Radiator, Especially Radiator for Vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a radiator ( 10 ), especially for vehicles, radiator comprising upwardly extending headers ( 11 ). Said headers ( 11 ) are fluidically interconnected in the longitudinal direction by means of parallel cooling pipes ( 12 ). Corrugated ribs ( 13 ) are arranged between the cooling pipes ( 12 ), the ridge lines ( 14 ) thereof extending in the direction of the width (B) of the radiator ( 10 ) and lying respectively alternately on both sides of a cooling pipe ( 12 ). The inventive radiator is also provided with a lateral metal plate ( 40 ) which extends parallel to the cooling pipes ( 12 ), on the outside between the headers ( 11 ), the width (b) of said plate corresponding essentially to the width (B) of the corrugated ribs ( 13 ). According to the invention, the material of the at least one lateral metal plate ( 40 ) is weaker in the regions adjacent to the headers ( 11 ).

1 . A radiator, especially radiator for vehicles, with cooling tubes which extend between two collectors, such as headers, running in the vertical direction and run in the longitudinal direction parallel to one another, and with corrugated ribs which are arranged between the cooling tubes and the ridge lines of which run in the direction of the width of the radiator, and with at least one side plate, which extends parallel to the cooling tubes, on the outside between the headers, and corresponds in width (b) essentially to the width (B) of the corrugated ribs, wherein at least one side plate has a weakened portion of material in regions adjacent to the headers.  
     
     
         2 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the weakened portion of material consists in a reduction of the width (b) of the material of the side plate.  
     
     
         3 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein reduction of the width (b) of the material of the side plate is designed in such a manner that the side plate has, on at least one side, a continuous, linear side edge in the longitudinal direction, which side edge corresponds in particular to the edge of the corrugated ribs.  
     
     
         4 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the side plate comprises, in the weakened portion of material, a small number of narrow material fingers.  
     
     
         5 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein stiffening means which extend in the longitudinal direction and are formed by profiling in the vertical direction are provided in the region of the weakened portion of material.  
     
     
         6 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a bulge which has a ridge line running over the width (b) is provided in an intermediate region of the side plate, which intermediate region is offset inwards in the longitudinal direction in relation to the weakened portion regions.  
     
     
         7 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one side plate is exclusively fastened to the corrugated ribs and in particular is connected to them by soldering, in particular brazing.  
     
     
         8 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one side plate has a gap to the header.  
     
     
         9 . The radiator as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the gap has a gap width which extends over a number of cycles of corrugations of the corrugated plate, in particular over less than 20, preferably over approx. 5 to 15, corrugated ribs.