EP4685426A1

EP4685426A1 - End plate arrangement of a heat exchanger with improved connection tubes

Info

Publication number: EP4685426A1
Application number: EP24190154.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel Turchin-Muzykant; Roman Satosek
Original assignee: Danfoss AS
Current assignee: Danfoss AS
Priority date: 2024-07-22
Filing date: 2024-07-22
Publication date: 2026-01-28

Abstract

The invention relates to an end plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) for a stacked plate heat exchanger. The end plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) comprises an end plate (2) and at least one connection tube (3, 24) that is fixedly attached to the end plate (2). The connection tube (3, 24) comprises at least one functional collar (11) that is fixedly attached to a section of the connection tube (3, 24) in a way that it remains fixed under usual operational conditions of a stacked plate heat exchanger.

Description

The invention relates to an end plate arrangement for a heat exchanger, in particular for a stacked plate heat exchanger. The invention further relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a stacked plate heat exchanger. Even further, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a connection tube for an end plate arrangement, in particular for an end plate arrangement of a stacked plate heat exchanger.
Heat exchangers are commonly used in a wide variety of technical applications. They are used when thermal energy has to be transferred between two different fluids (gases and/or liquids), without bringing the respective fluids into direct contact. They are used both in stationary, and in mobile applications.
Depending on the field of application, a variety of different types of heat exchangers exist. Just to name a couple of parameters that might influence the choice of the type of heat exchanger to be used: temperatures of the fluids involved, pressure level, type of substances, physical state of the fluids involved, throughput rates and the like might influence the choice.
A particular type of heat exchanger is the so-called stacked plate heat exchanger. In particular, it is frequently used (but not limited to such cases) if the two fluids involved are at least along a part of their fluid path in a liquid state.
Irrespective of the exact type of the heat exchanger, a heat exchanger has to be provided with fluid inlets and outlets. For this, tube like connection members are usually provided at at least one side of the respective heat exchanger. To this respective tube like connection member, a hose, a tube or any type of suitable fluid conduit may be attached. Usually, the tube like member (commonly referred to as the connection tube) is attached to an end plate that usually provides mechanical stability for the heat exchanger, and that further serves as a sealing/cover of a neighbouring fluid conduit with respect to the surroundings. Quite often, the end plate shows an increased thickness (but not necessarily), because the end plate is not mechanically supported by pressurised fluid or the like on its side that neighbours the ambient surroundings.
Certainly, a large variety of end plate arrangements for heat exchangers are known in the state of the art.
However, there is always an urge for cost reductions without (significantly) impeding the functionality (pressure resistance, mechanical strength, lifetime et cetera) of the end plate arrangement for the heat exchanger, and thus of the heat exchanger itself.
A particular problem of the connection tubes that are used as fluid connections for external tubes and hoses for supplying the heat exchanger with fluid is to provide a sufficient mechanical stability of the end plate arrangement. It is usually not viable to use simple tube for this purpose. This is because the size of the area of mechanical contact to the end plate is rather small, and therefore the mechanical stability of the mechanical connection between the end plate and the connection tube is accordingly low. Therefore, according to the prior art, some kind of protruding rims are provided for the connection tube. This way, the contact surface of the connection tube with the end plate is increased, and therefore the mechanical stability of the arrangement is increased.
Another problem is to provide a plurality of different connection designs to external tubes or hoses with a certain basic design of an end plate arrangement for a heat exchanger/of a heat exchanger. According to the state-of-the-art, different end tubes had to be provided, and an accordingly large number of different varieties of end plate arrangements/heat exchangers had to be produced and stored.
However, providing such protruding rims (for example a deformation of the connection tube and/or the like) usually requires a plurality of manufacturing steps and is therefore quite time-consuming and costly. This of course hinders cost reductions.
Therefore, there is a need for an end plate arrangement that has the potential for cost reductions, while not introducing significant adverse effects, in particular on mechanical stability and lifetime of the end plate arrangement for a heat exchanger, and hence of the heat exchanger as such.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to suggest an end plate arrangement for a heat exchanger that comprises an end plate and at least one connection tube that is fixedly attached to the end plate, and that is improved over end plate arrangements of this type as they are known in the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to suggest a heat exchanger, comprising an end plate arrangement with an end plate and at least one connection tube that is fixedly attached to the end plate, and that is improved over heat exchangers of this type as they are known in the prior art.
It is yet another object of the present invention to suggest a method of manufacturing a connection tube for an end plate arrangement, in particular for an end plate arrangement for a heat exchanger that is improved over such methods as they are known in the prior art.
It is suggested to design an end plate arrangement for a heat exchanger that comprises an end plate and at least one connection tube that is fixedly attached to the end plate in a way that the connection tube comprises at least one functional collar that is fixedly attached to a section of the connection tube. The heat exchanger, for which the end plate arrangement may be used, may be particularly a stacked plate heat exchanger. Further, the functional collar may be fixedly attached to the connection tube in a way that it remains fixed under usual operational conditions of a heat exchanger, preferably of a stacked plate heat exchanger. The end plate usually forms the outermost plate on one side of a completed heat exchanger/stacked plate heat exchanger. It is to be noted that typically the end plate limits a fluid channel on one side (although it is not necessarily required). Nevertheless, according to usual designs, the end plate will be subjected to fluid pressure on one side (the side on which the fluid channel is located) and a side that is unpressurised (subject to ambient pressure). Therefore, usually the end plate has to sustain a somewhat elevated pressure difference, and is therefore typically of a somewhat larger thickness (as opposed to plates that are located in the middle region of the heat exchanger, where typically pressurised fluid is present on both sides of the plate).
When talking about a plate, this does not exclude the possibility of some protrusions, ribs, deformations or the like that might be provided for influencing the fluid flow inside of the fluid channel (for example for realising a so-called fishbone pattern) and/or for enhancing the force resiliency and/or the pressure resiliency of the end plate arrangement/the heat exchanger the end plate arrangement is used for. The connection tube is typically of a tubular design with a somewhat circular cross-section. However, different cross-sectional shapes might be envisioned as well, like ellipsoidal shapes, oval shapes, triangular shapes, rectangular shapes, quadratic shapes, pentagonal shapes, hexagonal shapes, heptagonal shapes, octagonal shapes or the like (where it is possible that the respective n-edged shape comprises (in part) rounded corners and/or sharp corners). The connection tubes usually have a somewhat elongated design (although it does not necessarily have to show a considerable length). Therefore, typically a clearly identifiable axial direction is present. In case of some kind of a short stump of a connection tube (not limited to this case), the axial direction may be defined by the main fluid flow direction of the fluid that is passing through the respective connection tube when the heat exchanger is assembled. This definition be used additionally or alternatively to the previous definition. The connection tubes mainly serve the purpose of introducing and/or guiding away fluid whose temperature has to be (has been) lowered and/or raised when passing through the heat exchanger. Typically tubes or hoses will be connected to the connecting tube when the heat exchanger is assembled and built into a respective piece of machinery.
When talking about the connection tube being fixedly attached to the end plate, this is typically to be considered as a type of connection that may not be easily connected and disconnected. Therefore, quick connections, bayonet type connections, threaded connections (when used as the only type of connection) or the like are usually not to be considered as a fixed attachment to the end plate in the present sense (although such an attachment might be possible as well, in particular when combined with a different type of (fixed) connection). In any case, the fixed attachment should be sufficiently strong to maintain a connection between the end plate and the connection tube under usual operational conditions of the completed heat exchanger. Preferably, no leaks should occur under usual operating conditions.
Since the contact area between an end plate of a heat exchanger (with a typical thickness in the order of 1 mm or 2 mm) and the connection tube (when considering the front face of the connection tube and/or the circumferential outside surface of the connection tube's mantle, in case the connection tube protrudes into a bore of the end plate) is typically quite limited, the mechanical force that this connection can receive is comparatively limited. Therefore, some kind of reinforcement is desired. This reinforcement is presently realised by providing an additional functional collar that is fixedly attached to a section of the connection tube. Again, the connection can be realised in a way that it cannot be easily removed. However, in particular a connection technique using threads might be used (and possibly even preferred) for certain tasks.
However, additionally or alternatively to increasing the mechanical stability between the connection tube and the end plate, the functional collar might serve a different or an additional purpose as well. As an example, the functional collar might also (instead) be used for providing a better/more variable attachment possibility for (external) tubes or hoses to be attached to the connection tube. In such a case, a threaded attachment might be actually advantageous (although it can be easily reversibly attached and removed).
Irrespective of the exact design of the attachment of the connection tube, of the functional collar and/or of the end plate, the fixation should remain fixed under usual operational conditions of the stacked plate heat exchanger. It is to be noted that this is not only limited to pressures, temperatures and the like, but also to parameters that might lead to problems over a somewhat prolonged period of time, like vibrations.
Preferably, the end plate arrangement is designed and arranged in a way that the functional collar is attached to the connection tube and/or to the end plate by a form-fit connection and/or a positive substance connection and/or a force-fit connection, in particular by clamping, threaded connections, brazing, soldering, welding, soft-welding, hard-welding, friction welding, glueing, crimping and/or swaging. These types of attachment techniques do show advantageous characteristics, at least for certain designs of an end plate arrangement/heat exchanger. In particular, threaded designs or the like might enable a reversible attachment and disassembly of the respective parts; nevertheless, huge forces may be received by the respective connections. In particular connection techniques like brazing, soldering, welding, soft-welding, hard-welding, friction welding, glueing, crimping, swaging and clamping might be used to realise an effectively permanent connection between the respective parts. Such connections might be particularly fool-proof and might be particularly resilient towards vibrations. This way, the lifetime of the arrangement might be very high.
Yet further, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the substance that is used for a positive substance connection is applied as a coating to at least one of the functional collar, the connection tube and/or the end plate. This might be done as a surface coating, plating or the like of the respective part. Additionally or alternatively, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the substance that is used for a positive substance connection is placed as a prefabricated component that is arranged between the functional collar and the tube connection tube and/or the end plate. This way, potentially material can be saved, since the respective material is only placed near/in the vicinity of the connection to be effectuated. However, it is admitted that an additional assembly step is required. The prefabricated component might be provided as some kind of a washer or the like that is arranged in the respective section, where the positive substance lock is to be effectuated. Additionally or alternatively, the end plate arrangement might be designed and arranged in a way that the substance that is used for a positive substance connection may be applied to the vicinity of the connection area using a dispenser means. This way a particularly good placement of the respective substance might be effectuated. It is to be noted that the use of a dispenser means might limit the number/variations of substances that can be used for this process might be limited.
It is further suggested to design the end plate arrangement in the way that at least some of the parts of the end plate arrangement are assembled to form a common preassembled group. This can be realised by plugging the parts together, in particular in a direction that gravity holds the parts together. It is to be noted that this holding-together by gravity may be on a somewhat delicate side, meaning that stronger vibrations or accelerations and/or a tilting of the preassembly may lead to a disassembly of the respective parts. This is usually not a problem since a further connection of the respective parts will be effectuated by later manufacturing steps.
In particular, it is suggested that the common preassembled group is heated up for effectuating the positive substance connection. This heating up may be realised by placing the respective parts in an oven or by introducing heat, for example by using some kind of inductive heating, by using a soldering iron, by introducing heat in form of laser beams or particle beams, or the like.
Additionally or alternatively, it is possible to introduce an electrical current into the preassembled group for effectuating the positive substance connection. This may be tantamount to electrical soldering - usually meaning that the input of thermal energy is essentially restricted to the area where the positive substance connection has to be effectuated. In particular, this heating up of selected areas might be realised in a way that the area is moving with time, for example in a way that the introduction of electrical energy follows a line or a series of individual spots (spot soldering). However, the electrical current might also be introduced in a way that a large section of the common preassembled group is heated up, somewhat imitating a placement of the common preassembled group into an oven.
Additionally or alternatively, it is possible that preferably a mechanical vibration is introduced into the preassembled group for effectuating the positive substance connection. This is essentially the idea of friction welding. This is particularly advantageous in case of comparatively low melting and/or ductile substances, for example if plastic materials are used.
Further, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the functional collar serves as a reinforcement for the connection between the connection tube and the end plate. Additionally or alternatively, it is possible to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the functional collar serves in a way to provide a connection means to realise a connection to another device. This way, a particularly robust and/or versatile heat exchanger/end plate arrangement for heat exchanger can be realised. In particular, the functional collar might increase the contact area between the connection tube and the end plate of the end plate arrangement, so that larger forces may be received by the connection/the forces that act in this area may be distributed over a larger area, so as to decrease the force per area. However, the functional collar might also be used as some kind of fixation means for external components, like a device showing an outer thread, flange device or something similar. This way, a connection to a tube or hose can be made particularly fluid tight and/or mechanically stable or the like. Furthermore, an adaption to individual requirements might be effectuated particularly easily by simply using a different functional collar for an otherwise identical design of the heat exchanger.
Yet further it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the connection tube protrudes from the functional collar into a receiving space of the end plate. This way, it is again possible to increase the fluid tightness and/or the mechanical stability of the end plate arrangement in a simple way. In particular, the outer circumferential surface of the connection tube might be used for effectuating a mechanical connection (for example by means of a positive substance joint/positive substance connection) in combination with a neighbouring surface of the end plate (in particular a bore that is provided in the end plate or the like). Furthermore, even a mechanical connection might be established to an inner plate that follow the end plate arrangement towards the inside of the heat exchanger, when the heat exchanger is assembled.
Yet further it is suggested to design an end plate arrangement in a way that the functional collar serves as an attachment member for external components and preferably comprises an attachment means on its outside, more preferably a thread, a flange and/or a brazing connection section. This way, a connection to a tube or hose can be particularly fluid tight and/or mechanically stable. Furthermore, the resulting heat exchanger might be particularly easily adaptable to individual requirements by simply using a different functional collar, while the remaining design of the heat exchanger may remain identical. This is of course particularly advantageous.
Even further, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the material of the connection tube and/or of at least one functional collar and/or of the end plate are similar. Preferably the materials might be (essentially) the same. A similarity might be present if the same main substance group is used, for example plastic material, an iron-based alloy, a copper-based alloy or the like. In particular, the alloys and/or the plastics material (or the like) may differ to a somewhat limited or even minuscule extent only, so that apart from slight variations, the substance may be considered to be the same (or essentially the same).
Yet further it is suggested to design a heat exchanger in a way that it comprises a plurality of heat exchanger plates and an end plate arrangement according to the present disclosure. In particular, the exchanger might be designed and arranged as a stacked plate heat exchanger and may thus comprise a plurality of stacked plate heat exchanger plates and an end plate arrangement according to the present disclosure.
Even further, a method of manufacturing a connection tube for an end plate arrangement is suggested, wherein a sleeve-like functional collar is placed around a piece of tube, and wherein the sleeve-like functional collar and the piece of tube are consequently fixedly attached to each other. In particular, the attachment of the functional collar and the piece of tube should be performed in a way that the connection remains fixed under usual operational conditions of an end plate arrangement. The end plate arrangement may be particularly an end plate arrangement for a heat exchanger, preferably of a stacked plate heat exchanger. In particular, the end plate arrangement might be of a type as presently disclosed. The method is particularly advantageous in that standard components might be used, and yet a very good individualisation of the resulting end plate arrangement/heat exchanger can be achieved easily and very cost efficiently. In particular, the method might show the already described features and advantages, at least in analogy.
Even further, the method may be modified in the sense of the present disclosure, at least in analogy. It might show the same or similar features and characteristics, at least in analogy.
Further advantages, features, and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the associated drawings, wherein the drawings show:

Fig. 1:: a first possible embodiment of an end plate arrangement according to the present disclosure in the schematic cross-sectional view;
Fig. 2:: a second possible embodiment of an end plate arrangement according to the present disclosure in the schematic cross-sectional view;
Fig. 3:: a third possible embodiment of an end plate arrangement according to the present disclosure in the schematic cross-sectional view;
Fig. 4:: a fourth possible embodiment of an end plate arrangement according to the present disclosure in the schematic cross-sectional view;
Fig. 5:: a fifth possible embodiment of an end plate arrangement according to the present disclosure in the schematic cross-sectional view.

Fig. 1 shows a first possible embodiment of an end plate arrangement 1 according to the present disclosure in a schematic cross-section.
As usual, the end plate arrangement 1 comprises an end plate 2 and a connection tube 3 that is fixedly attached to the end plate 2. It is to be noted that typically a plurality of connection tubes 3 are provided. Namely, typically two or four connection tubes 3 are provided on one side of the resulting heat exchanger for supplying and removing a first and possibly a second fluid. This, however is well known to a person skilled in the art.
Presently, the view of Fig. 1 not only shows the end plate 2, but also a couple of inner heat exchanger plates 4 with indentations 5 and holes 6 that are typically arranged in the section of the indentations 5 of inner heat exchanger plates 4, so as to form two fluid channels 7, 8 that are fluidly separated from each other (and are consequently used for channeling two different fluids), while the two different fluid channels 7, 8 are in thermal contact through the large interfacing surfaces of the inner heat exchanger plates 4. Again, this is well known to a person skilled in the art.
The connection tube 3 is arranged in a way that a protruding part 10 protrudes into a hole 9 that is provided in the end plate 2. This way, the front face 12 of the connection tube 3 comes into contact with the corresponding surface part of an inner plate 4 (namely in the region of the indentation 5 of the respective inner heat exchanger plate 4).
The attachment of the connection tube 3 inside the hole 9 of end plate 2 is presently effectuated by a positive substance connection, in particular by a soldering agent/process. A possible method for manufacture is to dispense a certain amount of soldering agent in the region where the respective parts come into contact, to preassemble the respective parts together, and to heat up the whole arrangement (for example by placing it into a furnace). However, different methods could be used as well, like the use of plated parts that comprise a coating of a soldering agent; by using welding techniques, or the like. A plethora of possibilities for effectuating the positive substance connection is well known to a person skilled in the art.
Hence, due to the positive substance connection, in areas 13, 14, a mechanical fixation of the connecting tube 3 to the end plate 2 and (one of) the inner heat exchanger plates 4 is realised.
However, the amount of mechanical fixation might prove to be insufficient.
Therefore, according to the present disclosure, a functional collar 11 is provided on the radial outside of connection tube 3. It is to be noted that while it is possible that functional collar 11 and connecting tube 3 may be dimensioned in a way that their end surfaces 16 that point away from the heat exchanger plates 4 do fall in line with each other (as it is presently depicted in Fig. 1), it is also possible (and for some designs advantageous) that functional collar 11 is shorter (possibly even significantly shorter) as the connection tube 3 (or vice versa).
Connection tube 3 and functional collar 11 may be connected to each other by means of a positive substance connection as well. This way, the positive substance connection may be effectuated by a heating process, together with the other positive substance connection areas. This way the functional collar 11 and the connection tube 3 are fixedly connected to each other. However, it is to be noted the different connection techniques might be used as well, for example a threaded connection between functional collar 11 and connection tube 3 (where a combination of both attachment techniques is possible as well, i.e. a threaded attachment that is possibly enforced by a positive substance connection).
Thanks to the functional collar 11, an additional positive substance connection area 15 can be realised between functional collar 11 and the respective surface area of end plate 2 and therefore (via the fixed attachment between functional collar 11 and connection tube 3) between end plate 2 and connection tube 3. This way, the mechanical stability of the end plate arrangement 1 can be enhanced.
Fig. 2 shows a modified end plate arrangement 17 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
In this context it should be pointed out that for parts that are identical or at least sufficiently similar to each other, identical reference numerals are used for respective parts across the various embodiments of an end plate arrangement. The use of identical reference numerals is particularly made, when the design and/or the functionality of the respective parts are sufficiently similar to each other so that the use of identical reference numerals seems to be justified by a person skilled in the art.
Presently, the functional collar 11 is provided with a lower flange section 18 that neighbours the end plate 2. This way, the positive substance connection area 15 between the end plate 2 and the functional collar 11 (and indirectly between the end plate 2 and the end tube 3) may be enhanced, even significantly, so as to improve the mechanical stability of the end plate arrangement 17.
Fig. 3 shows yet another modification according to a third embodiment of an end plate arrangement in 19 according to the present disclosure in the schematic cross-section.
Now, functional collar 11 does not only show a lower flange section 18, but also (distant from the end plate 2) an upper flange section 19 (adjacent to the inner heat exchanger plates 4).
Presently, the upper flange section 19 shows a radially outer flange section 20 and a radially inner flange section 21. Thanks to the radially inner flange section 21, an additional fixation can be realised by means of yet another positive substance connection area 22 between functional collar 11 and connecting tube 3.
The radially outer flange section 20 may be designed as a standard flange (including several bores for receiving a plurality of attachment screws). By means of this radially outer flange section 20, the upper flange section 19, and hence the connection tube 3 and the remaining parts of the heat exchanger, may be fixedly attached to some kind of machinery, or to a tube or hose comprising a flange as well.
Yet another modification of an end plate arrangement is shown in Fig. 4 which shows a fourth possible embodiment of an end plate arrangement 23 according to the present disclosure in a schematical cross-section.
In particular, in the embodiment of an end plate arrangement 23 as shown in Fig. 4, a different connection tube 24 is used. The connection tube 24 not only shows a cylindrical part 25 (presently even including a protrusion 10 into the hole 9 of end plate 2), but also a radially protruding web 26 (essentially forming a flange part 26). The radially protruding web 26 will be arranged to come in contact with an appropriate surface of the end plate 2. This way, a direct additional positive substance connection area 27 between connection tube 24 and end plate 10 can be realised (i.e. without an indirect fixation via functional collar 11). This may increase the stability of the end plate arrangement 23.
Now, the functional collar 11 that is placed on the radial outside of the cylindrical part 25 of connection tube 24 may primarily be used for effectuating a fixation with a separate tube or hose (or possibly some kind of machinery). For example, a functional collar 11 could be provided with an outer thread, so that a tube or the like can be screwed onto the connection tube 24 (indirectly via functional collar 11).
Certainly, it is possible to increase the actual extent of functional collar 11 beyond the length of the axial extent of connection tube 24, as it is shown in Fig. 5, showing yet another end plate arrangement 28 in a schematical cross-sectional view.
Namely, the functional collar 11 shows an axially protruding section 29 that may be provided with an inner thread or some other type of connection means for connection with an external part, for exsample with an external tube or hose.
It is to be noted that a single one or a plurality of the features of one, several or all of the presently disclosed detailed embodiments may be used in combination with the generic description of the present disclosure.

Claims

End plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) for a heat exchanger, in particular for a stacked plate heat exchanger, comprising an end plate (2) and at least one connection tube (3, 24) that is fixedly attached to the end plate (2), characterized in that the connection tube (3, 24) comprises at least one functional collar (11) that is fixedly attached to a section of the connection tube (3, 24), in particular in a way that it remains fixed under usual operational conditions of a heat exchanger, preferably of a stacked plate heat exchanger.
End plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) according to claim 1, characterised in that the functional collar (11) is attached to the connection tube (3, 24) and/or to the end plate (2) by a positive substance connection (13, 14, 15, 22, 27) and/or a force fit connection and/or in a positive form-fit connection, in particular by clamping, threaded connections, brazing, soldering, welding, soft-welding, hard-welding, friction welding, glueing, crimping and/or swaging.
End plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) according to claim 1 or 2, in particular according to claim 2, characterised in that the substance that is used for a positive substance connection (13, 14, 15, 22, 27) is applied as a coating to at least one of the functional collar (11), the connection tube (3, 24) and/or the end plate (2), and/or characterised in that the substance that is used for a positive substance connection (13, 14, 15, 22, 27) is placed as a prefabricated component that is arranged between the functional collar (11) and the connection tube (3, 24) and/or the end plate (2), and/or characterised in that the substance that is used for a positive substance connection (13, 14, 15, 22, 27) is applied to the vicinity of the connection area using a dispenser means.
End plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) according to claim 1 or 2, in particular according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that at least some of the parts of the end plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 27, 27) are assembled to form a common preassembled group, wherein preferably the common preassembled group is heated up for effectuating the positive substance connection (13, 14, 15, 22, 27) and/or wherein preferably an electrical current is introduced into the preassembled group for effectuating the positive substance connection (13, 14, 15, 22, 27) and/or wherein preferably a mechanical vibration is introduced into the preassembled group for effectuating the positive substance connection (13, 14, 15, 22, 27).
End plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the functional collar (11) serves as a reinforcement for the connection between the connection tube (3, 24) and the end plate (2) and/or for providing a connection means to realise a connection to another device.
End plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) according to any of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 4, characterised in that the connection tube (3, 24) protrudes (10) from the functional collar (11) into a receiving space of the end plate.
End plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the functional collar (11) serves as an attachment member for external components and preferably comprises an attachment means on its outside, more preferably a thread, a flange (19) and/or a brazing connection section.
End plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) for a heat exchanger, characterised in that the material of the connection tube (3, 24) and/or of at least one functional collar (11) and/or of the end plate (2) are similar, preferably (essentially) the same.
Heat exchanger, in particular stacked plate heat exchanger, comprising a plurality of heat exchanger plates, in particular a plurality of stacked plate heat exchanger plates and an end plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) according to any of the preceding claims.
Method of manufacturing a connection tube (3, 24) for an end plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28), in particular for an end plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a sleeve like functional collar (11) is placed around a piece of tube (3, 24), wherein the sleeve like functional collar (11) and the piece of tube (3, 24) are consequently fixedly attached to each other, in particular in a way that it remains fixed under usual operational conditions of an end plate arrangement (1, 17, 19, 23, 28).