HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger including a tube/rib block made up of tubes and ribs, the tubes forming fluid channels for conducting a first fluid, in particular a refrigerant, and the ribs arranged between the tubes forming a second fluid channel for conducting a second fluid, such as, in particular, air, which flows around the tubes, a collector being arranged at at least one end of the tube/rib block, which communicates with the fluid channels of the tubes, the at least one collector being provided with a plate-type design and including at least one base plate and a cover plate, which are stacked and soldered in a sealed manner, a spacer for spacing the base plate at a distance from the cover plate and for distributing the first fluid in the collector being provided.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising: a tube/rib block made up of tubes and ribs, the tubes forming fluid channels for conducting a first fluid, in particular a refrigerant, and the ribs arranged between the tubes forming a second fluid channel for conducting a second fluid, in particular air, which flows around the tubes; at least one collector arranged at at least one end of the tube/rib block, which communicates with the fluid channels of the tubes, the at least one collector being provided with a plate-type design and including at least one base plate and a cover plate, which are stacked and soldered in a sealed manner; and a spacer for spacing the base plate at a distance from the cover plate and for distributing the first fluid in the collector, the base plate having first openings for the receipt and sealed fastening of tube ends of the tubes of the tube/rib block, the first openings in the base plate being surrounded by an edge of the base plate, wherein the spacer has second openings, the first openings being in alignment with the second openings, the second openings being designed to be larger with respect to the first openings and being designed to be laterally open.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is designed as an intermediate plate, which is arranged between the base plate and the cover plate.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is designed as an intermediate element or as intermediate elements, which is or are integrated into the base plate and/or into the cover plate.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein a distribution plate is furthermore arranged, which has channel openings, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the collector.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the collector protrudes over the tube/rib block in a direction transverse to the through-flow direction, and the connections for supplying the first fluid to the collector and for removing the first fluid from the collector are arranged in the protruding region of the collector.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein the connections are designed as annular passages into which connecting tubes of a fluid circuit of the first fluid may be inserted.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the passages are formed from the base plate or the cover plate and protrude from the collector.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the passages are formed from another plate between the base plate and the cover plate, in particular from the intermediate plate or from the distribution plate, the passages engaging with openings in the base plate or the cover plate, and/or the passages extending through openings in the base plate or the cover plate.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the base plate has a raised edge region, in particular along the longitudinal side of the base plate, which encompasses the cover plate and optionally the intermediate plate and/or the distribution plate, and/or the cover plate has a raised edge region, in particular along the longitudinal side of the cover plate, which encompasses the base plate and optionally the intermediate plate and/or the distribution plate.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the base plate and the cover plate and optionally the intermediate plate and/or the distribution plate are each provided with an angled design along a bend line, the bend line of the plates being arranged essentially in the middle of the particular plate between the two longitudinal sides of the particular plate and running in the longitudinal direction of the particular plate.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the base plate and the cover plate and optionally the intermediate plate and/or the distribution plate each have a protruding shoulder along a line, in particular, in the region of the bend line.

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the shoulder protrudes in the direction of the tube/rib block or in the direction away from the tube/rib block.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the base plate and/or the cover plate has/have at least one bulge, which extends at least partially in the longitudinal direction of the base plate or the cover plate and is used to distribute fluid and/or to collect fluid.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein the base plate and/or the cover plate has/have at least two bulges, which extend at least partially in the longitudinal direction of the base plate or the cover plate and are used to distribute fluid and/or to collect fluid.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein the at least two bulges of the base plate and/or the cover plate are provided with the same design or with different designs in section, in particular in a section in a plane in parallel to the air flow direction.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein the at least two bulges having different designs in a section in a plane in parallel to the air flow direction are designed in such a way that one bulge of the two bulges is designed to be higher or deeper or lower or less deep and/or wider or narrower in height or depth and/or in width with respect to the plane in parallel to the air flow direction than the other bulge of the two bulges.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the base plate and/or the cover plate forms a step, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the base plate and/or the cover plate such that the base plate and/or the cover plate essentially forms at least two planes, which are arranged to be offset with respect to each other, due to the step.

18. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the plates of at least one collector each have recesses in alignment with each other, which each form a channel crossing the collector, in particular as a condensate runoff.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial sectional representation of an exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of plates of a collector of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a schematic, perspective representation of the collector according to the arrangement of the plates from FIG. 3;

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a schematic partial representation of an intermediate plate of a collector of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a schematic partial sectional representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a schematic partial sectional representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0038] FIG. 8 shows a schematic partial sectional representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 9 shows a schematic partial sectional representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0040] FIG. 10 shows a schematic partial sectional representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of a cover plate of an exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 12 shows a schematic partial representation of plates of a collector of a heat exchanger according to the invention; and

[0043] FIG. 13 shows a schematic partial representation of plates of a collector of a heat exchanger according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic representation of a first exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger 1 according to the invention.

[0045] Heat exchanger 1 includes a tube/rib block 2 made up of tubes 3 and ribs 4. Ribs 4 may be arranged, for example, as corrugated ribs between tubes 3.

[0046] Tubes 3 may be arranged one after the other in a single row or multiple rows in air flow direction L. Tubes 3 may be arranged, for example, one after the other in two rows, as indicated in FIG. 2.

[0047] Tubes 3 form fluid channels 5 for conducting a first fluid. The first fluid may be, for example, a refrigerant, for example R744 or R1234yf, etc.

[0048] Ribs 4 arranged between tubes 3 form a second fluid channel 6 for conducting a second fluid, which flows around tubes 3. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the second fluid is, for example, air.

[0049] A collector 7 is arranged at at least one end of tube/rib block 2. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, two collectors 7 are provided, one collector 7 in each case at an end of tube/rib block 2.

[0050] Particular collector 7 communicates with fluid channels 5 of tubes 3, so that the first fluid may flow out of collector 7 into tubes 3, and the first fluid may also flow out of tubes 3 into collector 7. At least one partition wall may be provided in the at least one collector 7 to internally divide corresponding collector 7.

[0051] The at least one collector 7 is provided with a plate-type design. Both collectors 7 may also be provided with a plate-type design. Reference is made to FIGS. 2 through 5 for an explanation of the plate-type design.

[0052] Collector 7 includes at least one base plate 8 and a cover plate 9, which are stacked and soldered in a sealed manner.

[0053] A spacer is furthermore provided for spacing base plate 8 at a distance from cover plate 9 and for distributing the first fluid in collector 7.

[0054] The spacer 10 may be designed as an intermediate plate 11, which is arranged between base plate 8 and cover plate 9; cf. FIG. 2. The spacer 10 may alternatively also be designed as an intermediate element or be designed as intermediate elements, which is or are integrated into base plate 8 and/or into cover plate 9, so that the distance between base plate 8 and cover plate 9 is maintained, and the first fluid may flow within collector 7.

[0055] In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is also apparent that not only is collector 7 formed from base plate 8 and cover plate 9, but that an intermediate plate 11 and furthermore a distribution plate 12 are also arranged between base plate 8 and cover plate 9. Distribution plate 12 has channel openings 13, which extend in the longitudinal direction of collector 7 and are used to distribute the first fluid in collector 7.

[0056] Base plate 8 has first openings 14 for the receipt and sealed fastening of tube ends 15 of tubes 3 of tube/rib block 2.

[0057] First openings 14 in base plate 8 are each surrounded by an edge of base plate 8, so that tube ends 15, which are inserted into first openings 14, may be circumferentially soldered to base plate 8 or otherwise connected thereto in a sealed manner.

[0058] It is furthermore apparent in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the spacer 10, in particular intermediate plate 11, has second openings 16, first openings 14 being in alignment with second openings 16.

[0059] Second openings 16 are designed to be larger with respect to first openings 14, a kind of step being provided in each case from first openings 14 in the direction of second openings 16, so that, during soldering, no solder runs into the tube openings of tubes 3, which are inserted into first openings 14.

[0060] To reduce the lateral installation space, second openings 16 are designed to be laterally open, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0061] FIG. 5 also shows an exemplary embodiment, which has a cutout for an intermediate plate 11, in which second openings 16 are designed to be laterally open.

[0062] It is apparent that the side web of intermediate plate 11 is removed, so that second openings 16 may be designed thereby to be open. As a result, the omission of the side web laterally reduces the installation space required for intermediate plate 11, so that collector 7 as a whole may be provided with a narrower design.

[0063] Alternatively, in some exemplary embodiments, a web may, however, also be present, so that second openings 16 may alternatively also be each provided with a closed design.

[0064] it is also apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, that, in one advantageous exemplary embodiment, collector 7 protrudes over tube/rib block 2 in a direction transverse to through-flow direction L, and connections 17 for supplying the first fluid to collector 7 and for removing the first fluid from collector 7 are arranged in protruding region U of collector 7.

[0065] It is apparent, cf. FIGS. 3, 12 and 13, that connections 17 are designed as annular passages 18, into which connecting tubes of a fluid circuit of the first fluid may be inserted.

[0066] In principle, passages 18 may be formed from base plate 8 and protrude from base plate 8, or they may possibly be formed from cover plate 9 and protrude therefrom, so that passages 18 optionally protrude from collector 7. A stable variant exists if passages 18 are formed from base plate 8, and the connecting tubes are connected to collector 7 from the side of tube/rib block 2, because passages 18 protrude in the direction of tube/rib block 2.

[0067] Alternatively, passages 18 may also be formed from another plate 11, 12 between base plate 8 and cover plate 9, depending on which further plate is provided.

[0068] Accordingly, the design may be carried out in such a way that passages 18 may be formed from intermediate plate 11 or from distribution plate 12. It is apparent from FIG. 13, for example, that passages 18 are formed from intermediate plate 11.

[0069] Passages 18 protrude in the direction of base plate 8. Passages 18 are dimensioned in such a way that they engage with openings 19 in base plate 8, and/or passages 18 also extend through openings 19 in base plate 8. Openings 19 are dimensioned in such a way that they may receive passages 18. Passages 18 are advantageously and optionally dimensioned in their protruding length in such a way that they are longer than the thickness of base plate 8, so that passages 18 may protrude from base plate 8. Passages 18 may advantageously and optionally be dimensioned in their protruding length in such a way that they are not longer than the thickness of base plate 8, so that passages 18 may not protrude from base plate 8 and, for example, are terminated flush with base plate 8.

[0070] Alternatively, the design may also be carried out in such a way that passages 18 may be formed from intermediate plate 11 or from distribution plate 12 and protrude in the direction of cover plate 9. Passages 18 would protrude in the direction of cover plate 9. Passages 18 may be dimensioned in such a way that they engage with openings 19 in cover plate 9, and/or passages 18 also extend through openings 19 in cover plate 9. Openings 19 are dimensioned in such a way that they may receive passages 18. Passages 18 are advantageously and optionally dimensioned in their protruding length in such a way that they are longer than the thickness of cover plate 9, so that passages 18 may protrude from cover plate 9. Passages 18 may advantageously and optionally be dimensioned in their protruding length in such a way that they are not longer than the thickness of cover plate 9, so that passages 18 may not protrude from cover plate 9 and, for example, are terminated flush with cover plate 9.

[0071] According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, base plate 8 may have a raised edge region 20, cf. for example, FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 13. Raised edge region 20 is raised, in particular, along longitudinal side of base plate 8 and is optionally crimped around the edge of cover plate 9, so that a form-fitting connection is achieved between base plate 8 and cover plate 9 with all plates optionally arranged therebetween.

[0072] Raised edge 20 of base plate 8 encompasses cover plate 9 and optionally intermediate plate 11 and/or distribution plate 12.

[0073] Alternatively, instead of base plate 8, cover plate 9 may also be designed to have a raised edge 20, in particular, along the longitudinal side of cover plate 9, which encompasses base plate 8 and plates 11, 12 optionally arranged therebetween.

[0074] According to FIG. 10, the embodiment may also be such that base plate 8 has a raised, protruding edge region 20, and cover plate 9 also has a raised, protruding edge region 21, which each encompass the stack.

[0075] According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, base plate 8 and cover plate 9 and optionally intermediate plate 11 and/or distribution plate 12 are each provided with an angled design along a bend line 22; cf. FIGS. 6 and 7. FIGS. 6 and 7 show how base plate 8, cover plate 9 and an intermediate plate 11 arranged therebetween are provided with an angled design. Intermediate plate 11 may optionally also be omitted, or at least one further plate, such as distribution plate 12, may be provided, which also has an angled design.

[0076] Bend line 22 of plates 8, 9, 11 and/or 12 is arranged, for example, essentially in the middle of particular plate 8, 9, 11 and/or 12 between the two longitudinal sides of particular plate 8, 9, 11 and/or 12, bend line 22 running, for example, in the longitudinal direction of particular plate 8, 9, 11 and/or 12. Alternatively, bend line 22 may also run not in the middle and be arrange asymmetrically between the two longitudinal sides of plates 8, 9, 11 and/or 12.

[0077] According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, base plate 8 and cover plate 9 and optionally intermediate plate 11 and/or distribution plate 12 each have a protruding shoulder 24 along a line 23, in particular bend line 22.

[0078] FIGS. 6 and 7 show that particular shoulder 24 protrudes in the direction of tube/rib block 2. Alternatively, particular shoulder 24 may also protrude in the direction away from the tube/rib block.

[0079] Shoulders 24 are formed by stamping, so that the shoulder protrudes on a side of plate 8, 9, 11 and/or 12, and a recess 25 is formed on the other side of plate 8, 9, 11 and/or 12. Shoulders 24 optionally engage with recesses 25 of adjacent plates.

[0080] According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, base plate 8 and/or cover plate 9 has/have at least one bulge 26, which extends at least partially in the longitudinal direction of base plate 8 or cover plate 9 and is/are used, in particular, to distribute fluid and/or to collect fluid. Reference is hereby made to FIGS. 2 through 4 and 6 through 11.

[0081] Base plate 8 and/or cover plate 9 may have at least two bulges 26, which extend at least partially in the longitudinal direction of base plate 8 or cover plate 9 and are used, in particular, to distribute fluid and/or to collect fluid.

[0082] The at least two bulges 26 of base plate 8 and/or cover plate 9 are 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 bulges 26 of base plate 8 may the same, and also the two bulges 26 of cover plate 9 may be the same. Bulges 26 of base plate 8 and of cover plate 9 may furthermore also be the same. FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 6 each show that bulges 26 of cover plate 9 are provided with the same design. FIGS. 9 and 10 show that bulges 26 of base plate 8 and of cover plate 9 each have the same design.

[0083] The at least two bulges 26 of base plate 8 and/or cover plate 9 are advantageously provided with different designs in section, in particular in a section in a plane in parallel to air flow direction L.

[0084] FIG. 8 shows that bulges 26 of base plate 8 and of cover plate 9 each have different designs. The two bulges 26 of base plate 8 may have different designs, as may the two bulges 26 of cover plate 9. As a whole, all four bulges 26 therefore have different designs.

[0085] In one exemplary embodiment, the at least two bulges 26 having different designs in a section in a plane in parallel to the air flow direction are designed in such a way that one bulge 26 of the two bulges 26 is 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 bulge 26 of the two bulges 26; cf., for example, FIG. 8.

[0086] According to a further aspect according to another exemplary embodiment, base plate 8 and/or cover plate 9 form(s) a step 27, which extends in the longitudinal direction of base plate 8 and/or cover plate 9 in such a way that base plate 8 and/or cover plate 9 essentially form(s) at least two planes 28, 29, which are arranged to be offset with respect to each other, due to step 27. Plates 11 and/or 12 arranged between base plate 8 and/or cover plate 9 may optionally also be designed with a step 27. Reference is hereby made to FIG. 11.

[0087] According to a further aspect, in another exemplary embodiment, plates 8, 9, 11, 12 of at least one collector 7 each have recesses 30 in alignment with each other, which each form a channel 31 crossing collector 7, in particular as a condensate runoff; cf/FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0088] 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.

[0089] 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.