EVAPORATOR

Abstract

An evaporator with a finned tube block with tubes and fins, wherein the tubes are arranged in rows and the fins are arranged between the tubes, with a first collection and distribution box and with a second collection and distribution box. Each of the two collection and distribution boxes has a bottom and a box lid. The respective bottom has openings for inserting the tube ends of the tubes of the finned tube block. The finned tube block is divided into evaporator flows to which groups of tubes of the finned tube block are assigned. The tubes of an evaporator flow each merge end-side into a box area of a collection and distribution box. The respective bottom of the collection and distribution boxes is designed with rim holes for inserting the tube ends in the openings.

Claims

1. An evaporator for an air conditioning unit, the evaporator comprising: a finned tube block with a plurality of tubes and fins, wherein the tubes are arranged in two rows so that in each case two tubes are arranged one after the other in a direction of air flow and the fins are arranged between the tubes; a first collection and distribution box; and a second collection and distribution box, wherein at least one of the first or second collection and distribution boxes is connected with one of the tube ends of the tubes of the finned tube block, wherein the first and second collection and distribution boxes each have a bottom and a box lid, the bottom having openings for inserting the tube ends of the tubes of the finned tube block, wherein in the first and second collection and distribution boxes, partition walls are arranged, which divide the respective interior of the first and second collection and distribution boxes into box areas, wherein the finned tube block is divided into evaporator flows to which groups of tubes of the finned tube block are assigned, wherein the tubes of an evaporator flow each merge end-side in a box area of at least one of the first or second collection and distribution boxes, wherein the respective bottom of the first or second collection and distribution boxes is designed with rim holes for inserting the tube ends in the openings, and wherein the rim holes are formed circumferentially around the openings and protrude from the bottom on an outer side of the bottom to the fins of the finned tube block.

2. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the finned tube block is divided into six evaporator flows, and wherein three evaporator flows are arranged on the air inflow side and three evaporator flows are arranged on the air outflow side.

3. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator has a width in the direction of air flow and the respective bottom has a width in the direction of air flow such that the width of the evaporator is in the range of 60 mm or less, in particular in the range of 50 mm or less and/or such that the width of the bottom is in the range of 55 mm or less, in particular in the range of 50 mm or less.

4. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the finned tube block is divided into six evaporator flows, wherein the three evaporator flows on the air outflow side are first flowed through by the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator and then the three evaporator flows on the air inflow side.

5. The evaporator according to claim 4, wherein the evaporator has two broad sides having the air inflow side and the air outflow side, and two narrow sides arranged in the direction of air flow, wherein the three evaporator flows on the air outflow side are flowed through from a first narrow side to a second narrow side, and then the three evaporator flows on the air inflow side are flowed through from the second narrow side to the first narrow side.

6. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the box lid is formed by lid areas projecting from the bottom, which are curved from a respective edge of the bottom to the middle of the bottom.

7. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the lid areas have outwardly projecting bulges and/or inwardly projecting bulges for reinforcing the box lid.

8. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the lid areas have inwardly projecting beads for supporting partition walls for separating box areas and/or end walls for the end-side closure of the collection and distribution box.

9. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the bottom has inwardly and/or outwardly projecting beads and/or nubs for supporting at least one partition wall for separating box areas and/or at least one end wall for the end-side closure of the collection and distribution box and/or for reinforcing the bottom.

10. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the bottom between two rim holes of two adjacent openings has an inwardly and/or outwardly projecting bead and/or nub for reinforcing the bottom.

11. The evaporator according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning unit is an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 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:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of an embodiment of an evaporator according to the invention,

[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic, perspective view of a collection and distribution box of the evaporator according to FIG. 1,

[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the collection and distribution box of the evaporator according to FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the bottom of the collection and distribution box of the evaporator according to FIG. 3, and

[0023] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the collection and distribution box of the evaporator according to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In a schematic and perspective view, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an evaporator 1 according to the invention. The evaporator 1 is particularly suitable for an air conditioning unit, in particular for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, so that it can be used in the air conditioning unit, on the one hand to be flowed through by a refrigerant and on the other hand to be flowed through by air, so that by heat transfer from the air to the refrigerant, the air flowing through the evaporator is cooled and the refrigerant is heated and evaporated.

[0025] The evaporator 1 has a finned tube block 2 with a plurality of tubes 3 and fins 4. The tubes 3 and fins 4 are essentially arranged alternately transversely to the air flow direction 5, so that the air can flow in air flow direction 5 through the fins 4 and the fins 4 are arranged between the tubes 3. At the two lateral edges 6 of the finned tube block 2, fins 4 can also be arranged, which are only attached to a tube 3 on one side. The fins 4 are essentially arranged between two tubes 3, viewed transversely to the air flow direction 5, and are thus in heat transfer with the tubes 3, so that an air flow flowing through the fins 4 is in heat transfer with the refrigerant flowing through the tubes 3.

[0026] The evaporator 1 is designed, for example, as a narrow evaporator 1. Such a narrow evaporator 1 has a width BV in air flow direction 5 and the respective bottom 11 has a width BB in air flow direction 5, such that the width BV of the evaporator 1 is in the range of 60 mm or less, in particular in the range of 50 mm or less and/or that the width BB of the bottom 11 is in the range of 55 mm or less, in particular in the range of 50 mm or less.

[0027] Preferably, the tubes 3 are arranged in air flow direction 5 in two rows 7, so that in air flow direction 5 in each case two tubes 3 are arranged one after the other. The tubes 3 of the two rows 7 may be formed independently of each other or be connected by a material bridge.

[0028] The fins 4 can be formed separately per row 7 or the fins 4 can be formed jointly connected for both rows 7.

[0029] The finned tube block 2 is formed with a first collection and distribution box 8 and with a second collection and distribution box 9, wherein in each case one of the collection and distribution boxes 8, 9 is connected to one of the tube ends 10 of the tubes 3 of the finned tube block 2.

[0030] According to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, each of the two collection and distribution boxes 8, 9 has a bottom 11 and a box lid 12. The box lid 12 covers the bottom 11 and thus defines, together with the bottom 11, a box volume 13 as the interior of the collection and distribution box 8, 9.

[0031] The respective bottom 11 has openings 14 for inserting the tube ends 10 of the tubes 3 of the finned tube block 2, see FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

[0032] Within the two collection and distribution boxes 8, 9, partition walls 15 are arranged, which divide the respective interior of the collection and distribution boxes 8, 9 into box areas 16, wherein the finned tube block 2 is divided into evaporator flows 17. The evaporator flows 17 correspond to the box areas 16.

[0033] Also, groups of tubes 3 of the finned tube block 2 are assigned to the evaporator flows 17, wherein the tubes 3 of an evaporator flow 17 each merge end-side into a box area 16 of a collection and distribution box 8, 9.

[0034] According to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that the respective bottom 11 of the collection and distribution boxes 8, 9 is designed with rim holes 18 for inserting the tube ends 10 in the openings 14, wherein the rim holes 18 are circumferentially formed around the openings 14 and protrude from the bottom 11 on an outer side 34 of the bottom 11 to the ribs 4 of the finned tube block 2.

[0035] In this case, the rim holes 18 are produced by a stamping and/or drawing and/or embossing process in the preparation of the respective opening 14 or after the preparation of the respective opening 14, around which opening the rim hole 18 is arranged circumferentially.

[0036] The finned tube block 2 may be divided into six evaporator flows 17, see FIG. 1, wherein three evaporator flows 17 are arranged on the air inflow side 19 and three evaporator flows 17 are arranged on the air outflow side 20.

[0037] Thus, the finned tube block 2 is divided into six evaporator flows 17, wherein the three evaporator flows 17 on the air outflow side 20 are first flowed through by the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 1 and then the three evaporator flows 17 on the air inflow side 19. Accordingly, the refrigerant inlet 21 is provided in an evaporator flow 17 on the air outflow side and the refrigerant outlet 22 is provided in an evaporator flow 17 on the air inflow side.

[0038] FIG. 1 also shows that the evaporator 1 has two broad sides 23 with the air inflow side 19 and the air outflow side 20, and two narrow sides arranged in the direction of air flow 24, wherein the three evaporator flows 17 on the air outflow side 20 are flowed through from a first narrow side 24 to a second narrow side 24 and then the three evaporator flows 17 on the airflow side 19 are flowed through from the second narrow side 24 to the first narrow side 24. This allows for the temperature profile of the air flowing through to be relatively uniform downstream of the evaporator 1 and, at the same time, it is achieved that the refrigerant inlet 21 and the refrigerant outlet 22 are arranged on the same narrow side 24. This has advantages in respect of connecting the evaporator 1 to the refrigerant circuit.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows that the box lid 12 is formed by lid areas 25 projecting from the bottom 11, which are curved from a respective edge 26 of the bottom 11 to the middle 27 of the bottom 11. Thus, it is advantageously achieved that only one component is used, which is deformed, wherein in particular a solder connection is omitted at the bending lines at the edge 26.

[0040] Preferably, the lid areas 25 are designed in such a way that outwardly projecting bulges 28 and/or inwardly projecting bulges 29 are provided for reinforcing the box lid 12.

[0041] Also, the lid areas 25 can have inwardly-projecting beads 30 for the support of partition walls 31 for the separation of box areas 16 and/or end walls 32 for the end-side closure of the collection and distribution box 8, 9.

[0042] Also, the bottom 11 may have inwardly and/or outwardly projecting beads and/or nubs 33 to support at least one partition wall 31 for separating box areas 16 and/or at least one end wall 32 for the end-side closure of the collection and distribution box 8, 9 and/or to reinforce the bottom 11.

[0043] Also, between two rim holes 18 of two adjacent openings 14, the bottom 11 may have an inwardly and/or outwardly projecting bead 30 and/or nub 33 for reinforcing the bottom 11.

[0044] 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.