Patent Application
20170268833
The present invention relates to an arrangement for a tempering device, in particular for a heat exchanger, with a tubular body and with a component connected to the tubular body. The invention further relates to a method for producing such an arrangement and a modular system for the modular production of a tempering device with such an arrangement. The invention further relates to a tempering device with such an arrangement.
A tempering device serves the purpose of controlling the temperature of an object and/or a fluid. For this, tempering devices generally have tubular bodies, which are able to be flowed thorough by a fluid. A fluid which is to be temperature-controlled or a temperature-controlling fluid can flow here through the respective tubular body. Such a tubular body is usually connected to another component. Frequently, at least one such tubular body is connected to a base or respectively to a tube plate, wherein the tube plate, together with a box-like element, can form a distributor system and/or collecting system of the tempering device for collecting and/or distributing a fluid between the individual tubular bodies.
For connecting the tubular body to the component, it is known to use a soldering method. However, this requires that the tubular body and the component are produced from substantially identical materials. If the component and/or the tubular body are to be additionally connected to a further element by a soldering method, then hereby the choice of materials for the further element is restricted accordingly. Owing to the advantageous heat-conducting properties, such tubular bodies are usually produced from a metalliferous material, in particular from aluminium. However, in soldered connections, this requires that the component and the other element which is to be connected to the tubular body by a soldered connection, are also produced from a metalliferous material, in particular from aluminium. A disadvantage here is therefore in particular that on the one hand the choice of available materials for the tubular body, for the component and for the other element is limited. In addition, the soldering method is cost-intensive and resource-intensive.
From DE 198 36 015 C2 it is known to connect the tubular body to a tube plate by a forming method. In order to achieve a necessary sealing of an associated opening, in which the tubular body is arranged, the use of a sealing ring is necessary here, which is inserted into the opening between the tubular body and the tube plate. The provision of the arrangement with such sealing rings requires, however, an upstream process step, in which an additional element, namely the sealing ring, must be introduced into the arrangement and fixed. Such a process step and the use of additional elements lead here to increased production costs of the arrangements. When the tubular body is connected to several components, it is generally necessary to provide a separate such sealing ring for the respective connection, which in turn leads to increased costs for the production of the arrangement.
For producing such a tempering device, the cooperation or respectively connecting of such an arrangement with further elements of the tempering device is necessary. According to requirements, different elements are necessary, which if applicable are to be connected to the component and/or to the tubular body. Here, for different tempering devices, in particular owing to the predetermined geometries and/or the predetermined materials, a distinct composition of the arrangement with the elements must be made. This means in particular that a modular composition of such a tempering device from prefabricated modules or respectively individual elements is not possible.
The present invention is therefore concerned with the problem of indicating, for an arrangement with a tubular body and with a component and for a method for producing such an arrangement and a tempering device with such an arrangement, improved embodiments which are distinguished in particular by a more favourably priced and/or simpler production and/or a simpler composition.
This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim(s). Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
The present invention is based on the basic idea, for an arrangement for a tempering device with a component and with a tubular body held by the component in an opening of the component, of realizing a seal of the opening by a plastic layer or respectively a plastic coating. Here, the plastic layer can be provided on the tubular body and/or on the component. Through such a realization of the seal of the opening, additional seals can be dispensed with, so that the production of the arrangement and therefore of the associated tempering device is considerably simplified and consequently in a more favourably priced manner. In addition, hereby the tubular body and the component can be produced from different materials, so that the arrangement is able to be produced in a greater variability or respectively variety. Consequently, other elements of the tempering device which are to be connected to the arrangement, in particular to the component, can be realized in a greater variety, which leads to a correspondingly great variety of the realization possibilities of the arrangement and/or of the associated tempering device.
The use of the plastic layer for sealing the opening further permits separate seals to be dispensed with for sealing the opening. Consequently, corresponding process steps can be omitted, which leads to a reduction of possible sources of error in the production of the arrangement. Hereby, therefore, overall the quality of the arrangement is also improved.
In accordance with the idea of the invention, the component therefore has such an opening, in which a connecting section of the tubular body is arranged. Here, the tubular body is held by the component or vice versa, whereby the component extends transversely to the tubular body. For sealing the opening, the connecting section is preferably provided with such a plastic layer. For this, the plastic layer is arranged on the outer side of the connecting section or respectively of the tubular body. Alternatively or additionally, the component, preferably in the region of the opening, is provided with such a plastic layer. This means that the plastic layer can be provided in particular on and/or in the opening.
The connection between the tubular body and the component can basically be realized in any desired manner, in so far as the plastic layer guarantees a sealing of the opening. For example, it is conceivable to press the tubular body into the opening.
In preferred variants, the connecting section of the tubular body is deformed for connecting the tubular body with the component. This means that the connecting section is preferably arranged in the opening and is subsequently deformed in such a way that hereby a connection is brought about between the tubular body and the component.
In particularly preferred variants, the deformation of the connecting section takes place in such a way that hereby an accumulation of material of the plastic layer occurs. Such an accumulation of material of the plastic layer leads here in particular to an improved sealing of the opening.
The use of the plastic layer for sealing the opening has, furthermore, the advantage that the connection between the tubular body and the component is flexible according to the properties of the plastic. Accordingly, stresses between the tubular body and the component, in particular thermal stresses between the tubular body and the component, can be better reduced. It is also possible hereby to equalize tolerances of the arrangement or respectively of the associated tempering device.
Furthermore, the arrangement according to the invention allows the tubular body and the component to be produced from different materials. Thus, for example, it is conceivable to produce the tubular body from a metalliferous material, for example from aluminium or steel, whereas the component is produced from a plastic.
Basically, the component can be configured in any desired manner, in so far as it has an opening in which the tubular body is arranged with its connecting section, and a hold exists between the component and the tubular body. This means, in particular, that the component can be any desired element or respectively constituent part of such a tempering device. The component can therefore be configured as a fin or as a rib of the tempering device.
In further variants, the component is configured as a tube plate, or abbreviated as a plate, of such a tempering device, which runs transversely to the tubular body.
Of course, arrangements are also conceivable, which have at least two such tubular bodies and/or two such components. Here, at least one of the openings at least of one of the components is sealed according to the invention by such a plastic layer.
The production of the arrangement preferably takes place according to the method described below. In a method step, the connecting section of the tubular body and/or the component are provided with such a plastic layer in the region of the associated opening. Here, the entire tubular body can also be provided with such a plastic layer, so that a plurality of connecting sections of the tubular body for connecting with different components have such a plastic layer. The respective plastic layer can be applied in any desired manner onto the connecting section or respectively onto the component. This includes coating methods by which plastic can be applied on the connecting section or respectively onto the component on/in the opening. It is also conceivable to realize the plastic layer by means of a plastic film which is arranged on the tubular body or respectively on the component. In a further method step for the production of the arrangement, the connecting section of the tubular body is inserted or respectively introduced into the associated opening. It is possible here to provide the tubular body and/or the component with the plastic layer before inserting the connecting section into the associated opening and/or after the inserting of the connecting section in the associated opening. Preferably, however, this takes place before the inserting of the tubular body into the associated opening. The connecting of the tubular body to the component takes place in a further method step by a deformation of the tubular body and/or of the component. Preferably, the connecting section is deformed for this. Overall, the plastic layer guarantees a sealing of the associated opening, so that additional seals, which are configured as separate components, can be dispensed with.
In preferred variants, the deformation of the connecting section leads to such an accumulation of material of the plastic layer, which improves a sealing of the opening. For this, the plastic layer is configured accordingly. This is achieved for example in that the plastic layer has a corresponding thickness, which with a deformation of the tubular body leads to such an accumulation of material.
Alternatively or additionally, the deformation of the connecting section takes place in such a way that such an accumulation of material occurs. This is achieved in particular by such a deformation, which leads to a pushing out or respectively pressing out of the plastic layer from the opening, so that such an accumulation of material occurs directly at the opening.
The configuration of the arrangement according to the invention and/or the method according to the invention for producing the arrangement allow the associated tempering device to be composed in modular construction. This means that a modular system for the modular production of such a tempering device can be realized in that the modular system has at least one such arrangement. The modular system preferably has several such arrangements in different variants, i.e. with different tubular bodies and/or components. The modular system has, furthermore, at least one box, wherein the box serves for the collecting and/or distributing of a fluid flowing through at least one such tubular body. Here, the arrangement and the box are able to be connected to one another for the production of the tempering device. When the box is able to be connected or respectively is to be connected to the component, the solution according to the invention allows the component and the box to be coordinated with one another with regard to material, wherein this coordination has no influence or at least a reduced influence on the configuration of the tubular body, in particular on the material of the tubular body.
The component is preferably configured here as a tube plate, wherein the tube plate or, abbreviated as plate, is produced from plastic. Advantageously, the box is also produced from plastic. Hereby, a materially integral connection between the plate and the box is possible, in order for example to produce a distributor or respectively a collector of the tempering device. Through the materially integral connection of the plate with the box, in addition a sufficient sealing of the collector or respectively of the distributor can be achieved, so that here also additional seals can be dispensed with.
It shall be understood that in addition to the arrangement, the associated production method and the modular system, also such a tempering device with such an arrangement or respectively a tempering device produced from such a modular system, belongs to the scope of this invention.
Further important features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated figure description with the aid of the drawings.
It shall be understood that the features mentioned above and to be explained further below are able to be used not only in the respectively indicated combination, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Preferred example embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained further in the following description, wherein the same reference numbers refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.
There are shown, respectively diagrammatically,
FIG. 1 a section through an arrangement during production,
FIG. 2 the section of FIG. 1 after producing the arrangement,
FIG. 3 a modular system in sectional illustration,
FIG. 4 a section through a tempering device.
FIG. 1 shows an arrangement 1 during its production. The arrangement 1 has at least one tubular body 2, wherein two such tubular bodies 2 can be seen in FIG. 1. In the method step, shown in FIG. 1, for the production of the arrangement 1, the tubular bodies 2 are configured identically and have respectively a substantially cylindrical shape. The arrangement 1 has in addition a component 3, which runs transversely to the tubular bodies 2. The component 3 can be constructed for example as a tube plate 4, or abbreviated as plate 4, or as a fin 5. The component 3 has an opening 6 associated with the respective tubular body 2. Here, a connecting section 7 of the respective tubular body 2 is inserted or respectively introduced into the associated opening 6.
The tubular bodies 2 can be produced respectively from a metallic material, for example from aluminium. The component 3 is produced from a plastic.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, a plastic layer 8 is provided in the connecting section 7 of the respective tubular body 2 between the opening 6 and the connecting section 7. The respective plastic layer 8 extends on the outer side of the tubular body 2 beyond the connecting section 7. Here, the plastic layers 8 of both tubular bodies 2 have the same size. The respective plastic layer 8 can be applied onto the tubular body 8 or respectively on the inner side of the opening 6. For this, the tubular body 2 or respectively the opening 6 of the component 3 is preferably coated with the plastic layer 8.
In FIG. 1 it can be seen in addition that the plastic layer 8 substantially fills a gap 9 arranged between the tubular body 2 in the connecting section 7 and the component 3 in the opening 6, wherein the respective plastic layer 8 along the associated tubular body 2 has a substantially identical layer thickness 10, running transversely to the tubular body 2. Hereby, the respective plastic layer 8 already guarantees hereby a sealing of the associated opening 6. Here, the respective tubular body 2 and/or the associated opening 6 can be provided with the plastic layer 8 before the arranging or respectively introducing of the respective tubular body 2 into the associated opening 6. However, it would also be conceivable to provide the respective plastic layer 8 after the arranging of the associated tubular body 2 in the associated opening 6.
For improving the sealing effect of the respective seal, a deformation of the respective tubular body 2 takes place, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. Here, the respective tubular body 2 which is shown is deformed in a different manner. The deformation of the right-hand tubular body 2′, in the illustration of FIG. 2, takes place in such a way that the tubular body 2′ is bent outwards in the direction of the component 3 in a deformation section 11 projecting out from the associated opening 6. Here, the connecting section 11 can be an end section of the associated tubular body 2′. Such a deformation can take place for example by means of a pin, not shown, which is introduced into the tubular body 2′. Through the outwardly directed bending of the tubular body 2 in the deformation section 11, an accumulation of material 12 is created between the deformation section 11 and the component 3, which accumulation of material improves or respectively intensifies the sealing effect of the seal of the opening 6 realized by the plastic layer 8.
In the case of the left-hand tubular body 2′ in FIG. 2, the deformation takes place in the connecting section 7 in that the connection section 7 is widened in the opening 6. Hereby, an outwardly directed curvature 13 of the tubular body 2″ occurs in the associated opening 6 in the connecting section 7, and a corresponding curvature 13 of the component 3 in the associated opening 6, which likewise lead to an accumulation of material 12. This accumulation of material 12 is arranged in the associated opening 6 and improves the sealing effect of the seal, brought about with the plastic layer 8.
The respective plastic layer 8 has, in addition, the advantage that it creates a certain flexibility between the associated tubular body 2 and the component 3. This means that in particular thermal stresses can be reduced between the tubular body 2, produced from a metallic material, and the component 3, produced from plastic. In addition, the tubular bodies 2 are movable relative to the component 3 in a region predetermined in particular by the provision of the plastic layer 8. This means that a rigid connection between the respective tubular body 2 and the component 3 is prevented. Hereby, in particular tolerances of the arrangement 1 can be equalized.
In FIG. 3 a modular system 14 is shown, to the components of which such an arrangement 1 belongs. The modular system 14 allows a modular composition of a tempering device 15 (see FIG. 4), wherein the arrangement 1 can be a module 16 of the modular system 14. The modular system 14 has further elements 17, which are composed together with the arrangement 1 for the production of the tempering device15, and can also be configured in a modular manner and in different variants. Here in FIG. 3 such an element 17 is shown, which is configured as a box 18 and is able to be connected with the arrangement 1.
FIG. 4 shows such a tempering device 15, which is configured as a heat exchanger 19. Here, a fluid, for example a coolant, flows through the tubular bodies 2, in order to control the temperature of an object, not shown here, or respectively another fluid, not shown here. The component 3 of the arrangement 1, illustrated in FIG. 4, is configured as such a plate 4 which together with the element 17, configured as a box 18, forms a collector 20 or distributor 21 of the tempering device 15. Here, the collector 20 or respectively distributor 21 serves to collect the fluid flowing through the tubular body 2 and to distribute it between the tubular bodies 2.
In the example which is shown, the box 18 is produced from plastic and is connected in a materially integral manner with the base 4, produced from plastic, of the arrangement 1. In this way, seals for sealing the collector 20 or respectively distributor 21 can be dispensed with.
Through the invention, therefore, a favourably priced and simple production of such an arrangement 1 and of such a tempering device 15 is possible in different variations.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2014 219 401.6 | Sep 2014 | DE | national |
This application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2015/071822, filed on Sep. 23, 2015, and German Patent Application No. DE 10 2014 219 401.6, filed on Sep. 25, 2014, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/071822 | 9/23/2015 | WO | 00 |
