US20070295490A1 - Flat Tube for a Heat Exchanger - Google Patents

Flat Tube for a Heat Exchanger Download PDF

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Publication number
US20070295490A1
US20070295490A1 US11/664,993 US66499305A US2007295490A1 US 20070295490 A1 US20070295490 A1 US 20070295490A1 US 66499305 A US66499305 A US 66499305A US 2007295490 A1 US2007295490 A1 US 2007295490A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
flat tube
projecting part
projecting
longitudinal wall
strip
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/664,993
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English (en)
Inventor
Jurgen Haegele
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mahle Behr GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Behr GmbH and Co KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Behr GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Behr GmbH and Co KG
Assigned to BEHR GMBH & CO. KG reassignment BEHR GMBH & CO. KG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAEGELE, JURGEN
Publication of US20070295490A1 publication Critical patent/US20070295490A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
    • F28F1/02—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular
    • F28F1/022—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular with multiple channels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21C—MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES OR PROFILES, OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
    • B21C37/00—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape
    • B21C37/06—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape of tubes or metal hoses; Combined procedures for making tubes, e.g. for making multi-wall tubes
    • B21C37/08—Making tubes with welded or soldered seams
    • B21C37/0803—Making tubes with welded or soldered seams the tubes having a special shape, e.g. polygonal tubes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21C—MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES OR PROFILES, OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
    • B21C37/00—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape
    • B21C37/06—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape of tubes or metal hoses; Combined procedures for making tubes, e.g. for making multi-wall tubes
    • B21C37/08—Making tubes with welded or soldered seams
    • B21C37/083—Supply, or operations combined with supply, of strip material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21C—MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES OR PROFILES, OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL
    • B21C37/00—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape
    • B21C37/06—Manufacture of metal sheets, bars, wire, tubes or like semi-manufactured products, not otherwise provided for; Manufacture of tubes of special shape of tubes or metal hoses; Combined procedures for making tubes, e.g. for making multi-wall tubes
    • B21C37/15—Making tubes of special shape; Making tube fittings
    • B21C37/151—Making tubes with multiple passages
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D53/00—Making other particular articles
    • B21D53/02—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers
    • B21D53/06—Making other particular articles heat exchangers or parts thereof, e.g. radiators, condensers fins, headers of metal tubes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
    • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
    • F28D1/03—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits
    • F28D1/0391—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with plate-like or laminated conduits a single plate being bent to form one or more conduits
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/4935—Heat exchanger or boiler making

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a flat tube for a heat exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle.
  • heat exchangers in motor vehicles for example in automotive air conditioning systems, exhibit, in addition to collecting arrangements for a coolant, flat tubes that are provided for the purpose of the onward conveyance of the coolant and/or other fluids.
  • the flat tubes previously disclosed according to the prior art exhibit ribs and/or projecting parts in their interior, the effect of which is for the flat tube as a whole to be of multi-channel execution.
  • the ribs previously disclosed according to the prior art consist of beads formed on both sides or ribs formed on one side.
  • the flat tubes in this case do not, however, exhibit a closed and/or a smooth profile on their outside in the area of the ribs.
  • the effect of this non-smooth external profile of the flat tubes is the need to incur a greater process expenditure in conjunction with the insertion of the flat tubes into the bases, in order to achieve a fluid-tight connection.
  • the ribs on the outside are not adequately closed, so that leaks arise in the connection between the tube and the base in the remaining external tube cavities. A remaining channel on the outside of the flat tube can also be the cause of failure in conjunction with soldering.
  • the external tube cavities occurring in the areas of the ribs must be recalibrated at the ends of the tubes after manufacture of the tubes, in order to achieve externally smooth tubes.
  • EP 0 854 343 illustrates flat tubes of this kind, which exhibit considerable external cavities on their outside, and these are reduced in size by an expensive process.
  • the object of the present invention is thus to make available a flat tube, which exhibits projecting parts in its interior and, at the same time, largely avoids depressions or recesses on its outside in the area of the projecting parts.
  • the multi-channel flat tube according to the invention for a heat exchanger in particular for a motor vehicle, exhibits a first longitudinal wall, a second longitudinal wall, which lies substantially parallel to the first longitudinal wall, and at least one curved end section.
  • a projecting part is configured on at least one longitudinal wall from the material of the longitudinal wall on the inside facing a fluid flow in the interior of the flat tube.
  • the longitudinal wall is essentially level on its outside facing away from the fluid in the area of the projecting part.
  • multi-channel tube is understood to denote that a plurality of channels that are essentially mutually separate from one another is configured in the inside of the tube.
  • flat tube is understood to denote a tube that is configured in its cross section in such a way that this exceeds one direction of extension by a good margin in a second direction of extension.
  • a longitudinal wall of the flat tube is understood to denote the wall which runs along one of the longitudinal sides.
  • a projecting part configured from the material of the longitudinal wall is understood to denote a projecting part of a kind that is not subsequently applied to the wall, but—in particular, although not exclusively—is configured from the wall itself by a forming process.
  • the expression “in the area of the projecting part” is understood to denote the geometrical area of the corresponding longitudinal wall in which the projecting part is configured.
  • the expression “essentially level” is understood to denote that the external profile in the area of the projecting parts does not exhibit any depressions, or that it only exhibits depressions with a small cross-sectional area.
  • the projecting part is in contact with the second longitudinal wall, which means that the projecting part is configured on one longitudinal wall and makes contact with the opposing longitudinal wall. In this way, channels that are essentially separated from one another can be provided inside the flat tube.
  • the flat tube exhibits two curved end sections. At least one end section is preferably bent through at least 180 degrees, in order to cause the two longitudinal walls to be arranged essentially parallel in relation to one another.
  • the second end section can also be bent in some other way, in order to close the flat tube; for example, each of the end areas of the basic material can be bent partially about a given angle in the course of the manufacturing process before being joined together at this point.
  • a plurality of projecting parts is configured from the material of the longitudinal wall on a longitudinal wall.
  • projecting parts are configured on both longitudinal walls from the material of the longitudinal walls. In this case, in a further preferred embodiment, all the projecting parts make contact with the opposing longitudinal wall in each case. It is possible in this way to achieve a situation in which the flat tube, in the manufactured state, is configured with a plurality of chambers that are essentially separated in relation to one another.
  • the distances between the projecting parts can be selected in such a way that the finished flat tube exhibits channels with an essentially constant cross-sectional area.
  • At least one projecting part preferably a plurality of projecting parts, and especially preferred all the projecting parts, exhibits an essentially symmetrical profile. This means that the projecting part exhibits an axis of symmetry running essentially perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal wall, in relation to which the projecting part is of essentially axially symmetrical configuration.
  • the flat tubes exhibit a depth between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 4 mm, and especially preferred between 1 mm and 3 mm. Each of these depths depends on the actual applications in the heat exchangers to be manufactured.
  • At least one wall exhibits a wall thickness between 0.05 mm and 0.8 mm, preferably between 0.07 mm and 0.6 mm and—especially preferred—between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.
  • the corresponding projecting parts are preferably adapted depending on this wall thickness, in which case account must also be taken in particular of process engineering requirements.
  • the present invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of a multi-channel flat tube for a heat exchanger.
  • a projecting part with a predetermined profile is produced in one process stage from a strip of material by means of a first forming unit and a second forming unit acting together with the first forming unit.
  • the profile of the projecting part is modified by means of a third forming unit and a fourth forming unit acting together with the third forming unit.
  • modification of the profile is understood to denote that predetermined geometrical modifications are made to the projecting part and/or its cross section.
  • forming unit is understood to denote an arrangement which acts on the material to be processed in such a way that it is modified, at least locally.
  • the forming units in question are preferably rollers that are capable of rotating in relation to one another.
  • the first and the second forming units are thus embodied preferably as contra-rotating upper and lower rollers, between which the material to be processed is arranged.
  • the units in question are corresponding rollers, between which the material to be processed is arranged.
  • the rollers are preferably embodied in such a way that one roller is limited by lateral edges of the other roller, in order in this way to prevent broadening of the strip of material to be worked in the course of the forming process.
  • rollers exhibit an essentially cylindrical profile.
  • rollers it would also be possible, however, instead of rollers, to provide two opposing supports, between which the material is pressed and/or pulled.
  • the change in the profile in at least one process stage preferably involves a reduction in its height and/or width.
  • both the height and the width of the projecting part are reduced in the course of this process stage. It is possible in this way to achieve the situation in which the outside of the flat tube is made level in the area of the projecting part, which means that a depression is reduced in this area.
  • the profile of the projecting part is preferably further modified in at least one further process stage.
  • the height and/or the width of the profile is preferably reduced in turn.
  • a number of consecutive process stages is provided, in which the profile of the projecting part is continually modified, in conjunction with which this modification in each case involves at least the reduction of the width or the height of the profile.
  • the profile of the projecting part is modified preferably in at least four process stages, and especially preferred in at least six process stages. Too few process stages would lead to the risk of the material to be processed not being able to withstand the necessary extensive reshaping, possibly resulting in cracking and the like.
  • the number of process stages is restricted in the upward direction by the required efficiency, both in terms of the manufacturing costs and in terms of the time input.
  • pre-centering of the projecting part is undertaken in a further process stage. This is achieved preferably by means of a pre-drawing operation.
  • the rotating rollers, through which the material is passed, preferably exhibit an essentially constant distance in relation to one another.
  • the situation in which the material for processing exhibits an essentially constant wall thickness and/or gauge is achieved in this way.
  • the material of the roller is preferably matched to the material for processing in such a way that the diffusion of material particles is prevented.
  • the width of the strip of material is preferably reduced in at least one process stage.
  • the material is supplied to the rollers in the form of strips with predetermined dimensions.
  • the expression “width of the strip of material” is understood to denote its extension in the direction of the axis of the roller.
  • a plurality of projecting parts is preferably formed from the strip of material.
  • the required quantity of additional material can preferably be obtained by reducing the length of the strip in a first process stage.
  • the projecting parts in this case are preferably configured at predetermined distances in relation to one another.
  • the projecting parts are preferably selected in such a way that the flat tube produced in this way essentially exhibits a plurality of channels of essentially identical cross section.
  • Different projecting parts are preferably subjected to different forming steps in at least one process stage.
  • the intention in this case is for a particular projecting part to be adapted already in respect of its form, whereas a further projecting part is only formed or a projecting part already receives its final form, whereas a further projecting part is still adapted in respect of its form in an intermediate stage.
  • a curved section is preferably produced in a further process stage.
  • a curve of 180 degrees is preferably produced in order to arrange the longitudinal walls in this way so that they lie essentially parallel in relation to one another.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a representation of the process according to the invention for the production of a projecting part
  • FIG. 2 a depicts a representation of the forming units according to the invention for the manufacture of a projecting part
  • FIG. 2 b depicts a representation of the forming units for the purpose of modifying the profile of the projecting part
  • FIG. 2 c depicts a representation of the forming units for the purpose of further modifying the profile of the projecting part
  • FIG. 3 depicts a representation intended to illustrate the manufacturing process for the production of an even number of projecting parts
  • FIG. 4 depicts a flat tube produced by the process represented in FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 5 is a figure provided to illustrate the manufacture of a flat tube with an odd number of projecting parts
  • FIG. 6 depicts a flat tube manufactured by a process according to FIG. 5 ;
  • FIG. 7 depicts a flat tube according to the invention in a first embodiment
  • FIG. 8 depicts a flat tube according to the invention in a second embodiment
  • FIG. 9 depicts a flat tube according to the invention in a third embodiment
  • FIG. 10 depicts an enlarged representation of a projecting part for the purpose of illustrating the geometrical relationships
  • FIG. 11 depicts a flat tube according to the invention for the purpose of illustrating the geometrical relationships.
  • FIG. 1 The individual process stages of a process according to the invention for the production of a projecting part are depicted in FIG. 1 .
  • the individual process stages are identified with the Arabic numerals 1 to 6.
  • the lower-case letters a) to f) in each case designate the width of the material, that is to say the strip of material, during the manufacturing process.
  • the upper-case letters A to F designate the end points of the strip of material.
  • FIG. 1 shows only one possible variant of the process according to the invention. According to the invention, other process stages may also be proposed, or individual process stages may be omitted.
  • the reference designation L designates the center line, and preferably the axis of symmetry of the produced projecting part 9 a to 9 f .
  • pre-centering of the projecting part 9 a is undertaken by means of a pre-drawing operation. This is particularly advantageous if the projecting parts and/or the ribs need to be produced with large heights H A to H F .
  • the strip of material and/or the strip 7 is reshaped in the indicated area Z.
  • the forming units in each case that is to say preferably the rollers, exhibit a bead-like form.
  • the overall width b of the strip 7 is produced by the production of the projecting part 9 b in process stage 2 , in conjunction with which the overall width b is smaller than the overall width a, and respectively the overall width a′ in process stages 1 and 1 a.
  • the height H B produced in process stage 2 represents the maximum height H max of the projecting part 9 b , which is reduced even further, at least in part, in the course of further process stages.
  • stages 2 to 6 the development of the neutral fiber in the area Z remains almost constant. This means that, in the area Z, essentially the same quantity of material is always supplied respectively to the forming units and to the rollers. This is achieved through a corresponding design of the forming stages in each case in steps 2 to 6 by retaining the overall widths of the strips in each case.
  • the widths of the strips b to f thus remain essentially constant in process stages 2 to 6 .
  • the strip of material 7 is preferably retained with suitable tools at each of the end points B to F.
  • the width of the strip between the starting point 33 and the end point 34 preferably remains essentially constant during process stages 2 to 6 .
  • a closure of the projecting part and/or the depression 11 must be achieved underneath the projecting part 9 , which means that the flanks 29 of the projecting part are pressed against one another in each case.
  • the material 7 in the area of the projecting part is enclosed essentially completely by the corresponding areas of the forming units.
  • the projecting part that is still open in process stage 4 can also be closed by folding together, gathering or pinching.
  • the height H D and/or H E will not be significantly reduced in a procedure of this kind, however, but rather the overall width of the strip. In this case, steps would also have to be taken to counteract the danger of scratching between the pinching tools, in addition to which no ideally reduced rib external cavity 11 will also be obtained.
  • a final height H F which is smaller than the height H E in process stage 5 , is achieved in process stage 6 depicted here.
  • the area 11 which is still present in process stage 5 , is essentially closed, and the smooth outer profile according to the invention is accordingly achieved.
  • the strip width and/or the overall width of the strip e is also not reduced any further, which means that the strip width f and the strip width e are essentially the same.
  • FIG. 2 a depicts the forming units for the implementation of the process according to the invention, which comprise an upper roller 21 and a lower roller 22 . Arranged between these rollers is the flat tube material and/or the strip of material 7 , which is drawn through the rollers by the rollers in this way.
  • the lower roller 22 exhibits a processing projecting part 25
  • the upper roller 21 exhibits a depression adapted to the processing projecting part 25 in respect to its form. It would also be possible, on the other hand, to provide the upper roller with a projecting part and the lower roller with a depression.
  • the depression 26 and the processing projecting part 25 are adapted to one another in such a way that the material can be passed between them with a predetermined gauge and/or thickness S.
  • FIG. 2 a depicts the pair of rollers 21 , 22 at the processing stage 2 according to FIG. 1 , which means that the processing projecting part 25 and the depression 26 are so adapted that the resulting projecting part exhibits the height H B .
  • Gaps 13 a and 13 b are provided between the upper roller 21 and the lower roller 22 . During the first process stage, material from the strip continues to be drawn into the area of the upper roller.
  • FIG. 2 b depicts the pair of rollers for the process stage 4 .
  • the depression 26 is designed in such a way that the projecting part achieves the indicated height H D .
  • the lower roller 22 here no longer exhibits a processing projecting part.
  • the gaps 13 a and 13 b between the upper roller 21 and the lower roller 22 have been reduced in terms of their width compared with the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 a .
  • the lower roller 22 is designed, for example, according to the strip width b of process stage 4 according to FIG. 1 .
  • the strip of material and/or the strip runs against the lower roller during compression.
  • the widths of the strip must accordingly be kept essentially constant and/or as constant as possible, as soon as the height H B according to FIG. 2 a is achieved, in order to ensure that no area of the strip flows out of the area of the projecting part into the level area 7 b of the strip.
  • FIG. 2 c The arrangement for process stage 6 represented in FIG. 1 is depicted in FIG. 2 c .
  • the lower roller 22 also no longer exhibits a processing projecting part, and only the upper roller 21 continues to exhibit a depression 26 .
  • This depression is adapted in such a way that the final height H F of the projecting part 9 is produced.
  • the gap widths 13 a and 13 b are selected with minimum values, which means that material and/or the strip must be enclosed completely by the two rollers 21 and 22 , so that the projecting part 9 can be reshaped in such a way that the area 11 beneath the projecting part 9 can be closed essentially completely and a smooth outside (in this case the underside) of the material 7 is also produced in the area of the projecting part 9 in this way.
  • FIG. 3 depicts the process in the case in which a plurality of projecting parts—more precisely an even number of projecting parts—requires to be produced.
  • the individual process stages are identified here with the reference designations I to VIII.
  • a cavity 31 is produced by means of suitably adapted upper and lower rollers, that is to say rollers which exhibit a processing projecting part and a depression, as depicted in FIG. 2 .
  • the production of this cavity is particularly advantageous if the projecting parts to be produced are required to exhibit a comparatively large initial height H B .
  • Two projecting parts 9 a and 9 b are produced in process stage II.
  • An upper roller with a corresponding depression and a lower roller with an appropriately adapted processing projecting part are preferably used for this purpose. It is also possible, however, to utilize a lower roller without a processing projecting part in this process stage.
  • the width of the strip is reduced from a strip width a in process stage I, to a strip width b in process stage II, and to a strip width c in process stage III. It is also possible, however, to undertake only a reshaping of the projecting parts 9 in process stage III, which in this case means keeping the strip width c essentially constant in relation to the strip width b.
  • process stage IV two further projections 9 c and 9 d are produced by appropriately adapted upper and lower rollers.
  • the strip width c in process stage III is reduced to the strip width d in process stage IV.
  • the lower roller preferably exhibits processing projecting parts for this purpose in the area of the new projecting parts to be produced.
  • the projecting parts lying further to the inside and then the projecting parts lying further to the outside are preferably produced initially in conjunction with the production of the projecting parts.
  • This is advantageous because it permits material from the outer areas of the strip of material to be used in each case to produce the new projecting parts, and it prevents material from the areas of other, already produced projecting parts from being drawn in. It is also possible, however, to provide and/or to produce a plurality of projecting parts in place of the projecting part depicted here.
  • the process stages depicted in FIG. 3 are also only illustrated by way of example. It would also be possible in exactly the same way to provide significantly more process stages, as well as a plurality of reshaping processes.
  • Process stage IV can also be supplemented by further process stages, in order to produce additional projecting parts and/or ribs.
  • FIG. 4 Depicted in FIG. 4 is a flat tube, which can be manufactured by the process outlined in FIG. 3 .
  • the flat tube 1 is produced in its cross section by a process of reshaping the strip illustrated in FIG. 3 under reference VIII.
  • the strip is bent through 180 degrees in an area between the projecting parts 9 a and 9 b and, in addition, at the end areas in each case, in order to produce the curved areas 18 and 19 in this way.
  • the reference designations 14 and 15 in this case relate to the resulting longitudinal walls, which are arranged essentially parallel to one another.
  • the projecting parts 9 a to 9 d can be arranged in such a way that they make contact with the opposing wall in each case (the wall 15 in the case of the projecting parts 9 b and 9 d , and the wall 14 in the case of the projecting parts 9 a and 9 c ).
  • the projecting parts 9 a to 9 d and/or their end areas are preferably soldered to the opposing longitudinal wall in each case.
  • the two bent end areas 18 and 19 are similarly soldered to one another in such a way as to provide a tight joint.
  • a flat tube with five channels in total is achieved by producing the four projecting parts 9 a to 9 d depicted here.
  • reference designation 41 relates to an essentially level and/or smooth strip of material, in other words a flat strip, exhibiting the width a.
  • a projecting part 9 a is produced in process stage II—similar to that produced in process stage II in FIG. 3 .
  • This projecting part is reshaped in process stage III, in conjunction with which the strip width a is reduced initially to the width b in this process stage, and is in turn reduced to the width c, that is to say the width c is smaller than the width b, and the width b is smaller than the width a.
  • Two further projecting parts 9 b and 9 c are produced in process stage IV.
  • the production of the individual projecting parts 9 a and respectively 9 b and 9 c is transposed in this process, which means that, whereas the first reshaping operation has already taken place in the case of the projecting part 9 a , sections 9 b and 9 c were produced first in this instance.
  • the strip width d in this case is further reduced in relation to the strip width c.
  • the internal projecting parts are preferably formed initially, followed by the external projecting parts.
  • the three projecting parts 9 a , 9 b and 9 c are subjected to further forming in process stage V.
  • the width of the strip remains largely constant here, that is to say the strip width e essentially corresponds to the strip width d.
  • a further reshaping process of the kind described above takes place in process stage VI, that is to say the height of the individual projecting parts 9 a , 9 b and 9 c is reduced, as is their width; the flanks are of a steeper execution for this purpose, and the radii of curvature at the tip of the projecting parts are accordingly smaller.
  • FIG. 6 Depicted in FIG. 6 is a flat tube, which is produced from the lower strip depicted in FIG. 5 .
  • the end sections in this case are not arranged in the area of the curves 17 or 18 , but in the central area.
  • the components in question here are the folds 42 a and 42 b that are bent upwards in each case. These are welded and/or soldered to one another and as such make a further projecting part available.
  • the individual projecting parts 9 a to 9 c and the projecting part produced by the end folds 42 a and 42 b make contact with the opposing longitudinal wall of the flat tube in each case.
  • a flat tube with five channels is produced in this embodiment, too.
  • the process (process stages I-VIII) illustrated in FIG. 5 can be utilized generally for flat tubes with an odd number of projecting parts, whereas the process depicted in FIG. 3 preferably finds an application for flat tubes with an even number of projecting parts.
  • the design of the end folds 42 a , 42 b according to FIG. 6 and/or the end folds 18 , 19 according to FIG. 4 is achievable in particular in a previously disclosed way and is largely unaffected by the number of projecting parts.
  • FIG. 7 Illustrated in FIG. 7 is a flat tube according to the invention, in which the individual dimensions serve as an illustration.
  • the representation of the smooth and/or level external surface of the flat tube that is to say the representation of the minimized surface 11 beneath the projecting part 9 , has been dispensed with here in the interests of better understanding.
  • the flanks of the projecting part are represented in a non-compressed state.
  • Reference designation a relates to the distance of the ribs along a longitudinal wall.
  • Reference designation K denotes the distance between two neighboring ribs, which under certain circumstances form a chamber.
  • Reference designation T denotes the thickness of the flat tube.
  • the thickness T preferably lies between 1 mm and 3 mm.
  • the chamber and/or the size of the channel has been selected here so that it is about half as large as the distance between the ribs a (distance of the projecting parts).
  • the minimum distance between the ribs in this embodiment is at least twice as large as the width T.
  • the minimum chamber size and/or channel size is accordingly at least as large as, or larger than the thickness T.
  • the rib distance a essentially corresponds to the chamber size and/or the channel size K.
  • the minimum rib distance a is greater than the thickness T, which is also determined by the manufacturing process in this case. Because the rib distance a corresponds to the channel size K, the channel size is also at least twice as large as the thickness T of the flat tube.
  • the individual projecting parts 9 do not make contact with the opposing longitudinal wall 14 and/or 15 in each case, but with projecting parts 9 that are themselves applied to the opposing longitudinal wall. This means that the ends of the projecting parts make contact with one another more or less at the center of the flat tube.
  • the size of the channel K is essentially equal to the rib distance a. In this case, however, the minimum rib distance is larger than or equal to the thickness T of the flat tube. This also applies to the chamber size and/or the channel size K.
  • FIG. 10 depicts an enlarged representation of a projecting part 9 according to the invention, in which its dimensions are indicated individually.
  • the projecting parts in each case are reshaped.
  • the number of process stages to be used is determined by the height H F to be reached, the wall thickness and the strip thickness t and the material characteristics. If it is wished to produce a number of projecting parts and/or ribs, a far larger number of process stages may be required, however.
  • the reference designation rf denotes the upper radius of curvature
  • X denotes the width of the projecting part at its tip
  • Y the width of the projecting part 9 at its base
  • RF the radius of curvature at the base of the projecting part
  • r D the radius of curvature of the depression 11 .
  • the individual sizes are partially correlated to one another.
  • the upper radius of curvature rf in this embodiment lies between 0 and the wall thickness t, that is to say it is smaller than the wall thickness t.
  • the lower radius of curvature RF is smaller than twice the wall thickness t.
  • the upper width X of the projecting part lies between one-and-a-half times and two times the wall thickness t.
  • the lower width Y of the projecting part lies between two times and two-and-a-half times the wall thickness t, which means that the upper width X is smaller than the lower width Y, which is also the outcome of the forming process.
  • the height of the projecting part H F lies between the wall thickness t and ten times this wall thickness t.
  • the lower radius of the depression r D is also smaller than the wall thickness t.
  • the wall thickness t lies between 0.05 mm and 0.8 mm, preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.7 mm, and especially preferred between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.
  • an essentially smooth external profile is understood to denote a profile of the kind which is produced by radii of curvature r D that are smaller than the wall thickness t.
  • FIG. 11 depicts a view from above of the flat tube according to the invention. This exhibits only a single projecting part and/or rib 9 , and it is accordingly divided into two channels.
  • the proportion of the tube width b to the tube height H lies between 10 and 30, and preferably between 10 and 24.
  • the size of the chamber and/or the size of the channel lies between one third of the width of the tube and one half of the width of the tube.
  • the height of the projecting part h F preferably lies between three times the wall thickness and eight times the wall thickness.
  • the lower radius of curvature rd is found to be less than 0.75 times, and preferably smaller than or equal to 0.5 times the wall thickness t.
  • the wall thickness lies between 0.05 mm and 0.6 mm, preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm, and especially preferred between 0.15 mm and 0.3 mm.
  • a depression 11 remains on the outside of the flat tube, which exhibits a surface area of less than 0.01 mm 2 , and preferably of less than 0.006 mm 2 . This represents a considerable improvement compared with the prior art.
  • the depression 11 illustrated in FIG. 10 exhibits a surface area of less than 0.1 mm 2 , and preferably less than 0.07 mm 2 , which also represents a considerable improvement compared with the prior art.
  • the flat tube as mentioned by way of introduction, can be soldered far more easily to the base of the tube, and a tight connection can be achieved at far lower cost.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Shaping Metal By Deep-Drawing, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Bending Of Plates, Rods, And Pipes (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
US11/664,993 2004-10-12 2005-10-11 Flat Tube for a Heat Exchanger Abandoned US20070295490A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102004049809.1 2004-10-12
DE102004049809A DE102004049809A1 (de) 2004-10-12 2004-10-12 Flachrohr für Wärmetauscher
PCT/EP2005/010904 WO2006040118A1 (de) 2004-10-12 2005-10-11 Flachrohr für wärmetauscher

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20070295490A1 true US20070295490A1 (en) 2007-12-27

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Family Applications (1)

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US11/664,993 Abandoned US20070295490A1 (en) 2004-10-12 2005-10-11 Flat Tube for a Heat Exchanger

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20070295490A1 (ja)
EP (1) EP1805469B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2008516177A (ja)
DE (1) DE102004049809A1 (ja)
TR (1) TR201910994T4 (ja)
WO (1) WO2006040118A1 (ja)

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US20110079378A1 (en) * 2009-10-01 2011-04-07 Techspace Aero S.A. Method for manufacturing a heat exchanger and exchanger obtained by the method
US20120168435A1 (en) * 2011-01-04 2012-07-05 Cooler Master Co., Ltd. Folding vapor chamber
US20140000853A1 (en) * 2010-06-30 2014-01-02 Valeo Systemes Thermiques Fluid Circulation Tube And A Heat Exchanger Comprising Such Tubes
US10989485B2 (en) 2011-03-31 2021-04-27 Valeo Systemes Thermiques Heat exchanger tube, and corresponding heat exchanger production method

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JP2008128600A (ja) * 2006-11-22 2008-06-05 Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Ltd フィン構造体およびその製造方法並びに該フィン構造体を用いた伝熱管
DE102007036300B4 (de) 2007-07-31 2019-07-04 Mahle International Gmbh Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Prüfung, sowie Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Rohres
FR2923591B1 (fr) * 2007-11-09 2017-07-21 Valeo Systemes Thermiques Branche Thermique Moteur Tubes multicanaux pour un echangeur de chaleur brase
JP2011099630A (ja) * 2009-11-06 2011-05-19 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 熱交換器及びこの熱交換器を用いた冷蔵庫、空気調和機

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US20110079378A1 (en) * 2009-10-01 2011-04-07 Techspace Aero S.A. Method for manufacturing a heat exchanger and exchanger obtained by the method
US8726507B2 (en) * 2009-10-01 2014-05-20 Techspace Aero S.A. Method for manufacturing a heat exchanger and exchanger obtained by the method
US20140000853A1 (en) * 2010-06-30 2014-01-02 Valeo Systemes Thermiques Fluid Circulation Tube And A Heat Exchanger Comprising Such Tubes
US10987720B2 (en) * 2010-06-30 2021-04-27 Valeo Systemes Thermiques Fluid circulation tube and a heat exchanger comprising such tubes
US20120168435A1 (en) * 2011-01-04 2012-07-05 Cooler Master Co., Ltd. Folding vapor chamber
US10989485B2 (en) 2011-03-31 2021-04-27 Valeo Systemes Thermiques Heat exchanger tube, and corresponding heat exchanger production method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TR201910994T4 (tr) 2019-08-21
EP1805469B1 (de) 2019-05-29
JP2008516177A (ja) 2008-05-15
EP1805469A1 (de) 2007-07-11
WO2006040118A1 (de) 2006-04-20
DE102004049809A1 (de) 2006-04-13

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