DE102006019024A1 - Heat exchangers for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger for motor vehicles, for example charge air coolers or coolant coolers, consisting of tubes (1) which are each formed from two plates (1a, 1b), which have two opposite longitudinal sides (L1, L2) and two opposite narrow sides (S) , one of the long sides (L1, L2) representing the inflow side (A) for cooling air, for example, and consisting of heat exchange fins (2) or the like arranged between the tubes (1), through which the cooling air flows freely, and consisting of collecting spaces (3 ), which are formed at the ends (4a, 4b) of the tubes (1) or of the plates (1a, 1b), characterized in that at least one end (4a) of the tubes (1) in the from the upstream side ( A) distant long side (L2) opens and that the other end (4b) of the tubes (1) either likewise in the distant long side (L2) or in the long side (L1) forming the inflow side (A) or in one of the Schma lseiten (S) opens. The heat exchanger has comparatively larger heat-exchanging surfaces.

Description

The Invention relates to a heat exchanger for motor vehicles, for example, a charge air cooler or a Kühlflüssigkeitkühler, consisting made of tubes, each made up of two plates, the two opposing long sides and two opposite Have narrow sides, with one of the long sides of the inflow side for example cooling air represents, and arranged between the tubes heat exchange ribs or the like, through which the cooling air passes freely, and out Plenums, which are formed at the ends of the tubes or the plates. In addition, the concerns Invention a cooling module for motor vehicles.

The described heat exchanger is from the DE 30 17 701 known. The plates are formed there approximately rectangular. The collection spaces are formed by means disposed in the plates breakthroughs which are formed at the opposite ends of the plates. Each forming a tube two plates are stacked with their breakthroughs aligned. The heat exchange fins are inserted in the spaces between the tubes. There then the cooling air flows freely through.

Compared to other and perhaps most common heat exchangers of that type, which have header boxes at the ends of flat tubes, ( DE 197 02 183 A1 ) - So on the opposite narrow sides of the tubes - thus the space requirement of the heat exchanger was reduced. The collecting tanks require installation space that is not available for heat exchange. However, in the heat exchanger from the DE 30 17 701 In the area of the collecting spaces also no effective heat exchange takes place.

For this reason (installation space) one has in the DE 197 02 183 A1 the collecting boxes formed as flat as possible, as the local 1 with the reference number 22 , shows. Therefore, there, the heat exchanger network, consisting of flat tubes and corrugated fins in the same installation space, are made comparatively slightly larger.

Another heat exchanger whose tubes are also formed from two plates, is from the DE 44 07 080 A1 known. This heat exchanger could probably be used as a charge air cooler. However, he belongs to a different genus, namely a genus in which the tubes forming plate stack is arranged in a housing. The charge air flows there on one side of the housing, is in heat exchange with a cooling liquid flowing in the tubes and leaves the housing on the opposite side.

Further prior art results for example from the DE 103 28 638 A1 and from the DE 103 59 806 A1 , The heat exchangers shown and described there belong to a similar genus, namely one which is likewise not flowed through freely by a coolant. There, exhaust gas heat exchangers have been described in particular, in which both the channels for the exhaust gas and the channels for a cooling liquid are formed by the design of the plates. Both media thus flow within the channels formed by the particular plate design.

Last but not least, another heat exchanger should be mentioned DE 40 12 046 A1 was shown and described. This heat exchanger belongs to the type in which cooling air can flow freely through the heat exchange fins. There, the ends of flat tubes were bent and placed directly against each other. Collecting boxes can be connected at the ends. The bending area or the connection area of the collecting tanks is also not available there for heat exchange.

The The object of the invention is, in a heat exchanger of the type described above comparatively larger heat exchanging surfaces for disposal to deliver.

The Characteristics of claim 1 lead to the solution according to the invention.

Because preferably both ends of the tubes in the remote from the upstream side long side lead, so from the oncoming cooling air turned away, it is possible the entire or at least a larger area of the cooling air flowed on heat exchanger as heat exchanging To train surface, causing the heat-exchanging Area comparatively so enlarged. Despite the at the ends of the tubes of the heat exchanger according to the invention arranged collecting boxes, could the enlargement of the realized heat exchanging surfaces become. Preferably, the very last ends of the plates or The tubes are slightly larger in cross section and lie with their narrow sides to each other.

Therefore can the collection boxes be installed without the provision of a tube sheet. If on the Cross - sectional enlargement of the Ultimate ends are dispensed with, tube sheets at the ends of the tubes be attached to which the headers are to be attached.

It is of course possible to open only one end of the tubes in the longitudinal side remote from the upstream side and the other end of the tubes at the narrow end remote from the mouth to provide for the site.

Because at least one end of the tubes opens on one longitudinal side, is the geometry or The shape of the plates is therefore not rectangular, as in the state the technique, but for example L-shaped, U-shaped or Z-shaped.

One other the embodiment with U-shaped Plates similar Embodiment, points Plates or tubes whose shape has a convex contour. The contour is curved in the direction of the inflow side.

Each two plates are with their edges put together to form a tube. The plates can be identical be. Both plates then have a raised edge, on the two plates abut each other to form the tube and are connected. However, it is also possible, a plate about even to do so, without forming erect edge, and the other To provide plate with a raised edge.

Further it is also possible the erected plate edges to connect to each other.

The Ends of the tubes or the plates have, as already indicated above was, in each case an angled contour to, in a corresponding long side flow to be able to.

The angled contour piece can be kept quite short - just long enough to connect to collection boxes.

Between The tubes are heat exchange ribs or others the heat exchange transported Elements inserted. Also in the area with the angled or curved contour Such elements are arranged.

in the Application as intercooler are in the pipes inserts, to promote turbulence formation. here we can but also in the same direction other training, as deformations or the like may be provided. The mentioned connection the plates and the connection of the plates or tubes with the Heat exchange fins is preferably carried out by means of soldering. The collection boxes can made of plastic or metal.

The The invention will now be described in some embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings explained. These explanations can more under circumstances contain essential features and advantages of the invention.

The Figures show the following:

1 Perspective view of a heat exchanger according to a preferred embodiment;

2 View of a pipe section;

3 View of a plate piece;

4 - 6 other views of the heat exchanger from the 1 ;

7 and 8th Views of a cooling module with heat exchanger;

9 - 11 structural illustrations of heat exchangers in other embodiments (top or bottom views);

The heat exchanger shown in the embodiments is used in a motor vehicle. It can be either a cooling liquid cooler exposed to cooling air or else a charge air cooler. Other uses, for example as applied with cooling air oil cooler, are also very well conceivable. The Indian 1 in a perspective view shown heat exchanger is arranged in front of the vehicle. He has a comparatively large inflow area A, which is acted upon by cooling air. In the preferred embodiment, both ends are located 4a and 4b the plates 1a . 1b or the pipes 1 on the longitudinal side L2 of the plates remote from the inflow side A 1a . 1b or the pipes 1 , Therefore, in the preferred embodiment also of about U-shaped plates 1a . 1b be spoken, which are used there. At the ends 4a and 4b the plates 1a . 1b , which are practically the two free ends of the "U", there is a collection box 30 , ( 4 - 6 ) The collection boxes 30 are either made of plastic and are mechanical at the ends 4a and 4b attached or they are like the pipes 1 and between the pipes 1 arranged heat exchange ribs 2 from a metal. In this case, aluminum or a suitable aluminum alloy is the preferred choice. The plates 1a . 1b have a raised edge 10 and each become a pipe 1 assembled to be soldered (later) to their erect edges. The 2 shows a piece of pipe with one end 4 and the 3 shows a piece of a plate 1a , The plates 1a and 1b are identical. The pipes 1 be in a conventional manner with the heat exchange ribs 2 composed. There are also heat exchange ribs 2 or other heat exchange enhancing training in the disk areas 5 used or arranged, which are angled and the collection boxes 30 to lead. The resulting heat exchanger block is subjected to a brazing process and thereby combined into a compact block. The 4 indicates that in this embodiment, also within the tubes 1 Calls 20 are located. The interior inserts 20 do not have to go over the entire pipe length. You can also have a distance to the narrow sides S. The aforementioned longitudinal sides L1, L2 preferably extend in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, not shown. However, they could also run in the vertical direction of the motor vehicle.

The 9 . 10 and 11 show further possible embodiments, in views of the heat exchanger from above or from below, which also have enlarged heat exchanging surfaces. These are schematic representations. The embodiment according to the 9 has about Z-shaped plates 1a and 1b , each one a tube 1 form. The picture in the left end 4a the plates 1a . 1b or the pipes 1 opens into the longitudinal side L2 remote from the inflow side A. The other in the picture right end 4b opens in the inflow side A and in the longitudinal side L1.

The 10 could be considered as an embodiment having slightly larger heat exchanging areas than that according to FIG 9 , There are L-shaped plates 1a . 1b or pipes 1 for use. The picture in the left end 4a is like the 9 in the long side L2 remote from the upstream side A. The other end 4b is in the from the left end 4a distant narrow side S. The collection box arranged there 30 Here is particularly flat formed in order not to limit the size of the upstream side A significantly.

A not shown further embodiment has a not on the remote narrow side S, but arranged on the near narrow side S collection box 30 , In this case own the tubes 1 a flow separation in the longitudinal direction, so that it flows, for example, charge air to the remote narrow side S and from there back flow.

The embodiment according to 11 is similar to the one after the 1 - 6 , However, it shows in contrast to a convex contour of the long sides L1 and L2. Again, the entire surface of the plates 1a . 1b be formed as a heat exchanging surface. Compared to known annular coolers in which the flat tubes are bent over their narrow sides S, which is still difficult to manufacture, especially when inserts are in the flat tubes, the manufacturability was improved or facilitated by the proposal. In the 11 Run the long sides L1, L2 to the ends 4a . 4b something apart and seemingly increase the cross section of the same. This is not preferred, but is due to the representation by means of "autoforming." Preferably, the longitudinal sides L1 and L2, which are provided with the convex contour, run parallel to one another, ie also at the ends 4a . 4b , The collection boxes 30 at the ends 4a . 4b were only hinted.

The 7 now shows a view of the inflow side of a cooling module in which the heat exchanger from the 1 - 6 located. In the exemplary embodiment, the heat exchanger is a charge air cooler LLK. The inflow side of the cooling module is also the upstream side of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger was placed in the lower part of the cooling module. Above this there is, for example, a cooling liquid cooler and other components belonging to the cooling module. The 7 makes the enlarged heat exchanging surface of the intercooler LLK compared to the above arranged Kühlflüssigkeitkühler particularly clear. The 8th shows the cooling module from the back. The intake and exhaust ports of the intercooler LLK can be seen on the left and right, below. The total area is bordered by a fan hood V, on which a fan is arranged to suck cooling air through the cooling module.

Claims (9)

Heat exchangers for motor vehicles, for example charge air coolers or cooling liquid coolers, consisting of pipes ( 1 ), each consisting of two plates ( 1a . 1b ), which have two opposite longitudinal sides (L1, L2) and two opposite narrow sides (S), one of the longitudinal sides (L1) representing the inflow side (A) for, for example, cooling air, and consisting of between the tubes ( 1 ) arranged heat exchange ribs ( 2 ) or the like, through which the cooling air flows freely, and consisting of collecting spaces ( 3 ), which at the ends ( 4a . 4b ) of the pipes ( 1 ) or plates ( 1a . 1b ) are formed, characterized in that at least one end ( 4a ) of the pipes ( 1 ) in the longitudinal side (L2) remote from the upstream side (A) and that the other end ( 4b ) of the pipes ( 1 ) either also in the remote longitudinal side (L2) or in the inflow side (A) forming longitudinal side (L1) or in one of the narrow sides (S) opens. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that a collecting space ( 3 ) forming collection box ( 30 ) at each end ( 4a . 4b ) connected. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 and / or 2, characterized in that both ends ( 4a . 4b ) of the pipes ( 1 ) open in the longitudinal sides and that at both ends ( 4a . 4b ) Collection boxes ( 30 ) are arranged. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 and / or 2 or 3, characterized in that both ends ( 4a . 4b ) of the pipes ( 1 ) in the longitudinal side (L2) remote from the upstream side (A) of the cooling air and that at both ends ( 4a . 4b ) Collection boxes ( 30 ) are connected. Heat exchanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the in a longitudinal side (L1, L2) emptying end ( 4a . 4b ) of the pipes ( 1 ) or plates ( 1a . 1b ) a curved or curved or angled contour ( 5 ) having. Heat exchanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchange ribs ( 2 ) or other heat exchange promoting training also in the areas that the angled contour ( 5 ) between the tubes ( 1 ) are arranged. Heat exchanger according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shape of the tubes ( 1 ) forming plates ( 1a . 1b ) is formed either approximately L-shaped or approximately U-shaped or approximately Z-shaped. Heat exchanger according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the shape of the tubes ( 1 ) forming plates ( 1a . 1b ) has a convex contour. cooling module for motor vehicles, characterized in that it comprises one or more heat exchangers contains the one according to a or more of the preceding claims is / are formed.