Connection device for mounting and fluidic supply of a collector for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant, collector for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant, heat transfer device with such a connection device and such a collector, and temperature control system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection device (1) for mounting and fluidically supplying a receiver (2) for drying and intermediately storing refrigerant, comprising a mounting interface (4) designed for mechanical and fluidic connection of the receiver (2), which includes a connection element (5) through which the refrigerant can flow and which has a connection thread (6) for screwing it to the receiver (2). The invention further relates to a receiver (2) for drying and intermediately storing refrigerant for a heat transfer device (23), a heat transfer device (23), and a temperature control system for use in a vehicle, which includes at least one heat transfer device (23).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection device for holding and fluidically supplying a collector for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant according to the subject matter of claim 1. The invention further relates to a collector for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant, a heat transfer device equipped with such a connection device and such a collector, and a temperature control system.

[0002] Common heat transfer devices in temperature control systems consist of a heat exchanger, also known as a condenser, through which a refrigerant flows. The refrigerant is either air-cooled or liquid-cooled within the heat exchanger. A receiver is also included for drying and intermediate storage of the refrigerant. Typically, the receiver is mechanically and fluidically coupled to the heat exchanger via a connection fitting, adapter, or flange, so that the receiver and heat exchanger form a single unit and the receiver can be supplied with refrigerant. It is common practice to securely connect the receiver to the connection fitting using fasteners such as screws or similar components. These fasteners are readily available in numerous designs and in large quantities, making their use a practical and justifiable solution.However, it has turned out that the assembly and possible disassembly of the collector is complex and involves a certain amount of effort, as the fastening elements have to be painstakingly attached or removed individually, which can cause considerable problems, especially in a space limited by the various components of a temperature control system.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for a connection device for mounting and fluidically supplying a receiver for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant, which in particular enables simpler assembly and / or disassembly of the receiver. Furthermore, an advantageous receiver for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant, an advantageous heat transfer device with such a connection device and such a receiver, and an advantageous temperature control system are to be provided.

[0004] In the present invention, these problems are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0005] The first-mentioned task is solved by a connection device for holding and fluidically supplying a collector for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant, with a mounting interface designed for mechanical and fluidic connection of the collector, which has a connection element through which the refrigerant can flow and which has a connection thread for screwing onto the collector.

[0006] This allows the manifold, which is expediently equipped with a mating mounting interface designed to complement the mounting interface of the connection device, to be mechanically and fluidically connected to the connection device without additional fasteners or tools, for example, by hand. This has the advantage of simplifying the assembly and any subsequent disassembly of the manifold.

[0007] The connection device can be manufactured cost-effectively from a steel material.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting element can be cylindrical and, in particular, centrally located on a mounting surface of the assembly interface intended for the manifold, projecting beyond it along a central axis perpendicular to the mounting surface. In other words, the connecting element is designed as a cylindrical projection. This allows the manifold to be brought into contact with and attached to the connecting element relatively easily, thus simplifying the subsequent screwing of the manifold to the connection device.

[0009] It can be advantageous if the connection thread is an external thread, allowing the manifold to be screwed onto the connection element. Alternatively, the connection thread can be an internal thread, allowing the manifold to be screwed into the connection element. Such threads are easy to manufacture, making the connection of the manifold to the connection device cost-effective.

[0010] In a suitable further development, the connection device may be provided with a monolithic base body featuring a mounting interface for the mechanical and fluidic connection of the manifold and a further mounting interface for the mechanical and fluidic connection of a heat exchanger for cooling the refrigerant. The base body may be penetrated by two separate, flow-through channels, which open at the mounting interface with two first openings spaced apart from each other and at the further mounting interface with two second openings spaced apart from each other. The base body may also be penetrated by more than two channels. The first and second channels may have identical or different diameters.This gives the connection device a basic body that is easy to manufacture and handle, with two separate mounting interfaces through which the connection device can be connected to the collector or the heat exchanger.

[0011] Furthermore, it may be advantageous to provide that the additional mounting interface includes a connection device for mechanically and fluidically connecting the connection device to the heat exchanger. This allows the connection device to be fixed in place on the heat exchanger and fluidically connected to it.

[0012] In particular, it can be provided that a first channel of the two channels passes coaxially through the connection element and opens at an end face of the connection element pointing away from the base body, especially by forming a first opening. This allows a refrigerant to flow centrally into or out of the collector. Due to this arrangement, the connection device is particularly compact.

[0013] It is also possible that a second channel of the two channels opens onto one or the mounting surface of the mounting interface, particularly by forming a second opening. This provides a space-saving arrangement of the second opening of the first openings, so that a fluidic connection between the collector and the connection device can be easily established.

[0014] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the mounting surface is bordered by an annular web of the mounting interface, extending around the central axis. This web has an annular groove extending around the central axis at an axially projecting end face of the annular web, in which an annular sealing element is received for a fluid-tight seal between the connection device and the collector. Advantageously, this sealing element specifically seals the second channel of the aforementioned channels against the surrounding environment. The sealing element can, for example, be formed by a sealing cord or an O-ring.

[0015] It may further be provided that the connection device has one or more annular sealing elements for a fluid-tight seal between the connection device and the collector, which, in a state where the connection device and the collector are screwed together, is clamped sealingly between one or the end face of the connection element and the collector. Advantageously, the additional sealing element seals the first channel of said channels, which opens at the end face of the connection element, against the second channel of said channels in a fluid-tight manner. The additional sealing element may also be formed, for example, by a sealing cord or an O-ring.

[0016] The second problem mentioned at the outset is solved by a collector for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant for a heat transfer device, comprising at least a hollow cylindrical base body enclosing a volume and having an axial opening through which the volume is accessible, as well as a lid element that closes the opening of the base body in a fluid-tight manner, and having at least one refrigerant supply connection and at least one refrigerant discharge connection.The at least one refrigerant supply connection or the at least one refrigerant discharge connection can be formed by a hollow cylindrical collector connection element centrally arranged on the cover element and projecting away from the cover element. This collector connection element has a mating thread designed for screwing into the connection thread of the connection element of the connection device as described above, and a central opening through which the refrigerant can flow, passing through the cover element and the collector connection element. Furthermore, the at least one refrigerant discharge connection or the at least one refrigerant supply connection can be formed by a group of through-openings passing through the cover element, which are arranged in a ring-shaped pattern evenly distributed around the central opening.This provides an advantageous manifold that can be screwed to a connection device as described above. The mating thread of the manifold connection element can be implemented as an external or internal thread and / or be designed to be complementary to the connection thread of the connection element.

[0017] The third problem mentioned at the outset is solved by a heat transfer device comprising at least one connection device designed according to the preceding description, at least one collector designed according to the preceding description and at least one heat exchanger penetrated by a refrigerant channel for cooling the refrigerant or at least one air conditioning condenser for cooling the refrigerant.It is advantageous if the at least one manifold is screwed to the at least one connection device via the mounting interface, thereby establishing a first fluidic and mechanical connection between the manifold and the connection device, and / or if the connection device is connected to the heat exchanger or the condenser via the additional mounting interface, thereby establishing a second fluidic and mechanical connection between the heat exchanger and the connection device. Because the manifold can be screwed directly to the connection device, fasteners such as screws are no longer required. This makes the assembly and disassembly of the manifold of the heat transfer device faster and more cost-effective than before.

[0018] The heat exchanger or air conditioning condenser can be implemented as a stacked disc heat exchanger. Stacked disc heat exchangers are used, for example, as oil coolers, condensers, or chillers in motor vehicles. A preferred stacked disc heat exchanger has several stacked, elongated discs, with flow-through cavities between them. These cavities are alternately filled with a coolant and a refrigerant, allowing heat transfer between the two media.

[0019] The last-mentioned problem is solved by a temperature control system for use in a vehicle, which includes at least one heat transfer device designed according to the preceding description. This provides an advantageous temperature control system for a vehicle.

[0020] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0021] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The components of a higher-level unit, such as a device, apparatus, or arrangement, mentioned above and those to be mentioned below, which are designated separately, can form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is depicted differently in the drawings.

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0023] Each of these shows, schematically: Fig. 1 a heat transfer device with a connection device according to a preferred embodiment in a perspective view; Fig. 2 the connection device Fig. 1 in a single view in a top view according to a in Fig. 1 registered arrow II; Fig. 3 the heat transfer device Fig. 1 in a perspective view looking towards one in Fig. 1. Arrow III, the connecting device and the collector are partially cut open along the central axis so that the interior of the connecting device is more clearly visible; Fig. 4 the heat transfer device Fig. 1 in a perspective view looking towards one in Fig. 1 registered arrow IV, wherein the connecting device and the collector are partially cut open longitudinally and transversely to the central axis, so that the interior of the connecting device is more clearly visible.

[0024] The Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows a heat transfer device, designated in its entirety by reference numeral 23, for a temperature control system (not illustrated), for example, for cooling a battery system in a vehicle or for air conditioning the vehicle's interior. The heat transfer device 23 comprises a component described in more detail below, in Fig. 2 Connection device 1 for holding and fluidic supply of a collector 2 with refrigerant, illustrated in detail, a collector 2 which is set up for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant, and a heat exchanger 3 which is set up for cooling the refrigerant and through which a refrigerant channel for the refrigerant is traversed.

[0025] The connection device 1, the collector 2 and the heat exchanger 3 form in the Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 illustrates the assembled state of the heat transfer device 23 as a unit, wherein the collector 2 is fluidically and mechanically connected to the heat exchanger 3 via the connection device 1, so that the collector 2 is held stationary with respect to the heat exchanger 3 and refrigerant can continue to flow from the heat exchanger 3 into the collector 2 along a refrigerant path 39, which is indicated by arrows, and subsequently flow back from the collector 2 into the heat exchanger 3.

[0026] The collector 2 has a round, hollow cylindrical base body 26 that encloses a volume and has an axial opening 27 at one axial end, through which the volume is accessible, and a dome at the opposite axial end. Furthermore, the collector 2 has a cover element 28 that seals the opening 27 of the base body 26 in a fluid-tight manner. The cover element 28 has a single refrigerant inlet port 29 and several refrigerant outlet ports 30 arranged in a ring-shaped pattern evenly distributed around the refrigerant inlet port 29, allowing refrigerant to flow into and out of the collector 2.

[0027] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the refrigerant supply connection 29 is formed by a round, hollow cylindrical collector connection element 31, which is arranged centrally on the cover element 28, i.e., at its geometric center, and projects axially away from it. Furthermore, the collector connection element 31 has a thread designated as a mating thread 32, which is designed for screwing into a connection thread 6 of the connection device 1, as well as a central opening 33 through which the refrigerant can flow, passing through the cover element 28 and the collector connection element 31. The refrigerant discharge connections 30 are formed by through-openings 34 passing through the cover element 28. The mating thread 32 is shown purely as an example of an external thread.

[0028] Based on the Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen from Figure 2, the said connection device 1 has a monolithic base body 8, which has at one end a foot section 35 for contact with the heat exchanger 3 and at the other end a head section 36 for contact with the collector 2, arranged at a distance from the foot section 35 along a main dimension 38 of the base body 8. The foot section 35 can have two opposing projections oriented transversely to the main dimension 38, which widen the foot section 35. Furthermore, the head section 36 can have a chamfer 37 on a first side of the base body 8 that is angled relative to the main dimension 38, so that the base body 8 has a more compact design.

[0029] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. It is further evident from Figure 2 that the base body 8 has a mounting interface 4 designed for the mechanical and fluidic connection of the collector 2. This mounting interface 4 is located on the head section 36 of the base body 8 and, in particular, on a second side of the base body 8 opposite the first side. The mounting interface 4, in turn, has a connection element 5, through which the refrigerant can flow and which has a connection thread 6, for screwing it to the collector connection element 31 of the collector 2. The connection element 5 is cylindrical in shape and is arranged centrally, i.e., at a geometric center, on a flat mounting surface 15 of the mounting interface 4. It projects beyond the mounting surface 15 along a central axis 16, which is perpendicular to the mounting surface 15 and / or perpendicular to the main extent 38. Furthermore, the connection thread 6 of the connection element 5 is implemented as an internal thread 7.The internal thread 7 of the connection element 5 and the external thread 32 of the collector connection element 31 are matched so that the collector connection element 31 can be screwed into the connection element 5.

[0030] Furthermore, it is evident that the base body 8 is penetrated by two separate channels 10, 11 through which refrigerant flows, which are shown in the diagram for better understanding. Fig. 2 are indicated by dashed lines. It is provided that the aforementioned channels 10, 11 open at the mounting interface 4, forming two first openings 12 spaced apart from each other, and at a further mounting interface 9 of the connection device 1, forming two second openings 13 spaced apart from each other. A first channel 10 of the two channels 10, 11 passes coaxially through the connection element 5 and opens at an end face 14 of the connection element 5, facing away from the base body 8, forming a first opening 12. A second channel 11 of the two channels 10, 11 opens at the mounting surface 15 of the mounting interface 4, forming a second opening 12.

[0031] The Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. Figure 4 further shows that the mounting interface 4 has an annular web 17 concentrically circumferentially around the central axis 16, which surrounds the mounting surface 15 and has an annular groove 19 circumferentially around the central axis 16 on an annular web end face 18 that points axially away from the mounting surface 15. The groove opening of the annular groove 19 points away from the base body 8. The annular groove 19 receives an annular sealing element 20, which, in the assembled state of the heat transfer device 23, is clamped between the connection device 1 and the cover element 28 of the collector 2, thus ensuring a fluid-tight seal of the second channel 11 of said channels 10, 11 against the environment 40 of the heat transfer device 23.

[0032] The connection device 1 also has a feature that is only available in Fig. 3 and Fig.Figure 4 illustrates a further annular sealing element 21 for a fluid-tight seal of the connection device 1 against the collector 2, which, in the assembled state of the heat transfer device 23, is clamped between the end face 14 of the connection element 5 and the cover element 28 of the collector 2. The further sealing element 21 thus seals the first channel 10 of the said channels 10, 11 against the second channel 11 of the said channels 10, 11.

[0033] The base body 8 further comprises the aforementioned additional mounting interface 9, designed for the mechanical and fluidic connection of the heat exchanger 3, which is located on the base section 35 of the base body 8. The additional mounting interface 9 advantageously includes a connecting device 22, designed for the mechanical and fluidic connection of the connection device 1 to the heat exchanger 3, and / or a base surface oriented transversely to the main extension 38, on which the second openings 13 of the two channels 10, 11 are located. This allows the connection device 1 to be fixed to the heat exchanger 3 and fluidically connected to it.

[0034] This results in the overall advantage that the collector 2 can be mechanically and fluidically connected to the connection device 1 by hand, for example, without additional fastening elements or tools. Reference symbol list 1 Connection device 2 collectors 3 heat exchangers 4 Mounting interface 5 Connection element 6 connection threads 7 internal threads 8 basic shapes 9 additional mounting interfaces 10 First Channel 11 Second Channel 12 first openings 13 second openings 14 Front face of the connection element 15 mounting surface 16 Central axis 17 Bridge 18 Bridge end 19 Ring groove 20 sealing elements 21 additional sealing element 22 Connection device 23 Heat transfer device 26 basic bodies 27 Opening 28 Cover element 29 Refrigerant supply connection 30 Refrigerant discharge connection 31 Collector connection element 32 counter threads 33 Central opening 34 through openings 35-foot section 36 Head section 37 Bevel 38 Main extent 39 Refrigerant path 40 surroundings

Claims

Connection device (1) for holding and fluidic supply of a collector (2) for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant,- with a mounting interface (4) designed for mechanical and fluidic connection of the collector (2), which has a connection element (5) through which the refrigerant can flow and which has a connection thread (6) for screwing onto the collector (2). Connection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection element (5) is of cylindrical shape, is arranged on a mounting surface (15) of the mounting interface (4) and projects beyond the same along a central axis (16) perpendicular to the mounting surface (15). Connection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - the connection thread (6) is realized as an external thread and thereby the collector (2) can be screwed onto the connection element (5), or - the connection thread (6) is realized as an internal thread (7) and thereby the collector (2) can be screwed into the connection element (5). Connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection device (1) has a monolithic base body (8) with the mounting interface (4) designed for mechanical and fluidic connection of the collector (2) and a further mounting interface (9) designed for mechanical and fluidic connection of a heat exchanger (3) for cooling the refrigerant, wherein the base body (8) is penetrated by two separate, flowable channels (10, 11) which open at the mounting interface (4) and at the further mounting interface (9) by forming two first openings (12) arranged apart from each other. Connection device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the further mounting interface (9) has a connecting device (22) for mechanically and fluidically connecting the connection device (1) to the heat exchanger (3). Connection device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a first channel (10) of the two channels (10, 11) passes coaxially through the connection element (5) and opens at an end face (14) of the connection element (5) pointing away from the base body (8). Connection device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that a second channel (11) of the two channels (10, 11) opens onto one or the mounting surface (15) of the mounting interface (4). Connection device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the mounting surface (15) is enclosed by an annular web (17) of the mounting interface (4) which has an annular groove (19) on an annular end face (18) of the web which extends axially away from the mounting surface (15) and in which an annular sealing element (20) is received for fluid-tight sealing of the connection device (1) against the collector (2). Connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection device (1) has one or a further annular sealing element (21) for fluid-tight sealing of the connection device (1) against the collector (2), which is clamped sealingly between one or the end face (14) of the connection element (5) and the collector (2) in a state in which the connection device (1) and the collector (2) are screwed together. Collector (2) for drying and intermediate storage of refrigerant for a heat transfer device (23), comprising: - a hollow cylindrical base body (26) enclosing a volume and having an axial opening (27) through which the volume is accessible; - a cover element (28) that fluid-tightly seals the opening (27) of the base body (26), having at least one refrigerant supply connection (29) and at least one refrigerant discharge connection (30); - the at least one refrigerant supply connection (29) or the at least one refrigerant discharge connection (30) being formed by a hollow cylindrical collector connection element (31) centrally arranged on the cover element (28) and projecting away from the cover element (28), which has a mating thread (32) designed for screwing into the connection thread (6) of the connection element (5) of the connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, and a refrigerant-flowable,the cover element (28) and the collector connection element (31) has a central opening (33), and / or the at least one refrigerant discharge connection (30) or the at least one refrigerant supply connection (29) is formed by a group of through-openings (34) penetrating the cover element (28), which are arranged in a ring-shaped, uniformly distributed manner around the central opening (33). Heat transfer device (23), comprising: - at least one connection device (1) configured according to any one of claims 1 to 9, - at least one collector (2) configured according to claim 10, - at least one heat exchanger (3) through which a refrigerant channel for refrigerant passes for cooling the refrigerant or at least one air conditioning condenser for cooling the refrigerant, - wherein the at least one collector (2) is screwed to the at least one connection device (1) via the mounting interface (4) of the at least one connection device (1), thereby establishing a first fluidic and mechanical connection between the at least one collector (2) and the at least one connection device (1), - wherein the at least one connection device (1) is connected to the at least one heat exchanger (3) or the at least one air conditioning condenser by means of the further mounting interface (9), thereby establishing a second,a fluidic and mechanical connection is established between the at least one heat exchanger (3) and the at least one connection device (1). Temperature control system for use in a vehicle which has at least one heat transfer device (23) designed according to claim 11.

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