EP-4735819-A1 - INTERCONNECTOR FOR A HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

An interconnector for a heat exchanger comprising a body with an upper inlet and a lower inlet connected by an inlet conduit, an upper outlet and a lower outlet connected by an outlet conduit, an external inlet communicated with the inlet conduit, an external outlet communicated with the outlet conduit, wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are fluidically isolated with respect to each other within the interconnector.

Inventors

• TROY, DAVID
• BOYD, Henry

Assignees

• Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240626

Claims (20)

1. 1. An interconnector for a heat exchanger comprising a body with an upper inlet and a lower inlet connected by an inlet conduit, an upper outlet and a lower outlet connected by an outlet conduit, an external inlet communicated with the inlet conduit, an external outlet communicated with the outlet conduit, wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are fluidically isolated with respect to each other within the interconnector.
2. 2. The interconnector according to claim 1, wherein the upper inlet and the lower inlet are concentric.
3. 3. The interconnector according to claim 1, wherein the upper outlet and the lower outlet are concentric.
4. 4. The interconnector according to claim 1, wherein the external inlet is arranged perpendicular to the upper inlet.
5. 5. The interconnector according to claim 1, wherein the external outlet is arranged perpendicular to the upper outlet.
6. 6. The interconnector according to claim 1, wherein the external inlet is arranged parallel to the external outlet.
7. 7. The interconnector according to claim 1, wherein the external inlet faces away from the external outlet.
8. 8. The interconnector according to claim 1 , wherein central axes of the external inlet and the external outlet are collinear.
9. 9. The interconnector according to claim 1, wherein the body includes a first external face on which the external inlet is arranged, a second external face on which the external outlet is arranged, and a middle recess arranged between the first external face and the second external face and extending between the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit.
10. 10. The interconnector according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes an upper face with an upper recess, the upper inlet and the upper outlet being arranged within the upper recess.
11. 11. The interconnector according to claim 1 , wherein the body includes a lower face with a lower recess, the lower inlet and the lower outlet being arranged within the lower recess.
12. 12. A heat exchanger comprising: a first tube with a first tube inlet and a first tube outlet interconnected by a first tube channel; a second tube with a second tube inlet and a second tube outlet interconnected by a second tube channel; an interconnector having a body with an upper inlet and a lower inlet connected by an inlet conduit, an upper outlet and a lower outlet connected by an outlet conduit, an external inlet communicated with the inlet conduit, an external outlet communicated with the outlet conduit; wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are fluidically isolated with respect to each other within the interconnector, the interconnector being located between the first tube and the second tube, the interconnector being connected to the first tube inlet by the upper inlet and to the first tube outlet by the upper outlet, the interconnector being connected to the second tube inlet by the lower inlet and to the second tube outlet by the lower outlet.
13. 13. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the external inlet faces away from the first tube and the second tube.
14. 14. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the external outlet faces away from the first tube and the second tube.
15. 15. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the interconnector has an upper inlet collar inserted into an upper inlet collar opening of the interconnector, the upper inlet collar connecting the upper inlet with the first tube inlet.
16. 16. The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the interconnector has an integrated lower inlet collar connecting the lower inlet with the second tube inlet.
17. 17. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein an upper collar plate, with an integrated upper inlet collar and an integrated upper outlet collar, is attached to the interconnector, the upper inlet collar being inserted into an upper inlet collar opening of the interconnector and connecting the upper inlet with the first tube inlet, with the upper outlet collar being inserted into an upper outlet collar opening of the interconnector and connecting the upper outlet with the first tube outlet.
18. 18. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein a lower collar plate, with an integrated lower inlet collar and an integrated lower outlet collar, is attached to the interconnector, the lower inlet collar being inserted into a lower inlet collar opening of the interconnector and connecting the lower inlet with the second tube inlet, with the lower outlet collar being inserted into a lower outlet collar opening of the interconnector and connecting the lower outlet with the second tube outlet.
19. 19. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the interconnector is located at ends of the first tube and the second tube.
20. 20. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, with the second tube including an additional second tube inlet and an additional second tube outlet interconnected by the second tube channel, the heat exchanger further comprising a third tube with a third tube inlet and a third tube outlet interconnected by a third tube channel, an additional interconnector including a body with an upper inlet and a lower inlet connected by an inlet conduit, an upper outlet and a lower outlet connected by an outlet conduit, wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are fluidically isolated with respect to each other within the additional interconnector, the additional interconnector being located between the second tube and the third tube, the additional interconnector being connected to the additional second tube inlet by the upper inlet of the additional interconnector and to the additional second tube outlet by the upper outlet of the additional interconnector, the additional interconnector being connected to the third tube inlet by the lower inlet of the additional interconnector and to the third tube outlet by the lower outlet of the additional interconnector.

Description

INTERCONNECTOR FOR A HEAT EXCHANGER TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The invention relates to an interconnector for a heat exchanger, in particular for a heat exchanger for an electronic control unit, applicable in automotive field. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Electronic control units are known to require thermal management. Integrated circuits, or other electronic or electric components, generate heat during operation. In case of integrated circuits, the power is dissipated on a small surface. The heat generated this way needs to be effectively evacuated, especially when the components operate under high loads. High performance units require dedicated cooling devices to enable their effective operation. One known way of addressing the issue is to utilize air for direct cooling of the heat sources. [0003] Automotive industry increasingly depends on high performance electronic control units to ensure safe and effective operation of vehicles. More and more of electronic control units, in various forms and configurations, are utilized to perform functions such as controlling the vehicle’s battery systems, handling the driver assistance systems or performing autonomous driving function. [0004] There is a need to provide an effective heat exchange solution, which could be used for thermal management of an electronic control unit, in particular one used in a vehicle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The object of the invention is, among others, an interconnector for a heat exchanger comprising a body with an upper inlet and a lower inlet connected by an inlet conduit, an upper outlet and a lower outlet connected by an outlet conduit, an external inlet communicated with the inlet conduit, an external outlet communicated with the outlet conduit, wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are fluidically isolated with respect to each other within the interconnector. [0006] Preferably, the upper inlet and the lower inlet are concentric. [0007] Preferably, the upper outlet and the lower outlet are concentric. [0008] Preferably, the external inlet is arranged perpendicular to the upper inlet. [0009] Preferably, the external outlet is arranged perpendicular to the upper outlet. [0010] Preferably, the external inlet is arranged parallel to the external outlet. [0011] Preferably, the external inlet faces away from the external outlet. [0012] Preferably, the external inlet is concentric with the external outlet. [0013] Preferably, the body includes a first external face on which the external inlet is arranged, a second external face on which the external outlet is arranged, and a middle recess arranged between the first external face and the second external face and extending between the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit. [0014] Preferably, the body includes an upper face with an upper recess, the upper inlet and the upper outlet being arranged within the upper recess. [0015] Preferably, the body includes a lower face with a lower recess, the lower inlet and the lower outlet being arranged within the lower recess. [0016] Another object of the invention is a heat exchanger comprising: a first tube with a first tube inlet and a first tube outlet interconnected by a first tube channel; a second tube with a second tube inlet and a second tube outlet interconnected by a second tube channel; an interconnector having a body with an upper inlet and a lower inlet connected by an inlet conduit, an upper outlet and a lower outlet connected by an outlet conduit, an external inlet communicated with the inlet conduit, an external outlet communicated with the outlet conduit; wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are fluidically isolated with respect to each other within the interconnector, the interconnector being located between the first tube and the second tube, the interconnector being connected to the first tube inlet by the upper inlet and to the first tube outlet by the upper outlet, the interconnector being connected to the second tube inlet by the lower inlet and to the second tube outlet by the lower outlet. [0017] Preferably, the external inlet faces away from the first tube and the second tube. [0018] Preferably, the external outlet faces away from the first tube and the second tube. [0019] Preferably, the interconnector has an upper inlet collar inserted into an upper inlet collar opening of the interconnector, the upper inlet collar connecting the upper inlet with the first tube inlet. [0020] Preferably, the interconnector has an integrated lower inlet collar connecting the lower inlet with the second tube inlet. [0021] Preferably, an upper collar plate, with an integrated upper inlet collar and an integrated upper outlet collar, is attached to the interconnector, the upper inlet collar being inserted into an upper inlet collar opening of the interconnector and connecting the upper inlet with the first tube inlet, with the upper outlet collar being inserted into an upper outlet collar opening of the interc