Adhesive Heat Exchanger Port Assembly for High-Pressure Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching connection end pieces to heat exchanger plates in automotive applications are complex and do not adequately meet requirements for temperature resistance, sealing, and mechanical strength.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchange device featuring a connection end piece with a planar connection base, assembled to a main member with an adhesive substance that includes epoxy, polyurethane, acrylic, or hybrid adhesives, ensuring mechanical, chemical, and sealing bonds, along with internal and peripheral shims to define an adhesion space for the adhesive.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If crimping, soldering or brazing methods are used to attach connection end pieces to heat exchanger plates, then mechanical strength and sealing are improved, but the complexity of manufacturing increases and temperature resistance requirements are not fully met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the attachment method from thermal processes (crimping, soldering, brazing) to a chemical bonding process using adhesive substances. This parameter change allows achieving reliable temperature resistance and sealing without the complexity of specialized equipment and processes required for thermal attachment methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical attachment systems (crimping, soldering, brazing) with a chemical bonding system using adhesive substances. This substitution eliminates the need for specialized mechanical equipment while achieving equivalent or superior reliability in terms of temperature resistance and sealing.
2Ease of manufacture
If adhesive substances are used to connect the connection end piece to the main member, then ease of manufacture is improved, but mechanical strength and sealing performance may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite adhesive substances comprising multiple chemical functions (epoxy, cyanoacrylate, acrylic, and/or polyurethane) to achieve both ease of manufacture and high mechanical strength. The composite nature of the adhesive provides superior bonding properties compared to single-component adhesives, ensuring both manufacturing simplicity and attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent defines specific assembly zones with predetermined surface areas on the connection end piece and main member, ensuring that the adhesive is applied to optimized locations. This local quality approach ensures that the adhesive bonds at critical areas, maximizing mechanical strength and sealing performance while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Ease of operation
If the adhesive substance is applied without defined assembly zones, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision and bond strength are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes predetermined assembly zones with specific surface areas before adhesive application. This preliminary definition of attachment locations ensures manufacturing precision while maintaining ease of operation, as the adhesive is applied to pre-defined optimal areas rather than requiring complex alignment during assembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a robust and reliable connection that meets high standards of temperature resistance, sealing, and mechanical strength, even under pressures greater than 7 bar, ensuring efficient heat exchange in automotive battery packs.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive substance linking an assembly zone of the assembly face that is peripheral to the port, to a connection zone of the connection face that is peripheral to the opening
Implementation Method 2
the adhesive substance comprising an adhesive that is either epoxy or polyurethane or acrylic or hybrid
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchange, device comprises: a main member provided with a planar assembly face, comprising aluminum, and forming a fluid circulation channel leading into a port arranged on the assembly face; a connection end piece comprising a connection base, the connection base comprising a connection face through which a connection channel opens, the connection base being assembled with the main member by way of an adhesive substance linking an assembly zone of the assembly face that is peripheral to the port to a connection zone of the connection face that is peripheral to the port, the opening and the port being in correspondence with each other, the adhesive substance comprising an adhesive that is either epoxy or polyurethane or acrylic or hybrid, the hybrid adhesive comprising at least two chemical functions chosen from one of epoxy, cyanoacrylate, acrylic and polyurethane.