Abstract: A distributor for use in a heat exchanger including a distributor body having a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior. A fluid inlet is formed at the first end and a fluid outlet includes a plurality of orifices formed in the distributor body. The fluid outlet is configured to achieve a ratio of a pressure drop across the distributor to a pressure drop across the heat exchanger between about 3 and about 7 at nominal refrigerant flowrate conditions.

Abstract: A tube sheet for a thermal transfer device can include a body having a plurality of apertures that traverse therethrough, where the plurality of apertures are configured to receive a plurality of tubes of the thermal transfer device. The tube sheet can also include an outer perimeter defining the body, where the outer perimeter has at least one first recess feature disposed therein. The at least one first recess feature can have a first shape and a first size, where the first shape is any shape aside from a semi-circle.

Abstract: An end plate (200, 300) for a brazed heat exchanger comprises a relief pattern comprising ridges (230, 330) and grooves (240, 340) pressed into the plate material. The relief pattern (330, 340) is symmetric.

Abstract: A plate heat exchanger (100) including a number of heat exchanger plates (1), which are arranged beside each other and connected to each other by means of a braze connection to form a stack of plates (2), wherein the heat exchanger plates are substantially manufactured in stainless steel containing chromium, wherein the plate heat exchanger (100) includes a number of port channels extending through at least some of the heat exchanger plates (1), and wherein the plate heat exchanger (100) further including end plates (3, 5) covering each end of the stack of plates (2) and having port holes associated with the port channels, where at least one end plate (3, 5) has at least one port hole provided with a cover (9, 12) and where said cover includes means (9, 12) for increasing the strength and means (14, 15) for sealing off the at least one end plate (3, 5) against an adjacently arranged heat exchanger plate.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has first and second sides and comprises a pair of tanks, with each of the tanks defining an interior and including a header. A plurality of openings is formed in the header; The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of tubes extending between the openings in the tanks, with each of the tubes having opposite end portions joined to the tanks to fluidly connect the interiors of the tanks through interiors of the tubes. The heat exchanger comprises at least one reinforcement ribbon element extending across a juncture between the header and the plurality of tubes to reinforce a connection between the header and the plurality of tubes.

Abstract: A plate heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchanger plates (1), a first end plate and a second end plate. The plates are permanently joined to each other by means of a braze material. Each heat exchanger plate has a heat transfer area and a plurality of porthole areas surrounding a respective porthole. The plate heat exchanger including a plurality of having a bottom surface turned towards the heat exchanger plates. At least one of the flat elements including an annular protrusion extending from the bottom surface and tightly abutting one of the porthole areas of the outermost heat exchanger plate.

Abstract: A reinforcing element for a heat exchanger of the type having nested dish plates with inclined, peripheral, overlapping walls, where at least one of the nested dish plates is attached to a mounting plate, the mounting plate extending beyond the outer periphery of the walls of the nested dish plates. The reinforcing element has a base flange attached to the mounting plate extending beyond the outer periphery of the walls of the nested dish plates. The reinforcing element also has a peripheral flange located in parallel, overlapping engagement with the inclined peripheral wall of the at least one dish plate attached to the mounting plate.

Abstract: A heat exchanger, such as a condenser or gas cooler, having a collecting tube which has a wall and which can be produced by deformation of a single metal strip, which collecting tube has, in its base, at least one row of openings in which heat exchanger tubes, each of which has two narrow and two wide sides, are fastened at their ends. The collecting tube can have at least two chambers, which adjoin one another approximately at a central longitudinal axis, and also a reinforcement, which is formed by the longitudinal edge strips of the metal strip.

Abstract: A serpentine fin for assembly between tubes in a heat exchanger core, and a method of making same from a metal strip. The strip edges have a hem comprising a double thickness of the strip material extending inward from the edge. The metal strip has folds extending across the strip width such that the strip forms a serpentine shape, with the folds being adapted to contact the tubes in the heat exchanger core. Multiple rows of split louvers are disposed between adjacent folds. Each row of split louvers comprises louvers having openings extending in the direction of the strip length and formed in a pair of adjacent, spaced louver banks. Ribs are disposed parallel to the louver openings adjacent the strip edges and in at least one center portion of the strip between the strip edges, and extend across the pair of louver banks.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to automotive heat exchanger assemblies that may withstand high environmental temperature and pressures conditions. By providing a tube strengthener into the tubes at the areas of highest stress, the heat exchanger assembly may be strengthened so that it is substantially more efficient under typical operating conditions.

Abstract: A reinforcing element for a heat exchanger of the type having nested dish plates with inclined, peripheral, overlapping walls, where at least one of the nested dish plates is attached to a mounting plate, the mounting plate extending beyond the outer periphery of the walls of the nested dish plates. The reinforcing element has a base flange attached to the mounting plate extending beyond the outer periphery of the walls of the nested dish plates. The reinforcing element also has a peripheral flange located in parallel, overlapping engagement with the inclined peripheral wall of the at least one dish plate attached to the mounting plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger including a plurality of plates. The plates extend in parallel to a main extension plane and include several heat exchanger plates and a strengthening plate (2). The heat exchanger plates are provided beside each other and form a plate package with first plate interspaces and second plate interspaces. Each heat exchanger plate has four portholes forming ports (8) through the plate package. The heat exchanger plates include an outermost heat exchanger plate at one side of the plate package and an outermost heat exchanger plate at an opposite side of the plate package. Two of the plate interspaces in the plate package form a respective outermost plate interspace at a respective side of the plate package, which are delimited outwardly by a respective one of the outermost heat exchanger plates. The strengthening plates are provided outside one of the first heat exchanger plates.

Abstract: An elongated structure (100) for the transmission of fluid-based compositions at non-ambient temperatures comprising a first conduit (130) for the transmission of a fluid-based composition, at least one flexible, elongated and inflatable temperature control conduit (110a, 110b) for the transmission of a temperature control fluid, the temperature control conduit (110a, 110b) having a relatively rigid elongated reinforcement member (116a, 116b); and elongated cover (140) holding said temperature control conduit (100a, 110b) in thermal communication with the first conduit (130).

Abstract: A regenerator core for use in a gas turbine regenerator has integral manifold openings formed in the tube plates used to make up the core and has special reinforcing elements which provide high pressure containment in critical portions of the plate-and-fin heat exchanger construction. The reinforcing elements include a series of hoops of U-shaped cross section which are used to bridge the juncture lines of the heat exchanger manifolds. An outer channel region of the hoops is provided with a reinforcing strip of gusset material. The hoops with their reinforcing strips provide structural reinforcement in the region between the manifolds and the conventional side bar reinforcing members in the central core section.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a heat exchanger with plastic tanks type, wherein a seal member is regularly compressed and hooks or tabs of header core crimped in a uniform fashion. Deformations predominantly located in the large sides or sides adjacent to the tank foot of the header, are formed and distributed in the inner or outer wall. The deformations in the periphery, or more particular, on the outside of the header wall, are formed after the brazing process.

Abstract: A heat exchanger manifold with improved sealing between the tank and header. The manifold includes a plastic heat exchanger tank having an opening for mating with a header and a lip extending substantially around a periphery of the opening. The lip has an outer surface and an upper surface extending outward of the tank opening, and a ridge extending upward from a portion of the upper surface extending substantially around the tank. The manifold further includes an aluminum heat exchanger header adapted to connect to a heat exchanger core. The header has a groove around the periphery thereof receiving the tank lip and a plurality of plastically deformable tabs extending from an edge of the groove. The tabs are bent inward and contact the ridge on the tank lip to secure the tank to the header.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, especially a heat exchanger for motor vehicles, comprising a bank of tubes through which a gaseous medium flows and around which a liquid coolant flows. The ends of said tubes are received in tube plates and are connected to the same in a material fit. The inventive heat exchanger also comprises a housing jacket which surrounds the bank of tubes and is connected, at the end thereof, to the tube plates. A coolant flows through said housing jacket. The tubes, tube plates and housing jacket are produced from a heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant metallic alloy. According to the invention, the housing jacket comprises at least one surrounding expansion flange.

Abstract: The present invention relates to automotive heat exchanger assemblies that can withstand high environmental temperature and pressures conditions. By providing a tube strengthener inserted into the tubes at the areas of highest stress, the heat exchanger assembly is strengthened to be efficient under typical operating conditions.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a header plate with a plurality of openings and a plurality of tubes each having an end portion inserted into one of the plurality of openings in the header plate. Each of the plurality of tubes has a generally rectangular cross-section and a longitudinal axis. An end portion of at least some of the plurality of tubes is stiffened by a respective stiffening part. Each stiffening part includes two reinforcing elements positioned opposite each other abutting an inner surface of the tubes. Each reinforcing element also includes a back portion and two side portions extending from the back portion and a connecting member connecting the side portions of the reinforcing elements.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and mount isolation system (10) is provided and includes a heat exchanger (12) for a vehicular application, a pair of side frame members (14,16) for mounting the heat exchanger (12) to a vehicle, and four pairs (18) of isolation mount assemblies (19) for mounting the heat exchanger (12) to the side frame members (14,16). The mount assemblies (19) are received in mounting bores (30) that are integral parts of the heat exchanger (12). Each of the pair 18 of mount assemblies (19) is inserted into the opposite ends (32,34) of a corresponding one of the mount bores (30) and includes a pair of abutting metal sleeves (42) that are mounted in respective annular flanged isolators (40).

Abstract: A thermosiphon boiler plate assembly (20) for dissipating heat generated by an electronic device includes a plurality of widthwise ribs (38) disposed on a top surface (26) of a base (24) extending parallel to a latitudinal axis (Ax) of the base (24) in spaced relationship to each other. A plurality of lengthwise ribs (40) are disposed on the top surface (26) of the base (24) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis (Ay) of the base (24) in spaced relationship to each other. The lengthwise ribs (40) intersect the widthwise ribs (38) on the top surface (26) of the base (24) to define a plurality of pockets (42) completely surrounded by the lengthwise and widthwise ribs (40, 38) to increase the widthwise and lengthwise area moments of inertia (Ix, Iy) of the assembly (20).

Abstract: A header for a heat exchanger includes a substantially planar base portion and a pair of step portions. The step portions are angled from the plane of the base portion. The header is also provided with a plurality of substantially parallel slots spaced apart along the length of the header. Each slot has an elongate section extending across the width of the base portion and end sections extending from the elongate section into the step portions of the header.

Abstract: A core structure of a heat exchanger includes seat plates arranged opposite to each other with a predetermined space interposed between them and formed with tube holes, reinforcements connecting the seat plates at their end portions, tubes fixed at its both end portions by insertion into the tube holes, corrugated fins arranged between the tubes, and an upper and lower tanks attached to the seat plates. The tanks are connected by the tubes so that coolant flows between the tanks through the tubes. Tubes arranged at outermost positions of a core part among the tubes are inserted at its end portions by insert members so that the insert members can increase rigidity of the end positions of the outermost positioned tubes and ensure flowing of the coolant between the tanks through the outermost positioned tubes.

Abstract: A fracture-resistant charge air cooler header is provided. The internal side of the header includes, at select locations most likely to sustain a fracture, a reinforcing weld bead or “nugget” of sufficient height to create a section modulus change. The weld bead is preferably formed from a highly ductile alloy, such as AA 1100 aluminum alloy, and may surround either a portion of the header component associated with a tube or its entire perimeter.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly for an internal combustion engine charge air cooler is formed from a plurality of aluminum modules, each provided with longitudinal through bores and opposite outer face portions with toothed heat exchange fins positioned in face-to-face relation. The assembly of tubular modules is interconnected with upper and lower aluminum header plates which receive the ends of the tubular modules and are secured thereto with fused joints made from the parent material of the modules and header plates. The openings in the header plates for the modules are flanged and have a thickness of at least about 0.090 inch and the wall thickness of the ends of the tubular modules also have a minimum thickness of about 0.90 inch such that the fused joints utilize substantially equal amounts of aluminum material from the modules and the header plate flanges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, especially a charge air cooler (5) for motor vehicles. Said heat exchanger comprises a heat exchange block which is constituted of flat tubes (6) having flat tube ends and ribs (7) and tube bottoms (8) having ventilation passages (9) in which the flat tube ends are received and welded together. The heat exchanger also comprises collecting tanks that can be placed on the tube bottoms (8) and means for deflecting the flow in the feed section of the flat tube ends. The inventive heat exchanger is characterized in that the means for deflecting flow (deflection means 2) and means for reinforcing the flat tube ends (reinforcing means) are configured as an integrated structural component (1).

Abstract: A comb-like insert having a body and plurality of tapered fingers is installed with its fingers disposed within respective minichannels. The fingers and their respective minichannels are so sized as to restrict the channels and frictionally hold the insert in place in one dimension while providing for gaps in another dimension such that the flow of refrigerant is somewhat obstructed but allowed to pass through the gaps between the insert fingers and the minichannel walls and then expand as it passes along the tapered fingers to thereby provide a more homogenous mixture to the individual minichannels. A provision is also made to hold the insert in its installed position by way of internal structure within the inlet manifold. In one embodiment, an internal plate is provided for that purpose, and the plate has openings formed therein for the equalization of pressure on either side thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, which restricts a gap between a tube insertion hole formed on a header pipe for allowing both ends of a tube to inserted and combined thereto and the tube within a proper range, thereby making the manufacturing of the header pipes and the coupling of the tubes to the header pipe easy and preventing cracks and leak to improve durability.

Abstract: A heat exchanger uses a skeleton forming of a lattice of first and second bars to provide a box-like structure. Blocking bars are arranged between gaps in the first and second bars to provide a blocking surface to divert airflow around a portion of the heat exchanger core. A brazing material is used in the assembly of the core and the skeleton, which includes the blocking bars.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly comprising a heat exchanger with tank having a neck, and, in various embodiments, an assembly further comprising a hose to form a hose-neck connection is provided. A heat exchanger assembly comprising a hose-neck connection, having the advantage of providing for a connection resistant to temperature and pressure conditions of heat exchangers is provided. By providing for particular rib patterns on the neck, an optimized rib pattern can be found based on the environmental conditions and use of the heat exchanger assembly.

Abstract: An exhaust path 3 and a heated portion 5 such as an air duct of an internal combustion engine are connected to each other by a heat pipe 1. A heat pipe working fluid (water) vaporized by the heat of the exhaust gas in a heat receiving portion 1c of the heat pipe 1 is condensed in a heat discharging portion 1d of the heat pipe 1 and heated in the heated portion by the heat of the exhaust gas. An outer cylinder 10 is formed around the casing la of the heat pipe 1, and the exhaust path 3 and the heated portion 5 are connected to each other through heat insulating members 13, 15, while at the same time supporting the heat pipe body through heat insulating members 11. By doing so, the structural strength can be maintained by the outer cylinder and no load is imposed on the heat pipe, so that the thickness of the casing can be reduced.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes tubes and a tank. The tubes extend in a first direction, and are stacked in a second direction. The tank has a tube insertion plate part, and is arranged at an end portion of the tubes. The tube insertion plate part has tube holes in which the tubes are inserted, and ribs extending in a third direction that is approximately perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The tube hole has end portions in the third direction. The rib are arranged to overlap with the end portion of the tube hole in the second direction, and to provide a deformable part to be deformable in the first direction. The deformable part is located in the tube insertion plate part outside of the ribs in the third direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising a supercritical carbon-dioxide circuit comprising a plurality of tubes (1). The heat exchanger is original in that at least one section of the tubes (1) have surface irregularities (3) on their inner surface. These irregularities (3) are located within a zone (6) extending as far as a point located at a distance from the inlet (7) of the tube of maximum 400 times the diameter of the tube.

Abstract: The invention refers to a plate package for a plate heat exchanger, a method for manufacturing a plate package, a use of a plate package, and a plate heat exchanger. The plate package includes a plurality of heat exchanger plates (1), which are stacked on each other and which each includes a number of portholes. The plates (1) are compression molded and permanently connected to each other in a number of joints in such a manner that the plates between each other form a first passage for a first fluid and a second passage for a second fluid. The plate package is designed to permit at least one of the fluids to flow through the respective passages at a predetermined maximum working pressure. The plate package has an increased strength achieved by subjecting at least one of the passages to at least a local inner plastic deformation of the plate package.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including plates with a pattern of grooves and connections for inlets and outlets. The plates are placed in a pack and brazed so that separate channels for two media area are formed between alternating pair of plates. A set of holes is arranged in the plates around the connections, and a reinforcement mechanism is arranged through the holes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of automotive heat exchangers, and, in particular, to ribbed heat exchanger tanks. This invention uses ribs that are oriented perpendicular to the local wall bending axes, and, therefore, not necessarily perpendicular to or parallel with the plane of the header to improve resistance to thereby reduce wall deflection and reduce stress concentration in or near the ribs.

Abstract: A construction of recuperator core segments is provided which insures proper assembly of the components of the recuperator core segment, and of a plurality of recuperator core segments. Each recuperator core segment must be constructed so as to prevent nesting of fin folds of the adjacent heat exchanger foils of the recuperator core segment. A plurality of recuperator core segments must be assembled together so as to prevent nesting of adjacent fin folds of adjacent recuperator core segments.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring heat from a first fluid to a second fluid, which is separated from the first fluid, having a stack-like or saucer-like structure comprising at least two plies (1, 2, 3), in particular plates (1, 2, 3), whereby each ply (1, 2, 3) comprises a heat-transferring area that has numerous passages (11, 12, 13), an inlet area located in front of the heat-transferring area in the direction of flow, and an exit area located behind the heat-transferring area in the direction of flow is proposed in which a relatively large heat-transferring surface area is realized in a small volume, hereby ensuring uninterrupted operation, even when the pressure differential between the two fluids is great. This is achieved according to the invention in that the inlet and/or exit area comprises at least one support element (18).

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to realize a heat discharger having a high precision and in which heat conduction efficiency is maintained at the bonding between the heat pipe and heat sink. A heat discharger comprises a heat pipe and a heat sink formed separately from the heat pipe and bonded to the heat pipe via solder. The contact surface portion between the heat pipe and the solder and the contact surface portion between the heat sink and the solder are made of a wettable material having a wettablility such that the contacting angle with respect to the solder is 90 degrees or less.

Abstract: In the fin 112 on the front grille side which is an upstream side of the air current, there is provided a reinforcing portion 112c formed when the fin 112 is made into a wave-shape. By this reinforcing portion 112c, it is possible to prevent the core portion 110 (fin 112) from being deformed by water at high pressure. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the fin 112 while the deformation of the fin 112 is prevented even if washing is conducted with water at high pressure.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with a plurality of stacked plates between a cover plate and a base plate. Channels are defined between the plates, with each plate including four openings defining four passages through the stacked plates, two passages being input and output passages for one fluid and the other two passages being input and output passages for a second fluid, where the two fluids flow between their input and output passages through alternating defined channels. A reinforcing body is disposed in at least one of the passages through the stacked plates, and is secured to the cover plate and the base plate and spaced from the sides of the openings defining the at least one passage in the stacked plates between the cover and base plates.

Abstract: A low volume, high capacity latent heat storage device is achieved in a construction including a salt case (12) with an optional outer jacket (10) surrounding the salt case (12) in spaced relation thereto to define an insulating space (14) between the two. Inlet and outlet conduits (38), (42), (44), (46), extend from the exterior of the outer jacket (10) to the interior of the salt case (12) and at least one tube (20) is located within the salt case and has a plurality of straight, parallel runs (21) defining a matrix with an exterior and a phase change material is sealed within the tube (20). The tube runs (21) inwardly of the matrix exterior are in a regular or equilateral polygonal pattern with each run (21) abutting a plurality of adjacent runs (21) and each run (21) at the exterior of the matrix additionally engaging the salt jacket (12).

Abstract: A plate heat exchanger includes a case assembly and a plurality of primary flow channel assemblies. The case assembly includes first and second side panels and first and second end plates mounted to the ends of the side plates. Each of the end plates has alternating slots, and ribs extending transversely between the laterally extending edges of the end plate, with the slots of the first end plate and corresponding slots of the second end plate defining multiple pairs of slots. Each primary flow channel assembly includes laterally spaced first and second heat exchange plates, with the inner surfaces of the heat exchange plates forming a longitudinally extending primary flow passage. One of the primary flow channel assemblies is associated with each pair of slots with a first end portion of the flow channel assembly mounted in the slot of the first end plate and the second end portion of the flow channel assembly mounted in the corresponding slot of the second end plate.

Abstract: A condenser for vehicle air-conditioning systems, comprising a pair of parallel distributors (12) between which there is set a heat-exchange core (14) including a plurality of pipes (16) having a flat cross section, which are parallel to one another, and a plurality of undulated fins (18) set between each pair of adjacent pipes, in which a reinforcing element (22) is applied on at least one end side (20) of the heat-exchange core (14). The aforesaid reinforcing element (22) is fixed directly on an end pipe (16a) of the heat-exchange core (14).

Abstract: The present invention is a plate heat exchanger for heat transfer between two fluids, having several thin heat transfer plates (1) abutting towards each other and between the heat transfer plates (1) arranged sealing members (6), which in alternate plate interspaces delimit a flow space for a first fluid and in the remaining plate interspaces delimit flow spaces for a second fluid, each heat transfer plate (1) having a pressed corrugation pattern, which has two distribution portions (7, 8) and, arranged between these, a main heat transfer portion (9), which is divided in several areas (10a, 10b) with parallel ridges and valleys, and the plate heat exchanger having inlets and outlets for the fluids, arranged such that the fluids will have a flow direction between the heat transfer plates (1) essentially from one to the other of the distribution portions (7, 8) at each heat transfer plate.

Abstract: A flat, heat exchanger tube formed by rolling metal strip to fold inwardly the lateral edge regions of the strip to provide a tube having parallel, spaced, generally planar upper and lower walls, one of said lateral edge regions being bent to define a longitudinally extending partition wall extending within the tube towards said lower wall, said partition wall including first and second longitudinally extending regions disposed at an angle to one another so as to provide in one face of the partition wall a longitudinally extending recess receiving the free edge portion of the other of said lateral edge regions of the strip.

Abstract: A tank body 3 is formed in the shape of an elongated groove having an intermediate first slit 5 disposed at its middle portion in the longitudinal direction and having a pair of end first slits 5a disposed at its opposite ends. A reinforcement member 9 is fitted in the first slit 5 at the middle portion, and a pair of reinforcement side lids 11 are fitted correspondingly in the pair of end first slits 5a at opposite ends. The reinforcement member 9 and the reinforcement side lids 11 are formed with intermediate second slits 8 and end second slits 8a, respectively, which in cooperation serve to clamp the sidewalls 2 of the tank body 3. The opening of the tank body 3 is fitted to the groove-shaped tube plate 4 such that their connections are joined together by brazing or other joining means.

Abstract: A manifold for a heat exchanger comprising a tank, a plurality of tubes arranged to receive fluid therein, a plurality of fins for interspacing the tubes, the fins extending along the length of the tubes to thereby define a core section, wherein the header section is formed with multi-point brazing interfaces for securing said header and said core section during a brazing process. One embodiment provides at least one doubled wall area in close proximity to the tube slot areas to form a structure of increased strength, permitting the material to be reduced in relative thickness. The manifold may be formed from flat sheet stock by extended side walls of the header portion joined by a separate cap to close a top portion of the manifold assembly for the purpose of collecting fluid to and from the tubes and said at least one inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A counter flow heat exchanger with integrated fins and tubes comprises metal plates overlapping with each other. Each of the metal plates has multiple elongated ridges spacing apart from each other. Adjacent metal plates oppositely overlap with each other such that the ridges in pairs form horizontal tubes and multiple connecting tubes on the plates form vertical tubes. A lowermost plate is set on two guide tubes, which are connected to lower ends of the connecting tubes and connected to a fluid pumping unit via a connecting pipe respectively. Thus, fluid inside the heat exchanger flows counter to external air and a better efficiency of heat exchange can be reached effectively.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning device including a thermal loop equipped with a heat exchanger, is characterized in that at least one of the first and second longitudinal ends (92) of at least one partition plate (20) and/or of at least one end plate (9) is coupled to at least one of the first and second ends of a said orientation plate (2, 20) by means of a damper element (94, 95).