Crimping tool and heat exchanger made with crimping tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12326306-B2
Application number	US-202318377384-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2023
Priority date	Nov 15, 2022
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

The invention relates to a crimping tool for creating at least one connection through which coolant can be conducted between a tube connector and a tube. The invention also relates to a heat exchanger that has the connections formed using the crimping tool. The invention also relates to a method for creating the connections between the tube connectors and the tubes using the crimping tool.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A crimping tool for creating at least one connection between a tube and a tube connector through which coolant can be conducted, preferably a tube connector for a heat exchanger, wherein
the crimping tool has a crimping unit for each tube connector that has exactly two crimping elements,
each crimping element has exactly two crimping teeth with which exactly two crimps are created on the tube connector,
the two crimping teeth in the crimping element are parallel to one another and spaced apart on the crimping element, and
the two crimping elements one each crimping unit are moved toward and away from one another in a process of forming the crimps, and in this manner, all crimping teeth are moved, parallel to one another in the same crimping plane, toward the tube connector.

2. The crimping tool according to claim 1 , wherein the crimping tool has exactly two crimping units for exactly two tube connectors, and all of the crimping elements in the crimping units and all of the crimping teeth on the crimping elements can be moved, parallel to one another in the same crimping plane, toward the tube connector.

3. The crimping tool according to claim 1 , wherein
the crimping tool has a first movement unit for each crimping unit, which is preferably powered pneumatically, mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically, for moving the two crimping elements toward and away from one another, and/or
the crimping tool has a second movement unit for each crimping unit, which is preferably powered pneumatically, mechanically, electrically, or hydraulically, for moving the respective crimping units toward the tube connector.

4. A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, wherein
the heat exchanger has at least one heat exchanger block through which coolant can be conducted,
the heat exchanger has at least one tube connector that has a central longitudinal axis and is permanently connected to the heat exchanger block and can conduct coolant, and
the heat exchanger has at least one tube and part of each tube is inserted coaxially into a tube connector and can conduct coolant,

wherein
each tube has a circumferential stop protruding radially outward, and each tube connector has a circumferential stop that protrudes radially inward,
each tube bears axially at its stop against the stop on the tube connector into which it has been inserted,
the tube connector has four crimps on its rim where it bears radially against the tube, and the crimps are formed on each tube connector using the crimping tool according to claim 1 , and
the stops on the tubes are axially enclosed at the crimps between the stops on the tube connectors and the rims of the tube connectors, thus forming connections to the heat exchanger through which coolant can be conducted.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein the stops on the tubes are formed by a circumferential collar that protrudes radially outward, and the stops in the tube connectors are formed by a circumferential ridge that protrudes radially inward.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger has at least one ring seal, and each ring seal is adjacent to a stop on a tube and clamped radially, in a sealing manner, between the tube and tube connector on the side of the stop facing away from the rim of the tube connector.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger has exactly two connections between exactly two tubes and exactly two tube connectors on the heat exchanger, wherein
the two tube connectors are placed on the heat exchanger block at a minimum distance between the central longitudinal axes thereof of 1.5 to 2.5 times, preferably twice the outer diameter of a tube section of the tube that is adjacent to the stop outside the tube connector, and/or
the two tube connectors are placed on the heat exchanger block ( 3 ) at a minimum spacing between the central longitudinal axes thereof in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger that is 1.5 to 2.5 times, preferably twice the outer diameter of a tube section of the tube that is adjacent to the stop outside the tube connector, and/or
the two tube connectors are placed on the heat exchanger block at a minimum spacing between the central longitudinal axes thereof in the lateral direction of the heat exchanger that is 0.5 to 1.5 times, preferably the same as the outer diameter of a tube section of the tube that is adjacent to the stop outside the tube connector.

8. A method for producing at least one connection between a tube and a tube connector through which coolant can be conducted, preferably a tube connector for a heat exchanger, using a crimping tool according to claim 1 , wherein
the heat exchanger has at least one heat exchanger block through which coolant can be conducted,
the heat exchanger has at least one tube connector that has a central longitudinal axis and is permanently connected to the heat exchanger block and can conduct coolant, and
the heat exchanger has at least one tube and part of each tube is inserted coaxially into a tube connector and can conduct coolant,

wherein
each tube has a circumferential stop protruding radially outward, and each tube connector has a circumferential stop that protrudes radially inward,
each tube bears axially at its stop against the stop on the tube connector into which it has been inserted,
the tube connector has four crimps on its rim where it bears radially against the tube, and the crimps are formed on each tube connector using the crimping tool, and
the stops on the tubes are axially enclosed at the crimps between the stops on the tube connectors and the rims of the tube connectors, thus forming connections to the heat exchanger through which coolant can be conducted;
the method comprising
temporarily holding the tube connector in the crimping tool ( 14 ) by a clamp in the crimping tool ( 14 );
inserting the tube into the tube connector coaxially to the central longitudinal axis thereof, until the stop on the tube comes in axial contact with the stop on the tube connector;
forming four crimps with the crimping tool on the rim of the tube connector where it is radially adjacent to the tube; and
wherein the stops on the tubes are axially enclosed at the crimps ( 9 ) between the stops on the tube connectors and the rims of the tube connectors, thus forming the connections through which coolant can be conducted.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein
prior to inserting the tubes into the tube connectors, a ring seal is placed on each tube between the stop and the end of the tube; and
after inserting the tubes into the tube connectors, the ring seals ( 12 ) are located axially between the stops on the tube connectors and the ends of the tubes and clamped between the tubes and the tube connectors to form a radial seal.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein exactly two connections are formed with the method between exactly two tubes and exactly two tube connectors, wherein the crimps on the two tube connectors are formed simultaneously with the crimping tool.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 wherein a refrigerant flows through the heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant is without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant is propane.

Assignees

• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Merkle Christian
• Nastoll Frank

Classifications

• B25B27/02 Primary

  for connecting objects by press fit or detaching same {(B25D1/16 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B21D39/048

  using presses for radially crimping tubular elements · CPC title

• B23P15/26

  heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)} · CPC title

• F28F2275/122

  by crimping, caulking or clinching · CPC title

• F28F9/06

  by dismountable joints · CPC title