Flexibly adjustable heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning system

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning system is provided. The heat exchanger includes an inner tube through which a heat exchanger medium can flow and a flexible outer tube that at least regionally envelops the inner tube with the formation of a flow-through intermediate space. The inner tube exhibits a tubular section that enables a change in length and/or direction of the inner tube and runs inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the outer tube.

1 . A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning system, the heat exchanger comprising:
 an inner tube through which a heat exchanger medium can flow; and   a flexible outer tube that at least regionally envelops the inner tube with formation of a flow-through intermediate space,   wherein the inner tube has a tubular section that enables a change in length and/or direction of the inner tube and runs inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of the flexible outer tube.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is at least regionally spiral and/or coiled. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube comprises a plurality of inner tubes chosen from helically coiled, spirally coiled, and/or telescoping tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of inner tubes branch out of a shared inlet tube and/or empty into a shared outlet tube. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of inner tubes spiral together in a mechanically unloaded basic position viewed in the longitudinal direction of the flexible outer tube. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer tube is substantially cylindrical, and the inner tube has a coiled or helical axis that lies parallel to a longitudinal axis of the flexible outer tube. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a connection nozzle that secures the flexible outer tube is radially interspersed by the inner tube on an outlet and/or inlet side. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is a metal tube. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube has an inner diameter in a range of from about 1 mm to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the inner tube has the inner diameter in a range of from about 1 mm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer tube is formed of an elastomer plastic or a synthetic or natural rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible outer tube is a low-pressure line and the inner tube is a high-pressure line. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein opposing end sections of the flexible outer tube are situated downstream from an evaporator and upstream from a compressor, and wherein opposing end sections of the inner tube are situated upstream from an expansion device and downstream from a capacitor. 
     
     
         14 . A motor vehicle air conditioning system with a refrigerant circuit that couples a compressor, a capacitor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant, the heat exchanger comprising:
 an inner tube through which a heat exchanger medium can flow; and   a flexible outer tube that at least regionally envelops the inner tube with formation of a flow-through intermediate space,   wherein the inner tube has a tubular section that enables a change in length and/or direction of the inner tube and runs inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of the flexible outer tube.   
     
     
         15 . The motor vehicle air conditioning system according to  claim 14 , wherein the inner tube is at least regionally spiral and/or coiled. 
     
     
         16 . The motor vehicle air conditioning system according to  claim 14 , wherein the inner tube comprises a plurality of inner tubes chosen from helically coiled, spirally coiled, and/or telescoping tubes. 
     
     
         17 . The motor vehicle air conditioning system according to  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of inner tubes branch out of a shared inlet tube and/or empty into a shared flexible outlet tube. 
     
     
         18 . The motor vehicle air conditioning system according to  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of inner tubes spiral together in a mechanically unloaded basic position viewed in the longitudinal direction of the flexible outer tube. 
     
     
         19 . A motor vehicle having an air conditioning system with a refrigerant circuit that couples a compressor, a capacitor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant, the heat exchanger comprising:
 an inner tube through which a heat exchanger medium can flow; and   a flexible outer tube that at least regionally envelops the inner tube with formation of a flow-through intermediate space,   wherein the inner tube has a tubular section that enables a change in length and/or direction of the inner tube and runs inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of the flexible outer tube.