HEAT EXCHANGER AS WELL AS METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger may include a first component composed of a first material and a second component composed of a second material. The first component and the second component may each have an edge zone. The first component and the second component may abut against one another in an overlapping manner at the edge zone and may be joined together. At least the edge zone of the first component may consist of a material impermeable to laser beams. The edge zone of the first component may externally overlap the edge zone of the second component and abut against the edge zone of the second component in direct contact and may be joined thereto via a fusion bond.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising: a first component composed of a first material and a second component composed of a second material, the first component and the second component each having an edge zone, wherein the first component and the second component abut against one another in an overlapping manner at the edge zone and are joined together; and, at least the edge zone of the first component consisting of a material is impermeable to laser beams, the edge zone of the first component externally overlapping the edge zone of the second component abutting against the edge zone of the second component in direct contact and joined thereto via a fusion bond.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the edge zone of the second component is plasticized to provide the fusion bond via a laser beam such that the edge zone of the second component is joined to an inner side of the edge zone of the first component facing the edge zone of the second component.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the laser beam acts on an outer side of the edge zone of the first component facing away from the edge zone of the second component.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the edge zone of the second component includes a plurality of projections embracing the edge zone of the first component at least in some regions.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the edge zone of the second component includes at least one stop abutting the edge zone of the first component with one edge at least partially.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first component is a metal component.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first component is a heat exchanger block.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the second component is a non-metallic component.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the second component is at least one of a collecting box, a distributor box, and a deflecting box.

10. A method for producing a heat exchanger having a first component composed of a first material and a second component composed of a second material, the first component having a first edge zone and the second component having a second edge zone, the first edge zone overlapping the second edge zone and abutting against the second edge zone in direct contact, the method comprising: heating the first edge zone such that the first edge zone heats the second edge zone; and joining the first edge zone and the second edge zone to one another in a sealing manner via the heating.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the heating the first edge zone includes heating the first edge zone via a laser beam.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first material and the second material are matched to one another such that only the second edge zone is plasticized via the heating the first edge zone and joins to the first edge zone.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the heating the first edge zone includes plasticizing only the second material.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the heating the first edge zone further includes plasticizing only the second material.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the edge zone of the second component includes at least one stop at least partially abutting at least one edge of the edge zone of the first component.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the first component is composed of aluminium.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the second component is composed of plastic.

18. A heat exchanger comprising: a heat exchanger block composed of a first material and having a first edge zone, at least the first edge zone composed of a material impermeable to laser beams; and a second component composed of a second material and having a second edge zone, the first edge zone externally overlapping the second edge zone joining the heat exchanger block and the second component, the first edge zone and the second edge zone abutting one another in direct contact and joined together via a fusion bond; wherein the second component is at least one of a collecting box, a distributor box, and a deflecting box.

19. The heat exchanger according to claim 18, wherein the second edge zone is plasticized to provide the fusion bond via a laser beam such that the second edge zone is joined to an inner side of the first edge zone facing the second edge zone.

20. The heat exchanger according to claim 18, wherein the second edge zone includes a plurality of projections embracing at least some regions of the first edge zone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In the figures, in each case schematically

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional view of a first embodiment of a heat exchanger (10) according to the invention with a first component (20) and a second component (60),

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a partial sectional view of a second embodiment of a heat exchanger (10) according to the invention with a first component (20) and a second component (60),

[0031] FIG. 3 shows an isometric partial sectional view of a third embodiment of a heat exchanger (10) according to the invention with a first component (20) and a second component (60).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] FIG. 1 shows in a partial view a section of a first embodiment of a heat exchanger 10 according to the invention having a first component 20 and a second component 60. In the embodiment of the heat exchanger 10 according to the invention, the first component 20 is a heat exchanger block 20 which is advantageously formed of aluminium and the second component 60 is a collecting box 60 which is advantageously formed of plastic.

[0033] The heat exchanger block 20 has an upright edge zone 22 which is delimited by an edge 24. On the side pointing towards the edge zone 22 or the edge 24, fins 26 are arranged in a known manner, of which one is shown here.

[0034] As can be clearly seen here, the edge zone 22 abuts externally against an edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 in direct contact in an overlapping manner. The edge zone 22 has on its outer side in each case a plurality of projections or lugs 64 which embrace the edge zone 22 of the first component 20. In each case, a stop 66 is formed on the inner side of the projections 64, against which the edge zone 22 abuts with its edge 24. It can also be clearly seen here that the projections or lugs 64 are continuations of reinforcing fins 68 arranged on the collecting box 60. This is advantageous since the collecting box 60 is exposed to a high and alternating internal pressure and these reinforcing fins 68 prevent an expansion or inflation of the collecting box 60.

[0035] The projections or lugs 64 act inter alia as guides so that on the one hand, it is ensured according to the invention that the heat exchanger block 20 and the collecting box 60 come into the correct position with respect to one another when joining together and that on the other hand, the edge zones 22, 62 of the heat exchanger block 20 and the collecting box 60 abut against one another in direct contact so that it is possible to join the two components together according to the invention.

[0036] This contributes according to the invention to a secure, load-bearing and tight connection between heat exchanger block 20 and collecting box 60 even under fairly long and higher stressing of the heat exchanger 10, so that the reliability and lifetime of the heat exchanger 10 according to the invention is significantly increased.

[0037] As indicated by the arrows 40 here in FIG. 1, a laser beam 40 acts in each case on an outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20. By this means the material of the edge zone 22, which is impermeable to laser beams, is heated which, in the exemplary embodiment presented here, is aluminium. The edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 formed from a plastic abuts in direct contact against an inner side 28 of the edge zone 22 and is therefore also heated. This results in a reliable, secure and in particular direct connection between the plastic of the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 in the region heated by the laser beam 40.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows in a partial view a section of a second embodiment of a heat exchanger 10 according to the invention having a first component 20 and a second component 60. In the embodiment of a heat exchanger 10 according to the invention shown here, the first component 20 is a heat exchanger block 20 which is advantageously formed of aluminium and the second component 60 is a collecting box 60 which is advantageously formed of plastic.

[0039] The same components are here provided with the same reference numbers so that a renewed description of these components can be dispensed with.

[0040] Also here in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 and the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 abut against one another in direct contact in an overlapping manner. Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 however embraces the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 on both sides so that the inner side 28 of the edge zone 22 abuts directly against the two sides of the edge zone 62. Or in other words, the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 forms a pocket in which the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 is introduced to make the connection. This ensures a secure and reliable positioning of the heat exchanger block 20 and collecting box 60 with respect to one another and therefore a secure, reliable and in particular tight connection between heat exchanger block 20 and collecting box 60.

[0041] The advantage of this embodiment consists in that the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 is connected sealingly on both sides to the inner side 28 of the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20. As indicated by the arrow 40, a laser beam 40 can as a result act on different regions of the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 in each case: a laser beam 40 can act on the subregion of the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 which lies opposite the outer side of the edge zone 62 of the collecting chamber 60 and a laser beam 40 can act on the subregion of the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 which lies opposite the inner side of the edge zone 62 of the collecting chamber 60. By this means, a particularly secure and reliable and in particular double-sealing connection between the plastic of the edge zone 62 of the collecting chamber 60 and the aluminium of the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 can be provided.

[0042] As a result of this configuration according to the invention, the laser beams 40 can act on subregions of the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 which lie opposite both the outer side and also the inner side of the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 and therefore heat this region of the edge zone 22 in the manner already described. Thus however, both the outer side and the inner side of the edge zone 62 of the collecting chamber 60 which abut against the heated regions of the edge zone 22 in direct contact are heated so that a reliable, secure and in particular tight connection is achieved between the plastic of the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 and the aluminium of the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 in the regions heated by the laser beams 40.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows in a slightly perspective partial sectional view a third embodiment of a heat exchanger 10 according to the invention having a first component 20 and a second component 60. In the third embodiment of a heat exchanger 10 according to the invention shown here, the first component 20 is a heat exchanger block 20 which is advantageously formed of aluminium and the second component 60 is a collecting box 60 which is advantageously formed of plastic.

[0044] The same components are here provided with the same reference numbers so that a renewed description of these components can be dispensed with.

[0045] In this isometric view through the collecting box 60 and the heat exchanger block 20 of this third embodiment, it can be clearly seen that the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 and the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 abut against one another in direct contact in an overlapping manner. In addition, the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 is bent around the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 in such a manner that both the outer side of the edge zone 62 and also an edge 70 of the edge zone 62 abut sealingly against the inner side 28 of the edge zone 22.

[0046] The advantage of this embodiment is that the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 is joined sealingly both with its outer side and also with its edge 70 to the inner side 28 of the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20. As indicated by the arrows 40, a laser beam 40 can thus act in each case on different regions of the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22: a laser beam 40 can act on the subregion of the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 which lies opposite the outer side of the edge zone 62 of the collecting chamber 60 and a laser beam 40 can act in FIG. 3 from below onto the subregion of the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 which lies opposite the edge 70 of the edge zone 62 of the collecting chamber 60. By this means, a particularly secure and reliable and in particular double-sealing connection can be provided between the plastic of the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 and the aluminium of the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20.

[0047] An advantage of this embodiment consists in that laser beams 40 can act on different laser regions A, B on the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20 in order, for example, to achieve a triple join or seal between the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 and the edge zone 22 of the heat exchanger block 20.

[0048] As already described, a laser beam 40 can act from below in FIG. 3 onto the subregion of the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 which lies opposite the edge 70 of the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60.This ensures a secure and reliable and in particular sealing first connection between the edge 70 of the edge zone 62 and the inner side 28 of the edge zone 22 in the manner described according to the invention.

[0049] Furthermore, a laser beam 40 can act on a laser region B on the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 which lies opposite the outer side of the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 and is formed continuously along the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22. By this means a secure and reliable and in particular sealing second connection is achieved between the outer side of the edge zone 62 and the inner side 28 of the edge zone 22 in the manner described according to the invention.

[0050] Finally a laser beam 40 can act on a laser region A on the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 which lies opposite the outer side of the edge zone 62 of the collecting box 60 and is formed intermittently along the outer side 30 of the edge zone 22 in each case between the projections or lugs 64. By this means a secure and reliable and in particular sealing third connection is achieved between the outer side of the edge zone 62 and the inner side 28 of the edge zone 22 in the manner described according to the invention.