EP1819458B1 - Method for the production of a heat exchanger - Google Patents

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

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 (see, eg US-A-4150556 ).

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 manufacturing process the tearing used from the full sheet metal, so funnel-shaped insertion bevels of the passage can be generated in this way 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. The dependent claims 2-6 relate to developments of the invention.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Auf- nahmeeinrichtung im Detail,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Bodeneinrich- tung in einer weiteren Ausführungsform,

Fig. 3

eine rückwärtige Ansicht der weiteren Ausführungsform der erfindungs- gemäßen Bodeneinrichtung;

Fig. 4

ein weitere Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Bodeneinrichtung nach Fig. 2,

Fig. 5

eine rückwärtige Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der erfin- dungsgemäßen Bodeneinrichtung nach Fig. 2,

Fig. 6

eine Explosionsdarstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Austauschen von Wärme

Fig. 7

eine Darstellung der Vorrichtung nach Fig. 6,

Fig. 8

einen Querschnitt der Bodeneinrichtung der Fig. 6 quer zur Trennwand entlang eines Trennwandschlitzes,

Fig. 9

eine Querschnitt der Bodeneinrichtung der Fig. 6 quer zur ungeschlitz- ten Trennwand,

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Bodeneinrich- tung in einer weiteren Ausführungsform,

Fig. 11

eine rückwärtige Ansicht der weiteren Ausführungsform der erfindungs- gemäßen Bodeneinrichtung;

Fig. 12

eine Explosionsdarstellung der weiteren Ausführungsform der erfin- dungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Austauschen von Wärme

Fig. 13

eine Explosionsdarstellung der weiteren Ausführungsform der erfin- dungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Austauschen von Wärme in rückwär- tiger Ansicht,

Fig. 14

eine perspektivische Darstellung der weiteren Ausführungsform der Vorrichtung zum Austauschen von Wärme, und

Fig. 15

einen Querschnitt durch die Bodeneinrichtung der Vorrichtung nach Fig. 14.

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

Fig. 1

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

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the Bodeneinrich- device according to the invention in a further embodiment,

Fig. 3

a rear view of the further embodiment of the inventive soil device;

Fig. 4

a further illustration of the soil device according to the invention Fig. 2 .

Fig. 5

a rear view of a further embodiment of the inventive soil device according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 6

an exploded view of the device according to the invention for exchanging heat

Fig. 7

a representation of the device according to Fig. 6 .

Fig. 8

a cross section of the bottom device of Fig. 6 transverse to the dividing wall along a dividing wall slot,

Fig. 9

a cross section of the bottom device of Fig. 6 across the unslit partition,

Fig. 10

a perspective view of the Bodeneinrich- device according to the invention in a further embodiment,

Fig. 11

a rear view of the further embodiment of the inventive soil device;

Fig. 12

an exploded view of the further embodiment of the inventive device for exchanging heat

Fig. 13

an exploded view of the further embodiment of the inventive device for exchanging heat in rückwär- tiger view,

Fig. 14

a perspective view of the further embodiment of the device for exchanging heat, and

Fig. 15

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.

By the manufacturing method according to the invention, which results from a combination of a punching method and a drawing process, edges 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 level H is in Fig. 1 represented by the two dashed lines. In this plane are the respective openings 6, more precisely the peripheral edges of the openings 6 in the areas 7, in which there are no collars. Also stands in Fig. 1 a partition wall 21, which will be explained later, 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 may 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 collars 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 in this area relatively high demands on the exact sectional shape must be made, this area is produced by stamping, that is, in this area no peripheral edge or collar 8 occurs.

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 extend. From the bottom plane B to the openings 6 out a slope 12 is provided. However, it is also possible here that the main plane H and the ground plane B geometrically substantially coincide, just as it would also be conceivable that the main plane H with respect to Fig. 1 is arranged below the ground plane B. 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.

The 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 be carried out substantially 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 areas 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. Preferably, this subdivision also continues into the flow-through 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 molding processes, that is, in particular but not exclusively for the punching and the 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 transition regions between the regions in which the respective processes are used, that is to say that in the transition regions processing of the material takes place by both methods or by both tools.

For example, by suitably dimensioning the tools, it can be achieved 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 lead the already punched material.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of the bottom device 1 of the device according to the invention for the exchange of heat in a perspective view from above. The bottom device 1 has passages 6, which are covered by collars 8. In this case, the collars 8 by means of bevels 12 with a base 13 of the bottom device 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 collars of the passages 6, a gap 11 is arranged in each case. The passages 6 with the collars 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, ie 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.

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

Fig. 6 shows the inventive device for exchanging heat using the ground device of Fig. 2 , Flat tubes or flow-through devices 15 with flow chambers 16 and 17 and a narrowed region 18, which separates the flow chambers 16, 17, are inserted into the bottom device 1 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 after Fig. 6 consisting of bottom device 1, a plurality of inserted Flachrohre15 and a partition wall 21st

Fig. 8 shows a section perpendicular to the introduced partition 21 through the bottom device 1 of Fig. 2 , The section through a slot 23 of the partition wall 21 and thus along a passage 6 runs.

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 does not run along a passage 6, so that the base 13 of the bottom device 1 can be seen.

Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment of a bottom device 1 with passages 6, which are comprised of collars 8, which are arranged on slopes 12, wherein the slopes 12 provide the connection to the base 13 of the bottom device 1. Analogous to the ground facility of Fig. 2 is a substantially perpendicular to the passages 5 extending bottom portion 14 is provided with opposing steps 22, which serves to receive a partition wall, 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 opened by the arrangement of two receiving devices for partitions, namely the bottom portion 14 and the receiving portion 30, 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 portions 14 and 30 in the rear view in the shape of a cross 32 has.

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 , another partition wall 33 and a plurality of flat tubes 15. The further partition 33 extends in the direction of the elongated passages 6 and leads to a flow separation into two areas, if only this further 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 separating wall 33 and a plurality of flat tubes 15 can be seen. The cross 32, which is arranged approximately centrally in the bottom device 1, can be used so that a dividing 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 the assembled state with partition 31, bottom device 1 and a plurality of flat tubes 40th

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

Claims (6)

1. A method for the production of a receiving device for flow tubes of a heat exchanger comprising openings that have a central region and end regions for receiving the flow tubes, characterized in that the central region of at least one opening is created using a punching method, and the end regions are created via separation by drawing.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the punching method and the separation by drawing take place substantially simultaneously.
3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the punching method and the separation by drawing take place in separate method steps.
4. A method for the production of a heat exchanger, characterized in that, in one method step, a receiving device is produced using one method according to one of the preceding claims, and subsequently the flow tubes are connected, at least in sections, to the receiving device using a connecting means.
5. A device for exchanging heat with a large number of flow tubes that are suitable for transporting a refrigerant, characterized in that a receiving device that was produced according to one of the claims 1 through 3 is disposed on at least one end section of the flow tubes.
6. The device for exchanging heat according to claim 5, characterized in that a receiving device that was produced according to one of the claims 1 through 3 is disposed on both end sections of the flow tubes.

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