are defined in order to effect a reliable sealing of the housing relative to the respective body, to which the housing is mounted in the installed state or which is mounted in the installed state to the housing. For example, said body is the aforementioned connection pipe.

According to an advantageous development of the seal carrier may have a circumferential along the housing opening support web, to which the seal is molded, wherein the support web has a plurality of axial openings through which the inner sealing region is connected to the outer sealing area of the same material. Appropriately, the injection of the seal is performed so that the sealing material passes through the openings and integrally forms the two sealing regions on both sides of the support web. Accordingly, the two sealing regions are formed of the same material from a single piece. This simplifies on the one hand the production of the two sealing regions on the seal carrier. On the other hand, thereby the seal is positively fixed to the seal carrier.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the seal carrier in the profile may have a step whose inner edge is covered by the seal. If the seal carrier has an inner sealing region and an outer sealing region, the step is provided at least at the inner sealing region. Optionally, a further step may also be provided in the outer sealing region. The opening edge of the housing may have an outer edge which engages in said step and sealingly cooperates with the seal. By this measure, the seal cooperates both radially and axially with the outer edge, whereby a particularly efficient seal can be realized.

In another embodiment, the opening edge in profile may have a step into which the seal carrier is inserted, such that the seal seals axially with the step. The seal then acts as an axial seal. Due to the step on the housing, the seal carrier can be placed sunk on the housing. With such a sunken arrangement of the seal carrier, it is particularly easy to arrange the respective body, in particular the connecting tube, with the housing on a block, so that the housing directly touches said body.

Furthermore, an embodiment is conceivable in which the housing has an opening edge bordering the step, in which case the seal carrier is inserted into the step, that the more inner outer edge cooperates with the respective seal, which is arranged on the seal carrier in a corresponding stage ,

In another embodiment, the seal carrier may have a flow guide structure which projects into the second fluid path and generates a flow conduction for the second fluid during operation of the heat exchanger. This design gives the seal carrier an additional function. By virtue of this additional flow-guiding effect, the flow through the second fluid path can be improved in order to support the heat transfer between the first fluid. In that regard, the efficiency of the heat exchanger can be improved with the aid of the flow guide structure.

According to an advantageous development, the flow guide structure can be formed integrally on the seal carrier. Thus, the seal carrier and the Strömungsleitstruktur are made of the same material from a single piece. The seal is then molded onto the seal carrier with flow-guiding structure. This simplifies the production of the seal carrier with flow guidance.

According to another development, the housing can have a fluid connection for the second fluid, which is fluidically connected to the second fluid path, proximal to the housing opening, wherein the flow guidance structure is arranged in the region of this fluid connection. Depending on whether the fluid connection is an inlet or an outlet for the second fluid, the flow guiding structure can improve the flow from the housing into the fluid connection or the flow from the fluid connection into the housing. In particular, it can be provided that, with the aid of the flow-guiding structure, the flow through the second fluid path is influenced essentially exclusively in the area of this fluid connection.

Of particular importance is an embodiment in which the flow guide structure is designed so that it acts as a thermal protection, for example, to avoid a so-called "hot spot" or a "cold spot" in the heat exchanger.

In another advantageous development, the flow guiding structure can have a flow divider which, during operation of the heat exchanger, divides a flow of the second fluid into at least two partial flows which flow around the tube block at sides facing away from one another. Through this Measure we simplified the flow around the tube block, which improves the heat transfer between the two fluids.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the heat exchanger can be used as a charge air cooler, such that the first fluid is the charge air to be cooled, while the second fluid is a cooling coolant. In particular, in such an embodiment, the housing may be made of plastic. In particular, then, the seal carrier can be made of a plastic.

In another embodiment, the heat exchanger can be used as an exhaust gas cooler, in particular as an exhaust gas recirculation cooler, such that the first fluid is the exhaust gas to be cooled, while the second fluid is a cooling coolant. As a coolant in this case, for example, a working fluid of a waste heat recovery circuit into consideration, the exhaust gas cooler within the waste heat recovery circuit serves as a preheater or as an evaporator or as a superheater. Due to the higher temperatures of the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, in this case the housing may preferably be made of a metal. Also, the seal carrier may be made of a metal in this case.

An internal combustion engine according to the invention, which can be used in particular in a motor vehicle, comprises a fresh air system for supplying fresh air to combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine, a charging device for charging the fresh air and a charge air cooler of the type described above.

Other important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description with reference to the drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail in the following description, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

Show, in each case schematically,

1 a greatly simplified schematic diagram of an internal combustion engine with heat exchanger,

2 an isometric, partially transparent view of a heat exchanger,

3 an enlarged detail view in longitudinal section of the heat exchanger in the region of a seal,

4 a sectional view as in 3 but in another embodiment,

5 an isometric view of a seal carrier without seal,

6 an isometric view of the seal carrier 5 , but with seal,

7 an isometric view of a seal carrier with seal, but in another embodiment,

8th an isometric partial view of a housing of the heat exchanger with inserted seal carrier.

Corresponding 1 includes an internal combustion engine 1 an engine block 2 , the several cylinders 3 contains, in each of which a combustion chamber 4 is arranged. The internal combustion engine 1 includes a fresh air system 5 for supplying fresh air to the combustion chambers 4 , The internal combustion engine 1 further includes an exhaust system 6 for removing exhaust gas from the combustion chambers 4 , Furthermore, an exhaust gas recirculation system 7 for recirculating exhaust gas from the exhaust system 6 to the fresh air system 5 be provided. The internal combustion engine 1 is in the example also with a charging device in the form of an exhaust gas turbocharger 8th fitted. The turbocharger 8th has in the usual way a compressor 9 up in the fresh air plant 5 is arranged and the via a drive shaft 10 from a turbine 11 is driven in the exhaust system 6 is arranged. The fresh air system 5 Contains downstream of the compressor 9 a charge air cooler 12 that connected to a cooling circuit 13 connected. The exhaust system 6 can be downstream of the turbine 11 an exhaust gas heat exchanger 14 have, which to a cooling circuit 15 connected. The exhaust gas recirculation system 7 can be an exhaust gas recirculation valve 16 for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation amount and downstream or upstream of the exhaust gas recirculation valve 16 an exhaust gas recirculation cooler 17 have, which to a cooling circuit 18 connected. The coolers shown here, so the intercooler 12 , the exhaust gas cooler 14 and the exhaust gas recirculation cooler 17 , in each case generally represent a heat exchanger 19 , At least one of these heat exchangers 19 is constructed according to the following description and will be described below with reference to 2 to 8th explained in more detail.

According to the 2 to 8th includes the heat exchanger 19 a housing 20 as well as one from the case 20 enclosed tube block 21 , the multiple, parallel to each other and in a stacking direction 22 juxtaposed tubes 23 having. Inside the tube block 21 is a first fluid path 24 for a first fluid 25 trained, in 2 a flow of the first fluid 25 indicated by arrows. Likewise, the first fluid path 24 indicated by arrows, wherein the first fluid path 24 the first fluid 25 parallel through the pipes 23 which causes the first fluid 25 Heat to the pipes 23 can deliver. Outside the tube block 21 and inside the case 20 is a second fluid path 26 for a second fluid 27 educated. A fluid flow of the second fluid 27 is in 2 indicated by arrows. The second fluid path 26 thus leads to a flushing of the individual tubes 23 of the tube block 21 inside the case 20 , whereby the second fluid 27 from the pipes 23 Dissipate heat.

The housing 20 points to the first fluid 25 an inlet-side first housing opening 28 through which the first fluid 25 in the tube block 21 enters, and the outlet side, a second housing opening 29 on, through which the first fluid 25 from the tube block 21 exit. Furthermore, the housing has 20 an inlet side first fluid port 30 for supplying the second fluid 27 and an outlet side second fluid port 31 for discharging the second fluid 27 on.

At least one of the housing openings 28 . 29 is with one in the 3 . 4 and 6 to 8th recognizable seal 32 edged. Appropriately, both housing openings 28 . 29 each with such a seal 32 edged. The respective seal 32 serves to, in the installed state of the heat exchanger 19 the housing 20 opposite one in 2 indicated by a broken line connecting pipe 33 seal. The connection pipe 33 serves depending on the housing opening 28 . 29 to, the first fluid 25 the housing 20 feed or from the housing 20 dissipate.

According to the 3 to 8th is the seal 32 to a seal carrier 34 molded. The housing 20 has a housing opening 28 respectively. 29 bordering opening edge 35 on, to the seal carrier 34 is scheduled.

How in particular the 3 and 4 can be removed, the seal 32 in a preferred embodiment, on a housing 20 facing inside an inner sealing area 36 and at one of the housing 20 outside facing an outer sealing area 37 exhibit. While the inner sealing area 36 with the opening edge 35 interacts, the outer sealing area acts 37 when installed with the connection pipe 33 together. The seal carrier 34 can a carrying bridge 38 along the housing opening 28 respectively. 29 is designed circumferentially. At this carrying bridge 38 is the seal 32 molded. Appropriately has the support bar 38 several breakthroughs 39 , which are penetrated by the sealing material during the injection process, so that the inner sealing area 36 through the breakthroughs 39 through to the outer sealing area 37 connected is. Thus, the two sealing areas 36 . 37 uniform material and coherent, so in one piece on the seal carrier 34 educated.

At the in 3 embodiment shown, the seal carrier 34 at least one level in the profile 40 on, its inner edge 41 from the seal 32 , here from the inner sealing area 36 is covered. The opening edge 35 then expediently has an outer edge 42 on that in the stage 40 engages and into the seal 32 , here in the inner sealing area 36 impresses and thus cooperates sealingly with it. In the example of 3 is the seal carrier 34 with respect to a parting plane 43 in which the case 20 and the respective pipe connection 33 abut each other, designed mirror-symmetrically, so that a further, unspecified step is provided with inner edge, the outer sealing area 37 is covered. Similar to the opening edge 35 also grips on the side of the connection pipe 33 an unspecified outer edge in the respective stage and thereby pushes into the outer sealing area 37 , In the example of 3 are the case 20 and the connection pipe 30 mounted on block, so that the two components in the parting plane 43 touch. These are the two components 20 . 33 in the area of the parting plane 43 each with a step 44 equipped, whereby a total of a radial groove is formed, in which the support web 38 of the seal carrier 34 intervenes.

At the in 4 the embodiment shown is the opening edge 35 in profile with a step 45 provided in the seal carrier 34 is used, such that the seal 32 axially with the step 45 seals. Again, the case 20 and the connection pipe 33 mounted on block, so that the two components in said parting plane 43 touch. Appropriately is now the connection pipe 33 equipped with such, unspecified level, which the stage 45 of the opening edge 35 added to a radially open groove into which the seal carrier 34 with the carrying bridge 38 protrudes.

The directional indication "axial" used in the present context refers to one in the 3 and 4 indicated by a double arrow axial direction 46 , by a direction of assembly also indicated by an arrow 47 is defined, in which the connecting pipe 33 to the housing 20 is recognized or in which the seal carrier 34 at the opening edge 35 is set. The direction "radial" then runs transversely to the axial direction 46 ,

To illustrate the manufacturing process of the seal carrier 34 is in 5 a pre-made seal carrier 34 shown before the seal 32 is injected. Recognizable are the level 40 and a multitude of breakthroughs 39 , After injection of the seal 32 results in the 6 shown condition. The breakthroughs 39 are now through the seal 32 or through the inner sealing area 36 covered. The seal carrier 34 may be suitably injection molded from plastic. By way of example only 7 an embodiment in which a geometrically simple seal carrier 34 is provided, which is made of metal. Clearly here are the two sealing areas 36 . 37 recognizable, the seal together 32 form.

In the in the 5 . 6 and 8th embodiment shown, the seal carrier 34 a flow guiding structure 48 on. The flow guiding structure 48 is on the seal carrier 34 arranged so that they are at the housing 20 attached seal carrier 34 in the second fluid path 26 protrudes and thereby outside the tube block 21 and inside the case 20 extends. During operation of the heat exchanger 19 creates the flow guiding structure 48 a Strömungsleitwirkung for the second fluid 27 , Preferably, the flow guiding structure 48 integral on the seal carrier 34 formed. This is particularly easy to realize when the seal carrier 34 is injection molded from a plastic.

At the in 2 embodiment shown, the housing 20 proximal to the second housing opening 29 the first fluid connection 30 for the second fluid through which the second fluid 27 according to the example in the housing 20 entry. The flow guiding structure 48 is at this, the second housing opening 29 associated seal carrier 34 positioned so that the flow guiding structure 48 in the mounted state in the region of this first fluid connection 30 is arranged.

In 8th is generally one of the openings 28 . 29 recognizable, the proximal one of the fluid ports 30 . 31 having. In this case, a configuration is preferred in which the flow-guiding structure 48 in the region of the inflow of the second fluid 27 is arranged. In principle, such a flow guiding structure 48 also in the region of a discharge of the second fluid 27 be arranged. At the in 8th the embodiment shown is the Strömungsleitstruktur 48 also with a flow divider 49 equipped in the operation of the heat exchanger 19 Ensures that a flow of the second fluid 27 is divided into at least two partial streams that the pipe block 21 then flow around on sides facing away from each other. The partial flows can then be within the housing 20 upstream of the outlet side port 31 reunite. In 2 is such a branching area with 50 while having an associated merge area with 51 is designated.

How the 5 . 6 and 8th can be seen, has the Strömungsleitstruktur 48 several wall sections 52 , which are parallel to walls of the housing 20 extend, and the breakthroughs 53 or window 53 contain. In the example, the frontal window 53 through the flow piers 59 divided. In the example of 5 and 6 is a connecting bridge 54 provided, the two opposite wall sections 52 connects with each other. The opposite wall sections 52 go through ramped transitions 55 in a round 56 over, stretching along an inner edge 57 of the seal carrier 34 extends. By the circulation 56 receives the seal carrier 34 a high dimensional stability and better mountability on the housing 20 ,

In the example of 8th is the first fluid connection 30 arranged on the same side of the housing as the second housing opening 29 , In addition, the first fluid connection goes 30 here by an open side directly into the interior of the housing 20 above. The flow divider 49 protrudes into this open side to a direct flow through this open side with the second fluid 27 to hinder. As a result, in particular a particularly strong cooling of the immediately adjacent tube 23 avoided the cooling performance of the second fluid 27 better on the entire tube block 21 to distribute.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 2385277 A1 [0005]
• DE 2447900 A1 [0006]
• DE 4242997 C1 [0007]
• DE 10100934 C1 [0008]
• DE 102004034824 A1 [0009]

Claims (11)

Heat exchanger for vehicle applications, - with a housing ( 20 ), which has a tube block ( 21 ), wherein - within the tube block ( 21 ) a first fluid path ( 24 ) for a first fluid ( 25 ) is formed, - outside of the tube block ( 21 ) and within the housing ( 20 ) a pipe block ( 21 ) rinsing second fluid path ( 26 ) for a second fluid ( 27 ) is formed, - wherein a housing opening ( 28 . 29 ) with a seal ( 31 ), the seal ( 32 ) to a seal carrier ( 34 ) molded onto one of the housing opening ( 28 . 29 ) enclosing opening edge ( 35 ) of the housing ( 20 ) is set. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal ( 32 ) on a housing ( 20 ) facing inside an inner sealing area ( 36 ), with the opening edge ( 35 ) and at one of the housing ( 20 ) outside an outer sealing area ( 37 ) having. Heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that the seal carrier ( 34 ) one along the housing opening ( 28 . 29 ) circumferential supporting bridge ( 38 ), to which the seal ( 32 ) is injection-molded, wherein the support bridge ( 38 ) several breakthroughs ( 39 ), through which the inner sealing region ( 36 ) with the outer sealing area ( 37 ) connected is. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that - the seal carrier ( 34 ) in the profile a level ( 40 ) whose inner edge ( 41 ) of the seal ( 32 ), - that the opening edge ( 35 ) an outer edge ( 42 ) entering the stage ( 40 ) and with the seal ( 32 ) cooperates. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the opening edge ( 35 ) in the profile a level ( 45 ), in which the seal carrier ( 34 ) is inserted, so that the seal ( 32 ) axially with the step ( 45 ) seals. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the seal carrier ( 34 ) a flow guide structure ( 48 ), which in the second fluid path ( 26 ) and during operation of the heat exchanger ( 19 ) a flow control for the second fluid ( 27 ) generated. Heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that the flow guiding structure ( 48 ) integral to the seal carrier ( 34 ) is formed. Heat exchanger according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the housing ( 20 ) proximal to the housing opening ( 28 . 29 ) one with the second fluid path ( 26 ) fluidically connected fluid connection ( 30 . 31 ) for the second fluid ( 27 ), wherein the flow guiding structure ( 48 ) in the region of this fluid connection ( 30 . 31 ) is arranged. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the Strömungsleitstruktur ( 48 ) a flow divider ( 49 ), which during operation of the heat exchanger ( 19 ) a stream of the second fluid ( 27 ) divides into at least two partial streams, which the tube block ( 21 ) flow around on opposite sides. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the heat exchanger ( 19 ) as intercooler ( 12 ) or used as an exhaust gas heat exchanger, such that the first fluid ( 26 ) is the charge air or exhaust gas to be cooled, while the second fluid ( 27 ) is a cooling coolant. Charged internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, - with a fresh air system ( 5 ) for supplying fresh air to combustion chambers ( 4 ) of the internal combustion engine ( 1 ), - with a charging device ( 8th ) for charging the fresh air, - with a charge air cooler ( 12 ) according to claim 10.

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