EXTRUDED WING TUBE PORTION, WING TUBE COMPRISING AN EXTRUDED WING-TUBE PORTION, AND HEAT EXCHANGER COMPRISING A WING TUBE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A WING-TUBE PORTION

Abstract

An extruded wing tube section (10) according to the invention consists of a formed tube portion (12) comprising at least one first wing section (20) integrally formed thereon in a first radial plane of the tube portion (12). The first wing section (20) has a plurality of first radial cut-outs such that a plurality of first wings (22) is provided in the first wing portion (20). Each of the first wings (20) is rotated about a radial axis of rotation such that each of the first wings (22) is rotated out of the first radial plane by a first angle 0°<α.sub.1<π° A first continuous transition portion is provided between the tube region (12) and each of the first wings (22), which transition portion has a twisted portion in the portion of the axis of rotation, and at least one expansion portion adjacent thereto.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. An extruded wing tube section having a formed tube portion with at least one first integrally formed wing section in a first radial plane of the formed tube portion, wherein a. the at least one first wing section has a plurality of first radial cut-outs so that a plurality of first wings is present in the at least one first wing section, and b. each of the first wings of the plurality of first wings is rotated about a radial rotation axis so that each of the first wings of the plurality of first wings is rotated out of the first radial plane about a first angle 0°<α.sub.1<90°, wherein c. a first continuous transition portion is present between the formed tube portion and each of the first wings of the plurality of first wings, the first continuous transition portion having a twisted portion in the portion of the rotation axis and at least one adjacent expansion portion.

22. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 21, where the first angle α.sub.1 lies between 30° and 60°.

23. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 21, which is made from aluminum.

24. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 21, where an outer diameter of the formed tube portion extending in a straight manner lies between 3 and 10 mm and/or a wall thickness in the formed tube portion is 0.3 to 0.9 mm.

25. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 21, where the at least one first wing section has an extension E.sub.r in the radial direction between 10 and 20 mm and/or each of the first radial cut-outs has a width of 3 to 8 mm.

26. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 21, where the first continuous transition portion includes two expansion portions on opposite sides with respect to the twisted portion.

27. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 21, which further includes a second wing section which is formed integrally at the formed tube portion in a second radial plane of the formed tube portion, wherein a. the second wing section comprises a plurality of second radial cut-outs so that a plurality of second wings is present in the second wing section, and b. each one of the second wings of the plurality of second wings is rotated about a radial rotation axis so that each one of the second wings of the plurality of second wings is rotated out of the second radial plane by a second angle 0°<α.sub.2<90°, wherein c. a second continuous transition portion is present between the formed tube portion and each second wing, the second continuous transition portion comprising a twisted portion in the portion of the rotation axis and at least one adjacent expansion portion.

28. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 27, where the second wing section is arranged opposite the first wing section at the tube portion which extends in a straight manner, so that the first radial plane and the second radial plane form a joint plane in which the longitudinal axis of the formed tube portion is arranged.

29. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 27, where the first α.sub.1 and the second angle α.sub.2 are the same.

30. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 27, where the second wing section has an extension E.sub.r in the radial direction between 10 and 20 mm and/or each one of the second cut-outs has a width of 3 to 8 mm.

31. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 27, where the second continuous transition portion comprises two expansion portions on opposite sides with respect to the twisted portion.

32. A wing tube for a heat exchanger, said wing tube including at least two extruded wing tube sections according to claim 21, the longitudinal axes of which extend parallel to one another and which are connected by means of a wingless bent section.

33. A heat exchanger comprising a wing tube according to claim 32.

34. A production method of an extruded wing tube section according to claim 21, comprising the following steps: a. extruding the wing tube section having a tube portion as well as at least one integrally configured wing section, b. making a plurality of radial cut-outs transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube portion into the first wing section, so that with respect to the first wing section, a plurality of first wings develops, and c. twisting of at least one wing out of the plurality of first wings out of the radial plane at the same time of or following the making of the cut-outs, so that a first continuous transition portion develops having a twisted portion in the portion of the rotation axis as well as at least one adjacent expansion portion after concluding the twisting.

35. The production method according to claim 34 wherein the step of extruding includes the extruding of the wing tube section with at least one further integrally formed wing section.

36. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 22, which is made from aluminum.

37. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 22, where an outer diameter of the formed tube portion extending in a straight manner lies between 3 and 10 mm and/or a wall thickness in the formed tube portion is 0.3 to 0.9 mm.

38. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 22, where the at least one first wing section has an extension E.sub.r in the radial direction between 10 and 20 mm and/or each of the first cut-outs has a width of 3 to 8 mm.

39. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 22, where the first continuous transition portion includes two expansion portions on opposite sides with respect to the twisted portion.

40. The extruded wing tube section according to claim 22, which further includes a second wing section which is formed integrally at the formed tube portion in a second radial plane of the formed tube portion, wherein a. the second wing section comprises a plurality of second radial cut-outs so that a plurality of second wings is present in the second wing section, and b. each one of the second wings of the plurality of second wings is rotated about a radial rotation axis so that each one of the second wings of the plurality of second wings is rotated out of the second radial plane by a second angle 0°<α.sub.2<90°, wherein c. a second continuous transition portion is present between the formed tube portion and each second wing, the second continuous transition portion comprising a twisted portion in the portion of the rotation axis and at least one adjacent expansion portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In the following, the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference signs relate to the same components and/or elements. It shows:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extruded wing tube section,

[0031] FIG. 2 is a first perspective view of an extruded wing tube section according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0032] FIG. 3 is a side view of the extruded wing tube section according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0033] FIG. 4 is a second perspective view of the extruded wing tube section according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0034] FIG. 5 is a third perspective view of the extruded wing tube section according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0035] FIG. 6 is a fourth perspective view of the extruded wing tube section according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] FIG. 7 is a fifth perspective view of the extruded wing tube section according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

[0037] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an embodiment of an inventive production method an extruded wing tube section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] In the following, a preferred embodiment of an inventively extruded wing tube section is described. This extruded wing tube section can be a component of a wing tube and is used in heat exchangers, as for example an evaporator or condenser.

[0039] Firstly and with reference to FIG. 1, an extruded wing tube section 1 is shown. It includes a tube portion 3 as well as a first 5 and a second wing section 7 and was extruded in the common way, as is for example also described in WO 2009/068979 A1 with respect to FIG. 14. As can be recognized in FIG. 1, the first 5 and the second wing section 7 is configured in a solid manner, i.e. not hollow. Thus, the extruded wing tube section 1 consists of the formed tube portion 3 with a first wing section 5 integrally formed to it in a first radial plane and a second wing section 7 integrally formed to it in a second radial plane. The tube portion 3 which extends in a straight way defines a longitudinal axis. In the shown example, the second wing section 7 is arranged on the side of the tube portion 3 which is opposite to the first wing section 5. Therefore, the first and the second radial plane form a common plane in which the longitudinal axis of the tube portion 3 extends.

[0040] Now, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7, an embodiment of the inventively extruded wing tube section 10 is explained. For reasons of comprehensibility, reference is made to the first wing section 20 in this regard, with the explanations applying analogously to the second wing section 30. An outer diameter of the tube portion 12 which extends in a straight way lies between 3 and 10 mm and/or the wall thickness in the tube portion 12 is 0.3 to 0.9 mm. The outer diameter as well as the wall thickness depend on the desired application field, for example on whether a use in connection with an evaporator or condenser is intended.

[0041] Based on the extruded wing tube section 1 which is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of first radial cut-outs was provided in the first wing section 20 of the extruded wing tube section 10. Accordingly, a plurality of second radial cut-outs was made in the second wing section 30 of the extruded wing tube section 10. The first and the second radial cut-outs can be made on opposite sides with respect to the tube portion 12 at the same time or one after the other.

[0042] For example, a first cut-out in the first wing section 20 can be made at the same time as a second cut-out in the second wing section 30. Alternatively, firstly, a desired number of first cut-outs is made in the first wing section 20 and subsequently a desired number of second cut-outs is made in the second wing section 30.

[0043] Each cut-out has a width of 3 to 8 mm and provides for an enlargement of the surface which is streamed against and is thus available for the heat exchange compared with a wing section without cut-outs. Cut-outs with a width of 3 to 8 mm, in particular, have been identified as particularly advantageous.

[0044] Both wing sections 20, 30 have a preferred extension each in radial direction between 10 and 20 mm. A radial extension in this direction is also referred to as radial length of the wing sections 20, 30 which is measured between the rotation symmetrical center point of the tube section and the radial outside or tip of the wing. Thus, the radial cut-outs are made in the radial plane transverse or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tube portion 12. Here, the respective cut-outs preferably do not extend up to the tube portion 12 but over not more than 99% of the respective wing section 20, 30 in the radial plane.

[0045] If the extension of the respective wing section 20, 30 in the radial plane is for example 20 mm, then the cut-outs extend over at most 19.8 mm. Thus, a wing section 20, 30 with an extension in the radial plane remains in the portion of the respective cut-out, which is 0.2 mm. After making the plurality of cut-outs, each wing section 20, 30 has a plurality of wings 22, 32.

[0046] As becomes clear from this description, no additional material for the fastening of individual wings at the tube portion is necessary as the wing sections 20, 30 are already present when producing the tube section 10 by means of extrusion.

[0047] Each wing 22, 32 is rotated by an angle α.sub.1, α.sub.2 about a radial rotation axis, so that it is rotated out of the radial plane. Therefore, the radial rotation axis of the respective wing 22, 32 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube portion 12 and is arranged in the radial plane.

[0048] 0°<α.sub.1, α.sub.2<90° applies for the angles α.sub.1, α.sub.2 in this context. The value of 0° is excluded as otherwise, no rotating out of the radial plane would be present, and values over 90° are excluded due to the danger of separation of the respective wing caused by the rotating or twisting. In the shown embodiment, the angles α.sub.1, α.sub.2 are 45°.

[0049] In this regard, angles between 30° and 60° are generally preferred as it is particularly this angle range which contributes to a particularly efficient removal of condensate arising in the wing section 20, 30 or the respective wing 22, 32, respectively. In particular, the condensate which develops during operation can be removed more reliably compared with the providing of cut-outs in a continuous wing section directly adjacent to the tube portion. Furthermore, aerodynamic elements are provided due to the specific arrangement of the wings, which increase turbulences in the air stream, which in turn leads to an improved heat transmission coefficient.

[0050] The forces arising as a result of the twisting are received in the first continuous transition portion between each of the plurality of the wings 22, 32 and the tube portion. The continuous transition portion is thus deformed and receives the forces arising during the twisting of the respective wings 22, 32 by maintaining a connection to the tube portion 12. The deforming of the respective continuous transition portion takes place in at least two portions, namely in a first portion that is twisted or subject to torsion and in at least one further portion that is extended or stretched.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the respective rotation axis does not extend directly adjacent to the cut-out but centrally through the respective wing. The term “centrally” refers to a width of the wing 22, 32, i.e. to the extension of the respective wing in the radial plane along the longitudinal axis of the tube portion 12. Therefore, two expansion portions arise, each being present adjacent to a twisted portion. The twisted portion is present in the portion of the rotation axis of the respective wing 22, 32 after the twisting of the wing 22, 32.

[0052] In an alternative, not shown embodiment, the rotation axis is arranged directly adjacent to the cut-out. In this case, exactly one expansion portion develops adjacent to the twisted portion. The positioning of the rotation axis with respect to the respective wing 22, 32 is therefore selected particularly depending on the desired angle α.sub.1, α.sub.2 and thus on the application desired later.

[0053] For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that in case of two wing sections 20, 30, a twisting of the respective wings 22, 32 in the same direction or in opposite directions out of the radial plane can take place. The respective rotation direction is particularly determined by the application which is desired later. With respect to FIG. 2, a twisting of the wings 22, 32 in the same direction was made. Alternatively or additionally, wings in the same wing section can have a twisting in opposing rotation directions.

[0054] Aluminum is used as material for the extruded wing tube section 10. Aluminum in particular leads to a good deformability of the continuous transition portion so that preferably, the continuous transition portion preferably has the same width as the respective wing 22, 32, i.e. preferably, it does not have any cracks. Preferably, the continuous transition portion is completely connected with the tube portion 12 on the one hand and with the respective wing 22, 32 on the other hand so that the heat dissipation can be improved further, particularly compared with a connection between wings 22, 32 and tube portion 12 at only one point.

[0055] Compared with the extruded wing tube section shown in FIG. 1 with continuous flat wing sections 5, 7, increases in performance in the range of approximately 15 to 30% can be realized with the above-described embodiment of the inventive wing tube section 10.

[0056] A not-shown embodiment of the inventive wing tube for a heat exchanger, in particular for an evaporator or a condenser, includes at least two wing tube sections 10 according to FIGS. 2 to 7, the longitudinal axes of which extend parallel to one another and which are connected by means of a wingless bent section.

[0057] An embodiment of an inventive heat exchanger which is also not illustrated includes the above-described embodiment of the wing tube. Preferably, the heat exchanger is an evaporator or condenser.

[0058] With respect to FIG. 8, a flow chart of an embodiment of an inventive production method of the extruded wing tube section 10 is briefly explained. In a first step A, the wing tube section 10 consisting of the tube portion 12 as well as the two wing sections 20, 30 integrally formed to it is extruded.

[0059] Therefore, after the extrusion of the wing tube section 10, it includes a first and a second radial plane, which form a joint plane, as well as a longitudinal axis defined by the tube portion 12, with the longitudinal axis lying in the joint plane. Each wing section 20, 30 is thus configured planar and extends on opposite sides from the tube portion 12 radially to the outside.

[0060] In a subsequent step B, the plurality of cut-outs is now made into the respective wing section 20, 30 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube portion 12 so that a plurality of wings 22, 32 arises. Due to the plurality of cut-outs, the surface of the respective wing section 20, 30 is already increased.

[0061] At the same time of or subsequently to the making of the cut-outs, a twisting of a wing 22, 32 from the plurality of wings 22, 32 takes place in step C. The continuous transition portion which is present between the respective wing 22, 32 and the tube portion 12 is deformed and takes up the forces arising when twisting the wing 22, 32 by maintaining the connection to the tube portion 12. After concluding the twisting, the continuous transition portion therefore includes a twisted portion in the portion of the rotation axis as well as at least one expansion portion, depending on the positioning of the rotation axis with respect to the width of the respective wing 22, 32.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0062] 1 extruded wing tube section
3 tube portion
5 first wing section
7 second wing section
10 extruded wing tube section
12 tube portion
20 first wing section
22 first wing
30 second wing section
32 second wing
E.sub.r radial extension of the wing
A.sub.F distance between wing tips opposing each other

[0063] It will be apparent that there are other variations and modifications that can be made based on the inventive aspects discussed herein, and in accordance with the following claims.