Patent Application
20070186575
The present invention relates to a heat exchanging apparatus and to a method for its production. Heat exchanging apparatuses are long known from the prior art, in particular in the field of motor vehicles. Said apparatuses have, in a known way, supply lines for a refrigerant, a distributing tube for distributing the refrigerant to a plurality of flat tubes, a collecting tube for collecting the refrigerant after it passes through the flat tubes, and an outlet. Here, it is possible to fill out the collecting and distributing tube in the form of a water box which has a separating wall. In doing so, however, it must be ensured that the separating wall sealingly divides the water box into an input-side partial region and an output-side partial region.
For this reason, in the prior art, separating walls are used which divide the water box into two partial spaces. This gives rise to the problem of joining the separating walls into the collecting box in the most cost-saving and yet sealing manner possible.
An aluminum water/air heat exchanger for motor vehicles is known from EP 0 656 517, in which a separating wall of a water box engages in grooves and/or slots in the tube plate, the engagement taking place with intersection of collars through which flat tubes are inserted. Here, the grooves have a rectangular shape and are delimited at all sides. The engagement of the separating wall or of its tongues ensures a relatively secure hold and relatively reliable sealing of the heat exchanger arrangement. During production, however, flux or solder can collect in the surrounded grooves, resulting in joining problems possibly arising during the production process.
The invention is therefore based on the object of reducing the outlay in the production of a heat exchanging apparatus.
It is also intended to provide a collecting box in which the input-side and output-side regions are reliably separated and sealed off from one another.
The objects are achieved according to the invention by means of a heat exchanging apparatus which has at least one first collecting and/or distributing device for at least one liquid medium, the collecting and/or distributing device being fluidically connected to a plurality of throughflow devices through which the medium flows at least in sections, and the collecting and/or distributing device having at least one base device, one cover device and one separating device which divides the collecting and/or distributing device into at least two partial spaces. Here, according to the invention, the base device has at least one projection which protrudes inward with respect to the collecting and/or distributing device in a predefined plane of the base device, and at least one section of the separating device is in at least indirect contact with at least one side face of the projection and with a section of the plane of the base device.
The advantage of the invention is that, in this way, the separating wall is simultaneously in contact with two side faces, and as a result, the stability of the apparatus can be increased, which is of particular significance when relatively thin-walled components are used for the purpose of reducing weight and costs. According to the invention, it is additionally prevented that solder, liquid and the like collect in spatially delimited grooves during the production process.
A collecting and/or distributing device is to be understood as a device which can either distribute a fluid between a plurality of tubes or can collect a fluid which flows out of a plurality of tubes. Here, said distributing device has a base device and a cover device, that is to say the collecting and/or distributing device is constructed at least from a base device which is joined to a cover device. The predefined plane of the base device is a geometric plane from which the inwardly protruding projections protrude, and relative to which further edge regions can also be elevated or lowered. Here, the plane of the base device is to be understood as that plane against which the separating device rests. To be more precise, the plane of the base device is to be understood as that plane against which or against which the separating device rests. Said plane is therefore to be understood as a reference plane with respect to further planes, as is explained with reference to the figures.
Here, inwardly projecting is to be understood to mean that the projection protrudes into the interior of the collecting and/or distributing device. At least indirect contact is to be understood to mean that the individual faces in question can either touch each other directly or that a further material or a further medium is arranged between said faces. This can, for example, involve a layer of solder, or flux, or the like.
In a further preferred embodiment, the inwardly protruding projection has at least one side face which forms a substantially right angle with the plane of the base device, the separating device being arranged at said right angle. This is to be understood to mean that the projection, as described above, can have any desired geometric shape, but with one of its outer faces enclosing a right angle together with the plane of the base device. Here, the separating device is arranged at said right angle, and is in indirect contact at one side with the side face of the projection, and in indirect contact at the other side with that section of the base device which adjoins said side face.
In a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of inwardly protruding projections are provided. Here, all of said inwardly protruding projections preferably each have one side face which is aligned perpendicular to the plane of the base device.
In a further preferred embodiment, the plurality of inwardly protruding projections are arranged substantially in a line. This means that those side faces of the projections which are in contact with the separating device, and which preferably enclose a right angle with the plane of the base device or of the plate face, are arranged substantially in a plane. Said plane is preferably aligned substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base device.
The separating device is arranged at the side face of the individual projections, and is in at least indirect contact with the individual side faces and with the plane of the base device. Here, the individual projections can be at a predefined distance from one another. In a preferred embodiment, the individual projections are interrupted by means of openings in the base device, through which openings the individual throughflow devices can extend into the interior of the collecting and/or distributing device, the openings and the projections preferably being arranged in an alternating fashion.
In a further preferred embodiment, the plurality of projections and sections are arranged so as to be alternately laterally offset relative to one another. This substantially means that a first partial quantity of the plurality is arranged in a first line, and a second partial unit of the plurality is arranged in a second line, said lines preferably being parallel to one another. The side faces of those projections which are alternately laterally offset relative to one another and are in contact with the separating device are preferably in each case situated substantially obliquely opposite one another at a predefined angle. This means that the individual projections are arranged in a zigzag fashion relative to one another, and those side faces which are in contact with the separating device, or the planes which is defined by the individual side faces, are situated substantially opposite one another in parallel.
During assembly, the separating wall is arranged between the individual projections in such a way that the sections are in contact with the separating device in each case alternately from different sides. For example, the first, the third, the fifth, the seventh etc. projections are in contact with one side of the separating device, while the second, the fourth, the sixth and the eighth sections are in contact with the other side of the separating wall device.
In a further preferred embodiment, the separating wall has a thickness of from 0.2 mm-5 mm, preferably of between 0.4 mm and 2 mm and particularly preferably of from 0.8 mm-1.2 mm. The separating wall is preferably at least partially coated with a layer, such as in particular—but not exclusively—solder-plated, with zinc or the like. It has been proven that a thickness of the separating wall in the specified range particularly advantageously provides both a weight and cost saving, but also reliable separation of the collecting box.
In a further preferred embodiment, the inwardly protruding projections have a face—in particular a surface—which runs substantially parallel to the base device. In a further preferred embodiment, the inwardly protruding projections have a face which runs substantially obliquely with respect to the plane of the base device. The inwardly protruding projections therefore have the design of a step which has at least one oblique face.
In addition, the projections can have further faces which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base device, said faces preferably also being aligned perpendicular to the previously mentioned faces. Assuming the image of a step, said faces would be side faces which delimit the width of the step.
In a further preferred embodiment, the inwardly protruding projections have a height of between 2 mm and 10 mm, preferably of between 3 mm and 8 mm, and particularly preferably of between 4 mm and 6 mm.
The extent of the side faces in the longitudinal direction of the collecting and/or distributing device is between 2 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 8 mm, and particularly preferably between 4 mm and 6 mm.
It has been proven that the resulting side face, which is aligned substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the base device, particularly advantageously ensures secure contact with the separating device.
In a further preferred embodiment, the inwardly protruding sections extend in a substantially uninterrupted fashion in the longitudinal direction of the base device. This means that a step is generated which is substantially continuous in the longitudinal direction of the base device, the separating device being arranged at said step.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the separating device is in at least indirect contact with at least one respective side face of all the inwardly protruding sections.
Here, a connecting medium is particularly preferably provided in the contact region between the base device and the side face, at one side, and the separating device, at the other side, in order to provide a cohesive connection between the separating device and the base device. Said connecting medium is selected from a group of connecting media which includes aluminum-containing solders, flux and the like.
In a further preferred embodiment, the separating device is embodied as a separating wall. This means that the separating device is a substantially two-dimensional structure which runs in the interior of the collecting and/or distributing device.
In a further preferred embodiment, the base device has a plurality of passage openings, the plurality of passage openings particularly preferably having a substantially slotted-hole-like profile. Here, the individual projecting sections are preferably in each case arranged between the passage openings.
The passage openings are used to insert a plurality of throughflow devices, which have a flat-tube-like profile, into the collecting and/or distributing device. For this purpose, the passage openings have profiles which are matched to those of the throughflow openings. The flat-tube-like throughflow devices particularly preferably have two flow paths for a liquid and/or gaseous medium which are separated from one another.
Said separation can be provided by means of a separating wall in the interior of the throughflow device, but it would also be possible for the throughflow devices to be pressed together in a preferably central region, in order to thus generate two chambers. It is additionally possible for the separation between the two regions to be generated during the course of a brazing process.
A slotted-hole-like profile is to be understood to mean that the openings extend substantially in one direction, and in contrast to only a small extent in a direction which is perpendicular to said direction. In a further preferred embodiment, the plane defined by the separating device substantially represents a plane of symmetry of the base device. Here, the individual passage openings are also divided substantially down the middle by the separating device. Any outlets or the like which are provided are not included in said symmetrical view.
In a preferred embodiment, the passage openings have peripheral edges or flanges. The throughflow devices are inserted through said flanges during production, and are preferably connected to the flanges in a positively-locking and/or cohesive and/or non-positively locking fashion.
The flanges preferably point inward with respect to the collecting and distributing device, that is to say in the direction of the ends of the throughflow devices. The flanges are preferably matched to the shape or design of the throughflow devices and substantially completely surround the latter. Here, substantially completely is to be understood to mean that relatively small regions, for example the region in which the separating region of the throughflow device is provided, can however be cut out from the flanges in the peripheral direction.
The connection between the base device and the throughflow tubes can be facilitated by means of the inwardly protruding flanges.
In a further preferred embodiment, the ends of the flanges are arranged at a level which differs from the plane of the base device. In concrete terms, the ends of the flanges point further into the interior of the collecting and/or distributing device compared to the level of the base device, or, in a particularly preferred embodiment, less far. In the latter case, that is to say in the case in which the plane of the base device is arranged higher than the level of the flanges, this leads to the separating wall or separating device which is inserted into the base device being situated above the flanges, and the flanges therefore do not intersect the separating device. An increased sealing effect can be obtained in this way.
In a further embodiment, the flanges point outward with respect to the collecting and/or distributing device. In a further embodiment, some of the flanges point inward with respect to the collecting and/or distributing device, while others point outward.
It would in principle be possible to provide passage openings which are each separate from one another on both sides of the separating wall in the installed state. In a preferred embodiment, however, the passage openings extend over most of the width of the base device and are also preferably connected to one another in their central region by means of a narrowed region.
In a further preferred embodiment, the length of the base device exceeds the length of the separating device. Here, the separating device is preferably in contact with both the base device and the cover device and connects said devices. Here, the plurality of throughflow devices of substantially flat-tube-like cross section are preferably inserted into the plurality of individual passage openings, and, in a subsequent working step, soldered.
In a further preferred embodiment, that side face of the inwardly protruding projections which is in contact with the separating device is larger than that section of the base device which is in contact with the separating device. This means that the respective side face exceeds the size of the face which is associated with it in the plane of the base device, which is preferably aligned perpendicular to said side face. In this way, the separating wall can be particularly advantageously supported within the collecting and/or distributing device.
In a further preferred embodiment, that section of the base device which is in contact with the separating device is wider than the thickness of the separating device. The separating device is therefore preferably not inserted into a groove or a slot, but rather the plate region in which there is contact with the separating device is wider than the separating device itself.
In a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of support devices are provided which project relative to a predefined plane or base face of the base device. Said support devices are projections of a predefined length which have the effect that the base device is stabilized against bending. Here, the individual support devices are arranged substantially between the passage openings. At least some of said support devices preferably merge into the projections. This means that in each case one support device has an approximately T-shaped profile with the projection.
In a further preferred embodiment, the base device has a projecting peripheral edge. This means that an edge is provided which extends upward, for example in the direction of a second cover device, proceeding from the plane of the base device. The peripheral edge serves to connect the base device to a cover device. The base device particularly preferably has at least one lug, preferably a plurality of lugs, at its peripheral edge. Said lugs likewise serve to provide a connection to a second cover device, in order to thus join a base device and a cover device together to form a collecting and/or distributing device.
In a further preferred embodiment, the separating device, in particular the separating wall, is aligned substantially parallel to the passage openings. The separating device is preferably arranged in a holding section which has guide faces for holding the separating device.
The present invention is also aimed at a method for producing a heat exchanging apparatus having the following method steps. In a first method step, a base device having at least one projection is produced; in a further method step, at least one connecting medium is applied to at least one side face of the projection.
In addition, the connecting medium is also applied to at least one section, which adjoins the side face of the at least one projection, of the base device. In a further step, the separating device is arranged on the base device such that the separating device is in at least indirect contact both with the base device and with the side face of the projection.
Here, a plurality of projections are preferably provided, the separating device being placed in contact with said projections or with the side faces of said projections.
In the method, the separating device is preferably placed, and subsequently soldered, onto the side faces of the individual projections, the action of gravity being utilized to produce the contact between the side faces and the separating device during the soldering process.
In a further preferred embodiment, at least one inwardly protruding projection is generated by means of a machining operation on the base device, the machining operation being selected from a group of machining operations which includes punching, deep-drawing and the like.
In a further preferred embodiment, that section of the base device which adjoins the inwardly protruding section runs substantially in the plane of the base device. This means that the base device is, for example, in the form of a metal sheet, with the individual passage openings being punched out, for example, and the individual elevations such as the support devices and the inwardly protruding sections being produced by means of pressing, drawing or the like.
The plane of the base device can therefore be understood as that plane from which the inwardly protruding sections and the other devices extend, and which is in contact with the separating wall.
A support device is also preferably generated in the base device, said support device particularly preferably merging into at least one inwardly protruding section. A plurality of passage openings are also preferably punched into the base device, with flanges of each passage opening particularly preferably being generated, said flanges protruding into the interior of the collecting and/or distributing device. Here, said flanges preferably substantially completely surround the individual passage opening. Here, substantially completely is to be understood to mean that a small region, through which the separating device runs, of the flanges can however be cut out.
It is additionally preferable for one flat-tube-like throughflow device to be at least partially inserted into each passage opening, and a positively locking and/or cohesive and/or non-positively locking connection to be generated between the base device and each throughflow device.
The connection between the base device and the plurality of throughflow devices is particularly preferably generated by means of a method selected from a group of methods which includes soldering, brazing, welding and the like, and combinations of said methods.
The separating device is also preferably pressed with a predefined force both against a side face of the projection and also against the section of the base device. Here, as described above, the action of gravity can preferably be utilized in applying pressure to the side face.
Edges which surround the base device are also preferably generated by means of a further method step. It is also possible to make use of a process such as for example a deep-drawing process or a bending process or the like for generating said edges.
The invention is also aimed at the use of the above described heat exchanging apparatus in air conditioning systems of motor vehicles.
Further advantages of the device according to the invention and of the method can be gathered from the appended drawings, in which:
a is a schematic illustration of a base device according to the prior art;
b is a schematic illustration of a base device according to the invention;
c shows a schematic plan view of a base device according to the invention;
d is a schematic illustration of a base device according to the invention;
In said embodiment, the individual throughflow devices 40 have a first flow chamber 46 and a second flow chamber 48. The cross section of said flow chambers 46 and 48 is of substantially flat-tube-like form, and therefore has, in cross section, a predefined length and a width which is considerably reduced relative to said length. It is also possible to provide, instead of the flow chambers, a plurality of ducts for the liquid or refrigerant. Between the flow chambers 46 and 48, the throughflow devices have a narrowed region 45. The thickness DF of said narrowed region is preferably between 0.5 mm and 6 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 4 mm, and particularly preferably between 1.5 mm and 2.7 mm.
As described above, the flow chambers 46 and 48 are separated from one another in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner in said narrowed region 45. During production, the narrowed regions can be generated by pressing the throughflow devices at the corresponding point. In addition, said regions can also receive solder plating on the inner walls, so that a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight connection is generated during a soldering operation.
The reference symbols 43 and 44 denote transition regions between the flow chambers 48 and 46. In said regions, the width of the throughflow devices preferably decreases towards the region 45 at a predefined angle relative to the transverse direction 1B. Said angle is preferably between 10° and 90°, preferably between 30° and 90° and particularly preferably between 60° and 85°. However, it is also possible for the regions 43 and 44 to curve or narrow in the form of an arc toward the central region 45. In
Reference symbol 9 denotes a section of the base device with which the separating device is in at least indirect contact. Here, said section of the base device is situated substantially in the plane of the base device.
As illustrated, an arrangement with alternating steps 7a and 7b is provided in said embodiment.
It can be seen from
The reference symbol 5 relates to a collar which ensures that the throughflow device 40 which is inserted through the passage openings is held securely.
It can be seen that the level N2 on which the plate section 9 of the base device is arranged is situated above the level N3 in which the collars 5 end.
It would also be possible, however, to provide other relationships between the levels N1, N2 and N3 here. All the levels, for example, could be situated at the same height, and the level N2 could be arranged below the level N3.
The reference symbol 11 relates to support devices, whose surface is situated at the level N1, in the base device.
In said embodiment, the separating wall bears both against the sections 8b of the projections 7b, and against the sections 8a of the projections 7a. It is however also possible to select the thickness of the separating wall to be less than the thickness DA in
As in
In all of the hitherto mentioned embodiments, a flux or solder medium which is applied to the plate sections 9 and the respective side sections 8a and 8b of the projections 7a, 7b during the production process in each case can flow off and does not collect within a closed-off region. While the medium can in each case flow off both in the direction of the openings 3 or the gap 4 and in the directions which oppose the respective projections in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the medium can flow off substantially only in the direction of the respective openings 3 and 4 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.
The embodiment of the base device according to the invention shown in
The auxiliary projections 12a and 12b have faces 22a which is inclined at a predefined angle relative to the plate face 9. Said angle is preferably between 0 and 90°, preferably between 1° and 70° and particularly preferably between 2° and 50°. In said embodiment, the individual auxiliary projections substantially end with the respective collars 5. However, with regard to their height level, the projections can also extend higher than the collars 5, or not extend as high as the level of the collars 5.
The advantage of the auxiliary projections 12a and 12b is that of obtaining additional stability when inserting the separating walls. In a further preferred embodiment, it would also be possible to guide in each case one auxiliary projection 12a and one auxiliary projection 12b together such that they touch. In this case, however, the separating wall would preferably need to have a corresponding notch (not illustrated).
It is also the case in said embodiment that the ends of the collars 5 are preferably arranged below the plane of the base device, that is to say the plane of the section 9.
The spacing DA in said embodiment also substantially corresponds to the spacings shown in the preceding embodiments. In said embodiment, the solder medium can preferably flow off to each side at which no projection 7a or 7b is arranged. The auxiliary projections 12a and 12b can additionally be arranged such that a gap, through which a liquid connecting medium can pass, is formed between the auxiliary projections and the associated section 7a and 7b.
The further embodiment of the base device according to the invention shown in
In the side view of said figure, the regions 11 likewise have the shape of an inverted U, one side face of the section 11 running substantially parallel to the plate section 9 and a further section 11b or 11a being arranged at a predefined angle. Said angle is between 0 and 90°, preferably between 20 and 70° and particularly preferably between 30 and 60°.
a shows a cross-sectional illustration of a base device according to the prior art. A groove 38 is provided in said base device, the separating wall (not illustrated) being inserted into said groove. The reference symbol 28 relates to a flux or solder which is applied to the base device. Here, in the prior art, the groove 38 also ends in the plane of the page. This leads to the flux collecting on the base of the groove, and in some circumstances the subsequently inserted separating wall no longer being able to reach the base of the groove. In addition, the thickness of the flux on the side wall 38a of the groove 38 can vary widely, which can result in joining problems.
b schematically shows a cross section of a base device according to the invention. On account of the step 7 at one side, the flux can flow off here laterally, so that an approximately constant flux thickness is produced. It is possible in this way to better overcome the joining problems.
In the embodiment shown in
d schematically shows a plan view of the base device according to the invention. Here, the reference symbols 42 relate to end sections of the throughflow devices 40 which are inserted through the base device. The reference symbols 7a and 7b also relate here to projections which are in this case arranged alternately and each exert a force, denoted by F, on the separating wall 30. In this case, the separating wall is stabilized relative to the base device by means of the alternating projections 7a, 7b. At the same time, however, a flux can flow off from the step, which is arranged in each case at one side, toward the side which is in each case situated opposite a step which is present.
Finally,
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102004011351.3 | Mar 2004 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP05/02239 | 3/3/2005 | WO | 8/31/2006 |
