Exhaust-gas cooler for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

An exhaust-gas cooler for an internal combustion engine has a plurality of flow channels which conduct exhaust gas. The flow channels are arranged within a housing ( 1 ) and are in thermal exchange with a fluid for cooling the exhaust gas. At least one filter member ( 3 ) for filtering particles from the exhaust-gas flow is integrated structurally into the exhaust-gas cooler.

1 . An exhaust-gas cooler for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust-gas cooler comprising:
 a housing;   a plurality of flow channels for conducting exhaust gas;   said flow channels being arranged in said housing to facilitate a thermal exchange with a fluid for cooling the exhaust gas; and,   a filter member structurally integrated into said exhaust-gas cooler for filtering out particles from the flow of exhaust gas.   
   
   
       2 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said filter member is mounted within said housing. 
   
   
       3 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 2 , wherein said housing is configured to conduct said fluid therethrough to facilitate said thermal exchange. 
   
   
       4 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said exhaust gas flows through said exhaust-gas cooler at least once in a toward direction and in a return direction; and, said filter member is disposed in at least one of said two directions. 
   
   
       5 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 4 , wherein one of said plurality of flow channels conducts said exhaust gas in said toward direction; the remainder of said plurality of flow channels conducts the exhaust gas in the return direction and is configured as a bundle of exchanger tubes; and, said one flow channel is a tube part defining said filter member. 
   
   
       6 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising first and second end base parts; and, at least one of said one flow channel and said remainder of said flow channels being accommodated in said first and second end base parts. 
   
   
       7 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 5 , said second end base part defining an end face of said exhaust-gas cooler; and, said exhaust-gas cooler further comprising a redirect zone configured at said face for redirecting the flow of exhaust gas from said toward direction to said return direction. 
   
   
       8 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 4 , wherein one of said plurality of flow channels conducts said exhaust gas in said toward direction; the remainder of said plurality of said flow channels conducts the exhaust gas in said return direction; said one flow channel is configured as a tube part; and, said filter member is configured as said tube part having a filter insert fixedly disposed therein. 
   
   
       9 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 5 , further comprising a bypass line for conducting exhaust gas therethrough; and, said bypass line branching off downstream of said filter member and upstream of said plurality of said remainder of said flow channels. 
   
   
       10 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said filter member is configured as a permanent filter not regenerable during operation. 
   
   
       11 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said internal combustion engine includes a particle filter; and, said exhaust-gas cooler is configured to be mounted downstream of said particle filter. 
   
   
       12 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger; and, said exhaust-gas cooler is mounted upstream of said turbocharger. 
   
   
       13 . The exhaust-gas cooler of  claim 4 , wherein a single one of said plurality of flow channels conducts said exhaust gas in said toward direction; the remainder of said plurality of flow channels conducts the exhaust gas in the return direction and is configured as a bundle of exchanger tubes; and, said single flow channel is a tube part defining said filter member.