EP3964782A1

EP3964782A1 - A heat exchanger assembly

Info

Publication number: EP3964782A1
Application number: EP20461560.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lukasz BARUS; Artur DOMITER; Piotr ROMANSKI; Karol FURMAN
Original assignee: Valeo Autosystemy Sp zoo
Current assignee: Valeo Autosystemy Sp zoo
Priority date: 2020-09-04
Filing date: 2020-09-04
Publication date: 2022-03-09

Abstract

Heat exchanger assembly, comprising a heat exchanger (10) connected to a first side mounting portion (100) and a second side mounting portion (200), wherein the heat exchanger (10) is connected to the first side mounting portion (100) by means of a first connection assembly (110) and is connected to the second side mounting portion (200) by a second connection assembly (210), the first connection assembly (110) being a releasable spheroid joint.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to heat exchangers. In particular, in relates to automotive heat exchangers for exchanging heat between air and a heat exchange fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heat exchangers can be mounted in vehicles to exchange heat between fluid used by vehicle's systems and air, especially during movement of the vehicle. For this purpose, heat exchangers with tubes connecting two tanks are usually used. The air, e.g. ram air, travels between and around the tubes to exchange heat with a heat exchange fluid travelling through the tubes.
Heat exchanger, e.g. a radiator, can be fixed to the vehicle's body by means of attachment means located on tanks for the heat exchange fluid, which are part of the heat exchanger.
In case of serial production, it may happen that there is a need to change the dimensions of the heat exchanger, e.g. to a one with a higher or smaller amount of tubes within the heat exchanger core, or to change the position of the existing core with respect to the vehicle's body and/or the heat exchange module. This may be difficult to implement, as it may require different sets of attachment means and/or tank designs, possibly also requiring adaptation of the attachment portion on the vehicle's body or heat exchange module. It would be desirable to avoid preparing different designs to accommodate changing needs to the best possible extent.
It would be desirable to provide a heat exchange assembly, which would enable greater flexibility in terms of adaptation of the design to different sizes of the cores.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is, a heat exchanger assembly, comprising a heat exchanger connected to a first side mounting portion and a second side mounting portion, wherein the heat exchanger is connected to the first side mounting portion by means of a first connection assembly and is connected to the second side mounting portion by a second connection assembly, the first connection assembly being a releasable spheroid joint.
Preferably, the second connection assembly is releasable.
Preferably, the first connection assembly comprises a first spheroid joint member located on the heat exchanger, and a second spheroid joint member located on the first side mounting portion.
Preferably, the heat exchanger comprises a first fluid tank, and the first spheroid joint member is attached to the first tank.
Preferably, the heat exchanger comprises a second fluid tank, and the second connection assembly is attached to the second tank.
Preferably, the first connection assembly comprises at least two second spheroid joint members adapted for releasable connection with the first spheroid joint member.
Preferably, the first fluid tank has a general extension axis X, and the at least two second spheroid joint members are aligned along an axis parallel to the general extension axis X of the first heat exchange tank.
In another option, the first fluid tank has a general extension axis X, and the at least two second spheroid joint members are aligned along an axis Z perpendicular to the general extension axis X of the tank.
Preferably, the first spheroid joint member is located eccentrically with respect to the first tank when measured along its general extension axis X.
Preferably, the first spheroid joint member is located on an arm extending from the heat exchanger towards the second spheroid joint member.
Preferably, the first spheroid joint member comprises a sphere element, while the second spheroid joint member comprises a socket adapted for receiving and holding the sphere element.
Preferably, the second spheroid joint member comprises a bottom portion and a top portion connected to the bottom portion, wherein at least one of them is at least partly shaped so as to complement the sphere element of the first spheroid joint member.
Preferably, the second spheroid joint member is configured to enable relative movement of the top portion with respect to the bottom portion during insertion and/or removal of the first spheroid joint member.
Preferably, the bottom portion and the top portion comprise cutouts and respectively, for accommodating the sphere element of the first spheroid joint member.
Preferably, the second connection assembly comprises a latching connection situated on a first portion of the second tank, and a positioning pin on a second portion of the second tank, remote with respect to the first portion of the second tank.

BRIEF DESCRITPTION OF DRAWINGS

Examples of the invention will be apparent from and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a first connection assembly in a perspective view;
Figs. 2 and 3 show components of the first connection assembly in a detached state;
Figs. 4a and 4b show a second example of the first connection assembly in two connection configurations;
Fig. 5 shows a heat exchanger assembly according to the invention;
Fig. 6 presents a detailed view of a second connection assembly of the heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The object of the invention is a heat exchanger assembly. The heat exchanger assembly comprises a heat exchanger 10 connected to a first side mounting portion 100 and connected to a second side mounting portion 200, as seen in Fig. 5. The first side mounting portion 100 and the second side mounting portion 200 can be for example parts of a vehicle heat exchange module or parts of the vehicle's body.
The heat exchanger 10 is connected to the first side mounting portion 100 by means of a first connection assembly 110. The heat exchanger 10 is connected to the second side mounting portion 200 by a second connection assembly 210. The first connection assembly 110 is a releasable spheroid joint.
Fig. 1 shows a first connection assembly in a perspective view. The heat exchanger 10 comprises a first fluid tank 11, and the first connection assembly 110 is attached to the first tank 11.
Figs. 2 and 3 show components of the first connection assembly in a detached state. The first connection assembly 110 comprises a first spheroid joint member 111 located on the heat exchanger 10, and a second spheroid joint member 115 located on the first side mounting portion 100. Preferably, the first spheroid joint member 111 is attached to the first tank 11.
The first spheroid joint member 111 may comprise a sphere element, while the second spheroid joint member 115 comprises a socket adapted for receiving and holding the sphere element 111. Due to nature of these shapes and it being a spheroid joint, the connected elements are enabled to rotate accordingly with respect to each other when subject to external forces. This may enable relative movement of the tank 11 with respect to the side mounting portions 100, 200, e.g. when the core deforms due to thermal influence. Negative effects of such deformation on the connection can thus be decreased or eliminated.
The second spheroid joint member 115 may comprise a bottom portion 1151 and a top portion 1152 connected to the bottom portion 1151, wherein at least one of them is at least partly shaped so as to complement the sphere element of the first spheroid joint member 111. Preferably, the second spheroid joint member 115 is configured to enable relative movement of the top portion 1152 with respect to the bottom portion 1151 during insertion and/or removal of the first spheroid joint member 111. This may be enabled by utilizing elastically deforming materials to connect the portions. This can enable or facilitate insertion and/or removal of the first spheroid joint member 111 to or from the second spheroid joint member 115.
The bottom portion 1151 and the top portion 1152 may comprise cutouts 1151c and 1152c respectively, for accommodating the sphere element of the first spheroid joint member 111.
The first connection assembly 100 may comprise two or more second spheroid joint members 115 adapted for releasable connection with the first spheroid joint member 111. In one example, the plurality of the second joint members 115 is located on the first side mounting portion 10. In any case, the sphere element can be present on the tank 11, or it can be carried out in plurality on the first side mounting portion 100, with the corresponding complementary shaped element or elements being located on the remaining component. In other words, the sphere element and the socket can have their position reversed while maintaining their function.
In the examples shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the first fluid tank 11 has a general extension axis X, and the at least two second spheroid joint members 115 are aligned along an axis Y parallel to the general extension axis X of the first heat exchange tank 11. In the shown example, the two second spheroid joint members 115 are located on the first side mounting portion 100. The first spheroid joint member 111 may be located on an arm 111b extending from the heat exchanger 10 in the direction of the second spheroid joint member 115.
Figs. 4a and 4b show a second example of the first connection assembly in two connection configurations. In this example, the first fluid tank 11 has a general extension axis X, and the at least two second spheroid joint members 115 are aligned along an axis Z perpendicular to the general extension axis X of the tank, i.e. parallel to the general extension direction of tubes of the core. The first spheroid joint member 111 is located on an arm 112 extending from the heat exchanger 10 in the direction of the second spheroid joint member 115.
In general, provision of a plurality of second spheroid joint members 115 allows to facilitate usage of multiple heat exchanger core sizes, positions or orientations with minimal change to the existing design of applied connection means.
In any case, the first spheroid joint member 111 may be located eccentrically with respect to the first tank 11 when measured along the extension axis X. In other words, the first spheroid joint member 111 is located closer to one of the short sides of generally rectangular outline of the tank 11. Thanks to such configuration, it is possible to switch vertical orientation of existing heat exchanger and therefore change the exposure of the core to the incoming air. This may be useful if it is desired to free one portion of the heat exchanger assembly at the expense of the other, for example when another heat exchanger needs to be introduced to the assembly. The existing heat exchanger can effectively be moved downwards or upwards without any change to the connection assembly.
Fig. 5 shows a heat exchanger assembly according to the invention, while Fig. 6 presents a detailed view of a second connection assembly of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger 10 comprises a second fluid tank 12, and the second connection assembly 210 is attached to the second tank 12. Preferably, the second connection assembly 210 is releasable.
The second connection assembly 210 comprises a latching connection 211 situated on a first portion of the second tank 12, and a positioning pin 212 on a second portion of the second tank 12, remote with respect to the first portion of the second tank 12.
It is envisaged to carry out the second connection assembly 210 so that it has analogous design to the first side mounting portion 100, i.e. the heat exchanger assembly to have symmetrical connection configuration on both of its sides.
Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to the advantage.

Claims

Heat exchanger assembly, comprising a heat exchanger (10) connected to a first side mounting portion (100) and a second side mounting portion (200), wherein the heat exchanger (10) is connected to the first side mounting portion (100) by means of a first connection assembly (110) and is connected to the second side mounting portion (200) by a second connection assembly (210), the first connection assembly (110) being a releasable spheroid joint.
Heat exchanger assembly of claim 1, wherein the second connection assembly (210) is releasable.
Heat exchanger according to any preceding claim, wherein the first connection assembly (110) comprises a first spheroid joint member (111) located on the heat exchanger (10), and a second spheroid joint member (115) located on the first side mounting portion (100).
Heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the heat exchanger (10) comprises a first fluid tank (11), and the first spheroid joint member (111) is attached to the first tank (11).
Heat exchanger according to any preceding claim, wherein the heat exchanger (10) comprises a second fluid tank (12), and the second connection assembly (210) is attached to the second tank (12).
Heat exchanger according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first connection assembly (110) comprises at least two second spheroid joint members (115) adapted for releasable connection with the first spheroid joint member (111).
Heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the first fluid tank (11) has a general extension axis (X), and the at least two second spheroid joint members (115) are aligned along an axis (Y) parallel to the general extension axis (X) of the first heat exchange tank (11).
Heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the first fluid tank (11) has a general extension axis (X), and the at least two second spheroid joint members (115) are aligned along an axis (Z) perpendicular to the general extension axis (X) of the tank.
Heat exchanger according to any preceding claim, wherein the first spheroid joint member (111) is located eccentrically with respect to the first tank (11) when measured along its general extension axis (X).
Heat exchanger assembly according to any of claims 3 to 9, wherein the first spheroid joint member (111) is located on an arm (111b, 112) extending from the heat exchanger (10) towards the second spheroid joint member (115).
Heat exchanger assembly according to any of claims 3 to 10, wherein the first spheroid joint member (111) comprises a sphere element, while the second spheroid joint member (115) comprises a socket adapted for receiving and holding the sphere element (111).
Heat exchanger assembly according to claim 11, wherein the second spheroid joint member (115) comprises a bottom portion (1151) and a top portion (1152) connected to the bottom portion (1151), wherein at least one of them is at least partly shaped so as to complement the sphere element of the first spheroid joint member (111).
Heat exchanger assembly according to claim 12, wherein the second spheroid joint member (115) is configured to enable relative movement of the top portion (1152) with respect to the bottom portion (1151) during insertion and/or removal of the first spheroid joint member (111).
Heat exchanger assembly according to any of claims 12-13, wherein the bottom portion (1151) and the top portion (1152) comprise cutouts (1151c) and (1152c) respectively, for accommodating the sphere element of the first spheroid joint member (111).
Heat exchanger assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second connection assembly (210) comprises a latching connection (211) situated on a first portion of the second tank (12), and a positioning pin (212) on a second portion of the second tank (12), remote with respect to the first portion of the second tank (12).