Heat exchanger useful as charge-air cooler for commercial vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger, preferably a charge-air cooler for motor vehicles, comprising: first members defining a plurality of passageways for guiding a first fluid in heat exchange relationship with a second fluid flowing over the outside of the members defining the passageways, and at least one second member forming a part of the heat exchanger structure in contact with either the first or second fluid, wherein at least one of the first members and the second member is comprised of a steel strip bearing at least one surface layer of aluminum and/or a brazing material.

1 . A heat exchanger suitable for use as a charge-air cooler for motor vehicles, comprising: a plurality of first members defining a plurality of passageways for guiding a first fluid in heat exchange relationship with a second fluid flowing over the outside of the members defining the passageways, and at least one second member forming a part of the heat exchanger structure in contact with either the first or second fluid, wherein at least one of the first members and the second member is comprised of a steel strip bearing on one or both surfaces at least one layer selected from aluminum and a brazing material.  
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first members comprise tubes for guiding the first fluid, and the at least one second member is at least one selected from fins arranged between the tubes and connected to the tubes in a thermally conductive manner, at least one header plate for the tubes, at least one collector tank attached to the header plate, and a turbulence plate.  
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the steel strip bears at least one layer of aluminum.  
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the layer of aluminum is applied to both sides the steel strip.  
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the steel strip is formed as a cold strip clad with Al on both sides.  
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the steel strip bears a layer of aluminum and a layer of brazing material applied to the layer of aluminum.  
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the layer of Al is approx. 4 to 40% of the thickness of the steel strip  
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the layer of Al is approx. 8% of the thickness of the steel strip.  
   
   
       9 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the layer of Al is approx. 0.005 to 0.5 mm.  
   
   
       10 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the thickness of the layer of Al is approx. 0.01 to 0.2 mm.  
   
   
       11 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the tube is designed as a flat tube and is welded with a longitudinal seam.  
   
   
       12 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the tube is brazed by means of a longitudinal seam.  
   
   
       13 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first members comprise a stack of plates or disks.  
   
   
       14 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second member comprises a plurality of fins, and the fins are brazed to the outer sides of the tubes.  
   
   
       15 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second members comprise turbulence inserts positioned in the internal cross section of the tubes and which are brazed to the inner side of the tube.  
   
   
       16 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a charge air cooler for a vehicle.  
   
   
       17 . In a motor vehicle of the type embodying a charge air cooler, the improvement comprising the charge air cooler comprising a charge air cooler as defined in  claim 16.