Heat exchanger
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024716110
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-31
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing heat exchangers are not designed to withstand large mechanical loads and are inefficient to manufacture in bulk quantities, limiting their application in environments with significant mechanical stress, such as high vibrations and accelerations.
A heat exchanger design featuring a housing with a cylindrical axis and a helical tube, utilizing spacers and cover rods to provide rotational security and absorb mechanical loads, allowing for efficient assembly and stability through a floating tube arrangement within the housing.
The design enables the heat exchanger to effectively absorb mechanical loads, including vibrations and accelerations, while maintaining stability and allowing for efficient pre-assembly and manufacturing, enhancing its mechanical performance and scalability.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024058139_03102024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] heat exchanger
[0002] Technical area
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger comprising a housing having a cylinder axis and a hollow cylindrical outer wall and a helical first tube having a plurality of turns and a helical axis, wherein the first tube extends in the housing such that the helical axis coincides with the cylinder axis.
[0004] Heat exchangers are known in the art in a variety of designs. They serve, for example, to change the temperature of a liquid or gaseous fluid by adding or removing heat. The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger for indirect heat transfer, wherein the fluid to be heated or cooled is guided in the tube and another fluid flows through the housing.
[0005] background
[0006] It has been shown that the indirect heat exchangers known from the state of the art are not designed for high mechanical loads or, if they are mechanically resilient, cannot be efficiently manufactured in large quantities.
[0007] Summary
[0008] It is therefore an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a heat exchanger that both meets increased mechanical requirements and can be assembled in an efficient manner.
[0009] This aspect is addressed by a heat exchanger according to claim 1. For this purpose, the heat exchanger has a housing which comprises a cylinder axis and a hollow cylindrical outer wall, a helical first tube with a plurality of turns and a helical axis, at least one spacer and at least one cover rod. The first tube extends in the housing such that the helical axis coincides with the cylinder axis. In a first embodiment, the at least one cover rod extends in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis, wherein the at least one spacer extends in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis between two of the plurality of turns, such that the spacer forms a stop for a movement of the two of the plurality of turns of the first tube in the direction of the cylinder axis.In a second embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a helical second tube with a plurality of turns and a helical axis. The cover rod then extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis, and the at least one spacer extends in the radial direction between one of the plurality of turns of the first tube and one of the plurality of turns of the second tube, such that the spacer forms a stop for movement of one of the plurality of turns of the first tube and one of the plurality of turns of the second tube in the radial direction.In both embodiments, the at least one spacer is connected to the at least one cover rod in a rotationally secure manner, wherein the at least one spacer and the at least one cover rod are received in the housing in a floating manner relative to the outer wall at least in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis or in a circumferential direction of the housing.
[0010] The radial direction refers to a direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis.
[0011] In order to be able to absorb high mechanical loads, especially vibrations and accelerations, it is desirable for the tube to be accommodated in the housing with the outer wall in a floating, i.e., movable, manner. To nevertheless provide the required stability, the present disclosure provides for at least one spacer to limit the movement of either two of the plurality of turns of the first tube or one turn of the first tube and one turn of the second tube.
[0012] In one embodiment of the disclosure, in which the spacer forms a stop for movement of the two of the plurality of turns of the first tube in the direction of the cylinder axis, the spacer is in contact with the two turns. That is, the spacer supports the two turns. It is mechanically in contact with these turns. In one embodiment of the disclosure, in which the spacer forms a stop for movement of the one of the plurality of turns of the first tube and the one of the plurality of turns of the second tube in the radial direction, the spacer is in contact with these two turns of the first and second tubes. That is, the spacer supports the two turns of the first and second tubes. It is mechanically in contact with these turns.
[0013] The present disclosure makes it possible to initially pre-assemble the first tube or the first and second tubes outside the housing. The spacer is then inserted between the two coils and twisted to form a stop for the two coils. Finally, the cover rod is applied from the outside to the spacer and the tube(s), so that the spacer is connected to the cover rod in a rotationally secure manner. The package comprising the tube(s), the at least one spacer, and the at least one cover rod is then inserted into the housing.
[0014] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the spacer is connected to the cover rod in a rotationally secure manner by means of a screw connection.
[0015] In one embodiment, the spacer has a securing projection and the cover rod has a securing recess, wherein the securing projection extends into the securing recess.
[0016] If, in one embodiment, a cross-sectional area of the securing projection and a cross-sectional area of the securing recess are designed to complement each other, a positive-locking anti-rotation lock can be achieved, as long as the cross-sectional areas are not circular. For example, if the cross-sectional areas of the securing projection of the spacer and the cross-sectional area of the securing recess of the cover rod are square, with a fit optionally provided, the spacer and cover rod are connected to each other in a rotationally secure manner.
[0017] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the securing recess is a blind hole. In another embodiment of the disclosure, the securing recess is a through-hole or opening that extends through the cover rod. A securing recess in the form of an opening enables additional securing of the spacer to the cover rod after assembly. For example, in one embodiment of the disclosure, a screw is screwed through the opening into the spacer.
[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the securing projection extending into the opening is widened by a punch within the opening, creating a frictional connection between the securing projection and the securing recess. This design of the connection between the spacer and the cover rod enables the provision of a smooth outer surface of the cover rod, particularly when the securing projection does not protrude beyond the cover rod on the side facing away from the spacer.
[0019] While in principle some of the advantages associated with the disclosure can already be realized if the heat exchanger has only a single spacer and a single cover rod, in one embodiment the heat exchanger has a plurality of spacers spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and a plurality of cover rods spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, wherein each of the plurality of spacers spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction is connected in a rotationally secure manner to one of the plurality of cover rods.
[0020] In one embodiment of the disclosure, three spacers are arranged circumferentially spaced from one another and each connected to a cover rod. It is understood that in one embodiment, these three spacers, and thus the cover rods, are each spaced 120° apart from one another in the circumferential direction.
[0021] In one embodiment of the disclosure, a plurality of spacers are arranged at substantially one axial position of the heat exchanger and support the tube(s) there. "Substantially at the same axial position" means that the circumferentially spaced-apart spacers vary slightly in their axial position due to the helical shape of the tubes.
[0022] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of spacers spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis, wherein the spacers spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis are connected in a rotationally secure manner to the same cover rod. In an alternative embodiment, the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of spacers spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis, wherein the spacers spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis are connected in a rotationally secure manner to different cover rods extending in the radial direction.
[0023] In one embodiment, at least one turn of the first tube or the second tube is arranged between two spacers that are adjacent and spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis, for which turn neither of the spacers forms a stop. No further spacers are provided between these two adjacent spacers in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. In such an arrangement, at least one turn of the first tube is free to move parallel to the cylinder axis without striking a spacer. Such an embodiment can be realized both with spacers that form a stop for two adjacent turns of the first tube, and with spacers that each form a stop for one turn of the first tube and for one turn of the second tube.
[0024] In one embodiment, two adjacent and spaced-apart spacers are connected to a cover rod extending in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. Therefore, no further spacers are connected to the cover rod between these two adjacent spacers in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. In this case, more than two of the plurality of turns of the first tube extend between the two adjacent spacers in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. Thus, the two spacers form a stop for two of the plurality of turns of the first tube between the two spacers, preventing movement of the first tube in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. In such an arrangement, at least one turn of the first tube is free to move parallel to the cylinder axis without striking a spacer.The heat exchanger can thus compensate for changes in the length of the first tube due to temperature changes and the tube can oscillate in sections parallel to the cylinder axis.
[0025] In one embodiment, a first spacer is connected to a first cover rod extending in the direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis, and a second spacer is connected to a second cover rod extending in the direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis and spaced from the first cover rod. The first and second spacers are adjacent to one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis, such that no further spacer is located between the first and second spacers in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. Both the first and second spacers each form a stop for a turn of the first tube and a stop for a turn of the second tube.In one embodiment, at least one further turn of the first tube is provided between the turn of the first tube for which the first spacer forms the stop and the turn of the first tube for which the second spacer forms the stop. In such an arrangement, at least one turn of the first tube is free to move without striking a spacer. Likewise, at least one further turn of the second tube is provided between the turn of the second tube for which the first spacer forms the stop and the turn of the second tube for which the second spacer forms the stop. In such an arrangement, at least one turn of the second tube is also free to move without striking a spacer.
[0026] In one embodiment, the cover rod has an extension in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis, such that it extends over a plurality of turns of the first tube. In one embodiment, the cover rod extends in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis over all turns of the first tube. In one embodiment, a plurality of spacers are connected to this one rod. In one embodiment, all spacers connected to a single cover rod are arranged at the same position in the circumferential direction.
[0027] In one embodiment, the cover rod has an extension in the radial direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis, so that it extends over a plurality of tubes. In one embodiment, the cover rod extends in the radial direction over all tubes. In one embodiment, a plurality of spacers are connected to this one rod. In one embodiment, all spacers connected to a single cover rod are arranged at the same position in the circumferential direction.
[0028] In one embodiment of the disclosure having a plurality of circumferentially spaced spacers and a plurality of spacers spaced apart in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis, a plurality of spacers are connected to each of the cover rods at different axial positions or at different radial positions.
[0029] In one embodiment in which the heat exchanger has a plurality of spacers spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis, a plurality of turns are arranged between one spacer and the next spacer spaced apart in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. This means that between every two spacers spaced apart in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis, at least one of the plurality of turns is arranged, for which the spaced spacers do not form a stop. In this way, the tube is restricted or supported in its movement at certain points in the axial direction, but retains a certain degree of flexibility and vibration capability between the stops or spacers.
[0030] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchanger comprises a first set of a plurality of spacers and a second set of a plurality of spacers, wherein all spacers of the first set are arranged spaced from each other in the circumferential direction and all spacers of the second set are arranged spaced from each other in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the first set and the second set are arranged spaced from each other in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis. In this way, the tube is stabilized or supported at two positions in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis: at a first axial position by the first set of spacers and at a second axial position by the second set of spacers. Each of the sets of spacers forms a stop for the tube at an axial position.
[0031] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the heat exchanger comprises at least one further set having a plurality of spacers in addition to the first set of a plurality of spacers and the second set of a plurality of spacers.
[0032] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the heat exchanger includes a helical second tube having a plurality of turns. In such an embodiment, the helical first and second tubes extend concentrically with the cylinder axis. In one embodiment, the second tube extends, viewed in the radial direction, between a cover rod extending extensively in the axial direction and the outer wall.In one embodiment of the disclosure, the second tube is also stabilized with at least one spacer and at least one cover rod, wherein the spacer for the second tube extends in the radial direction between the first tube and the cover rod for the second tube, wherein the spacer extends in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis between two of the plurality of turns of the second tube, such that the spacer forms a stop for the two of the plurality of turns, and wherein the cover rod is arranged in the radial direction between the second tube and the outer wall. This cover rod for the second tube also extends extensively in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis.The spacer is connected to the cover rod in a rotationally secure manner and the spacer and the cover rod are received in the housing in a floating manner at least in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis or in the circumferential direction relative to the inner wall.
[0033] In other words, in an embodiment with a second tube, the spacer and the cover rod associated with this second tube are as described in embodiments for the first tube.
[0034] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the heat exchanger comprises more than two tubes, preferably each of the tubes being supported by at least one spacer and one cover rod.
[0035] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the spacers and cover bars supporting the second tube are arranged at the same circumferential position as cover bars and spacers supporting the first tube.
[0036] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the spacers supporting the second tube are arranged at the same axial position or positions as the spacers supporting the first tube in the direction parallel to that of the cylinder axis.
[0037] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, all spacers and all cover bars are configured identically.
[0038] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the heat exchanger comprises at least a first pair of cover rods extending radially, wherein the at least one spacer is connected to the cover rods of the first pair in a rotationally secure manner. In such an embodiment, the at least one spacer extends such that it forms a stop for one turn of the first tube and for one turn of the second tube. In one embodiment, the one turn of the first tube and the one turn of the second tube are in contact with the spacer and are supported on it.
[0039] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cover rod, preferably a plurality of cover rods or all cover rods, has a chamfer at at least one of its ends, wherein the chamfer points toward the outer wall of the housing. Such a chamfer facilitates the insertion of a package comprising a tube, a spacer, and a cover rod into the housing.
[0040] In one embodiment, the at least one spacer has a biconcave shape. The spacer comprises a first concave stop surface for a first of the plurality of turns and a second concave stop surface for a second of the plurality of turns. If the cover rod to which the spacer is connected extends in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis, in one embodiment the first and second stop surfaces extend in a plane containing the cylinder axis such that they each form a stop for two adjacent turns of the plurality of first tubes.If the cover rod to which the spacer is connected extends in a direction perpendicular to the cylinder axis, in one embodiment the first and second stop surfaces extend in a plane containing the cylinder axis such that the first stop surface forms a stop for one of the plurality of turns of the first tube and the second stop surface forms a stop for one of the plurality of turns of the second tube.
[0041] According to one embodiment of the disclosure, the spacer has a thickness in a range of 2 mm to 5 mm when viewed in the circumferential direction of the housing.
[0042] In one embodiment of the disclosure, at least the spacer or the cover rod is made of a metal.
[0043] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the tube is made of a metal.
[0044] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the housing has a hollow cylindrical inner wall, wherein the outer wall concentrically surrounds the inner wall and the first tube and optionally the second and each further tube extend in the radial direction between the inner wall and the outer wall.
[0045] Short description of the characters
[0046] Further advantages, features, and applications of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of embodiments and the corresponding accompanying figures. The foregoing general description, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments are not limited to the exact arrangements shown in the figures. In the figures, like elements are designated by like reference numerals.
[0047] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a heat exchanger.
[0048] Figure 2 is a partially broken away schematic sectional view of the heat exchanger of Figure 1 in a sectional plane containing the cylinder axis of the heat exchanger.
[0049] Figure 3 is a partially broken away schematic sectional view of the heat exchanger taken along section line AA of Figure 1 in a section plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the heat exchanger.
[0050] Figure 4 a) is a schematic front view of a spacer.
[0051] Figure 4 b) is a schematic side view of the spacer from Figure 4 a).
[0052] Figure 5 is a schematic front view of a spacer from Figures 4 a) and b) with a punch point.
[0053] Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a cover rod.
[0054] Figure 7 is a partially broken-away schematic sectional view of an alternative heat exchanger in a section plane containing the cylinder axis of the heat exchanger. Figure 8 is a partially broken-away schematic sectional view of the tubes of another heat exchanger in a section plane containing the cylinder axis of the heat exchanger.
[0055] Figure 9 is a partially broken away schematic sectional view of the tubes of another heat exchanger in a sectional plane containing the cylinder axis of the heat exchanger.
[0056] Figure 10 is a partially broken away schematic sectional view of the tubes of another heat exchanger in a sectional plane containing the cylinder axis of the heat exchanger.
[0057] Detailed description
[0058] The heat exchanger 1, as it and its components are schematically illustrated in the figures, serves to heat liquid helium. For this purpose, the helium is passed through a plurality of tubes 2, 4, 5 inside a housing 3.
[0059] During operation, a hot gas stream flows through the housing 3 in the spaces between the tubes 2, 4, and 5. The heat of the gas stream is transferred to the tubes 2, 4, and 5, thereby heating the liquid helium flowing through the tubes 2, 4, and 5.
[0060] Viewed from the outside, the heat exchanger 1 has a cylindrical basic shape. The heat exchanger 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3, viewed in cross-sectional view, is hollow-cylindrical, with a hollow-cylindrical inner wall 6 and a hollow-cylindrical outer wall 7 arranged concentrically thereto. A hollow-cylindrical interior 8 of the heat exchanger 1 extends between the inner wall 6 and the outer wall 7 around the cylinder axis 9 of the heat exchanger 1. The alternative heat exchanger from Figure 7, however, dispenses with one inner wall 6.
[0061] In the variants shown, three tubes 2, 4, 5 are provided in the interior 8, viewed in a radial direction relative to the cylinder axis 9. In the variant of Figures 2 and 3, these three tubes 2, 4, 5 are arranged between the inner wall 6 and the outer wall 7. In the sense of the present application, these tubes form a first tube 2, a second tube 4, and a third tube 5. Each of the tubes 2, 4, 5 runs helically around the cylinder axis 9, so that in the sectional view of Figures 2 and 7 to 10, a plurality of turns or spirals in the same sectional plane are shown for each tube 2, 4, 5.
[0062] Each of the tubes 2, 4, and 5 is fixed at its inlet and outlet ends within the housing 3. This is also where the tubes 2, 4, and 5 are connected to an inlet 22 and an outlet 23 of the heat exchanger 1. However, the screws are arranged freely suspended within the housing between their inlet and outlet ends. This creates a vibration-capable system for each of the tubes 2, 4, and 5.
[0063] In order to stabilize this arrangement, all variants have a plurality of spacers 10 and a plurality of cover rods 11.
[0064] In the section of the heat exchanger 1 in Figure 2, a first set 12, a second set 13, and a third set 24 of spacers 10 can be seen for each of the three tubes 2, 4, 5, with each set showing exactly one spacer 10 for each tube 2, 4, 5. Each set 12, 13, 24 of spacers 10 comprises exactly three spacers 10. The three spacers 10 of a set 12, 13 are spaced apart from each other by 120° in the circumferential direction.
[0065] The distribution of the three spacers of a set of spacers in the circumferential direction can be seen in the sectional view in Figure 3. The sectional plane of the illustration in Figure 3 is perpendicular to the cylinder axis 9. The spacers 10 of each set of spacers, which are spaced apart from each other by 120° in the circumferential direction, are not located exactly at the same axial position due to the helical design of the tubes 2, 4, 5, but only essentially at the same axial position.
[0066] The spacers 10 of the first set 12 of spacers for the first tube 2 are located in the same circumferential direction as the spacers of the respective first set of the two further tubes 4, 5.
[0067] Each of the spacers 10 of the variant from Figures 1 and 2 is designed and arranged such that it supports two consecutive turns of exactly one pipe 2, 4, 5, in that the respective pipe section of both turns is in contact with the spacer 10. Similarly, the spacers 10 of the variants from Figures 8 to 10 each support two adjacent turns of the same pipe 2, 4, 5. In contrast, the spacers 10 of the variant from Figure 7 each support one turn of a first and one turn of a second pipe 2, 4, 5. The spacers 10 and the associated cover rods 11 of the variant from Figure 7 are rotated by 90 degrees in their orientation compared to the variants from Figures 2, 3 and 8 to 10.
[0068] Regardless of its installation position, each of the spacers 10 is designed as schematically shown in Figures 4 and 5. Each spacer 10 supports two turns of a single tube or one turn of two tubes. To ensure stable support, each spacer 10 has concave contact surfaces 14, 15 that are designed to complement the respective tube section. Each of the spacers 10 consists of a sheet metal approximately 4 millimeters thick in the circumferential direction.
[0069] For assembly, in all variants, the tubes 2, 5, 6 are located outside the housing 3 and the spacers are mounted by inserting them between the two turns they are to support and then rotating them by 90° so that they assume the orientations shown in Figures 2, 3 and 7 to 10.
[0070] To reliably prevent the spacers 10 from twisting during operation of the heat exchanger, each of the spacers 10 has a securing projection 17. This securing projection 17 engages with a cover rod 11. For this purpose, each of the cover rods 11 has a securing recess 18 in the form of an opening in the rod 11 at the position of the respective set of spacers 10. The securing projection 17 and the securing recess 18 are designed to complement one another and have a clearance fit before assembly. In a cross-sectional view with a cross-sectional area parallel to the cylinder axis 9, both each securing projection and each securing recess have a multiple rotational symmetry, which enables a positive connection. In the variant shown, these cross sections are square.In this way, a spacer 10 can no longer be rotated relative to the cover rod 11 when its securing projection 17 is received in the corresponding securing recess 18 of the cover rod 11.
[0071] To further secure the respective spacer 10 to the cover rod 11, the securing projection 17 is provided with a punch point 21. This punch point 21 leads to an expansion of the securing projection 17, as shown in Figure 5. This creates a press fit between the securing projection 17 of the spacer 10 and the securing recess 18 of the respective cover rod 11.
[0072] In the variants of Figures 2, 3, 8 and 9, after the first tube 2 has been provided with the plurality of sets 12, 13 of spacers 10 and the spacers 10 have been received and secured on the cover rods 11, the second tube 4 is pushed over the arrangement of the first tube 2 with the cover rods 11. Then, the plurality of sets 12, 13 of spacers 10 are mounted for the second tube 4 and finally covered with cover rods 11. The same assembly is also carried out for the third tube 5 until a package of the three tubes 2, 4, 5 is formed. This package is then pushed into the hollow cylindrical interior 8 of the housing 3 between the inner wall 6 and the outer wall 7. To facilitate insertion, each of the cover rods has a chamfer at both of its ends. However, the tubes 2, 4, 5 with the cover rods 11 are not fixed in their axial position except at their ends, but are floating in the axial direction, iemovable relative to the inner wall 6, accommodated in the housing 3.
[0073] In the variants of Figures 2, 3, and 8 to 10, each of the cover rods 11 extends in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis 9 across all turns of the respective tube 2, 4, 5. Viewed in the circumferential direction, each of the cover rods 11 extends only slightly wider than the thickness of the spacers 10 in the circumferential direction.
[0074] In the variant of Figure 7, each of the cover rods 11 has an extension in the radial direction 20 perpendicular to the cylinder axis 9. In this variant, each of the cover rods covers one turn of each of the three tubes 2, 4, 5.
[0075] The variants of Figures 8 to 10, like the variant of Figures 2 and 3, are based on cover rods 11 aligned parallel to the cylinder axis 9. In the variant of Figure 8, however, the spacers that support the respective tubes 2, 4, 5 are all arranged at different axial positions. The variant of Figure 9 does not require a spacer 10 for the first, radially innermost tube 2. The other two tubes 4, 5 are supported as described for the variant of Figures 2 and 3. The variant of Figure 10 uses a single spacer 10 to support all three tubes 2, 4, 5 (although additional spacers 10 can be provided at other axial positions).For the purposes of original disclosure, it is noted that all features as they become apparent to a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings, and the claims, even if they were specifically described only in conjunction with certain other features, can be combined both individually and in any combination with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, unless this has been expressly excluded or technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or pointless. A comprehensive, explicit presentation of all conceivable combinations of features is omitted here solely for the sake of brevity and readability of the description.
[0076] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration and description are given by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
[0077] Modifications of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the drawings, the description, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are claimed in different claims does not exclude their combination. Reference signs in the claims are not intended to limit the scope of protection.
[0078] List of reference symbols
[0079] 1 heat exchanger
[0080] 2 first pipe
[0081] 3 housings
[0082] 4 second pipe
[0083] 5 third pipe
[0084] 6 Interior wall
[0085] 7 Exterior wall
[0086] 8 Interior
[0087] 9 cylinder axis
[0088] 10 spacers
[0089] 11 cover rods
[0090] 12 first set of spacers
[0091] 13 second set of spacers
[0092] 14 contact surfaces
[0093] 15 contact surfaces
[0094] 16 interior wall area
[0095] 17 Safety projection
[0096] 18 Safety recess
[0097] 20 radial direction
[0098] 21 punch point
[0099] 22 Entrance
[0100] 23 Outlet
[0101] 24 third set of spacers
Claims
P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. A heat exchanger (1) comprising a housing (3) with a hollow cylindrical outer wall (7) and a cylinder axis (9), a helical first tube (2) with a plurality of turns and a helical axis, at least one spacer (10), and at least one cover rod (11), wherein the first tube (2) extends in the housing (3) such that the helical axis coincides with the cylinder axis (9), wherein either the at least one cover rod (11) extends in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9), and the at least one spacer (10) extends in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9) between two of the plurality of turns of the first tube (2), such that the spacer (10) forms a stop for a movement of the two of the plurality of turns of the first tube (2) in the direction of the cylinder axis (9),or the heat exchanger (1) has a helical second tube (4) with a plurality of turns and a screw axis, the cover rod (11) extends in a radial direction (20) perpendicular to the cylinder axis (9), and the at least one spacer (10) extends in the radial direction (20) between one of the plurality of turns of the first tube (2) and one of the plurality of turns of the second tube (4), so that the spacer (10) forms a stop for a movement of one of the plurality of turns of the first tube (2) and one of the plurality of turns of the second tube (4) in the radial direction (20), wherein the at least one spacer (10) is connected to the at least one cover rod (11) in a rotationally secure manner, and, wherein the at least one spacer (10) and the at least one cover rod (11) are received in the housing (3) in a floating manner at least in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9) or in a circumferential direction of the housing (3) relative to the outer wall (7).
2. Heat exchanger (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the spacer (10) has a securing projection (17) and the cover rod (11) has a securing recess (18), wherein the securing projection (17) extends into the securing recess (18), and wherein a cross-sectional area of the securing projection (17) and a cross-sectional area of the securing recess (18) are designed to be complementary to one another, so that a positive locking against rotation is effected.
3. Heat exchanger (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the securing recess (18) is formed by an opening in the cover rod (11) and wherein the securing projection (17) is widened by a punch point (21) within the opening, so that a force connection is effected between the securing projection (17) and the securing recess (18).
4. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of spacers (10) spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction and a plurality of cover bars (11) spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, wherein each of the plurality of spacers (10) spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction is connected in a rotationally secure manner to one of the plurality of cover bars (11).
5. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of spacers (10) spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9), wherein each of the plurality of spacers (10) spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9) is connected in a rotationally secure manner to the same one of the plurality of cover rods (11).
6. Heat exchanger (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein a plurality of turns are arranged between one spacer (10) and the next spacer (10) spaced apart in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9).
7. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (1) has a first set (12) with a plurality of spacers (10) and a second set (13) with a plurality of spacers (10), wherein all spacers (10) of the first set (12) are arranged spaced from one another in the circumferential direction and all spacers (10) of the second set (13) are arranged spaced from one another in the circumferential direction and wherein the first set (12) and the second set (13) are arranged spaced from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9).
8. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (1) has a helical second tube (4) with a plurality of turns, wherein the second tube (4) extends in the radial direction (20) between the at least one cover rod (11) and the outer wall (7).
9. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (1) has at least a first pair of cover rods (11) extending in the radial direction, wherein the at least one spacer (10) is connected to the cover rods (11) of the first pair in a rotationally secure manner.
10. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one cover rod (11) has a chamfer on at least one of its ends for inserting the cover rod (11) into the housing (3).
11. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one turn of the first tube (2) or of the second tube (4) is arranged between two spacers (10) which are adjacent and spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9), for which turn none of the spacers forms a stop.
12. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein two spacers (10) which are adjacent and spaced apart from one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9) are connected to a cover rod (11) extending in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9), and wherein in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9) more than two of the plurality of turns of the first tube (2) extend between the two adjacent spacers (10).
13. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a first spacer (10) is connected to a first cover rod (11) extending in the direction (20) perpendicular to the cylinder axis (9), wherein a second spacer (10) is connected to a second cover rod (11) extending in the direction (20) perpendicular to the cylinder axis (9) and spaced from the first cover rod (11), wherein the first and the second spacers (10) are adjacent to one another in the direction parallel to the cylinder axis (9), wherein between the turn of the first tube (2), for which the first spacer (10) forms the stop, and the turn of the first tube (2), for which the second spacer (10) forms the stop, at least one further turn of the first tube is provided, and wherein between the turn of the second tube (4), for which the first spacer (10) forms the stop, and the winding of the second tube (4),for which the second spacer (10) forms the stop, at least one further turn of the second tube (4) is provided., 14. Heat exchanger (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one spacer (10) has a biconcave shape.