BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of the heat exchanger of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective fragmentary view of the heat exchanger of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective fragmentary view of the heat exchanger of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the heat exchanger of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the header pipe of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a side detail view of the header pipe of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a view of the header pipe in FIG. 5 along a line A-A of FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged top view of the end portion of the header pipe of FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 is another side view of the header pipe in FIG. 6.
FIG. 10 is a detailed view of FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 is a view of the header pipe in FIG. 5, along the line C-C of FIG. 5.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged top view of the area F in FIG. 5 on an opening for guiding a flat pipe through.
FIG. 13 is a detailed view of FIG. 9.
FIG. 14 is a top view of the frame element of the invention.
FIG. 15 is a side view of the frame element of the invention.
FIG. 16 is a detailed view of the end portion of the frame element of FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is a detailed view of the projections in FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a device for exchanging heat according to one embodiment of the invention. The heat exchanger 1 includes an inlet 2 and an outlet 9 through which refrigerant is circulated. The inlet and the outlet are arranged at a common support 6.
The inlet 2 and a pipe 3, which includes a curved portion 3a to avoid an undesirably small curvature radius, feed the refrigerant into a header pipe 4. From this header pipe, refrigerant is distributed to at least some of the flat pipes 5 from which it is conveyed into a second header pipe 8.
One embodiment of the invention provides that the refrigerant is collected in the second header pipe 8 from where it is conveyed back up into header pipe 4 via further flat tubes. To this end, the header pipes 4 and 8 comprise partitions to prohibit at least in some sections a flow of the refrigerant in a horizontal direction.
From the first header pipe 4, the refrigerant is conveyed through a pipe into a header 26 and from there to the outlet 9. In this embodiment, the header 26 is not arranged parallel to the header pipes 4 or 8, but is instead oriented substantially parallel to flat pipes 5 seen in longitudinal direction.
Advantages of this embodiment include reduced size and higher stability. The latter advantage is made possible because the header 26 is directly connected with a frame element 23 of the heat exchanger. In the illustrated embodiment this connection is established by fasteners, such as screws 28. Clip connections, slip joints, rivet connections and the like may be used as alternatives.
Frame element 23 and frame element 21 each include end portions 24. These end portions are offset inwardly and to the side relative the longitudinal direction of the frame elements. End portions 24 rest against respective projections 33 of the header pipes and thus are prevented from moving outwardly away from the heat exchanger. Reference numerals 11, 13, 16 and 17 identify mounting elements for attaching the heat exchanger to a vehicle, for example to the car body.
FIG. 2 is a perspective detail illustration of a portion of the heat exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the leftward end of header pipe 4 is open, i.e., not closed by a portion of the frame element 23 or other component. Reference numeral 33 corresponds to projections arranged at the header pipe and bent downwardly. Reference numeral 31 corresponds to a curved portion of the frame element 23 which connects central portion 35 of frame element 23 with end portion 24. Here, end portion 24 and the central portion 35 are substantially parallel relative to one another. Reference numeral 34 corresponds to a projection positioned in the frame element 23. In this embodiment, the individual projections point inwardly, i.e., towards the flat pipes.
Reference numeral 37 identifies a recess positioned in the header pipe 4, and more precisely, in pipe element 4a. Pipe 4 further includes small projections 38. In this embodiment, projections 33 do not run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the frame element but at a specified angle.
FIG. 3 is another perspective illustration of the heat exchanger of the invention. It can be seen that the frame element 23 is delimited outwardly, i.e., leftward in FIG. 3, by header pipe projections 33. In this way, frame element 23 can be fixed in position as can the cooling fins (not shown) that are positioned between the individual flat pipes 5. Fixing the frame elements and cooling fins in a desired location and orientation during manufacturing prevents individual cooling fins from falling out of the spaces between the flat pipes. The illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 further provide for the end portion 24 and central portion 35 to protrude beyond the end portion of the header pipe.
As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, header pipe 4 may be fabricated as a two-piece structure comprising a top pipe component 4a and a bottom pipe component 4b, wherein the top pipe component 4a engages the interior walls of the bottom pipe component 4b. This configuration may also be reversed, i.e., header pipe 4 includes a bottom pipe component 4b which engages a top pipe component 4a.
FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, both the top header pipe 4 and the bottom header pipe 8 include projections 33 against which the frame element 23 rests. In this way, a fractional connection is generated both at the top header pipe 4 and the bottom header pipe 8. Both the top header pipe 4 and the bottom header pipe 8 may consist of two pipe components each.
Reference numeral 7 illustrates a line or pipe through which the refrigerant is conveyed to the header 26. In this embodiment, the header is attached to the frame element 23 via connections 28, thereby establishing another fractional connection via pipe 7 such that external forces are also conveyed into the header pipe instead of only to the frame element. In this embodiment, header 26 or the dryer unit in the header are positioned behind a plane E where the flat pipes are arranged when viewed in the air flow direction, i.e., the air flows in the direction of the arrow P.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the header pipe 4 of the invention, i.e., seen in the direction in which the flat pipes are inserted into the header pipe. Header pipe 4 comprises a plurality of openings or slots 41 into which the flat pipes 5 are inserted. These slots are arranged substantially in parallel and spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance. The distance of the individual slots 41 relative one another determines the width of the cooling fins positioned between said slots. The projections of the header pipe 4 are positioned at the respective end regions 43a and 43b as will be explained below in more detail. The capital letters E and F refer to the regions illustrated in detail in FIGS. 8 and 12.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the bottom part 4a in a location where the flat pipes are inserted (from above) into the slots 41. Projection 33 protrudes upwardly from the header pipe, i.e., in the direction of the flat pipes inserted into the header pipe.
FIG. 7 is a side view of header pipe 4 along the line A-A in FIG. 5, i.e., the portion where a flat pipe is inserted. Region 52 indicates the location of where a flat pipe may be inserted. Reference numeral 51 illustrates the top boundary region of the header pipe against which the side edge of the flat pipe (not shown) rests. FIG. 10, in turn, is an enlarged illustration of top boundary 51. Top boundary 51 comprises an inserting slope 52 and a region 53 substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the flat pipe to be inserted. As a flat pipe is inserted into a slot, regions 51 and 52 are bent, thereby applying a predetermined contact pressure to the flat pipe after inserting, which supports tight soldering.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail drawing of the end region of the header pipe of FIG. 5 designated with E. Reference numeral 5 identifies the location where a flat pipe may be inserted into slot 41. The frame element (not shown) is positioned to rest against the header pipe such that its outer surface contacts projection surfaces 33 pointing in the direction of the slot 41, i.e., outwardly in the plane of the drawing.
The end portion of the frame element adapts to the header pipe profile and in this way, upward or downward movement of the frame element is prohibited or restricted. Transverse movement is also substantially restricted or prohibited through the cooling fins inserted during manufacturing. Alternatively, or, in addition to the foregoing, inclines or projections inside the header pipe may be provided to restrict movement of the frame element.
FIG. 9 is a top view of the end portion of the header pipe. Flat pipe 5 is introduced from above to rest against the projections 33 from the rear. Persons of ordinary skill will recognize that more than two projections may be provided and that the profile of the individual projections may be different than that shown in FIG. 9. Furthermore, one or more of the projections may be designed as an annular protrusion around the header pipe.
FIG. 11 is a top view of the header pipe along the line C-C in FIG. 5, i.e., in a region where no slot is present. It can be seen that the header pipe comprises two portions 54 and 55 extending substantially horizontally, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the flat pipes, and further includes a curved or bent portion, i.e., a portion extending substantially in a semicircle between portions 54 and 55.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the area F in FIG. 5, i.e., the region in which a flat pipe may be inserted into the opening 5. It can be seen that the flat pipe is substantially rectangular in cross-section, and, in this embodiment, the short sides of the flat pipes 61 and 62 are slightly curved.
FIG. 13 is an inclined view of the end portion 43a in FIG. 9. It can be seen that in this embodiment the projection is not precisely perpendicular relative to the intermediate area 45 between the slot 41 and the projection 33, but is slightly tilted outwardly. Preferably the tilt angle relative the perpendicular is between 0 degrees and 10 degrees. Such tilting serves to facilitate insertion of the frame element (not shown) during manufacture.
FIG. 14 is a top view of the frame element of the invention which comprises a plurality of projections 34. Frame element 23 has an end portion structured as a circular ring against which the exterior profile of the header pipe rests. At the lower end thereof there is also provided an end portion 32 structured as a circular ring. Projections 34 are preferably positioned along the frame element such that the longitudinal direction of the projections is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the frame element.
FIG. 15 is a side view of the frame element shown in FIG. 14. It can be seen that frame element 23 comprises a curved portion 31 in the region of an end portion 32. Furthermore, end portion 32 is arranged slightly below the plane of the actual frame element. It can further be seen that the projections 34 also protrude downwardly from the frame element 23 meaning, as specified above, that in assembled state they point toward the flat pipes.
FIG. 16 is an enlarged illustration of the end portion of the frame element, i.e., of the end portion 32 and the curved portion 31. It can be seen that the end portion 32 is positioned on a plane E2 which is provided opposite the plane E1 where the remaining area of the frame element 23, i.e., the region 35, is positioned. The area 31 between these two planes is preferably designed as a curve, not a step. In this way, excessive loads on the intermediate area can be prevented.
By way of providing different planes E1 and E2 on which the end region and the center region of the frame element are arranged, the entire frame element will ultimately be pushed outwardly, i.e., away from the flat pipes, relative the projection 33 which is positioned at a header pipe. The distance between the planes E1 and E2 determines how far said frame element can be pushed towards the flat pipes.
FIG. 17 is an enlarged illustration of the frame element in the region of the projection 34. It can be seen that the projection of this embodiment is not fixed to the frame element but it is an outward bend of the frame element itself and is approximately triangular in shape. Accordingly, the frame element also comprises a recess 37 in the region of projection 34. Providing such projections or notched regions will improve the overall stability of the frame element. Alternatively, projection 34 may be fabricated, for example, in a circular or ellipsoidal in shape or the like.
Patent Application
20070295491
