GB2262600A

GB2262600A - Modular unit with multiple heat exchanger for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2262600A
Application number: GB9225061A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Lenz; Gebhard Schwarz; Sigfried Tews
Original assignee: Behr GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Mahle Behr GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1991-12-19
Filing date: 1992-11-30
Publication date: 1993-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-30
Also published as: ES2070688B1; FR2685261A1; DE4142023C2; ES2070688R; DE4142023A1; GB2262600B; GB9225061D0; FR2685261B1; ES2070688A2

Description

-L A heat exchanger unit for m---- 2262600 T ihe invention concerns a beat

exchanger unit for motor vehicles, including a frame for carrying at least- two heat exchangers to which different- fluid circulation syste-ms are attachked, -whereby the heat exchangers are in contact with a cooling-air flew on a secondary side and are disposed acrcss the direction of air flow on two planes.

The connection of heat exchangers to a unit to a so-called heat e exch ang er 1 e 7 7h -ic"L,:. can b. i ns ta 11 ed in a veh icle i s made i -r,nc,,,,n in patent US-PS 5,002,019. Tn the kno.,,Ti design there are -,ow=-ver a of necessar7 conn-no,,-ion rueans which are not- universally applicable and the design has to each installatien.

lie adapte" _ot air..i of the present- in-,,-ention is therefor t cre-ate a exclhanger oE the Kind described in t_he first paragraph, in which a standardized coiriponent takes up -!:-,e heat exchangers with the possible M1Gar.s.

ng zo the ----- - X_ nvent4 C_ 1 t-here is press= - _L L_ -- 1 --- " -.. or - -or vehicles, including provided a _:,.,changer unit f - mo-t franae for carrying at least t-..o heat exchangers to which Cz L - a I different fluid circulation systems are attached, whereby t - with a cooling-air flow L-he neat =exchangers are in ccnitacIL -v s i on a s e c on d a,. de and are disposed across the direction of r flow on two planes, ot.ereiD t is made of a L-he frame _ synthetic material and has at least one cross-piece which exzends in one of the said planes between two sides of the frame, and at least one of the heat exchangers is fixed to the fra-me and a cross-piece.

t The essential advantage of this design is that L-wo or more heat exchangers - depending on the fitting of the ff vehicle - can be disposed in two planes within the fra-mes and the standardized fralme is thereby constantly used in 4 __' I I I L vi ch the heat exchangers necessary for the respective 2 vehicle can be f ixed to the corresponding parts of the f rame.

The heat exchanger provided in the first plane is preferably a cooling agent condenser for a motor vehicle air conditioning system, whereby this extends over at least 75% of the front f ace of the f rame. Two heat exchangers can also be disposed in the first plane for example, whereby one is a cooling agent condenser of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system and the other is an intercooler radiator. At least one and up to three heat exchangers are provided as required in the second plane, used for example for the motor oil, the gearing oil or the hydraulics oil.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a second cross-piece is provided which runs essentially at a right-angle to the first cross- ioiece and is disposed between this first cross-piece and a side of the frame parallel to it. As consequently each heat exchanger comes into contact with at least two sides of corresponding frame elements or cross- pieces, there are various possible designs concerning the fixing means which can be provided such that the respective assembly process for completing ithe Erarne with the heat exchangers is taken into consideration.

So as to reduce the necessary individual elements to a minimum it is appropriate for the f rame and the cross-pieces to be formed from a one piece injection moulding in synthetic material. it is also useful that all the heat exchangers are provided with uniform fixing means. It is advantageous that the fixing means for each heat exchanger include at least a snap or locking connection, so as to avoid the use of dif fferent f ixing means and the use of screwing tools and suchlike. A further advantage is that means for mounting the heat exchangers are provided which include at least a unidirectional swivel mounting for each heat exchanger. The heat exchangers can thereby be swivelled against the frame about the swivel axis, whereby the surface of contact serves as a countermounting. The snap or locking connection is effective when the surface of contact is 1 3 reached as the fLii,.,irig means grip behind a corresponding edge of a heat exchanger element.

As in a practical embodiment of the design the means of mounting and fixing the heat exchangers to the frane and/or the cross-pieces or the die casting in helic L synt- t material are provided and executed as a one piece injection moulding, the number of elements and also the cost of assembly is reduced to a miniTmum, as the heat exchangers are sinaply first. placed on their swivel mountings in the frame and then by swivelling the heat exchangers against the frame the fixing and securing of the heat exchangers is ensured by means of the snap or locking means. Additional alignment means are provided for the exact positioning or t t_ he heat eychangers in a specific posi ion in relation to 4- ', e = - means also lake up forces _ 1 Lra-,,ie and said alignment L_ acting in direct-iens across the direction of air flow. These a 1 ii g n ne n t means are above all execuiteld as pins formed on the frame and cross-nieces and as corresponding openings for the Pi ns 4 up t_ a k e o:C' -L- h c - inside parts of the heat exchangers.

The swivel mounting can be made of a flat element formed on t_ In e heat exchanger and which 21 s inserted into a corresponding slot- in the SErane or cross-Diece. In another design of swi-el mounting this mounting includes an at least- approximately cylindrical component of the heat exchanger and a 7-shaped or U-shaped uptake neans formed on a for the uptake of said cylindrical the frame or cross-pL-c, component. The "j-slt--.aped or U-sharped upt-alke means can be formed by suitably designed ribs, whereby said ribs can also be dispesed alternately next to the said cylindrical component.

It is advant--ageous that at least one part of the 'Frame and/or the cross-piece is made of two parallel wall elements with supporting crosspieces between them, so as to minimize weight and air-resistance through simultaneous greater inflexibility of the frame and the cross-pieces. Openings are formed in between each of the supporting cross-p-Jeces between the parallel wall elements of the frame A -tt or cross-pieces, for the passage of the air flow.

It is preferable that the mounting support means are disposed on the f ran e or the cross-pieces f or the mounting of junction pipes or adapters of said junction pipes. Said mounting support means can include flanges and locking devices, such that easy assembly with independent locking mechanisms is possible. In order to keep air-resistance as low as possible for a specific pipe configuration, the invention moreover has an identical pipe configuration for the heat exchangers disposed in the second plane as that of the heat exchanger disposed in the first plane and the pipes of the heat exchangers of both planes lie congruently one behind the other.

Embodiments of the heat exchanger unit in accordance with the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings in which:- Fig. 1 shows a front view of the heat exchanger unit Fig. 2 a rear view oil the heat exchanger unit Fig. 3 a plan view in the direction of arrow iII in fig. 2 Fig. 4 a frame with cross-pieces Fig. 15 an enlarged view of the detail V in fig. 2 Fig. 6 a sectional view through line VI-VI in fig. V Fig. 7 a design of a swivel mounting Fig. 8 an enlarged representation of the means of mounting and fixing the heat exchanger in the frame in accordance with fig. 1 Fig. 9 a sectional view through line IX-IX as shown in fig. 8 and Fig. 10 a sectional view through line XX as shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 1 shows the front view of a heat exchanger unit 1 which is essentially made up of a frame 2 and several heat exchangers taken up in said frame. The front view shown in f ig. 1 presents only a first heat exchanger 3; the remaining heat exchangers are located in a second plane behind the plane on which the said first heat exchanger lies and are dealt with in more detail in connection with fig. 2 below.

The first heat exchanger 3, which is executed for exa-,-,i.pie as a cooling agent condense- f or a vehicle air conditioning system,, is made up of several f lat-shaped pipes 4 running parallel to each other, and corrugated fins 5 disposed between said flat-shaped pipes, whereby the ends of the flat-shaped pipes 4 respectively end inside connection casings 6 and 7. A junction pipe. 8 from the connection easing 6 and a further junction pipe 9 from the connection casincf 7 lead to an adapter 10, which is provided for connection with feed pipes and return pipes no- C shown in the The frane 2 is produced as a single injection moulding in synthetic material and has -nount-ing support means 13 on its,.rer-t-ical frame elements 11 and 12 for i:i r appropriate and Xirig Of _Ine heat exchange unit -or vehic' the side.s 1 in a mot Le. In;&-he area oiL -rame ele-nien4 11 and 12 and the lower frame. elc-riGntL. 14, the frame 2 2,1 and nts 12,1, 11, consis.;L o parallel wall eler.'r- 141,1411 with supporting c--,-oss-pieces 12 and 14 between them. 0,neninas 15 for the passage of the air flow are formed between the 7oaral--iel wall elements 121, 121f and the 1 ts supporting crcss-pi-!=ces 112 and tine parallel wall ele7,,,en-141, 1411 and the supporting cross-pieces 14.

The first heat exchanger has a lower side element Eormed for Ide element 27 which are f .5 and an unper s_ 1. 'he heat exchanefer 3 correspondingly in mounting and fixing t L- - L he frame 2. This is dealt with ai- greater length below.

En fig. 1 in a second plane behind the firs t heat exchanger 3 there are further heat exchangers, the junction pi-pes 16 17 and 18, 19 of which co-me from the side of the frame 2, whereby the junction pipes 16, 17 connect with an adapter 20 and the junction pipes 18, 19 connect -.,,ith a further adapter 21. The adapters 10 or 20, 21 are taken up in support mounting 61 or on flanges and are arrested by means of stop devices 60. As the first heat exchanger 3 does no-" L L cover a"1 the sl-,,rface o' the frame 2, an opening 22 6 remains between the connection casing 7 and the side frame element 12 for the passage of the air flow. The Junction pipes 16, 17 and 18, 19 can also be seen in the area of this opening 22. Covers 23 and 24 extend along the side frame on which they are formed, preventing the passage of entrained air between the frame 2 and elements of the bodywork.

The mounting and supporting of the first heat exchanger 3 in the frame 2 is shown enlarged in figs. 8, 9 and 10, they correspond nevertheless to that shown in fig. 1. The first heat exchanger 3 has a side element 25 on its lower end which has two flat downward projections 26 which hold the lower frame element 14 by means of corresponding slots 34, such that said projections 26 form a swivel mounting with the slots 34. The first heat exchanger 3 has a further side element 27, on its upper edge, in the form of an angle-plate 28 which is directed upwards, whereby openings are provided in the section of the angle-plate 28 running vertically, the height of said openings corresponding exactly to the thickness of a projection 30 extending through opening 29. The projection 30 is formed on an upper element 31 of the frame. An elastic clip 32 is provided on the upper frame element 31, which independently grips behind the angle- plate 28 or locks behind a border 28a of the upper side element 27, as soon as the first heat exchanger 3 is swivelled about the swivel axis formed by means of the swivel mounting developed on the underside and comes into contact with a stop 33 provided in an upper area of the frame 2. In this way the upper side element 27 is pressed against the stop 33 and held in contact with said stop by means of the elastic clip.

As fig. 9 which corresponds to a sectional view across ithe line IX-IX in fig. 8 makes clear, the first heat exchanger 3 is located in a first plane inside the frame 2, whereas the lower frame element 14 is developed in the form of the parallel wall element 14t and 1411 in relation to the direction of air flow, in a second plane.

Fig. 10 corresponds to the section along the line 7 X-X in fig. 8. This diagram clearly shows that the projection 30 extends through the upper side element executed as an angle-plate 28, said projection locking exactly into the opening of the angle-plate 28 and thereby serving as play-free mounting of the first heat exchanger 3. moreover in f igs. 9 and 10 the cross-sections of the f lat-shaped pipes of the f irst heat exchanger 3 with the ccrrugated fins 5 between these are clearly visible.

Fig. 2 shows a rear view of heat exchanger unit 1, such that in this the side frame element 11 is located on the right-hand side and the side frame element I the second plane of 12 is located cn the left-hand side. Tn t 'he heat exchanger unit 1 shown Ln this diagram, three heat hangers 41, 42 and 43 are fixed in the -frame 2, which can at will be either separately or jointly disposed in this 2. The second hea.'-- exchanger 41, which also consists of a heat exchanging unit including a flat-shaped pipe 4 and corrugaed fins 5 and side connection casings 44 and 45, is connected to the acapter 21 by way of the junction pipes io and J119. This second heat exchanger 41 is mounted and fixed on thle one hand bc-L-v7c-,en two su"nort mounting elements 46 and 47 on upper frame elernent- 31 and ail essentially horizontal cross-piece 50 on the other hand. The upper is den-jeloned as a swivel Pounting such that an upper side eleirtent 51 of the second heat exchanger 41 executed as an angLe-plate, locks into a groove-shaped recess of the support -mountings 46 and 47 and is locked against the cross-piece 50 on the side element 52, located on the lower edge of the second heat exchanger 41, by means cl' the elastic clip 32 as shown in fig. 9. The openings in the first heat exchanger 3 described above and the projections locking into said openings serve as means of alignment and force-locking connec.t--ion which are hidden as a result of the position of the junction pipe 18.

A third heat exchanger 42 is disposed under the second heat exchanger 41, the junction pipes 16 and 17 of said third heat exchanger connecti-ing the adapter 20 with 8 connection casings 48 and 49. The third heat exchanger 42, which likewise consists of flat-shaped pipes 4 and corrugated fins 5 disposed between them, has a bypass pipe 39 with an attached temperature-regulated valve 40, said bypass pipe being executed in the form of a round pipe. This round pipe serves to mount the third heat exchanger 42 and is located between upwardly directed ribs 53, 53" which extend alternately vertical to the longitudinal axis of the bypass pipe 39. A swivel mounting is formed by means of the bypass pipe 39 between the ribs 53, 531, whereby the upper end of the third heat exchanger 42 can be swivelled towards the cross-piece 50 and on contact with the latter is gripped by means of an elastic clip 32, as described for fig. 9 above. Centering and an uptake of forces is provided by the opening 29 and the projection 30; this arrangement is however hidden in fiq. 2 as a result of the position of the junction pipe 17.

A fourth heat exchanger 43 which - seen in the direction of air flow - is also disposed in the second plane, is located next to the heat_ exchangers 41 and 42. This fourth heat exchanger 43 consists of flat- shaped Dipes and corrugated fins 5 disposed between them and side connection casings 54 and 55, whereby the latter are each provided with a junction pipe 36 and 37 which leads to an adapter 38. The junction pipes 36 and 37 are fixed to the support mounting elements 46 and 47, which have corresponding stopping means 56 for this purpose. For mounting and supporting the fourth heat exchanger there is a lower side element 57, that is placed in slot-shaped uptake means in the lower frame element 14, and an upper side element 58 which is pressed against the frame 2 and held in this position by means of an elastic clip 32. The arrangement of projections and corresponding openings 29 in the side element 58 are provided for the centering and uptake of forces.

The representation in fig. 2 shows that the cross-piece 50, like the side frame elements 11, 12 and the 9 frame element 14, consists of parallel wall elements 501 and 5071 and support cross-pieces 50 disposed between these, 7hereby openings 15 are formed between the wall elements SO' and 5011 and the support cross- pieces 50. The opening 22 allowing unhindered air passage is located in fig. 2 on %.-he left-hand side and is bordered on the one hand by the side frame element 12 and on the other hand by a partition wall 59. The direction of the cross-piece 50 between the partition wall 59 and the side frame element 12 is such as to allow a favourable positioning of the junction pipe 17 and 18.

F, ig. 3 shows the plan view of the heat exchanger unit 1 in the direction of arrow III in fig. 2. The view indicated by arrow I in fig. 3 is shown in fig. 1 and the fig. 2.

jlc-w indicated by arrow I! in fig. 3 is shown in J_ Arrow L indicates the directici-, of air flow of the cool air 1 owl nc f- exchanger unit. Heat exchangers j through the heat L- att-ached to different fluid circuits are located in the planes E! and E2 in the frame 2 with its support mounting r.eans 13 developed on the sides of said frame, whereby seen in the c-,.irec tion of air flow L - the f ii rst hea t 3 is dispo-sed in a firstL plana E1 and further heat exchangers are disposed in a second plane E2. The second and fourth heat exchangers in accordance with fig. 2 are denoted by reference numbers 42 and 43.

The junction pipe 37 comes out from the left-hand side shown in fig. 3 and has at its end a flange 61 for the adapter. 383 and a stop device 60 for arresting the adapter 38 on the flange surface 61. Fig. 3 shows more clearly how the partition wall 59 extends above the frame 2 on the air outlet side, said extending section of the partition wall acting as a barrier between separate air flows.

Fig. 4 shows the frame 2 which is produced as a single moulding in synthetic material before the fitting of the heat exchangers in said frame. The frame is essentially rectangular and includes the side frame elements 11 and 12 and an upper frame element 31 and a lower frame element 14.

The elastic clips 32, the pins 30 and the downward pointing support mounting elements 46 and 47 are formed on the upper frame element 31. The stopping means 56 for support mounting the junction pipes are located on the support mounting elements 46 and 47. The ribs 53, 531 are located on the lower frame element 14.

A cross-piece 62 stretches from the upper frame element 31 to the lower frame element 14, parallel to the side frame. This cross-piece 62 is Tshaped in cross-section and in the plan view, whereby side wall elements 621 and a wall element 62,,' with support cross-pieces 62 located between them are produced. Openings 15 for the passage of air are formed between the parallel wall elements 62f, 6211 of the cross-piece 62. The execution of the cross-piece 62 thereby corresponds in principle to the structure of the L said frame elements 11 and 12, the lower frame element 14 and the essentially horizontal cross-piece 50, as indicated by the above mentioned diagrams.

The horizontal cross-piece 50 reaches from the side frame element 12 to the vertical cross-piece 62 and has two flat elements 64 and 65 directed upwards. The flat elements 64 and 65 act as a stop for the heat exchangers shown in fig. 2 and the projections 30 are located on said flat elements 64 and 65, which lock into corresponding openings in side elements of the heatt exchangers. Between the flat elements 64 and 65 are located an elastic clip 32 which attach the heat exchangers 41 and 42 as described for fias. 8 and 9.

A cross-strut 66 is provided on which the fastening means in the form of projections 30 and the elastic clip 32 for the upper edge of the heat exchanger 43 represented in fig. 2 are disposed, bet-Ween the cross-piece 62 and the side frame element 11 in the upper area.

Fig. 5 shows a larger scale representation of detail V of fig. 2 flatshaped pipes 4 and corrugated fins 5 is indicated in the top left-hand corner of f ig. 5. The round pipe which constitutes the bypass 39 that is connected t-o the valve 40, lies on the loWer frame element 14 such that it is actually held and supported on its sides by the ribs 53 and 531 on the parallel wall elements 141f. The ribs are thereby arranged alternately, as is clearly shown in fig. 6 in particular.

Fig. 6 shows a sectional view along line VI-VI in fig. 5, clearly showing that the pipe forming the bypass 39 is held between the alternately arranged ribs 53 and 53f and is supported by the lower frame element 14. The ribs 53 and 531 and the pipe of the bypass pipe 39 thereby form a swivel mounting of the third heat exchanger 42. The first heat exchanger 3 shown on the right-11-1and side of fig. 6 and which lies, seen in the direction of air flow, in front of the third heat exchanger 43 and also consists of flat-shaped 25, the flat project pipes, has the lower side element L-ions of which lock through the lower frame element 14 and thereby form the swivel mounting for the first heat exchanger 3.

L further possible de-zj-e"op-ment ol a swivel L. - L L nounit-ing is shown in fig. 7, such that pin-like projections 6C and 69 are ac'L-ually disposed on a connection casing 70 of a heat exchanger, said pin-like, projections locking into corresponding openings 67 of a frame or wall element 71.

12

Claims

1. A heat exchanger unit for vehicles, including a f rame for carrying at least two heat exchangers to which different f luid circulation systems are attached, whereby the heat exchangers are in contact with a coolingair f low on a secondary side and are disposed across the direction of air flow on two planes, wherein the frame is made of synthetic material and has at least one cross-piece which extends in one of the said planes between two sides of the frame, and at least one of the heat, exchangers is fixed to the frame and a cross-piece.

2. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein a heat exchanger is mounted in the first plane, said heat exchanger extending over at least of a front surface of the frame.

3. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein k-wo heat exchangers are disposed in the first plane, one of which is a cooling agent condenser and the other one of which is an intercooler radiator.

4. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one heat exchanger is mounted in the second 5. A heat exchanger in accordance with claim 4, wherein a second cross- piece is provided, which runs generally at right angles to the first cross-piece and is disposed between this first cross-piece and a side parallel to said first cross-piece.

6. A heat exchanger in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame and the cross-pieces constitute a single moulding in synthetic material.

1. _) 7. 71. heat exchanger in accordance with any one of the preceding clairas, wherein uniform fixing neans are provided for all the heat exchangers.

3. A heat exchanger in accordance with claim 7, wherein the means of fixing each heat exchanger include at least one snap action connector or locking-device connector.

9. A heat exchanger in accordance with claim 7 or 8, wherein r,,.eans of mounting the heat exchangers are provided that include at leasit- a unidirectional swivel mounting for each heat Gxchanger.

113. z,- heat exch.anger unit in accordance with an'Y' one of clairas 6 to 9, wherein mounting means and means of f ixing k- le healt- exchanger to the frame and/or cross-pieces of the moulding in syDzhetic material are provided and form a single element with said moulding in synthetic material.

11. A heat excIL-.anger unit in accordance with claim 9, -v.,'.erein of aligning andi/or force-lock mounting the heat exchanger cnto the frame or onto the cross-pieces are provided cn cne of the sides of C-Ine heat exchanger away fron t Uha swivel mountings.

1 -1,. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 11, wherein the means of alignment comp-rise pins formed on -Pranes and cross-pieces and corresponding openings for -Ithe f uptake of the pins in side elements or connection plates.

13. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the swivel mounting consists of at least one flat element which is insertable in a slot in the frame or cross-piece.

A heat exchanger unit in accordance with any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the swivel mounting includes an approximately cylindrical component of the heat exchanger and a U-shaped or V-shaped uptake means for the cylindrical component formed on the frame or cross-piece.

15. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 14, wherein the Vshaped or U-shaped uptake means are formed by alternately disposed ribs.

16. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 6, wherein the at least one element, of the frame and/or of the cross-pieces consists of two parallel wall elements with supporting cross-pieces in between them.

17. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 16, wherein openings for the passage of the air current are formed between each of the parallel walls and the supporting cross-pieces.

18. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 8, wherein the snap action connection or the locking-device connection is formed by an elastic clip whereby these clips hold the border behind a component of the heat exchanger and lock against a contact surface.

19. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 6, wherein mounting means for junction pipes for the heat exchanger and/or adapters are disposed on the frame and/or on the cross-pieces.

20. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with claim 19, wherein mounting means for adapters of the feed lines and return pipes are developed as flanges and clasps, which form an independent solid clamping connection when assembled.

21. A heat exchanger unit in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger disposed in the second plane has the same pipe configuration as the heat exchanger disposed in the f irst plane and the pipes of the heat exchangers of both planes lie congruently behind each other.

22. A heat e:changer unit in accordance with claim 1 or 2, he free passage of wherein there is an opening provided f or t cool air on the inside of the frarie at the side of the heat exchangers.

23. 2A heat exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a plurality of heat exchangers are provided in the second plane.

24. A he-at excl-nanger for a vehicle, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.