EP2886991B1 - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for vehicle applications. The invention also relates to an internal combustion engine equipped with such a heat exchanger.

In internal combustion engines, especially in motor vehicles, different heat exchangers are used. Of particular interest in the present context are high-performance heat exchangers in which a gaseous first fluid is to be cooled with the aid of a liquid second fluid. For example, here exhaust gas cooler, in particular exhaust gas recirculation cooler, and intercooler into consideration.

Such a heat exchanger may usually comprise a housing which encloses a tube block formed with or from a plurality of parallel tubes, wherein a first fluid path is formed within the tube block for a first fluid, while outside of the tube block and within the housing a tube bypassing the tube block second fluid path is formed for a second fluid. Such a tube block can also be referred to as a tube bundle or tube arrangement. The housing has at least two housing openings for the first fluid, wherein the first fluid enters through the one housing opening into the first fluid path, while it exits through the other housing opening from the first fluid path again. At least one of these housing openings is enclosed with a seal. With the help of this seal is in the installed state of the heat exchanger, the housing opposite a connection pipe sealed by the first fluid is supplied to the housing and discharged from the housing.

In order to realize such a seal, it is basically possible to provide the housing with a flange-like opening edge which encloses the housing opening and into which an axially open, closed circumferential sealing groove is machined, into which the seal is inserted in the form of a separate component. The seal protrudes axially beyond the opening edge, so that in the mounted state it comes to rest in an axially sealing manner against a flange-like contact surface of the respective connection pipe that fits the opening edge. It has been found that, depending on the sealing material, the insertion of the seal for the assembly is comparatively complicated.

From the EP 2 385 277 A1 a heat exchanger is known, which can be attached via a base plate to an engine block of an internal combustion engine. Through the base plate lead supply channels. The supply channels are enclosed by a circumferential sealing groove. Instead of a separate seal that must be inserted into the sealing groove, the seal is injected directly into the sealing groove in the known heat exchanger.

From the DE 24 47 900 A1 is known a washer for screw, seals are molded on the inner edge.

From the DE 42 42 997 C1 It is known for an oil cooler to attach this via a sealing plate to a flange of an internal combustion engine. The sealing plate consists of a sealing material and is shaped complementary to the connection flange.

From the DE 101 00 934 C1 an intake manifold is known, the connecting flange can be attached via a sealing plate to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The sealing plate consists of a metallic body to which the required seals are molded. From the DE 10 2004 034 824 A1 a metallic flat gasket is known which consists of a metal plate and sealing elements molded onto it.

DE-A-102009049483 discloses a heat exchanger with a seal which is molded onto a seal carrier, which is attached to a housing opening enclosing the opening edge of the housing.

DE-A-102008018594 discloses a heat exchanger according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention is concerned with the problem of specifying for a heat exchanger of the type mentioned or for an internal combustion engine equipped therewith an improved embodiment, which is characterized in particular by a simplified production. In addition, it is desirable to improve the heat transfer performance of the heat exchanger. The problem underlying the invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general idea to inject the seal on a seal carrier, which represents a separate component with respect to the housing and which is attached to an opening edge of the housing enclosing the housing opening. By using such a seal carrier, the seal has the spatial geometry even before mounting on the housing, which it should also have after mounting on the housing, whereby the mounting of the seal or the seal carrier on the housing considerably simplified.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the seal on an inner side facing the housing, an inner sealing region, at on the housing mounted seal carrier sealingly cooperates with the opening edge, and on an outer side facing away from the housing have an outer sealing region, which cooperates sealingly in the installed state of the heat exchanger, for example, with the aforementioned connection pipe. Thus, two separate sealing areas are defined in order to effect a reliable sealing of the housing relative to the respective body, to which the housing is mounted in the installed state or which is mounted in the installed state to the housing. For example, said body is the aforementioned connection pipe.

According to an advantageous development of the seal carrier may have a circumferential along the housing opening support web, to which the seal is molded, wherein the support web has a plurality of axial openings through which the inner sealing region is connected to the outer sealing area of the same material. Appropriately, the injection of the seal is performed so that the sealing material passes through the openings and integrally forms the two sealing regions on both sides of the support web. Accordingly, the two sealing regions are formed of the same material from a single piece. This simplifies on the one hand the production of the two sealing regions on the seal carrier. On the other hand, thereby the seal is positively fixed to the seal carrier.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the seal carrier in the profile may have a step whose inner edge is covered by the seal. If the seal carrier has an inner sealing region and an outer sealing region, the step is provided at least at the inner sealing region. Optionally, a further step may also be provided in the outer sealing region. The opening edge of the housing may have an outer edge which engages in said step and sealing with the seal interacts. By this measure, the seal cooperates both radially and axially with the outer edge, whereby a particularly efficient seal can be realized.

In another embodiment, the opening edge in profile may have a step into which the seal carrier is inserted, such that the seal seals axially with the step. The seal then acts as an axial seal. Due to the step on the housing, the seal carrier can be placed sunk on the housing. With such a sunken arrangement of the seal carrier, it is particularly easy to arrange the respective body, in particular the connecting tube, with the housing on a block, so that the housing directly touches said body.

Furthermore, an embodiment is conceivable in which the housing has an opening edge bordering the step, in which case the seal carrier is inserted into the step, that the more inner outer edge cooperates with the respective seal, which is arranged on the seal carrier in a corresponding stage ,

In another embodiment, the seal carrier may have a flow guide structure which projects into the second fluid path and generates a flow conduction for the second fluid during operation of the heat exchanger. This design gives the seal carrier an additional function. By virtue of this additional flow-guiding effect, the flow through the second fluid path can be improved in order to support the heat transfer between the first fluid. In that regard, the efficiency of the heat exchanger can be improved with the aid of the flow guide structure.

According to an advantageous development, the flow guide structure can be formed integrally on the seal carrier. Thus, the seal carrier and the Strömungsleitstruktur are made of the same material from a single piece. The seal is then molded onto the seal carrier with flow-guiding structure. This simplifies the production of the seal carrier with flow guidance.

According to another development, the housing can have a fluid connection for the second fluid, which is fluidically connected to the second fluid path, proximal to the housing opening, wherein the flow guidance structure is arranged in the region of this fluid connection. Depending on whether the fluid connection is an inlet or an outlet for the second fluid, the flow guiding structure can improve the flow from the housing into the fluid connection or the flow from the fluid connection into the housing. In particular, it can be provided that, with the aid of the flow-guiding structure, the flow through the second fluid path is influenced essentially exclusively in the area of this fluid connection.

Of particular importance is an embodiment in which the flow guide structure is designed so that it acts as a thermal protection, for example, to avoid a so-called "hot spot" or a "cold spot" in the heat exchanger.

In another advantageous development, the flow guiding structure can have a flow divider which, during operation of the heat exchanger, divides a flow of the second fluid into at least two partial flows which flow around the tube block at sides facing away from one another. By this measure, we simplified the flow around the tube block, which improves the heat transfer between the two fluids.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the heat exchanger can be used as a charge air cooler, such that the first fluid is the charge air to be cooled, while the second fluid is a cooling coolant. In particular, in such an embodiment, the housing may be made of plastic. In particular, then, the seal carrier can be made of a plastic.

In another embodiment, the heat exchanger can be used as an exhaust gas cooler, in particular as an exhaust gas recirculation cooler, such that the first fluid is the exhaust gas to be cooled, while the second fluid is a cooling coolant. As a coolant in this case, for example, a working fluid of a waste heat recovery circuit into consideration, the exhaust gas cooler within the waste heat recovery circuit serves as a preheater or as an evaporator or as a superheater. Due to the higher temperatures of the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, in this case the housing may preferably be made of a metal. Also, the seal carrier may be made of a metal in this case.

A simple manufacturability results when the tube block at longitudinal ends of the housing has an end bottom, which is penetrated in each case by all tubes and is tightly and firmly connected to all tubes, wherein at least one of the end floors with a side facing the other end floor on the housing axially is applied. The respective seal seals the respective end floor from the housing. In this case, an embodiment in which the two end bottoms rest on the sides facing one another axially on the housing is preferred.

A further simplification of the manufacturability results if the housing and / or the seal carrier are made of a plastic and if the respective end floor and the pipes are made of an iron alloy or a light metal alloy. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the housing and the seal carrier are made of a light metal alloy and that the respective end floor and the tubes are made of an iron alloy or a light metal alloy. The material combinations presented here simplify the attachment of the respective end floor to the pipes, e.g. by means of a laser welding process, when the respective end floor already rests against the housing and the seal carrier is already arranged between the housing and the respective end floor.

An internal combustion engine according to the invention, which can be used in particular in a motor vehicle, comprises a fresh air system for supplying fresh air to combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine, a charging device for charging the fresh air and a charge air cooler of the type described above.

Other important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description with reference to the drawings.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

Fig. 1

eine stark vereinfachte, schaltplanartige Prinzipdarstellung einer Brennkraftmaschine mit Wärmeübertrager,

Fig. 2

eine isometrische, teilweise transparente Ansicht eines Wärmeübertragers,

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht im Längsschnitt des Wärmeübertragers im Bereich einer Dichtung,

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht wie in Fig. 3, jedoch bei einer anderen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 5

eine isometrische Ansicht eines Dichtungsträgers ohne Dichtung,

Fig. 6

eine isometrische Ansicht des Dichtungsträgers aus Fig. 5, jedoch mit Dichtung,

Fig. 7

eine isometrische Ansicht eines Dichtungsträgers mit Dichtung, jedoch bei einer anderen Ausführungsform,

Fig. 8

eine isometrische Teilansicht eines Gehäuses des Wärmeübertragers mit eingesetztem Dichtungsträger, jedoch bei fehlendem Rohrblock,

Fig. 9

eine isometrische Ansicht des Gehäuses mit eingesetztem Rohrblock, jedoch bei fehlendem Endboden,

Fig. 10

eine isometrische Ansicht wie in Fig. 9, jedoch mit angebautem Endboden.

Show, in each case schematically,

Fig. 1

a greatly simplified schematic diagram of an internal combustion engine with heat exchanger,

Fig. 2

an isometric, partially transparent view of a heat exchanger,

Fig. 3

an enlarged detail view in longitudinal section of the heat exchanger in the region of a seal,

Fig. 4

a sectional view as in Fig. 3 but in another embodiment,

Fig. 5

an isometric view of a seal carrier without seal,

Fig. 6

an isometric view of the seal carrier Fig. 5 , but with seal,

Fig. 7

an isometric view of a seal carrier with seal, but in another embodiment,

Fig. 8

an isometric partial view of a housing of the heat exchanger with inserted seal carrier, but in the absence of tube block,

Fig. 9

an isometric view of the housing with inserted tube block, but in the absence of end floor,

Fig. 10

an isometric view as in Fig. 9 , but with attached end floor.

Corresponding Fig. 1 For example, an internal combustion engine 1 comprises an engine block 2, which contains a plurality of cylinders 3, in each of which a combustion chamber 4 is arranged. The internal combustion engine 1 comprises a fresh air system 5 for supplying fresh air to the combustion chambers 4. The internal combustion engine 1 further comprises an exhaust system 6 for discharging exhaust gas from the combustion chambers 4. Furthermore, an exhaust gas recirculation system 7 for returning exhaust gas from the exhaust system 6 to the fresh air system. 5 be provided. The internal combustion engine 1 is also equipped in the example with a charging device in the form of an exhaust gas turbocharger 8. The exhaust gas turbocharger 8 has in the usual way a compressor 9, which is arranged in the fresh air system 5 and which is driven via a drive shaft 10 by a turbine 11, which is arranged in the exhaust system 6. The fresh air system 5 includes downstream of the compressor 9 a charge air cooler 12 which is connected to a cooling circuit 13. The exhaust system 6 may have, downstream of the turbine 11, an exhaust gas heat exchanger 14, which is connected to a cooling circuit 15. The exhaust gas recirculation system 7 can have an exhaust gas recirculation valve 16 for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation quantity and downstream of or upstream of the exhaust gas recirculation valve 16 an exhaust gas recirculation cooler 17, which is connected to a cooling circuit 18. The coolers shown here, that is to say the intercooler 12, the exhaust gas cooler 14 and the exhaust gas recirculation cooler 17, each represent in general a heat exchanger 19. At least one of these heat exchangers 19 is constructed according to the following description and will be described below with reference to FIGS Fig. 2 to 10 explained in more detail.

According to the Fig. 2 to 10 the heat exchanger 19 comprises a housing 20 and a tube block 21 enclosed by the housing 20, which has a plurality of tubes 23, which run parallel to one another and are arranged next to one another in a stacking direction 22. Within the tube block 21, a first fluid path 24 is formed for a first fluid 25, wherein in Fig. 2 a flow of the first fluid 25 is indicated by arrows. Likewise, the first fluid path 24 is indicated by arrows, the first fluid path 24 leading the first fluid 25 in parallel through the tubes 23, whereby the first fluid 25 can deliver heat to the tubes 23. Outside the tube block 21 and within the housing 20, a second fluid path 26 for a second fluid 27 is formed. A fluid flow of the second fluid 27 is in Fig. 2 indicated by arrows. The second fluid path 26 thus leads to a flushing of the individual tubes 23 of the tube block 21 within the housing 20, whereby the second fluid 27 can dissipate heat from the tubes 23. The tubes 23 are arranged spaced apart within the tube block 21 relative to each other, so that the second fluid path 26 also passes between the adjacent tubes 23, so that ultimately each tube 23 individually flows around or flows around the second fluid 27.

The housing 20 has, for the first fluid 25, an inlet-side first housing opening 28, through which the first fluid 25 enters the tube block 21, and on the outlet side a second housing opening 29, through which the first fluid 25 exits from the tube block 21. Furthermore, the housing 20 has an inlet-side first fluid port 30 for supplying the second fluid 27 and an outlet-side second fluid port 31 for discharging the second fluid 27.

At the in Fig. 2 shown, simplified representation, the tube block 21 only a single row of tubes 23, which are arranged in the stacking direction 22 side by side. In the in the FIGS. 9 and 10 In contrast, several rows of tubes 23, which are shown in the stacking direction, can be seen 22 and are arranged transversely juxtaposed. The tubes 23 are held in the respective tube block 21 in the region of their longitudinal ends in each case by means of an end plate 58 or positioned in the housing 20. Such an end floor 58 is in the Fig. 3, 4 and 10 recognizable. The tubes 23 pass through the respective end floor 58 each in a separate receiving opening 65 and are usually firmly and tightly connected to the respective end floor 58, for example by soldering or welding. The respective end bottom 58 serves on the one hand for positioning and holding the tubes 23 in the tube block 21 and on the other hand for simplified sealing of the first fluid path 24, which leads inside through the tubes 23, opposite the second fluid path 26, which surrounds the tubes 23 outside. For this purpose, the respective end floor 58 separates the interior of the housing 20, through which the second fluid path 26 passes, from an inflow-side or outflow-side interior of an infeed or outfeed connection pipe 33, through which the first fluid path 25 leads.

Preferably, the tubes 23 are positioned within the tube block 21 exclusively by the two end plates 58 relative to each other and connected to each other. There is then no further mechanical connection between the tubes 23 between the two end plates 58, so that they do not touch each other and are not fastened directly to one another. The tube block 21 may also be referred to as a tube arrangement 21 or as a tube bundle 21.

At least one of the housing openings 28, 29 is provided with a in the 3, 4 and 6 to 9 recognizable seal 32 edged. Suitably, both housing openings 28, 29 are each enclosed with such a seal 32. The respective seal 32 serves, in the installed state of the heat exchanger 19, the housing 20 with respect to the in Fig. 2 To seal by connecting line 33 indicated by a broken line. The connecting pipe 33 serves depending on the housing opening 28, 29 to supply the first fluid 25 to the housing 20 or remove from the housing 20.

According to the Fig. 3 to 9 the seal 32 is molded onto a seal carrier 34. The housing 20 has a housing opening 28 or 29 enclosing the opening edge 35, to which the seal carrier 34 is attached.

How in particular the 3 and 4 In a preferred embodiment, the seal 32 can have an inner sealing region 36 on an inner side facing the housing 20 and an outer sealing region 37 on an outer side facing away from the housing 20. While the inner sealing region 36 cooperates with the opening edge 35, the outer sealing region 37 in the installed state cooperates with the connecting tube 33 or with the inlet-side or outlet-side end bottom 58. The seal carrier 34 may have a support web 38, which is designed to be circumferential along the housing opening 28 or 29. At this support bar 38, the seal 32 is molded. Suitably, the support web 38 has a plurality of apertures 39 which are penetrated by the sealing material during the injection process, so that the inner sealing region 36 is connected through the apertures 39 to the outer sealing region 37. Thus, the two sealing portions 36, 37 of uniform material and contiguous, so integrally formed on the seal carrier 34.

At the in Fig. 3 In the embodiment shown, the seal carrier 34 has at least one step 40 in the profile, the inner edge 41 of which is covered by the seal 32, here by the inner sealing region 36. The opening edge 35 then expediently has an outer edge 42, which engages in the step 40 and presses into the seal 32, in this case into the inner sealing region 36, and thus cooperates sealingly therewith. In the example of Fig. 3 is the seal carrier 34 with respect a separation plane 43, in which the housing 20 and the respective end floor 58 and the respective connection pipe 33 abut each other, configured mirror-symmetrically, so that a further, unspecified step is provided with inner edge, which is covered by the outer sealing region 37. Analogous to the opening edge 35 engages on the side of the connecting pipe 33 and the end plate 58, an unspecified outer edge in the respective stage and thereby pushes into the outer sealing region 37. In the example of Fig. 3 For example, the housing 20 and the connecting pipe 33 or the end floor 58 are mounted on a block, so that the two components in the parting plane 43 touch each other. For this purpose, the two components 20, 33 in the region of the parting plane 43 are each equipped with a step 44, whereby a total of a radial groove is formed, in which the support web 38 of the seal carrier 34 engages.

At the in Fig. 4 In the embodiment shown, the opening edge 35 is provided in profile with a step 45, in which the seal carrier 34 is inserted, such that the seal 32 seals axially with the step 45. Again, the housing 20 and the connecting pipe 33 and the end floor 58 are mounted on a block, so that the two components in said parting plane 43 touch. Expediently, the connecting pipe 33 or the end floor 58 is now also provided with such a step, which is not specified, which supplements the step 45 of the opening edge 35 to form a radially open groove, into which the seal carrier 34 projects with the carrier web 38.

The directional indication "axial" used in the present context refers to a in the 3 and 4 indicated by a double arrow axial direction 46 which is defined by an assembly direction 47, also indicated by an arrow, in which the connecting pipe 33 and the end bottom 58 is attached to the housing 20 and in which the seal carrier 34 to the Opening edge 35 is recognized. The direction indication "radially" then runs transversely to the axial direction 46.

To illustrate the manufacturing process of the seal carrier 34 is in Fig. 5 a pre-made seal carrier 34 shown before the seal 32 is molded. Visible are the step 40 and a plurality of openings 39. After the injection of the seal 32 results in the Fig. 6 shown condition. The openings 39 are now covered by the seal 32 and by the inner sealing region 36. The seal carrier 34 may conveniently be injection molded from plastic. By way of example only Fig. 7 an embodiment in which a geometrically simple seal carrier 34 is provided, which is made of metal. Clearly visible here are the two sealing regions 36, 37, which together form the seal 32.

In the in the Fig. 5, 6 and 8th In the embodiment shown, the seal carrier 34 has a flow guiding structure 48. The Strömungsleitstruktur 48 is arranged on the seal carrier 34 so that it projects into the second fluid path 26 when attached to the housing 20 seal carrier 34 and thereby extends outside of the tube block 21 and within the housing 20. During operation of the heat exchanger 19, the flow guide structure 48 generates a flow guide for the second fluid 27. Preferably, the flow guide structure 48 is formed integrally on the seal carrier 34. This can be particularly easily realized when the seal carrier 34 is injection molded from a plastic.

At the in Fig. 2 In the embodiment shown, the housing 20 has, proximal to the first housing opening 28, the first fluid connection 30 for the second fluid, through which the second fluid 27 enters the housing 20 according to the example. The flow guide structure 48 is assigned to this, the first housing opening 28 Seal carrier 34 is positioned so that the flow guide structure 48 is arranged in the mounted state in the region of this first fluid port 30.

In Fig. 8 In general, one of the openings 28, 29 can be seen, which has one of the fluid connections 30, 31 at the proximal end. In this case, a configuration in which the flow guiding structure 48 is arranged in the region of the inflow of the second fluid 27 is preferred. In principle, in addition or as an alternative, such a flow guiding structure 48 can also be arranged in the area of an outflow of the second fluid 27. At the in Fig. 8 In the embodiment shown, the flow guide structure 48 is also equipped with a flow divider 49, which ensures, during operation of the heat exchanger 19, that a flow of the second fluid 27 is divided into at least two partial flows, which then flow around the tube block 21 on sides facing away from one another. The partial flows can then reunite within the housing 20 upstream of the outlet-side connection 31. In Fig. 2 For example, such a branching region is designated by 50, while an associated union region is denoted by 51. Of course, a flow through the intermediate spaces, which are formed within the tube block 21 between the adjacent tubes 23, is maintained. Overall, however, results in a more uniform flow distribution with improved, homogenized heat transfer.

How the Fig. 5, 6 and 8th As can be seen, has the Strömungsleitstruktur 48 a plurality of wall portions 52 which extend parallel to walls of the housing 20, and the openings 53 or windows 53 included. In the example, the frontal window 53 is divided by the flow post 59. In the example of FIGS. 5 and 6 a connecting web 54 is provided which connects two opposite wall sections 52 with each other. The opposing wall portions 52 pass through ramped transitions 55 in a circuit 56 which extends along an inner edge 57 of the seal carrier 34. Through the circulation 56 of the seal carrier 34 receives a high dimensional stability and better mountability on the housing 20th

In the example of Fig. 8 the first fluid port 30 is arranged on the same side of the housing as the first housing opening 28. In addition, the first fluid port 30 passes through an open side directly into the interior of the housing 20 here. The flow divider 49 protrudes into this open side in order to impede a direct flow through this open side with the second fluid 27. As a result, particularly a particularly strong cooling of the immediately adjacent tube 23 is avoided in order to distribute the cooling capacity of the second fluid 27 better over the entire tube block 21.

The FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the positioning of the seal carrier 34 and the end bottom 58 at one of the longitudinal ends 59, 60 of the housing 20. This is to the observer facing the longitudinal end 59 of the housing 20. For this purpose is in Fig. 9 the end floor 58 omitted. Visible is at this longitudinal end 59 of the opening edge 35 of the housing 20 designed flange-like or equipped with flange 61. The end floor 58 is shaped to fit the flange 61, so that it protrudes laterally or laterally beyond the interior of the housing 20 or over the open cross section of the respective housing opening 28, 29 and flatly adjoins the flange 61. In this case, the seal 32 comes to a circumferential edge portion 62 of the end plate 58 axially to the plant.

Suitably, the here not recognizable, facing away from the viewer longitudinal end 60 associated end floor similar to the here recognizable, the viewer facing end floor 58 so that the tube block 21 at both longitudinal ends 59, 60 of the housing 20 by the laterally projecting end floor 58 by positive engagement is axially fixed.

In the manufacture of the heat exchanger 19, the tubes 23 are initially connected only to the one end bottom 58. Then, this unit is inserted axially from the tubes 23 and the one end floor 58 into the housing 20 until the end floor abuts the associated flange 61 axially. In this case, the respective seal 32 comes to the flange 61 and the end bottom 58 sealingly to the plant. This corresponds to the state of Fig. 9 , Subsequently, the other end floor 58 is attached to the tubes 23, such that it rests axially on the associated flange 61, wherein here, too, the respective seal 32 on the flange 61 and the end bottom sealingly comes to rest. This corresponds to the state of Fig. 10 , Then both end floors 58 are axially against the housing 20 with their sides facing each other. The tubes 23 can be tightly and firmly connected to the respective end floor 58, for example by means of a laser welding method, even if the seal carrier 34 and / or the housing 20 are made of a plastic. The respective end floor 58 can then be axially bound into a flange connection, with which a diffuser or funnel of the respective connecting pipe 33 is screwed to the housing 20. For this purpose, the housing 20 according to Fig. 9 be equipped with corresponding threaded openings 63, while the respective end floor 58 arranged suitably thereto, in Fig. 10 recognizable through holes 64 has.

Claims (14)

1. Heat exchanger for vehicle applications, comprising

   - a housing (20) surrounding a conduit block (21),

   - wherein inside the conduit block (21) a first fluid path (24) for a first fluid (25) is provided,

   - wherein outside the conduit block (21) and inside the housing (20) a second fluid path (26) for a second fluid (27) is provided, the second fluid path flowing around the conduit block (21),

   - wherein an opening (28, 29) of the housing is surrounded by a seal (32),

   characterized in that

   - the seal (32) is injection-molded onto a seal carrier (34), which is attached to an opening edge (35) of the housing (20), the opening edge enclosing the opening (28, 29) of the housing,

   - the seal carrier (34) comprises a flow guide structure (48), which protrudes into the second fluid path (26) and in operation of the heat exchanger (19) has a flow guide effect on the second fluid (27).
2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   on an inner surface facing the housing (20), the seal (32) comprises an inner seal region (36), which engages with the opening edge (35), and on an outer surface facing away from the housing (20), the seal comprises an outer seal region (37).
3. Heat exchanger according to claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the seal carrier (34) comprises a support frame (38) extending along the opening (28, 29) of the housing and onto which the seal (32) is injection-molded, wherein the support frame (38) comprises several through holes (39) through which the inner seal region (36) is connected with the outer seal region (37).
4. Heat exchanger according to any of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that

   - the seal carrier (34), in profile, comprises a step (40) having an inside edge (41) covered by the seal (32),

   - the opening edge (35) comprises an outside edge (42), which engages with the step (40) and cooperates with the seal (32).
5. Heat exchanger according to any of claims 1 to 4,
   characterized in that
   the opening edge (35), in profile, comprises a step (45), into which the seal carrier (34) is inserted, such that the seal (32) seals axially against the step (45).
6. Heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the flow guide structure (48) is integrally formed on the seal carrier (34).
7. Heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the housing (20) comprises, proximal to the opening (28, 29) of the housing, a fluid port (30, 31) for the second fluid (27), which is fluidly connected with the second fluid path (26), wherein the flow guide structure (48) is arranged in the area of said fluid port (30, 31).
8. Heat exchanger according to any of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the flow guide structure (48) comprises a flow divider (49), which, in operation of the heat exchanger (19), divides a flow of the second fluid (27) into at least two partial flows flowing around opposing sides of the conduit block (21).
9. Heat exchanger according to any of claims 1 to 8,
   characterized in that
   the heat exchanger (19) is used as an intercooler (12) or as an exhaust gas heat exchanger, such that the first fluid (26) is the charge air to be cooled or the exhaust gas, and the second fluid (27) is a cooling coolant.
10. Heat exchanger according to any of claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the conduit block (21) comprises an end wall (58) at each longitudinal end (59, 60) of the housing (20), each respective end wall being penetrated by all conduits (23) and fixedly connected in a sealed manner with all conduits (23), wherein at least one of the end walls (58) axially abuts a side of the housing (20) facing the other end wall (58).
11. Heat exchanger according to claim 10,
    characterized in that
    only one of the end walls (58) is sealed with the seal (32) abutting the housing (20), or both end walls (58) are sealed respectively with the seal (32) abutting the housing (20).
12. Heat exchanger according to claim 10 or 11,
    characterized in that
    both end walls (58) axially abut opposing sides of the housing (20).
13. Heat exchanger according to claim 10, 11 or 12,
    characterized in that

    - the housing (20) and/or the seal carrier (34) are made from plastic and each respective end wall (58) and the conduits (23) are made from an iron alloy or a light alloy, or

    - the housing (20) and the seal carrier (34) are made from a light alloy and each respective end wall (58) and the conduits (23) are made from an iron alloy or a light alloy.
14. Charged internal combustion engine, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising

    - a fresh air system (5) for supplying fresh air to combustion chambers (4) of the internal combustion engine (1),

    - a charging device (8) for charging the fresh air,

    - an intercooler (12) formed by a heat exchanger (19) according to any of the preceding claims.

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