Heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger ( 1 ), especially for motor vehicle air conditioning systems, said heat exchanger comprising at least one header ( 4 ) and a holding element ( 16 ) which is fixed to the header ( 4 ).

1 . A heat exchanger ( 1 ), in particular for air conditioning systems, in particular for motor vehicles, having at least one collecting tube ( 4 ,  5 ;  65 ) and a holding element which is attached to a collecting tube ( 4 ,  65 ), characterized in that the holding element ( 16 ,  26 ,  61 ) can be secured to the collecting tube by positive locking.  
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the holding element ( 16 ,  26 ,  61 ) is adapted to the external shape of the collecting tube ( 4 ,  25 ,  65 ).  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the holding element is in the shape of a C section ( 16 ,  62 ) which engages around the collecting tube ( 4 ,  65 ).  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the holding element, in particular the C section ( 16 ), is clipped to the collecting tube ( 4 ).  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the collecting tube ( 4 ) is constructed in two pieces and has a lid ( 8 ) and a bottom ( 10 ) which form offset longitudinal edges ( 13 ), and characterized in that the C section ( 16 ) has limbs ( 21 ,  22 ) with ends ( 21   a,    22   a ) which are supported on the longitudinal edges ( 13 ).  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a flange ( 7 ,  60 ) for securing connecting tubes ( 5 ,  6 ) is attached to the collecting tube by means of the holding element.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the holding element ( 16 ,  61 ) has a web ( 15 ,  61   a ) by means of which the holding element ( 16 ,  61 ) is connected to the flange ( 7 ,  60 ).  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the holding element ( 16 ,  61 ) is constructed in one piece with the flange ( 7 ,  60 ), in particular as an extruded part.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the connecting tubes ( 5 ,  6 ) can be secured at the ends to the collecting tube ( 4 ,  65 ) on the one hand and to the flange ( 7 ,  60 ) on the other, and can in particular be soldered simultaneously to the flange ( 7 ,  60 ) and the heat exchanger ( 1 ).  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 8  characterized in that the holding element ( 61 ) can be secured to the collecting tube ( 65 ) by means of a securing element ( 64 ).  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the holding element ( 61 ) has a longitudinal groove ( 63 ) for holding the securing element ( 64   b ).  
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the collecting tube ( 65 ) has an opening ( 66 ) for accommodating the securing element ( 64   a ).  
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the securing element ( 64 ) is caulked to the collecting tube ( 65 ) and is clamped to the holding element ( 61 ).  
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the holding element ( 26 ) is in the shape of a web ( 27 ) with a straight lower edge ( 27   a ) and with bent limbs ( 30 ,  31 ) with lower edges ( 30   a,    31   a ), and characterized in that the holding element ( 26 ) is arranged with its lower edges ( 27   a,    30   a,    31   a ) standing on the collecting tube ( 25 ), in which case the lower edges ( 30   a,    3   a ) of the limbs ( 30 ,  31 ) are adapted to the rounded portion ( 25   b ) of the collecting tube ( 25 ).  
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 14 , characterized in that the web ( 27 ) is constructed as a holding plate with attachment openings ( 28 ,  29 ), and the limbs ( 30 ,  31 ) are constructed as supporting elements.  
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 14 , characterized in that the holding element ( 26 ) has, in particular in the region of the web ( 27 ), a lug ( 32 ) on its lower side ( 27   a ), said lug ( 32 ) being capable of being plugged into a slot ( 25   a ) in the collecting tube ( 25 ).  
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the holding element ( 44 ) is embodied as an extruded part.  
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 17 , characterized in that the holding element ( 44 ) has a C-shaped section ( 51 ), which comprises the collecting tube ( 42 ), with a central rib ( 50 ) and the collecting tube ( 42 ) has a slot for receiving the rib ( 50 ).  
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that the holding element ( 44 ) has a holding plate ( 44   b ) which adjoins the C section ( 44   c ).  
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that the C section ( 51 ) forms a soldering face in which grooves ( 52 ) which run in the extrusion direction are arranged.  
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that attachment openings or cutouts ( 44   a ) are arranged in the holding plate ( 44   b ).  
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 17 , characterized in that in each case two holding elements ( 44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  47 ) are attached to the collecting tubes ( 42 ,  43 ).  
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the heat exchanger is, in particular, a soldered capacitor, in which case the heat exchanger has in particular heat exchanger tubes and ribs which are combined to form a tube/rib block.