Heat exchanger of an internal combustion engine

Abstract

A heat exchanger (18) is provided for an internal combustion engine (1) for heat transfer between a gas stream (8) and a working medium stream (10). The heat exchanger (18) comprises a housing (28), which encloses a gas path (38), and with at least one spiral tube (29), which carries a working medium path (30) and which is arranged in the gas path (38) and which extends helically in relation to the central longitudinal axis (31) of the housing (28). Increased fatigue strength is achieved with an elastic outer mounting layer (32). The elastic outer mounting layer (32) is arranged between the housing (28) and the at least one spiral tube (29).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2013 201 465.1, filed on Jan. 30, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains to a heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine for heat transmission between a gas stream and a working medium stream.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Heat exchangers are used for various applications in internal combustion engines, especially of motor vehicles. For example, a heat exchanger, through which ambient air can flow in order to remove heat from the cooling circuit into the environment, may be integrated into an engine cooling circuit. Furthermore, an interior space air stream can be admitted into a heat exchanger coupled thermally with the engine cooling circuit in order to heat the interior space air stream in this manner. Furthermore, applications are con...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention is based on the general idea of mounting the at least one spiral tube on the housing via such an elastic outer mounting layer. Such a spiral tube is arranged in this case in the gas path and extends helically in relation to a central longitudinal axis of the housing. A working medium path is led through the spiral tube, as a result of which the heat transfer between the gas stream and the working medium stream ultimately takes place via the spiral tube arranged in the gas path. The outer mounting layer is arranged radially between the housing and the at least one spiral tube. The outer mounting layer is preferably arranged all-round in the circumferential direction. Thermal expansion effects within the spiral tube can be absorbed in a comparatively simple manner due to the use of a spiral tube, because these effects lead to a change in the length of the spiral tube and act essentially only axially as a result. Furthermore, the outer mounting layer ensures that radial expansion effects can also be absorbed elastically. The fatigue strength of the heat exchanger can thus be increased correspondingly.

[0023]Moreover, the respective mounting layer may be designed such that it brings about heat insulation at the same time. The outer mounting layer now brings about heat insulation of the housing against the gas stream. The inner mounting layer brings about heat insulation of the core tube, so that the heat dissipation by radiation to the outside is reduced in bypass operation.

Problems solved by technology

Insofar as the heat exchanger is exposed to high temperatures and / or great temperature variations in connection with its particular use, there will also be high thermal and mechanical stresses for the heat exchanger as a result.

Applications in vehicles are also associated with high stresses due to vibrations and shocks.

Images