Collector tube for a heat exchanger

Abstract

A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which may have at least one flat tube, may include a base and a cover arranged opposite one another and embodying a longitudinal duct. The base may have at least one passage having an opening for accommodating the at least one flat tube of the heat exchanger. The at least one passage may have a collar, which may extend away from the longitudinal duct. The cover may have at least one notch, which may be located opposite the at least one passage and which may be embodied for accommodating a subarea of the at least one flat tube.

Claims

1. A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which has at least one flat tube, comprising: a base and a cover; wherein the cover is arranged so as to be located opposite the base; wherein the base and the cover embody a longitudinal duct; wherein the base has at least one passage comprising an opening for accommodating the at least one flat tube of the heat exchanger; wherein the at least one passage has a collar, which extends away from the longitudinal duct; wherein the cover has at least one notch, which is located opposite the at least one passage and which is embodied for accommodating a subarea of the at least one flat tube; wherein the base has a recess, through which a separator is introduced into the collector tube in an insertion position; wherein the separator has a separating wall comprising a separating wall thickness, wherein a clearance fit is present between the separating wall and the recess in response to the insertion of the separator; wherein the separating wall provides at least one elevation for attaining an increase of the separating wall thickness in a subarea of the separator; wherein in the insertion position, the at least one elevation is arranged in an area of the recess; and wherein in the insertion position, a press fit is present between the at least one elevation and the recess.

2. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the cover has an outer diameter, which is smaller than or equal to a width of the at least one flat tube, wherein the notch is embodied inside the outer diameter.

3. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the at least one notch includes at least two notches, which are located opposite one another and which are each embodied for accommodating a subarea of the at least one flat tube.

4. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the at least one notch has a trapezoidal embodiment.

5. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the at least one passage tapers at least partially towards the longitudinal duct.

6. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the base has at least one reinforcing bead.

7. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the base has an outer base surface, which is at least partially provided with a protective layer.

8. The collector tube according to claim 7, wherein the separator has a ledge, which, in the insertion position, is arranged outside of the longitudinal duct.

9. A heat exchanger, comprising a plurality of flat tubes, which are spaced apart from one another; at least one collector tube fluidically connecting the flat tubes to one another, the at least one collector tube having a base and a cover arranged opposite one another and employing a longitudinal duct; wherein the base has a passage for each flat tube, each passage comprising an opening for accommodating a respective one of the flat tubes; wherein each passage has a collar extending away from the longitudinal duct; wherein the cover has at least one notch for each flat tube, each notch being located opposite a corresponding passage and being embodied for accommodating a subarea of a respective one of the flat tubes; wherein the flat tubes are each introduced into the opening of a corresponding passage; wherein front edges of the flat tubes are substantially flush with the base; wherein the cover has an outer diameter, which is smaller than or equal to a width of the at least one flat tube, wherein the notch is embodied inside the outer diameter, wherein the notch is embodied in an intermediate area between the outer diameter and an inner diameter of the cover, and a wall thickness of the cover substantially corresponds to half of a difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter.

10. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein a base area of the base and an arch area of the cover delimits the longitudinal duct such that the longitudinal duct has a substantially semi-circular cross section with a semi-circular contour formed by the arch area.

11. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an inner base surface of the base and surface areas of the collar are provided with a solder plating.

12. The collector tube according to claim 2, wherein the notch is embodied in an intermediate area between the outer diameter and an inner diameter of the cover, and a wall thickness of the cover substantially corresponds to half of a difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter.

13. The collector tube according to claim 2, wherein the at least one notch includes at least two notches, which are located opposite one another and which are each embodied for accommodating a subarea of the at least one flat tube.

14. The collector tube according to claim 2, wherein the at least one notch has a trapezoidal embodiment.

15. The collector tube according to claim 2, wherein the opening of the at least one passage tapers at least partially towards the longitudinal duct.

16. The collector tube according to claim 2, wherein the base has at least one reinforcing bead.

17. The collector tube according to claim 2, wherein the base has an outer base surface, which is at least partially provided with a protective layer.

18. A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which has at least one flat tube, comprising: a base and a cover arranged opposite one another and embodying a longitudinal duct; wherein the base has at least one passage comprising an opening for accommodating the at least one flat tube, and a collar extending away from the longitudinal duct; wherein the cover has at least one notch, which is located opposite the at least one passage and which is embodied for accommodating a subarea of the at least one flat tube; and wherein a base area of the base and an arch area of the cover delimits the longitudinal duct such that the longitudinal duct has a substantially semi-circular cross section with a semi-circular contour formed by the arch area.

19. The collector tube according to claim 18, wherein the at least one notch has a trapezoidal embodiment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In each case schematically,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a heat exchanger or condenser, respectively,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a collector tube according to the invention prior to the assembly,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective longitudinal section of an assembled collector tube,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section along a collector tube according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 2 has a plurality of flat tubes 3, which are fluidically connected to two collector tubes 1. The collector tubes 1 and the flat tubes 3 are arranged essentially transversely to one another. A first collector tube 1 is provided with an inlet 25, and a second collector tube 1 has an outlet 26. The inlet 25 and the outlet 26 can be connected to a non-illustrated air conditioning circuit of a vehicle, wherein the air conditioning circuit can be used to regulate the room temperature in the vehicle interior.

(7) If the heat exchanger 2 is used as condenser, a refrigerant of the air conditioning circuit enters in the vaporous aggregate state into the collector tube 1 through the inlet 25 and flows through the flat tubes 3. Separating elements 13 are inserted in the collector tubes 1 in such a way that a meander-shaped flow guidance of the refrigerant results. While the refrigerant flows through the flat tubes 3, it dissipates its heat energy to the flat tubes 3 or to the surrounding area of the flat tubes 3, respectively, so that it cools down and condenses. Fins 27, which increase the mechanical stability of the heat exchanger 2 and which enlarge the surface, via which the heat energy of the refrigerant can be discharged to the external environment, are arranged between the flat tubes 3. The condensed refrigerant is supplied to the air conditioning circuit via the outlet 26.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a collector tube 1 according to the invention prior to the assembly. FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of an assembled collector tube 1, and FIG. 3 shows a perspective longitudinal section of an assembled collector tube 1.

(9) The collector tube 1 consists of a base 4 and a cover 5, wherein the base 4 has a base collar 34. Compared to the cover 5, the base 4 is embodied to be essentially flat. The base 4 and the cover 5 can be made of a sheet metal, wherein the collector tubes 1 as well as the entire heat exchanger 2 can be produced by means of soldering.

(10) The base 4 has an outer base surface 10 and an inner base surface 21. The outer base surface 10 is defined as the surface of the base 4, which is in contact with the external environment in the case of the assembled collector tube 1. The remaining surface of the base 4, which is not in contact with the external environment in the case of the assembled collector tube 1, is defined as inner base surface 21.

(11) The cover 5 has an outer cover surface 22 and an inner cover surface 23. The outer cover surface 22 is defined as the surface of the cover 5, which is in contact with the external environment in the case of the assembled collector tube 1. The remaining surface of the cover 5, which is not in contact with the external environment in the case of the assembled collector tube 1, is defined as inner cover surface 23.

(12) A subarea of the inner base surface 21 bears on a subarea of the inner cover surface 23, wherein this subarea of the inner base surface 21 is essentially formed by the base collar 24. A further subarea of the inner base surface 21 is embodied as base area 20 and is spaced apart from a further subarea of the inner cover surface 23, wherein this subarea of the inner cover surface 23 embodies an arch area 19. The base area 20 and the arch area 19 limit a longitudinal duct 6, through which a refrigerant can flow. Due to the fact that the curvature radius of the arch area 19 is smaller than the curvature radius of the base area 20, the arch area 19 limits a larger cross sectional surface of the longitudinal duct 6 than the base area 20.

(13) The base 4 has a plurality of passages 7, which are arranged spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal duct 6. Each passage 7 has an opening 8 and a collar 9, which extends away from the longitudinal duct 6. The opening 8 has a wide edge and a narrow edge, which correspond to the dimensions of the flat tubes 3 in such a way that the flat tubes 3 can be inserted through the respective opening 8. It can be seen particularly well in FIG. 4 that the opening 8 of the passage 7 can initially taper towards the longitudinal duct 6 and can subsequently widen again. The insertion of the respective flat tube 3 into the respective passage 7 can be simplified thereby.

(14) In areas located opposite a passage 7, the cover 5 has notches 11. The notches 11 can be punched out of the areas, which are in contact with the base collar after the assembly. These notches 11 can be embodied to be trapezoidal.

(15) The cover 5 has an outer diameter 28, which is smaller than or equal to a width of the flat tube, wherein the notch 11 is embodied inside the outer diameter 28. The cover 5 has an inner diameter 29, wherein the wall thickness of the cover 5 essentially corresponds to half of the difference between outer diameter 28 and inner diameter 29.

(16) The notch 11 is embodied in the intermediate area between outer diameter 28 and inner diameter 29.

(17) The collector tube 1 and/or the cover 5 further has at least two notches 11 and 11a, which are located opposite one another and which are each embodied for accommodating a subarea of a flat tube.

(18) The notches 11 and 11a have a trapezoidal embodiment, wherein the notches 11 and 11a widen towards the flat tube.

(19) The base 4 has recesses 12, into which the separating elements 13 can be inserted. The separating elements 13 can be inserted prior to or also after the assembly of the base 4 and of the cover 5. The separating element 13 is used to segment the collector tube 1 or longitudinal duct 6, respectively, in order to attain a desired flow direction of the refrigerant through the heat exchanger 2.

(20) The separating element 13 has a separating wall 14 comprising a separating wall thickness and at least one elevation 15. In FIG. 2, the separating element 13 is illustrated prior to the insertion into the base 4, and is shown in an insertion position in FIG. 3 as well as FIG. 4. The separating wall 14 has a shape, which corresponds to the cross sectional contour of the longitudinal duct 6, so that the separating element 13, in its insertion position, provides for a fluid-tight segmenting or separation, respectively, of the collector tube 1 or of the longitudinal duct 6, respectively. The elevation 15 leads to a local increase of the separating wall thickness. The elevation 15 can be produced by means of additionally applied material or also, for example, by means of a forming process. The dimensions of the recess 12 are selected in such a way that the separating wall 14 can be pushed into the recess 12 without large resistance, wherein the dimensions of the elevation 15 are selected in such a way that, in the insertion position of the separating element 13, the elevation 15 is pressed into the recess 12.

(21) The separating element 13 can have a ledge 16, which is arranged outside of the longitudinal duct 6 in the insertion position of the separating element 13. The ledge 15 can be produced by means of additionally applied material or also for example by means of a forming process.

(22) It can be seen well in FIG. 4 that the front edges 17 of the flat tubes are essentially flush with the base 4 or with the base area 19, respectively. To clarify this, a dashed horizontal line is added in the drawing.