U.S. patent application number 12/979227 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for heat exchanger for a motor vehicle.
Invention is credited to Holger AUCHTER, Kamal GALAHROUDI, Matthias TRAUB.
Application Number | 20110155358 12/979227 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41061093 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110155358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GALAHROUDI; Kamal ; et
al. |
June 30, 2011 |
HEAT EXCHANGER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger
including a collector extending in a longitudinal direction and
having a bottom and a collector box, at least two connections
provided in the collector box for feeding and draining a fluid, a
plurality of exchange tubes ending in the bottom of the collector,
and a separator wall separating the collector into a first partial
chamber on the inlet side and a second partial chamber on the
outlet side, wherein the separating wall adjoins the bottom while
dividing the bottom substantially symmetrically along a center line
running in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the separating
wall comprises a projection above the bottom, wherein at least one
of the centers of the two connections has an offset relative to the
center line.
Inventors: |
GALAHROUDI; Kamal;
(Mannheim, DE) ; AUCHTER; Holger; (Stuttgart,
DE) ; TRAUB; Matthias; (Korntal-Muenchingen,
DE) |
Family ID: |
41061093 |
Appl. No.: |
12/979227 |
Filed: |
December 27, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/EP2009/004097 |
Jun 8, 2009 |
|
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12979227 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 2225/08 20130101;
F28F 9/0214 20130101; F28F 9/0217 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/173 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20060101
F28F009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 26, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 029 958.8 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, comprising: a collector
extending in a longitudinal direction and having a base and a
collector box; at least two connections arranged in the collector
box that are configured to supply and discharge a fluid; a
plurality of exchanger tubes emptying into the base of the
collector; and a partition wall configured to divide the collector
into a first partial chamber on an inlet side and a second partial
chamber on an outlet side, the partition wall adjoining the base,
while dividing the base largely symmetrically along a center line
running in the longitudinal direction, the partition wall having a
projection arranged above the base, wherein at least one of the
center points of the two connections has an offset relative to the
center line.
2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
the connections is disposed on the collector box, a free opening
thereof spanning the center line, due to the projection.
3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a connecting
line of the center points of the connections forms an angle of at
least five degrees with the center line.
4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the offset is
at least one fourth of a diameter of a free opening of the
connection.
5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of a
free opening of the at least one connection is greater than a
maximum width of the partial chamber connected thereto.
6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein, in an area of
one of the connections, the projection of the partition wall has a
bend around the longitudinal axis which is substantially uniform
over the area.
7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the projection
has a convex portion oriented away from the bend in the area of the
other connection.
8. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the total bend
runs along at least half the length of the partition wall.
9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the partition
wall has a plurality of notches in an area of its abutment with the
base for surrounding the protrusions of the exchanger tubes.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the partition
wall has at least one tab or a plurality of tabs in an area of its
abutment with the collector box opposite the base for attachment to
the collector box.
11. The heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein the partition
wall has a projection beneath the at least one tab for plastic
press-fit stemming of the partition wall during an assembly.
12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the
projection has a section that is substantially perpendicular to an
assembly direction of the partition wall.
13. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the exchanger
tubes are designed as flat tubes, each having a forward-directed
section connectable to the first partial chamber and a
backward-directed section connectable to the second partial
chamber.
14. The heat exchanger according to claim 13, further comprising a
second collector configured to deflect the fluid from the first
section of the flat tubes to the second section of the flat
tubes.
15. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least the
collector box, the connections, the base, the partition wall, and
the exchanger tubes are soldered to each other in a common method
step or in multiple method steps in a soldering furnace.
Description
[0001] This nonprovisional application is a continuation of
International Application No. PCT/EP2009/004097, which was filed on
Jun. 8, 2009, and which claims priority to German Patent
Application No. DE 10 2008 029 958.8, which was filed in Germany on
Jun. 26, 2008, and which are both herein incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for a
motor vehicle.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] DE 199 42 458 A1 describes a heat exchanger for a motor
vehicle air conditioning system, in which, to achieve a potentially
narrow design, a supplying connection and a discharging connection
are disposed in a central location on a collector which is
separated by a partition wall into two partial chambers on a
central axis of symmetry of the heat exchanger running in the
longitudinal direction. For this purpose, a partition wall dividing
the collector into two partial chambers has two bent-out sections
running in opposite directions via which the first connection,
which is centrally disposed in one end region of the collector, is
connected to only the first partial chamber, and the other
connection, which is centrally disposed in the other end region, is
connected only to the other partial chamber. On the whole, this
limits the flexibility in disposing the connections and makes the
heat exchanger assembly complex and susceptible to errors due to
the bent-out formation of the partition wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a heat
exchanger for a motor vehicle, in which it is possible to dispose
connections in a particularly flexible and space-optimized
manner.
[0007] Due to the fact that at least one of the center points of
the two connections has an offset relative to the center line, it
is possible to lay supplying and discharging pipes in such a way
that they do not, or only slightly, protrude laterally over the
heat exchanger. In addition, a component is provided for designing
the projections of the partition wall while optimizing assembly and
process reliability.
[0008] In an embodiment, at least one of the connections is
disposed on the collector box in such a way that its free opening
spans the center line, due to the projection. A particularly
compact heat exchanger is thus achieved.
[0009] In an embodiment of the invention, a connecting line of the
center points of the connections form an angle of at least
approximately five degrees with the center line, which provides a
particularly large offset of at least one of the center points of
the connections relative to the center line. Due to the connections
which are offset relative to each other, the tubes may be laid side
by side flush with the collector box, thereby saving space.
[0010] In a further embodiment, the selected offset can be equal to
at least approximately one fourth of a diameter of the free opening
of the connection for the same reason. The free opening of the
connection is understood to be the smallest diameter of the circle
over the course of the connection, at least in the case of a
circular connection opening.
[0011] It is generally advantageous if a diameter of the free
opening of the at least one connection is greater than a maximum
width of the partial chamber connected thereto. This also makes it
possible to select a sufficiently large opening cross section, in
particular if the free opening has a circular shape, in order to
ensure a sufficient mass flow of the fluid for flowing through the
heat exchanger. It is important to take into account the fact that
heat exchangers of a very long build and limited installation space
in the transverse direction, in particular, are problematic when it
comes to sufficiently dimensioning the connections, in particular
if a circular shape is desired. Due to the projection of the
partition wall and the associated ability to dimension the
connection to have a free opening that is larger than the with of a
partial chamber, a sufficient fluid mass flow may be provided. This
applies, for example, to a typical application in which the heat
exchanger is designed as a heating element of a vehicle air
conditioning system through which hot water flows.
[0012] The projection of the partition wall can include a bend
around the longitudinal axis which is largely uniform over this
area. A bend of this type may be easily and precisely produced from
a sheet metal part, it being possible for the connection to easily
overlap a center plane. In order to design the other connection of
a similar or equal size, it is suitably provided that the
projection has a convex portion oriented in the opposite direction
from the bend in the area of the other connection. In particular,
the other connection may also extend beyond a center line of the
collector box via the convex portion oriented in the opposite
direction.
[0013] The entire bend can run over at least half the length of the
partition wall in the longitudinal direction, providing the
partition wall with a dimensionally stable and easily assembled
design.
[0014] In an embodiment, the partition wall can have a uniform
cross sectional shape, in particular in the form of a bend, in the
area of an abutment against each of opposite end faces of the
collector box. When mechanically assembling the heat exchanger,
this promotes a non-torsional press-fit stemming of the partition
wall with the collector box and the base prior to introduction into
a soldering furnace, thereby ensuring a secure and low-failure
solder joint.
[0015] The partition wall can have a plurality of notches in the
area of its abutment with the base for surrounding protrusions of
the heat exchanger tubes, which provides a defined stop for
assembling the heat exchanger and at the same time ensures a more
secure and tighter clamping of the heat exchanger tubes following
soldering. At the same time, the partition wall is held precisely
and securely in position in the area of the base.
[0016] In an embodiment, the partition wall can have at least one,
in particular multiple, tabs for attachment to the collector box in
the area of its abutment with the collector box opposite the base.
The partition wall particularly preferably has a projection below
the at least one tab for plastic press-fit stemming of the
partition wall during assembly, the projection having a section
which is largely perpendicular to an assembly direction of the
partition wall in an even further preferred detail design. These
alternative or additional measures make it possible to ensure a
particularly secure and position-accurate preassembly of the
partition wall between the collector box and the base, thereby
ensuring that the individual components are soldered in a soldering
furnace to form a sealing and low-failure solder joint.
[0017] The exchanger tubes of a heat exchanger according to the
invention can be designed as flat tubes, each having a
forward-directed section connected to a first partial chamber and a
backward-directed section connected to the second partial chamber,
the number of separate exchanger tubes being easily reduced
thereby. In a simple and suitable detail design, a second collector
is provided for deflecting the fluid from the first section of the
flat tubes to the second section of the flat tubes. In principle,
however, a second collector may be dispensed with, for example in
that the two sections of the flat tubes are each connected to each
other in a lower end area of the flat tubes.
[0018] In the interest of cost-effective mass production of a heat
exchanger according to the present invention, it can be provided
that at least the collector box, the connections, the base, the
partition wall and the flat tubes are soldered together in a common
method step or in multiple method steps in a soldering furnace.
These components may suitably be each made of sheets of an aluminum
alloy which are entirely or partially brazed to the individual
component during the soldering process, depending on the
requirements.
[0019] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are
not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a spatial overall view of a heat exchanger
according to the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the heat exchanger from FIG. 1, with the
omission of a collector box;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the heat exchanger from FIG. 1,
seen from above;
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the heat exchanger from
FIG. 3 along line A-A;
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a spatial view of a partition wall of the heat
exchanger from FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the partition wall from FIG. 5,
seen from the side;
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the partition wall from
FIG. 6 along line B-B; and
[0028] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the partition wall from
FIG. 6 along line C-C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1 is a heating element of
an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle through which the
coolant of an engine cooling system of the motor vehicle flows. The
heat exchanger includes an upper collector 1 having a first
connection 2 for supplying the fluid and a second connection 3 for
discharging the fluid, both connections in this case having a
rotationally symmetrical design and a minimum free opening of each
connection having a circular cross section. A plurality of
exchanger tubes 4, which are disposed side-by-side in a stacked
manner in a longitudinal direction L and whose long side surfaces
extend in a transverse direction Q or a depth direction of the heat
exchanger, empty into collector 1. Exchanger tubes 4 are each
divided into multiple separated channels (not illustrated). End
plates 5 are provided at the end faces of the heat exchanger to
form a closure of the stack of exchanger tubes 4.
[0030] Opposite collector 2, exchanger tubes 4 empty into a second
collector 6, via which the fluid is deflected from a
forward-directed section 4a to a backward-directed section 4b of
the exchanger tubes, forward-directed section 4a and
backward-directed section 4b of an exchanger tube being disposed
consecutively in the transverse direction.
[0031] Fins (not illustrated) for enlarging the surface for
exchanging heat with the air flowing through the heat exchanger in
the transverse direction are provided in the known manner between
exchanger tubes 4.
[0032] The heat exchanger is made entirely of partially brazed
aluminum components which are mechanically preassembled and
soldered together as a whole in a single method step or in multiple
method steps in a soldering furnace. Prior to soldering, collector
1 largely includes the individual parts of connections 2, 3 of a
collector box 7 of a base 8 and a partition wall 9 extending
between base 8 and collector box 7. The collector chamber enclosed
by collector box 7 and base 8 is divided by partition wall 9 into
to partial chambers 1a, 1b (see FIG. 4), one partial chamber 1a
being connected to first connection 2 and first section 4a of the
exchanger tubes, and second partial chamber 1b being connected only
to second connection 3 and second section 4b of the exchanger
tubes.
[0033] For this purpose, partition wall 9, which extends in the
longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger, adjoins base 8 by a
base-side edge 9a along a center line M, so that collector 1 is
divided precisely in half into partial chambers 1a, 1b in the area
of the base of collector 1 (see FIG. 4).
[0034] In the area of edge 9a, partition wall 9 also encompasses
notches 9b with which flat tubes 4 inserted through openings in
base 8 engage by their center areas, thereby ensuring a simple
holding action, positioning and sealing solder joint.
[0035] Above base-side edge 9a, partition wall 9 includes a
protection along most of its length, in the manner of a bend 10
around the longitudinal direction, a first folded edge 10a being
formed at an approximately 45.degree. angle in one direction and a
second folded edge 10b being formed by approximately the same angle
in the opposite direction, so that an edge 9c of the partition wall
adjacent to collector box 7 and opposite base 8 is also positioned
largely perpendicular to the surface of collector box 7.
[0036] A total of three tabs 9a, which engage with corresponding
openings 7a (see FIG. 3) in collector box 7, are provided on this
edge 9a, so that a secure positioning and press-fit stemming or
attachment of the partition wall is ensured during mechanical
assembly of the heat exchanger. To further improve press-fit
stemming, box-shaped projections 9e, which according to the
sectional view in FIG. 8 have a section 9f perpendicular to the
assembly direction of the partition wall, are provided beneath tabs
9d in the area of bend 10.
[0037] One of the two connections 2 is positioned above bend 10 of
partition wall 9, a diameter d of its free opening being greater
than the width of partial chambers 4a, 4b on the plane of the base
of collector 1. This is made possible by the fact that upper edge
9c of partition wall 9 on the collector box side adjoins collector
box 7 in a manner which is laterally offset from the plane of
symmetry, due to bend 10.
[0038] Opposite a center line M or the position of lower edge 9a of
partition wall 9, a center point of the free opening of connection
2 is disposed in a laterally offset manner by a variable V which,
in the present exemplary embodiment, is approximately one third
diameter d of the free opening.
[0039] The other connection 3 in the present example is disposed by
same offset V from the center line and also spans the center line
by its free opening. This is made possible by the fact that
partition wall 9 has a convex portion 11 opposite bend 10 in the
area of second connection 3 (see FIG. 5). Convex portion 11 is
limited to a short section of partition wall 9 and adjoins
collector box 7 on the cover side largely in the form of a
semicircle.
[0040] Due to bend 10, which is present over most of the length of
partition wall 9, and convex portion 11, which is positioned at
only one location, connections 2, 3 may be easily positioned in
nearly any manner in the longitudinal direction of collector 1 by
modifying the partition wall specifically illustrated. In the
present example, the two connections 2, 3 lie relatively close to
each other in the central area of collector 1, a connecting line of
their center points with the longitudinal direction and the center
line of the heat exchanger forming an angle of approximately
15.degree..
[0041] A further feature of partition wall 9 lies in the fact that
partition wall 9 adjoins both end faces of collector box 7 by bend
10 formed in the same direction, so that a twisting or torsion of
the partition wall is avoided during mechanical preassembly.
[0042] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are to be included within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *