EP0775884B1 - Heat exchanger and process for manufacturing same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a heat exchanger according to the preamble of claim 1, a A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger and an arrangement of a first Heat exchanger to a second.

It is known that a heat exchanger from a tube package of rectangular or flat oval tubes, wherein between the tubes ribs are arranged. To the opposite tube ends, the tubes are in a tube plate or tube frame bordered. In the longitudinal direction, this tube plate has an expansive edge U-shaped collar for receiving the hood-shaped collecting container. After this the pipe ends have been connected to the tube sheet, the collecting container with put his thighs on the U-shaped collar of the tube bottom and with this crimped. A disadvantage of the known heat exchanger that due to the sweeping Forming the tube plate of the heat exchanger increased space requirements requires.

From DE-OS 26 11 397 a heat exchanger is known in which the parallel extending tubes in the pipe ends each with connecting surfaces abut each other and are welded. A disadvantage of the known heat exchanger However, daá the pipe ends are enclosed in a frame that protrudes edge. The Training of the known heat exchanger can not therefore reduce the Space offer same lead.

JP -A- 63-169 497 discloses a heat exchanger in which the narrow sides of Pipe ends are arranged side by side and in these openings for fluid flow are provided.

The present invention is therefore based on the problem, a heat exchanger, and an arrangement of heat exchangers and a method for producing a Specify heat exchanger so that heat exchanger in a simple way and can be inexpensively manufactured in a small footprint.

To solve the problem, the invention has the features of claim 1, the Claim 14 and of claim 18.

According to the invention, the tubes are widened at the tube ends such that on the one hand long connecting surfaces are formed for connecting the tube ends with adjacent tube ends and on the other hand short connecting surfaces are formed for connection to a collecting container placed in the end regions of the tubes. The expansion of the pipe end is perpendicular to the longitudinal side of the tube, wherein perpendicular to the narrow side of the tube, a narrowing occurs. Due to the widening of the tube perpendicular to the longitudinal side of the tube, a direct contact of the long connecting surfaces of a pipe end with a connecting surface of an adjacent pipe end is made possible. The provision of a tube plate can therefore be omitted. Furthermore, the collecting container can be connected to the tube block directly on the outside connecting surfaces, in particular on the short connecting surfaces, which extend while reducing the spatial extent of the tube perpendicular to the narrow side in the transverse direction of the tube. As a result, a substantial reduction in the space requirement of the heat exchanger is achieved in its depth. In addition, can be omitted by the immediate investment of the collector to the short connecting surfaces a tubular frame, so that material is saved.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the narrowing on the narrow sides of the tube is dimensioned such that it is greater than or equal to the leg thickness of the collecting container. This ensures that the heat exchanger is not formed in its total depth greater than the tube block depth.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tubes, the ribs and the collecting container made of a single-grade metal material, so that the heat exchanger is easily recyclable. Advantageously, the tubes, the ribs and the aluminum alloy storage container to the largest possible To achieve weight reduction.

With the inventive method for producing the heat exchanger is especially the advantage that the number of manufacturing steps are reduced can. After expansion of the pipe ends is made of pipes and ribs Pipe package spent together with the attached collecting container in a soldering oven, in which the parts to be joined are soldered simultaneously in one work step.

Further embodiments of the invention are in the further subclaims specified.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

eine Vorderansicht eines Wärmetauschers nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

einen vergrößerten Teilausschnitt des Bereichs II in Fig. 1 in einer Seitenansicht einer Reihe von Rohren in einem Endbereich mit zwei Rohrenden in Schnittdarstellung;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf das Rohrende;

Fig. 4

einen Teilschnitt des Wärmetauschers längs der Linie IV-IV der Fig. 6 mit einem U-förmigen Sammelbehälter in einem Endbereich;

Fig. 5

einen Teilschnitt des Wärmetauschers längs der Linie V-V der Fig. 7 mit einem zylinderförmigen Sammelbehälter in einem Endbereich;

Fig. 6

einen Teilschnitt eines Wärmetauschers entlang der Linie VI-VI der Fig. 1 mit einem U-förmigen Sammelbehälter;

Fig. 7

einen Teilschnitt einer Draufsicht auf einen Wärmetauscher mit einem zylinderförmigen Sammelbehälter;

Fig. 8

einen Teilschnitt einer Draufsicht auf eine Anordnung zweier benachbarter Wärmetauscher nach einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 9

einen Teilschnitt einer Draufsicht auf eine Anordnung zweier benachbarter Wärmetauscher nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel und

Fig. 10

einen Teilschnitt einer Draufsicht eines Wärmetauschers mit einem weiteren U-förmigen Sammelbehälter.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a front view of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

Fig. 2

an enlarged partial section of the area II in Figure 1 in a side view of a series of tubes in an end region with two pipe ends in section.

Fig. 3

a plan view of the pipe end;

Fig. 4

a partial section of the heat exchanger along the line IV-IV of Figure 6 with a U-shaped receptacle in an end region.

Fig. 5

a partial section of the heat exchanger along the line VV of Figure 7 with a cylindrical collecting container in an end region.

Fig. 6

a partial section of a heat exchanger along the line VI-VI of Figure 1 with a U-shaped collecting container.

Fig. 7

a partial section of a plan view of a heat exchanger with a cylindrical collecting container;

Fig. 8

a partial section of a plan view of an arrangement of two adjacent heat exchanger according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 9

a partial section of a plan view of an arrangement of two adjacent heat exchanger according to a second embodiment and

Fig. 10

a partial section of a top view of a heat exchanger with another U-shaped collecting container.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a heat exchanger 10 with parallel tubes 11 which extend from a sump 12 to an opposite sump 13, which can be used in automotive technology for engine cooling. Side parts 8 delimit the heat exchanger 10 in the vertical direction and are each end connected to the collecting containers 12 and 13. The collecting container 12 has, in one end region, a supply nozzle 6 for feeding a medium to be cooled into the collecting container 12. The medium to be cooled is distributed in the collecting container 12 and is passed via the tubes 11 to the second collecting container 13, from which it is led out via a discharge nozzle 7 from the collecting container 13.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 , the tubes 11 are formed as flat-oval or rectangular tubes in cross-section with opposite longitudinal sides 14 and narrow sides 15 arranged laterally. In one end region, the tube ends 16 are widened perpendicular to the longitudinal side 14. The longitudinal sides 14 of the tube 11 extend over conical long transition surfaces 17 to long connecting surfaces 18 of the pipe end 16. The narrow sides 15 of the tube 11 narrow in the direction of the pipe end 16 via a short transition surface 19, which is tapered in the direction of a central axis 20 of the Tube 11 extends to a short connection surface 22. The tubes 11 are arranged in a row, wherein between the tubes 11 air-guiding corrugated fins 21 are arranged. While the longitudinal sides 14 are widened to a long connecting surface 18, the narrow sides 15 are narrowed to a short connecting surface 22. As can be seen from Fig. 3 , the tube end 16 is rectangular in cross section, in the form of parallel, opposite long connecting surface 18 and arranged at right angles thereto, opposite short connecting surface 22. The expansion takes place such that the circumferential length of the pipe end 16th along the long and short connecting surfaces 18 and 22 equal to the peripheral surface of the tube 11 in the region of the longitudinal and narrow sides 14 and 15, so that the thickness of the long and short connecting surfaces 18 and 22 equal to the thickness of the longitudinal and narrow sides 14 and 15th is. An increase in surface area of the tube 11 at the tube ends 16 does not take place.

As can be seen from Fig. 2 , the long connecting surfaces 18 abut against the long connecting surfaces 18 of adjacent pipe ends 16 and are connected thereto by soldering. The inclination of the cone-shaped long transition surfaces 17 is determined by the width of the corrugated fins 21. The greater the depth of the Wellrippem 21, the greater must be the angle of the long transition surfaces 17 with respect to the central axis 20, so that the adjacent long connecting surfaces 18 may be adjacent.

According to a first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 6 , a U-shaped collecting container 23 having a flat limb 24 and a curved limb 25 is placed on the tube ends 16. The leg ends 26 and 27 abut against the short connection surfaces 22 and are soldered thereto. End side, the leg ends 26, 27 fitted in a form-fitting manner in provided grooves of the side part 8 and are connected to these simultaneously by soldering. Characterized in that the short connecting surfaces 22 are arranged in the direction of the central axis 20 compared to the narrow sides 15, wherein the distance reduction to the central axis 20 is at least equal to or greater than the thickness of the leg ends 26, 27, the collecting container 23 is in the lateral direction of the tubes 11 not over. The lateral extent of the sump 23 is thus equal to or less than the transverse extent of the tubes 11. Thus, a significant reduction in space requirements of the heat exchanger 10 is ensured, the space required only by the depth of the tube 11 (distance of the narrow sides 15 to the opposite narrow side 15) is determined. On the flat leg 24 of the collecting container 23 of the feed nozzle 6 is attached for supplying a medium to be cooled.

Advantageously, the collecting container 23 by extruding a Blocks made into a U-shaped profile. Furthermore can the collecting container 23 also by rolling and subsequent bending, be formed in particular by deep drawing. It is on it to ensure that by planting a suitable tool in lateral Direction, namely the short connecting surfaces 22 the same are arranged perpendicular to the long connecting surfaces 17, so that the edge between short connection surface 22 and long connection surface 17 has a small radius. This will be the education prevents a gap or gap, so that the leg ends 26, 27 of the collecting container 23 with the short connecting surfaces 22 of the tube block connected by sealing soldering are.

Alternatively, the collecting container may be formed as a cylindrical collecting container 29 according to a second embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 7 . This collecting container 29 is preferably produced by deep drawing. Parallel collars 30 and 31 form a recess of the collecting container 29, in which the tube package is applied to the inner sides of the collars 30 and 31 while bearing the short connecting surfaces 22. Depending on the application, the end faces of the collecting container 29 are sealingly connected to a lateral surface 32 of the collecting container 29. For the supply and discharge of a medium to be cooled, the collecting container 29 may have an axial recess in the region of an end face for abutment of a nozzle, not shown. The collecting container 29 comprises with its end faces the voltage applied to the outer long connecting surface 18 side part 9 and is with this connected by soldering. By embracing the tube package on the one hand and the side part 9 on the other hand, a fitting fit of the tube package is achieved with opposite side panels 9 in a simple manner, so that thereafter, the connection of these components can be realized together in one operation.

Preferably consist of the corrugated fins 21 and the tubes 11th composite tube package and the collection container 12, 13, 23, 29 from a varietal metal material. The recyclability of the Heat exchanger 10 is facilitated. As a preferred material an aluminum alloy is used for these components, a weight reduction of the heat exchanger 10, in particular when used in the automotive industry, allows. Next to it is the Use of other recyclable materials possible. It can too Materials of copper or steel for the pipes and plastic for the collecting container are used, wherein the tubes or the tube package glued to the collection container.

The following is the method of manufacturing the heat exchanger 10 is shown. After the for connection to the pipes 11 provided collecting container 12, 13, 23 and 29 different shape have been accurately formed by deep-drawing or extrusion, is the tube block with the expanded pipe ends 16 in the space provided Recesses of the sump 23 and 29 used. After that At the same time the pipe ends 16 at the long connecting surfaces 18 with each other and the pipe ends 16 at the short connecting surfaces 19 connected to the sump 23 or 29. These Connection is preferably by soldering, at least the previously sprayed with a flux have been. Preferably, this flux is non-corrosive. to However, other parts are also suitable for connecting the relevant parts Soldering methods included in this invention.

Advantageously, the heat exchanger 10 with a second, connect immediately adjacent heat exchanger 28. This Heat exchanger 28 may, for example, a condenser of an air conditioner or a charge air cooler. The heat exchanger 10 can either with a U-shaped collection container 23 or a cylindrical Be performed collecting tank 29.

According to a first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 8 , the first heat exchanger 10 is connected to the second heat exchanger 28 via a connecting element 5. The connecting element 5 is U-shaped, wherein a first leg 33 engages in a groove 34 of the heat exchanger 10 and a second leg 35 of the connecting element 5 fits into a groove 36 of the heat exchanger 28. The connection of the legs 33 and 35 with the heat exchanger 10, and 28 is carried out by soldering, which can be carried out simultaneously with the soldering of the tube package within the heat exchanger 10. Preferably, the sump 23 of the heat exchanger 10 is integrally connected to a sump 37 of the heat exchanger 31 via a web 38. As a result, the mechanical stability of the arrangement consisting of the heat exchanger 10 and the heat exchanger 31 is increased.

According to a further embodiment according to FIG. 9 , the heat exchanger 10 is integrally connected to a U-shaped connecting element 39, the leg 40 of which comprises a protruding lug 41 of an adjacent heat exchanger 42. The heat exchanger 42 has a further arcuate nose 43 which rests on an attachment piece 44 of the collecting container 23. The lugs 41 and 43 of the heat exchanger 42 are connected to the leg 40 and the extension piece 44 of the heat exchanger 10 by soldering, wherein this soldering occurs simultaneously with the soldering to form the heat exchanger 10. Preferably, the extension piece 44 has a recess 45 which serves, after connection of the heat exchanger set formed by the heat exchanger 10 and the heat exchanger 42 in a leak test to locate a possible leak easier.

Preferably, the heat exchangers 28 and 42 are made of an aluminum alloy, where at least the points to be connected with a nonkorrisiven flux are provided. Thus, on easy In a single step, the combination of a first heat exchanger 10 with a heat exchanger 28 or 42 getting produced.

According to a further embodiment of the heat exchanger according to FIG. 10 , a U-shaped collecting container 47 is connected to the tube packet in each case in the lateral region via a likewise U-shaped extension piece 48. The collecting container 47 may be formed as a die-cast material or plastic part. In the region of the pipe end 16, the extension piece 48 is placed with a short leg 49 on the short connection surfaces 22 and connected thereto by soldering. A long leg 50 of the extension piece 48 extends parallel to the narrow side 15 of the tube 11, wherein the distance between the outer contours of the long and short leg 49, 50 is less than or equal to the distance between the short connection surface 22 and an imaginary extension of the narrow side 15 , To connect the collecting container 47 with the extension piece 48, a continuous sealing ring 51 is inserted into the groove formed by the extension piece 48 and then the collection container 47 with its two legs 52, 53 pressed onto the sealing ring 51 and by crimping with the long legs 50 of Endpiece 48 firmly connected to the same. The legs 52, 53 have leg ends 54 and 55, which are inserted in alignment with the groove of the extension piece 48 in this. In this case, an inner side of the leg ends 54, 55 on the short leg 49 of the extension piece 48 and an outer side of the leg ends 54, 55 on the long leg 50 of the extension piece 48 at. The flat bottom side of the leg ends 54, 55 are pressed onto the sealing ring 51 and held in the groove by subsequent crimping, so that a secure tightness of the collecting container 47 is ensured. The crimping of the collecting container 47 is effected by a tool acting on the outer side of the long legs 50 of the extension piece 48, wherein in places the long leg 50 is pressed to form a crimping edge 56 inwardly. According to this embodiment, a space-saving heat exchanger is realized in a simple manner, wherein a collecting container 47 engages with its ends 54, 55 in a groove of an end piece 48 connected to the tube package.

Claims (20)

1. Heat exchanger, in particular water-to-air cooler, with a plurality of parallel tubes (11) rectangular or flat oval in cross-section with a side wall (14) and a narrow side (15), which extend in the longitudinal direction from a first receiver tank (12) to a second receiver tank (13), and with fins (corrugated fins 21) adjacent to the tubes (11), whereby the tubes (11) are, at the tube ends (16), so expanded in a direction at right angles to the side wall (14) that at least a first side of the tube end (16) forms a first connecting surface (17) and at least a second side of the tube end (16) forms a second connecting surface (22), characterised in that the first connecting surface is a long connecting surface and the second connecting surface is a short connecting surface, in that the first connecting surface is adjacent to and connected to an adjacent tube end, and in that the second connecting surface is adjacent and connected to the receiver tank, whereby the expansion of the tube ends is so designed that the circumferential dimension of the tube end (16) along the long and short connecting surfaces (18 and 22) is equal to the circumferential dimension of the tube (11) in the region of the side walls and narrow sides (14 and 15), so that the wall thickness of the sides of the long and short connecting surfaces (18 and 22) is equal to the wall thickness of the side walls and narrow sides (14 and 15).
2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterised in that the tube ends (16) are rectangular in cross-section, whereby the parallel long connecting surfaces (18) are immediately connected to the adjacent long connecting surfaces (18) of the adjacent tube end (16), and whereby each parallel short connecting surface (22) is immediately connected to a leg (24, 25) of the receiver tank (12, 13, 23, 29).
3. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tubes (11) are, at the tube ends (16), narrowed in a direction at right angles to the narrow side (15), so that the distance between opposite short connecting surfaces (22) of the tube end (16) is smaller than the distance between opposite narrow sides (15) of the tube (11).
4. Heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterised in that the tubes (11) are, at the tube ends (16), so narrowed in a direction at right angles to the narrow side (15) that the distance between the external contours of the leg ends (26, 27) supported on the short connecting surfaces (22) is equal to or smaller than the distance between the narrow sides ( 15) of the tube (11).
5. Heat exchanger according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the tube end (16) has a conical transition region, whereby a long transition surface (17) extends from the side wall (14) of the tube (11) conically outwards towards the long connecting surface (18) of the tube end (16) and a short transition surface (19) extends from the narrow side (15) conically inwards in the direction of the longitudinal central axis (central axis 20) towards the short connecting surface (22) of the tube end (16).
6. Heat exchanger according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the tube ends (16) are so connected to one another at the long connecting surfaces (18) that the short connecting surfaces (22) are flush with the adjacent short connecting surfaces (22).
7. Heat exchanger according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the long connecting surfaces (18) are joined to the long connecting surfaces (18) of the adjacent tube end (16) by soldering.
8. Heat exchanger according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the short connecting surfaces (22) are joined to the leg ends (26, 27) or the collars (30, 31) of the receiver tank (12, 13, 23) or the receiver tank (29) by soldering.
9. Heat exchanger according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the tubes (11), the fins (corrugated fins 21) and the receiver tanks (12, 13, 23, 29) are made of a homogeneous metallic material.
10. Heat exchanger according to claim 9, characterised in that (11), the fins (corrugated fins 21) and the receiver tanks (12, 13, 23, 29) consist of an aluminium alloy.
11. Heat exchanger according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the receiver tank (29) is cylindrical in design, with opposite end faces and a circumferential surface (32), whereby the circumferential surface (32) is provided with two opposite parallel collars (30, 31) for contact with and connection to the short connecting surfaces (22) of the tube end (16).
12. Heat exchanger according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the receiver tank (23) is designed as a U-section with a straight leg (24) and a curved leg (25), whereby the legs (24, 25) have parallel leg ends (26, 27) in the end region for contact with and connection to the short connecting surfaces (22) of the tube ends (16).
13. Method for the production of a heat exchanger according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the tube ends (16) are so expanded at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the tubes (11) that the tube ends (16) are rectangular in cross-section, and in that the pre-formed receiver tank (12, 13, 23, 29) is mounted on the tube assembly comprising the parallel tubes (11) and the fins (corrugated fins 21) adjacent to the tubes (11) with contact of the leg ends (26, 27), whereupon the long connecting surfaces (18) of the adjacent tube ends (16) and the short connecting surfaces (22) are simultaneously soldered to the leg ends (26, 27) or the collars (30, 31) of the receiver tank (12, 13, 23) or the receiver tank (29), whereby one connecting surface is a long connecting surface and one connecting surface is a short connecting surface, whereby the tube ends (16) are so expanded that the circumferential dimension of the tube end (16) along the long and short connecting surfaces (18 and 22) is equal to the circumferential dimension of the tube (11) in the region of the side walls and narrow sides (14 and 15), so that the wall thickness of the sides of the long and short connecting surfaces (18 and 22) is equal to the wall thickness of the side walls and narrow sides (14 and 15).
14. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that at least the parts to be joined (long connecting surface 18, short connecting surface 22; leg ends 26, 27; collars 30, 31 ) are provided with a non-corrosive flux, so that they are exclusively soldered together by means of heat input.
15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that a sheet metal blank is converted into a cylindrical receiver tank (29) by deep drawing.
16. Method according to claim 13, characterised in that a metallic material is extruded to provide a U-section for the U-shaped receiver tank (23).
17. Arrangement of a first heat exchanger according to any of claims 1 to 12 in relation to a second heat exchanger, characterised in that a first heat exchanger (10) is connected to a second heat exchanger (2 8, 42), whereby a connecting element (5, 39) extends from the receiver tank (23) of the first heat exchanger (10) to an adjacent receiver tank (37) of the second heat exchanger (28, 42).
18. Arrangement according to claim 17, characterised in that the connecting element (5) is U-shaped, engaging a long groove (34) of the first receiver tank (23) with one leg (33) and a long groove (36) of the second receiver tank (37) with the other leg (35).
19. Arrangement according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that the first receiver tank (23) is connected to the second receiver tank (37) by a web (38), thus forming a single-piece assembly.
20. Arrangement according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that the first receiver tank (23) is connected to a connecting element (39) to form a single-piece assembly, and in that the connecting element (39) is supported by a curved leg (40) on a protruding nose (41) of the second receiver tank and is joined thereto by soldering.

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