Base plate for a vehicle heat exchanger, method for its manufacture, heat exchanger and oil filter module

Abstract

Base plate (16) for a vehicle heat exchanger with a receiving area (20) to which a heat exchanger (14) or a cooling package (18) of a heat exchanger (14) is attached, and at least one mounting hole (22) which is arranged at the edge of the base plate (16) and is designed to receive a retaining element (24), in particular a screw, wherein at least one weakened area (26) with at least a lesser plate thickness is provided between the receiving area (20) and at least one mounting hole (22), wherein the base plate (16) has several mounting holes (22) and at least one weakened area (26), wherein the weakened area (26) is provided between the receiving area (20) and the mounting hole (22) nearest to the receiving area (20), characterized in that the weakened area (26) is an embossing or is formed by an opening.wherein the base plate (16) has a constant thickness outside the weakened area (26).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a base plate for a vehicle heat exchanger, a method for its manufacture, a heat exchanger with a base plate and an oil filter module with a heat exchanger.

[0002] Heat exchangers are used in vehicle construction to regulate the temperature of operating fluids, especially engine oil. They are typically located in the engine compartment and are mounted on a base plate, which is used to attach the heat exchanger to the vehicle. For this purpose, mounting holes are provided along the edge of the base plate, through which fasteners, usually screws, can be inserted. Due to the limited space in the engine compartment, the shape and geometry of the base plate are restricted, so the mounting holes are positioned very close to the heat exchanger, more precisely to the cooling element of the heat exchanger.

[0003] Such heat exchangers are described in DE 10 2012 204 729 A1, DE 20 2011 002 197 U1, DE 10 2011 080 824 A1, DE 103 47 181 A1 and DE 10 2005 048 452 A1.

[0004] DE 203 14 687 U1 discloses an oil module with such a heat exchanger.

[0005] During operation, coolant and oil pulsations act on the heat exchanger, causing stresses in the base plate or the solder joint between the cooling pack and the base plate due to bending stress. These stresses are particularly high in the areas between the heat exchanger and the mounting holes and increase with decreasing distance between the mounting hole and the heat exchanger. Especially high stresses can reduce the service life of the heat exchanger, the solder joint between the cooling pack and the base plate, and the base plate itself.

[0006] Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger in which large stresses in the base plate are avoided without increasing the manufacturing costs or the required installation space.

[0007] This problem is solved by a base plate for a vehicle heat exchanger according to claim 1. By weakening the base plate between the receiving area and the mounting hole, the distance between the contact surface of the screw with the base plate on the one hand and a solder lug of the heat exchanger or cooling pack on the other hand is increased. This simply extends the service life of the base plate or the solder lug. It also relieves the area where the greatest stress would occur by reducing the load.

[0008] The weakened area is either an embossing, making it easy to implement, or it is formed by a through-hole, which reduces the weight of the base plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the base plate has a consistent thickness outside the weakened area, making it easy to manufacture.

[0010] The weakened area is formed by an abrupt reduction in material thickness, so that this area is surrounded and clearly defined.

[0011] Preferably, the weakened area increases the effective distance between the holding means and the heat exchanger or the cooling package of the heat exchanger compared to an arrangement without a weakened area, thereby reducing stresses that occur.

[0012] The weakened area can be spaced away from the mounting hole, so that the function of the mounting hole is not impaired by the weakened area or the permissible surface pressure is not exceeded.

[0013] For example, the weakened area, viewed from above, is adapted in its shape to at least one adjacent section of the outer contour of the mounting hole, so that the weakened area can optimally compensate for the stress arising between the mounting hole and the receiving area.

[0014] In one version, the weakened area is arc-shaped. This allows for optimal adaptation to a circular mounting hole.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the embossing is provided on the same side of the base plate as the receiving area, whereby the embossing is exposed in the assembled state of the base plate.

[0016] The base plate can advantageously be made of sheet metal, as sheet metal is easy to work with.

[0017] The problem is further solved by a heat exchanger with a base plate according to the invention and a cooling package that is arranged at the receiving area of ​​the base plate.

[0018] The invention provides an oil filter module with a heat exchanger according to the invention.

[0019] The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a base plate for a heat exchanger, wherein the base plate is stamped from a semi-finished product and, during the stamping process, the embossing is simultaneously introduced into the base plate or the weakened area is stamped out. In this way, it is possible to manufacture a base plate with an embossing without additional manufacturing costs.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. The drawings show: - Fig. 1 a top view of an oil filter module according to the invention with a heat exchanger according to the invention with a base plate according to the invention, and - Fig. 2 a perspective view of a section of a heat exchanger according to the invention with a base plate according to the invention.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a top view of an oil filter module 10. The oil filter module has a filter section 12 and a heat exchanger 14, which are arranged side by side.

[0022] The heat exchanger 14, in turn, comprises a base plate 16 and a cooling package 18. The cooling package 18 is attached in a receiving area 20 of the base plate 16. It is also conceivable that the heat exchanger 14 and the base plate 16 are designed separately and that the heat exchanger 14 is attached in the receiving area 20 of the base plate 16.

[0023] The base plate 16 has mounting holes 22 on its edge, through which retaining means 24, for example screws, can be passed in order to mount the base plate 16 in the engine compartment.

[0024] Between one of the mounting holes 22, for example the mounting hole 22 closest to the heat exchanger 14, and the receiving area 20, the base plate 16 has a weakened area 26 in which the thickness of the base plate 16 is abruptly reduced.

[0025] The weakened area 26 can be designed as an embossing.

[0026] It is also conceivable that the weakened area 26 is designed as an opening in the base plate 16, which is created, for example, by punching.

[0027] The weakened area 26 is spaced away from the mounting hole 22 and can be adapted to the outer contour of the mounting hole 22. For example, the weakened area 26 is arc-shaped.

[0028] Unless it is an opening, the weakened area 26 is located on the same side of the base plate 16 as the receiving area 20.

[0029] The position and width of area 26 is chosen in relation to the diameter of the screw head so that it does not protrude beyond area 26.

[0030] Outside the weakened area 26, the base plate 16 has a constant thickness and is made of sheet metal, for example.

[0031] The base plate 16 is stamped from a semi-finished product, whereby the weakened area 26 is simultaneously introduced into the base plate, for example as a through-hole, during the stamping process. Even if the weakened area 26 is an embossed feature, it is also introduced into the base plate 16 simultaneously when the base plate 16 is stamped from the semi-finished product.

[0032] The weakened area 26 between one of the mounting holes 22 and the receiving area 20, due to its reduced thickness, can compensate for the stresses in the base plate that arise during operation of the heat exchanger due to thermal expansion of the base plate 16 itself. In this way, damage to the base plate 16 is prevented.

Claims

[1] Base plate (16) for a vehicle heat exchanger with a receiving area (20) to which a heat exchanger (14) or a cooling package (18) of a heat exchanger (14) is attached, and at least one mounting hole (22) which is arranged at the edge of the base plate (16) and is designed to receive a retaining means (24), in particular a screw, wherein at least one weakened area (26) with at least a lesser plate thickness is provided between the receiving area (20) and at least one mounting hole (22), wherein the base plate (16) has several mounting holes (22) and at least one weakened area (26), wherein the weakened area (26) is provided between the receiving area (20) and the mounting hole (22) nearest to the receiving area (20), characterized by, that the weakened area (26) is an embossing or is formed by an opening, wherein the base plate (16) has a constant thickness outside the weakened area (26). [2] Base plate (16) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the weakened area (26) increases the effective distance between the holding means (24) and the heat exchanger (14) or the cooling package (18) of the heat exchanger (14) compared to an arrangement without a weakened area (26). [3] Base plate (16) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the weakened area (26) is spaced away from the mounting hole (22). [4] Base plate (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the weakened area (26) in its shape, as seen in top view of the base plate (16), is adapted to at least one section of the outer contour of the fastening hole (22). [5] Base plate (16) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the weakened area (26) is arc-shaped. [6] Base plate (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the embossing is provided on the same side of the base plate (16) as the receiving area (20). [7] Base plate (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the base plate (16) is made of sheet metal. [8] Heat exchanger (14) with a base plate (16) according to one of the preceding claims and a cooling package (18) arranged at the receiving area (20) of the base plate (16). [9] Oil filter module with a heat exchanger (14) according to claim 8. [10] Method for producing a base plate (16) for a heat exchanger (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the base plate (16) is punched out from a semi-finished product and, during the punching process, the embossing is simultaneously introduced into the base plate (16) or the weakened area is simultaneously punched out.

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