Line Connected Conduit Assemblies Patents (Class 165/144)
  • Patent number: 6735953
    Abstract: An environmental control system includes a turbomachine and an air cycle machine that is driven by shaft power of the turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a compressor, which supplies compressed bleed air to the air cycle machine. Ambient air is compressed by the compressor, and heat of compression is removed by an air-to-air heat exchanger, which envelops the turbomachine. The cooled, compressed air is expanded in the air cycle machine to produce a stream of cooled, conditioned air. Ambient air used by the air-to-air heat exchanger to cool the compressed bleed air is drawn into the turbomachine's exhaust by an eductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Allied Signal Inc.
    Inventors: David Wolfe, Nguyen Q. Minh, Kurt Meister, Dan S. Matulich
  • Patent number: 6732789
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a CO2 refrigerant includes at least three rows of tube groups including a plurality of tubes having an independent refrigerant path, first and second header pipes including a header where a plurality of tube insertion holes into which the tubes are inserted are formed and a tank having partition walls formed along a direction of the flow of a refrigerant, wherein a plurality of return holes are formed in the partition walls, end caps sealing both end portions of the first and second header pipes, a coupling reinforcement portion installed at least one of the first and second header pipes and reinforcing a coupling force of the header and the tank, a refrigerant inlet pipe connected to the first or second header pipe through which the refrigerant enters, and a refrigerant outlet pipe connected to the first or second header pipe through which the refrigerant is exhausted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Kil Sang Jang
  • Patent number: 6725912
    Abstract: A wind tunnel and a heat exchanger for use in the wind tunnel. The heat exchanger is a plate-fin type heat exchanger having at least one heat exchanger unit with an inflow end and an outflow end, and air flow section and a coolant flow section. The air flow section includes fins generally aligned with the air flow through the exchanger and the coolant flow section includes fins defining a coolant passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Aero Systems Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Moll, Carl E. Jauch, C. Lynn Marksberry
  • Publication number: 20040031590
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly for a heating or cooling system, comprising an array of parallel tubes, and a mounting system comprising at least two spaced apart, elongate support members extending laterally across the array of tubes, the tubes and support members being interconnected by a plurality of connecting blocks each of which has one channel or aperture adapted to fit onto a heating tube, and another channel or aperture adapted to fit onto a support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Philip Ferdinando Vilia
  • Patent number: 6675879
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger system including a radial fan directing air flow outwardly away from the fan axis and a plurality of heat exchangers disposed around the radial fan. At least two of the heat exchangers include headers with longitudinal walls extending generally in the same direction as the fan axis with one of the heat exchangers disposed with its outlet header longitudinal wall adjacent the longitudinal wall of the inlet header of a second of the heat exchangers. A flow opening is provided between the adjacent longitudinal walls of the outlet header of the one heat exchanger and the inlet header of the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mark G. Voss
  • Patent number: 6640583
    Abstract: A double-row heat exchanger coil includes intertwined inner and outer loops. The loops are situated to allow one continuous coil to be wound in an uninterrupted coiling operation, and later cut at several locations to create several individual circuits that are readily connected to each other in a parallel flow relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: American Standard International Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen S. Hancock
  • Publication number: 20030196783
    Abstract: An evaporator for disposition along an air flow for cooling the air. The evaporator comprises a continuous serpentine tube having an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of inner fins attached to the serpentine tube. The serpentine tube including at least one column of tube runs. The tube runs are grouped into tube run sets. Each tube run set is defined by at least one reverse bend and the tube runs extending from the ends of the at least one reverse bend. The centerline of each tube run set is not parallel to the centerline of an adjacent tube run set. Each inner fin extends between at least two tube runs of a tube run set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: TI GROUP AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Scot Reagen
  • Publication number: 20030196784
    Abstract: A dog-bone type heat exchanger having a plurality of fin members for dissipating heat. Each of the plurality of fin members includes a pair of offset surfaces interconnected by a sloped interconnecting surface. The plurality of fins members may be spaced apart at a distance that is less than, equal to, or more than the offset distance between the pair of offset surfaces on each fin member, thereby maximizing the mixing of air flow and the conductive heat transfer of the heat exchanger through an impinging effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Robert E. Utter
  • Publication number: 20030116308
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is used for an air conditioner installed in a vehicle such as an electric car and is basically designed as a laminated type, which is constructed by assembling a pair of heat-exchanger units together. Herein, each of the heat-exchanger units is constructed by a pair of headers, which are arranged in parallel with each other in a vertical direction and between which tubes and cooling fins are alternately arranged along a horizontal direction. Herein, each of the tubes and each of the cooling fins are extended in the vertical direction between the headers. Partition plates are arranged inside of the headers at selected positions such that an overall front area in which the tubes and cooling fins are alternately arranged between the headers is divided into a number of parts, among which refrigerant sequentially flow from one part to another in a reciprocating manner. Herein, all the parts can be equally divided to have a same sectional area, or they are gradually changed (i.e.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Watanabe, Ryousaku Akimoto
  • Patent number: 6557372
    Abstract: Two differently sized condensers are positioned at respective opposite ends of a refrigerating unit. Other elements, such as a compressor and evaporator, are accommodated between the condensers. Each condenser includes a fan and a serpentine pipe defining a passageway in thermal contact with a plurality of heat transfer fins. The first larger condenser receives the gaseous phase of the refrigerant. As it changes to a liquid phase, the refrigerant passes into the second smaller condenser. The passageway of the second condenser is also smaller in diameter than in the first condenser. The smaller diameter passageway in the second condenser compensates for decrease in volume of the condensing refrigerant, permitting higher velocity flow of liquid refrigerant through the pipe for maintaining a good heat transfer coefficient. The condensers and fans also make efficient use of space inside the unit housing, enabling the size of the unit to be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Ozawa, Milos Vujicic
  • Publication number: 20030066633
    Abstract: A heat exchanger uses a refrigerant acting under a high pressure, such as carbon dioxide, as a refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: HALLA CLIMATE CONTROL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun-Kang Lee, Kil-Sang Jang, In-Cheol Han, Chang-Ho Park, Yong-Gwi Ahn, Hwang-Jae Ahn
  • Patent number: 6543526
    Abstract: A combined self-cleaning grease and particulate filter and heat exchanger used to collect thermal energy normally vented through flue hoods or other ventilation systems in commercial or institutional kitchens. The system utilizes a piping configuration which circulates fluid in parallel to a plurality of heat exchangers is disclosed. Fluid circulated within the heat exchanger/filter may then be utilized for heating other mediums, such as water or air and to promote drainage of the particulate matter and grease from the filter into a removable storage container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Sidney Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6527046
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a core provided with passages for a liquid to keep cool and passages for a cooling medium, a first collection tank for supplying the liquid, a second collection tank for withdrawing the liquid, at least one third collection tank, the core being divided into at least two sections through which the liquid successively flows and which are interconnected by the at least one third collection tank, one of the sections being connected with the first collection tank, while the other of the sections being connected with the second collection tank, a bypass line connected with the third collection tank and in parallel with the other sections, and structure for activating and deactivating the bypass lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: AKG of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Grover Richard White
  • Patent number: 6523606
    Abstract: A heat exchanger block includes a plurality of block units, located one behind the other, each having a plurality of stacked tube units with tube ducts extending transverse to the block depth and height. The tube ducts are connected at ends to associated collector ducts extending in the block height direction. The tube units can be formed from a multichamber flat tube. At least one collector-duct connection is provided between adjacent block units to form a meandering flow path through the heat exchanger block. The heat exchanger block can be used as an evaporator in a motor vehicle air-conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd Dienhart, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Hagen Mittelstrass, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christoph Walter, Jochen Schumm
  • Publication number: 20020195234
    Abstract: An evaporator for use in a plate freezer utilizing carbon dioxide as the refrigerant has a duct with an elliptical shaped cross section. The duct allows a refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide, to pass through the evaporator to create a low-temperature freezer space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: Nanping Wu
  • Publication number: 20020189798
    Abstract: A combined self-cleaning grease and particulate filter and heat exchanger used to collect thermal energy normally vented through flue hoods or other ventilation systems in commercial or institutional kitchens. The system utilizes a piping configuration which circulates fluid in parallel to a plurality of heat exchangers is disclosed. Fluid circulated within the heat exchanger/filter may then be utilized for heating other mediums, such as water or air and to promote drainage of the particulate matter and grease from the filter into a removable storage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Sidney Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6484796
    Abstract: A heat-exchanger tube block is disclosed having at least two header tubes (6, 7), which are C-shaped in cross section and each of which has a continuous longitudinal slot (10, 11). Flat tubes (2a, 2b) are inserted into the header-tube longitudinal slots. A cover-plate element (12) is provided which has a plurality of C-shaped openings and is fitted over one end of the at least two header tubes, so that the header tubes respectively fit into one of the openings and are secured in a fluid-tight manner. The tube-block can be used, for example, in an evaporator of CO2 air-conditioning installations for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Walter Demuth, Martin Kotsch, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Hagen Mittelstrass, Harald Raiser, Jochen Schumm, Michael Sickelmann, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christoph Walter
  • Publication number: 20020157417
    Abstract: This evaporator (12) is constructed such that bundles of heat exchanger tubes (15) for flowing cold water are disposed inside the container (14) for admitting the cooling medium. When a total cross sectional area of the heat exchanger tubes (15) at various locations in the flow direction of the cold water is compared, the total area in a downstream location is less that a total area in an upstream location of the flow passage. Therefore, even though the temperature differential between the cold water and the cooling medium is small, the flow speeds of the cold water in the downstream tubes become faster than that in the upstream tubes, so that the heat flux is increased and heat transfer rate is improved even in tube group D.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Yoichiro Iritani, Akihiro Kawada, Koji Hirokawa, Sunao Aoki, Yoshinori Shirakata, Wataru Seki
  • Patent number: 6435269
    Abstract: A double-row heat exchanger coil includes intertwined inner and outer loops. The loops are situated to allow one continuous coil to be wound in an uninterrupted coiling operation, and later cut at several locations to create several individual circuits that are readily connected to each other in a parallel flow relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen S. Hancock
  • Publication number: 20020096316
    Abstract: A modified air heater gas inlet plenum for a tubular air heater which permits retrofit installation of additional flue gas environmental treatment equipment. A divider plate is located within the inlet plenum to subdivide it into first and second flue gas passages. The first flue gas passage created by the divider plate merely conveys the hot flue gas through the inlet plenum and into flues which convey the flue gas to the new equipment. Return flues convey the flue gas back to the second flue gas passage created in the inlet plenum which, in turn, conveys the flue gas into the tubular air heater heat exchanger tubes. By taking advantage of the large size of a conventional air heater gas inlet plenum, the first and second flue gas passages created by the divider plate still have sufficient cross sectional area so that acceptable flue gas velocities are preserved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Paul James Lieb, Edward J. Piaskowski, Norman D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6419009
    Abstract: A radial flow heat exchanger for heating or cooling a fluid includes a sealed fluid manifold for passage of fluid. A sealed fluid receiving hub is spaced interiorly of the interior peripheral portion of the manifold and includes a passageway for passage of fluid into or out of the heat exchanger. A plurality of separate and spaced fluid flow tubes are disposed between the manifold and the hub. Each of the tubes are in sealed fluid communication with the manifold at one end and the other end is in sealed fluid communication with the hub. A fin assembly is positioned between the manifold and the hub and includes a heat conducting material arranged at spaced intervals between the manifold and the hub, the heat conducting material including a plurality of spaced apertures through which tubes pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Christian Thomas Gregory
  • Patent number: 6382310
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of longitudinally extending tubes grouped into at least first, second and third passes; the tubes in the first pass being serially connected with tubes in the second pass; the tubes in the second pass being serially connected with tubes in the third pass; and wherein the number of tubes in the first pass is greater than the number of tubes in the third pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: American Standard International Inc.
    Inventor: Sean A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6363967
    Abstract: A flow merging and dividing device, wherein two refrigerant flows move from two inlets (31, 32) located at an inlet part (5) into a merging part (6) for merging, the drift of the two refrigerant flows is eliminated by the merging of the flows at the merging part (6), and the refrigerant flows in which the drift is eliminated by the merging of the flows at the merging part (6) flows out from three outlets (33, 35, 36) located at an outlet part (7), whereby two refrigerant flows can be discharged as three refrigerant flows again from the three outlets (33, 35, 36) after two refrigerant flows are merged so as to eliminate the drift of the two refrigerant flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichirou Tanaka, Masaaki Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 6360699
    Abstract: Device for heating fluid, comprising: a first section for heating the fluid in which fuel and air are mixed and combusted; a second section for heating the fluid which is disposed substantially in the line of the combustion section and in which a number of pipes for the fluid extend substantially transversely of the flow direction of the combustion gases; and a third section for heating the fluid which is disposed substantially in the line of the second heating section and in which a number of pipes for the fluid extend substantially transversely of the flow direction of the combustion gases, wherein at least a number of the pipes in the third section are provided with ribs or fins enhancing the heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Van Dijk Heating B.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Martinus van Dijk, Erik Mozes, Gilles Gerardus Hirs
  • Publication number: 20020023738
    Abstract: A compact cooling system including a radial fan directing air flow outwardly and a plurality of heat exchangers disposed around the radial fan. Each heat exchanger has a plurality of tubes extending between an inlet header and an outlet header, with the headers extending generally in the same direction as the fan axis. A system inlet is connected to the inlet headers and a system outlet is connected to the outlet headers, whereby the length of the connection between each heat exchanger and the system outlet and system inlet is generally the same for each heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Ehlers, Wolfgang knecht, Daniela Fischer, Roland Strahle, Jorg Soldner, Werner Zobel
  • Patent number: 6341648
    Abstract: A heat exchanger a width dimension of which is much larger than a height dimension, in which an heat-exchanging medium flow resistance in a heat exchanging core portion is suppressed from increasing, and discharged air temperature is made uniform in the width direction of the heat-exchanging core portion. The heat-exchanging core portion is divided into a first core portion and a second core portion. The hot water in the first core portion and hot water in the second core portion flow in an opposite direction to each other. Thus, even when the heating heat exchanger, the width dimension of which is much larger than the height dimension, is used, the air temperature is prevented from varying in the width direction. Further, as the heat-exchanging medium flows in the first and second core portions in parallel, the heat-exchanging medium flow resistance is suppressed from increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Fukuoka, Mitsugu Nakamura, Kazushi Shikata, Hikaru Sugi, Yukio Uemura
  • Publication number: 20020005276
    Abstract: A combination or steam power plant is provided with an apparatus (20) with integrated steam condensation and water/water cooling. The apparatus (20) according to the invention is provided with a steam jacket (30) that encloses a steam space (31) with cooling pipes (33) for the steam condensation. The steam jacket (30) is provided at one outerside with one or more heat exchange chambers (41) for the water/water cooling, said heat exchange chambers being enclosed by a part (43) of the steam jacket (30) and in each case by a second, preferably semicircular cylindrical, second mantle part (41). For the steam condensation and water/water cooling, the apparatus (20) is provided with common water inlet and water outlet chambers (21, 24) for the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Mustafa Youssef, Vaclav Svoboda, Pengcheng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20010040027
    Abstract: In a refrigerant heat exchanger, a flow direction of refrigerant flowing through tubes in each of first and second units is opposite to that flowing through tubes in each of third and fourth heat-exchanging units arranged at upstream air sides, the flow directions of refrigerant flowing through first header tanks for distributing refrigerant into the tubes of the first and fourth units are the same, and the flow directions of refrigerant flowing through first header tanks for distributing refrigerant into the tubes of the second and third units are the same. Accordingly, even when a flow direction (flow rate) of refrigerant is small, a uniform temperature distribution of air can be obtained in the refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Tatsuya Tooyama, Yutaka Shintani
  • Patent number: 6276446
    Abstract: A recooling system for cooling water from a condenser of a steam power plant includes a number of cooling modules, each of which can be fed through a water-feed shaft allocated thereto. The water-feed shafts are connected to one another like communicating tubes and are connected through a common main cooling-water line to the condenser. Such a recooling system can be installed and operated in an especially simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Kratz, Rudolf Lehmann, Siegfried Münch
  • Patent number: 6237680
    Abstract: A radiator utilizes laminar flow to more efficiently cool a liquid coursing through the radiator. The radiator spaces a pair of cores a sufficient distance apart to produce laminar flow between the cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Ronny L. Davis
  • Patent number: 6230787
    Abstract: A stack type evaporator for use in an automotive air conditioner comprises generally a first mass which includes first heat exchanging elements, each first heat exchanging element having mutually independent first and second passages; and a second mass which includes second heat exchanging elements, each second heat exchanging element having a generally U-shaped third passage which has first and second ends. The second mass is arranged beside the first mass in such a manner that the first and second heat exchanging elements are aligned on a common axis. An inlet tank passage connects to upper ends of the first passages. An upstream tank passage connects to lower ends of the first passages and the first ends of the third passages. A downstream tank passage connects to lower ends of the second passages and the second ends of the third passages. An outlet tank passage connects to upper ends of the second passages. An inlet pipe connects to the inlet tank passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Koga, Mitsunari Narahara, Toru Asanuma
  • Publication number: 20010000201
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a boiling unit and a condensing unit. A diffusion plate having a plurality of holes is formed into a thin-long shape, and is disposed in an upper tank of the condensing unit at an approximate center in an up-down direction so that an inner space of the upper tank of the condensing unit is divided into upper and lower parts in the up-down direction. Each hole opened in the diffusion plate has an opening area smaller than a sectional surface area of an introduction port of a gas-refrigerant introduction pipe, opened in the upper tank of the condensing unit. Thus, gas refrigerant flowing into the upper tank of the condensing unit through the gas-refrigerant introduction pipe is diffused to all the upper part of the upper tank along the surface of the diffusion plate while passing through the holes of the diffusion plate downwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: April 12, 2001
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Osakabe, Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Kiyoshi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6189604
    Abstract: A heat exchanger in which refrigerant flows has a first core portion disposed in a first air passage for exchanging heat with inside air and a second core portion for exchanging heat with outside air. The second core portion is disposed at a downstream side of the first core portion in a refrigerant flow direction. Accordingly, refrigerant exchanges heat with inside air, first, and then exchanges heat with outside air, a temperature of which is lower than that of inside air. Further, refrigerant flows to form an opposed flow with respect to an air flow direction in the respective first and second core portions. As a result, heating performance of the heat exchanger is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamauchi, Osamu Kobayashi, Ken Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6161614
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided including a first aluminum extruded header spaced apart and arranged essentially parallel to a second aluminum extruded header. The first and second headers include a plurality of parallel passageways extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis thereof. The passageways are fluidly interconnected by at least one transverse cross-drilled bore extending essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. A core assembly is secured between the first and second headers including a plurality of fluid conduits and heat radiating fins surrounding the fluid conduits. A by-pass valve assembly fluidly communicates with the headers and core assembly while providing an alternate pathway independent thereof. Preferably, the by-pass assembly is responsive to fluid temperature and/or pressure for directing fluid flow either into or exterior of the heat exchanger core assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Karmazin Products Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan D. Woodhull, Jr., Kenneth McIver, Richard Warlick, Jr., Jerry Phelps, Rial Hamann
  • Patent number: 6155339
    Abstract: An obround header of obround cross-section for a heat exchanger and a process for forming such a header. An obround header of obround cross-section has sidewalls with flat inner and outer portions. A curved transition between the opposing sidewalls minimizes stress concentrations within the header. The flat portions of the sidewalls provide a planar surface, for which it is easier to drill tube openings and access plug holes and install tubes and plugs. The flat surfaces, along with the opposed holes and openings, make installing and cleaning the tubes easier. A fluid nozzle provides an inlet or outlet for the fluid. The process for making the flat sidewalls is by forming material from a round cross-sectional geometry to an obround shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Richard B. Grapengater
  • Patent number: 6116041
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved beverage chiller comprising at least two interconnected canisters each canister defining a chamber for refrigerant. The chamber includes a plurality of pipes extending along the length of the chamber for the flow of beverage thereghrough. Each canister includes flow control means to ensure flow of beverage up and down the refrigerant chamber in a plurality of cooling passes. The refrigerant chambers are pressure balanced and arranged to be coupled to a source of refrigeration via a thermostatic expansion valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Southern Refrigeration Group Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Allan John Cassell
  • Patent number: 6073686
    Abstract: A high efficiency modular OLF heat exchanger with heat transfer enhancement is disclosed. The OLF heat exchanger has an oblique louver fin provided with oblique strips. The oblique louver fin thus effectively forms transverse and longitudinal vortexes in a main gas flow while breaking the boundary layer of the gas flow, thus having an improved heat transferring effect. In the OLF heat exchanger, a plurality of flat tubes are assembled with two opposite header pipes, thus forming a module. The OLF heat exchanger is thus manufactured while easily permitting changes in its size and heat exchanging capacity by assembling a selected number of modules into a single body using a plurality of header pipe sockets. The oblique strips violently mix the gas flow and thereby further improve the heat transferring effect of the louver fin. The oblique louver fin thus has advantages expected from typical louver fins with swirlers and typical offset strip fins with swirlers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Byung-Kyu Park, Hyo-Bong Kim, Koon-Sup Oh, Joon-Sik Lee
  • Patent number: 6021846
    Abstract: A duplex heat exchanger comprises unit heat exchangers which have a plurality of tubes arranged parallel with each other and comprise fins each interposed between two adjacent ones of such tubes, opposite ends of each tube being connected to a pair of headers in fluid connection therewith. The unit heat exchangers are closely juxtaposed to each other fore and aft in a direction of air flow. Coolant circuits of said unit heat exchangers are connected either in series or in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Hironaka Sasaki, Hirohiko Watanabe, Tetsuya Tategami, Nobuaki Goh
  • Patent number: 6016864
    Abstract: An improved heat exchanger (60) includes plural relatively flat conduits (62) adapted to accommodate passage of heat transfer fluid therethrough. Each conduit (62) has inlet and outlet openings, a supply channel (100) communicating with the corresponding inlet opening to direct heat transfer fluid flowing through the corresponding inlet opening into the corresponding conduit (62), a drain channel (102) communicating with the corresponding outlet opening to direct heat transfer fluid out of the corresponding conduit (62) through the corresponding outlet opening, and plural heat transfer channels (92) communicating between the supply and drain channels (100, 102) to direct heat transfer fluid therebetween in a generally transverse direction relative to respective major axes of the supply and drain channels (100, 102). The supply and drain channels (100, 102) each have a substantially greater length and cross-sectional area than the length and cross-sectional area of each heat transfer channel (92).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Heatcraft Inc.
    Inventors: Young L. Bae, Michael E. Heidenreich, Roger A. Loomis, Benjamin W. McElwrath, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5988267
    Abstract: A multistage gaseous and liquid phase separation type condenser has a pair of headers disposed in parallel with each other, and a plurality of flat tubes each connected to the headers at opposite ends thereof and corrugated fins interposed between adjacent flat tubes. Each header is divided by baffles into four chambers. The second header has a receiver and chambers of the second header have communication passageways for placing the chambers of the second header in flow communication with the receiver. The first header has an inlet pipe connected to a middle chamber thereof so as to form an inlet path and an outlet pipe connected to a lower chamber thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Tae Young Park, Kwang Heon Oh
  • Patent number: 5983997
    Abstract: A system for cooling electronic components includes a cold plate having a channel through which a fluid coolant is transported, a plurality of bosses each receiving an electronic, optical, or other heat-generating component, and a plurality of fin structures, at least three of which are adjacently disposed in a sequential order on the cold plate. Each fin structure contacts a boss, and has a fin inlet and a fin outlet in fluid communication with a section of the channel for supplying the area around the boss with coolant and cooling the component seated on the boss. A portion of the channel defines a serpentine path for transporting the fluid coolant to the at least three sequential fin structures in a non-sequential order. Sections of the channel in the serpentine path further transport the coolant in opposite directions, thus enhancing heat transfer and temperature equilibration across the cold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Brazonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kai Hou
  • Patent number: 5964281
    Abstract: The lack of flexibility in selecting locations for inlets or outlets or crossovers for a heat exchange fluid in a heat exchanger can be minimized in a heat exchanger construction including first and second spaced, generally parallel, tubular headers (10), (12) having opposed ends with a plurality of tubes (20) in parallel and spaced from one another which extend between and have their ends in fluid communication with the interior of the headers (10), (12). An adapter in fluid communication with the interior of the headers (10), (12) is fixed to the exterior of the heat exchanger to place the heat exchanger in communication with fluid conduits that may be disposed in a variety of locations in relation to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark G. Voss, Dennis C. Granetzke
  • Patent number: 5960869
    Abstract: A support surface is disclosed for transferring heat from a source to food articles placed adjacent said surface and having a plurality of heat conductive support elements each with at least one passageway therethrough, tubular means in each passageway and having a portion thereof extending beyond the ends of said passageways, and header or tubular means for interconnecting adjacent extending portions of said tubular means for transferring therebetween heated fluid from said source. The method of making the support surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventors: Joseph R. Tippmann, Vincent P. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 5927396
    Abstract: A multi-fluid heat transfer device having a plate stack construction is disclosed which includes several plates which are stacked above one another and are provided with openings, through which several thermally interacting fluids can be guided. A construction is provided which consists of at least one first and at least one second flow duct plate unit which are arranged in the plate stack in an alternating manner, as well as of an intermediate connection cover plate unit, the first flow duct plate unit having one group and the second flow duct plate unit having two separate groups of respective side-by-side flow duct openings. Furthermore, connection duct openings for forming one distributor duct pair and collector duct pair respectively for each group of flow duct openings are placed in all plate units. As a result, a compactly constructed heat transfer device of a high heat transfer output is implemented by means of low manufacturing expenditures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Herbert Damsohn, Conrad Pfender, Walter Wolf, Eberhard Zwittig
  • Patent number: 5915470
    Abstract: A modular heat exchanger for a fluid flow is provided. The modular heat exchanger includes a plurality of modules formed from a heat transfer material. Each module has a generally rectangular cross section and a through bore extending longitudinally therethrough between parallel opposite faces. Each face includes a plurality of parallel fins extending fully across the face in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the through bore. The fins have a generally saw tooth structure so as to increase the turbulence of the air flow through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventor: Robert F. Dierbeck
  • Patent number: 5909767
    Abstract: Adjoining heat exchange modules of a recuperative cross flow plate-type heat exchanger are joined into a single unit by means of common plate spacer bars. Each common spacer bar extends between and into the adjacent modules. The prior art mid-module gaps are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Air Preheater, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Batt
  • Patent number: 5901782
    Abstract: A highly efficient parallel flow evaporator is provided by combining a pair of identical units (10), (12) wherein each includes a pair of identical, parallel, spaced headers (40) each having slots (44) receiving the ends of identical flattened tubes (22). Identical tanks (42) are bonded to each of the headers (40) and each has an identical central flat surface (52) and an identical, centrally located port (60). Fins (26) extend between adjacent tubes (22) in each unit (10), (12) and an inlet/outlet fixture (32) is bonded to the flat surfaces (52) of one pair of tanks (42) defined by adjacent tanks (42) of both of the units (10),(12). A cross-over fixture (30) is bonded to the flat surfaces (52) of the other pair of tanks (42) defined by the remaining tanks (42) of both of the units (10),(12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark Voss, Gregory Hughes, Scot Alley, Peter Kottal
  • Patent number: 5832994
    Abstract: A heat exchanging apparatus is capable of efficiently heat exchanging a large quantity of fluids and whose construction can be simplified. A heat exchanging flowpassage (10) is arranged internally of a heat exchanging vessel to and from which a liquefied nitrogen as a heat transfer medium is supplied and discharged. The heat exchanging flowpassage (10) has annular tubes (18) arranged in plural rows, the adjoining annular tubes (18) are communicated at plural locations by communicating tubes (19) at positions deviated in a peripheral direction, and tanks (20) and (21) are communicated with a supply port side and a discharge port side. A supply tube (11) is communicated with the tank (20), and a discharge pipe (12) is communicated with the tank (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: Shuzo Nomura
  • Patent number: 5826649
    Abstract: Improved condensate drainage is achieved while compact size is retained in a condenser/evaporator for use in a heat pump system in a construction having first and second, curved, generally congruent tubular headers (10), (14) with one of the headers (10) being an upper header and the other of the headers (14) being a lower header. A first row of elongated tube slots (18) is located in the upper header (10) while a second row of elongated tube slots (20) is located in the lower header (14). Each tube slot (18) in the first row has a corresponding tube slot (20) in the second row and corresponding tube slots (18), (20) in the rows are aligned with one another. Elongated, straight, flattened tubes (22) extend between the headers (10), (14), in parallel with each other and a first port (32) is provided for refrigerant in one of the headers (10) and a second port (36) is provided for refrigerant in the other of the headers (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Terry L. Chapp, C. James Rogers, William Markusen
  • Patent number: 5771964
    Abstract: An improved heat exchanger includes plural relatively flat conduits adapted to accommodate passage of heat transfer fluid therethrough. Each conduit has inlet and outlet openings, a supply channel communicating with the corresponding inlet opening to direct heat transfer fluid flowing through the corresponding inlet opening into the corresponding conduit, a drain channel communicating with the corresponding outlet opening to direct heat transfer fluid out of the corresponding conduit through the corresponding outlet opening, and plural heat transfer channels communicating between the supply and drain channels to direct heat transfer fluid therebetween in a generally transverse direction relative to respective major axes of the supply and drain channels. The supply and drain channels each have a substantially greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of each heat transfer channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Heatcraft Inc.
    Inventor: Young L. Bae