Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6199401
-
Patent Number
6,199,401
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, January 6, 199926 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 13, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- McDermott; Corrine
- Norman; Marc
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 062 525
- 062 524
- 062 527
- 165 174
- 165 153
- 165 DIG 465
- 165 DIG 466
- 165 DIG 483
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The invention relates to a distributing/collecting tank (distributor/header case) of aluminum or an aluminum alloy of an at least dual flow (double-flow) brazed evaporator of a motor vehicle air conditioning equipment, wherein the case comprises a tube bottom and a cap (28), which supplement each other at least in the direction of the narrow cross-section to the case, and in its longitudinal extension direction corresponding to the number of flows at least a longitudinal partition, wherein at least one case wall on the front side is formed by a separate end piece (62) being in close contact to each adjacent longitudinal partition and at least one case wall is provided with the refrigerant inlet (14). According to the invention, it is provided that an injection valve (50) for the refrigerant is attached to the end piece (62) provided with the refrigerant inlet (14) by means of a plug-type connection or flange connection (48), an injection valve is at least partially integrated in the design of the end piece (62) and/or at least one end piece (62) together with a projecting piece (90) leaves open a connection room (104) on the side facing away from the heat exchange tubes (2) in elongation on the front side of the room occupied by the heat exchange tubes (2) of the evaporator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a distributing/collecting case (or tank or header) of aluminum or an aluminum alloy of an at least double-flow brazed evaporator of a motor vehicle air conditioning equipment with the features of the preamble of claim
1
. Such a case is known from the DE-C1-195 15 526 (in particular FIG. 4).
The term distributing/collecting case is to include the three application possibilities of a case (or tank or header), namely either, in case of an even number of the flows, to be provided only at one respective end of the heat exchange tubes of the evaporator with an inlet and an outlet function, or, in case of an uneven number of flows, to concern the case on the inlet and/or on the outlet side, and finally in both mentioned cases to be able to accomplish an additional distribution function to individual heat exchange tubes or groups thereof as a case on the inlet side.
Moreover, the invention concerns especially the design of such a case in a multipart embodiment with a bottom and a cap, which, however, in contrast to the otherwise usual construction, are terminated by at least one separate end piece at least on one front side. In this case, the refrigerant inlet is provided at at least one case wall, in the mentioned known case at the cap of the case.
The design of at least one separate end piece offers a greater liberty concerning the design and in particular the manufacture of tube bottom and cap from a solder-coated or braze-coated sheet metal of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, if the tube bottom and the cap have a constant external cross-section between the case walls on the front side in the longitudinal extension direction and thus also have a constant external cross-section of the case in the longitudinal extension direction, one can carry out the prefabrication of tube bottom and cap invariantly with respect to the case length by cutting off sections from the prefabricated longitudinal profiles of cap and tube bottom, as required. This is already interesting if during prefabrication a case wall for the front side is additionally prefabricated, as then the cutting off can be effected at the other end. Of particular interest and particularly material-saving is a prefabrication as an endless billet made by an arbitrary fabrication technology, the parts of which are supplemented by end pieces at both front sides, no matter how long the parts are. This is not only true for a continuous extrusion but in particular for other continuous designs of an undefined length, as they e.g result from rolling sheet metal parts, which is preferred in connection with the invention. This particularly enables the processing of sheet metals pre-coated with solder or braze.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object underlying the invention is to further improve the design of a distributor/header case of the mentioned type of construction with respect to manufacture and function.
This object is solved in a case with the features of the preamble of claim
1
by the characterizing features thereof.
The end piece which is in this case only necessary at one front side of the case is now a multi-function piece having the following functions:
it is the only end piece on the front side in contrast to the mentioned prior art of the DE-C1-195 15 526, where at one front side of the case several end pieces are provided;
feeding the refrigerant inlet as well as the refrigerant outlet through this one end piece on the front side;
further development as link (or joining piece or connecting piece) for the two lines extending externally and optionally also for one line continued internally, the latter in case of an injection pipe projecting to the inside, which can serve as a direct injection pipe;
as a result saving separate connection means.
If the refrigerant is not distributed to the individual heat exchange tubes within a case on the inlet side by means of correspondingly dimensioned throttles in the course of a so-called direct injection (cf. DE-A1-195 15 527, in particular FIGS. 6 and 7), conventionally a separate injection valve, now conventionally designed as a thermostatically controlled block valve, is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the case on the inlet side of an evaporator via a supply line. Such a supply line, however, requires its own material and space, has to be separately manufactured and stocked up and causes segregation effects between the liquid and the gaseous phase of the refrigerant supplied to the evaporator, if the distance between the injection valve and the case is relatively long or the supply line even has a bent course, which generally reduces the efficiency and, in particular if the case further comprises a distributor means of the refrigerant to individual heat exchange tubes or groups thereof, causes distribution disturbances with respect to the desired optimal refrigerant allocation with a constant proportion of liquid and gaseous phase.
These functional difficulties are eliminated according to the solution of the invention according to claim
1
.
Claim
1
provides a direct connection of the injection valve to the end piece, which is so direct that no segregation difficulties of the kind mentioned above arise anymore. Here, commercially available injection valves and conventional types of connection thereof can be applied.
Moreover, the manufacture and the design by combining longitudinal profiles cut at an arbitrary length and being made according to an arbitrary manufacture technology is rendered easier with the prefabricated multifunctional end piece applicable for various lengths.
Here, furthermore a thermostatically controlled block valve (cf. claim
2
) can control the operation of the evaporator, measuring the temperature and in most cases also the pressure of the refrigerant exiting the evaporator, as the refrigerant inlet as well as the refrigerant outlet extend through the same end piece.
As already mentioned, the supply lines to the refrigerant inlet of the evaporator require their own space, which is critical in particular in motor vehicle air conditioning equipment. The solution according to the invention in accordance with claim
4
at least partially saves a separate assembly space for the supply line. This space-saving effect can also be extended to an injection valve inserted in front of the evaporator in the sense of claim
5
. In particular by this measure, furthermore the advantageous combination possibility of the idea of the invention according to claim
6
with the idea of the invention according to claims
1
or
2
becomes clear.
The further subclaims concern preferred further designs of the embodiment according to claim
4
. Here, the claims
12
and
13
concern products of manufacturing techniques for the end pieces, which have not been common in the past in this context. The design of the end piece as diecast or injection moulded piece according to claims
14
and
15
with an integrated inclusion of a chamber subdivision of the case and preferably also of distribution ducts consequently continues the integration idea according to claim
4
.
It is just when the end piece according to claim
12
is an extruded part or according to claim
13
is designed as diecast or injection moulded piece (used as synonyms within the scope of the invention), that in a preferred manner the tube bottom and/or cap can be continued to be shaped of solder-coated or braze-coated sheet metal in the conventional manner, wherein in case of the material aluminum or aluminum alloy employed herein, the braze only has to be applied to the precoated sheet metal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, the invention will be illustrated more in detail by means of schematic drawings and several embodiments, wherein:
FIG. 1
shows a perspective view from the outside of an upright double-flow flat tube heat exchanger designed as an evaporator with a first embodiment of a case according to the invention;
FIG. 2
shows a partial cross-section of a second embodiment of the case according to the invention in a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the case;
FIG. 3
shows a partial cross-section corresponding to
FIG. 2
, however with a third embodiment of the case according to the invention;
FIG. 4
shows a cross-section corresponding to
FIG. 3
longitudinal of the whole case of a fourth embodiment of the same; and
FIG. 5
shows a view of a possible compartment subdivision of a four-flow case made of diecast according to the invention as a fifth embodiment, which can be inserted integrally with an end piece on the front side of the case between the tube bottom and the cap thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The five embodiments of distributing/collecting cases (or tank or header)
18
, shortly named cases in the following, represented in the five figures are referred each to flat tube heat exchangers of the refrigerant circulation of a motor vehicle air conditioning equipment, in effect in
FIGS. 1
to
4
in a double-flow design and in
FIG. 5
in a four-flow design.
This does not exclude to transfer the gist of the represented features also to cases of evaporators with a different number of flows, optionally also to those evaporators which are not designed with flat tubes.
The flat tube heat exchanger has the following general design:
A major number of typically twenty to thirty flat tubes
2
is arranged at constant distances to each other and with aligned front sides
4
. Between the flat sides
6
of the flat tubes, a zig zag fin
8
each is internested in a sandwich fashion. A zig zag fin
8
each is furthermore arranged at the two outer surfaces of the outer flat tubes. Each flat tube comprises internal reinforcing webs, which division off chambers
12
in the flat tube acting as continuous ducts. Depending on the structural depth, a number of the chambers or ducts
12
of ten to thirty is typical.
The stated typical regions of the number of flat tubes and the chambers thereof is intended to be only a preferred number and is not intended to be restricting.
In a motor vehicle air conditioning equipment, in the final state outer air as an external heat exchange medium flows in the direction of arrow
9
shown in
FIG. 1
in the direction of the structural depth through the block arrangement of the flat tubes
2
and the zig zag fins
8
.
In the evaporator, a refrigerant, such as in particular fluorohydrocarbon, serves as internal heat exchange medium which enters the heat exchanger via a supply line
14
and exits the heat exchanger via an outlet line
16
. In the refrigerant circulation, the supply line comes from the liquefier thereof. The outlet line
16
leads to the condenser of the refrigerant circulation.
In an evaporator, the distribution of the refrigerant on the inlet side is conveniently effected from the supply line
14
to the individual flat tubes by a so-called distributor. On the outlet side, the refrigerant is supplied as a whole to the outlet line
16
. Though it is possible to assign the distribution and the collection to separate boxes or tanks, in all embodiments both functions are combined in a common case or tank or header
18
.
This header
18
is then arranged at a front side
4
of the flat tubes
2
, while at the other front side
4
of the flat tubes
2
, a flow reverse takes place only between each of the flows, here for example in a common reversion header
22
according to FIG.
1
. In the double-flow embodiment according to
FIG. 1
, the two flows are separated from one another by a reinforcing web
10
of the respective flat tube
2
between adjacent chambers
12
which are admitted by the internal heat exchange fluid in opposite directions.
In the borderline case of a one-flow heat exchanger, the reversion header
22
would be replaced by an outlet header which is not shown.
The multi-flow design means at least one flow reverse in the region of the individual ducts formed by the chambers
12
in each flat tube
2
. In a double-flow design, the reversion header
22
does then not need any further intermediate chamber subdivision, it is only necessary that the single reversion function is guaranteed. In case of a reversion with more than two flows, at least one parting wall each is needed in the reversion header, so that in case of a four-flow design, a double simple reversion is effected in the respective reversion header
22
. In a design with an even greater number of flows, the number of parting walls optionally has to be further increased.
Without restricting the generality, in the preferred embodiments the case
18
is basically composed of a tube bottom
26
and a cap
28
in the peripheral direction, wherein optionally further parts can be provided in the peripheral direction for assembling the case
18
.
The free ends of the flat tubes
2
facing away from the reversion header
22
tightly engage the tube bottom
26
in communication with the inner space of the case
18
, which tube bottom is correspondingly provided with engaging slits
20
as well as with corresponding internal engaging muffs
21
and/or external engaging muffs according to
FIGS. 2 and 3
.
As in the case
18
the inlet function and the outlet function of the refrigerant are combined, the case
18
requires at least a two-chamber design which separates an inlet side from the outlet side. For this purpose, the chamber subdivision generally denoted with
30
comprises at least one flat web in form of a longitudinal web
32
, which separates the inlet region in the case
18
communicating with the supply line
14
from an outlet chamber
34
continuously extending longitudinally of the case
18
and communicating with the outlet line
16
. The case or tank
18
is also named header or collector.
In an evaporator, furthermore the supply of the refrigerant on the side of the inlet to all flat tubes
2
has to be as uniform as possible. In a borderline case, the supplied refrigerant can be supplied to each individual flat tube
2
by a so-called distributor. In most cases, however, the supply is effected to adjacent groups of flat tubes
2
, in which at least some groups comprise a number of flat tubes higher than one, wherein the number of flat tubes
2
per group can also vary. An inlet chamber
36
is assigned to each group of flat tubes, which chamber directly communicates with the respective group of the flat tubes. The inlet chambers
36
are divisioned off from one another in the chamber subdivision
30
by crosswise webs
38
designed as flat webs.
In the double-flow evaporator, the crosswise webs
38
depart at a right angle only from one side of the longitudinal web
32
.
In the chamber subdivision of the case of a four-flow evaporator presupposed in
FIG. 5
, apart from the longitudinal web
32
contiguous to the outlet chamber
34
, another longitudinal web
40
in parallel to this web is provided. This web is intersected at a right angle by the crosswise webs divisioning off the inlet chambers
36
up to the connection to the longitudinal web
32
. In the elongation of the crosswise webs
38
between the two longitudinal webs
32
and
40
, between each of these longitudinal webs an inner reversion chamber
42
contiguous to the respective outer inlet chamber
36
for reversing the second flow into the third flow is divisioned off within the header
18
.
In case of greater numbers of flows which are lead through the header
18
with a reversion function, the number of the longitudinal webs with the function of the longitudinal web
40
as well as the number of the inner reversion chambers
42
increase correspondingly, the reversion chambers then being furthermore internested in the crosswise direction of the header each situated internally and one next to the other between the inlet chambers
36
as well as the outlet chamber
34
.
The supply line
14
communicates with the individual inlet chambers
36
each via an own supply line
44
extending in the case
18
, which is variously designed in the embodiments.
In most cases, in the final heat exchanger the block of flat tubes
2
and zig zag fins
8
is laterally terminated by a side sheet metal
46
in contact with each of the outer zig zag fins
8
, such that the side sheet metals
46
form an outer frame for the outer air flowing to the heat exchanger block.
The flat tubes
2
, the zig zag fins
8
, the tube bottom
26
and the cap
28
of the case
18
together with the optionally provided chamber subdivision
30
as well as the side sheet metals
46
of the heat exchanger consist, as well as conveniently the supply line
14
and the outlet line
16
, of aluminum and/or an aluminum alloy and are brazed including the adjacent sections of the line connections in the evaporator to form the final evaporator.
Without the invention being restricted thereto, in practice at least in refrigerant evaporators for motor vehicle air conditioning equipment, according to
FIG. 1
the supply line
14
and the outlet line
16
, which can pass over into the case
18
via corresponding connection sleeves, are connected to two respective connection sleeves
48
of a thermostatically controlled block valve
50
(cf. FIG.
2
). At the opposite side, this valve comprises two further connection sleeves on the side of the inlet and of the outlet.
In the following, the various embodiments are considered more in detail:
In the embodiments of
FIGS. 1
to
5
, the tube bottom
26
and at least the major part of the cap
28
are formed of sheet metal pre-coated with solder or braze. The free edge of the cap here engages with an overlap on at least one side—in
FIG. 3
an overlap
52
on two sides is represented—the tube bottom
26
.
As can be seen more in detail from
FIG. 5
, the chamber subdivision
30
in the four-flow evaporators of
FIG. 5
consists of the two longitudinal webs
32
and
40
as well as the crosswise webs
38
intersecting them. In case of
FIG. 5
, the whole chamber subdivision furthermore consists of an integral diecast or injection moulded piece, respectively, the terms diecast and injection moulded being understood as synonyms within the scope of the invention. This diecast piece is inserted in case of
FIG. 5
between the cap
28
and tube bottom
26
shaped of sheet metal.
The expression intersecting flat webs of the chamber subdivision
30
also means the borderline case of an intersection on only one side in the sense of the only one-sided connection of the crosswise webs
38
to the longitudinal web
32
at a right angle, which is the complete chamber subdivision
30
in the case of the double-flow evaporator of
FIGS. 1
to
4
.
As can be seen from
FIG. 2
at least indirectly, the case
18
has two levels seen in the extension direction of the flat tubes
2
. In the lower level, all mentioned inlet chambers
36
into the groups of flat tubes
2
are arranged. In the upper level, additionally the own supply lines
44
extend to the chambers
36
. The design of both levels is even easily possible in an integral diecast piece of the cap
28
, as in the diecast piece the inlet chambers
36
are open on the side of the cap facing the tube bottom
26
, and the own supply lines
44
to the inlet chambers
36
are open on the side facing away from the flat tubes
2
and are separated from the inlet chambers
36
only by a parting wall separating the two levels, in each of which outlet openings
60
from the own supply lines
44
into the respectively related inlet chamber
36
are arranged. The own supply lines
44
of the inlet chambers
36
are commonly fed by the refrigerant on the inlet side via the supply line
14
in the upstream direction and terminated each at their ends. Starting from the supply line
14
, which is arranged at the front side of the case
18
, the individual flow strings on the inlet side are distributed equally to the own supply lines
44
at the internal end of the supply line
14
. The inlet cross-sections can be here adapted to the requirements of the evaporators, as required. All outlet openings
60
are arranged in a line which defines the incoming flow direction into the respectively related own inlet chamber
36
.
The own supply lines
44
of the inlet chambers
36
together with the outlet openings
60
connecting these chambers could be in addition also integrally shaped in the diecast piece according to
FIG. 5
destined as insertion piece between cap and tube bottom. Alternatively, however, an own manifold
54
for distributing the internal heat exchange fluid on the inlet side to the individual inlet chambers
36
can be provided, as is represented in
FIGS. 2
to
4
.
This manifold communicating on the inlet side with the supply line
14
comprises a tube casing
56
terminated at its other end on the front side, in which an outlet opening
60
is designed each to the individual own inlet chambers to the respective group of—in this case four—flat tubes. In the manifold
54
, too, the outlet openings
60
extend longitudinally of a straight line. For illustrating possible different orientations of the outlet openings
60
with respect to the inlet cross-sections of the flat tubes
2
, in
FIGS. 2 and 4
each an orientation of the outlet openings
60
in direction to the tube bottom
26
, but not directly to the opening of a flat tube, which is also possible, are represented. As a possible alternative,
FIG. 3
shows the orientation of the respective outlet opening
60
into the inlet chamber
36
in direction to the cap
28
of the case.
In
FIG. 2
, it is furthermore indicated at
58
, that in the manifold
54
of the corresponding second embodiment, the tube casing
56
has a star-shaped subdivision, which separates own supply lines
44
in the tube casing
56
of the manifold
54
helically continued in the manifold, wherein one of the outlet openings
60
each to the respective inlet chamber
36
is connected to these own supply lines
44
. Though the cross-section of the outlet openings can be in this case as well as in all other embodiments adapted for injection purposes, in this fourth embodiment the dosed supply of the internal heat exchange fluid is primarily effected via the already mentioned thermostatically controlled block valve
50
.
In the embodiments of
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the manifold
54
does not comprise a subdivision which partitions off own supply lines in the manifold to the inlet chambers
36
, but it acts as a whole as a tubelike injection valve replacing the block valve
50
according to
FIG. 2
for directly injecting the internal heat exchange fluid on the inlet side via the individual outlet openings
60
into the own inlet chambers
36
of the groups of flat tubes. The outlet openings are in this case conveniently adapted to the distribution task in the longitudinal direction of the manifold
54
, with an optimization concerning the cross-section and optionally also concerning the geometry.
The case
18
, at its periphery defined by the tube bottom
26
and the cap
28
, has in its longitudinal direction a constant outer cross-section, except for some described particularities, and is terminated at the front side by an end piece
62
on the inlet side as well as by a further end piece
64
at the other front side, which can consist, like the tube bottom
26
in the embodiment of
FIG. 4
, of a solder-coated or braze-coated sheet metal and is then for example soldered or brazed between cap
28
and tube bottom
26
according to
FIG. 4
, or connected via a bent connection collar and a groove-and-tongue-connection to be soldered or brazed in a not shown manner. In the embodiment according to
FIG. 5
, the end piece
64
remote from the inlet is an integral component of the diecast piece forming the chamber subdivision
30
and is correspondingly integrally connected to the two longitudinal webs
32
and
40
.
In the embodiment according to
FIG. 5
, furthermore the end piece
62
on the inlet side is also an integral component of the diecast piece of the chamber subdivision
30
. Furthermore, plug-type connection means projecting to the outside of direct connection sleeves
48
for a thermostatically controlled block valve
50
(cf.
FIG. 2
) are integrally designed with the end piece
62
on the inlet side.
In the embodiment according to
FIG. 2
, the end piece
64
on the inlet side comprises an internal plug-type connection means
70
oriented in the longitudinal direction of the case
18
for the internal manifold
54
oriented therewith, while this manifold in case of the embodiments according to
FIGS. 3 and 4
penetrates a central opening
76
of the end piece
64
partially in a plugged-in arrangement and contacts an external step
78
to the central opening
76
by a retaining collar
74
bent around in the form of a tulip. In this case, according to
FIG. 3
the region of the manifold
54
plugged into the central opening
76
can be formed by an expanded end section
72
of the same, which then comprises the retaining collar
74
.
If the manifold
54
is a direct injection manifold according to
FIGS. 3 and 4
as illustrated, it conveniently comprises in the flow direction of the internal heat exchange fluid in front of the first outlet opening
60
an inserted sieve
80
, which according to the drawn representation projects into the manifold
54
, seen in the flow direction, pointed like a funnel, and is retained according to
FIG. 3
at the step-like transition of the extended end section
72
into the rest of the manifold
54
and according to
FIG. 4
at the retaining collar
74
with an expanded funnel edge
82
.
According to FIG.
3
and in this sense in the similar arrangement according to
FIG. 4
, too, a supply tube
84
forming the supply line
14
engages the central opening
76
of the end piece
62
on the inlet side and is sealed with respect to the retaining collar
74
of the manifold
54
by an O-ring
86
. An outer crimp
88
continuously extending around the supply tube
84
can here be retained between the outer front face of the end piece
62
on the inlet side and a flange
91
at the motor vehicle.
Here, according to
FIG. 3
a projection
90
on the front side integral with the end piece
62
is inserted in a section set on edge
92
with a groove bottom with an engagement on two sides. In this arrangement and in that of
FIG. 4
, where the projection
90
comprises a base
94
bent to the outside, the whole cap
28
of the case together with the manifold
54
can be placed upon the tube bottom
26
and e.g. clinched with the tube bottom.
As the third and fourth embodiments according to
FIGS. 3 and 4
show, which are comparable with respect to the kind of mounting the end piece
62
on the inlet side, the end piece
62
on the inlet side, here together with the cap
28
, can be placed upon the tube bottom
26
in the direction of the flat tubes
2
and be connected therewith to form the case
18
.
Similarly, the end piece
62
on the inlet side can be added to the front side of the case
18
from the outside crosswise to the extension direction of the flat tubes, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the case
18
, as is also the case in the kind of connection according to
FIG. 2
realised in
FIG. 1
, i.e. in the first and the second embodiments.
The end piece
62
on the inlet side is moreover additionally utilized in the five embodiments.
With reference to
FIGS. 2 and 5
, it has already been pointed out that the end piece
62
on the inlet side has a plug-type connection, concretely spoken two outer connection sleeves
96
for the direct connection of a thermostatically controlled block valve
50
. This valve can, e.g. according to
FIG. 2
, additionally be sealingly connected by means of a flange connection
98
, sealing by means of an O-ring
86
arranged in an angle between the outer connection sleeve
96
and the flange of the flange connection
98
. Mere plug-type or mere flange connections can also be selected.
It was also already illustrated by means of
FIGS. 3 and 4
, that the end piece
62
on the inlet side can also be combined instead of with the block valve
50
with a manifold
54
internally connected to the end piece
62
on the inlet side by means of a plug-type connection, which elongates the supply line
14
within the case or header and serves in the extension over the length of the case
18
as a direct injection valve into the own inlet chambers
36
of the groups of flat tubes
2
.
The manifold
54
with the function of a direct injection valve can here, as well as the manifold
54
of the embodiment according to
FIG. 2
, which does not primarily serve as an injection valve, but can have, apart from the block valve
50
, an additional injection function by a corresponding dimensioning of the outlet openings
60
, slipped on an internal plug-type connection means
70
of the end piece
62
on the inlet side.
The arrangement according to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, in which the manifold
54
serving as direct injection valve grips through the central opening
76
of the end piece
62
on the inlet side at least partially, here even makes possible inserting the manifold
54
from the outside through the end piece
62
on the inlet side. In all embodiments of
FIGS. 2
to
4
, here the manifold
54
rests in a recess
100
each in the crosswise webs
38
of the chamber subdivision
30
and is, as mentioned, secured against axially shifting in the end piece
62
on the inlet side by means of the retaining collar
74
.
Further essential functions of the end piece
62
on the inlet side are described in the following, wherein all mentioned functions can also be provided completely or partially in the other end piece
64
in a manner not shown.
In the first embodiment according to
FIG. 1
, the end piece
62
on the inlet side is designed and arranged such that on the side facing away from the heat exchange tubes
2
together with a projecting piece
102
integrally designed with the end piece
62
it leaves open a connection room
104
in the elongation of the flat tubes
2
on the front side, which are the first to be admitted by the heat exchange fluid, seen in the flow direction of the internal heat exchange fluid. In the corresponding representation in
FIG. 1
, the connection room
104
extends over the first two to three flat tubes of the first inlet chamber
36
, seen in the flow direction of the internal heat exchange fluid. The projecting piece
102
reaching down to the plane of the side sheet metal
46
, is approximately shaped as a lying S with a straight center limb, such that from the supply line
14
all tubes of the first inlet chamber
36
, seen in the flow direction of the internal heat exchange fluid, can be provided with the internal heat exchange fluid through the related outlet opening
60
.
The connection room
104
can be utilized in many respects. For example, in the narrow space in a motor vehicle it can be used for bending the supply line
14
within the assembling space provided for the complete evaporator and lead it out either laterally instead of the usual outlet on the front side of the case
18
or in elongation of the flat tubes
2
via a bent tube section which e.g. effects a deflection by 90°.
FIG. 2
shows a special utilization of this connection room
104
as assembly room for the thermostatically controlled block valve
50
, which is nearly completely accomodated in the connection room
104
in the represented embodiment. Thereby, for the assembly of the block valve
50
no own space is required any longer and the supply line
14
can be connected at the outside to the block valve
50
via a flange connection
108
, as if the block valve
50
would not exist at all, but the case
18
would be continued in the conventional construction up to the plane of the lateral side sheet
46
.
The block valve
50
in turn can be screwed to the end piece
62
, by at least one fastening bolt engaging with a screw thread engagement the pocket hole
15
provided with a corresponding thread, which contributes to the end piece
62
having the function of a link to externally (at the block valve
50
) and optionally internally (manifold
54
) continued lines.
Claims
- 1. A distributing/collecting case evaporator of a motor vehicle air conditioning equipment, said case comprises:a tube bottom and a cap, the tube bottom and the cap having a constant external cross-section in the longitudinal extension direction between the case walls on the front side, wherein the tube bottom and the cap supplement each other at least in the direction of a narrow cross-section to the case, and have at least one, longitudinal partition in its longitudinal extension direction, and at least one case wall on the front side is formed by a separate end piece being in close contact to each adjacent longitudinal partition, wherein the at least one case wall is provided with the refrigerant inlet, and wherein a single end piece is arranged on at least one front side of the case in such a way that the refrigerant inlet as well as the refrigerant outlet extend through the end piece, and the end piece is simultaneously designed as a link to separate lines of the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet in which lines are continued externally and also internally, wherein the end piece is designed as a link for a manifold extending through the end piece.
- 2. A case according to claim 1, wherein the link is configured to externally attach to a block valve.
- 3. A case according to claim 1, wherein the end piece together with a projecting part leaves open a connection room in elongation on the front side of the space occupied by the heat exchange tubes of the evaporator and set back in the longitudinal direction of the case on the side facing away form the heat exchange tubes.
- 4. A case according to claim 3, wherein a block valve is arranged at least partially in the connection room.
- 5. A case according to claim 3, wherein the connection room receives lines continued outside the end piece with a bent design.
- 6. A case according to claim 4, wherein the connection room extends at least over the crosswise extension of one flat tube.
- 7. A case according to claim 3, in which a refrigerant is distributed to respective individual flat tubes or groups thereof via an inlet chamber, wherein the connection room extends over a length shorter than up to the partition separating the inlet chamber on the inlet side from the adjacent inlet chamber, and wherein the distribution opening of the refrigerant to the inlet chamber on the inlet side being arranged in the length difference.
- 8. A case according to claim 3, wherein the end piece is integrally designed with the projecting part and forms the complete boundary wall of the connection room.
- 9. A case according to claim 1, wherein the manifold is internally attached to the end piece.
- 10. A case according to claim 1, wherein the manifold grips through the end piece.
- 11. A case according to claim 1, wherein the end piece is an extruded piece.
- 12. A case according to claim 1, wherein the end piece is a diecast or an injection moulded piece.
- 13. A case according to claim 12, wherein at least one end piece forms an integral diecast or injection moulded piece with a compartment or chamber subdivision separately inserted between the tube bottom and cap.
- 14. A case according to claim 13, wherein the integral diecast or injection moulded piece additionally forms distribution ducts of the refrigerant on the inlet side to inlet chambers distributed in the longitudinal extension direction of the case and distributing the refrigerant into individual heat exchange tubes or groups thereof.
- 15. A case according to claim 1, wherein the lines of the refrigerant inlet and outlet continued internally.
- 16. A header of an evaporator of a vehicle air conditioning equipment comprising:a housing with an opening in one side defining a longitudinal axis; a longitudinal partition disposed inside the housing partitioning the housing into a plurality of subdivisions; and a separate case wall end piece disposed to block the opening of the housing and to contact the longitudinal partition, wherein the separate case wall end piece is designed as a link for a manifold extending through the end piece.
- 17. The case according to claim 16, wherein the housing comprises a tube bottom and a cap.
- 18. The case according to claim 17, wherein the tube bottom and the cap have a constant external cross-section between the case walls.
- 19. The case according to claim 16, wherein the case wall end piece is connected directly to an injection valve.
- 20. The case according to claim 16, wherein the case wall end piece is provided with a plurality of inlet and outlet ports.
- 21. The case according to claim 20, wherein the case wall end piece is a link which separates the inlet and outlet ports.
- 22. A header of an evaporator of a vehicle air conditioning equipment comprising:means for defining a longitudinal axis by a housing with an opening; means for partitioning the housing into a plurality of subdivisions by a longitudinal partition disposed inside the housing; and means for blocking the opening of the housing and for contacting the longitudinal partition by a separate case wall end piece, wherein the separate case wall end piece is designed as a link for a manifold extending through the end piece.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
197 19 251 |
May 1997 |
DE |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
PCT/EP98/02633 |
|
WO |
00 |
1/6/1999 |
1/6/1999 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO98/50740 |
11/12/1998 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
WO 94-14021 |
Jun 1994 |
AU |
9420-659 |
Feb 1995 |
DE |
3083-599 |
Aug 1989 |
EP |
0-029-859 |
Aug 1989 |
EP |
0-683-373 |
Nov 1995 |
EP |