Housing, in particular for a heat exchanger, and method of its production

Abstract

The application relates to a housing, in particular for a heat exchanger in an exhaust system of a motor vehicle, comprising a jacket with two joining margins which are joined along a joining line, the jacket having two connecting openings formed by recesses in the joining margins. The application also relates to a method of producing a housing by means of the following steps: First it is determined under which angle relative to each other two connecting openings of the housing are to be arranged with respect to a central line of the housing. Then the shape of a jacket is determined, taking into account the axial distance between the connecting openings. Subsequently the jacket is cut out from a sheet of material, with recesses which later form the connecting openings being cut out on at least one of two joining margins which later are adjoining each other. Thereafter the jacket is bent such that the two joining margins rest at each other. Finally the joining margins are connected with each other.

1 . A housing, in particular for a heat exchanger in an exhaust system of a motor vehicle, comprising a jacket with two joining margins which are joined along a joining line, the jacket having two connecting openings formed by recesses in the joining margins.  
     
     
         2 . The housing according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the connecting openings consist of two opposite recesses in the joining margins.  
     
     
         3 . The housing according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the joining margins are welded to each other.  
     
     
         4 . The housing according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the connecting openings are arranged in different angular orientations when viewed along a central line of the housing.  
     
     
         5 . The housing according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the jacket is made from sheet metal.  
     
     
         6 . The housing according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the jacket is connected at its front faces to one cover member each.  
     
     
         7 . The housing according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the jacket, when laid out flat, has a parallelogram shape.  
     
     
         8 . The housing according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it is cylindrical.  
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a cylindrical housing, comprising: 
 it is determined under which angle relative to each other two connecting openings of the housing are to be arranged with respect to a central line of the housing;    the shape of a jacket is determined, taking into account the axial distance between the connecting openings;    the jacket is cut out from a sheet of material, with recesses which later form the connecting openings being cut out on at least one of two joining margins which later are adjoining each other;    the jacket is bent such that the two joining margins rest at each other;    the joining margins are connected with each other.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the jacket is cut out from sheet metal.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the jacket is punched out.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the jacket is laser cut.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the two joining margins are welded to each other.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , characterised in that after bending the jacket, a heat exchanger is inserted by slightly re-opening the jacket for a short time.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , characterised in that the heat exchanger is provided with connecting sleeves.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the connecting sleeves are welded to the heat exchanger in an orientation which is adapted to the particular application conditions.