HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided and includes a core that has numerous tubes through which a first fluid flows and around which a second fluid flows, and a reservoir that has a body with at least one chamber through which a first fluid can flow, and a base that protrudes outward from the body at the side facing the core and at least partially encircles a hole opening into the chamber. The core has a closure plate attached to the reservoir for closing the hole therein. The plate has a bottom that the reservoir bears on, through which ends of the tubes opening into the chamber pass, and numerous retaining elements, which bear on the upper surface of the base facing away from the core.

The durability of the heat exchanger can be improved in that a stop for at least one retaining element is formed on the upper surface of the base of the reservoir, which protrudes from this upper surface on a side of the retaining element facing away from the body of the reservoir.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, for thermal exchange between a first fluid flowing through the inside of the heat exchanger and a second fluid flowing outside the heat exchanger, comprising: a core comprising a plurality of tubes through which a first fluid can flow, and around which a second fluid can flow, at least one reservoir, the at least one reservoir comprises a body with at least one chamber through which the first fluid can flow, and a base, which protrudes from a side of the body of the reservoir facing the core, the base at least partially encircles a hole opening into the chamber, wherein the core further comprises at least one closure plate, which is attached to the reservoir to close the hole, wherein the closure plate has a bottom on which the reservoir bears, through which ends of the tubes pass, opening into the chamber, wherein the closure plate has a plurality of retaining elements that bear on an upper surface of the base of the reservoir facing away from the core such that the base is between the bottom of the plate and the retaining elements, wherien a stop for at least one retaining element is formed on the upper surface of the base of the reservoir, the stop protrudes from the upper surface of the base on a side of the retaining element facing away from the body of the reservoir such that the retaining element is between the body of the reservoir and the stop.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the respective retaining element bears on the respective stop.

18. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the stop is a plurality of stops, with each of the plurality of stops for at least a plurality of the retaining elements.

19. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the retaining elements press the reservoir base against the bottom of the plate.

20. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the closure plate and retaining elements formed thereon are made of metal, the reservoir is made of plastic.

21. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the respective stop is integrally formed on the reservoir base.

22. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the respective stop has a complementary shape to the respective retaining element on its side facing the respective retaining element.

23. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the respective retaining element bears two-dimensionally on the surface of the reservoir base.

24. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the closure plate comprising a collar protruding from the bottom of the plate, at least partially encircling the bottom of the plate, and a retaining band at least partially encircling the bottom of the plate, which is connected to the collar by a plurality of webs, a retaining element is formed on the retaining band between each pair of adjacent webs, the retaining elements protrude inward from the retaining band in relation to the webs, and thus extend over the reservoir base.

25. The heat exchanger according to claim 24, wherein a plurality of projections are formed on the body of the reservoir that protrude outward, the retaining band bears on the projections near the webs.

26. The heat exchanger according to claim 25, wherein stops are disposed between pairs of adjacent projections on the reservoir base, and spaced apart from adjacent projections.

27. The heat exchanger according to claim 25, wherein the projections are directly adjacent to the reservoir base and thus flush toward the exterior.

28. The heat exchanger according to claim 24, wherein the retaining elements are formed by curved segments of the retaining band, which arc toward the body of the reservoir.

29. The heat exchanger according to claim 28, wherein the retaining elements are concave on the side facing the stops, the stops are convex on the side facing the retaining elements.

30. A coolant circuit for a motor vehicle that comprises at least one heat exchanger according to claim 16.

31. The heat exchanger according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of stops include a respective stop for every retaining element of the plurality of retaining elements.

Description

[0031] Therein, schematically:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a heat exchanger near a retaining element,

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the heat exchanger near the retaining element.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat exchanger 1 partially shown therein comprises a core 2 and at least one reservoir 3. The core 2 contains numerous parallel tubes 4 with spaces or gaps 5 between them. A first fluid can flow through the tubes 4. A second fluid can flow through the gaps 5. The second fluid thus flows around the tubes 4. Fins 6 can be placed in the gaps 5. The reservoir 3 has a body 7 in which a chamber 8 is formed that is connected to the tubes 4 for fluid exchange. The chamber 8 can be a distribution chamber that distributes the fluid from a supply connection (not show) to the tubes 4, a collecting chamber in which the first fluid arriving from the tubes 4 is collected and conducted to a drain (not shown), or a deflection chamber that diverts the first fluid coming from a first group of tubes 4 to a second group of tubes 4.

[0035] The reservoir 3 also has a base 9, which protrudes outward from a side of the body 7 of the reservoir facing the core 2. The base 9 encircles at least part of a hole 10 in the reservoir that can be seen in FIG. 2, which opens into the chamber 8.

[0036] The heat exchanger 1 is used for thermal exchange between the first fluid, which flows through the inside of the heat exchanger, and the second fluid, which flows outside the heat exchanger.

[0037] The core 2 has a closure plate 11 on the side facing the reservoir 3, which is attached on the reservoir 3 such that it closes the hole 10 in the reservoir. Ends 12 of the tubes 4 pass through this plate 11 and open into the chamber 8. One such end 12 can be seen in FIG. 2, merely by way of example, which passes through the plate 11. It is clear that the tubes are sealed against the plate 11. The tubes 4 are normally brazed onto the plate 11.

[0038] The plate 11 has a bottom 13 that the base 9 of the reservoir 3 bears against. The tubes 4, or their ends 12, pass through this bottom 13. There can be a seal, not shown herein, placed between the reservoir 3 and the closure plate 11.

[0039] The closure plate 11 can also have numerous retaining elements 15, only one of which is shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2. These retaining elements 13 bear on the base 9 of the reservoir on an upper surface 16 facing away from the core 2. The base 9 is consequently between the bottom 13 of the plate and the retaining elements 15.

[0040] A stop 17 for at least one of the retaining elements 15 is formed on the base 9 of the reservoir on the upper surface 16 thereof. This stop 17 protrudes from the upper surface 16 of the base on a side of the retaining element 15 facing away from the retainer 7. The retaining element 15 is therefore between the body 7 of the reservoir and the stop 17. The retaining element 15 is thus secured in place in relation to the base 9 by the stop 17 in a form-fit connection. Consequently, the retaining element 15 cannot separate from the base 9 during normal use of the heat exchanger 1. The direction in which movement of the retaining element 15 in relation to the base 9 is prevented by the stop 17 is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by an arrow 14.

[0041] In this example, the retaining element 15 bears directly on its dedicated stop 17. This prevents outward creepage of the retaining element 15 in relation to the base 9 of the reservoir. Ideally, there is a stop 17 of this kind on the base 9 for numerous, particularly all, retaining elements 15.

[0042] The retaining elements 15 can be designed such that they press the base 9 of the reservoir against the bottom 13 of the plate. This results in a secure and sealed connection between the reservoir 3 and the closure plate 11. In particular, the plate 11, with the retaining elements 15, is made of metal, preferably a light metal, in particular an aluminum alloy. The tubes 4 and fins 6 are also ideally made of metal, e.g. a light metal, i.e. an aluminum alloy. In particular, these metallic components of the heat exchanger 1 can be brazed to one another. For a particularly light and inexpensive heat exchanger 1, the reservoir 3 can be made of plastic. The stops 17 can be formed as integral parts of the base 9 of the reservoir. In particular, the reservoir 3 can be integrally formed with the base 9 and the stops 17 in an injection molding process.

[0043] For a particularly secure bearing and form-fit connection of the retaining elements 15 on the stops 17, the sides of the stops 17 facing the retaining elements 15 can be complementary to the retaining elements 15. FIG. 1 shows that the stop 17 is curved outward on the side facing the retaining element 15, and the side of the retaining element 15 facing the stop 17 is curved inward, complementary thereto. This results in surface area contact between the retaining element 15 and the stop 17.

[0044] The closure plate 11 in this example can have a collar 18 and a retaining band 19, which is connected to the collar 18 by numerous webs 20. The collar 18 protrudes from the bottom 13 of the plate on the side facing away from the core 2, and runs at least partially along the bottom 13 of the plate. The retaining band 19 also runs along at least part of the bottom 9 of the plate. Adjacent webs 20 can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 also shows that the retaining element 15 is formed between these webs 20 on the retaining band 19. The retaining element 15 protrudes inward from the retaining band 19 in relation to the webs 20, i.e. toward the body 7 of the reservoir, thus extending over the base 9 of the reservoir.

[0045] Numerous projections 21 can be formed on the body 7 of the reservoir, which protrude outward. Two of these projections 21 can be seen by way of example in FIG. 1. The retaining band 19 bears on these projections 21 near the webs 20. The retaining elements 15 are therefore between adjacent projections 21. The stops 17 are also between projections 21, and spaced apart therefrom. These projections 21 can be directly adjacent to the base 9 of the reservoir, or start directly on this base 9. Furthermore, these projections 21 can be flush with the base 9 toward the outside. This increases the length of the bearing surface formed with the projections 21 on the base 9 of the reservoir toward the core 2. This results in a large and stable bearing surface area for the retaining band 19 near the webs 20.

[0046] The retaining elements 15 in this example are formed by curved sections of the retaining band 19. These retaining elements 15 are arced toward the body 7 of the reservoir. The curvature is such that the retaining elements 15 are flat on their lower surfaces 22 facing the base 9 of the reservoir, to obtain the largest possible surface area contact between the retaining elements 15 and the base 9 of the reservoir. It can be seen in FIG. 2 in particular that the retaining elements 15 bear on the base 9 of the reservoir over their entire lower surface 22 near the stops 17, from an outer edge 23 facing the respective stop 17 to an inner edge 24 facing the body 7 of the reservoir.

[0047] The side of the retaining element 15 shown in FIG. 1 facing the stop 17 is concave. The stop 17 has a complementary convex curvature on the side facing the retaining element 15, such that the retaining element 15 and stop 17 bear against one another over these surface areas.

[0048] The specification can be readily understood with reference to the following Numbered Paragraphs:

[0049] Numbered Paragraph 1. A heat exchanger (1), preferably for a motor vehicle, for thermal exchange between a first fluid flowing through the inside of the heat exchanger (1) and a second fluid flowing outside the heat exchanger (1), which has [0050] a core (2) that contains numerous tubes (4) through which a first fluid can flow, and around which a second fluid can flow, [0051] at least one reservoir (3), which has a body (7) with at least one chamber (8) through which the first fluid can flow, and a base (9), which protrudes from a side of the body (7) of the reservoir facing the core (2), and at least partially encircles a hole (10) opening into the chamber (8), p1 wherein the core (2) has at least one closure plate (11), which is attached to the reservoir (3) to close the hole (10), [0052] wherein the closure plate (11) has a bottom (13) on which the reservoir (3) bears, through which ends (12) of the tubes (4) pass, opening into the chamber (8), [0053] wherein the closure plate (11) has numerous retaining elements (15), which bear on an upper surface (16) of the base (9) of the reservoir facing away from the core (2) such that the base (9) is between the bottom (13) of the plate and the retaining elements (15),
characterized in that [0054] on the upper surface (16) of the base (9) of the reservoir, a stop (17) is formed for at least one retaining element (15), which protrudes from the upper surface (16) of the base on a side of the retaining element (15) facing away from the body (7) of the reservoir such that the retaining element (15) is between the body (7) of the reservoir and the stop (17).

[0055] Numbered Paragraph 2. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 1, characterized in that the respective retaining element (15) bears on the respective stop (17).

[0056] Numbered Paragraph 3. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 1 or 2, characterized in that there is such a stop (17) for numerous retaining elements (15) or for all retaining elements (15).

[0057] Numbered Paragraph 4. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the retaining elements (15) press the reservoir base (9) against the bottom (13) of the plate.

[0058] Numbered Paragraph 5. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that [0059] the closure plate (11) and retaining elements (15) formed thereon are made of metal, [0060] the reservoir (3) is made of plastic.

[0061] Numbered Paragraph 6. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the respective stop (17) is integrally formed on the reservoir base (9).

[0062] Numbered Paragraph 7. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the respective stop (17) has a complementary shape to the respective retaining element (15) on its side facing the respective retaining element (15).

[0063] Numbered Paragraph 8. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the respective retaining element (15) bears two-dimensionally on the surface of the reservoir base (9).

[0064] Numbered Paragraph 9. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that [0065] the closure plate (11) has a collar (18) protruding from the bottom (13) of the plate, at least partially encircling the bottom (13) of the plate, and a retaining band (19) at least partially encircling the bottom of the plate (13), which is connected to the collar by numerous webs (20), [0066] a retaining element (15) is formed on the retaining band (219) between each pair of adjacent webs (20), [0067] the retaining elements (15) protrude inward from the retaining band (19) in relation to the webs (20), and thus extend over the reservoir base (9).

[0068] Numbered Paragraph 10. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 9, characterized in that [0069] numerous projections (21) are formed on the body (7) of the reservoir that protrude outward, [0070] the retaining band (19) bears on the projections (21) near the webs (20).

[0071] Numbered Paragraph 11. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 10, characterized in that stops (17) are formed between pairs of adjacent projections (21) on the reservoir base (9), and spaced apart from adjacent projections (21).

[0072] Numbered Paragraph 12. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 10 or 11, characterized in that the projections (21) are directly adjacent to the reservoir base (9) and thus flush toward the exterior.

[0073] Numbered Paragraph 13. The heat exchanger (1) according to any of the Numbered Paragraphs 9 to 12, characterized in that the retaining elements (15) are formed by curved segments of the retaining band (19), which arc toward the body (7) of the reservoir.

[0074] Numbered Paragraph 14. The heat exchanger (1) according to Numbered Paragraph 13, characterized in that [0075] the retaining elements (15) are concave on the side facing the stops (17), [0076] the stops (17) are convex on the side facing the retaining elements (15).

[0077] Numbered Paragraph 15. A coolant circuit for a motor vehicle that contains at least one heat exchanger (1) according to at least one of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs 1 to 14.