EP3976971A1

EP3976971A1 - Cooler

Info

Publication number: EP3976971A1
Application number: EP20758096.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas Euler-Rolle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: ALPVER VERMOEGENS- und LIEGENSCHAFTSVERWALTUNGS GmbH
Priority date: 2019-05-28
Filing date: 2020-05-28
Publication date: 2022-04-06
Also published as: AT522171B1; AT522171A4; WO2020237273A1; CN113544367A; CN113544367B

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooler (1), comprising: a fan having a substantially rigid fan housing (4) which encloses a fan air-flow space (9); a heat exchanger having a substantially rigid heat-exchanger housing (6) which encloses a heat-exchanger air-flow space (12); and an air-guide element (2) which connects the fan air-flow space (9) inside the fan housing (4) to the heat-exchanger air-flow space (12) inside the heat-exchanger housing (6) in a substantially fluid-tight manner. The air-guide element (2) is formed from a flexible, in particular rubber-elastic, material, and at least one rigid connection (14) is provided between the fan housing (4) and the heat-exchanger housing (6).

Description

cooler

The invention relates to a cooler, comprising:

- a fan with a substantially rigid

Fan housing, which encloses a fan air flow space,

- a heat exchanger with a substantially rigid

Heat exchanger housing which encloses a heat exchanger air flow space, and

- An air guide element, which the fan air flow space within the fan housing with the heat exchanger air flow space within the

The heat exchanger housing connects essentially fluid-tight, the air guiding element made of a flexible,

in particular rubber-elastic material is formed.

Cooling devices are used in the prior art for a wide variety of applications, for example as engine coolers. A cooling system has become known from DE 10 2012 018 571 B3. The cooling system has a fan for generating a cooling air flow and a heat exchanger for cooling a medium,

for example cooling water, with the help of the cooling air flow. A connection channel for conveying cooling air to the heat exchanger is formed between the fan and the heat exchanger.

This design of coolers has in principle

proven, but has the disadvantage that the

Connection channel between heat exchanger and fan must be designed and dimensioned for the respective application. Accordingly, until now, suitable fans and heat exchanger housings had to be suitable for each size and shape of the respective fan and heat exchanger housing

Connection channels are provided, which, however

disadvantageously associated with high manufacturing and planning costs. Furthermore, they are not optimal

Flow conditions in the known connecting channel. Furthermore there is a need for improvement with regard to the

Noise development.

The AT 515 865 Bl, for example, offers a solution to achieve greater variability in the modular production of fans. In order to avoid expensive injection-molded parts, this is

Fan housing made from a textile element. The

Textile element has several textile segments arranged so as to overlap in the circumferential direction to form a

Air guiding jacket, which surrounds the fan wheel.

A fan housing made of a flexible fabric is also known from US Pat. No. 2,198,420 A. The distance between an opening in a floor and a ring surrounding a fan is bridged by the flexible fabric.

With these approaches, the fan housing should be made of flexible materials. In practice, however,

significant stability problems occur. Neither of these two documents discloses the use of a heat exchanger and therefore also no connection between a fan housing and a heat exchanger housing.

DE 10 2017 200 222 Al relates to a cooling device for

Motor vehicle engines with a heat exchanger and a fan wheel, which are connected to one another by fan shrouds made of rubber-elastic material. In this prior art, the flexible connecting section can only have a short axial extension in order to just be able to withstand the loads during operation - including the vibrations.

JP H 02 196 198 A discloses a radiator cover between a radiator inlet opening and a fan bracket. The

The radiator cover is made of an elastic material.

CN 205 047 290 U relates to a cooler housing with a

Radiator frame, a rubber ring and a mounting frame, wherein a cooling fan is arranged inside the radiator frame. The cooler frame is made of plastic that

Rubber ring made of flexible, rubber-elastic material and the

Mounting frame made of sheet steel. The top of the rubber ring is fastened in the groove of the mounting frame. The

The mounting frame is connected to the engine block using combination screws.

In addition, in the prior art, cf. DE 40 15 259 A1, US 4 774 911 A and CN 104 747 266 A, fan casings and

Cuffs for fans, radiator fans or the like. out

rubber-elastic material known for example from documents, which create simple assembly conditions through their design.

US 2017 275 458 Al discloses the application of

Polyamide resin compositions for the manufacture of

Radiator housings, these compositions being conductive

May contain additives.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to eliminate or at least alleviate at least individual disadvantages of the prior art. The invention is therefore particularly aimed at a cooler

To create the type mentioned in the introduction, in which a fluid-tight connection with little structural effort

different fan and heat exchanger housing is to be achieved. A further aim of the invention is to improve the flow conditions between the fan and the heat exchanger and / or to reduce the development of noise during operation of the cooler.

This object is achieved by a cooler with the features of claim 1. Preferred versions are in the

dependent claims. Accordingly, the air guiding element is formed from a flexible, in particular rubber-elastic, material.

Due to the flexible, in particular rubber-elastic, design of the air guiding element, the air guiding element can be structurally simple, but nevertheless stable and durable

Connection between the fan air flow space of the

Fan housing and the heat exchanger air flow space of the heat exchanger housing can be achieved. The air guiding element guides the air flow in the axial direction (based on the

Central axis of the fan) between the fan air flow space of the fan housing and the heat exchange air flow space of the heat exchanger housing. For this purpose, the air guide element extends from a heat exchanger air outlet opening of the heat exchanger to a fan air inlet opening of the fan. Depending on the application, the air flow can also be directed in the opposite direction, so that the heat exchanger air outlet opening of the heat exchanger is designed as a heat exchanger air inlet opening and the fan air inlet opening of the fan is designed as a fan air outlet opening. The flexible one

Air guiding element can be attached in a particularly simple manner

different installation situations can be adapted. Unlike the injection molded or sheet metal parts of parts of the stand of

Technology, the air guiding element is so flexible, i. essentially freely deformable, so that an adaptation of the transition from the fan housing to the heat exchanger housing is significantly facilitated. For the purposes of this disclosure, the flexible configuration of the air guiding element is intended to mean that the air guiding element can be bent over, folded or otherwise deformed in all directions like a dog. The use of a rubber-elastic material for the air guiding element is particularly advantageous, as a result of which, on the one hand, a high

Tear resistance and, on the other hand, a particularly effective one

Airtightness achieved. It is also advantageous that favorable flow conditions within the

Air guiding element can be achieved because a continuous, flow-optimized transition between different

Housing shapes of the fan and heat exchanger housing

can be created. In addition, the

Air guiding element has a low tendency to wear, even in a damp environment. It is particularly advantageous that the flexible, in particular rubber-elastic, material of the

Air guide element can absorb and dampen mechanical vibrations of the fan. This advantageously results in a particularly low level during operation of the cooler

Noise development. In contrast to injection molded or sheet metal parts, the inner surface has a rubber-elastic effect

Air guiding elements when impacting, for example

Sound absorbing dust particles. By choosing a thicker wall thickness for the air guiding element, additional sound insulation can be achieved. In contrast, they are

The fan housing and the heat exchanger housing are essentially rigid, i. dimensionally stable, designed and therefore much less easily deformed compared to the air guiding element. One aspect of the invention is therefore that which is surprising

Knowledge, not the fan or that

Heat exchanger housing through flexible materials for

to train different purposes, but the rigid design of the fan and heat exchanger housing

and only what is in between

To make air guide element flexible. Thus, the

Variability of the cooler can be increased without impairing the stability of the cooler.

In order to permanently withstand the loads occurring during operation of the cooler and to keep the fan housing in the

To keep the intended position to the heat exchanger housing, at least one rigid connection between the fan housing and the heat exchanger housing is provided according to the invention. The fan housing and the heat exchanger housing can thus be held in the predetermined position relative to one another by the rigid connection, regardless of the operating loads.

Advantageously, the rigid connection enables the flexible air guiding element to be comparatively long

design, whereby an even higher adaptability is achieved and also the flow properties are significantly improved.

Depending on the design, the fan can be a fan wheel with attached fan blades and a motor for

Have drive of the fan wheel.

In a preferred embodiment variant, the

Fan housing a fan air inlet opening with a first cross section and the heat exchanger housing a

Heat exchanger air outlet opening with a second cross section, the first cross section from the second cross section

is different.

The assembly consisting of the

Fan housing, the heat exchanger housing and the

Air guiding element through appropriate expansion of the flexible air guiding element for different cross-sectional dimensions and / or cross-sectional geometries of the fan or

Heat exchanger are designed. For example, an air inlet opening of the fan with a comparatively small cross-sectional area can thus be combined with an air outlet opening of the heat exchanger with a comparatively larger one

Cross-sectional area be connected via the same air guiding element as with two equally large cross-sectional areas of the air inlet and air outlet opening. The variable

Usability, cost savings can be achieved, it being possible to dispense with the production of different injection-molded or sheet metal parts for the different air guiding elements. With regard to a technically simple and technically

inexpensive manufacture is the first cross-section

preferably essentially circular and / or the second cross section preferably essentially rectangular,

in particular essentially square.

The different geometries of the respective

Air flow spaces cause in addition to the simple and

inexpensive production an excellent air flow within the air guide element. The flexible,

preferably rubber-elastic, air guiding element, a flexible and flowing transition between the different cross-sections can be achieved in a simple manner. This increases the performance of the cooler. Furthermore, the development of noise is reduced.

The heat exchanger housing preferably has a flange, in particular essentially square, protruding in the direction of the fan housing, to which one end of the flexible air guiding element is fastened. One end of the flexible air guiding element is preferably slipped over the outside of the flange. In a preferred embodiment, the flange is essentially rectangular, in particular essentially square, with rounded corners being able to be provided. The flange encloses the air outlet opening of the heat exchanger.

Correspondingly, the fan can have a fastening flange, in particular with a circular cross section, to which the other end of the flexible air guiding element is attached.

With a structurally simple, stable and with little

In an embodiment that is easy to assemble, the rigid connection between the fan housing and the heat exchanger housing has a rod, in particular a threaded rod. The rod preferably extends essentially parallel to the central axis of the fan air inlet opening.

Preferably, several, in particular four, rods parallel to one another between the fan housing and the

Arranged heat exchanger housing. The flange of the

The heat exchanger housing can have protruding ear parts on which the one ends of the rods are arranged. The other ends of the rods are preferably at corner areas

square mounting plate of the fan housing.

To optimize the flow conditions, it can be advantageous if the central axis of the fan air inlet opening of the fan housing is arranged offset in the radial direction to the central axis of the heat exchanger air outlet opening of the heat exchanger housing. This design enables a particularly flexible arrangement of the fan housing relative to the

Heat exchanger housing. For example, the

cooler according to the invention in an advantageous manner for the

Use as an engine cooler in narrow and angled engine compartments of a motor vehicle.

To avoid electrostatic charges within the

To avoid air guiding element, the air guiding element is preferably electrically conductive. This counteracts possible spark formation, which can arise from the contact between sucked-in particles, such as dust particles, and the inner surface of the air guiding element. Accordingly, the cooler according to the invention can also be compulsorily

Use explosion-proof environments.

In a preferred variant, the material of the air guiding element is a conductive rubber. For example, has the conductive rubber of the rubber-elastic air guiding jacket has a mixture of at least one elastomer and at least one electrically conductive metal and / or an electrically conductive alloy of two or more metals. The electrically conductive metals and / or the electrically conductive alloys are incorporated into the elastomer in the form of particles and / or wires. The combination of at least one of: silicone, fluorosilicone, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber or neoprene and at least one of: Monel, is particularly suitable for the production of conductive rubber

Aluminum, silver-aluminum, silver-glass, silver-copper or nickel-graphite.

The invention is hereinafter illustrated by preferred

Embodiments, to which it is not intended to be limited, explained in more detail. Show in detail in the

Drawing:

1 schematically shows a perspective view of a

cooler according to the invention, in which a flexible

Air guiding element connects a rigid fan housing with a rigid heat exchanger housing.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the

cooler according to the invention, in which the flexible

Air guiding element has been removed to provide a better view of a

Released fan air inlet opening of the fan housing and a heat exchanger air outlet opening of the heat exchanger housing.

Fig. 3 is a side view of another according to the invention

Cooler in which the fan air inlet opening of the

Fan housing is smaller than the heat exchanger air outlet opening of the heat exchanger housing and the

Central axes of the fan air inlet opening and the

Coincide heat exchanger air outlet opening. 4 shows a sectional view of a further cooler according to the invention, in which the fan air inlet opening of the fan housing has a larger radius than the height of the

Has heat exchanger air outlet opening of the heat exchanger housing and the central axes of the fan air inlet opening and the heat exchanger air outlet opening are radially offset from one another.

In Fig. 1, a cooler 1 is shown with an air guide element 2, which has a fan housing 4 with a

Heat exchanger housing 6 connects. The fan housing 4 surrounds a fan element 3 which generates an air flow. The heat exchanger housing 6 surrounds a heat exchanger 5, in which a medium to be cooled by the air flow of the

Fan element 3 is cooled. The fan housing 4 has a fan air inlet opening 7 and a fan air outlet opening 8, which delimit a fan air flow space 9 on both sides. The

Heat exchanger housing 6 encloses a heat exchanger air flow space 12 between a heat exchanger air inlet opening 10 and a heat exchanger air outlet opening 11.

According to the invention, the air guiding element 2 is essentially flexible, in particular rubber-elastic, whereas the

Heat exchanger housing 6 and the fan housing 4 in the

Essentially rigid, i.e. dimensionally stable, are. The fan air inlet opening 7 of the fan housing 4 and the second air outlet opening 11 of the heat exchanger housing 6 are connected to one another in an essentially fluid-tight manner by the flexible air guiding element 2.

In the embodiment shown, the fan air inlet opening 7 of the fan housing 4 has an im

Essentially circular cross-section and the heat exchanger air outlet opening 11 has an essentially rectangular, here essentially square, cross-section. One end of the flexible air guide element 2 is on a substantially square, the heat exchanger

Flange 19 surrounding the air outlet opening 11 is turned up. The other end of the flexible air guiding element 2 is fastened to a fastening flange 13 of the fan housing 4. The fastening flange 13 is designed to be essentially cylindrical, corresponding to the fan air inlet opening 7.

In the embodiment shown, the cooler 1 has four rigid ones

Connections 14 between the fan housing 4 and the

Heat exchanger housing 6. As rigid connections are

Threaded rods 14 are provided. The heat exchanger housing 6 has ear parts 15 protruding from the flange 19 for receiving the one ends of the threaded rods 14. The other ends of the

Threaded rods 14 are preferably attached to the corner areas 16 of a square retaining plate of the fan housing 4.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 (not showing the air guiding element 2), the heat exchanger housing 6 has a number of cooling elements 17 in the interior of the air flow space 12. In the embodiment shown, several are parallel to one another

arranged lines 17 provided for a fluid to be cooled. The lines 17 extend essentially perpendicular to the air flow with which the fluid is cooled. The fan housing 4 can have an air-permeable protective cover.

Fig. 3 shows a cooler 1, in which the central axis Ml of the fan air inlet opening 7 with the central axis M2 of the

Heat exchanger air outlet opening 11 collapses.

4 shows a cooler 1 in which the central axis M1 of the fan air inlet opening 7 is offset in the radial direction to the central axis M2 of the heat exchanger air outlet opening 11. Due to the offset of the two central axes Ml, M2, the air guiding element 2 is in relation to the respective central axis Ml, M2 designed as an asymmetrical body of revolution. Starting from the flange 19 on the heat exchanger housing, the flexible air guiding element 2 expands in the direction of the fastening flange 13 with respect to the central axis M2.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Cooler (1), comprising:

- a fan with a substantially rigid

Fan housing (4), which encloses a fan air flow space (9),

- a heat exchanger with a substantially rigid

Heat exchanger housing (6) which encloses a heat exchanger air flow space (12), and

- An air guiding element (2) which connects the fan air flow space (9) within the fan housing (4) with the heat exchanger air flow space (12) within the heat exchanger housing (6) in an essentially fluid-tight manner,

- wherein the air guide element (2) consists of a flexible,

in particular rubber-elastic, material is formed, characterized in that at least one rigid connection (14) between the fan housing (4) and the

Heat exchanger housing (6) is provided.

2. Cooler (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fan housing (4) has a fan air inlet opening (7) with a first cross section and the heat exchanger housing (6) has a heat exchanger air outlet opening (11) with a second

Has cross section, the first cross section being different from the second cross section.

3. Cooler (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first cross section is essentially circular and / or that the second cross section is essentially rectangular, in particular essentially square.

4. cooler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized

characterized in that the heat exchanger housing (6) has an in

Direction of the fan housing (4) protruding, in particular has a substantially square flange (19) to which one end of the flexible air guiding element is attached.

5. cooler (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized

characterized in that the rigid connection (14) between the fan housing (4) and the heat exchanger housing (6) has a rod, in particular a threaded rod.

6. cooler (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized

characterized in that the central axis (Ml) of the fan air inlet opening (7) of the fan housing (4) is arranged offset in the radial direction to the central axis (M2) of the heat exchanger air outlet opening (11) of the heat exchanger housing (6).

7. cooler (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized

characterized in that the air guiding element (2) is electrically conductive.

8. cooler (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the material of the air guiding element (2) is a conductive rubber.