EP1757888B1 - Arrangement of two heat exchangers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement of two heat exchangers according to the subject matter of the earlier patent application of the Applicant DE 103 48 701 A1 ,

In the earlier patent application of the application, an arrangement for the mutual attachment of two heat exchangers is described, which preferably relates to a coolant radiator for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle and a condenser of an air conditioning system for a motor vehicle. The attachment of the capacitor to the coolant radiator is carried out without further aids, d. H. without screws, rivets, clamps and the like, but rather molded onto the coolant boxes of the radiator holding means, which are adapted to the shape and size of the capacitor that sufficient fastening of the capacitor is errreicht.

While a coolant radiator often has coolant boxes made of plastic - with appropriate attachment options by injection molding of holding means - a capacitor - because of the higher operating pressure of Kälternittels - usually designed as an all-metal heat exchanger, ie as a brazed aluminum heat exchanger. Any holding or fastening means are therefore usually soldered as additional parts, screwed or riveted, as the z. B. in the DE-A 196 45 502 is described.

By the DE-A 198 57 512 was a cooling module, consisting of a coolant radiator, a refrigerant condenser and a fan cowl known, which are connected together to form a structural unit. Here, the coolant radiator arranged in the middle of the carrier of the other two components, which are held by molded on the coolant box of the radiator guide rails. The capacitor has additional fastening means in the form of metal profiles, which are held on the one hand in the slide rails and on the other hand fixed to headers of the capacitor by soldering. Thus, the cooler on both plastic boxes molded fasteners and the capacitor on both headers soldered holder.

By the DE-A 102 33 626 has been known from a condenser and a coolant radiator assembly which is mounted in a front end, consisting of a closed plastic frame. In this case, the capacitor is also fastened by means of screws or bolts on the front end with additional fastening means, ie screws on the radiator and the radiator. Both the condenser and the radiator each have their own holders, soldered to the condenser and sprayed on the coolant radiator on the plastic box, which produce the screw connection. The underlying this document. Problem concerns in addition to the mutual attachment of radiator and condenser and an effective seal of the air flow conveyed through the fan, in particular a bypass flow which is detrimental to the cooling should be avoided.

Based on this prior art, in particular the above-mentioned prior application of the applicant, it is an object of the present invention to further improve an arrangement of two heat exchangers, in particular with regard to the production costs.

This object is solved by the features of patent claim 1. According to the invention it is provided that, on the one hand, ie molded onto a collecting box retaining means which receive a manifold of the other heat exchanger form fit in itself. On the other hand, ie on the opposite side are soldered to the second manifold holder, Which intervene in molded fasteners of the other heat exchanger. Thus, different, ie non-symmetrical fastening means are provided on both mounting sides of both heat exchangers. This solution according to the invention brings cost advantages, both with respect to the attachment with four, ie both sides soldered holders and with respect to the attachment exclusively with molded holding means without additional parts. The elimination of two holders to be soldered results in lower production costs. On the other hand, advantages result from a shortened assembly by simply joining the two heat exchangers.

The soldered holder can be clipped on the other heat exchanger; thus the advantage of a quick installation is achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one of the soldered holder is designed as a block connection. The advantage here is that the block connection receives a second function, namely as a holder and thus eliminates an additional holder to be soldered.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the soldered holder are designed as a fixed bearing, while the attachment points are formed on the opposite side as a floating bearing. Hereby, the advantage is achieved that a differential expansion of both heat exchanger does not hinder and consequently thermally induced stresses and damage can be avoided.

The injection-molded holding means are formed as half-shells with a U-profile, wherein the U-profile has an open side facing in the direction of the heat exchanger block. By half shells simple receiving means for one of the two manifolds to be attached heat exchanger are created. This can thus be easily mounted, that are inserted in one direction in the U-profiles, ie either from the inside out or from the outside inwards.

In the latter case, the headers are frontally extended, so that the extended pipe ends can be inserted from the outside into the U-profiles. The two half shells form a pivot bearing for the manifold so that the heat exchanger can be folded in after insertion and locked by clipping on the other side.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the U-profiles are closed by side walls, which bear against the end faces of the headers. As a result, the advantage of a fixation in the longitudinal direction of the headers is achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, an elastic tongue is provided on one of the two side walls, which is supported on an end face of the collecting tube. This achieves the advantage that, on the one hand, manufacturing tolerances and, on the other hand, different thermal expansions of the two heat exchangers are compensated.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention elastic ribs are arranged between the half shells, which are supported on the manifold. As a result, the advantage is achieved that the manifold and the heat exchanger are clearly fixed and rattling noises are avoided.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the injection molded onto the manifolds holding means are formed as side cheeks, ie as substantially planar holding surfaces which comprise the end faces of a manifold and thus cause a fixation of the manifold in the direction of its longitudinal axis. In order to achieve a fixation also transversely to the longitudinal axis, retaining tabs are molded onto the collecting box, which protrude from the collecting box, pass through the heat exchanger block and comprise the collecting tube on the opposite side. Thus, the manifold is pressed alongside the collection box and fixed.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, an elastic tongue for tolerance and expansion compensation is provided on one of the two side cheeks.

In a further embodiment of the invention, one of the two heat exchangers is designed as a coolant radiator with coolant tanks made of plastic, while the other is designed as a brazed refrigerant condenser in Ganzaluminiumbauweise. On the one hand, the fasteners in the form of U-profiles can be sprayed on the coolant boxes due to their simple form with low tooling costs. On the other hand, the capacitor can be easily inserted with its substantially round headers in the U-profiles and pivoted about the longitudinal axis due to the round shape of the manifolds. On the other side, d. H. Holders soldered to the second header can be clipped onto the other coolant box with molded locking means. The capacitor is thus folded into the U-profiles after insertion and clipped. This is a simple and quick installation. A further advantage is that a capacitor in each case via a block connection, d. H. a soldered flange for refrigerant supply and discharge has. This flange can be used as a holding means or as an anchoring part for a fixed bearing, which is clipped with the coolant box. In this respect, so only one additional holder needs to be soldered, which keeps the extra effort for fasteners low.

In one variant, at least one of the two heat exchangers can be used as a charge air cooler or as an oil cooler.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Anordnung eines Kondensators und eines Kühlmittelkühlers,

Fig. 2

einen Eckausschnitt der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 1 mit oberem Halter,

Fig. 3

einen Eckausschnitt der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 1 mit unterem Halter,

Fig. 4

den unteren Halter, angespritzt am Kühlmittelkasten,

Fig. 5

den oberen Halter mit elastsicher Zunge, angespritzt am Kühlmittelkasten,

Fig. 6

einen Kühlmittelkasten mit angespritzten Haltern und zusätzlichen flexiblen Rippen,

Fig. 6a

eine Einzelheit X aus Fig. 6 mit flexibler Rippe,

Fig. 7

einen Blockanschluss am Sammelrohr des Kondensators,

Fig. 8

eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Anordnung mit oberem angespritzten Halter,

Fig. 9

die nicht erfindungsgemäße Anordnung mit unterem angespritzten Halter,

Fig. 10

eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Anordnung mit oberem Halter und angespritzten, den Kondensator durchgreifenden Haltelaschen und

Fig. 11

die Anordnung mit unterem Halter und angespritzten Haltelaschen.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it

Fig. 1

an inventive arrangement of a condenser and a coolant radiator,

Fig. 2

a corner of the arrangement according to Fig. 1 with upper holder,

Fig. 3

a corner of the arrangement according to Fig. 1 with lower holder,

Fig. 4

the lower holder, molded on the coolant box,

Fig. 5

the upper holder with resilient tongue, molded on the coolant box,

Fig. 6

a coolant box with molded holders and additional flexible ribs,

Fig. 6a

a detail X out Fig. 6 with flexible rib,

Fig. 7

a block connection at the collecting tube of the condenser,

Fig. 8

a non-inventive arrangement with upper molded-on holder,

Fig. 9

the non-inventive arrangement with lower molded holder,

Fig. 10

a not inventive arrangement with upper holder and molded, the capacitor by cross tabs and

Fig. 11

the arrangement with lower holder and molded retaining tabs.

Fig. 1 shows an inventive arrangement of a front mounted in the drawing capacitor and a coolant radiator 2 arranged behind, which are mounted as a unit in a front engine compartment of a motor vehicle, not shown, similar to that in the aforementioned earlier patent application, which hereby incorporated into the disclosure of the is included in the present application is described. The coolant radiator 2 is connected in a manner not shown to a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle, while the capacitor 1 is connected via a so-called block connection 3 in a manner not shown to a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system of the motor vehicle. The condenser 1 is designed as a brazed all-aluminum heat exchanger with a network 4 and lateral headers 5, 6, wherein at the right manifold 5 - in addition to the block terminal 3 - a capacitor holder 7 is soldered. The radiator 2 has two collection or coolant boxes 8, 9 made of plastic, between which there is the network of the radiator, which is covered by the condensate network 4 and therefore not visible. The cooler 2 is designed as a cross-flow cooler and has at its coolant boxes 8, 9, two lower mounting pins 8a, 9a and two upper mounting arms 8b, 9b, via which the radiator 2 is fixed in the vehicle, not shown. On the left coolant box 8, two half-shell-shaped holder 10, 11 molded, which surround the outer ends of the manifold 6 of the capacitor 1 and hold. On the right side, the condenser 1 is connected via the block connection 3 and the soldered holder 7 to the coolant box 9 in each case by a clip connection 12, 13. The capacitor 1 is thus attached to the radiator 2 at four points, wherein the two arranged on the right side of the capacitor 1 clip connections 12, 13 are designed as a fixed bearing and arranged on the left side U-profiles 10, 11 as a floating bearing. Different elongations of the capacitor network 4 and the (non-visible) radiator network can thus be compensated, so that it can not lead to thermally induced stresses in the heat exchangers 1, 2.

Fig. 2 shows a corner cutout Fig. 1 with the upper holder 11, which receives the upper end of the manifold 6 of the capacitor 1 in it. The U-profile of the holder 11 is closed at the top by a side wall 11a, on which an elastic tongue 11b is formed, which is visible in the holder 11 through a cutout 11c. The elastic tongue 11b bears resiliently against the end face of the collecting tube 6.

Fig. 3 shows a corner cutout Fig. 1 with the lower holder 10, which receives the lower end of the manifold 6.

Fig. 4 shows the lower holder 10, molded on the coolant box 8 with a U-profile 10a, which is closed at the bottom by a side wall 10b. On this side wall 10b rests - what in Fig. 4 not shown - the end face of the manifold 6. The U-profile 10a is in the direction of heat exchanger block (not shown here) open.

Fig. 5 shows the upper holder 11, molded on the coolant box 8, with resilient tongue 11 b, which protrudes from the upper side wall 11a and forms a Federelemerit, which presses on the end face of the collecting tube 6, not shown here. Thus, manufacturing tolerances and different Thermal expansion between the coolant box 8 and manifold 6 balanced.

Fig. 6 shows the coolant box 8 as a single part with the two molded holders 10, 11 at the bottom and top of the coolant box 8. It can be clearly seen in this illustration that both U-profiles of the half-shell-shaped holder 10, 11 are open to (not shown) heat exchanger block out The upper holder 11 has a U-profile 11d with an open side 11e. Between the two holders 10, 11, two flexible ribs 14, 15 are molded on the side wall of the coolant box 8, which resiliently bear against the longitudinal side of the collection tube 6, not shown here, received by the holders 10, 11. This fixation of the manifold 6 is achieved transversely to its longitudinal direction (direction of travel of the motor vehicle).

Fig. 6a shows a detail X from Fig. 6 that is, the flexible rib 14 in an enlarged view, wherein the rib consists of a molded elastic tongue 14 a and a free movable end 14 b, which is resiliently applied to the collecting tube.

Fig. 7 shows another corner section Fig. 1 , Namely, the soldered to the manifold 5 of the capacitor 1 block connection 3, also referred to as a refrigerant flange. The latter has the primary task, not shown refrigerant pipes for the inlet and outlet of the refrigerant to connect to the interior of the manifold 5. In addition, the block connection 3 has the function of a capacitor holder, ie it serves to attach the capacitor 1 to the adjacent coolant box 9. Block connection 3 and coolant box 9 are connected to one another by the clip connection 12, ie a latching element 12a molded onto the coolant box 9 engages behind an edge 3a of FIG Block connection 3. This locking connection 12 - and also not shown here further clip connection 13 (see. Fig. 1 ) - So can be prepared by Belklappen the capacitor 1 and the manifold 5.

Furthermore, the block connection 3 has an opening 25 in order to make a bolt 26 accessible to the coolant box 9. In the case of a breakage of the latching element 12a, a screw (not shown), in particular a plastic screw, for fastening the capacitor into the hole 27, which is preferably designed as a blind hole, can be rotated for simplified repair. Thus, expensive replacement of the heat exchanger in case of damage may be avoided. Preferably, the bolt 26 is integrally formed on the coolant box 9.

Fig. 8 shows a connection between the condenser 1 and radiator 2 with a modified manifold 16 of the capacitor 1 and a modified holder 17 on the coolant box 8. The holder 17 is similar to the holder 11 is formed, ie it also has a U-profile, but with a open side 17a, which faces not to the capacitor block 4, but in the opposite direction. Thus, the holder 17 is rotated relative to the holder 11 by 180 degrees - analogously, the assembly of the capacitor 1 in the opposite direction, ie from outside to inside. For this, the manifold is extended on both sides beyond the block 4, wherein in Fig. 8 the upper elongated tube end 16 a is shown, which is inserted into the holder 17. The latter is closed at the top by a side wall 17b, which likewise has an elastic tongue not shown in detail - analogous to the one in FIG Fig. 5 illustrated embodiment.

Fig. 9 shows the collection tube 16 with a lower elongated tube end 16 b, which is inserted into a half-shell-shaped holder 18. The latter in turn has a U-profile, with an open side 18a, which is directed outwards, and a side wall 18b, on which rests the end face of the header end 16b. Also in this half-shell-shaped design of the holder 17, 18 a rotation of the manifold 16 about its longitudinal axis after insertion is possible, so that the capacitor 1 can be clipped by whipping.

Fig. 10 shows a not inventive mounting arrangement between the condenser 1 and radiator 2, with a modified upper Holder 19, which is molded on the coolant box 8. The holder 19 essentially has a side wall 19a on which an elastic tongue 19b is formed inwardly. Further, on the coolant box 8 of this projecting, the capacitor network, 4 cross-holding tabs 20 are formed, which create resiliently against the front side of the manifold 6. The network 4 is known from flat tubes and corrugated fins, which are not shown in detail. In the area of the pipe ends outside the headers are rib-free zones, ie gaps between the pipes through which the retaining tabs can be inserted.

Fig. 11 shows in addition to Fig. 10 a lower holder 21 which is also injection-molded onto the coolant box 8 and substantially comprises a planar side wall 21 a, which forms a contact surface for the lower end face of the collecting tube 6. Also in the lower part of the condensate network 4 retaining tabs 22 are arranged, which are molded onto the coolant box 8. Regarding 10 and 11 It can be seen that the manifold 6 is fixed in its longitudinal direction by the two holders 19, 21 and their side cheeks 19a, 19b, 21a, while the manifold 6 transversely to its longitudinal direction, ie in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle by the retaining tabs 20, 22nd is secured opposite the coolant box 8. The connection of the capacitor 1 on its right, not shown here side, carried by the above-described clip connection means soldered capacitor holders. Due to the design of the holder 19, 20 in conjunction with the retaining tabs 20, 22 is also a pivoting of the capacitor 1 and thus a wobble possible.

In the embodiments shown, the block dimensions of the first and second heat exchangers are substantially the same. In other embodiments, the blocks of the two heat exchangers have different dimensions or are offset in the air flow direction to each other, that is, they do not align with each other.

By suitable variation of the holder, the mounting direction of the second heat exchanger can be adapted to predetermined space conditions.

Claims (7)

1. A system comprising two heat exchangers (1, 2), the first heat exchanger (1) being disposed parallel to the second heat exchanger (2) and comprising a heat exchanger block (4) as well as two headers (5, 6) disposed on either side, and the second heat exchanger (2) comprising a tube/fin block having two headers (8, 9) made of castable or moldable material fastened on either side, the first heat exchanger (1) being fastened to a header of the second heat exchanger (2) on one side by holding means (10, 11; 17, 18), which are designed as one piece with the first header (8) of the second heat exchanger (2), and on the other side by holders (3, 7) that are soldered to a header of the first heat exchanger (1), the soldered-an holders (3, 7) being clippable to the second header (9) of the second heat exchanger (2), characterized in that the holding means are designed as half shells (10, 11) having a U profile, which surround a header (6, 16) of the first heat exchanger (1), the U profiles of the half shells (10, 11) being open toward the block (4) of the first heat exchanger (1), and the header (6) being insertable into the U profiles (10, 11).
2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the soldered-on holders is designed as a block connection (3).
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the soldered-on holders (3, 7) are designed as fixed bearings and the holding means (10, 11) are designed as floating bearings.
4. The system according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the half shells (10, 11) are closed by side walls (10b, 11a, 11b), which fix the header (6, 16) in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof.
5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that one of the two side walls (11a) is flexible, and in particular has an elastic tongue (11b).
6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that flexible fins (14, 15), against which the header (6, 16) can be supported, are molded to the header (8) between the half shells (10, 11).
7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first heat exchanger is designed as a condenser (1) of a motor vehicle air conditioner, in particular having a solid aluminum construction, and the second heat exchanger is designed as a coolant cooler for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

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