EP1926964A1

EP1926964A1 - Coolant cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP1926964A1
Application number: EP06791553A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Klaus Hassdenteufel; Markus HÖGLINGER; Eberhard Pantow; Michael Spieth
Original assignee: Behr GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Mahle Behr GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2005-09-06
Filing date: 2006-07-31
Publication date: 2008-06-04
Also published as: DE102005042315A1; WO2007028463A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a coolant cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle, having at least one water tank (2), which has: at least one inlet connection piece (4), through which coolant passes into the water tank (2), and a plurality of tubes (3) which are connected to the water tank (2) by means of a tube base and through which the coolant passes into a heat exchanging region, wherein at least one insert (10; 20; 30; 40; 50) is provided in the inlet connection piece (4) and/or in the water tank (2), which insert (10; 20; 30; 40; 50) changes the coolant flow in such a way that the coolant distribution to the tubes (3) is more uniform than in a similarly-designed coolant cooler without an insert.

Description

BEHR GmbH & Co. KG Mauserstrasse 3, 70469 Stuttgart

Coolant cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a coolant radiator, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In coolant radiators for motor vehicles, via which the waste heat of the motor vehicle engine is released to the environment, occur due to uneven temperature distributions when flowing through the radiator block stresses between the tubes and tube sheets. To protect the connection between the pipes, in particular the outer pipes, and the tube sheets (mechanical) measures are known to ensure the tightness of the compounds despite the Schwellbelastungen. However, these are sometimes quite expensive, so that such coolant coolers still leave something to be desired.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved coolant radiator. This object is achieved by a coolant radiator with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. According to the invention, a coolant radiator, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided with at least one water tank, which comprises: at least one inlet connection, through which coolant enters the water tank, and a plurality of pipes, which are connected to the water tank via a tube bottom, through which Coolant passes into a heat transfer area, wherein at least one insert is provided in the inlet nozzle and / or in the water tank, which changes the coolant flow such that the coolant distribution is more uniform on the pipes compared to a similar coolant radiator without use. The provision of the insert allows a particularly uniform distribution of the coolant to the tubes, in particular preferably formed by flat tubes, ie the flow of the maximum flow-through tube is smaller and the flow of the minimally flowed through pipe is greater than the corresponding coolant cooler without use, and thus a particularly uniform temperature distribution in the area of the flat tubes. This is helpful in particular for rapid changes in the inlet temperature, for example. When opening the thermostat, especially in fast-cycle map thermostats that flow small amounts of coolant through the coolant radiator, so even in these cases, the tubes are evenly exposed to coolant and thus heated evenly , As a result of uniform heating different thermal expansion can be avoided, so that no extreme voltage peaks occur, as in conventional coolant radiators.

Preferably, at least a portion of the insert is arranged in the coolant inlet nozzle (nozzle insert). This can be both an area for the attachment of the insert and an area directly influencing the flow pattern.

The insert preferably has one of the inner contours of the coolant inlet nozzle, at least in the region protruding into the coolant inlet nozzle corresponding outer contour. This allows easy insertion during assembly. Alternatively, in particular in the case of injection-molded water tanks, the insert can be sprayed from the same material or optionally also from another material during the production of the water box, or the insert can be inserted into the mold and overmoulded by the material of the water box. If the water box is made of aluminum, then the insert is preferably formed as a sheet metal part or cast part and soldered or used in the finished coolant radiator.

In use, internals can advantageously be provided, which divide the coolant flow into partial streams. This can be done, for example, by means of at least one partition wall, preferably by means of a plurality of partition walls, in particular by means of three or four point-symmetrically formed partition walls and / or by means of a rectifier insert which is formed with a hexagonal or any other grid-like structure, for example. respectively. In this case - taken as needed - the coolant flow a twist or targeted a swirl imposed. In addition, the coolant flow can be rectified and homogenized, which is done in particular by a close-meshed rectifier insert.

According to a preferred embodiment, the insert is arranged on the neck. The insert is particularly preferably arranged and / or installed in a feed line, in particular designed as a hose, to the coolant cooler or in a coupling piece between the nozzle and such a feed line.

Advantageously, the insert extends at least partially into the interior of the channel box. In this case, the insert may be designed to be closed at its end protruding into the water box, for example by a bottom or a plug. In this case, the insert preferably has at least - At least one, preferably exactly one, in its, in particular in extension of the coolant inlet nozzle extending wall disposed opening. This can be designed like a glare.

At least one of the openings preferably opens in a direction away from the tube bottom, so that the coolant can not flow directly to the nearest tube opening.

Also, the insert may be formed by a closed end or open perforated plate, so that a uniform outflow of the coolant takes place over the entire circumference, whereby the flow pattern in the water box is uniform. It is a uniform or targeted uneven perforation of the perforated plate possible.

The insert may preferably also extend over the entire depth and / or the entire height of the water box (water box insert). Such installations in the water tank allow a particularly targeted distribution of the coolant to the individual tubes, so that more targeted coolant can be passed into the otherwise disadvantaged pipes.

In some cases, an inclined arrangement of the coolant inlet nozzle with respect to the outer surface of the water box may be advantageous in order to obtain a more even distribution of coolant on the pipes.

The tubes preferably have a constant free flow cross-section over the entire height of the coolant radiator, ie for a more uniform flow through the pipes, no measures are required to alter the coolant radiator in its essential structure, such as the narrowing of the free flow cross-sections of the middle tubes. The tubesheet, in which the tubes protrude, is preferably made of a metal or an alloy, particularly preferably the tubes are soldered to the tubesheet.

The water tank is preferably made of plastic, wherein it is preferably designed as an injection molded part. Aluminum or other suitable materials are also possible.

In the following the invention with reference to several embodiments, partially with variants, with reference to the drawings will be explained in detail. Show it:

1 shows an insert according to the first embodiment,

2 shows an insert according to the second embodiment,

3 shows an insert according to the third embodiment,

4 shows an insert according to the fourth embodiment,

5 is a plan view of an insert according to the fifth embodiment,

6 is a perspective view of the insert of FIG. 5,

7 is a schematic representation of a coolant radiator to illustrate a first possible arrangement of an insert according to the invention, 8 is a schematic representation of a coolant radiator to illustrate a second possible arrangement of an insert according to the invention,

9 is a schematic representation of a coolant radiator for

Clarification of a third possible arrangement of an insert according to the invention,

10 is a schematic representation of a coolant radiator to illustrate a fourth arrangement possibility of an insert according to the invention, and

11 is a perspective view of a coolant radiator according to the prior art and of a coolant radiator with an insert according to the invention with flow velocities schematically indicated for individual flat tubes.

A arranged in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, designed as a cross-flow cooler coolant radiator 1 has two water tanks 2 with tube plates, a plurality of the water tanks 2 connecting flat tubes 3, which are guided with their ends in the tube sheets, and disposed therebetween corrugated fins, wherein the flat tubes 3 in conjunction form the radiator network with the corrugated ribs.

In embodiments not shown, a coolant radiator is designed as a downflow radiator and / or has only one water tank with an inlet and an outlet and arranged therebetween partition wall, wherein the coolant is then deflected on the opposite side (so-called U-flow). In the present case, the two water boxes 2 are plastic injection-molded parts, while the tube plates in the present case are metallic tube sheets which are mechanically connected to the water boxes 2 and by means of a solder connection to the flat tubes 3 in a known manner.

At both water boxes 2, a coolant inlet pipe 4 and a coolant outlet pipe 5 is provided. The coolant radiator 1, which serves to deliver the waste heat of the motor vehicle engine to the environment, is part of a conventional coolant circuit of the internal combustion engine, to which it is connected via the two ports 4 and 5.

In order to allow the most uniform possible distribution of the incoming coolant, an insert is provided according to the present invention, which specifically change the flow pattern of the coolant in the water tank 2 and thereby optimizes the coolant distribution to the flat tubes 3, so that the maximum flow velocities in the middle flat tubes 3 and in particular the flow velocities in the outer flat tubes 3 is increased.

For a homogenization of the coolant flow pattern, according to the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, directly at the water-box-side end of the coolant inlet connection 4, a partial insert 10 protruding into the water box 2, in the present case half its total length, is provided, which is a cylindrical one Shape, wherein the exit-side end 11 is closed and provided in the water box 2 projecting area 12 a plurality of openings 13, in this case bores. By closing the straight outflow and dividing the coolant flow, the flow pattern in the water tank is made uniform, so that the distribution of coolant on the flat tubes 3 is also made uniform, ie flow velocity peaks are reduced and, in particular, reduced. special flow rate minima to the outer flat tubes 3 are increased.

According to the second exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a partial, in the present case, half of its total length, protruding into the water box 2, is provided at the water box-side end of the coolant nozzle 4, which has a cylindrical shape, the outlet-side end 21 of FIG in the water box 2 projecting portion 22 is closed. In contrast to the first embodiment, however, instead of the plurality of openings distributed over the entire circumference 13, a single, in the present case an approximately rectangular opening extending over approximately half of the circumference is provided on the side opposite the flat tubes 3, so that the coolant flow is divided, which also results in a certain homogenization of the flow pattern in the water tank and thus a more even distribution to the flat tubes 3.

According to a variant not shown in the drawing, an inwardly wedge-shaped tapered web is provided centrally in the region of the opening according to the second embodiment, which supports the division of the coolant into two coolant streams parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insert.

According to a further variant, which is not shown in the drawing, at least one further opening may be provided in the bottom according to the first two embodiments, which may lead to a more uniform flow pattern in the water tank 2.

Fig. 3 shows an insert 30 according to the third embodiment, which can be used in the case of a swirl-loaded flow, in order to reduce or completely eliminate the twist. This insert 30 can in Alternatively, it can also project somewhat into the water box 2 and / or can be combined with the inserts 10 or 20 of the first two embodiments, so that first the flow is freed from the swirl and then a more uniform distribution takes place. In the present case, the insert 30 has a hollow-cylindrical shape which is open on both sides and has four partitions 31 extending in the radial direction and running in the inflow region in the direction of the longitudinal axis and rotated by 45 ° in the outflow region.

In some cases, as in the fourth embodiment, however, it may also be helpful to impose a spin on the coolant flow entering the water box 2, so that the flow is "swirled" in a targeted manner, so that, for example, the nearest flat tubes 3 only have a smaller coolant flow be flowed through as without the insert 40. For this purpose, the same use as in the third embodiment described above can be used.

Supporting for a more uniform flow pattern in the water tank can act in this, as well as in all other embodiments, an oblique arrangement of the Kühlmitteleintrittsstutzeπs 4 in conjunction with the respective use.

According to the fifth exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the insert 50 has a hollow-cylindrical, open-ended outer shape and, on the inside, a rectifier insert 51 with a hexagonal structure running through in the longitudinal direction. This insert 50 allows the flow to be rectified so that a swirl or uneven coolant flow is rectified.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show various arrangement regions for inserts according to the invention, indicated by the diagonally dotted lines. rich, shown schematically. In particular, the inserts 30, 40, 50 according to the third to fifth embodiments are completely inserted into the coolant inlet nozzle 4, as indicated in Fig. 7.

The inserts 10, 20 according to the first and second embodiments, but possibly also the inserts 30, 40, 50 according to the third to fifth embodiment, project with a portion up into the water box 2, that is beyond the coolant inlet nozzle 4 addition, as shown in FIG 8 illustrated principle.

According to a further embodiment of an insert, the insert may extend with a substantial area in the water box 2 and only slightly project into the coolant inlet stub 4 (principle of FIG. 9) or even far into the coolant inlet stub 4 (principle of FIG. 10). In this case, in particular, the two last-mentioned arrangement possibilities for inserts enable optimized flow uniformization in the water box 2 and thus a very uniform distribution of the coolant to the flat tubes 3.

In the above description of the embodiment, reference has been made exclusively to flat tubes 3, which are arranged to extend between the water tanks. Instead of flat tubes, however, it is also possible for any other tubes or corresponding elements through which coolant flows on one side and through which air flows on the other side to be provided.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Coolant cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one water tank (2), which has:

at least one inlet connection (4), through which coolant enters the water tank (2), and

a plurality of tubes (3) which are connected to the water box (2) via a tubesheet, through which the coolant into a

Heat transfer area arrives,

characterized in that at least one insert (10; 20; 30; 40; 50) is provided on or in the inlet connection (4) and / or in the water box (2), which changes the coolant flow in such a way that the coolant distribution onto the tubes (3 ) is more uniform compared to an identical coolant radiator without use.

2. Coolant cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one area of the insert (10; 20; 30; 40; 50) is arranged in the coolant inlet connection (4).

3. Coolant cooler according to claim 2, characterized in that the insert (10; 20; 30; 40; 50) has at least in the area in the Kühlmitteleintrittsstut- (4) projecting region of the inner contour of the coolant inlet nozzle (4) corresponding outer contour.

4. Coolant cooler according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the insert (30; 40; 50) has internals which subdivide the coolant flow into partial flows.

5. Coolant cooler according to one of claim 4, characterized in that the internals are formed by at least one partition wall (31), which changes the direction of flow in the insert (30, 40).

6. Coolant cooler according to one of claim 4, characterized in that the internals are formed by a rectifier insert (51).

7. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (10; 20) at least partially into

Interior of the water box (2) extends.

8. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (10; 20) projects with a region (12; 22) into the water tank (2), wherein the insert (10; 20) at its in the water tank ( 2) projecting end (11; 21) is formed closed.

9. Coolant cooler according to claim 8, characterized in that the insert (10; 20) has at least one opening (13; 23) arranged in the cylindrical wall.

10. Coolant cooler according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one opening (13; 23) opens in a direction away from the tube bottom.

11. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert extends over the entire depth of the water box (2).

12. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert extends over the entire height of the water box (2).

13. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubes (3) over the entire height of the coolant radiator (1) have a constant free flow cross-section.

14. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coolant inlet nozzle (4) is arranged obliquely with respect to the outer surface of the water box (2).

15. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water tank (2) consists of plastic.

16. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tube sheet consists of a metal or an alloy.