EP1819458A1

EP1819458A1 - Method for the production of a heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: EP1819458A1
Application number: EP05850232A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Holger Auchter; Hans-Peter Heuss; Bruno Lösch
Original assignee: Behr GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Mahle Behr GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2004-12-03
Filing date: 2005-12-05
Publication date: 2007-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-05
Also published as: WO2006058792A1; US20080121388A1; DE502005011008D1; US9089890B2; ATE499163T1; EP1819458B1; JP2008522131A

Abstract

A method for the production of a receiving device for the flow tubes of a heat exchanger with openings for receiving the flow tubes. One opening is at least partially produced by a first forming method and at least partially by a second forming method that is different from the first.

Description

Method for producing a heat exchanger

description

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger. The method will be described in relation to a heat exchanger used in automobiles, for example, in air conditioning systems of a motor vehicle and the like. However, the method can also be applied to other heat exchangers.

Such heat exchangers usually have a plurality of flow tubes, through which a refrigerant is passed. These flow tubes open into tubesheets, which are usually arranged at the ends of the tubes.

For this purpose, the tubesheets have openings through which the flow tubes are pushed or pushed. For the production of these openings, which are also referred to below as passages, several production methods are known from the prior art. Thus, these passages can be produced by punching, or by tear methods, such as tearing or the like.

While the opening is created by a shearing process during punching, the material to be processed is stretched and torn apart during a tearing process.

The advantages of a stamping method are that the production is relatively simple, the opening or the passage thus produced has a high degree of accuracy and any sectional shape geometry can be produced. Used as a adjusting method used the tearing from the full sheet metal, so in this way funnel-shaped chamfers of the passage can be generated and thus facilitated assembly and soldering processes can be achieved. In addition, in this case, in the contact or connection region between the flow-through tube and the passage, a solder coating results when using solder-coated starting sheets.

Finally, there is a possible larger contact bearing surface between the flow tubes and the passages or openings than in the case of punched passages, since the latter can correspond at most to the sheet thickness of the bottom or of the collector.

The object of the invention is to utilize the advantages of both methods in the production. This is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of claim 1.

In the method according to the invention for producing a flow tube receiving means of a heat exchanger having openings for receiving the flow tubes, at least one opening is partially formed by a first molding process and at least partially by a second molding process different from the first molding process.

A shaping process is understood to mean all processes which are suitable for giving a basic shape, such as, for example, a bottom plate, a predetermined shape, such as, for example, creating an opening or passage in the base material.

A receiving device is understood to mean a device which receives at least one region of the flow tubes, for example its end regions, which are inserted into the openings of the receiving device. The first shaping method is preferably a stamping method, and the second molding method is preferably a stamping method.

In this case, as described above, a punching process is understood to mean a process in which the production of the opening is achieved by a shearing process. A tearing process is understood to mean a process in which the opening is achieved at least temporarily by pulling or tearing.

By at least partially forming the opening by the one and the other methods, it is understood that certain areas of the opening are formed by the one shaping method, such as stamping, and other areas of the opening by the further shaping method, that is, in particular, tearing, be achieved.

Another possibility is to apply both shaping methods to predetermined regions of the opening to be produced.

In this case, those areas of the openings, which have particularly complex sectional shapes, such as central areas with a very small width, generated by the punching process, while other areas are generated by the tearing process.

Preferably, the first molding process and the second molding process are substantially simultaneous. It is possible to carry out the two methods in a single operation.

Preferably, it is also possible that the first shaping process and the second shaping process take place in separate process steps. It is possible that is first punched and then a tear process is applied; However, it is also possible that first the tearing method is applied and then a punching operation is performed. The present invention is further directed to a method for producing a heat exchanger, wherein in a method step in the manufacture of a receiving device according to a method described above, and then the flow tubes are at least partially connected to the receiving device by means of a connecting means.

The connecting means are preferably solder or the like. It is possible that the connecting means is applied after the production of the passage. However, it is preferably also possible to initially use solder-coated sheets. In this case, by the method described above, in particular the tearing process, lotbeschichtete edges. These edges or collars arise in particular but not exclusively in the form of insertion bevels, through which the assembly and / or soldering processes are facilitated.

In addition, as mentioned above, increased by the collar, the contact area between the passages and the flow tubes, which also simplifies the production, in particular the soldering processes and causes a higher tightness of the end products.

Furthermore, the invention is directed to a receiving device for flow tubes of a heat exchanger, which has a plurality of openings which are suitable for receiving the flow tubes, wherein the openings are arranged substantially in a predetermined main plane of the receiving device and have a predetermined circumference. According to the invention, the openings have, in at least one region of the circumference, an edge which protrudes from the main plane and, in at least a region of the circumference, do not project substantially out of the main plane.

Under an edge is here - in particular, but not exclusively - a collar, which is arranged around the circumference, understood.

The main plane is understood to be a geometric plane in which the individual openings are arranged. In one embodiment, the plane may be formed, for example, by the sheet to be processed itself. It is However, also possible that the tubesheet has a ground plane, which is laterally offset from the main plane in which the openings are arranged.

In areas that do not substantially protrude from the main plane, in the following area without edges or collar understood. In this case, "without borders" or "without a collar" does not necessarily mean that no elevations may be present in relation to the main plane.

In a further preferred embodiment, the edges are substantially in the direction of the ends of the flow tubes out of the main plane. This means that the flow tubes are pushed through the openings, and the edges in the same direction in which the flow tubes are pushed through the openings, protrude from the main plane.

However, the edges may also extend as mentioned above obliquely relative to the main plane and form chamfers, which facilitate the assembly, in particular the connection with the flow tubes.

In a further preferred embodiment, the edges protrude substantially perpendicularly out of the main plane. The edges protrude between 0.3 mm and 3 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 2 mm and, more preferably, between 0.5 mm and 1 mm out of the plane. This protrusion is determined by the width of the opening to be generated.

In a further preferred embodiment, the openings have an elongated shape. By "elongated" is meant that the opening has a predetermined length and compared to this length has a significantly reduced width. The reason for this is that the flow tubes are usually flat tubes whose ends also have an elongated cross-section.

In a further preferred embodiment, the openings in their end regions do not protrude substantially out of the main plane. This means that, for example, a gap or the like is provided or results in the end region. In a further preferred embodiment, the openings have a central area with a reduced width. Through this middle region, the middle portions of the flow tubes are pushed through. These middle regions are narrowed in width in order to divide the flow tube into two regions, in which preferably different flow directions are present.

Preferably, the openings in the central regions do not protrude substantially out of the main plane. This means that there are no edges or collars in the middle area.

The reason for this is that the center regions have a reduced width and therefore the production is carried out by a more precise method, in particular, but not exclusively stamping, which produces substantially no edges.

In a further preferred embodiment, the main plane is arranged offset substantially parallel to the bottom plane of the receiving device. In this case, the main plane is preferably arranged closer to the bottom of the flow tubes with respect to the bottom plane. This means that the flow tubes geometrically protrude through both the ground plane, as well as through the main plane.

The invention is further directed to an apparatus for exchanging heat, comprising a plurality of flow tubes suitable for transporting a refrigerant, wherein at least one end portion of the flow tubes, a receiving device of the type described above is arranged. Preferably, a receiving device of the type described above is arranged at the two end portions of the respective flow tubes. In this case, the device preferably has a dividing wall, which is arranged perpendicular to the passages, whereby a subdivision into two flow areas is effected.

In a further preferred embodiment, the separating device, in particular the dividing wall, is substantially parallel to the passage openings aligned. Preferably, the separating device is arranged in a receiving portion having guide surfaces for holding the separating device.

Further advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings.

1 shows a perspective view of a receiving device according to the invention in detail,

2 is a perspective view of the ground device according to the invention in a further embodiment,

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the further embodiment of the bottom device according to the invention;

4 shows a further illustration of the ground device according to the invention according to FIG. 2, FIG.

5 shows a rear view of a further embodiment of the ground device according to the invention according to FIG. 2,

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the device according to the invention for exchanging heat

7 is an illustration of the device of FIG. 6,

8 shows a cross section of the bottom device of FIG. 6 transverse to the dividing wall along a partition wall slot, FIG.

9 is a cross-section of the bottom device of FIG. 6 across the unslit partition, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the floor device according to the invention in a further embodiment,

11 shows a rear view of the further embodiment of the floor device according to the invention;

Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the further embodiment of the device according to the invention for exchanging heat

13 is an exploded view of the further embodiment of the device according to the invention for exchanging heat in a rear view,

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the further embodiment of the device for exchanging heat, and

15 shows a cross section through the bottom device of the device according to FIG. 14.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 refers to a receptacle or tube sheet according to the present invention. This has two side edges 3a and 3b, which serve for connection to a further device, such as a lid. For this purpose, the side edges may have inclined portions 4a and 4b which serve to engage with a lid.

The tube sheet has a thickness d which is between 0.2 and 3 mm, preferably between 0.5 and 2 mm and particularly preferably in the range of 0.5 to 1 mm. In the tube sheet a plurality of openings 6 is provided. These openings have an elongated shape and lie together in a main plane H. As a result of the production method according to the invention, which results from a combination of a stamping method and a drawing method, margins or collars 8 and at other regions 7 do not arise in the peripheral region of the openings 6 at a region of the circumference.

The main plane H is shown in Fig. 1 by the two dashed lines. In this plane lie the respective openings 6, more precisely the peripheral edges of the openings 6 in the regions 7 in which there are no collars. Also, in Fig. 1, a partition wall 21, which will be explained later, is substantially perpendicular to the main plane H.

The transition between the edges 8 and the areas 7 without edges is shown here in steps. However, the transition can also be made continuously or mathematically differentiable. The edges 8 themselves can also have rounded shapes.

The edges 8 are shown here with a constant height h, but the height can vary in different areas. Also, the height of the edges or collar 8 differ from opening 6 to opening 6.

The openings have a central region 6a which has a reduced width compared to the remaining region of the opening. This narrowed area serves to receive a central region of the flow tubes (not shown), which are pushed through the openings 6. Since relatively high demands must be placed on the exact sectional shape in this area, this area is produced by punching, that is, no peripheral edge or collar 8 occurs in this area.

Also in the end regions 9 of the openings 6, a gap 11 occurs, resulting from the tearing process. This gap 11 is also represented by a straight course. However, the gap 11 may also have curved edges.

In this embodiment, the plane H, in which the openings 6 are arranged, offset laterally relative to a bottom plane B. The ground plane B is understood to be the plane from which the side edges 3a and 3b are formed. CKEN. From the bottom plane B to the openings 6 out a slope 12 is provided. However, it is also possible here for the main plane H and the ground plane B to coincide geometrically substantially, just as it would also be conceivable for the main plane H to be arranged below the ground plane B with respect to FIG. In this case, the openings 6 are located farther from the end portions of the flow tubes (not shown) than the bottom plane B of the receiver 1.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a partition wall which divides the respective openings 6 into a left side area and a right side area. More specifically, the entire recording device 1 is also divided into a left-side and a right-side region.

In this case, this subdivision can take place essentially symmetrically, but embodiments are also possible in which the division takes place asymmetrically.

In this case, the partition wall 21 is in each case alternately against steps 22, more precisely at the sections 22a and 22b of the steps 22, which run essentially parallel to the plane of the partition wall. In addition, the steps 22 also have sections 24a and 24b which extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the partition, and sections 25a and 25b which extend obliquely with respect to the plane of the partition 21.

In this embodiment, the partition wall is in each case on the narrowed portion 6a of the openings 6. Furthermore, the partition 21 may have slots (not shown) which receive the ends of the flow tubes (also not shown) at least in the region of the opening 6.

Due to the absence of edges or collars in the regions 6a of the openings 6, it is also possible to choose or even more precisely adapt the slots in the dividing wall, which ultimately leads to higher tightness of the respective connections between the flow tubes and the dividing wall , Through the use of the partition, the receiving device 1 and thus the lid or bottom of the device for the exchange of heat in a left-side and a right-side portion is divided. This subdivision preferably also continues into the throughflow devices (not shown) inserted into the receiving device.

The technical manufacturing difficulty lies in the production or design of the transition regions of the two methods in the region of the openings or passages. After the joining process, ie after insertion of the flow tubes into the openings, this transition region must not have any large soldering gaps in order not to adversely affect the soldering process following the assembly and to prevent the occurrence of leaks.

For this purpose, matched tools are used for the individual shaping methods, that is, in particular but not exclusively for the punching and tearing process, such as, for example, matched punches and dies.

In this case, the tools are preferably selected such that they have an overlapping region in the transitional regions between the regions in which the respective processes are used, ie that in the transitional regions a processing of the material by both methods or by both tools takes place.

For example, it can be achieved by suitably dimensioning the tools that, in the case where a punching process is first followed by a tearing process, substantially no further forces are applied to the already punched areas of the openings by the tearing process, resulting in deformation of the already punched material.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the floor device 1 of the device according to the invention for exchanging heat in a perspective view from above. The bottom device 1 has passages 6, which are covered by collar 8. In this case, the collars 8 are secured by means of bevels 12 to a base 13 of the base. deneinrichtung 1 connected. Approximately centrally transversely to the passages 6 for receiving corresponding flat tubes, not shown, a bottom portion 14 is shown with opposing steps 22 for receiving the partition 21. At the outer ends of the collar of the passages 6, a gap 11 is arranged in each case. The passages 6 with the collar 8 and the gap 11 can be produced by a previously described combined tear and punching process.

Fig. 3 shows the bottom device 1 of Fig. 2 from below, i. in backward view. In addition to the passages 6, the bottom section 14 with the steps 22, the narrowed central regions 6a of the passages 6 can be seen.

FIGS. 4 and 5 correspond to FIGS. 2 and 3 in a further perspective view. For explanation, reference is therefore made to the preceding description of Figures 2 and 3.

FIG. 6 shows the device according to the invention for exchanging heat using the bottom device of FIG. 2. Flat tubes or flow devices 15 with flow chambers 16 and 17 and a narrowed region 18 which separates the flow chambers 16, 17 from each other are introduced into the bottom device 1 inserted through the passages 6 with their narrowed central regions 6a. In the bottom portion 14, a partition wall 21 is provided with slots 23, which serves for a separation of the flow flow in two areas. In this case, the partition wall 21 is supported by the steps 22. The slots 23 of the partition wall 21 serve to receive the constricted regions 18 of the flat tubes 15.

FIG. 7 shows the device according to FIG. 6, comprising a bottom device 1, a plurality of inserted flat tubes 15 and a partition wall 21. Fig. 8 shows a section perpendicular to the introduced partition wall 21 through the bottom device 1 of Fig. 2, wherein the section through a slot 23 of the partition 21 and thus along a passage 6 extends.

Fig. 9 shows a further section perpendicular to the introduced partition wall 21 through the bottom device 1 of Fig. 2, wherein the section through a region of the partition wall 21 without a slot and thus not along a passage 6, so that the base 13 of the bottom device 1 to recognize.

10 shows a further embodiment of a floor device 1 with passages 6, which are covered by collars 8, which are arranged on slopes 12, wherein the slopes 12 provide the connection to the base 13 of the floor device 1. Analogous to the bottom device of FIG. 2, a bottom section 14 extending substantially perpendicularly to the passages 5 is provided with opposing steps 22, which serves to receive a partition, not shown. In contrast to the embodiment of Fig. 2, a further, perpendicular to the bottom portion 14 extending receiving portion 30 is provided, the guide surfaces 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, and 31 d, which are perpendicular to the plane of the bottom device 1. By means of the receiving portion 30 and the guide surfaces 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, a partition wall can be introduced into the bottom device 1, which is arranged parallel to the passages 6. If a further dividing wall with a corresponding design is likewise introduced into the bottom section 14 provided for receiving a dividing wall, a fourfold division of the flow flow is possible. Otherwise, the arrangement of two receiving devices for partition walls, namely the bottom section 14 and the receiving section 30, opens up the possibility of arranging a partition perpendicular or parallel to the passages 6.

FIG. 11 shows the bottom device 1 of FIG. 10 in rear view. It can be seen that the intersection of the two receiving sections 14 and 30 in the rear view has the shape of a cross 32. Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention for the exchange of heat in an exploded view with a bottom device 1 according to FIG. 10, a further partition wall 33 and a plurality of flat tubes 15. The further partition wall 33 extends in the direction of the elongated passages 6 and leads to a Flow separation in two areas, if only this additional partition wall 33 is used. If a corresponding "first" separating wall 21, not shown, is additionally introduced in the bottom section 14, a quadruple subdivision is effected.

Fig. 13 shows the embodiment of the inventive device for exchanging heat of FIG. 12 in an exploded view in rear view with a bottom device 1 according to FIG. 10, a further partition wall 33 and a plurality of flat tubes 15. To recognize this is approximately in the center Floor device 1 arranged cross 32 so that a partition wall can be used, which extends either in the direction perpendicular or in the direction parallel to the passages 6.

FIG. 14 shows the device for exchanging heat according to FIG. 28 in a fitted state with partition wall 31, base device 1 and a plurality of flat tubes 40.

Finally, FIG. 15 shows a cross section through a bottom device 1 provided with a further partition wall 33 along the bottom section 14 of FIG. 10, so that the narrowed regions 6a of the passages 6 can be seen in the base 13.

Claims

Patent claims

A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger through-tube receiving means having flow tube receiving openings, characterized in that at least one opening is partially formed by a first molding process and at least partially by a second molding process different from the first molding process.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first shaping process is a stamping process.

3. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second shaping process is a tearing process.

4. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first shaping process and the second shaping process take place substantially simultaneously.

5. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first shaping process and the second shaping process take place in separate process steps.

6. A method for producing a heat exchanger, characterized in that in a method step, a receiving device is produced by a method according to one of the preceding claims and then the flow tubes are at least partially connected to the receiving device by means of a connecting means.

7. Receiving device for flow tubes of a heat exchanger having a plurality of openings which are suitable for receiving the flow tubes, wherein the openings are arranged substantially in a predetermined main plane of the receiving device and have a predetermined circumference, characterized in that the openings in at least a portion of the circumference having an edge which protrudes from the main plane and in at least a portion of the circumference substantially not protrude from the main plane.

8. Recording device according to claim 7, characterized in that the edges protrude substantially in the direction of the ends of the flow tubes from the main plane.

9. Recording device according to one of the preceding claims, character- ized in that the edges protrude substantially perpendicularly from the main plane.

10. Recording device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edges between 0.3 mm and 3.0 mm, preferably between 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm and more preferably between

0.5 mm and 1, 0 mm protrude from the plane.

11. Receiving device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings have an elongated shape.

12. Recording device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings do not protrude substantially in their end regions from the main plane.

13. Recording device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings have a central region with a reduced width.

14. Recording device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings in the central region substantially not protrude from the main plane.

15. Recording device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main plane is arranged offset parallel to a bottom plane of the receiving device.

16. Recording device according to one of the preceding claims, character- ized in that the main plane is arranged with respect to the ground plane closer to the end of the flow tubes.

17. A device for exchanging heat with a plurality of flow tubes, which are suitable for transporting a refrigerant, character- ized in that at least one end portion of the flow tubes, a receiving device according to one of the preceding claims is arranged.

18. Device for exchanging heat according to claim 17, characterized in that a receiving device according to at least one of the preceding claims is respectively arranged at both end sections of the flow tubes.