Heat exchanger, particularly a charge-air cooler for motor vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger, particularly a charge-air cooler for motor vehicles, preferably for commercial vehicles, comprising a first collecting vessel and a second collecting vessel for a first medium. Both collecting vessels have a first media connection for the first medium and are connected to one another in a communicating manner via at least one heat exchanger element. The inventive heat exchanger also comprises a housing, which accommodates the heat exchanger element, guides a second medium in the interior, and which has second media connections for the second medium. According to the invention, the housing ( 8 ) is designed in such a manner that it accommodates, in the interior thereof, at least one collecting vessel ( 2, 3 ), preferrably both collecting vessels ( 2, 3 ), so that it/they are located, at least in part, at a distance from the housing inner wall at least in areas.

1 . The heat exchanger, in particular charge-air cooler for motor vehicles, preferably for utility vehicles, having a first collecting vessel and a second collecting vessel for a first medium, wherein the two collecting vessels each have a first media connection for the first medium and are connected to one another in a communicating manner via at least one heat exchanger element, and having a housing which accommodates the heat exchanger element, conducts a second medium in the interior and has second media connections for the second medium, characterized in that the housing ( 8 ) is embodied in such a way that at least one collecting vessel ( 2 ,  3 ), preferably both collecting vessels ( 2 ,  3 ), is/are accommodated in the interior of said housing ( 8 ), at least in part with a distance from the inner wall of the housing, at least in certain areas.  
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the housing ( 8 ) completely accommodates the collecting vessels ( 2 ,  3 ).  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the second media connections ( 30 ,  31 ) are assigned to the two collecting vessels ( 2 ,  3 ) in such a way that the first collecting vessel ( 2 ) is located between a second media connection ( 30 ) and the heat exchanger element ( 27 ), and the second collecting vessel ( 3 ) is located between the other, second media connection ( 31 ) and the heat exchanger element ( 27 ).  
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the direction of flow of the first medium ( 4 ) in the collecting vessels ( 2 ,  3 ) is in a transverse direction, in particular at right angles, with respect to the direction of flow of the first medium ( 4 ) in the heat exchanger element ( 27 ).  
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the second media connections ( 30 ,  31 ) point in the direction, or approximately in the direction, of flow of the first medium ( 4 ) in the heat exchanger element ( 27 ).  
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first media connections ( 26 ,  29 ) point in the transverse direction, in particular at right angles, with respect to the direction of flow of the first medium ( 4 ) in the heat exchanger element ( 27 ).  
   
   
       7 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first media connections ( 26 ,  29 ) point in the direction, or approximately in the direction, of the longitudinal extent of the collecting vessels ( 2 ,  3 ).  
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the respective first media connection ( 26 ,  29 ) is aligned with the longitudinal extent of the associated, first or second collecting vessel ( 2 ,  3 ).  
   
   
       9 . The collecting vessel as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the housing ( 8 ) is in the shape of a bone when viewed in longitudinal section or its shape is approximated to a bone shape.  
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the walls ( 12 ,  13 ) and associated bottom and top walls of the housing ( 8 ) bear snugly against the heat exchanger element ( 27 ).  
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the housing ( 8 ) forms a housing section of a fan housing ( 38 ) of a fan ( 37 ).  
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the fan housing ( 38 ) is embodied as a helical housing ( 40 ).  
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that it is embodied as a counter flow heat exchanger.  
   
   
       14 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it is embodied as a co-current heat exchanger.