EP0777097B1 - A heat exchanger, in particular a radiator for a vehicle, provided with a strengthening structure - Google Patents

A heat exchanger, in particular a radiator for a vehicle, provided with a strengthening structure Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0777097B1
EP0777097B1 EP96117328A EP96117328A EP0777097B1 EP 0777097 B1 EP0777097 B1 EP 0777097B1 EP 96117328 A EP96117328 A EP 96117328A EP 96117328 A EP96117328 A EP 96117328A EP 0777097 B1 EP0777097 B1 EP 0777097B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stack
fins
connector element
heat exchanger
manifold
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96117328A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0777097A1 (en
Inventor
Mario Corsi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Denso Thermal Systems SpA
Original Assignee
Denso Thermal Systems SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Denso Thermal Systems SpA filed Critical Denso Thermal Systems SpA
Publication of EP0777097A1 publication Critical patent/EP0777097A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0777097B1 publication Critical patent/EP0777097B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
    • F28F9/001—Casings in the form of plate-like arrangements; Frames enclosing a heat exchange core

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a heat exchanger, in particular a radiator for the cooling system of a vehicle, defined in the preamble of Claim 1.
  • a heat exchanger is known from document FR-A-2 560 368.
  • Conventional heat exchangers of the aforesaid type generally include several rows of tubes of circular cross-section.
  • the tubes are fixed to the stack of fins by means of mechanical expansion without welding.
  • the ends of the tubes are fixed to a pair of base plates forming part of respective manifold assemblies situated at the ends of the stack of fins.
  • Heat exchangers of the mechanical assembly type have recently been developed having tubes of oblong transverse section (flat, oval, ovoid etc). These heat exchangers generally have a better performance than heat exchangers with circular-section tubes from the point of view of heat exchange. Thus, it has been found that heat exchangers having a single row of oblong-section tubes can provide the same performance as heat exchangers having a greater number of rows of circular-section tubes.
  • a heat exchanger having a single row of tubes is, however, more vulnerable from the point of view of mechanical strength.
  • An insufficiently rigid connection between the heat-exchange matrix and the manifold assembly could give rise to movement in the region of sealing at the ends of the tubes as a result of thermal stresses and vibrations which arise in use, such movements possibly leading to the loss of liquid.
  • EP-A-0 708 303 discloses a heat exchanger of the initially mentioned type, wherein the problem connected with said possible movements and leakages is solved by means of U-shaped strengthening connector elements made in one piece with the base plate of each manifold assembly. Such connector elements are adapted to strengthen the connection between base plate and the radiator pack, but have no influence on the connection between base plate and manifold casing.
  • FR-A-2 560 368 discloses a heat exchanger wherein U-shaped strengthening members embracing the radiator pack are moulded in one piece either with the manifold casing, or with the base plate (which in this latter case is also made of plastics).
  • the first solution is not easily applicable when the dimensions of the base plate exceed those of the fins of the radiator stack.
  • the second solution involves welding the manifold casing to the base plate.
  • a further different solution disclosed in FR-A-2 472 734, consists of gripping the entire minor sides of the radiator stack with U-shaped profiles having their ends welded to essentially U-shaped reinforcing members adapted to grip the end portions of the edges of the base plates.
  • FR-A-2 336 653 discloses solutions for connecting a radiator to the bearing structure of a motor-vehicle, wherein the upper and lower manifolds are provided with respective integral openings for the passage of connecting members.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an improved heat exchanger of the aforesaid type. This object is achieved according to the invention by a heat exchanger according to Claim 1.
  • the reference numeral 10 indicates a heat exchanger of the mechanical assembly type intended to be used as a radiator in the cooling system of a vehicle.
  • the radiator 10 includes a plurality of superposed metal fins forming a parallelepipedal structure, or stack, 12 having two major faces 14 and two minor faces 16.
  • a manifold assembly 18 which is formed in known manner from a base plate 20 and a manifold casing 22 is disposed at each end of the stack of fins 12.
  • a plurality of tubes (not visible in the drawings) is disposed between the end manifold assemblies 18. Each tube extends through a series of aligned holes in the fins and is fixed to the stack of fins 12 by mechanical expansion.
  • the heat exchanger 10 is of the so-called single-row type, having only one row of tubes, preferably of flat cross-section.
  • the ends of the tubes projecting from the stack of fins 12 are of circular cross-section and are sealed in collars formed in the base plate 20.
  • the tubes are fixed to the base plate 20 by mechanical expansion (expanding) of the ends of the tubes after they have been inserted in the sealing collars.
  • the heat exchanger according to the present invention is provided with a strengthening structure including four connector elements 24 disposed at the corners of the stack of fins 12.
  • Figure 3 illustrates a connector element 24 in an undeformed condition before it has been fixed to the stack of fins 12.
  • the element 24 is blanked from a metal sheet and has a flat lower part 26 with a width equal to the width of the minor face 16 of the stack of sheet-metal elements.
  • Two wings 28 extend from the sides of the flat lower part 26 and are intended to be folded along the broken lines 30 in order to grip the stack of fins 12.
  • An integral appendage 32 provided with a pair of lateral arms 34 projects from the lower part 26.
  • the connector element 24 is fixed to the stack of fins 12 in such a way that the wings 28 grip the major faces 14 of the stack of fins 12 while the lower part 26 bears against the minor face 16 immediately next to the manifold assembly 18.
  • the appendage 32 of the connector element 24 engages an opening 36 formed by a U-shaped element 38 which projects from the minor side of the manifold casing 22.
  • the manifold casing 22 is injection moulded from plastics material so that the U-shaped element 38 defining the opening 36 may be formed integrally with the manifold casing 22 during moulding.
  • the width of the engagement projection 32 is substantially equal to the width of the opening 36.
  • the connector element 24 is engaged with the manifold casing 22 by the simple insertion of the appendage 32 in the opening 36.
  • Figure 2a illustrates a variant in which the opening 36 is replaced by two bracket elements 33 and 35 projecting from the body of the manifold casing 22 and integral therewith.
  • the appendage 32 of the connector element 24 engages the internal surfaces of the two elements 33 and 35 as in the case described above.
  • each connector element 24 forms a retainer which impedes any movement of the manifold 18 relative to the stack of fins 12 in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow 40 in Figure 2. This engagement makes the connection between the manifold assembly 18 and the stack of fins 12 significantly more rigid and prevents mechanical and thermal stresses which affect the heat exchanger in use from loosening the contact in the sealed region at the ends of the tubes.
  • connection between each connector element 24 and the manifold assembly 18 is further reinforced by the bending of the ends of the arms 34 against the major sides of the base plate 20.
  • Figures 4 and 5 illustrate two embodiments of the system for fixing the connector element 24 to the stack of fins 12.
  • the interconnecting element 24 has wings 28 which extend over the major faces 14 so as to cover the space between the pair of tubes closest to the edge of the stack of fins 12.
  • the wings 28 are folded against the major faces 14 and are connected to each other by a rivet 42 which passes through a transverse hole 44 formed in the space between the pair of tubes 46 in the stack of fins 12.
  • the connector element 24 is fixed to the stack of fins 12 by seaming, that is by bending back the wings 28 until they engage respective channels 48 formed in the stack of fins 12, parallel to the minor faces 16 and in the immediate vicinity thereof.
  • the channels 48 are frequently also provided in conventional heat exchangers and serve as anchorage points for flanges and the like which attach the radiator to the vehicle or to the duct of the electric fan. Therefore, in the fixing system shown in Figure 5, the channels 48 serve as anchorage surfaces both for the means for fixing the radiator and for the connector elements 24.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
  • Details Of Heat-Exchange And Heat-Transfer (AREA)
  • Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
EP96117328A 1995-11-02 1996-10-29 A heat exchanger, in particular a radiator for a vehicle, provided with a strengthening structure Expired - Lifetime EP0777097B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT95TO000877A IT1281005B1 (it) 1995-11-02 1995-11-02 Scambiatore di calore, in particolare radiatore per veicoli, munito di una struttura di irrigidimento
ITTO950877 1995-11-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0777097A1 EP0777097A1 (en) 1997-06-04
EP0777097B1 true EP0777097B1 (en) 2002-12-04

Family

ID=11413930

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96117328A Expired - Lifetime EP0777097B1 (en) 1995-11-02 1996-10-29 A heat exchanger, in particular a radiator for a vehicle, provided with a strengthening structure

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0777097B1 (2)
DE (1) DE69625162T2 (2)
ES (1) ES2185734T3 (2)
IT (1) IT1281005B1 (2)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19824659A1 (de) * 1998-06-03 1999-12-09 Behr Gmbh & Co Wärmeübertrager, insbesondere Kühler für Kraftfahrzeuge
FR2805606B1 (fr) 2000-02-24 2002-07-05 Valeo Thermique Moteur Sa Boite collectrice a tubulure integree pour echangeur de chaleur
DE102014219210A1 (de) * 2014-09-22 2016-03-24 Mahle International Gmbh Wärmeübertrager

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2254771B1 (2) * 1973-12-13 1976-11-19 Chausson Usines Sa
DE2558895C3 (de) * 1975-12-27 1986-07-10 Süddeutsche Kühlerfabrik Julius Fr. Behr GmbH & Co KG, 7000 Stuttgart Kühler für Fahrzeuge
DE2952724C2 (de) * 1979-12-29 1984-05-17 Süddeutsche Kühlerfabrik Julius Fr. Behr GmbH & Co KG, 7000 Stuttgart Wärmetauscher
DE3214453A1 (de) * 1982-04-20 1983-10-20 Süddeutsche Kühlerfabrik Julius Fr. Behr GmbH & Co KG, 7000 Stuttgart Waermetauscher, insbesondere kuehler fuer kraftfahrzeuge
FR2560368B1 (fr) * 1984-02-27 1989-05-05 Valeo Echangeur de chaleur, en particulier pour vehicule automobile, a liaison rigide entre un faisceau de tubes et un ensemble collecteur-boite a eau
FR2690230B1 (fr) * 1992-04-21 1994-06-03 Valeo Thermique Moteur Sa Echangeur de chaleur comportant un faisceau de tubes a ailettes immobilise par rapport a un ensemble collecteur-boite a eau.
FR2726075B1 (fr) * 1994-10-19 1996-12-13 Valeo Thermique Moteur Sa Echangeur de chaleur a faisceau de tubes et a collecteur metallique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2185734T3 (es) 2003-05-01
ITTO950877A0 (2) 1995-11-02
IT1281005B1 (it) 1998-02-11
EP0777097A1 (en) 1997-06-04
DE69625162D1 (de) 2003-01-16
DE69625162T2 (de) 2003-08-28
ITTO950877A1 (it) 1997-05-02

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