HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided and includes a core that has numerous tubes through which a first fluid flows and around which a second fluid flows, and a reservoir that has a body with at least one chamber through which a first fluid can flow, and a base that protrudes outward from the body at the side facing the core and at least partially encircles a hole opening into the chamber. The core has a closure plate attached to the reservoir for closing the hole therein. The plate has a bottom that the reservoir bears on, through which ends of the tubes opening into the chamber pass, and numerous retaining elements, which bear on the upper surface of the base facing away from the core.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. DE 10 2024 100 754.0, filed on Jan. 11, 2024, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for thermal exchange between a first fluid flowing through the heat exchanger and a second fluid flowing outside the heat exchanger according to the preamble of Numbered Paragraph 1.

This type of heat exchanger is disclosed in KR 10 2013 0008763 A, and comprises a core containing numerous tubes through which a first fluid flows and around which a second fluid flows, and at least one reservoir, which has a body with at least one chamber through which a first fluid flows, and a base on a side of the reservoir facing the core that protrudes away from the body and at least partially encircles holes in the reservoir that open into these chambers. The core has at least one plate on the reservoir for closing this hole, through which the ends of the tubes that open into the chambers pass. The reservoir bears on the bottom of the plate, where the ends of the tubes pass through it. This plate also has numerous retaining elements that bear on the surface of the base of the reservoir facing away from the core, such that the base of the reservoir is between the bottom of the plate and these retaining elements. This forms a mechanical form-fit connection between the reservoir and the closure plate, and thus between the reservoir and the core, that can be relatively easily adjusted during mass production. With existing heat exchangers, the base of the reservoir is formed on the body thereof by numerous base segments spaced apart along the hole therein.

This connection between the plate and the reservoir can form leaks due to fluctuating loads thereto while the heat exchanger is in use. This is due to creepages that may occur as a result of these fluctuating loads, moving the retaining elements in relation to the reservoir. This movement increases if the walls are thinner and/or made of weaker materials.

Other heat exchangers in which the plate is held against the base of the reservoir by retaining elements are disclosed in EP 0 779 490 A1, DE 11 2019 005 438 T5, KR 10 2015 0078723 A, DE 10 2018 109 233 A1, and DE 10 2008 028 263 A1.

Other heat exchangers are disclosed in DE 10 2019 210 477 A1 and EP 1 846 718 B2, in which the closure plates have a collar with numerous holes that lugs formed on the body of the reservoir engage in.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,073,778 A, the closure plate is attached to the body of the reservoir with an adhesive.

The present invention addresses the problem of creating a better, or at least different, design for this type of heat exchanger, which has a more durable connection between the core and the reservoir. This should also be the case in particular with thinner walls and/or weaker materials.

This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the general concept of attaching the retaining elements to the reservoir with a form-fit connection. Consequently, the retaining elements can no longer become separated from the base of the reservoir due to creepage, thus resulting in a durable connection between the core, or the closure plate, and the reservoir. This form-fit connection between the retaining elements and the base of the reservoir results in a durable connection even if thinner walls and/or weaker materials are used, e.g. to obtain a lighter and/or less expensive heat exchanger. The heat exchanger obtained with the invention can be used in a coolant circuit for a motor vehicle.

In detail, the invention proposes forming a stop on the upper surface of the base of the reservoir for at least one of the retaining elements, which protrudes away from this upper surface on a side of the retaining element in question facing away from the body of the reservoir, such that the respective retaining element is between the body of the reservoir and the stop. This stop forms a form-fit connection between the retaining element and the base of the reservoir that prevents the retaining element from separating from the base due to creepage. Without the stop, the retaining element would be able to move outward along the base, until it is no longer connected thereto. This stop prevents such movement, such that the retaining element remains on the base of the reservoir.

The retaining element and base of the reservoir, or the stop thereon, can be formed such that the retaining element bears against the stop. This suppresses any outward creepage of the retaining element.

There can also be a stop of this type for numerous, or all, retaining elements. In this case, each retaining element has a separate stop. Consequently, some or all of the retaining elements can be secured in place on the base of the reservoir by their respective stops with form-fit connections.

The retaining elements can press the base of the reservoir against the bottom of the plate. In other words, the retaining elements can be designed to press the base of the reservoir against the bottom of the plate. This improves the seal obtained with the connection between the plate and the reservoir.

In the present context, a “configuration” is the same as a “design” and/or “construction,” such that the formulation, “configured such” means the same as “designed such, and/or constructed such.”

A seal can be placed between the reservoir and the closure plate. This seal can be placed between the base of the reservoir and the bottom of the plate in particular. As long as the retaining elements press the base of the reservoir against the bottom of the plate, the pressure exerted on the seal can be increased, thus improving the sealing effect.

The closure plate and retaining elements thereon can be made of metal, preferably a light metal. Metals exhibit relatively high thermal conductivity. The reservoir, on the contrary, can be made of plastic. A plastic reservoir results in a particularly light and inexpensive heat exchanger. This heat exchanger is particularly ideal for use in an electric vehicle.

The stops can be formed as integral parts of the base of the reservoir. In particular when the reservoir is made of plastic, it is particularly easy to form the stops on the base thereof in an injection molding process. Consequently, the retaining elements can be formed on the base at no extra cost.

The sides of the stops facing the retaining elements can be complementary to the respective retaining elements. This results in surface contact between the stops and the retaining elements to obtain a particularly effective form-fit connection. By way of example, the side of the retaining element facing the respective stop can be flat. The side of the retaining element facing the respective stop is then also ideally flat.

The respective retaining element can bear on the base of the reservoir over a surface area such that creepage is prevented, which has particular advantages when the reservoir is made of plastic. In particular, the lower surface of the retaining element facing toward the base of the reservoir can bear against the base of the reservoir from the front edge facing toward the stop to an inner edge facing the body of the reservoir, at least near the respective stop.

The closure plate can have a collar that protrudes away from bottom of the plate, which at least partially encircles the bottom, and a retaining band that at least partially encircles the plate along the bottom thereof, which is connected to the collar by numerous webs. This design can be mass produced particularly easily. A design in which a retaining element is formed on the retaining band between each of the webs is particularly ideal. The retaining elements then protrude inward from the retaining band, thus toward the body of the reservoir, where they protrude between the webs over the base of the reservoir. This design of the retaining elements on the retaining band can be easily mass produced. By way of example, segments between the webs are first shaped into retaining elements after attaching the reservoir thereto.

In another design, the stops are formed between projections on the base of the reservoir. These stops can ideally be spaced apart from the projections. The projections and stops can thus be formed separately on the reservoir.

In another embodiment, the projections can be formed directly on the base of the reservoir, such that they are flush toward the exterior. In this case, it is not necessary to shape the retaining band near the webs in order bear against the webs and/or retaining band. This simplifies production.

The retaining elements can be formed by curved sections of the retaining band, which protrude toward the body of the reservoir. These curved sections can be easily formed in the retaining band between the webs. In particular, they can protrude along an axis that is parallel to the direction in which the reservoir is placed on the closure plate. The lower surface of the retaining element facing the base of the reservoir remains substantially flat, such that the retaining element is supported over a large surface area on the base of the reservoir. By this means, a linear bearing along an edge of the lower surface of the retaining element can be avoided. This surface area contact is particularly advantageous if the reservoir is made of plastic.

The retaining elements can also be concave on the side facing the stops, and the stops can be convex on the side facing the retaining elements. In particular, this convex curvature on the stops can fit the concave curvature of the retaining element, to obtain a surface area contact between the two. This improves the form-fit connection.

In another embodiment, the bottom of the plate on which the collar, webs, retaining band, and retaining elements are formed, can be made of a single piece of sheet metal. This closure plate can be produced easily and inexpensively.

This heat exchanger can be used in a coolant circuit for a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle can contain an internal combustion engine. This internal combustion engine should be kept at a constant temperature in order to obtain the longest possible service life thereof, and be able to function at full capacity. The coolant circuit obtained with the invention contains a heat source (e.g. an internal combustion engine), at least one heat exchanger obtained with the invention, a pump, a coolant, a thermostat, and at least one fan. A coolant formed by a mixture of water and glycol can flow through the coolant circuit obtained with the invention. The pump can convey the coolant through this coolant circuit, and when a desired operating temperature for the internal combustion engine is reached, the thermostat opens the connection to the heat exchanger obtained with the invention. The coolant can be a first fluid that flows through the heat exchanger. Air forming a second fluid that is moved by the fan flows around the heat exchanger. Heat can be discharged into the environment by this means. The coolant circuit obtained with the invention can also contain a second heat exchanger, with which heat is conducted to the interior of the motor vehicle.

Other important features and advantages of the invention can be derived from the dependent claims, drawings, and descriptions of the drawings.

It is understood that the features specified above and explained below can be used not only in the given combinations, but also in other combinations, or in and of themselves, without abandoning the scope of the invention defined by the claims. Components of a higher order unit specified above and below, e.g. a structure, device, or assembly, that are indicated separately, can form separate elements or components of this unit, or be integral parts or sections of this unit, even if the drawings indicate otherwise.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and shall be explained in greater detail below, in which the same reference symbols are used for the same, similar, or functionally identical, components.

Therein, schematically:

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a heat exchanger near a retaining element,

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the heat exchanger near the retaining element.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat exchanger 1 partially shown therein comprises a core 2 and at least one reservoir 3. The core 2 contains numerous parallel tubes 4 with spaces or gaps 5 between them. A first fluid can flow through the tubes 4. A second fluid can flow through the gaps 5. The second fluid thus flows around the tubes 4. Fins 6 can be placed in the gaps 5. The reservoir 3 has a body 7 in which a chamber 8 is formed that is connected to the tubes 4 for fluid exchange. The chamber 8 can be a distribution chamber that distributes the fluid from a supply connection (not show) to the tubes 4, a collecting chamber in which the first fluid arriving from the tubes 4 is collected and conducted to a drain (not shown), or a deflection chamber that diverts the first fluid coming from a first group of tubes 4 to a second group of tubes 4.

The reservoir 3 also has a base 9, which protrudes outward from a side of the body 7 of the reservoir facing the core 2. The base 9 encircles at least part of a hole 10 in the reservoir that can be seen in FIG. 2, which opens into the chamber 8.

The heat exchanger 1 is used for thermal exchange between the first fluid, which flows through the inside of the heat exchanger, and the second fluid, which flows outside the heat exchanger.

The core 2 has a closure plate 11 on the side facing the reservoir 3, which is attached on the reservoir 3 such that it closes the hole 10 in the reservoir. Ends 12 of the tubes 4 pass through this plate 11 and open into the chamber 8. One such end 12 can be seen in FIG. 2, merely by way of example, which passes through the plate 11. It is clear that the tubes are sealed against the plate 11. The tubes 4 are normally brazed onto the plate 11.

The plate 11 has a bottom 13 that the base 9 of the reservoir 3 bears against. The tubes 4, or their ends 12, pass through this bottom 13. There can be a seal, not shown herein, placed between the reservoir 3 and the closure plate 11.

The closure plate 11 can also have numerous retaining elements 15, only one of which is shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2. These retaining elements 13 bear on the base 9 of the reservoir on an upper surface 16 facing away from the core 2. The base 9 is consequently between the bottom 13 of the plate and the retaining elements 15.

A stop 17 for at least one of the retaining elements 15 is formed on the base 9 of the reservoir on the upper surface 16 thereof. This stop 17 protrudes from the upper surface 16 of the base on a side of the retaining element 15 facing away from the retainer 7. The retaining element 15 is therefore between the body 7 of the reservoir and the stop 17. The retaining element 15 is thus secured in place in relation to the base 9 by the stop 17 in a form-fit connection. Consequently, the retaining element 15 cannot separate from the base 9 during normal use of the heat exchanger 1. The direction in which movement of the retaining element 15 in relation to the base 9 is prevented by the stop 17 is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by an arrow 14.

In this example, the retaining element 15 bears directly on its dedicated stop 17. This prevents outward creepage of the retaining element 15 in relation to the base 9 of the reservoir. Ideally, there is a stop 17 of this kind on the base 9 for numerous, particularly all, retaining elements 15.

The retaining elements 15 can be designed such that they press the base 9 of the reservoir against the bottom 13 of the plate. This results in a secure and sealed connection between the reservoir 3 and the closure plate 11. In particular, the plate 11, with the retaining elements 15, is made of metal, preferably a light metal, in particular an aluminum alloy. The tubes 4 and fins 6 are also ideally made of metal, e.g. a light metal, i.e. an aluminum alloy. In particular, these metallic components of the heat exchanger 1 can be brazed to one another. For a particularly light and inexpensive heat exchanger 1, the reservoir 3 can be made of plastic. The stops 17 can be formed as integral parts of the base 9 of the reservoir. In particular, the reservoir 3 can be integrally formed with the base 9 and the stops 17 in an injection molding process.

For a particularly secure bearing and form-fit connection of the retaining elements 15 on the stops 17, the sides of the stops 17 facing the retaining elements 15 can be complementary to the retaining elements 15. FIG. 1 shows that the stop 17 is curved outward on the side facing the retaining element 15, and the side of the retaining element 15 facing the stop 17 is curved inward, complementary thereto. This results in surface area contact between the retaining element 15 and the stop 17.

The closure plate 11 in this example can have a collar 18 and a retaining band 19, which is connected to the collar 18 by numerous webs 20. The collar 18 protrudes from the bottom 13 of the plate on the side facing away from the core 2, and runs at least partially along the bottom 13 of the plate. The retaining band 19 also runs along at least part of the bottom 9 of the plate. Adjacent webs 20 can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 also shows that the retaining element 15 is formed between these webs 20 on the retaining band 19. The retaining element 15 protrudes inward from the retaining band 19 in relation to the webs 20, i.e. toward the body 7 of the reservoir, thus extending over the base 9 of the reservoir.

Numerous projections 21 can be formed on the body 7 of the reservoir, which protrude outward. Two of these projections 21 can be seen by way of example in FIG. 1. The retaining band 19 bears on these projections 21 near the webs 20. The retaining elements 15 are therefore between adjacent projections 21. The stops 17 are also between projections 21, and spaced apart therefrom. These projections 21 can be directly adjacent to the base 9 of the reservoir, or start directly on this base 9. Furthermore, these projections 21 can be flush with the base 9 toward the outside. This increases the length of the bearing surface formed with the projections 21 on the base 9 of the reservoir toward the core 2. This results in a large and stable bearing surface area for the retaining band 19 near the webs 20.

The retaining elements 15 in this example are formed by curved sections of the retaining band 19. These retaining elements 15 are arced toward the body 7 of the reservoir. The curvature is such that the retaining elements 15 are flat on their lower surfaces 22 facing the base 9 of the reservoir, to obtain the largest possible surface area contact between the retaining elements 15 and the base 9 of the reservoir. It can be seen in FIG. 2 in particular that the retaining elements 15 bear on the base 9 of the reservoir over their entire lower surface 22 near the stops 17, from an outer edge 23 facing the respective stop 17 to an inner edge 24 facing the body 7 of the reservoir.

The side of the retaining element 15 shown in FIG. 1 facing the stop 17 is concave. The stop 17 has a complementary convex curvature on the side facing the retaining element 15, such that the retaining element 15 and stop 17 bear against one another over these surface areas.

The specification can be readily understood with reference to the following Numbered Paragraphs:

Numbered Paragraph 1. A heat exchanger (1), preferably for a motor vehicle, for thermal exchange between a first fluid flowing through the inside of the heat exchanger (1) and a second fluid flowing outside the heat exchanger (1), which has

• • a core (2) that contains numerous tubes (4) through which a first fluid can flow, and around which a second fluid can flow,
  • at least one reservoir (3), which has a body (7) with at least one chamber (8) through which the first fluid can flow, and a base (9), which protrudes from a side of the body (7) of the reservoir facing the core (2), and at least partially encircles a hole (10) opening into the chamber (8), p1 wherein the core (2) has at least one closure plate (11), which is attached to the reservoir (3) to close the hole (10),
  • wherein the closure plate (11) has a bottom (13) on which the reservoir (3) bears, through which ends (12) of the tubes (4) pass, opening into the chamber (8),
  • wherein the closure plate (11) has numerous retaining elements (15), which bear on an upper surface (16) of the base (9) of the reservoir facing away from the core (2) such that the base (9) is between the bottom (13) of the plate and the retaining elements (15),characterized in that
  • on the upper surface (16) of the base (9) of the reservoir, a stop (17) is formed for at least one retaining element (15), which protrudes from the upper surface (16) of the base on a side of the retaining element (15) facing away from the body (7) of the reservoir such that the retaining element (15) is between the body (7) of the reservoir and the stop (17).

Numbered Paragraph 2. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 1, characterized in that the respective retaining element (15) bears on the respective stop (17).

Numbered Paragraph 3. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 1 or 2, characterized in that there is such a stop (17) for numerous retaining elements (15) or for all retaining elements (15).

Numbered Paragraph 4. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the retaining elements (15) press the reservoir base (9) against the bottom (13) of the plate.

Numbered Paragraph 5. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that

• • the closure plate (11) and retaining elements (15) formed thereon are made of metal,
  • the reservoir (3) is made of plastic.

Numbered Paragraph 6. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the respective stop (17) is integrally formed on the reservoir base (9).

Numbered Paragraph 7. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the respective stop (17) has a complementary shape to the respective retaining element (15) on its side facing the respective retaining element (15).

Numbered Paragraph 8. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the respective retaining element (15) bears two-dimensionally on the surface of the reservoir base (9).

Numbered Paragraph 9. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that

• • the closure plate (11) has a collar (18) protruding from the bottom (13) of the plate, at least partially encircling the bottom (13) of the plate, and a retaining band (19) at least partially encircling the bottom of the plate (13), which is connected to the collar by numerous webs (20),
  • a retaining element (15) is formed on the retaining band (219) between each pair of adjacent webs (20),
  • the retaining elements (15) protrude inward from the retaining band (19) in relation to the webs (20), and thus extend over the reservoir base (9).

Numbered Paragraph 10. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 9, characterized in that

• • numerous projections (21) are formed on the body (7) of the reservoir that protrude outward,
  • the retaining band (19) bears on the projections (21) near the webs (20).

Numbered Paragraph 11. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 10, characterized in that stops (17) are formed between pairs of adjacent projections (21) on the reservoir base (9), and spaced apart from adjacent projections (21).

Numbered Paragraph 12. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 10 or 11, characterized in that the projections (21) are directly adjacent to the reservoir base (9) and thus flush toward the exterior.

Numbered Paragraph 13. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the Numbered Paragraphs 9 to 12, characterized in that the retaining elements (15) are formed by curved segments of the retaining band (19), which arc toward the body (7) of the reservoir.

Numbered Paragraph 14. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 13, characterized in that

• • the retaining elements (15) are concave on the side facing the stops (17),
  • the stops (17) are convex on the side facing the retaining elements (15).

Numbered Paragraph 15. A coolant circuit for a motor vehicle that contains at least one heat exchanger (1) according to at least one of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs 1 to 14.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, for thermal exchange between a first fluid flowing through the inside of the heat exchanger and a second fluid flowing outside the heat exchanger, comprising: a core comprising a plurality of tubes through which a first fluid can flow, and around which a second fluid can flow,at least one reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprises a body with at least one chamber through which the first fluid can flow, and a base, which protrudes from a side of the body of the reservoir facing the core, the base at least partially encircles a hole opening into the chamber,wherein the core further comprises at least one closure plate, which is attached to the reservoir to close the hole,wherein the closure plate has a bottom on which the reservoir bears, through which ends of the tubes pass, opening into the chamber,wherein the closure plate has a plurality of retaining elements that bear on an upper surface of the base of the reservoir facing away from the core such that the base is between the bottom of the plate and the retaining elements, wheriena stop for at least one retaining element is formed on the upper surface of the base of the reservoir, the stop protrudes from the upper surface of the base on a side of the retaining element facing away from the body of the reservoir such that the retaining element is between the body of the reservoir and the stop.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the respective retaining element bears on the respective stop.

18. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the stop is a plurality of stops, with each of the plurality of stops for at least a plurality of the retaining elements.

19. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the retaining elements press the reservoir base against the bottom of the plate.

20. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the closure plate and retaining elements formed thereon are made of metal,the reservoir is made of plastic.

21. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the respective stop is integrally formed on the reservoir base.

22. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the respective stop has a complementary shape to the respective retaining element on its side facing the respective retaining element.

23. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the respective retaining element bears two-dimensionally on the surface of the reservoir base.

24. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the closure plate comprising a collar protruding from the bottom of the plate, at least partially encircling the bottom of the plate, and a retaining band at least partially encircling the bottom of the plate, which is connected to the collar by a plurality of webs,a retaining element is formed on the retaining band between each pair of adjacent webs,the retaining elements protrude inward from the retaining band in relation to the webs, and thus extend over the reservoir base.

25. The heat exchanger according to claim 24, wherein a plurality of projections are formed on the body of the reservoir that protrude outward,the retaining band bears on the projections near the webs.

26. The heat exchanger according to claim 25, wherein stops are disposed between pairs of adjacent projections on the reservoir base, and spaced apart from adjacent projections.

27. The heat exchanger according to claim 25, wherein the projections are directly adjacent to the reservoir base and thus flush toward the exterior.

28. The heat exchanger according to claim 24, wherein the retaining elements are formed by curved segments of the retaining band, which arc toward the body of the reservoir.

29. The heat exchanger according to claim 28, wherein the retaining elements are concave on the side facing the stops,the stops are convex on the side facing the retaining elements.

30. A coolant circuit for a motor vehicle that comprises at least one heat exchanger according to claim 16.

31. The heat exchanger according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of stops include a respective stop for every retaining element of the plurality of retaining elements.