Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger ( 1 ), particularly for motor vehicles, comprises flat tubes ( 2 ) whose interior can be flowed through by first fluids and whose exterior can be subjected to the action of a second fluid. The flat tubes ( 2 ) are situated essentially transversal to the flowing direction of the second fluid while being parallel to one another and are interspaced in such a manner as to form flow paths for the second fluid that pass through the heat exchanger ( 1 ). Cooling ribs ( 3 ) extending between adjacent flat tubes ( 2 ) are situated in the flow paths. A number of corrugated ribs are provided, which are located one behind the other in the flowing direction of the second fluid and which are offset with regard to one another in the flowing direction of the first fluid.

1 . A heat exchanger, especially for motor vehicles, having flat tubes through which first fluids can flow and which can be externally exposed to a second fluid and which are arranged fundamentally parallel to one another and transversely to the direction of flow of the second fluid in at least two rows, each first fluid being assigned at least one row of tubes, with the flat tubes in a row of tubes being spaced apart forming flow paths for the second fluid passing through the heat exchanger, cooling fins being arranged in the flow paths, which in each case extend between adjacent flat tubes, wherein multiple corrugated fins, which are arranged in series in the direction of flow of the second fluid and laterally offset in relation to one another, are provided as cooling fins and in that multiple corrugated fins arranged in series are formed from a common strip.  
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surfaces of the corrugated fins are arranged fundamentally parallel to the direction of flow of the second fluid.  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein multiple offset corrugated fins ( 3 ) are similarly shaped.  
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the corrugated fins ( 3 ) has gills ( 7 ) for directing the second fluid (FL 2 ).  
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein all gills of a fin section bounded by two flat tubes are angled in the same direction relative to the direction of flow of the second fluid.  
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the gills of two successively offset fin sections are angled in the same direction.  
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the gills of two successively offset fin sections are angled in opposite directions.  
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein two successively offset fin sections are fundamentally parallel to one another.  
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the fin sections e are arranged fundamentally perpendicular to the flat tubes.  
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the corrugated fins ( 3 ) extend for an equal or similar distance in the main direction of flow of the second fluid.  
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein different rows of tubes have different fluids flowing through them.  
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one fluid flows through different rows of tubes.