Collector tube for a heat exchanger

Abstract

A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which may have at least one flat tube, may include at least one recess, through which a separator may be inserted into the collector tube in an insertion position. The separator may have a separating wall comprising a separating wall thickness, wherein a clearance fit may be present between the separating wall and the recess in response to the insertion of the separator. The separating wall may provide at least one elevation to attain an increase of the separating wall thickness in a subarea of the separator. In the insertion position of the separator, the at least one elevation may be arranged in an area of the recess. In the insertion position, a press fit may be present between the at least one elevation and the recess.

Claims

1. A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which has at least one flat tube between two longitudinal ducts, the two longitudinal ducts each comprising: a base having a base collar extending therefrom, and a cover that, when together, form one of the longitudinal ducts, wherein the base collar has an inner surface that contacts an outer surface of the cover, and the base collar does not extend into the one longitudinal duct; a recess in the base, through which a separator is inserted into the longitudinal duct in an insertion position, the recess forming an oblong and planar slot in the base; wherein the separator has a separating wall comprising a separating wall thickness, wherein a clearance fit is present between the separating wall and the recess in response to the insertion of the separator; wherein the separating wall provides two elevations spaced apart from one another to attain an increase of the separating wall thickness in a subarea of the separator, the two elevations each engaging an inner surface of the oblong and planar slot; wherein, in the insertion position of the separator, the two elevations are arranged in an area of the recess; and wherein, in the insertion position, a press fit is present between the two elevations and the recess.

2. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the separating wall includes a ledge extending to one side of a surface of the separator and opposite the recess, which, in the insertion position, is arranged outside of the one longitudinal duct of the collector tube.

3. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the two elevations have a circular embodiment.

4. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the separator is embodied so as to be at least partially complementary to a subarea of an inner wall of the collector tube.

5. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein: the cover is arranged so as to be located opposite the base; the base and the cover embody the one longitudinal duct; the base has at least one passage having an opening for accommodating the at least one flat tube of the heat exchanger.

6. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the two elevations along a first direction of extension and along a second direction of extension have at least one of identical dimensions and identical diameters.

7. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the two elevations is at least twice a diameter of one of the at least two elevations.

8. The collector tube according to claim 7, wherein the two elevations have identical diameters.

9. The collector tube according to claim 2, wherein a first face of the separating wall includes the ledge extending therefrom, and a second face of the separating wall opposite the first face includes a depression that extends toward the ledge.

10. The collector tube according to claim 1, wherein the separator has a ledge on one end and a curved boundary edge that abuts and does not pass through the cover.

11. A heat exchanger for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of flat tubes, which are spaced apart from one another; and a longitudinal duct fluidically connecting the flat tubes to one another, the longitudinal duct having a recess, through which a separator is inserted into the longitudinal duct in an insertion position, the recess forming an oblong and planar slot in a base of the longitudinal duct, the longitudinal duct including a base having a base collar extending therefrom, and a cover that, when together, form the longitudinal duct, wherein the base collar has an inner surface that contacts an outer surface of the cover, and the base collar does not extend into the longitudinal duct; wherein the separator has a separating wall comprising a separating wall thickness, wherein a clearance fit is present between the separating wall and the recess in response to the insertion of the separator; wherein the separating wall provides two elevations to attain an increase of the separating wall thickness in a subarea of the separator, the two elevations each engaging an inner surface of the oblong and planar slot; wherein, in the insertion position of the separator, the two elevations are arranged in an area of the recess; and wherein, in the insertion position, a press fit is present between the two elevations and the recess.

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the separator has a ledge extending to one side of a plane of the separator and opposite the recess, which, in the insertion position, is arranged outside of a longitudinal duct of the longitudinal duct.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the two elevations have a circular embodiment.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the separator at least partially has a curved boundary edge.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the separator is embodied so as to be at least partially complementary to a subarea of an inner wall of the longitudinal duct.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein a distance between the two elevations is at least twice a diameter of one of the at least two elevations.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the two elevations have identical diameters.

18. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the separator has a ledge on one end and a curved boundary edge that abuts and does not pass through the cover.

19. A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which has at least one flat tube, comprising: a base having a base collar extending therefrom, and a cover arranged opposite one another and embodying a longitudinal duct, wherein the base collar has an inner surface that contacts an outer surface of the cover, and the base collar does not extend into the longitudinal duct, the base having a generally planar surface; and a recess through the generally planar surface of the base, through which a separator is inserted into the collector tube in an insertion position; wherein the base has at least one passage comprising an opening for accommodating the at least one flat tube of the heat exchanger; wherein the separator has a separating wall comprising a separating wall thickness, wherein a clearance fit is present between the separating wall and the recess in response to the insertion of the separator; wherein the separating wall includes (i) two elevations to attain an increase of the separating wall thickness in a subarea of the separator and (ii) a ledge; wherein, in the insertion position of the separator, the two elevations are arranged in an area of the recess and the ledge is disposed outside of the longitudinal duct and spaced apart from the base; and wherein, in the insertion position, a press fit is present between the two elevations and the recess.

20. The collector tube according to claim 19, wherein the separator has a curved boundary edge that abuts and does not pass through the cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In each case schematically,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a heat exchanger or condenser, respectively,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a collector tube according to the invention prior to the assembly,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective longitudinal section of an assembled collector tube,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a separating element,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the separating element of FIG. 4,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a section through a separating element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 2 has a plurality of flat tubes 3, which are fluidically connected to two collector tubes 1. The collector tubes 1 and the flat tubes 3 are arranged essentially transversely to one another. A first collector tube 1 is provided with an inlet 17, and a second collector tube 1 has an outlet 18. The inlet 17 and the outlet 18 can be connected to a non-illustrated air conditioning circuit of a vehicle, wherein the air conditioning circuit can be used to regulate the room temperature in the vehicle interior.

(9) If the heat exchanger 2 is used as condenser, a refrigerant of the air conditioning circuit enters in the vaporous aggregate state into the collector tube 1 through the inlet 17 and flows through the flat tubes 3. Separating elements 5 are inserted in the collector tubes 1 in such a way that for example a meander-shaped flow guidance or flow path, respectively, of the refrigerant results. While the refrigerant flows through the flat tubes 3, it dissipates its heat energy to the flat tubes 3 or to the surrounding area of the flat tubes 3, respectively, so that it cools down and condenses. Fins 19, which increase the mechanical resistance of the heat exchanger 2 and which enlarge the surface, via which the heat energy of the refrigerant can be discharged to the external environment, are arranged between the flat tubes 3. The condensed refrigerant is supplied to the air conditioning circuit via the outlet 18.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a collector tube 1 according to the invention prior to the assembly. FIG. 3 shows a perspective longitudinal section of an assembled collector tube 1.

(11) The collector tube 1 consists of a base 12 and a cover 13, wherein the base 12 has a base collar 23. Compared to the cover 13, the base 12 is embodied to be essentially flat. The base 12 and the cover 13 can be made of a sheet metal, wherein the collector tubes 1 as well as the entire heat exchanger 2 can be produced by means of soldering.

(12) The base 12 and the cover 13 limit a longitudinal duct 9, through which a refrigerant can flow. In the assembled state of the collector tube 1, a subarea of the separating element 5 abuts against an inner wall 11 of the collector tube 1, in particular against an inner wall 11 of the cover 13.

(13) The base 12 has a plurality of passages 14, which are arranged spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal duct 9. Each passage 14 has an opening 15 and a collar 16, which extends away from the longitudinal duct 9. The opening 15 has a wide edge and a narrow edge, which correspond to the dimensions of the flat tubes 3 in such a way that the flat tubes 3 can be inserted through the respective opening 15. The opening 15 of the passage 14 can initially taper towards the longitudinal duct 9 and can subsequently widen again. The insertion of the respective flat tube 3 into the respective passage 14 can be simplified thereby.

(14) In areas located opposite a passage 14, the cover 13 has recesses 22. These recesses 22 can be punched out of the areas, which are in contact with the base collar 23 after the assembly. These recesses 22 can be embodied to be trapezoidal.

(15) The base 4 has recesses 12, into which the separating elements 13 can be inserted. The separating elements 13 can be inserted prior to or also after the assembly of the base 4 and of the cover 5. The separating element 13 is used to segment the collector tube 1 or the longitudinal duct 9, respectively, in order to attain a desired flow direction of the refrigerant through the heat exchanger 2.

(16) An enlarged perspective view of a separating element 5 is shown in FIG. 4, wherein a side view of the separating element 5 is illustrated in FIG. 5.

(17) The separating element 5 has a separating wall 6 comprising a separating wall thickness 20 and at least one elevation 7. In FIG. 2, the separating element 5 is illustrated prior to the insertion into the base 12, and is shown in an insertion position in FIG. 3.

(18) The separating wall 6 has a shape, which corresponds to the cross sectional contour of the longitudinal duct 9, so that the separating element 5, in its insertion position, provides for a fluid-tight segmenting or separation, respectively, of the collector tube 1 or of the longitudinal duct 9, respectively. For this purpose, the separating element 5 can have a curved boundary edge 10, which can be embodied so as to be at least partially complementary to a subarea of the inner wall 11 of the collector tube 1.

(19) The elevation 7 leads to a local increase of the separating wall thickness, so that a separating wall thickness 21, which is larger than the separating wall thickness 20, is present in this area. The elevation 7 can be produced by means of additionally applied material or also, for example, by means of a forming process. The dimensions of the recess 4 are selected in such a way that the separating wall 6 can be pushed into the recess 4 without large resistance, wherein the dimensions of the elevation 7 are selected in such a way that, in the insertion position of the separating element 5, the elevation 7 is pressed into the recess 4. The separating element 5 has two elevations 7, which are spaced apart from one another and which have a circular and/or cylindrical and/or truncated cone-shaped embodiment.

(20) In the embodiment illustrated here, in particular in FIG. 4, the respective elevation 7 has identical dimensions and/or diameters along a first direction of extension 100 and along a second direction of extension 101. In a non-illustrated exemplary different embodiment, at least one elevation 7 can have different dimensions and/or diameters along a first direction of extension 100 and along a second direction of extension 101. In a further non-illustrated exemplary embodiment, at least one elevation 7 can extend over the entire width of the separating wall 6 along the second direction of extension 101. In a further non-illustrated exemplary embodiment, at least one elevation 7 can be larger in a diameter and can extend up to a curvature of the entire separating wall 6 and can embody a crown bow.

(21) The separating element 5 can have a ledge 8, which is arranged outside of the longitudinal duct 9 in the insertion position of the separating element 5. The ledge 8 can be produced by means of additionally applied material or also for example by means of a forming process.

(22) The separating wall thickness 21 and the separating wall thickness 20 can be measured from a common reference point and/or from a common reference line 24. An observation of the separating wall thickness 21 and of the separating wall thickness 20 can thereby take place in the side view, wherein for example recesses and/or bulges 25, which are created, for example, by means of a forming process and/or production process, are not included. This is illustrated in an exemplary manner in FIG. 6, in which a section through a separating element 5 is shown, so that a possible bulge 25 becomes visible. Even though the elevation 7 is embodied here by means of a local forming of the separating wall 6, this effectively leads to an increase of the separating wall thickness 20, so that the elevation 7 is arranged in the area of the recess 4 in the insertion position of the separating element 5, and so that a press fit forms between the elevation 7 and the recess 4.