EP3516319B1 - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for media-separated cooling of a working medium by means of a cooling medium, with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Such heat exchangers, which can also be referred to as heat exchangers, are used, for example, in motor vehicles to cool a working medium of the vehicle, preferably an internal combustion engine of the vehicle. Comparatively high temperatures can occur on the side of the working medium to be cooled, for example in a charge air cooler or in an exhaust gas recirculation cooler or in an exhaust gas cooler. It is clear that the cooling of the working medium is accompanied by heating of the cooling medium, so that the respective heat exchanger can also be used for heating the cooling medium, which then corresponds to a working medium, by means of the working medium, which then corresponds to a heating medium.

A generic heat exchanger is for example from the WO 2014/006213 A1 known. It has a housing which has a housing jacket, a working medium inlet, a working medium outlet, a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet. The working medium and the cooling medium can thus be supplied to and removed from the housing. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a heat exchanger block which is inserted into the housing and which has a front floor facing the working medium inlet and a rear floor facing away from the working medium inlet, as well as a plurality of working medium pipes for guiding the working medium. The working medium pipes penetrate the two trays and are also firmly and tightly connected to the two trays to form the heat exchanger block. In the heat exchanger, a working medium path leads from the working medium inlet inside through the working medium pipes to the working medium outlet. Also introduces Coolant path from the coolant inlet around the outside of the working medium pipes to the coolant outlet. The heat transfer between the working medium flowing inside and the cooling medium flowing outside takes place via the walls of the working medium pipes. In the known heat exchanger, the respective base has a circumferential edge which projects radially beyond the working medium tubes and which is axially supported in each case via an axially acting ring seal on a step of the housing which runs around the respective edge. Furthermore, in the known heat exchanger, the jacket is formed from two half-shells which are arranged axially between the two bottoms of the heat exchanger block and are attached to one another. An inlet housing part which has the working medium inlet or an outlet housing part which has the working medium outlet is connected to this jacket on the axial end faces, the edge of the respective base with the associated ring seal being integrated in the respective connection region. Accordingly, the housing-side step cooperating with the respective ring seal is formed on the inlet housing part or on the outlet housing part. The known heat exchanger thus has a housing that has at least four separate components that have to be assembled. Thus, the effort to implement the known heat exchanger is comparatively large.

From the DE 10 2013 221 932 A1 Another heat exchanger is known in which the jacket is made in one piece, so that the heat exchanger block can be inserted axially into the jacket. Furthermore, this heat exchanger provides for a metal wall to be inserted in an inlet area of the jacket and in an outlet area of the jacket in order to reduce the thermal load on the jacket made of plastic.

In the case of the two heat exchangers mentioned above, it is possible to produce the heat exchanger block outside the housing, in order to subsequently combine the finished heat exchanger block with the housing. The production of the heat exchanger block outside the housing is of particular advantage, since the production of the heat exchanger block often has a high thermal This is accompanied by a load which, for example, cannot be realized in a plastic casing of the housing and / or requires good accessibility, which is not provided within the housing. For example, the working medium pipes must be led through the floors so that soldered connections or welded connections are used there. Depending on the application of the heat exchanger, very high temperatures may also be required for soldering, for example when brazing.

From the DE 10 2006 051 000 A1 Another heat exchanger is known in which the heat exchanger block is completed within the casing of the housing. When welding or soldering the working medium pipes to the respective floor, the jacket must be cooled in the area of the respective floor in order to prevent damage to the jacket. In other words, the production of the heat exchanger block within the housing is associated with an increased outlay.

In order to be able to manufacture a heat exchanger as inexpensively as possible, it is necessary to use inexpensive materials, such as plastics and light metal alloys. However, these inexpensive materials cannot be used in all possible temperature ranges. Furthermore, plastics have a significantly lower coefficient of thermal conductivity than metals. In contrast, iron alloys, preferably steel, especially stainless steel, have a very high temperature resistance, but are then comparatively expensive. However, particularly in vehicle applications, the lowest possible weight for the heat exchanger is desirable.

Furthermore, it has been shown that the use of axially acting ring seals between the edge of the respective bottom of the heat exchanger block and the respective step of the housing is problematic, since the heat exchanger block and housing differ during operation of the heat exchanger due to the different temperatures and the possibly different coefficients of thermal expansion expand. Thereby, heat exchanger block and axially adjust the housing relative to each other in the area of the respective base to such an extent that the respective ring seal can no longer fulfill its sealing function.

From the DE 10 2014 204 272 A1 a heat exchanger is known which is inserted laterally into the housing through a housing opening, the housing opening being bordered by an axially protruding projection on which locking lugs are formed radially on the outside. The front bottom of the heat exchanger projects radially beyond the working medium pipe and forms a circumferential collar which has latching openings which match the latching lugs, engages around the projection and latches with the latching lugs in order to fix the heat exchanger to the housing. Furthermore, a circumferential seal is arranged axially between the projection and the collar.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of specifying an improved or at least another embodiment for a heat exchanger of the type mentioned at the outset, which is distinguished on the one hand by inexpensive manufacture and on the other hand by increased functional reliability in the area of the ring seal.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general idea of locking the heat exchanger block in the housing in such a way that axial contact and preferably axial pretension can be permanently ensured in the area of the ring seal. Specifically, the invention proposes realizing such a latching between the housing and the heat exchanger block in the area of the rear floor in order to axially prestress the first ring seal provided there, such that that the first ring seal bears axially biased both at the edge of the rear floor and at the associated step formed on the housing. This ensures the sealing function of the first ring seal at all expected temperatures and operating situations.

For this purpose, the housing expediently has at least one latching contour in the area of the step, which cooperates with a counter-latching contour of the rim on a rear side of the edge of the rear base facing away from the first ring seal. The respective locking contour brings about an axial positioning of the edge on the housing. On the one hand, this axial positioning causes the edge to be axially fixed to the housing, which prevents the edge from moving axially away from the step. On the other hand, this axial positioning for the edge defines an axial position relative to the housing in which the first ring seal bears axially preloaded on the edge and on the step.

A plurality of latching contours are expediently provided, which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and which are arranged distributed along the edge. In this way, the axial fixation or axial positioning of the edge of the rear base on the housing is improved.

In another embodiment, the respective latching contour can interact directly with the rear of the edge, in which case the rear of the edge itself forms the counter-latching contour together for all latching contours. This simplifies the manufacture of the rear floor. In particular, the respective locking contour encompasses a radially outer outer edge of the edge.

The respective latching contour can expediently have a ramp on a side facing the working medium inlet. When the heat exchanger block is inserted axially, the ramp makes it easier to drive over the respective locking contour through the edge of the rear floor, which precedes when the heat exchanger block is inserted into the housing. After the ramp has been passed over, an essentially radially oriented latching lug of the latching contour adjoining the ramp engages behind the respective counter-latching contour and thus secures the edge against axial pulling out of the housing against the direction of insertion.

In a further embodiment, the edge can be axially supported directly on the step with a front side facing the first ring seal. Thus, the edge lies against the step in the direction of insertion and against the respective latching contour in the pull-out direction. This results in a particularly efficient axial positioning of the heat exchanger block within the housing.

The first ring seal can be configured, for example, as a plastic seal. Plastic seals are characterized by a particularly high level of tightness. The two bottoms of the heat exchanger block axially delimit the cooling medium path, so that the rear of the edge is directly exposed to the cooling medium and is cooled accordingly. The first ring seal thus interacts with an actively cooled edge, which reduces the thermal load on the ring seal.

If the first ring seal is designed as a plastic seal, the step can expediently have a receiving groove into which the first ring seal is inserted axially. In this way, the axial compression of the first ring seal can be limited to an allowable or predetermined amount. Furthermore, with the aid of the receiving groove, an efficient radial fixation or positioning for the first ring seal is made possible.

In another embodiment it can be provided that the edge is supported axially on the step exclusively via the first ring seal. This embodiment is characterized by a particularly simple geometry in the area of the step, which simplifies production.

Another embodiment provides that the first ring seal is designed as a disk-shaped metal bead seal. Such metal bead seals are not as tight as plastic seals, but have a significantly higher thermal resistance.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the working medium inlet can be integrally formed on a connecting flange which is a separate component with respect to the jacket and which is fastened to the jacket by means of a fastening. The connecting flange can be a one-piece, integrally produced cast part. This makes it possible to manufacture the connecting flange and the jacket from different materials. For example, the jacket can be a plastic part, while the connecting flange is a metal part. The front base also has a circumferential edge which projects radially beyond the working medium pipes and is arranged axially between an axial jacket end face of the jacket and an axial flange front side of the connecting flange, so that it in turn fixes the connecting flange on the jacket to the housing by means of fastening is fixed. The edge of the front base expediently extends radially into the fastening so that it is integrated into this fastening. In this way, the heat exchanger block is axially fixed to the housing in the region of the front base by the fastening between the connecting flange and the jacket. In the area of the rear floor, the heat exchanger block is axially fixed to the housing by the catch.

The coolant inlet and the coolant outlet as well as the respective locking contour and the step are expediently formed integrally on the jacket. This simplifies the manufacture of the housing. Furthermore, the jacket can be made in one piece or in one piece, in particular as an integral casting.

In another embodiment, the heat exchanger can be designed in a U-current construction. In this case, the working medium outlet is also integrally formed on the connection flange, while a deflection chamber is provided in the housing. The working medium path now leads through at least one of the working medium pipes from the working medium inlet to the deflection chamber and through at least one other of the working medium pipes from the deflecting chamber to the working medium outlet. Furthermore, the housing is closed in the region of the deflection chamber by a housing base which is expediently integrally formed on the casing. This gives the housing a particularly inexpensive construction, since it ultimately only comprises the connecting flange with working medium inlet and working medium outlet and the casing with the housing base, coolant inlet and coolant outlet. The deflection chamber can be delimited directly by the jacket and the housing base or by a metal body which is inserted into the housing. Such a metal body can be used above all if the housing in the area of the casing and housing base is made of plastic and the expected temperatures in the deflection chamber are still relatively high.

However, an alternative embodiment is particularly advantageous in which the heat exchanger is designed in an I-current design. In this case, the working medium outlet is arranged axially opposite the working medium inlet and can also advantageously be integrally formed on the jacket. In this construction too, in an advantageous embodiment, the housing comprises only two components, namely the jacket with the working medium outlet, coolant inlet, coolant outlet and the connecting flange with the working medium inlet. It is noteworthy that the heat exchanger presented here enables the heat exchanger block to be produced outside the housing both in the U-current construction and in the I-electricity construction, which considerably simplifies the production of the heat exchanger block. The finished heat exchanger block can then be inserted into the housing by axially inserting it into the jacket if there is no connecting flange on the jacket end face. The heat exchanger block is inserted into the jacket until the rear floor preceding it when inserted is locked on the edge with the respective locking contour. The connecting flange can then be attached to the jacket, which means that the heat exchanger block is also fixed in the area of the front floor.

According to an advantageous development, an axially acting second ring seal can be provided axially between the edge of the front base and the jacket end face. Additionally or alternatively, an axially acting third ring seal can be provided axially between the edge of the front base and the flange end face. The second ring seal and the third ring seal can optionally be designed as a plastic seal or as a metal bead seal. In particular, it is thus possible to design the second ring seal and the third ring seal each as a plastic seal. Likewise, the second ring seal and the third ring seal can each be designed as a metal bead seal. It is also conceivable to design the second ring seal as a plastic seal, while the third ring seal is designed as a metal bead seal. Finally, it is also possible to design the second ring seal as a metal bead seal, while the third ring seal is designed as a plastic seal.

An embodiment is particularly advantageous in which the heat exchanger block is made of an iron alloy, while the jacket is made of an Plastic or made of a light alloy. Since the heat exchanger block can be finished outside of the housing in the heat exchanger presented here, the two floors and the working medium pipes can be joined at high temperatures, for example in order to solder or weld the working medium pipes to the floors. The jacket can be produced as an inexpensive cast part made of plastic or light metal alloy and, depending on the degree of integration and depending on the design, form integrally with the coolant inlet, with the coolant outlet, the step and the respective locking contour. If the aforementioned connection flange is provided, it can also be made of an iron alloy or a light metal alloy, depending on the thermal load to be expected from the hot working medium to be cooled. In the case of an exhaust gas cooler, the connection flange is preferably made of an iron alloy.

In another embodiment, the edge of the rear floor can lift off radially inwardly from the step at ambient temperature and bear axially inward on the step at operating temperature. This can be achieved, for example, by appropriate shaping of the base in the area of the edge. For example, the edge of the rear floor can be inclined to the rear relative to a plane running perpendicular to the axial direction, that is to say directed away from the front floor. During the operation of the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger block expands axially more than the housing, as a result of which the above-mentioned inclination of the edge becomes less and less until the edge also comes into axial contact with the step radially on the inside at operating temperature.

An embodiment is also conceivable in which the edge of the rear bottom has an axial distance from the step radially on the inside, which is at ambient temperature is greater than at operating temperature. This means that the axial distance decreases with increasing temperature and in extreme cases can, but does not have to, be zero. Thus, at high temperatures, in particular in the upper range of the possible operating temperatures, axial contact between the edge and the step can occur radially on the inside, while at lower temperatures, which can still be in the operating temperature range, such axial contact does not occur. This can also be achieved by appropriate shaping of the rear floor in the area of the edge.

Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the combination indicated in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, the same reference numerals referring to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

Fig. 1

eine isometrische Ansicht eines Wärmetauschers,

Fig. 2

einen Axialschnitt des Wärmetauschers,

Fig. 3

ein vergrößertes Detail III aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 - 5

jeweils eine Detailansicht wie in Fig. 3, jedoch bei anderen Ausführungsformen,

Fig. 6

ein vergrößertes Detail VI aus Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 - 9

jeweils eine Detailansicht wie in Fig. 6, jedoch bei anderen Ausführungsformen,

Fig. 10

eine stark vereinfachte Prinzipdarstellung eines Wärmetauschers in I-Strom-Bauweise,

Fig. 11

eine stark vereinfachte Prinzipdarstellung eines Wärmetauschers in U-Strom-Bauweise.

Each shows schematically

Fig. 1

an isometric view of a heat exchanger,

Fig. 2

an axial section of the heat exchanger,

Fig. 3

an enlarged detail III from Fig. 2 ,

Figs. 4-5

each a detailed view as in Fig. 3 but in other embodiments,

Fig. 6

an enlarged detail VI from Fig. 2 ,

Fig. 7-9

each a detailed view as in Fig. 6 but in other embodiments,

Fig. 10

a very simplified schematic diagram of a heat exchanger in I-current construction,

Fig. 11

a very simplified schematic diagram of a heat exchanger in a U-current design.

According to the Figures 1 and 2 A heat exchanger 1 comprises a housing 2 and a heat exchanger block 3, which is located inside the housing 2 and therefore in FIG Fig. 1 is not visible. The housing 2 has a housing jacket 4, a working medium inlet 5, a working medium outlet 6, a cooling medium inlet 7 and a cooling medium outlet 8. The heat exchanger block 3 has a front floor 9 facing the working medium inlet 5 and a rear floor 10 facing away from the working medium inlet 5. Furthermore, the heat exchanger block 3 has a plurality of working medium tubes 11 for guiding a working medium 12, the working medium tubes 11 leading axially through the two trays 9, 10 and being firmly and tightly connected to the two trays 9, 10.

In the example presented here, the working medium inlet 5 comprises an associated inlet connector and has a fastening flange which is used to connect the heat exchanger 1 to a working medium line carrying the working medium, such as e.g. a charge air line, an exhaust gas recirculation line or an exhaust gas line. The working medium outlet 6 here also has an associated outlet connector and a fastening flange, which is used to connect the heat exchanger 1 to the working medium line. The coolant inlet 7 here comprises an associated inlet connection piece, which is used to connect the heat exchanger 1 to a cooling circuit carrying a coolant 13. Finally, the cooling medium outlet 8 here also has an associated outlet connector, which is used to connect the heat exchanger 1 to the cooling circuit.

The heat exchanger 1 is used for media-separated cooling of the working medium 12 with the aid of a cooling medium 13. In the working medium 12, which in the Figures 1 and 2 is indicated by arrows, it can preferably be a gas, such as charge air, recirculated exhaust gas and exhaust gas. In the cooling medium 13, which in the Figures 1 and 2 is indicated by arrows, it can be a liquid, such as a cooling liquid of a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine or a motor vehicle equipped with it. For the media-separated and heat-transferring coupling, a working medium path 14 indicated by arrows and a cooling medium path 15 likewise indicated by arrows are formed in the heat exchanger 1. The working medium path 14 leads from the working medium inlet 5 inside through the working medium pipes 11 to the working medium outlet 6. The coolant path 15 leads from the coolant inlet 7 outside around the working medium pipes 11 to the coolant outlet 8. In the example shown, the working medium pipes 11 are each linear and parallel to one another and to the side arranged side by side, ie radially next to each other, with 11 spaces radially between adjacent working medium tubes 16 are formed, which are also traversed by the cooling medium 13 of the cooling medium path 15.

Figure 2 it can further be seen that the working medium inlet 5 is expediently designed as a diffuser in order to distribute the working medium 12 supplied to the working medium pipes 11.

According to the Figures 2 to 5 the rear base 10 has a circumferential edge region or edge 17 projecting radially beyond the working medium pipes 11. Along the edge 17, the housing 2 has a circumferential step 18. Axially between the edge 17 and the step 18 a first ring seal 19 is now arranged, which acts axially and thus seals the edge 17 with respect to the step 18. The housing 2 now has at least one, but preferably a plurality of latching contours 20 in the region of this step 18. The respective latching contour 20 interacts with a counter-latching contour 21 which is located on the edge 17, the latching contour 20 being axially supported on the counter-latching contour 21 on a rear side 22 of the rim 17 facing away from the first ring seal 19. Generally, with the aid of the respective latching contour 20, a latching 23 for axially fixing the edge 17 to the step 18 is created. The latch 23 prevents the edge 17 from axially moving away from the step 18. Furthermore, the catch 23 causes the edge 17 to be positioned relative to the step 18 in an axial position in which the first ring seal 19 bears axially pretensioned both on the step 18 and on the edge 17. In summary, this means that the annular circumferential step 18 realizes an axial positioning of the heat exchanger block 3 in the housing 2. With the aid of the catch 23, the heat exchanger block 3 is axially fixed in the region of the rear floor 10. Both measures make it possible to be able to manufacture the heat exchanger block 3 outside the housing 2.

If, as is the case here, a plurality of latching contours 20 are provided, these are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and are distributed along the edge 17. The circumferential direction runs with respect to a longitudinal central axis 24 of the housing 2, which defines the axial direction, which extends parallel to the longitudinal central axis 24.

As particularly the enlarged views of the Figures 3 to 5 can be removed, the respective locking contour 20 preferably interacts directly with the rear side 22 of the edge 17, so that the edge 17 itself forms the counter-locking contour 21, specifically in the region of its radially outer outer edge. Accordingly, the locking contour 20 encompasses the edge 17 in the region of its outer edge.

In the Figures 2 to 5 the first ring seal 19 is shown in the usual manner in the relaxed state, so that the first ring seal 19 supposedly penetrates into the edge 17 or penetrates the edge 17. It is clear that, in reality, the first ring seal 19 lies axially against the edge 17, with a corresponding elastic deformation of the first ring seal 19 taking place.

In the example of the Figure 3 the edge 17 is axially supported with its front side 25, which faces the first ring seal 19, directly on the step 18. In this case, a receiving groove 26 is formed for the first ring seal 19 in step 18, in which the first ring seal 19 is inserted axially. In the example of the Figure 3 the first ring seal 19 is designed as a plastic seal.

In the example of the Figure 4 the edge 17 is supported axially on the step 18 exclusively via the first ring seal 19. In this case, the first ring seal 19 is designed as a disk-shaped metal bead seal. In this case, no receiving groove 26 is required.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment similar to in Figure 3 , in which the first ring seal 19 is designed as a plastic seal and is inserted into a receiving groove 26. However, it is also conceivable that the variant of Figure 4 to be used in which the first ring seal 19 is designed as a metal bead seal and in which the receiving groove 26 can be dispensed with. The peculiarity of the in Figure 5 The embodiment shown shows that the edge 17 is inclined with respect to a plane running perpendicular to the axial direction, so that at ambient temperature it only touches the step 18 radially on the outside, while it lifts radially on the inside from the step 18. This situation is in Figure 5 shown with a solid line. At the same time, a broken line shows a situation that occurs at operating temperature. At operating temperature, the edge 17 now also axially lies radially on the inside of the step 18. In general, the edge 17 of the rear base 10 can have an axial distance 27 from the step 18 radially inside, which is greater at ambient temperature than at operating temperature.

It is also noteworthy that the rear floor 10 in the embodiments of FIGS Figures 2 to 5 is spatially shaped in such a way that the edge 17 cooperating with the step 18 and the first ring seal 19 is axially offset from an area enclosed by the edge 17, which is firmly connected to the working medium pipes 11. This offset occurs at the rear floor 10 to the outside, that is to say axially away from the working medium pipes 11.

According to the Figures 1 and 2 the working medium inlet 5 is integrally formed on a connecting flange 28, which represents a separate component with respect to the jacket 4. In the example, the diffuser mentioned above is thus formed in the connecting flange 28. This connecting flange 28 is fastened to the jacket 4 by means of a fastening 29. The attachment 29 is here as a flange connection realized with several screw connections 30. According to the Figures 2 and 6 to 9 the front base 9 has a peripheral edge 31 which projects radially beyond the working medium tubes 11. This edge 31 is arranged axially between an axial jacket face 32 of the jacket 4 and an axial flange face 33. Furthermore, the edge 31 extends radially into the fastening 29. As a result, the edge 31 of the front base 9 is integrated into the attachment 29, so that with the aid of the attachment 29 on the one hand the connecting flange 28 on the jacket 4 and on the other hand the heat exchanger block 3 are fixed to the housing 2.

While the working medium inlet 5 is integrated in the connection flange 28, the coolant inlet 7 and the coolant outlet 8 as well as the latching contours 20 and the step 18 are integrated in the jacket 4.

In the example of the Figures 1 and 2 is the heat exchanger 1 designed in I-current construction, which according to Figure 10 characterized in that the working medium outlet 6 is axially opposite the working medium inlet 5. In contrast, shows Figure 11 a heat exchanger 1 in a U-current design, which is characterized in that working medium inlet 5 and working medium outlet 6 are located at the same axial end of the housing 2 and axially opposite a deflection chamber 34.

In the example of the Figures 1 and 2 , in which the heat exchanger 1 is designed in the I-current design, it is also provided that the working medium outlet 6 is integrally formed on the jacket 4. The jacket 4 merges into the working medium outlet 6 via a convergence region 35. A collecting chamber 36 is formed in the convergence area 35, in which the partial flows of the working medium 12 which are passed through the separate working medium pipes 11 are recombined and flow together to the working medium outlet 6. If, on the other hand, the heat exchanger 1 is designed in a U-current design, according to a preferred embodiment the working medium outlet 6 can also be integrally formed on the connection flange 28. The housing 2 then contains the deflection chamber 34. The working medium path 14 leads through at least one of the working medium pipes 11 from the working medium inlet 5 to the deflection chamber 34 and through at least one other of the working medium pipes 11 from the deflection chamber 34 to the working medium outlet 6. The housing 2 is then in the region of the deflection chamber 34 closed by a housing base 37. In a preferred embodiment, the housing base 37 is integrally formed on the casing 4. The deflection chamber 34 can be delimited by a metal housing (not shown here) which is inserted into the housing 2 and lines the casing 4 and the housing base 37 towards the deflection chamber 34 and protects it from contact with the working medium 12.

According to the Figures 2 and 6 to 9 For example, an axially acting second ring seal 38 can be provided in the region of the front base 9 between the associated edge 31 and the jacket end face 32. Furthermore, an axially acting third ring seal 39 can be provided axially between the edge 31 of the front base 9 and the flange end face 33. The second ring seal 38 and the third ring seal 39 can be designed as a plastic seal or as a metal bead seal.

The Figures 2 and 6 show an embodiment in which the second ring seal 38 is designed as a plastic seal and in which the third ring seal 39 is also designed as a plastic seal.

Figure 7 on the other hand shows an embodiment in which the second ring seal 38 is designed as a metal bead seal and in which the third ring seal 39 is also designed as a metal bead seal.

Figure 8 on the other hand shows an embodiment in which the second ring seal 38 is designed as a plastic seal, while the third ring seal 39 is designed as a metal bead seal.

Finally shows Figure 9 an embodiment in which the second ring seal 38 is designed as a metal bead seal, while the third ring seal 39 is designed as a plastic seal.

If the second ring seal 38 as in the examples of Figures 2 , 6 and 8th is designed as a plastic seal, the jacket end face 32 contains an associated receiving groove 40, in which the second ring seal 38 is inserted axially. If the third ring seal 39 as in the Figures 2 , 6 and 9 Is designed as a plastic seal, the flange end 33 contains a corresponding receiving groove 41, in which the third ring seal 39 is inserted axially.

The second ring seal 38 and the third ring seal 39 are also shown in FIGS Figures 2 and 6 to 9 each shown in the relaxed state, so that they seem to protrude into the edge 31 of the front base 9 or into the flange face 33. In reality, this is not the case, rather the second ring seal 38 and the third ring seal 39 are then elastically deformed in a corresponding manner and lie axially on the edge 31 or on the flange end face 33.

It is also noteworthy that the front base 9 is three-dimensionally shaped such that the edge 31 is axially offset with respect to an inner region of the front base 9 which is bordered by the edge 31, the inner region is firmly connected to the working medium pipes 11. The axial offset takes place inwards, that is in a direction facing the working medium pipes 11.

The in the Fig. 4 and 7 to 9 The metal bead seals shown are each formed by a metal disk which extends in a ring along the respective edge 17 or 31 and which has at least one axially projecting, closed circumferential sealing contour 42 which bears axially against the respective edge 17, 31 or on the flange end face 33 . The respective sealing contour 42 is integrally formed on the metal disk in the manner of a bead by reshaping. This sealing contour 42 can or several such sealing contours 42 can be arranged radially between an inner edge and an outer edge of the respective metal bead seal. In the examples shown here, only one such sealing contour 42 is formed on each metal bead seal, specifically by an S-shaped angled area on the inner edge.

An embodiment is now preferred in which the heat exchanger block 3, that is to say the bases 9, 10 and the working medium tubes 11, are each made of an iron alloy. Different iron alloys can also be used. As a result, the heat exchanger block 3 can have a high thermal resistance. Furthermore, the individual components of the heat exchanger block 3 can be joined outside the housing 2, that is to say in particular they can be welded or soldered. In contrast, the jacket 4 can be made of a plastic or a light metal alloy. The jacket 4 integrally has the locking contours 20 and the step 18. Furthermore, the jacket 4 preferably also has the coolant inlet 7 and the coolant outlet 8 integrally. In the I-current construction shown here, the working medium outlet 6 is optionally integrally formed on the jacket 4 with the transition region 35.

The connecting flange 28 is preferably made of a metal. Depending on the area of application of the heat exchanger 1, a light metal alloy or an iron alloy can also be used. In the I-current design, the working medium inlet 5 is integrally formed on the connecting flange 28. In the U-current design, the connection flange 28 can additionally have the working medium outlet 6.

The respective ring seal 19, 38, 39 runs in a ring-shaped manner in the circumferential direction, but can in principle have any cross section transverse to its direction of rotation.

Claims (15)

1. Heat exchanger for cooling a working medium (12) by means of a cooling medium (13) with separation of the mediums,

   - comprising a housing (2) having a housing casing (4), a working medium inlet (5), a working medium outlet (6), a cooling medium inlet (7) and a cooling medium outlet (8),

   - comprising a heat exchanger block (3) which is located in the inside of the housing (2) and has a front end cap (9) near the working medium inlet (5) and a rear end cap (10) remote from the working medium inlet (5), as well as multiple working medium pipes (11) for carrying the working medium (12), which pipes pass through the two end caps (9, 10) and are securely connected to the two end caps (9, 10),

   - wherein a working medium path (14) leads from the working medium inlet (5) internally through the working medium pipes (11) to the working medium outlet (6),

   - wherein a cooling medium path (15) leads from the cooling medium inlet (7) externally around the working medium pipes (11) to the cooling medium outlet (8),

   - wherein a first axial ring seal (19) is arranged axially between an edge (17) of the rear base (10), said edge running around and projecting radially over the working medium pipes (11), and a step (18) on the housing (2), said step running around along the edge (17),
   characterised in
   that the housing (2) has at least one clip-in contour (20) in its inside in the region of the step (18), which cooperates with a mating clip-in contour (21) on the edge (17) on a rear side (22) of the edge (17) facing away from the first ring seal (19).
2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1,
   characterised in
   that multiple clip-in contours (20) are provided, which are arranged distributed along the edge (17) and spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction.
3. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in
   that the respective clip-in contour (20) cooperates directly with the rear side (22) of the edge (17) as mating clip-in contour (21).
4. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in
   that the edge (17) is supported axially directly on the step (18) with a front side (25) facing the first ring seal (19).
5. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in
   that the first ring seal (19) is embodied as plastic seal.
6. Heat exchanger according to claim 5,
   characterised in
   that the step (18) comprises a location groove (26), into which the first ring seal (19) is inserted.
7. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in
   that the edge (17) is supported axially on the step (18) only via the first ring seal (19).
8. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and 7,
   characterised in
   that the first ring seal (19) is embodied as disc-shaped metal bead gasket.
9. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
   characterised in

   - that the working medium inlet (5) is configured integrally on a connecting flange (28), which is a separate component in relation to the casing (4) and is fastened on the casing (4) by means of a fastening (29),

   - that the front end cap (9) comprises an edge (31) running around and projecting radially over the working medium pipes (11), which edge is arranged axially between an axial casing end face (32) of the casing (4) and an axial flange end face (33) of the connecting flange (28) and can be incorporated into the fastening (29).
10. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in
    that the cooling medium inlet (7) and the cooling medium outlet (8) and also the respective clip-in contour (20) and the step (18) are formed integrally on the casing (4).
11. Heat exchanger according to claims 9 and 10,
    characterised in

    - that the heat exchanger (1) is embodied in U-flow design,

    - that the working medium outlet (6) is formed integrally on the connecting flange (28),

    - that a diversion chamber (34) is provided in the housing (2),

    - that the working medium path (14) leads through at least one working medium pipe (11) from the working medium inlet (5) to the diversion chamber (34) and leads through at least one other working medium pipe (11) from the diversion chamber (34) to the working medium outlet (6),

    - that the housing (2) is closed in the region of the diversion chamber (34) by a housing end cap (37), which is formed integrally on the casing (4).
12. Heat exchanger according to claims 9 and 10,
    characterised in

    - that the heat exchanger (1) is embodied in l-flow design,

    - that the working medium outlet (6) lies axially opposite the working medium inlet (5) and is formed integrally on the casing (4).
13. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 9 to 12,
    characterised in

    - that an axial second ring seal (38) is provided axially between the edge (31) of the front end cap (9) and the casing end face (32),

    - that an axial third ring seal (39) is provided axially between the edge (31) of the front end cap (9) and the flange end face (33).
14. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
    characterised in

    - that the heat exchanger block (3) is manufactured from an iron alloy,

    - that the casing (4) is manufactured from a plastic or from a light metal alloy.
15. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
    characterised in
    that the edge (17) is inclined in relation to a plane running perpendicular to the axial direction, such that at ambient temperature it touches the step (18) only radially on the outside, while it rises from the step (18) radially on the inside.

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