Patent ID: 12196506

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a highly schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger1according to the invention.

Heat exchanger1includes a tube/rib block2made up of tubes3and ribs4. Ribs4may be arranged, for example, as corrugated ribs between tubes3.

Tubes3may be arranged one after the other in a single row or multiple rows in air flow direction L. Tubes3may be arranged, for example, one after the other in two rows, as indicated inFIG.2.

Tubes3form fluid channels5for conducting a first fluid. The first fluid may be, for example, a refrigerant, for example R744 or R1234yf, etc.

Ribs4arranged between tubes3form a second fluid channel6for conducting a second fluid, which flows around tubes3. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the second fluid is, for example, air.

A collector7is arranged at at least one end of tube/rib block2. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, two collectors7are provided, one collector7in each case at an end of tube/rib block2.

Particular collector7communicates with fluid channels5of tubes3, so that the first fluid may flow out of collector7into tubes3, and the first fluid may also flow out of tubes3into collector7. At least one partition wall may be provided in the at least one collector7to internally divide corresponding collector7.

The at least one collector7is provided with a plate-type design. Both collectors7may also be provided with a plate-type design. Reference is made toFIGS.2through5for an explanation of the plate-type design.

Collector7includes at least one base plate8and a cover plate9, which are stacked and soldered in a sealed manner.

A spacer10is furthermore provided for spacing base plate8at a distance from cover plate9and for distributing the first fluid in collector7.

The spacer10may be designed as an intermediate plate11, which is arranged between base plate8and cover plate9; cf.FIG.2. The spacer10may alternatively also be designed as an intermediate element or be designed as intermediate elements, which is or are integrated into base plate8and/or into cover plate9, so that the distance between base plate8and cover plate9is maintained, and the first fluid may flow within collector7.

In the exemplary embodiment inFIGS.3and4, it is also apparent that not only is collector7formed from base plate8and cover plate9, but that an intermediate plate11and furthermore a distribution plate12are also arranged between base plate8and cover plate9. Distribution plate12has channel openings13, which extend in the longitudinal direction of collector7and are used to distribute the first fluid in collector7.

Base plate8has first openings14for the receipt and sealed fastening of tube ends15of tubes3of tube/rib block2.

First openings14in base plate8are each surrounded by an edge of base plate8, so that tube ends15, which are inserted into first openings14, may be circumferentially soldered to base plate8or otherwise connected thereto in a sealed manner.

It is furthermore apparent inFIGS.2and3that the spacer10, in particular intermediate plate11, has second openings16, first openings14being in alignment with second openings16.

Second openings16are designed to be larger with respect to first openings14, a kind of step being provided in each case from first openings14in the direction of second openings16, so that, during soldering, no solder runs into the tube openings of tubes3, which are inserted into first openings14.

To reduce the lateral installation space, second openings16are designed to be laterally open, as illustrated inFIG.3.

FIG.5also shows an exemplary embodiment, which has a cutout for an intermediate plate11, in which second openings16are designed to be laterally open.

It is apparent that the side web of intermediate plate11is removed, so that second openings16may be designed thereby to be open. As a result, the omission of the side web laterally reduces the installation space required for intermediate plate11, so that collector7as a whole may be provided with a narrower design.

Alternatively, in some exemplary embodiments, a web may, however, also be present, so that second openings16may alternatively also be each provided with a closed design.

it is also apparent fromFIGS.3and4, for example, that, in one advantageous exemplary embodiment, collector7protrudes over tube/rib block2in a direction transverse to through-flow direction L, and connections17for supplying the first fluid to collector7and for removing the first fluid from collector7are arranged in protruding region U of collector7.

It is apparent, cf.FIGS.3,12and13, that connections17are designed as annular passages18, into which connecting tubes of a fluid circuit of the first fluid may be inserted.

In principle, passages18may be formed from base plate8and protrude from base plate8, or they may possibly be formed from cover plate9and protrude therefrom, so that passages18optionally protrude from collector7. A stable variant exists if passages18are formed from base plate8, and the connecting tubes are connected to collector7from the side of tube/rib block2, because passages18protrude in the direction of tube/rib block2.

Alternatively, passages18may also be formed from another plate11,12between base plate8and cover plate9, depending on which further plate is provided.

Accordingly, the design may be carried out in such a way that passages18may be formed from intermediate plate11or from distribution plate12. It is apparent fromFIG.13, for example, that passages18are formed from intermediate plate11.

Passages18protrude in the direction of base plate8. Passages18are dimensioned in such a way that they engage with openings19in base plate8, and/or passages18also extend through openings19in base plate8. Openings19are dimensioned in such a way that they may receive passages18. Passages18are advantageously and optionally dimensioned in their protruding length in such a way that they are longer than the thickness of base plate8, so that passages18may protrude from base plate8. Passages18may advantageously and optionally be dimensioned in their protruding length in such a way that they are not longer than the thickness of base plate8, so that passages18may not protrude from base plate8and, for example, are terminated flush with base plate8.

Alternatively, the design may also be carried out in such a way that passages18may be formed from intermediate plate11or from distribution plate12and protrude in the direction of cover plate9. Passages18would protrude in the direction of cover plate9. Passages18may be dimensioned in such a way that they engage with openings19in cover plate9, and/or passages18also extend through openings19in cover plate9. Openings19are dimensioned in such a way that they may receive passages18. Passages18are advantageously and optionally dimensioned in their protruding length in such a way that they are longer than the thickness of cover plate9, so that passages18may protrude from cover plate9. Passages18may advantageously and optionally be dimensioned in their protruding length in such a way that they are not longer than the thickness of cover plate9, so that passages18may not protrude from cover plate9and, for example, are terminated flush with cover plate9.

According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, base plate8may have a raised edge region20, cf. for example,FIGS.3,4,6,7,9,12and13. Raised edge region20is raised, in particular, along longitudinal side of base plate8and is optionally crimped around the edge of cover plate9, so that a form-fitting connection is achieved between base plate8and cover plate9with all plates optionally arranged therebetween.

Raised edge20of base plate8encompasses cover plate9and optionally intermediate plate11and/or distribution plate12.

Alternatively, instead of base plate8, cover plate9may also be designed to have a raised edge20, in particular, along the longitudinal side of cover plate9, which encompasses base plate8and plates11,12optionally arranged therebetween.

According toFIG.10, the embodiment may also be such that base plate8has a raised, protruding edge region20, and cover plate9also has a raised, protruding edge region21, which each encompass the stack.

According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, base plate8and cover plate9and optionally intermediate plate11and/or distribution plate12are each provided with an angled design along a bend line22; cf.FIGS.6and7.FIGS.6and7show how base plate8, cover plate9and an intermediate plate11arranged therebetween are provided with an angled design. Intermediate plate11may optionally also be omitted, or at least one further plate, such as distribution plate12, may be provided, which also has an angled design.

Bend line22of plates8,9,11and/or12is arranged, for example, essentially in the middle of particular plate8,9,11and/or12between the two longitudinal sides of particular plate8,9,11and/or12, bend line22running, for example, in the longitudinal direction of particular plate8,9,11and/or12. Alternatively, bend line22may also run not in the middle and be arrange asymmetrically between the two longitudinal sides of plates8,9,11and/or12.

According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, base plate8and cover plate9and optionally intermediate plate11and/or distribution plate12each have a protruding shoulder24along a line23, in particular bend line22.

FIGS.6and7show that particular shoulder24protrudes in the direction of tube/rib block2. Alternatively, particular shoulder24may also protrude in the direction away from the tube/rib block.

Shoulders24are formed by stamping, so that the shoulder protrudes on a side of plate8,9,11and/or12, and a recess25is formed on the other side of plate8,9,11and/or12. Shoulders24optionally engage with recesses25of adjacent plates.

According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, base plate8and/or cover plate9has/have at least one bulge26, which extends at least partially in the longitudinal direction of base plate8or cover plate9and is/are used, in particular, to distribute fluid and/or to collect fluid. Reference is hereby made toFIGS.2through4and6through11.

Base plate8and/or cover plate9may have at least two bulges26, which extend at least partially in the longitudinal direction of base plate8or cover plate9and are used, in particular, to distribute fluid and/or to collect fluid.

The at least two bulges26of base plate8and/or cover plate9are advantageously provided with the same design in section, in particular in a section in a plane in parallel to air flow direction L. The two bulges26of base plate8may the same, and also the two bulges26of cover plate9may be the same. Bulges26of base plate8and of cover plate9may furthermore also be the same.FIG.2as well asFIG.6each show that bulges26of cover plate9are provided with the same design.FIGS.9and10show that bulges26of base plate8and of cover plate9each have the same design.

The at least two bulges26of base plate8and/or cover plate9are advantageously provided with different designs in section, in particular in a section in a plane in parallel to air flow direction L.

FIG.8shows that bulges26of base plate8and of cover plate9each have different designs. The two bulges26of base plate8may have different designs, as may the two bulges26of cover plate9. As a whole, all four bulges26therefore have different designs.

In one exemplary embodiment, the at least two bulges26having different designs in a section in a plane in parallel to the air flow direction are designed in such a way that one bulge26of the two bulges26is designed to be higher or deeper or lower or less deep and/or wider or narrower in height H or depth T and/or in width B with respect to the plane in parallel to air flow direction L than the other bulge26of the two bulges26; cf., for example,FIG.8.

According to a further aspect according to another exemplary embodiment, base plate8and/or cover plate9form(s) a step27, which extends in the longitudinal direction of base plate8and/or cover plate9in such a way that base plate8and/or cover plate9essentially form(s) at least two planes28,29, which are arranged to be offset with respect to each other, due to step27. Plates11and/or12arranged between base plate8and/or cover plate9may optionally also be designed with a step27. Reference is hereby made toFIG.11.

According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, plates8,9,11,12of at least one collector7each have recesses30in alignment with each other, which each form a channel31crossing collector7, in particular as a condensate runoff; cf/FIGS.3and4.

The implementation of the different designs of the exemplary embodiments, including their features, may be viewed individually or in selected combinations of different features, even if these combinations are not explicitly shown.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.