ARRANGEMENT FOR A TEMPERATURE CONTROL CIRCUIT

Abstract

An arrangement for a temperature control circuit including a housing in which at least one channel is formed for transporting temperature control media, wherein the wall of the housing is formed from sheet metal.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a temperature control circuit, comprising a housing in which at least one channel is formed for transporting temperature control media, wherein the wall of the housing is formed from sheet metal.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing has at least a first housing part and a second housing part.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing parts are formed as deep-drawn parts or as punched parts.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of openings are introduced in the housing.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein functional elements are arranged in the openings.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of flow channels are formed in the housing.

7. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein a separating element made of sheet metal is arranged between the housing parts.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the separating element separates the channels.

9. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the separating element is formed as an internal heat exchanger.

10. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the housing parts are connected to one another by a welded joint or a soldered joint.

11. The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the housing parts are connected to each other in a media-tight manner.

12. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the housing parts are connected to each other via a screw connection.

13. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein at least one sealing element is arranged between the housing parts.

14. A distribution structure for transporting temperature control media, comprising an arrangement according to claim 1.

15. A refrigerant circuit for an electric vehicle, comprising a distribution structure according to claim 14.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] One embodiment of the arrangement is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show, in each schematically:

[0023] FIG. 1 an arrangement in sectional view;

[0024] FIG. 2 an arrangement in plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The figures show an arrangement 1 for a temperature control circuit. The arrangement 1 forms a part of a refrigerant circuit in an air conditioning system and acts as a distribution structure. The arrangement 1 comprises a housing 2 in which at least one channel 3 for transporting the temperature control medium is formed. The temperature control medium in this case is a refrigerant, specifically CO2 (R744) or a halogenated hydrocarbon (R1234yf). The arrangement 1 guides the refrigerant to various components of the refrigerant circuit.

[0026] The components of the refrigerant circuit can be connected directly to the housing 2. Depending on the available installation space and the distance between the components, said components can also be connected to the housing 2 via pipes.

[0027] Components of the refrigerant circuit are in particular heat exchangers, evaporators, chillers, condensers, gas coolers, battery cooling plates, compressors and accumulators. These components can be selectively controlled and supplied with refrigerant by means of the arrangement 1.

[0028] The wall of the housing 2 is formed of sheet metal. In the present embodiment, the sheet metal is a steel sheet with a wall thickness of 3 mm. Preferably, the wall thickness of the housing 2 is between 1 mm and 5 mm.

[0029] The housing 2 has a first housing part 4 and a second housing part 5, wherein the housing parts 4, 5 are formed as punched parts. A plurality of openings 6 are introduced in the housing parts 4, 5 and thus in the housing 2. The shaping of the housing parts 4, 5 and the introduction of the openings 6 are carried out in one single step using the punching method. To produce the housing parts 4, 5, a plate-shaped sheet is first provided and formed by punching. The punching of the outer contours of the housing parts 4, 5, the three-dimensional shaping and the introduction of the openings 6 in the housing parts 4, 5 are carried out in one single work step.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the housing parts 4, 5 are connected to each other by a welded joint in a materially bonded manner. Alternatively, it is conceivable to connect the housing parts 4, 5 to each other via a soldered connection. In a further alternative embodiment, the housing parts 4, 5 can be connected to each other via a bolted connection. At least in case of the bolted connection, a sealing element in form of a flat seal or in form of a sealing contour applied to a housing part is arranged between the housing parts 4, 5.

[0031] The functional elements 7 comprise sensors in form of temperature sensors, pressure sensors and volume flow sensors as well as valves in form of solenoid switching valves, directional control valves, pressure relief valves and check valves.

[0032] A separating element 8 made of sheet metal is arranged between the housing parts 4, 5. The separating element 8 separates two channels 3, 3 from each other. Accordingly, the separating element 8 allows a plurality of channels 3, 3 to be arranged within the housing 2.

[0033] The separating element 8 is formed of sheet metal, specifically sheet steel, and has a wall thickness of 1 mm. In the present embodiment, protrusions and indentations in form of beads are incorporated into the separating element 8 and the separating element 8 acts as an internal heat exchanger. In an alternative embodiment, the separating element 8 is plate-shaped.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an arrangement 1 with a housing 2 composed of two housing parts 4, 5 connected to each other by a materially bond. Openings 6 are introduced in the housing 2, wherein functional elements 7 in form of two switching valves and a check valve are arranged in the openings 6. The functional elements 7 are inserted into the openings 6 and connected to the housing 2 in a media-tight or fluid-tight manner using an O-ring seal. Furthermore, openings are also introduced in the separating element 8, so that the functional elements 7 can extend through the separating element 8 and connect the channels 3, 3 with each other.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the housing 2 of the arrangement 1 according to FIG. 1 in detail, in which a housing part 4 does not extend completely over the housing 2. A flat separating element 8 is arranged between the housing parts 4, 5. A housing part 4 does not completely cover the separating element 8, so that the separating element 8 also functions as the outer wall of the housing 2 in sections. This design is particularly space-saving.