Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger having a cover plate, a first manifold tube, a second manifold tube and at least one tube, wherein the tube is received at the ends in a respective opening of the first manifold tube and of the second manifold tube, wherein the cover plate is in contact with the manifold tubes and in thermal contact with the tube, wherein a fixing device is provided by which the cover plate can be fixed to at least one manifold tube and/or to at least one tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a cover plate;   a first header;   a second header; and   at least one tube that is received at ends in a respective opening of the first header and of the second header,   wherein the cover plate is in contact with the headers and in thermal contact with the tube, and   wherein a fixing device is provided by which the cover plate is fixed to at least one header and/or to at least one tube.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is formed by retaining elements, which are disposed on the cover plate and/or at least on one header and fix the cover plate to at least one header and/or to at least one tube, and wherein the retaining elements are formed by at least one projection and/or at least one recess. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one opening of the headers has an edge region and the edge region has at least one insertion taper on a surface facing a center of the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the projection and/or the recess on the header are located on an edge region of an opening of the header, and wherein the projection has an insertion taper. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein an at least partially perimeter passage is formed at the opening of the header by the projection and/or recess, and wherein the passage is directed away from the interior of the header. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate has a bevel on at least one edge region, as a result of which the material thickness of the cover plate increases from the edge. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a clamping is created between the tube and the header, as a result of which a cover plate disposed on the tube and adjacent to the header is fixed. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the edge region of the cover plate with the bevel is inserted at least partially into an area between the passage and the tube and/or is inserted into the opening of the header. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate has a bevel on each of two substantially opposing edge regions. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the insertion taper is oriented such that the clear width of the opening decreases toward the interior of the header. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a flush transition is formed between the cover plate and at least one outer surface of a header, and wherein the outer surface and the cover plate form a mutual planar surface. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of tubes are provided, wherein the tubes are formed by flat tubes, which, in each case, have two opposing broad sides and two opposing narrow sides, wherein central axes of the flat tubes and respective broad sides are disposed in each case lying in a plane, and wherein the cover plate lies on the plane formed by the broad sides. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixing device is formed by at least one tab, which is bent out of the plane of the cover plate and bent at least partially around a tube.