Abstract: A filter unit, system and method for removing grease, oil and other particulates from air. The filter unit includes a housing having upstream and downstream walls and a cavity therebetween. The upstream wall has an entrance opening aligned with a downstream wall portion, and the downstream wall has first and second exit openings aligned with first and second upstream wall portions. A heat exchanger is disposed within the cavity and includes first and second upstream conduits within the entrance opening and first and second downstream conduits within the first and second exit opening. The entrance and exit openings are arranged to define S-shaped air flow paths through the housing between the entrance and exit openings, each of which flows around a downstream side of one of the upstream conduits then around an upstream side of one of the downstream conduits before exiting through one of the exit openings.

Abstract: A filter unit and method for removing grease, oil and other particulates from air, for example, in a kitchen environment. The filter unit includes a housing having an upstream side, an downstream side, and a cavity therebetween, a heat exchanger disposed within the cavity and comprising at least two parallel tubes, at least one entrance aperture disposed on the upstream side of the housing and defined by at least one fin, at least one baffle disposed on the downstream side of the housing so as to be oppositely disposed from the at least one entrance aperture, and at least one exit aperture disposed on the downstream side of the housing adjacent the at least one baffle. The baffle and fin define at least one S-shaped flow path through the housing, and the flow path routes air around a downstream side of a first of the at least two tubes and then around an upstream side of a second of the at least two tubes.

Abstract: A filter unit, system and method for removing grease, oil and other particulates from air, for example, in a kitchen environment. The filter unit includes a housing having an upstream side, an downstream side, and a cavity therebetween, a heat exchanger disposed within the cavity and comprising at least two tubes, at least one entrance aperture disposed on the upstream side of the housing and defined by at least one fin, at least one baffle disposed on the downstream side of the housing so as to be oppositely disposed from the at least one entrance aperture, and at least one exit aperture disposed on the downstream side of the housing adjacent the at least one baffle. The baffle and fin define at least one flow path through the housing and around the tubes.

Abstract: Heat exchanger assemblies and manufacturing methods that are capable of promoting continuously downward and/or horizontal flow of fluids through a coolant tube of a heat exchanger assemble to reduce the risk of internal clogging. The heat exchanger assembly includes at least one coil adapted to contain a fluid therein and at least two support members supporting the coil. The coil is formed of at least one tube having an inlet at an uppermost extent thereof, an outlet at a lowermost extent thereof, a plurality of parallel horizontal rows, and a plurality of bends at opposite ends of the horizontal rows and fluidically interconnecting the horizontal rows thereof in series to define a serpentine configuration. The coil is adapted to achieve a continuously downward and/or horizontal flow of the fluid therein.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes at least first and second coils adapted to contain a fluid therein and at least two support members securing the coils. Each of the first and second coils are individually formed of at least one tube including an inlet at an uppermost extent thereof and an outlet at a lowermost extent thereof and include a vertical column containing a plurality of horizontal rows and a plurality of bends at opposite ends of the horizontal rows and fluidically interconnecting the horizontal rows thereof in series to define a serpentine configuration. The first and second coils are adjacent each other and nested so that the horizontal rows of the first coil are parallel to the horizontal rows of the second coil and at least some of the horizontal rows of the first coil are disposed between adjacent pairs of the horizontal rows of the second coil.

Abstract: An atomizing spray head suitable for delivering an atomized spray of a fluid with reduced blockage within the spray head. The spray head includes an inlet having a passage therein, a female tapered seat fluidically coupled to the passage of the inlet, and a male tapered plunger seated against the female tapered seat. The male tapered plunger is adjustably biased against the female tapered seat to pressurize a fluid that flows into the passage and causes the male tapered plunger to be unseated from the female tapered seat. A window circumferentially surrounds the male tapered plunger, through which a pressurizing fluid that unseats the male tapered plunger from the female tapered seat is able to exit the spray head as an atomized spray in radial directions relative to the male tapered plunger.

Abstract: An heat exchanger assembly and a method of use thereof adapted for transferring heat to or from a fluid to a surrounding environment within an apparatus, such as motor vehicle engines, as it enters and leaves a fluid-handling device. The heat exchanger assembly includes first and second manifolds, multiple cooling tubes and a return tube. The first manifold has inlet holes therein and the second manifold has outlet holes therein. The multiple cooling tubes fluidically interconnect the first and second manifolds and the inlet and outlet holes thereof. The return tube passes through the first and second manifolds to fluidically interconnect opposite ends of the heat exchanger assembly. The return tube has a first end adapted to mount the heat exchanger assembly to the apparatus and an oppositely-disposed second end that protrudes from the second manifold and is adapted to secure the fluid-handling device thereto.

Abstract: A filter unit, system and method for removing grease, oil and other particulates from air, for example, in a kitchen environment. The filter unit includes a housing having an upstream side, an downstream side, and a cavity therebetween, a heat exchanger disposed within the cavity and comprising at least two tubes, at least one entrance aperture disposed on the upstream side of the housing and defined by at least one fin, at least one baffle disposed on the downstream side of the housing so as to be oppositely disposed from the at least one entrance aperture, and at least one exit aperture disposed on the downstream side of the housing adjacent the at least one baffle. The baffle and fin define at least one flow path through the housing and around the tubes.

Abstract: A filter unit and method for removing grease, oil and other particulates from air, for example, in a kitchen environment. The filter unit includes a housing having an upstream side, an downstream side, and a cavity therebetween, a heat exchanger disposed within the cavity and comprising at least two parallel tubes, at least one entrance aperture disposed on the upstream side of the housing and defined by at least one fin, at least one baffle disposed on the downstream side of the housing so as to be oppositely disposed from the at least one entrance aperture, and at least one exit aperture disposed on the downstream side of the housing adjacent the at least one baffle. The baffle and fin define at least one S-shaped flow path through the housing, and the flow path routes air around a downstream side of a first of the at least two tubes and then around an upstream side of a second of the at least two tubes.

Abstract: A bladed heat exchanger fin, tube assemblies in which the fin is installed, and methods of using the fin. The bladed fin includes a collar and a radial portion extending radially from an axis of the collar. The radial portion has a base region adjacent the collar and first and second sets of blades that radially extend therefrom. Each blade has a span-wise axis that is transverse to the axis of the collar. Each of the first set of blades is revolved about the span-wise axis thereof so as to have radial edges that are axially spaced from each other, and each of the second set of blades is not revolved about the span-wise axis thereof. At least some of the blades of the first set are between at least some of the blades of the second set.

Abstract: A process by which the end of a tube having at least one internal surface feature is reduced and at least a portion of the surface feature eliminated from the tube end while achieving accurate control of the outer diameter of the tube end. The process preferably makes use of a forming tool comprising an external die for reducing the outer diameter of a tube and a mandrel for deforming the internal passage of the tube. The process generally comprises forcing the external die over the end of the tube so that the outer diameter of the tube end is reduced and so that the mandrel is simultaneously inserted through the internal passage of the tube end. While the tube end remains within the external die, the mandrel is withdrawn from the internal passage of the tube end to eliminate the internal surface feature.

Abstract: A process by which the end of a tube having at least one internal surface feature is reduced and at least a portion of the surface feature eliminated from the tube end while achieving accurate control of the outer diameter of the tube end. The process preferably makes use of a forming tool comprising an external die for reducing the outer diameter of a tube and a mandrel for deforming the internal passage of the tube. The process generally comprises forcing the external die over the end of the tube so that the outer diameter of the tube end is reduced and so that the mandrel is simultaneously inserted through the internal passage of the tube end. While the tube end remains within the external die, the mandrel is withdrawn from the internal passage of the tube end to eliminate the internal surface feature.

Abstract: A method of assembling a heat exchanger unit (12) that involves an expansion technique for securing a heat exchanger tube (18) to a number of fins (24) without physical intrusion into the tube passage. The method includes forming the tube (18) to have substantially parallel tube portions (26). Pairs of tubes portions (26) may be connected by a bend or an elbow (28) to yield a serpentine tube configuration. Each of the fins (24) is formed to include one or more apertures that are sized to receive the tube portions (26). The fins (24) are then arranged to form a fin pack (22), so that their apertures are aligned to form an aggregate passage through the fin pack (22). The tube portions (26) are then inserted into the aggregate passage, such that the elbow (28) (if present) and/or the ends of the tube (18) remain outside the fin pack (22).

Abstract: An improved method is provided for assembling a heat exchanger by mechanically joining one or more pairs of tubes with fins arranged in a fin pack. The method involves a novel external expansion technique that is performed between pairs of tubes and internally of the fin pack, in a manner that enhances the mechanical joint strength and metal-to-metal contact between the tubes and fins of the heat exchanger, while enabling the assembly process to be reduced to a single operation. Consequently, the method of this invention avoids the shortcomings of internal expansion techniques, and provides a significant improvement over prior art external expansion techniques. The method of this invention also yields a novel heat exchanger configuration, in which only facing surfaces of the tube within the fin pack are deformed in order to expand and mechanically join the tube to the fins. Finally, the present invention also encompasses a unique expansion tool for externally expanding the tube portions within the fin pack.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed. The valve assembly includes a valve body having inlet and outlet openings. A central cavity is defined by the valve body. A movable poppet is positioned within the cavity. A plug closes the cavity and a spring extends between the rear end of the poppet and the plug. The rear end of the poppet defines a cylindrical recess and the valve body defines a drain opening adjacent the outlet. The cylindrical recess provides a fluid passage to the drain opening. The poppet is opened when the fluid pressure on the inlet side overcomes the force of the spring and is closed when the force of the spring is greater than the fluid pressure force on the front of the poppet.