Flat tube and heat exchanger

Abstract

A flat tube for a heat exchanger has a tube body with an outer top and an outer bottom surface arranged opposite one another at a thickness of the tube body and two outer side surfaces arranged opposite one another at a width of the tube body and connecting the outer top and bottom surfaces. The tube body has a heat exchange portion extending along an extension direction, an angled portion extending along an transverse direction inclined relative to the extension direction, and a bent portion connecting the heat exchange portion to the angled portion. The angled portion is arranged at a distance from the heat exchange portion in an offset direction. The bent portion has a first end region facing the heat exchange portion with a first bend counter to the offset direction and a second end region facing the angled portion with a second bend in the offset direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flat tube ( 1 ) for a heat exchanger ( 30 ), comprising a tube body ( 2 ) delimiting at least one coolant channel ( 3 ) for a coolant or a refrigerant,
 the tube body having an outer top surface ( 4 ) and an outer bottom surface ( 5 ) arranged opposite one another at a thickness (T) of the tube body ( 2 ) and having two outer side surfaces ( 6 ) arranged opposite one another at a width (W) of the tube body ( 2 ), the outer side surfaces ( 6 ) connecting the outer top to the outer bottom ( 4 ,  5 ) surface,   wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has a heat exchange portion ( 7 ) extending along an extension direction ( 8 ),   wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has an angled portion ( 9 ) extending along an transverse direction ( 10 ) that is inclined with respect to the extension direction ( 8 ),   wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has a bent portion ( 11 ) connecting the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) to the angled portion ( 9 ),   wherein the angled portion ( 9 ) is arranged at a distance (D) from the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) measured in an offset direction ( 12 ) perpendicular to both the extension and the transverse direction ( 8 ,  10 ),   wherein the bent portion ( 11 ) has a first end region ( 13 ) facing the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) with a first bend ( 14 ) counter to the offset direction ( 12 ), and a second end region ( 15 ) facing the angled portion ( 9 ) with a second bend ( 16 ) in the offset direction ( 12 ).   
     
     
         2 . The flat tube ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the second bend ( 16 ) is a twist-bend ( 18 ). 
     
     
         3 . The flat tube ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the extension direction ( 8 ) follows a straight line. 
     
     
         4 . The flat tube ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse direction ( 10 ) is perpendicular to the extension direction ( 8 ). 
     
     
         5 . The flat tube ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance (D) at which the angled portion ( 9 ) is arranged opposite the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) is smaller than a minimum bending radius (R) of the second bend ( 16 ). 
     
     
         6 . The flat tube ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the minimum bending radius (R) of the second bend ( 16 ) is 3 to 6 times the tube thickness (T). 
     
     
         7 . The flat tube ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube body ( 2 ) delimits numerous coolant channels ( 3 ) arranged in a queue along the width (W) of the tube ( 1 ), wherein directly adjacent coolant channels ( 3 ) are separated by a division wall ( 17 ) extending along the thickness (T) of the tube body ( 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . The flat tube ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the tube body ( 2 ) comprises a uniform metal material. 
     
     
         9 . The flat tube ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the bent portion ( 11 ) in a view perpendicular both to the extension and to the offset direction ( 8 ,  12 ) has an S- or Z-like geometry ( 19 ). 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger ( 30 ), comprising:
 a first collector ( 36 ), a second collector ( 37 ), and a third collector ( 38 );   first flat tubes ( 1 ), each of which has a tube body ( 2 ) delimiting at least one coolant channel ( 3 ) for a coolant or a refrigerant,
 the tube body ( 2 ) having an outer top surface ( 4 ) and an outer bottom surface ( 5 ) arranged opposite one another at a thickness (T) of the tube body ( 2 ) and having two outer side surfaces ( 6 ) arranged opposite one another at a width (W) of the tube body ( 2 ), the outer side surfaces ( 6 ) connecting the outer top to the outer bottom ( 4 ,  5 ) surface, 
 wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has a heat exchange portion ( 7 ) extending along an extension direction ( 8 ), 
 wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has an angled portion ( 9 ) extending along an transverse direction ( 10 ) that is inclined with respect to the extension direction ( 8 ), 
 wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has a bent portion ( 11 ) connecting the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) to the angled portion ( 9 ), 
 wherein the angled portion ( 9 ) is arranged at a distance (D) from the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) measured in an offset direction ( 12 ) perpendicular to both the extension and the transverse direction ( 8 ,  10 ), 
 wherein the bent portion ( 11 ) has a first end region ( 13 ) facing the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) with a first bend ( 14 ) counter to the offset direction ( 12 ), and a second end region ( 15 ) facing the angled portion ( 9 ) with a second bend ( 16 ) in the offset direction ( 12 ), 
 wherein first longitudinal ends ( 20 ) of the heat exchange portions ( 7 ) facing away from the bent portions ( 11 ) are received in associated first openings ( 39 ) of the first collector ( 36 ) and second longitudinal ends ( 21 ) of the angled portions ( 9 ) facing away from the bent portions ( 11 ) are received in associated second openings ( 40 ) of the second collector ( 37 ); 
   second flat tubes ( 31 ), wherein first longitudinal ends ( 32 ) of the second flat tubes ( 31 ) are received in associated third openings ( 41 ) of the third collector ( 38 ) and second longitudinal ends ( 33 ) of the second flat tubes ( 31 ), which are arranged opposite the first longitudinal ends ( 32 ), are received in associated fourth openings ( 42 ) of the first collector ( 36 );   wherein the first and fourth openings ( 39 ,  42 ) are arranged spaced apart from one another.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger ( 30 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the first flat tubes ( 1 ) and the second flat tubes ( 31 ) are arranged alternatingly along a stacking direction that corresponds to the offset direction ( 12 ) of the first flat tubes ( 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger ( 30 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein in a view along the stacking direction, the heat exchange portions ( 7 ) of the first flat tubes ( 1 ) completely overlap the second flat tubes ( 31 ), whereas the angled portions ( 9 ) of the first flat tubes ( 1 ) do not. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger ( 30 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein between adjacent flat tubes ( 1 ,  31 ) an intermediate space ( 35 ) is present, in which heat transfer fins ( 34 ) are accommodated. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger ( 30 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the second flat tubes ( 31 ) are straight. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger ( 30 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the second flat tubes ( 31 ) has a tube body ( 2 ) delimiting at least one coolant channel ( 3 ) for a coolant or a refrigerant,
 the tube body having an outer top surface ( 4 ) and an outer bottom surface ( 5 ) arranged opposite one another at a thickness (T) of the tube body ( 2 ) and having two outer side surfaces ( 6 ) arranged opposite one another at a width (W) of the tube body ( 2 ), the outer side surfaces ( 6 ) connecting the outer top to the outer bottom ( 4 ,  5 ) surface,   wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has a heat exchange portion ( 7 ) extending along an extension direction ( 8 ),   wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has an angled portion ( 9 ) extending along an transverse direction ( 10 ) that is inclined with respect to the extension direction ( 8 ),   wherein the tube body ( 2 ) has a bent portion ( 11 ) connecting the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) to the angled portion ( 9 ),   wherein the angled portion ( 9 ) is arranged at a distance (D) from the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) measured in an offset direction ( 12 ) perpendicular to both the extension and the transverse direction ( 8 ,  10 ),   wherein the bent portion ( 11 ) has a first end region ( 13 ) facing the heat exchange portion ( 7 ) with a first bend ( 14 ) counter to the offset direction ( 12 ), and a second end region ( 15 ) facing the angled portion ( 9 ) with a second bend ( 16 ) in the offset direction ( 12 ),   wherein the transverse direction ( 10 ) of the first flat tubes ( 1 ) differs from the transverse direction of the second flat tubes ( 31 ).