Heat Exchanger, Box for Receiving a Fluid for a Heat Exchanger, and Method for the Production of Such a Box

Abstract

The invention relates to a box for receiving a coolant for a heat exchanger ( 1 ) used for motor vehicles. Said box comprises two sidewalls ( 22, 24 and 22 a , 24 a ), two end walls ( 26, 28 and 26 a , 28 a ), a cover ( 18 and 18 a ), and a bottom ( 20 and 20 a ) which is located opposite the cover ( 18 and 18 a ) and is provided with one or several openings ( 60 ) for receiving tubes, particularly connecting tubes, such as flat tubes. The cover ( 18 and 18 a ) is provided with at least one recess ( 90, 92, 94 ) into which reaches at least one extending wall ( 26, 26 a , 28, 28 a , 32 ).

1 . A box for receiving a fluid, such as coolant, for a heat exchanger, in particular for motor vehicles, with two side walls, two end walls, a cover and a base arranged opposite the cover in which one or more openings are provided for receiving tubes, in particular connecting tubes, such as flat tubes, wherein the cover has at least one recess into which at least one wall extends. 
   
   
       2 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one wall received in a recess of the cover is an end wall of the box. 
   
   
       3 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one wall received in a recess of the cover is a partition wall that divides the inside of the box into chambers. 
   
   
       4 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover has at least one first recess in which a first end wall is received and at least one second recess different from the at least one first recess in which a second end wall distant from the first end wall is received. 
   
   
       5 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one recess of the cover is formed like a bead. 
   
   
       6 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one recess of the cover supports the wall received in this recess in longitudinal direction of the box or in the direction of the side walls, and in particular in both orientations of this direction. 
   
   
       7 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the limits of the at least one recess of the cover lying in the longitudinal direction of the box or in the direction of the side walls run towards one another as seen in the depth direction of this recess. 
   
   
       8 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the limits of the at least one recess of the cover lying in longitudinal direction or in the direction of the side walls have a centering effect for the wall received. 
   
   
       9 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one recess of the cover as seen transversely to the wall received in said recess has a rounded form at least in sections, and is in particular essentially semi-circular. 
   
   
       10 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one recess of the cover in which a wall, in particular an end wall, is received extends essentially over the whole width of the cover. 
   
   
       11 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover engages around the end walls, and in particular by means of a tapering section of recesses. 
   
   
       12 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover has an essentially U-shaped cross section as seen transversely to its longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       13 . The box as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the flanks of the U-shape extend away from the section connecting these flanks of the U-shape in the direction facing away from the base of the box. 
   
   
       14 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover has—in particular arch-shaped—tabs that engage around the side walls, whereby in particular the cover is U-shaped in the cross section and these tabs extend from the ends of the flanges of the U-shape facing away from the connecting section. 
   
   
       15 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a part manufactured separately from the side walls and from the end walls and from the base. 
   
   
       16 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover is formed in one piece and is made from a one-piece, in particular punched, part, in particular a metal plate. 
   
   
       17 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transition from the base to the end walls is preferably formed in one piece. 
   
   
       18 . The box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the unit of the side walls and the end walls and the base is formed in one piece, and in particular is produced from a one-piece part, in particular a metal plate. 
   
   
       19 . A box for receiving a fluid, such as coolant, for a heat exchanger, in particular for motor vehicles, with a cover and a base arranged opposite the cover in which one or more openings are provided for receiving tubes, and with a plurality of walls that extend essentially transversely to this cover or transversely to this base, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a first wall of these walls that extend essentially transversely to this cover or transversely to this base has at least one recess into which a third wall of the box for receiving fluid extends or engages, and that a second wall of these walls that extend essentially transversely to this cover or transversely to this base has at least one recess into which the third wall extends or engages. 
   
   
       20 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein this first wall and this second wall are each a side wall of the box. 
   
   
       21 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the first wall and the second wall are each joined in one piece with the base. 
   
   
       22 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the third wall is a partition wall by means of which the inside of the box is divided into sub-chambers. 
   
   
       23 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the base of the box has at least one recess, and that this third wall extends into this recess of this base, whereby in particular the recess of this base is formed as a groove or as an embossed bead. 
   
   
       24 . The box as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the recesses provided in the first wall and the second wall and in the base are formed together. 
   
   
       25 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the recess provided in the first wall is located at a distance from the end of this first wall facing towards the cover, and that the recess provided in the second wall is located at a distance from the end of this second wall facing towards the cover. 
   
   
       26 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the cover has at least one recess, in particular bead or embossed groove, into which the third wall extends. 
   
   
       27 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the continuous edge of the third wall essentially extends completely into recesses on all sides, and in particular into recesses provided in the first wall, the second wall, the base and the cover. 
   
   
       28 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the third wall engages in the recesses of the first and the second wall in each case like a snap connection. 
   
   
       29 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the third wall forms a snap connection in conjunction with the recesses of the first and the second wall, and that the third wall is held against the first wall and the second wall by means of additional connection means, such as a welded joint or soldered joint. 
   
   
       30 . The box as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the third wall has a tab that extends outwards through an opening in one of the walls or the cover forming the outer limit of the box. 
   
   
       31 . A heat exchanger, in particular radiator for a motor vehicle, with a tube-and-fin block and a box as claimed in  claim 1 , whereby the tubes of the tube-and-fin block in the area of the base of the box terminate therein. 
   
   
       32 . A method for production of a box for receiving a fluid, such as coolant, for a heat exchanger, in particular for production of a box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the walls limiting the inside of the box, in particular the two side walls, two end walls, a cover and a base arranged opposite the cover, are each made of two one-piece parts, in particular metal plates, whereby these plates are punched in a first step, bent in a second step and joined together by soldering in a third step, and whereby before, during or after the first step and before or during the second step and before the third step one of these two parts having a section to form a base to receive connecting tubes is deep drawn.