EP2041419A1

EP2041419A1 - Exhaust gas cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2041419A1
Application number: EP07765061A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Geskes
Original assignee: Behr GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Mahle Behr GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2006-07-06
Filing date: 2007-07-05
Publication date: 2009-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-05
Also published as: DE102007031419A1; WO2008003486A1; EP2041419B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an exhaust gas cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising an inlet diffuser (1 ) for feeding an exhaust gas flow, an exchange area comprising a plurality of exchange pipes (3) that extend in the axial direction, the exchange pipes (3) being received on one end on a first, inlet-sided base section (4) and on its other end on a second outlet-sided base section (5), an outlet diffuser (6) that is opposite the inlet diffuser (1 ) and that is used to discharge the exhaust gas flow, and a housing (7) that can be cross-flown by a coolant. The housing (7) is made of a material that is not resistant to high temperatures, in particular plastic or aluminium. A first seal (8) is arranged between the inlet diffuser (1) and the first base section (4) for sealing the exhaust gas counter to the outside, and a second seal (9) is arranged between the first base section (4) and the housing (7) for sealing the coolant counter to the outside.

Description

Exhaust gas cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle

The present invention relates to an exhaust gas cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In internal combustion engines, in particular of motor vehicles, exhaust gas recirculation is increasingly used to reduce the emission of pollutants, with the recirculated exhaust gas, which in the context of the invention is also understood to mean an exhaust gas / air mixture, being necessarily cooled. Basically, exhaust gas coolers place high demands on the temperature resistance of the materials used. On the other hand, it is generally desirable to form parts such as a coolant-carrying housing made of a material that can be inexpensively, easily and inexpensively brought into elaborate form.

DE 10 2004 045 016 A1 describes an exhaust gas cooler for a motor vehicle, in which a block of exchanger tubes is in each case accommodated in bottom sections at the ends, which in turn are connected, on the one hand, to an inlet diffuser and, on the other hand, to an outlet diffuser. This arrangement is mounted in a plastic housing, wherein the plastic housing rests radially on the inlet diffuser and abuts axially on the outlet-side bottom piece, wherein the outlet-side bottom piece is fixed by means of a Umbörde- treatment on the plastic housing. Such an arrangement is problematic in terms of assembly costs and the heat input of hot exhaust gas into the plastic housing in particular in the inlet area.

It is the object of the invention to provide an exhaust gas cooler, in which a particular non-high temperature resistant housing can be mounted in a simple manner and heat input into the housing is reduced in particular inlet side.

This object is achieved according to the invention for an abovementioned exhaust gas cooler with the characterizing features of claim 1. By providing two sealing levels, wherein a first seal seals the exhaust gas against the environment and the second seal seals the housing against the inlet-side bottom piece, an improved isolation and distribution of the heat of the inlet side very hot exhaust gases is achieved with respect to the housing material. In addition, such an arrangement is easy and safe to mount, in particular after the connection of the housing with the remaining parts of the exhaust gas cooler heat-carrying measures such as welding or soldering are no longer required. To this end, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the first bottom piece, the second bottom piece and the exchanger tubes form a preassembled, in particular welded, unit which can be inserted into the housing in the axial direction.

Particularly preferably, this preassembled unit also comprises the outlet diffuser, so that no more welding work in the immediate vicinity of the housing with the risk of heat input are required after the housing assembly. As a result, the reject rate in the production of the exhaust gas cooler is significantly reduced.

In an advantageous embodiment, the inlet diffuser is held by at least one fastening means, in particular a screw, in a substantially axial direction against the housing, wherein the first and the second seal are subjected to force by the holder. Particularly preferably, the fastening means is partially guided in a sleeve, which is a collar of the Ge engages through the housing. Overall, this makes a simple installation possible, whereby by the sleeve with simple means a different application of force of the two seals can be realized, in particular the application of force of the soft material such as plastic or aluminum existing housing is limited by a stop on the sleeve.

Advantageously, the first seal is a high temperature resistant seal, in particular of metal. Further advantageously, the second seal has a temperature resistance up to at least about 200 ⁰ C, wherein the second seal is made in particular of silicone. Alternatively, the second seal may be a metal seal or made of another suitable material.

In a preferred embodiment, a third seal is provided between the housing and at least one of the two, the exit-side bottom piece or the outlet diffuser. Particularly preferably, the third seal is subjected to force substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. As a result, a simple assembly by inserting a prefabricated unit in the housing can generally be carried out, wherein in addition a large thermal change in length of the various components of the exhaust gas cooler can be compensated. Advantageously, the third seal is slidably received for this purpose in the axial direction, so that a thermal expansion of the exhaust gas cooler in this direction can be compensated.

In an expedient construction, the exit-side bottom piece has a substantially extending in the axial direction Abkragung. Such Abkragung can support the housing in a simple manner, the bottom piece and its Abkragung are in direct contact with the coolant, so that there is no risk of harmful heat input into the housing material in this area of the system of the housing with the outlet-side bottom piece.

In a generally preferred embodiment, the housing is provided with an exit-side end region via a fastening means, in particular a screw, at least one of the two, exit-side bottom piece or outlet diffuser set. Overall, this improves the mechanical fixing of the housing and prevents a coolant outlet even with a long service life of the exhaust gas cooler. The fastening means may also be a rivet, a clamp, a flanging, a circumferential tire or the like.

In a further variant of an exhaust gas cooler according to the invention, the housing has a form-fitting structure, in particular a taper, at an exit-side end region, wherein the outlet diffuser is positively supported against the structure. Particularly preferably, a third seal is arranged between the positive-locking structure and the outlet diffuser. This allows a particularly simple and quick installation of the exhaust gas cooler.

In an alternative or additional embodiment, a holding means is arranged on the outlet diffuser, wherein the holding means is connected to an outlet-side end region of the housing. In an advantageous implementation, the holding means comprises at least one resilient sheet metal, wherein the sheet is fixed in an elastically prestressed state at the end region of the housing. As a result, a holder of the outlet-side housing portion is made possible, which also allows compensation for the thermal expansion of the various components. Further alternatively or additionally, the holding means is slidable over the outlet diffuser and held in a form-fitting manner by the outlet diffuser. Such a holding means is simple in assembly and in terms of compensation of expansion-related game appropriate.

Generally preferably, the housing consists at least partially of a plastic from the group polyamide (PA), polyphthalamide (PPA) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). These plastics are mechanically stable and temperature resistant up to temperatures of at least about 160 ⁰ C.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the cooler can be inserted into an aluminum casting module or housing which, for example, attached to a motor, as is preferably screwed. By means of this housing or module, a simple transfer of the coolant can be realized, and the housing or module can preferably have points of attraction as attachment points for connection to the engine.

Further advantages and features of an exhaust gas cooler according to the invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below and from the dependent claims.

Hereinafter, six preferred embodiments of an exhaust gas cooler will be described and explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of an exhaust gas cooler.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of an exhaust gas cooler.

3 shows a schematic sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of an exhaust gas cooler.

4 shows a schematic sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of an exhaust gas cooler.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a fifth embodiment of an exhaust gas cooler. Fig. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of a sixth embodiment of an exhaust gas cooler.

The exhaust gas cooler according to FIG. 1 comprises an inlet diffuser 1, which enters the exhaust gas flow in the present case and which in the present case is a known actuator 2 for selectively distributing the exhaust gas flow to exchanger tubes and / or a bypass channel. The actuator 2 is optional and is mainly used in internal combustion engines in passenger cars.

A bundle of parallel exchanger tubes 3 is at each of the ends of the exchanger tubes with an inlet-side bottom piece 4 and corresponding an exit-side bottom piece 5 welded. The exchanger tubes 3 and the bottom pieces 4, 5 each consist of a non-susceptible steel or other suitable for guiding a hot exhaust gas stream material. At the exit-side bottom piece 5, a conically-diffusing outlet diffuser 6 is welded.

A housing 7 of the exhaust gas cooler consists of a plastic and surrounds the bundle of exchanger tubes 3, wherein the housing 7 is sealed on the one hand with respect to the inlet side bottom piece 4 and on the other hand with respect to the outlet side bottom piece 5, so that the housing 7, bottom pieces 4, 5 and the exchanger tubes in total delimiting a volume to guide a coolant. The housing 7 has an inlet 7a and an outlet 7b for the coolant, so that the housing 7 can be flowed through by the coolant, in particular the coolant of a main cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle. Both the walls of the exchanger tubes 3 and the inner surfaces of the bottom pieces 4, 5 which are in relation to the enclosed volume are in direct contact with the coolant.

In the exhaust gas cooler is of the type to an I-flow cooler, in which the exchanger tubes 3 are substantially straight and arranged parallel to each other. Through the exchanger tubes 3 and the flow direction of the exhaust gas through the tubes an axial direction of the exhaust gas cooler is defined.

On the inlet side of the inlet diffuser 1, the inlet side bottom piece 4 and the housing 7 in the axial direction kraftbeaufschlagt by means of a first seal 8 and a second seal 9 sealingly fixed to each other. In this case, the inlet-side bottom piece 4 has a radial Abkragung 4a, on the exhaust side, the first seal 8 and the coolant side, the second seal 9 is placed. For this purpose, the Abkragung 4a and the seals 8, 9 have grooves, beads, cutting or other known means for positioning and sealing. On the first seal 8 of the inlet diffuser 1 is placed with an abutment 1a provided on it. On the second seal 9, the housing 7 is formed by means of a molded-on th Abkragung 7c attached. The Abkragungen 1 a, 4 a, 7 c have overlapping perforations or holes, which are penetrated by fasteners 10 designed as screws with nuts. Distributed over the circumference, a plurality of screws 10 are provided for secure fixing. The fastener may also be a rivet, staple or other suitable means.

In the present embodiment, a sleeve, not shown, is also inserted into the openings, which passes through the opening of the collar of the housing 7c and rests on the collar of the bottom piece 4a. The first seal 8 is a metal gasket, for. Example of copper or another temperature-resistant metal with respect to the inlet temperature of the exhaust gas. The second seal 9 is a silicone seal, which is temperature-resistant up to a temperature of about 200 ° C. Due to the sleeve, not shown, tightening the screw 10 by means of a nut and possibly provided washers results in a summary compression of the housing collar 7c and the second seal 9 around a stroke defined by the sleeve dimension, so that the soft materials of the housing and the second seal 9 not be overburdened. The metal seal 8, however, can be pressed with a higher force, which is given by the tightening torque of the screw. Overall, the sealing of inlet diffuser 1, bottom piece 4 and inlet end of the housing 7 thus takes place in the axial direction.

An exit-side intention of the housing 7 with respect to the second bottom piece 5 via a third seal 11 which rests as an O-ring on an axially extending Abkragung 5a of the exit-side bottom piece 5. The third seal 11 is inserted on the housing side in an annular groove 7d of the housing.

A circumferential nose 7e of the housing arranged in the exit direction behind the seal 11 snaps into a corresponding groove or groove 5b of the bottom piece 5, so as to reduce any vibration of the parts of the exhaust gas cooler relative to each other. The housing 7 has over its entire length a free passage cross-section, wherein the bottom piece 5 with its Abkragung 5a and the outlet diffuser 6 do not collide with this free cross-section. During assembly, in particular by welding or soldering a prefabricated unit from outlet diffuser 6, bottom piece 5 with Abkragung 5a, Tauscherrohren 3 and eintrittsseitigem bottom piece 4 with Abkragung 4a produced, which are subsequently inserted into the plastic housing 7, wherein previously placed the second seal 9 becomes. The insertion takes place with the outlet diffuser first into the inlet-side opening of the housing 7, that is to say according to FIG. 1 by a movement of the prefabricated unit from left to right. After this insertion, the first seal 8 is placed on the first bottom piece 4, the inlet diffuser 1 is placed and the screws 10 are inserted and tightened with the sleeves. Thus, no manufacturing step is required for mounting the housing 7, which can cause a heat input into the housing 7, in particular no soldering or welding.

The radial sealing of the collar 5a of the bottom piece 5 relative to the housing 7 by means of the third seal 11 also allows a compensation thermal expansion of the exchanger tubes 3 relative to the housing 7. Here, the seal 11, in the groove 7d in the axial direction opposite the housing 7 is fixed, slide on the collar 5 a of the bottom piece 5. It can also be provided that the seal 11 is fixed relative to the collar 5 a and slides relative to the housing 7 or slides with respect to both elements.

In the second embodiment according to FIG. 2, in contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, an additional fixing of the exit-side end region of the housing 7 on the collar 5a of the bottom piece 5 is provided, so that no leakage of the coolant occurs in this region even in case of material fatigue or high coolant pressure , In the present schematic illustration screws 12 are screwed in the radial direction in the collar 5 a, wherein they pass through the housing 7. The screws 12 are arranged on the outlet side of the third seal 1 1. If the material thickness of the collar 5a allows only through thread, can the screws are sealed by other sealing means, such as a thread seal.

In the embodiment according to the third embodiment (see Fig. 3), the exit-side end portion of the housing 7 is similar to the second embodiment secured by screws 12, wherein the screws 12 are screwed into nuts 13, which set on a conical wall portion 6 a of the outlet diffuser 6 are, in particular by means of welding. Depending on the material thickness of the outlet diffuser 6, it may also be blind thread in the wall 6a. An embodiment as in FIG. 3 is advantageous, for example, if the material thicknesses of, for example, the bottom piece 5 are not sufficient to provide screw threads.

In the fourth embodiment according to FIG. 4, in contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the housing 7 has a form-fitting structure at its exit-side end region, which in the present case is formed as a taper 14 of the housing 7. The taper 14 corresponds to a conical portion 6a of the wall of the outlet diffuser 6. Between the taper 14 and the wall 6a, a seal 11a is inserted into a housing groove. The seal 11a may be provided alternatively or in addition to the third seal 11 of the first embodiment. Basically, the exhaust gas outlet side has a significantly lower temperature than the inlet side. Typical temperature values for the inlet-side exhaust gas 600 ⁰ C to 700 ⁰ C, while the outlet-side exhaust gas having temperatures of typically 150 ⁰ C to 160 ° C. The heating of the outlet diffuser 6 is therefore limited, so that the housing 7 and an elastic, possibly made of silicone seal 1 1a can rest against the wall 6a, without being destroyed. Particularly uncritical is the principle of the fourth embodiment in the case in which the housing 7 is made of aluminum.

Alternatively, the seal 11 a can also be arranged on the adjacent flange of the cylindrical segment of the outlet diffuser, so that then the housing then further back to nearer to the connection flange extends zoom and a portion of the cylindrical segment surrounds. As a result, thermal expansions of the radiator block can be further compensated.

In the fifth exemplary embodiment (see FIG. 5), the outlet-side sealing of the housing 7 takes place, as in the first exemplary embodiment, by means of a ring seal 11 which rests on a collar 5 a of the bottom piece 5. In contrast to the first embodiment, the housing 7 and the outlet side has a radial Abkragung 15 on which by means of screws 16 resilient plates 17 are fixed, which are fixed to the circumference of a wall 6a of the outlet diffuser 6. The elastic sheets 17 can in principle be welded into the housing 7 on the wall 6a after the assembly has been pushed in, since the latter is far away from the housing 7. However, the plates 17 are preferably fixed as shown by the dotted lines before inserting the unit into the housing 7 on the wall 6a and bent so that they do not initially cover the free cross section of the housing 7. Only after the insertion of the structural unit in the housing 7, they are bent resiliently according to the arrows in Fig. 5 and fastened by means of screws 16 to the collar 15. As a result, the housing 7 is securely held in the exit-side end region with respect to the outlet diffuser 6 and the bottom piece 5, wherein due to the spring elasticity of the sheets 17 there is still a good compensating thermal expansion.

The sixth embodiment of FIG. 6 is similar in construction to the fifth embodiment, wherein instead of the resilient plates now a holding means 18 is pushed over the outlet diffuser 6 and bolted to the Abkragung 15 of the housing 7. The holding means 18 is designed as a rotationally symmetrical funnel, which rests with its smaller opening circumferentially on a conical wall 6a of the outlet diffuser 6. This also makes it possible to mount the outlet-side end region of the housing 7 in an elastically flexible manner relative to the bottom piece 5 and the outlet diffuser 6. It is understood that the special features of the various embodiments can be meaningfully combined with each other depending on the requirements.

Claims

Patent claims

An exhaust gas cooler, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising an inlet diffuser (1) for supplying an exhaust gas flow, an exchanger region having a plurality of exchanger tubes (3) extending in an axial direction, the exchanger tubes (3) being connected at one end to a first one , inlet-side bottom piece (4) and at its other end to a second, exit-side

Bottom piece (5) are received, a the outlet diffuser (1) opposite outlet diffuser (6) for discharging the exhaust stream, and a through-flow of a coolant housing (7), wherein the housing (7) made of a non-high temperature resistant material, in particular plastic or aluminum , characterized in that between the inlet diffuser (1) and the first bottom piece (4) a first seal (8) for sealing the exhaust gas against the environment and between the first bottom piece (4) and the housing (7) a second

Seal (9) is arranged to seal the coolant against the environment.

2. Exhaust cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that the first bottom piece (4), the second bottom piece (5) and the exchanger tubes (3) form a preassembled, in particular welded unit, in the axial direction in the housing (7) can be inserted is.

3. exhaust gas cooler according to claim 2, characterized in that the preassembled unit also comprises the outlet diffuser (6).

4. Exhaust cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Einthttsdiffusor (1) via at least one fastening means (10), in particular a screw, is held in a substantially axial direction relative to the housing (7), wherein the first and the second Seal (8, 9) are subjected to force by the holder.

5. Exhaust cooler according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening means (10) is partially guided in a sleeve having a

Collar (7c) of the housing passes through.

6. Exhaust cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first seal (8) is a high temperature resistant seal, in particular of metal.

7. Exhaust cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second seal (9) has a temperature resistance up to at least about 200 ° C, wherein the second seal is made in particular of silicone.

8. exhaust gas cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the housing (7) and at least one of the two, the outlet-side bottom piece (5) or the outlet diffuser (6), a third seal (11) is provided.

9. exhaust gas cooler according to claim 8, characterized in that the third seal (11) is subjected to force substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.

10. exhaust gas cooler according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the third seal (11) is slidably received in the axial direction, so that a thermal expansion of the exhaust gas cooler is compensated.

1 1. Exhaust gas cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet-side bottom piece (5) has a substantially extending in the axial direction Abkragung (5a).

12. An exhaust gas cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (7) with an exit-side end region via a fastening means (12), in particular a screw, at least one of the two, exit-side bottom piece (5) or outlet diffuser (6 ).

13. An exhaust gas cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (7) at an outlet end region has a positive-locking structure, in particular a taper, wherein the outlet diffuser (6) form fit against the

Structure is supported.

14. exhaust gas cooler according to claim 13, characterized in that between the positive-locking structure and the outlet diffuser (6), a third seal (11 a) is located or arranged.

15. Exhaust cooler according to claim 14, characterized in that the seal (1 1 a) is arranged on the conical and / or on the cylindrical segment of the outlet diffuser.

16. An exhaust gas cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the outlet diffuser (6) a holding means (17, 18) is arranged, wherein the holding means (17, 18) with an outlet-side end portion of the housing (7) is connectable.

17, exhaust gas cooler according to claim 16, characterized in that the holding means comprises at least one resilient sheet (17), wherein the sheet is fixed in an elastically biased state at the end portion of the housing.

18. An exhaust gas cooler according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the holding means (18) via the outlet diffuser (6) is slidably and by the outlet diffuser (6) is held positively.

19, exhaust gas cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing consists at least partially of a plastic from the group polyamide (PA), polyphthalamide (PPA) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).

20. Exhaust cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is part of an entire module or entire housing, which is directly or indirectly fastened to a motor, in particular with the engine can be screwed.