Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine includes a base tube having opposite ends, and tube plates respectively provided at the ends of the base tube. A ring embraces the base tube. The ring is made of sheet metal and has legs extending toward one another in a V-shaped manner. An end cap is provided in the region of each tube plate and has a circumferential outwardly directed rim which is embraced by a tension element and connected to the ring.

1 . A heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a base tube having opposite ends;   tube plates respectively provided at the ends of the base tube; and   a ring embracing the base tube, said ring being made of sheet metal and having legs extending toward one another in a V-shaped manner.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a contour which follows a contour of the base tube. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the legs bears flatly upon the ring. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the ring is arranged between the tube plates. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a bridge to connect first ends of the legs to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a circular ring shaped configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the legs have bridge-distal second ends having flanges pointing away from one another. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the ring is connected to the base tube by a material joint. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the ring is formed out of the base tube. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising an end cap arranged in a region of one of the tube plates. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the end cap has an outwardly directed rim. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , further comprising a detachable tension element embracing the rim of the end cap. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , further comprising a circumferential sealing element arranged between the rim and the ring. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the tension element has a substantially V-shaped configuration in cross section and has a free end which grips around one of the legs of the ring and the rim of the end cap bearing on the other one of the legs. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the tension element has an open ring shape to define two ends, and further comprising a detachable connection element to connect the two ends of the tension element. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the detachable connection element is configured as a screw fastener whereby turning of the screw fastener in a first direction decreases a circumference of the tension element and turning of the screw fastener in a second direction in opposition to the first direction decreases the circumference of the tension element.