U.S. patent application number 15/322170 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-11 for heat exchanger with reinforced header plate.
The applicant listed for this patent is TitanX Engine Cooling Holding AB. Invention is credited to Ulf BERGMAN, Bengt-Ove BIRGERSSON, Arnaud CONTET.
Application Number | 20170131043 15/322170 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53524737 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170131043 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CONTET; Arnaud ; et
al. |
May 11, 2017 |
Heat Exchanger With Reinforced Header Plate
Abstract
The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) comprising a
coolant housing (10) and a header plate (20). The header plate (20)
crimps around a border (11) of the coolant housing (10) by
encompassing the border (11). The header plate (20) is provided
with apertures (22), each aperture (22) receiving a tube (30) for
guiding coolant from or to the closed cavity (50). The heat
exchanger (1) further comprises a reinforcing plate (40) extending
between two opposing crimped locations on the border (11) of the
coolant housing (10), and extending on the outside of the header
plate (20) in view of the closed cavity (50), wherein the
reinforcing plate (40) is joined, at the opposing locations, to an
outer surface portion of the header plate (20), and wherein the
reinforcing plate (40) is provided with at least one aperture (42)
embracing one or more of the tubes (30) received by the header
plate (20).
Inventors: |
CONTET; Arnaud; (SOLVESBORG,
SE) ; BIRGERSSON; Bengt-Ove; (SOLVESBORG, SE)
; BERGMAN; Ulf; (KRISTIANSTAD, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TitanX Engine Cooling Holding AB |
SOLVESBORG |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
53524737 |
Appl. No.: |
15/322170 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
June 23, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/064068 |
371 Date: |
December 26, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 9/0224 20130101;
F28F 2225/08 20130101; F28D 1/05366 20130101; F28F 9/0229 20130101;
F28F 2275/122 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20060101
F28F009/02; F28D 1/053 20060101 F28D001/053 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 27, 2014 |
SE |
1450793-3 |
Claims
1. Heat exchanger comprising: a coolant housing having a border
which defines an opening; a header plate arranged to cover the
opening; wherein the header plate crimps the border of the coolant
housing by encompassing a free edge portion, an outer side surface
portion and an outer upper surface portion on at least two opposing
locations on the border; whereby a closed cavity for coolant is
defined by the coolant housing and the header plate; and wherein
the header plate is provided with apertures, each aperture
receiving a tube for guiding coolant from or to the closed cavity;
the heat exchanger further comprising: a reinforcing plate
extending between two opposing locations on the border of the
coolant housing, and extending on the outside of the header plate
in view of the closed cavity, the reinforcing plate being made of
the same material as the header plate and the tubes; wherein the
reinforcing plate is joined, at each of said opposing locations, to
an outer surface portion of the header plate encompassing a corner
between the free edge portion and the outer side surface portion of
the border; wherein the reinforcing plate is provided with at least
one aperture embracing one or more of the tubes which are received
by the header plate; and wherein the reinforcing plate is arranged
to provide a gap between the reinforcing plate and each of one or
more tubes embraced by the apertures of the reinforcing plate.
2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing
plate is joined to one or more tubes embraced by the apertures of
the reinforcing plate.
3. (canceled)
4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein each of the at
least one apertures of the reinforcing plate embraces only one tube
received by the header plate.
5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein each of the at
least one apertures of the reinforcing plate embraces a plurality
of tubes received by the header plate.
6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the opening
defined by the border is oblong; and wherein the reinforcing plate
is arranged to extend between two opposing locations on a long side
of the border.
7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the tubes are
arranged in a plurality of parallel rows, each row comprising a
plurality of tubes; wherein the rows extend in the direction of the
long side of the border; and wherein the reinforcing plate embraces
at least two adjacent tubes in each row.
8. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcing
plate is arranged at a central area of the header plate with
respect to the long side of the border.
9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the tubes have
an oblong cross-section and are arranged with the same orientation,
and wherein the reinforcing plate extends along the long sides of
the tubes.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing plate is joined to the header plate by brazing.
11. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the header
plate encompasses also an inner side surface portion at each of
said two opposing locations on the border.
12. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the coolant
housing comprises a top wall and side walls which extend from the
top wall, the top wall and side walls defining a bowl-shaped inner
space of the coolant housing.
13. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein the
reinforcing plate is arranged at a central area of the header plate
with respect to the long side of the border.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger and in
particular to a heat exchanger of the type comprising a coolant
housing, a header plate and a plurality of tubes for transporting
coolant from and to the coolant housing. The invention concerns a
reinforcement of the heat exchanger in order to withstand high
pressures in the coolant housing.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
[0002] Heat exchangers are used in various applications, such as
air conditioners, air compressors, gas turbines, refrigerators, and
automotive applications. Heat exchangers for automotive use may be
a radiator or a charge air cooler.
[0003] Automotive and other heat exchangers may be constructed with
a pair of coolant housings which are linked by a core leading a
coolant between the coolant housings. The core is typically formed
by a plurality of tubes which are located adjacent each other. The
tubes may be joined to a header plate which in turn is attached to
the coolant housing. The different parts are typically brazed or
welded together.
[0004] The above exemplified heat exchanger construction can be
used for cooling internal combustion engines wherein an engine
coolant is circulated through the engine block and thereafter
through the heat exchanger where it transfers heat to the
through-passing air. The heat exchanger is typically located at an
air intake in the front of the vehicle in order to maximize the air
flow through the heat exchanger.
[0005] The heat exchanger construction may also be provided for
cooling air within an engine system between for example a
turbocharger and an engine intake.
[0006] The coolant pressure may be controlled. By increasing the
coolant pressure, vaporization of the coolant can be avoided and
the cooling system may thus increase its cooling efficiency.
However, an increased coolant pressure puts higher pressure on the
mechanical parts of the system, for example on the heat exchanger.
In particular, joints between the tubes, the header plate and the
coolant housing are exposed to recurrent stress as the coolant
pressure repeatedly increases and decreases. In the long run this
may cause fatigue and breakdown of the cooling system. One typical
area sensitive to fatigue is the joints interconnecting the header
plate with the coolant housing since the fluctuating coolant
pressure causes the relatively weak coolant housing to repeatedly
change dimensions, which changes must be accommodated by the header
plate.
[0007] One solution to this problem is to reinforce the header
plate to make it more rigid. JP9126681 provides an example of a
reinforcing clip which is provided on the header plate in a
position between the tubes. The free ends of the clips are bent to
follow the shape of the header body and clamp against the same. The
reinforcing clip is retained by engaging units provided on the
header plate. The parts may be brazed to each other. The solution
requires modification of the header plate. Further it requires a
complex assembly process since multiple reinforcing clips must be
oriented and mounted in spaces having a limited access
[0008] Thus, there still exists a need for improvement with regards
to reinforcement of the components in these types of heat
exchangers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved heat
exchanger design, in particular with respect to reinforcement of
the header plate.
[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a heat
exchanger which facilitates the production process and which can
contribute to cost-efficiency.
[0011] The above and other objects are achieved by a heat exchanger
according to claim 1.
[0012] When pressurized coolant flows through the closed cavity,
the walls of the coolant housing tend to bend outward due to the
pressure. In particular, the side walls tend to bulge. The
inventors have identified portions in the joint between the coolant
housing and the header plate which are particularly exposed to
fatigue due to such bulging. In order to strengthen the
construction, a reinforcing plate is provided. The reinforcing
plate is joined to the header plate along the end portion thereof
which encompasses the corner between the free edge portion and the
outer side surface portion of the border of the coolant housing.
Thereby the above mentioned weak portions are strengthened and
reinforced so as to increase their resistance to fatigue. The
reinforcing plate limits the displacement of the coolant housing in
view of the header plate when the heat exchanger is
pressurized.
[0013] Regardless of the design of the reinforcing plate, the
header plate may be designed and manufactured in a standardized
manner without care taken to the reinforcement needed for a
particular application. Further, the assembly of the reinforcing
plate may be made with only minor effects to the assembly line.
[0014] The reinforcing plate may be made of the same material as
the rest of the components of the heat exchanger, i.e. typically an
aluminum alloy. This means that a brazed homogenous joint may be
formed along all contact surfaces between the reinforcing plate and
the header plate in the very same brazing process that is normally
used when joining all components of a heat exchanger. Thus, no
extra joining step is required whereby the reinforcing plate easily
may be integrated in the assembly line.
[0015] Further features and advantages are achieved by embodiments
disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0016] In one embodiment, the reinforcing plate is joined to one or
more tubes embraced by the apertures of the reinforcing plate. This
strengthens the overall torsional rigidity of the heat exchanger
and further decreases the risk of fatigue related breakdowns.
[0017] In another embodiment, the reinforcing plate may be arranged
to provide a gap between the reinforcing plate and each of one or
more tubes which are embraced by the apertures of the reinforcing
plate. This feature may be preferred in order to provide an easy
assembling of the components. Also, by a gap tolerances are made of
less importance facilitating both production of the reinforcing
plate and assembling thereof.
[0018] Regardless of if the reinforcing plate is joined to the
tubes or provides a gap between the reinforcing plate and the
tubes, the apertures of the reinforcing plate may embrace only one
tube or embrace a plurality of tubes.
[0019] In one embodiment, the opening defined by the border of the
coolant housing is oblong. In this case, the reinforcing plate is
arranged to extend between two opposing locations on a long side of
the border of the coolant housing. It has been found that
reinforcement of the header plate along the long side of the border
of the coolant housing provides a strong overall reinforcement of
the heat exchanger and also provides an improved torsional
rigidity. This is particularly the case when the reinforcing plate
is located along a central area of the long side.
[0020] In one embodiment, the tubes are arranged in a plurality of
parallel rows. Each row comprises a plurality of tubes. The rows
may extend in the direction of the long side of the border. In such
embodiment, the reinforcing plate may be arranged to embrace at
least two adjacent tubes in each row. By this configuration, the
reinforcing plate may extend along as many tubes along the long
side as desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The invention will be described in detail with reference to
the schematic drawings.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a typical heat
exchanger in line with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a view of a coolant housing and a part of the core
of a heat exchanger according to a first embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the arrangement in FIG. 2.
[0025] FIG. 4a is a side view towards the open section of the
arrangement in FIG. 2.
[0026] FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of a section taken along
line A-A in FIG. 4a.
[0027] FIG. 5a is side view towards a short side of the arrangement
in FIG. 2.
[0028] FIG. 5b is a cross-sectional view of a section taken along
line B-B in FIG. 5a.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a view of a coolant housing and a part of the core
of a heat exchanger according to a second embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the arrangement n FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] A heat exchanger 1 for heat exchange between a coolant and
air is illustrated in FIG. 1. For illustrative purposes the heat
exchanger is implemented with the reinforcing plate of the
invention. The heat exchanger 1 may be a radiator or a charge air
cooler for use in engine cooling systems. A coolant is circulated
in a closed system formed by two opposing coolant housings 10 and a
plurality of tubes 30 extending between the housings. The disclosed
embodiment is provided with a plurality of vertically arranged
tubes 30. It is however to be understood that the tubes with
remained function may be horizontally arranged. The tubes are
arranged side by side in at least one row. A number of parallel
rows, each row comprising a plurality of tubes, may be
provided.
[0032] A header plate 20 is attached to each coolant housing 10 to
form a closed cavity. The tubes 30 connect to the closed cavity
through apertures in the header plate.
[0033] During operation air is allowed to pass by the tubes 30. The
tubes 30 are designed to provide a large area relative its volume
in order to optimize the heat exchange. To further improve the heat
exchanging area, waffled thin metal sheets 70, may be arranged
between the individual tubes 30. Turbulator elements may also be
provided.
[0034] The tubes 30 and the header plates 20 are preferably made of
metal such as aluminum. It is however to be understood that also
other types of materials may be used. In case of aluminium, the
aluminum is preferably of the type provided with a surface
treatment facilitating brazing.
[0035] The coolant housings are typically made of plastics,
composite or metal.
[0036] The typical process of manufacturing a brazed heat exchanger
of the above type may be briefly explained as follows: A plurality
of tubes are stacked with or without intermediate distance forming
waffled thin metal material. The stacked plurality of tubes is kept
together by arranging two opposing header plates on top of the free
ends of the plurality of tubes. The tubes are arranged to extend
with their free ends through apertures in the opposing header
plates. The resulting stacked arrangement is thoroughly degreased
and provided with a fluxing agent in order of dissolving inevitable
natural surface oxides of the aluminum. The stacked arrangement is
subsequently fed through an oven where all connecting surfaces in
the stacked arrangement are brazed together to form a rigid unit
with homogenous, brazed joints along all contact surfaces. Finally
a coolant housing is arranged on top of each header plate and
joined thereto. The coolant housings are typically clamped in place
by flanges on the header plate, which flanges clamp the peripheral
border of the coolant housing. A gasket is arranged between the
coolant housing and the header plate before joining the same. The
resulting clamped joint will be made fluid tight by the reactive
forces of the thus compressed gasket. Thereby a closed, fluid tight
system is provided allowing a closed circulation of a fluid from
the first coolant housing, via the plurality of tubes towards the
second coolant housing.
[0037] A first embodiment of a part of an oblong arrangement 2
forming the fluid side of the heat exchanger 1 is illustrated in
FIG. 2. The illustrated part forms an end of the oblong arrangement
2. The part is illustrated as a cut-off to facilitate understanding
of the design. The cross section is representative of any part of
the arrangement 2 along either one of the coolant housings 10 in
FIG. 1.
[0038] The arrangement 2 comprises the coolant housing 10, the
header plate 20 and the plurality of tubes 30. It is appreciated
that these components may take many forms within the scope of the
appended claims.
[0039] The coolant housing 10 and the header plate 20 form a closed
cavity 50 by that the header plate 20 covers an opening of the
coolant housing 10. The tubes 30 are in communication with the
closed cavity 50 by that their free open ends are arranged to
extend into the closed cavity 50 through the header plate 20.
[0040] The invention is defined by a reinforcing plate 40. The
reinforcing plate 40 is arranged along and at least partly in
contact with an outside surface of the header plate 20. By outside
surface is meant a surface facing away from the closed cavity
50.
[0041] The structural details of the different components in this
embodiment and their attachment to each other will now be disclosed
with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4a-4b.
[0042] Starting with the coolant housing 10, the coolant housing 10
comprises a top wall 16 and side walls 17 extending from the top
wall 16. The top wall 16 and the side walls 17 define a bowl-shaped
inner cavity of the coolant housing 10. The end of the side walls
17 forms a peripheral border which defines an opening in the
coolant housing 10. The border 11 is in this embodiment a
peripheral rim which extends in an outward direction from the
closed cavity 50 along the perimeter of the coolant housing 10. It
goes without saying that the border 11 may have a number of
different designs within the scope of the invention.
[0043] The coolant housing 10 is further provided with a coolant
inlet or outlet 18. The inlet/outlet 18 is arranged to be connected
to a non-disclosed coolant circulating system.
[0044] The opening of the coolant housing 10 is covered by the
header plate 20 for separating the closed cavity 50 of the coolant
housing 10. The header plate 20 is also provided for connecting the
tubes 30 such that the tubes 30 are in communication with the
closed cavity 50. To this end, the header plate 20 is provided with
apertures 22. Each aperture 22 receives a free open end of a tube
30.
[0045] It is important that the attachment between the header plate
20 and the coolant housing 10 is tight in order to prevent leakage.
To this end, the header plate 20 is arranged to crimp the border 11
of the coolant housing 10. The crimping is achieved by that an end
portion 23, extending from a main portion 21, of the header plate
20 encompasses an inner side surface portion 12, a free edge
portion 13, an outer side surface portion 14 and an outer upper
surface portion 15 of the border 11 at opposing locations on the
border 11. More precisely, the header plate 20 crimps the border 11
along the two opposing long sides and along the two opposing short
sides. Thus, in this embodiment, the header plate 20 is arranged to
crimp around the border on at least two opposing locations.
[0046] By inner side surface portion 12 of the coolant housing 10
within the scope of the invention is meant a surface portion of the
border 11 constituting an elongation of the inner envelope surface
of the coolant housing 10. The inner envelope surface of the
coolant housing 10 faces the closed cavity 50.
[0047] By outer side surface portionl4 of the coolant housing 10
within the scope of the invention is meant a surface portion of the
border constituting an elongation of the outer envelope side
surface of the coolant housing 10. The outer envelope surface of
the coolant housing 10 faces away from the closed cavity 50.
[0048] By free edge portion 13 of the coolant housing 10 within the
scope of the invention is meant a surface portion of the border
located between the inner and outer envelope surfaces of the
coolant housing 10.
[0049] By outer upper surface portion 15 of the border within the
scope of the invention is meant a surface portion of the border
facing away from the header plate 20.
[0050] By encompassing is meant that the end portion 23 of the
header plate 20 follows the surface portions of the coolant housing
10, however it is not necessary that the end portion 23 of the
header plate 20 abuts the surface along the whole surface portion
of the coolant housing 10. Thus, the contact between the end
portion 23 of the header plate 20 and the outer side surface
portion 14 of the coolant housing 10 may be continuous or
discontinuous along the circumference of the coolant housing 10 as
long as a fluid tight sealing is achieved. An intermediate flexible
sealing may be arranged where necessary.
[0051] In the disclosed embodiment, the end portion 23 of the
header plate 20 abuts two opposing surface portions of the border
11, being the inner side surface portion 12, the outer side surface
portion 14 and the outer upper surface portion 15, so as to achieve
the crimping effect. It is appreciated that the crimping effect may
be achieved by different configurations of the header plate 20 and
its end portion 23. For example, the header plate 20 may encompass
only the free edge portion 13 and the outer side surface portion 14
at each opposing location to press the opposing locations of the
border 11 toward each other. In other words, the header plate 20
may have a clip-like form and function. Other configurations are
also obvious to the skilled person.
[0052] The header plate 20 comprises end flaps 24 which encompass
the outer upper surface portion 15 of the border 11. This feature
strengthens the crimping and thus further increases the tightening
of the joint between the header plate 20 and the coolant housing
10. By a non-disclosed gasket being arranged between the header
plate 20 and the border 11 such gasket will be compressed by the
crimping and the reaction force resulting from the compressed
gasket will ensure a fluid tight joint and prevent any significant
movements.
[0053] During operation, when pressurized coolant flows through the
closed cavity 50, the coolant housing 10 tends to bend outward due
to the pressure. In particular, the side walls 17 tend to bulge.
The bending is typically cyclic, meaning that over time there is a
risk of fatigue. The inventors have identified two weak portions on
the header plate 20 which are particularly exposed to fatigue
stress at high coolant pressures. The first portion is the corner
C1 between the main portion 21 and the first part of the end
portion 23 which encompasses the inner side surface portion 12 of
the coolant housing 10 and thereby the inner envelope surface
portion of the coolant housing 10. The second portion is the corner
C2 in the end portion 23 which encompasses the corner between the
free edge portion 13 of the coolant housing 10 and the outer side
surface portion 14 of the coolant housing 10, i.e. the inner
envelope surface portion of the coolant housing 10. Moreover, it
has been realized that the part of the end portion 23 which runs
along the outer side surface portion 14 of the coolant housing 10,
i.e. the outer envelope surface portion tends to bend outward due
to the border 11 being pressed in an outward direction. Even if the
end portion 23 does not break, it will be exposed to wear over time
with the consequence that the crimping loosens thus un-tightening
the joint between the coolant housing 10 and the header plate 20.
There is also a risk that the cyclic stress causes fatigue in the
brazed joints between the header plate 20 and the tubes 30.
[0054] In order to strengthen the design, the invention provides a
reinforcing plate 40. The reinforcing plate 40 comprises a main
portion 41 forming a bottom and at least two opposing end portions
43.
[0055] The reinforcing plate 40 is formed by stamped sheet metal
and is preferably made of the same material as the header plate 20
and the tubes 30 to facilitate joining there between.
[0056] The reinforcing plate 40 is arranged on an outside surface
of the header plate 20, and extends between two opposing crimped
locations on the border 11 of the coolant hosing 10.
[0057] The reinforcing plate 40 is in contact with and joined to
the header plate 20 at least at two positions: one at each crimped
location on the border 11. More precisely, the reinforcing plate 40
is arranged in contact with and joined to each of the end portions
23 of the header plate 12. The joint is arranged along at least the
part of the end portion 23 which encompasses the corner C2 between
the free edge portion 13 of the coolant housing 10 and the outer
side surface portion 14 of the border 11.
[0058] By that the reinforcing plate 40 is joined to this
particular part of the header plate 20, the above mentioned weak
corners C1 and C2 are strengthened and reinforced so as to increase
their resistance to fatigue due to high cyclic pressures in the
coolant housing 10. The reinforcing plate 40 limits the
displacement of the header plate 20 and of the coolant housing 10
when the latter is pressurized. The limited displacement reduces
stresses on the coolant housing 10, the header plate 20 and the
tubes 30 and also on all joints between these components.
[0059] The end portions 43 of the reinforcing plate 40 are curved
so as to follow the curvature of the end portions 23 of the header
plate 20. The reinforcing plate 40 may be joined to the header
plate 20 along other portions as well. In the disclosed embodiment,
there is by way of example a joint between the header plate 20 and
the reinforcing plate 40 along the main portion 41 of the
reinforcing plate 40 and the header plate 20.
[0060] The height H of the opposing end portions 43 of the
reinforcing plate 40 may vary. As a minimum the reinforcing plate
40 should extend around the corner C2 of the header plate 20 and at
least along a portion of the end portion 23 of the header plate 20.
It must however not necessarily have the same height and extension
as the end portion 23 of the header plate 20.
[0061] The reinforcing plate 40 comprises apertures 42. In the
disclosed embodiment, each aperture 42 embraces a single tube 30.
By the term embrace is within the scope of the invention meant that
the tube 30 is located in the aperture 42, however the tube 30 need
not abut the reinforcing plate 40 as will be illustrated further
on. In this embodiment, however, the reinforcing plate 40 is
arranged in contact with and joined to each of the tubes 30. This
feature strengthens the torsional rigidity of the heat exchanger as
such and may further add to the reinforcement of the relevant
corners C1 and C2.
[0062] In the disclosed embodiment, the apertures 42 have
peripheral rims 42a which give an extra support and contact surface
to the tubes 30. The header plate 20 comprises similar peripheral
rims 22a.
[0063] The joint in the contact surfaces between the header plate
20 and the reinforcing plate 40 are preferably brazed, homogenous
joints, which joints are formed in the very same process step as is
previously disclosed for being used when brazing the stacked
components making up the heat exchanger in FIG. 1.
[0064] A two-dimensional view toward a short side end of the
arrangement 2 in FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 5a. A section taken
along the line B-B is illustrated in FIG. 5b.
[0065] The reinforcing plate 40 extends between two opposing
locations, being crimped by the header plate 20, on the long side
of the border 11 of the coolant housing 10. This positioning of the
reinforcing plate 40 may be advantageous when the opening of the
coolant housing 10 has an oblong extension with a length
considerably exceeding the thickness of the heat exchanger. It has
been found that reinforcement of the header plate 20 along the long
side of the border 11 of the coolant housing 10, in particular
along a central area of the long side, provides a strong
reinforcement of the heat exchanger. By central area is meant that
the reinforcing plate 40 embraces tubes 30 which are not located at
the end of the long side, i.e. adjacent the short side of the order
11.
[0066] The reinforcing plate 40 could in other embodiments (not
disclosed) also extend between two opposing locations on the short
sides of the border 11 of the coolant housing 10.
[0067] A second embodiment of a part of the arrangement 3 forming
the fluid side of the heat exchanger 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 6
and 7. The components which are similar to the ones illustrated in
the first embodiment are provided with the same reference
numerals.
[0068] The arrangement 3 comprises a reinforcing plate 60 which has
a slightly different configuration than the first embodiment of the
reinforcing plate 40. The reinforcing plate 60 comprises a main
portion 61 forming a bottom and two opposing end portions 63 which
extend from the main portion 61.
[0069] The reinforcing plate 60 is joined to the header plate in
similar manner as in the first embodiment. In other words, the
reinforcing plate 60 is joined to each of the end portions 23 of
the header plate 20. The joint is arranged along at least the part
of the end portion 23 which encompasses the corner C2 between the
free edge portion 13 and the outer side surface portion 14 of the
border 11. Similar to the first embodiment, the end portions 63 are
curved so as to follow the curvature of the end portions 23 of the
header plate 20.
[0070] The reinforcing plate 60 is provided with apertures 62.
Contrary to the first embodiment, each aperture 62 encompasses a
pair of adjacent tubes 30. In this embodiment, the tubes 30 are
located in a plurality of rows being two rows in the illustrated
case. The rows are located in parallel. Each row comprises a
plurality of tubes 30. The illustrated part of the arrangement 3
shows three tubes 3 in each row. Each row extends in the direction
of the long side of the border 11 which provides an oblong opening
of the coolant housing 10.
[0071] The reinforcing plate 60 embraces adjacent tubes 30 in
adjacent rows. Moreover, the single reinforcing plate 60 is
provided with a plurality of apertures 62 which together embrace a
plurality of tubes 30 along the rows.
[0072] The reinforcing plate 60 differs from the reinforcing plate
40 of the first embodiment also in that it is not joined to the
tubes 30. On the contrary, the reinforcing plate 60 is arranged to
provide a gap between the reinforcing plate 60 and each of the
tubes 30 embraced by the apertures 62. This feature may be
preferred in order to facilitate assembling of the components.
Further, the tolerances of the apertures 62 of the reinforcing
plate 60 may be given a reduced importance.
[0073] The two above disclosed embodiments exemplifies the great
variety of designs of the reinforcing plate 40 and 60 that is
feasible within the scope of the invention. Regardless of the
design of the reinforcing plate 40, 60, the header plate 20 may be
designed and manufactured in a standardized manner without care
taken to the type of reinforcing plate 40, 60 to be used.
[0074] The reinforcing plate may be chosen and added during the
assembly of the heat exchanger with only minor effect on the
assembly line.
[0075] It is to be understood that a plurality of reinforcing
plates 40, 60 may be arranged side by side along the header plate
20. The reinforcing plates 40, 60 may be arranged side by side in
contact with each other or be arranged with an intermediate
distance.
[0076] By making the reinforcing plates 40, 60 in the very same
material as the rest of the heat exchanger with the exception of
the coolant housing which typically is made of plastics, the
reinforcing plate 40, 60 requires no separate joining step but will
be brazed to adjacent components being in contact therewith during
the conventional brazing step. Further, by being of the same
material as the header plates 20 and the tubes 30, the reinforcing
plates 40, 60 will move thermally together with the rest of the
heat exchanger causing no additional stress to the brazed
joints.
[0077] It is appreciated that the embodiments of the invention as
disclosed above may be altered in different ways within the scope
of the appended claims. For example, the number of apertures 42 and
62 and the geometry thereof may vary depending on the type of tubes
and their geometry. Another example is that the border may take any
suitable form. It is appreciated that the reinforcing plate
according to the invention can be used in any type of heat
exchanger where the coolant housings are attached to the header
plate by crimping, brazing, welding or the like.
* * * * *