Heat exchanger and method for producing a heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, comprising a heat exchanger block and at least one collection box with a tube plate. The heat exchanger block is made of a plurality of adjacent tubes and corrugated rib elements arranged between the tubes, and one of the end regions of the tubes is received in the tube plate of the collection box in a fluid-tight manner. The tube plate of the collection box is made of plastic and is injection molded onto the heat exchanger block. A spacer element through which the tubes are guided is arranged between the tube plate of the collection box and the heat exchanger block, and the corrugated rib elements are spaced from the tube plate of the collection box by the spacer. The invention further relates to a method for producing a heat exchanger.

1 . A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, comprising a heat exchanger block and at least one collection box, wherein the heat exchanger block is made of a plurality of tubes adjacent to one another and corrugated fin elements arranged therebetween, and one of the end regions of the tubes is received in the tube plate of the collection box in a fluid-tight manner, wherein the tube plate of the collection box is made of plastic and is molded onto the heat exchanger block by injection molding, wherein a spacer element is arranged between the tube plate of the collection box and the heat exchanger block, through which the tubes are conducted, wherein the corrugated fin elements are spaced apart from the tube plate of the collection box by the spacer element. 
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tube plate of the collection box is connected to a cover of the collection box to form the collection box. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spacer element is formed by a perforated plate exhibiting openings that match the tubes in the heat exchanger block in such a manner that they project through the openings with an accurate fit. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tube plate of the collection box is injection-molded onto the heat exchanger block using a plastic injection-molding process. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tubes have at the end an at least partially circumferential groove and/or are surface-treated and/or coated at the end. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger has two collection boxes, wherein the tubes each open out at the ends into one of the collection boxes and are connected in a fluid-tight manner thereto, wherein a spacer element is arranged between each of the collection boxes and the heat exchanger block. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spacer element is coated with plastic on the side turned away from the heat exchanger block, which forms the tube plate of the collection box, wherein the tubes are connected to the injection-molded tube plate of the collection box in a substance-bonded and/or positive-locking manner. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spacer element forms a reinforcement of the plate region of the collection box facing the heat exchanger block, wherein the spacer element is connected to the tube plate of the collection box in a positive-locking and/or substance-bonded manner. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spacer element is soldered and/or welded and/or clamped and/or adhered to the tubes and/or the corrugated fin elements. 
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a heat exchanger block is produced from a plurality of tubes adjacent to one another and corrugated fin elements arranged therebetween, wherein a spacer element is placed on the tubes at the ends and the tube plate of the collection box is injection-molded integrally to the heat exchanger block and/or the spacer element. 
     
     
         11 . The method for producing a heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the tubes penetrate the spacer element through precise openings formed in it and the corrugated fin elements are completely covered by the spacer element. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the tube plate of the collection box is injection-molded onto the tubes projecting through the spacer element, wherein the tube plate is connected to the projecting sections of the tubes and/or the spacer element in a substance-bonded and/or positive-locking manner.