HEAT EXCHANGER

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a U.S. National Phase of International Application No. PCT/AT2024/060025 entitled “HEAT EXCHANGER”, and filed on Jan. 30, 2024. International Application No. PCT/AT2024/060025 claims priority to Austrian Patent Application No. A 50046/2023 filed on Jan. 30, 2023. The entire contents of each of the above-listed applications are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a heat exchanger, preferably a liquid-gas cooler, in particular an oil-air cooler, for heat exchange between a first fluid, preferably a liquid, in particular hydraulic oil, and a second fluid, preferably a gas, in particular air, comprising:

• • a heat exchanger block forming two transverse sides, two longitudinal sides, a front side and a rear side, with first fluid guiding elements for the first fluid and with second fluid guiding elements for the second fluid, wherein the second fluid guiding elements are enclosed at the transverse sides by end profiles,
  • two fluid receiving containers along the transverse sides of the heat exchanger block for distributing the first fluid to the first fluid guiding elements or for collecting the first fluid exiting from the first fluid guiding elements respectively, wherein the fluid receiving containers are each laterally closed by fluid receiving container end pieces, and
  • a mounting bracket for mounting the heat exchanger on a support body.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

From WO 2016/172741, such a heat exchanger is known, which is configured as a liquid cooler. The liquid cooler comprises two distributor containers on both sides of a plate packet for the heat exchange between the fluids. The distributor containers are formed by extrusion profiles, which are laterally closed with end pieces. Guide grooves are provided on the distributor containers, to which platforms for the liquid supply or the liquid discharge can be connected. The mechanical connection points, however, are provided on the plate packet. For this purpose, in the prior art, along the longitudinal sides, two U-shaped mounting profiles with laterally protruding mounting flanges are installed, at which mounting holes for mounting the liquid cooler at the place of use are formed. In practice, the U-shaped mounting profiles are joined to the plate packet in a soldering process. The end pieces, however, are welded to the distributor containers. Disadvantageous is the complicated construction of the known liquid cooler with many individual parts, which must be assembled with great effort. Particularly disadvantageous is also that the mounting forces caused by the weight of the heat exchanger or by vibrations at the place of installation are applied via the U-shaped mounting profiles along the longitudinal side onto the plate packet. In a design as a liquid cooler, however, the cooler may comprise delicate air fins. In order for the plate packet to be able to absorb the mounting forces, it is disadvantageously required to provide elongated U-shaped mounting profiles, which in the known cooler essentially cover the entire longitudinal sides of the cooler. Finally, it would be desirable to also be able to reduce the installation width of the liquid cooler.

The general state of the art is further illustrated by JP2005337530A, JPH11142084A, WO2016036190A1 and US6470961B1.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to alleviate or eliminate at least individual disadvantages of the prior art. Accordingly, a heat exchanger of this type is to be created, in which the mounting forces can be absorbed better and with simplified construction.

This object is solved by a heat exchanger having the features as described herein.

According to the invention, the heat exchanger comprises a mounting and end part, on which

• • i. the mounting bracket and
  • ii. the fluid receiving container end piece and/or
  • iii. one of the end profiles for the second fluid guiding elements are formed.

In the heat exchanger according to the invention, the mounting bracket is combined either with the fluid receiving container end piece or with one of the end profiles for the second fluid guiding elements (or with the fluid receiving container end piece and the end profile) to form the mounting and end part. These components were, in the prior art, each separated from the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket can be fixed to the support body by means of a connecting device, in order to mount the heat exchanger at the place of use on the support body, for example a frame structure of a vehicle. In the mounted state, the mounting forces, in particular the weight of the heat exchanger, but also vibrations of the support body, are introduced into the heat exchanger at the mounting bracket. According to the invention, the mounting bracket can now be force-transmittingly connected to the fluid receiving container end piece, which in turn is firmly connected to the respective fluid receiving container, in particular via a welded joint. Alternatively or additionally, the mounting bracket can be force-transmittingly connected to the respective end profile, which can also be firmly connected, in particular via a further welded joint, to the fluid receiving container. Both the fluid receiving container and the end profile are stable, especially in comparison to the first fluid guiding elements, which preferably comprise turbulators, or the second fluid guiding elements, which preferably comprise gas fins. Advantageously, the mounting bracket can thus be provided as in the prior art on one of the opposite longitudinal sides of the heat exchanger, but now the forces are transmitted in a particularly favorable way into the fluid receiving container or into the end profile. This makes it possible to reduce the load on the heat exchanger block, in particular on sensitive gas fins of the heat exchanger block. Furthermore, the mounting bracket can be reduced in size compared to the prior art, without having to accept any loss of stability. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting bracket thus extends over less than half the longitudinal extent, in particular over less than a quarter of the longitudinal extent, for example over less than a tenth of the longitudinal extent, of the longitudinal side of the heat exchanger block on which the mounting and end part is located. The inventive embodiment also offers further advantages. The fluid receiving container end pieces of the prior art are delicate and of small area, in order to cover the lateral openings of the fluid receiving containers formed in particular adjacent to the longitudinal sides, which in particular comprise extrusion profiles. This made the joining, in particular the mating, preferably the welding of the end piece to the fluid receiving container, difficult. By integrating the end piece and mounting bracket at the mounting and end part, the connection to the fluid receiving container is considerably simplified. On the other hand, the mounting bracket can be combined with one of the end profiles, with which the second fluid guiding elements, which in particular comprise gas, preferably air fins, are enclosed at their end faces. The end profiles are necessary in this heat exchanger in order to close the second fluid guiding elements at their end faces towards the fluid receiving containers. This can prevent mixing of the first with the second fluid. The end profiles, also called “short bars” in English, can be formed by cuboid end locks, depending on the design also with, for example, a triangular protrusion on the cuboid end lock. It is particularly advantageous if one of these end profiles, in particular one of the two lateral end profiles adjacent to one of the longitudinal sides of the heat exchanger block, is formed at the mounting and end part. Thus, on the one hand, force transmission can be improved and, on the other hand, a material-saving implementation can be achieved. Particularly favorable is an embodiment in which the fluid receiving container end piece, the mounting bracket and the end profile are realized at the mounting and end part. Advantageously, the mounting and end part can be arranged in a corner area of the heat exchanger block. During assembly, with the arrangement of the mounting and end part, the fluid receiving container end piece, the mounting bracket and the end profile can be simultaneously positioned relative to one another in their final assembly position on the heat exchanger block.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting and end part is connected to the fluid receiving container and/or the heat exchanger block via at least one mating connection, in particular a welded, soldered or adhesive connection.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the fluid receiving container end piece and/or the mounting bracket and/or the end profile are formed in one piece on the mounting and end part. In this embodiment, the mounting and end part is preferably formed from a single piece, on which the fluid receiving container end piece, the mounting bracket and preferably also the end profile merge continuously into one another. For the formation in one piece, the mounting and end part can, for example as a cast part, be formed from aluminum. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid receiving container end piece and/or the mounting bracket and/or the end profile are connected to one another by mating connections, for example welded joints. However, it is essential that the mating connection is sufficiently rigid that the mounting forces absorbed by the mounting bracket are transmitted into the end piece at the fluid receiving container or into the end profile.

For forming the mounting bracket, the mounting and end part comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a mounting rail, in particular with an undercut, wherein the mounting rail preferably extends essentially over the entire depth of the heat exchanger block, i.e., essentially over the entire extent of the heat exchanger block from its rear to its front side. This embodiment offers particularly high variability, since the mounting rail can be used depending on the application for connecting various embodiments of a connecting device for connection to the support body. Preferably, the connecting device comprises a mounting screw, in particular also a nut, which can be tightened at the mounting rail. Furthermore, the connecting device can comprise a connector, in particular a support angle or a support rail, wherein the connector can be fixed to the mounting rail via the mounting screw. The connector can be connected to the support body via a further mounting means, in particular with at least one further mounting screw. Advantageously, the heat exchanger is kept particularly compact, as mounting parts protruding laterally from the heat exchanger block can be reduced or completely eliminated. In an embodiment with an undercut, the connecting device can be held particularly securely at the mounting rail. Preferably, the mounting rail is elongated in the depth direction of the heat exchanger block, wherein the mounting rail preferably extends essentially over the entire depth of the heat exchanger block. Preferably, the respective second fluid guiding element is cut out in the area of the mounting and end part, to create space for the mounting and end part. Thus, this second fluid guiding element has a shorter longitudinal extent compared to adjacent second fluid guiding elements.

The mounting rail preferably comprises a rail base and two side walls protruding from the rail base, in particular at right angles. Preferably, the mounting rail also comprises two point blades directed towards each other, in particular extending perpendicular to the side walls, at the ends of the side walls facing away from the rail base, wherein an elongated mounting opening is left free between the point blades. With the point blades, the undercut for the positive arrangement of a part of the connecting device in the mounting rail is formed. The mounting rail can be T-shaped in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the mounting rail.

Advantageously, the mounting rail forms the basic module of a mounting system which can be combined with a variety of different connecting devices.

As is customary in the prior art, the heat exchanger block can comprise one end plate at each of the two longitudinal sides. The end plates extend over more than half the longitudinal extent of the heat exchanger block. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting bracket of the mounting and end part is at least partially, preferably essentially fully, recessed inward with respect to the adjacent end plate of the heat exchanger block. In this embodiment, the mounting bracket, which is formed in particular as a mounting rail, does not protrude laterally outwards beyond the end plate. The mounting bracket is arranged at least overlapping, in particular in the plane of the second fluid guiding element, perpendicular to the main plane of the second fluid guiding element. As a result, the width of the heat exchanger, i.e. its extent in the longitudinal direction of the transverse sides of the heat exchanger block, can be minimized, thus facilitating the transport and installation of the heat exchanger.

In order to be able to fix the heat exchanger to the support body by arranging a connecting device in the mounting rail, the mounting rail at the mounting and end part preferably comprises an elongated, in particular in the depth direction of the heat exchanger block elongated, mounting opening, which is arranged essentially flush with an outside of the end plate of the heat exchanger block. Furthermore, the mounting rail can comprise, at at least one of its longitudinal ends, in particular at both longitudinal ends, a respective lateral mounting opening, which extends at the front or rear side of the heat exchanger block. During assembly, an element, in particular a mounting screw, of the connecting device can be inserted through the lateral mounting opening and displaced along the mounting rail and fixed at the intended mounting position, wherein the element, in particular the mounting screw, of the connecting device protrudes laterally to the outside through the elongated mounting opening, in order to be able to establish the connection to the support body at the place of use. In this embodiment, the elongated mounting opening runs in the plane of the outside of the end plate at the longitudinal side of the heat exchanger block.

It is particularly favorable if the end profile adjoins a side wall of the mounting rail. This embodiment is structurally particularly simple and is also characterized by low material usage. The mounting rail comprises a rail base and two side walls protruding therefrom, wherein the end profile, in particular formed in one piece, adjoins the side wall facing the second fluid guiding element, such that the end profile is directed towards the second fluid guiding element. Depending on the embodiment, the end profile can comprise, for example, a cuboid basic body, to which a protrusion with, for example, an essentially triangular cross-section, viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mounting rail, can be provided.

In order to achieve a uniform outer surface at the longitudinal side of the heat exchanger, the mounting and end part comprises, in a preferred embodiment, an end flange, which laterally encloses an end area of the second fluid guiding element. The end flange is preferably arranged parallel to the end plate at the same longitudinal side, in particular in the same plane as the end plate. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a thermal joint gap is formed between the end flange and the end plate. Advantageously, it is thus possible to dispense with providing thermal joint gaps in the end plate.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two mounting and end parts are provided at two corner areas of the heat exchanger block, preferably four mounting and end parts at four corner areas of the heat exchanger block.

The invention is explained in more detail below by reference to a preferred embodiment in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a heat exchanger according to the invention with a heat exchanger block and a fan.

FIG. 2 shows a further view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the heat exchanger block of the heat exchanger of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the heat exchanger block of FIGS. 1 to 3, with a detail A highlighted.

FIG. 5 shows detail A of FIG. 4 at a larger scale.

FIG. 6 shows a mounting and end part which is mounted at a corner area of the heat exchanger block of FIGS. 1 to 5.

FIG. 7 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the heat exchanger, with various connecting devices for mounting the heat exchanger on a (not shown) support body represented in exploded view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a heat exchanger 1, which in the embodiment shown is configured as a “plate and bar”-cooler for heat exchange between a first fluid, here a liquid, in particular hydraulic oil, and a second fluid, here a gas, in particular air. The heat exchanger can be mounted in any mounting position at the place of operation, with the heat exchanger 1 in the embodiment shown being arranged vertically standing. For a different mounting position, the spatial and directional details, such as “top” and “bottom,” must be transferred accordingly. The heat exchanger 1 comprises a cuboid heat exchanger block 2 (see also FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) with a front side 3, an opposite, parallel rear side 4, two opposite transverse sides 5, which in the embodiment shown are formed as top and bottom, and two opposite longitudinal sides 6, which are arranged essentially perpendicular to the transverse sides 5. The heat exchanger block 2 comprises a transverse extent along, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of, the transverse sides 5, a longitudinal extent along the longitudinal sides 6, and a depth perpendicular to the front side 3 or rear side 4. The transverse and longitudinal extent of the heat exchanger block 2 are, in the embodiment shown, each a multiple of the depth of the heat exchanger block 2. The transverse extent can essentially correspond to the longitudinal extent of the heat exchanger block 2, i.e., the front side 3 and the rear side 4 of the heat exchanger block 2 can essentially be square. However, the heat exchanger block 2 can also comprise a rectangular front 3 or rear side 4. The heat exchanger block 2 is formed from first fluid guiding elements 7 for the first fluid, which preferably comprise turbulators, and second fluid guiding elements 8, here gas, in particular air fins, for the second fluid, which preferably alternate with each other in the longitudinal direction of the transverse sides 5. The second fluid guiding elements 8 are enclosed at the transverse sides, i.e., in the mounting position of the heat exchanger shown, at the top and bottom, by end profiles 9 (so-called “short bars”), which preferably extend over the entire depth of the second fluid guiding elements 8. Accordingly, the first fluid guiding elements 7 can be enclosed longitudinally by side plates (so-called “side bars”), which preferably extend over the entire longitudinal extent of the heat exchanger block 2 (not shown).

The heat exchanger 1 further comprises two fluid receiving containers 10, which in the embodiment shown are formed by a distributor container 10A at one transverse side of the heat exchanger block, here the bottom side, and a collector container 10B at the other transverse side of the heat exchanger block, here the top side. Guide grooves 23 are provided on the fluid receiving containers 10, to which platforms for the liquid supply or the liquid discharge can be connected (see WO2016172741A1). At the distributor container 10A, a liquid supply opening 10C is provided, which can be connected to the liquid supply. At the collector container 10B, at least one, here two, liquid discharge openings 10D are formed, which can be connected to the liquid discharge.

The two fluid receiving containers 10 extend along the transverse sides of the heat exchanger block 2, so that first fluid channels formed by the first fluid guiding elements 7 are each connected to the distributor container 10A and the collector container 10B. The fluid receiving containers 10 are formed by downwardly open, elongated profile parts, in particular extrusion profiles, which are placed on the transverse sides of the heat exchanger block 2. Lateral openings are formed at the longitudinal ends of the fluid receiving containers 10, adjacent to the longitudinal sides 6 of the heat exchanger block 2, which are closed with fluid receiving container end pieces 11. Here, end pieces 11 are provided as end plates with constant wall thickness. The first fluid flows from the distributor container 10A through the first fluid channels into the collector container 10B, with the first fluid releasing heat to the second fluid in the process. For this purpose, the heat exchanger 1 in the embodiment shown comprises a fan 12 with a fan housing 12A and a fan wheel 12B, by means of which the second fluid, here air, is conveyed through second fluid channels of the second fluid guiding elements 8. In the embodiment shown, the main flow direction of the second fluid runs essentially perpendicular to the front 3 and rear side 4 of the heat exchanger block 2 and thus perpendicular to the main flow direction of the first fluid along the first fluid channels.

In order to be able to mount the heat exchanger 1 at the place of use on a support body, the heat exchanger 1 comprises mounting brackets 13 for mounting the heat exchanger 1 on the support body. In the embodiment shown, the mounting bracket 13 is also used to connect the fan housing 12A of the fan 12 with the heat exchanger block 2.

In the embodiment shown, four mounting and end parts 14 are provided at the four corner areas of the heat exchanger block 2, on each of which one of the fluid receiving container end pieces 11, one of the mounting brackets 13 and one of the end profiles 9 for one of the two second fluid guiding elements 8 adjacent to the longitudinal sides (referred to in the drawing as lateral second fluid guiding element 8A) are formed. Thus, at the mounting and end part, an end piece 11, a mounting bracket 13 and an end profile 9 are each formed.

As is apparent in overview from FIGS. 1 to 4 and in detail from FIGS. 5 and 6, the mounting and end part 14, for forming the mounting bracket 13, comprises a mounting rail 15, which is elongated in the depth direction of the heat exchanger block 2. The mounting rail 15 comprises a front mounting opening 16, which in the embodiment shown extends over the entire depth of the heat exchanger block 2. Furthermore, the mounting rail 15 comprises at the longitudinal ends of the mounting rail 15 each a lateral mounting opening 17, which in the mounted state extends at the front side 3 or at the rear side 4 of the heat exchanger block 2.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the heat exchanger block 2 comprises one end plate 18 at each of the two opposite longitudinal sides of the heat exchanger block 2, with the mounting bracket 13 of the mounting and end part 14 being completely recessed inward, i.e., towards the center of the heat exchanger block 2, relative to the respectively adjacent end plate 18 of the heat exchanger block 2. In this embodiment, the elongated mounting opening 16 at the longitudinal side of the heat exchanger block 2 is arranged essentially flush with an outside of the respective end plate 18 of the heat exchanger block 2. Between the end plate 18 and the adjacent second fluid guiding element 8, a soldering sheet 18A can also be arranged. The end plate 18 and the soldering sheet 18A can, however, also be formed in one piece.

As can be seen in detail from FIG. 6, the mounting rail 15 comprises a rail base 19, two side walls 20 protruding at right angles from it, and two point blades 21 protruding at right angles from the outer ends of the side walls 20, leaving free the elongated mounting opening 16. The end profile 9 protrudes from one of the side walls 20 of the mounting rail 15 in the direction of the respective adjacent end face or narrow side of the second fluid guiding element. Finally, the mounting and end part 14 comprises an end flange 22, which laterally encloses one of the two end areas of the second fluid guiding element 8, i.e., in the embodiment shown, the upper or lower end area, from the outside.

FIG. 7 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the heat exchanger 1, with various connecting devices 24 to 27 being shown. Depending on the application, one of these connecting devices 24 to 27 can be mounted on the mounting rail 15. With the respective connecting device, the heat exchanger 1 is mounted on a (not shown) support body.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

• • 1 Heat exchanger
  • 2 Heat exchanger block
  • 3 Front side
  • 4 Rear side
  • 5 Transverse sides
  • 6 Longitudinal sides
  • 7 First fluid guiding elements
  • 8 Second fluid guiding elements
  • 8A Lateral second fluid guiding element
  • 9 End profiles
  • 10 Fluid receiving containers
  • 10A Distributor container
  • 10B Collector container
  • 10C Liquid supply opening
  • 10D Liquid discharge openings
  • 11 Fluid receiving container end pieces
  • 12 Fan
  • 12A Fan housing
  • 13 Mounting bracket 114 Mounting and end part
  • 15 Mounting rail
  • 16 Elongated mounting opening
  • 17 Lateral mounting opening
  • 18 End plate
  • 18A Soldering sheet
  • 19 Rail base
  • 20 Side walls
  • 21 Point blades
  • 22 End flange
  • 23 Guide grooves
  • 24-27 Connecting devices