Methods for manufacturing a unit load and methods for manufacturing a heat exchanger with unit loads

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a piece of goods (1) which is used to produce a product (100), wherein the piece of goods (1) in the product (100) is connected to a further component (103) of the product (100) via connecting sections (3). Reduced manufacturing costs and an improved environmental balance result from the fact that an adhesive (7) is applied locally to the connecting sections (3) of the piece goods (1), by means of which adhesive the piece goods (1) in the product (100) are glued to the component (103). The invention also relates to a method for producing a heat exchanger (101) with such a piece goods (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a piece of material for the manufacture of a product, in particular a heat exchanger. The invention also relates to a method for producing a heat exchanger using such a piece of material.

[0002] To manufacture a variety of products, individual components of the product are prefabricated and then joined together. These prefabricated components, also known as piece goods, can be joined together in any desired way.

[0003] A simple and flexible way to join these components is through adhesive bonding. For this purpose, at least one of the components to be joined is coated with an adhesive.

[0004] The present invention addresses the problem of providing improved or at least different embodiments of a method for producing a piece of the type mentioned above, as well as a method for producing a heat exchanger using such a piece of material. In particular, the present invention addresses the problem of providing embodiments of the methods that are characterized by reduced manufacturing costs and / or an improved environmental impact.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Representations of the embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006] The present invention is therefore based on the fundamental idea of ​​applying an adhesive to a piece of material intended for later bonding only at those points within the product that are used to connect it to another component. This significantly reduces the amount of adhesive required, thus reducing both manufacturing costs and improving the environmental impact.

[0007] According to the inventive concept, the piece goods are used to manufacture a product, wherein the piece goods in the product are glued in sections to another component of the product via one side of the piece goods. Those sections in which the bonding takes place on the side are hereinafter also referred to as connecting sections and those sections in which no bonding takes place on the side are hereinafter also referred to as empty sections. The connecting sections are thus spaced from one another by empty sections. A starting material is provided to manufacture the piece goods. An adhesive is applied locally to the later connecting sections so that the later empty sections are free of adhesive. Cutting to size to manufacture the piece goods can take place before or after the adhesive is applied.

[0008] The starting material can be of any kind.

[0009] For example, the starting material may be a sheet metal. The starting material may be in the form of a coil, particularly a sheet metal coil.

[0010] As explained above, the piece goods are used to manufacture a related product. For this purpose, the piece goods are bonded to another component of the product using the adhesive. The component can also be a piece goods.

[0011] The product can be any product.

[0012] In particular, it is conceivable to manufacture a heat exchanger as a product. The heat exchanger is used to temperature-control an object and / or a fluid during operation. Temperature control, in this case, refers in particular to cooling and / or heating. For this purpose, the heat exchanger advantageously defines a volume within its interior through which a flow path of a temperature control fluid passes, so that the temperature control fluid flows through the volume during operation for the purpose of temperature control.

[0013] To manufacture the heat exchanger, the piece goods are produced and the component is prepared. The component is, in particular, a sheet metal part. The sheet metal part and the piece goods are bonded together using the adhesive in such a way that the volume between the piece goods and the sheet metal part is limited, through which the flow path of the temperature control fluid passes.

[0014] In principle, the heat exchanger can be of any type.

[0015] For example, the heat exchanger is a cooling plate through which the temperature control fluid flows during operation.

[0016] The heat exchanger, especially the cooling plate, can in principle be used in any application. In particular, the heat exchanger is used to cool an object.

[0017] The heat exchanger, especially the cooling plate, can be used in a mobile or stationary application.

[0018] For example, the heat exchanger, in particular the cooling plate, is used to control the temperature of a battery, in particular a traction battery.

[0019] It is also conceivable to use the heat exchanger, in particular the cooling plate, to control the temperature of a photovoltaic device.

[0020] The heat exchanger, in particular the cooling plate, can also be used to control the temperature of a fuel cell or a stack of fuel cells.

[0021] During the production of the product, the piece goods and / or the sheet metal part are preferably heated to bond them using the adhesive. This results in a softening or liquefaction of the adhesive and consequently in an improved bond between the piece goods and the sheet metal part.

[0022] To produce the product, the piece goods and the component, especially the sheet metal part, are preferably mechanically stressed against each other during bonding. This leads to improved bonding of the piece goods to the sheet metal part.

[0023] Any type of adhesive can be used.

[0024] It is advantageous to use a polyolefin-based adhesive.

[0025] Embodiments in which an adhesive powder is used as the adhesive are considered particularly preferred. This means that an adhesive powder is preferably applied locally to the connecting sections as the adhesive. In contrast to the prior art, in which an adhesive is first produced separately using an adhesive powder and then applied to the starting material, in this embodiment the adhesive powder is applied to the starting material. This leads to immediate savings in adhesive powder and energy. Consequently, costs are saved and the environmental balance is improved. In addition, the use of the adhesive powder allows for precise local application to the connecting sections. In particular, such an adhesive powder can be applied precisely and locally to the connecting sections, for example due to existing ambient humidity.This results in further savings in adhesives and thus a significant reduction in costs while simultaneously improving the environmental impact.

[0026] The adhesive powder comprises, and in particular consists of, particles. The particles can be of any size. In particular, the adhesive powder can be adhesive granules.

[0027] The adhesive powder can be heated to form an adhesive layer at the respective joining section. This simplifies subsequent handling of the piece goods and the production of the corresponding product. In particular, this method allows the piece goods to be temporarily stored for any length of time before being used in the production of the product.

[0028] The adhesive powder can be heated before and / or during and / or after application. It is preferable to heat the adhesive powder after application.

[0029] The respective adhesive layer can be of any type.

[0030] Preferably, the respective adhesive layer is a film. This means that the adhesive powder is composed and / or the heating is carried out in such a way that an adhesive film forms at the respective connecting section upon heating. This further simplifies subsequent handling of the piece goods and the production of the associated product.

[0031] In advantageous variants, the raw material is first cut to size, and the adhesive is applied after cutting. Cutting thus results in the production of a blank, with the adhesive being applied to the blank. This leads to simplified and variable production of the piece goods.

[0032] Preferably, the dimensions of the blank correspond at least substantially to those of the piece goods, so that subsequent cutting of the piece goods for the production of the product can be eliminated. This leads to further simplification of production, reduction of manufacturing costs, and a further improvement of the environmental footprint.

[0033] Particularly when manufacturing such a heat exchanger with the piece goods, the piece goods can be manufactured as a channel plate. The channel plate has elongated recesses that are spaced from each other by sections, which are also referred to below as separating sections.

[0034] To produce the piece goods as a duct sheet, the adhesive is preferably applied to the separating sections so that the connecting sections are arranged in the separating sections, in particular correspond to them.

[0035] When using such a channel plate to manufacture a heat exchanger, in particular a cooling plate, a cover plate is provided as the sheet metal part, which preferably has a substantially flat shape. The cover plate is bonded to the channel plate in the connecting sections using the adhesive, so that the recesses define the volume.

[0036] The recesses can be made in any way and before or after the application of the adhesive.

[0037] In preferred variants, the recesses are created first, and the adhesive is applied after the recesses have been created. This allows for more precise application of the adhesive to the connecting sections, thus leading to reduced manufacturing costs and a simultaneously improved environmental footprint.

[0038] The recesses are preferably formed into the raw material or blank by forming. The recesses can be formed by embossing and / or pressing. The recesses can also be formed by extrusion.

[0039] It is conceivable that both the piece goods and the component are manufactured as channel sheets.

[0040] It is also conceivable to manufacture the piece goods as a cover sheet and the sheet metal part as a channel sheet. In this case, the piece goods are manufactured as a cover sheet and the sheet metal part as a channel sheet. To manufacture the heat exchanger, in particular the cooling plate, the separating sections of the component manufactured as a channel sheet are bonded to the connecting sections using the adhesive, so that the connections limit the volume.

[0041] It is also clear that two or more channel plates and / or two or more cover plates can be used. This means that at least one channel plate is manufactured, in particular as a piece product. Furthermore, at least one cover plate is manufactured / provided, in particular as a sheet metal part. The at least one cover plate is connected to the at least one channel plate by means of the adhesive in the connecting sections, thus producing the cooling plate in which the recesses delimit the volume.

[0042] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.

[0043] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0044] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0045] They show, schematically Fig. 1 to 6 simplified views during the production of a piece of goods, Fig. 7 to 10 simplified views of the production of a heat exchanger with the piece goods, Fig. 11 a highly simplified side view of the heat exchanger on a battery in a motor vehicle

[0046] One in the Fig. 5 to 10, shown as an example, is used to produce a Fig. 10 and Fig. 11, the product 100 shown as an example is used. In the illustrated embodiments, the product 100 is a heat exchanger 101, which is designed as a cooling plate 102.

[0047] In the product 100, the piece goods 1 is connected in sections to another component 103 of the product 100 via a side 2 of the piece goods 1, so that the piece goods 1 has at least two connecting sections 3 on the side 2, via which the piece goods 1 is connected to the component 103. The connecting sections 3 are spaced from one another on the side 2 by sections 4, which are also referred to below as empty sections 4.

[0048] The production of piece goods 1 is described below using the Fig. 1 to 6 explained.

[0049] To produce the piece goods 1, as described in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a starting material 5 is provided. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the starting material 5 is a sheet 6. As shown in Fig. 5, an adhesive 7 is also applied locally to the later connecting sections 3, so that the later empty sections 4 are free of the adhesive 7. In addition, cutting takes place to produce the piece goods 1.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiments, the cutting takes place before the application of the adhesive 7. This means that a blank 8 is produced from the starting material 5 and the adhesive 7 is applied to the blank 8. As a summary of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows, the starting material 5 in the embodiments shown is present as a roll 9, i.e. as a sheet metal roll 10.

[0051] Fig. 5 shows that the adhesive 7 in the illustrated embodiments is present as an adhesive powder 11, advantageously based on polyolefin, so that the adhesive powder 11 is applied locally to the connecting sections 3. The adhesive powder 11 can, in particular, be an adhesive granulate 12.

[0052] How Fig. As can also be seen from Figure 5, the adhesive 7 is applied to the connecting sections 3 in the exemplary embodiments shown by placing the connecting sections 3 into a container 13 containing the adhesive 7 present as adhesive powder 11. The starting material 5, in the exemplary embodiments shown the blank 8, can be heated in order to achieve improved adhesion of the adhesive powder 11 to the connecting sections 3.

[0053] It is also conceivable, as in Fig. 6, the adhesive powder 11 is heated after application to the connecting sections 4, so that an adhesive layer 14 forms on the respective connecting section 3, which in this case is in the form of an adhesive film 15. This can be done, in particular, immediately before the piece goods 1 are used to manufacture the product 100.

[0054] In the embodiments shown, the piece goods 1, such as in particular the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, is produced as a channel plate 16 which has elongated recesses 17. The recesses 17 are spaced from one another by sections 18, wherein these sections 18 are also referred to below as separating sections 18. In the exemplary embodiments shown, three recesses 17 are introduced purely as an example. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the respective connecting section 3 is arranged in such a separating section 18. This means that the adhesive 7 is applied to the separating sections 18 so that the connecting sections 3 are arranged in the separating sections 18. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the connecting sections 3 correspond to the separating sections 18. The empty sections 4 are thus arranged in the recesses 17 and correspond to the recesses 17 in the exemplary embodiments shown.In the exemplary embodiments shown, the adhesive 7 is applied after the depressions 17 have been made in the starting material 5, in the exemplary embodiments shown in the blank 8.

[0055] How Fig. 5 can be removed, the starting material 5 provided with the recesses 17, in the exemplary embodiments shown the blank 8 provided with the recesses 17, can be inserted into the container 13 with the separating sections 18 first for applying the adhesive 7 to the connecting sections 3 and thus to the separating sections 18. The recesses 18 are spaced apart from the adhesive 7 so that no adhesive 7 is applied in the recesses 18 and thus in the empty sections 4.

[0056] As in Fig. 3, in the embodiments shown, the depressions 17 are introduced by forming the starting material 5, in the embodiments shown, the blank 8. This is done as Fig. 3 can be removed by means of embossing. This means that the recesses 17 are embossed into the blank 8. Before or during forming, the starting material 5, in the illustrated embodiments the blank 8, can be wetted with a forming aid (not shown) in order to simplify the forming and / or avoid damage. As shown in the Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b, the forming aid can advantageously be removed before the application of the adhesive 7. This can be done, for example, by means of a brush cleaning, preferably an aqueous brush cleaning, as in Fig. 4a, and / or thermally, i.e. via evaporation of the forming aid, as shown in Fig. 4 b indicated.

[0057] The manufacture of the product 100, in the illustrated embodiments of the heat exchanger 101, is described below with reference to the Fig. 7 to 10 explained.

[0058] The piece goods 1 are manufactured and bonded to the component 103 using the adhesive 7. In the illustrated embodiments, the component 3 is in the form of a sheet metal part 104. As the Fig. 7 to 10, the sheet metal part 104 in the embodiments shown is formed as a plate-shaped cover plate 106.

[0059] As a summary of the Fig. As shown in Figures 7 to 10, the sheet metal part 104 and the piece goods 1 are bonded together using the adhesive 7 in such a way that a volume 105 is defined between the piece goods 1 and the sheet metal part 104. A flow path (not shown) of a temperature control fluid leads through the volume 105. In the illustrated embodiments, the recesses 17 define the volume 105, so that the temperature control fluid flows through the recesses 17 during operation.

[0060] As explained above, it is possible to Fig. 6, the heating of the adhesive powder 11 for producing the adhesive layer 14 can also be carried out immediately before the production of the product 11, so that the production of the adhesive layer 14 can be part of the production of the product 100.

[0061] Alternatively or additionally, as in Fig. 7, it is possible to heat the piece goods 1 and / or the component 103 before bonding. Fig. In the variant shown in Figure 7, the piece goods 1 and the component 103 are heated before bonding.

[0062] As in the Fig. 8 and Fig. As indicated in Figure 9, the piece goods 1 and the component 103 are heated and mechanically stressed against each other in the illustrated embodiments for bonding. This takes place in the Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 by means of a corresponding system 400 from which the product 100, in the embodiments shown the heat exchanger 101, is subsequently removed, so that the product 100, as in Fig. 10 is indicated.

[0063] The product 100 manufactured as a cooling plate 102 in the embodiments shown can, as in Fig. 11, are used to temper, in particular to cool, a battery 200. As in Fig.As shown in Figure 11, the battery 200 may be a traction battery 201 in a motor vehicle 300. Preferably, the motor vehicle 300 is thus at least partially electrically powered by the traction battery 201.

Claims

[1] Method for producing a piece good (1) for the production of a product (100), in particular a heat exchanger (101), wherein the piece good (1) in the product (100) is connected to a further component (103) of the product (100) by means of at least two connecting sections (3) on one side (2) of the piece good (1), and wherein the piece good (1) and the component (103) are spaced from one another on the side (2) by empty sections (4), wherein - a starting material (5), in particular made of sheet metal (6), is provided, - an adhesive (7) is applied locally to the later connecting sections (3) so that the later empty sections (4) are free of the adhesive (7), - the starting material (5) is cut before or after the application of the adhesive (7). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized bythat an adhesive powder (11), in particular an adhesive granulate (12), is applied locally to the connecting sections (3) as the adhesive (7). [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized by that the adhesive powder (11), in particular after application, is heated so that an adhesive layer (14), in particular an adhesive film (15), is formed on the respective connecting section (3). [4] Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the starting material (5) is cut to size and thus a blank (8) is produced and the adhesive (7) is applied to the blank (8). [5] Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , - that the piece goods (1) are manufactured as a channel plate (16) having elongated recesses (17) which are spaced apart from one another by separating sections (18), - that the adhesive (7) is applied to the separating sections (18) so that the connecting sections (3) are arranged in the separating sections (18), in particular correspond to the separating sections (18). [6] Method according to claim 5, characterized by that the depressions (17) are introduced, in particular by means of forming, and the adhesive (7) is applied after the depressions (17) have been introduced. [7] Method for producing a heat exchanger (101), in particular a cooling plate (102), - wherein a piece good (1) is produced according to the method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein a sheet metal part (104) is provided as component (103), - wherein the sheet metal part (104) and the piece goods (1) are glued together by means of the adhesive (7) in such a way that a volume (105) is defined between the piece goods (1) and the sheet metal part (104), through which volume a flow path of a tempering fluid leads. [8] Method according to claim 7, characterized by , - that a channel plate (16) according to claim 5 or 6 is produced as piece goods (1), - that a cover sheet (106) is provided as the sheet metal part (104), - that the cover plate (106) is connected to the channel plate (16) by means of the adhesive (7) in the connecting sections (3), so that a cooling plate (102) is produced in which the recesses (17) delimit the volume (105). [9] Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that the piece goods (1) and / or the sheet metal part (104) are heated for bonding by means of the adhesive (7). [10] Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by that the piece goods (1) and the sheet metal part (104) are mechanically stressed against each other during bonding.

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