Inlet And Outlet Header Means Patents (Class 165/175)
  • Publication number: 20100077794
    Abstract: An evaporator includes a refrigerant inlet header section, a refrigerant outlet header section, and a refrigerant circulation path connecting the two header sections. A refrigerant inlet-outlet member composed of a first plate, a second plate, and an intermediate plate is joined to the two header sections. The refrigerant inlet-outlet member has an inflow channel whose one end communicates with the refrigerant inlet of the refrigerant inlet header section and whose other end is opened to a rear edge of the refrigerant inlet-outlet member, and an outflow channel whose one end communicates with the refrigerant outlet of the refrigerant outlet header section and whose other end is opened to the rear edge. The first and second plates each have inflow-channel-forming and outflow-channel-forming outward swelled portions. Cutouts and a through hole are formed in the intermediate plate such that the inflow channel and the outflow channel cross each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Naohisa Higashiyama, Hokuto Mine, Motoyuki Takagi
  • Patent number: 7673672
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of tubes and a plurality of fins alternatively arranged to define a core portion of the heat exchanger. A side plate is arranged at opposite sides of the core portion. Each end of the tubes and side plates extend through a core plate. Each core plate mates with a respective tank to define a sealed chamber. The ends of the tubes are disposed within the sealed chamber. The ends of the side plates and disposed outside the sealed chamber. This allows for a non-brazed connection between the core plates and the side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jodie Velzy, Jacob Wright, Yoshikazu Miyano
  • Publication number: 20100051252
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a flat tube (10) having a curved portion (13). A part of the curved portion (13) is formed by overlapping an outer rim (22) on an inner rim (21). The inner rim (21) has a small curvature region (102). The small curvature region (102) is inclined to a flat plate portion (11), and is defined by a radius larger than a difference between a half of a thickness of the flat tube (10) and a thickness of the outer rim (22). The small curvature region (102) is not beyond a center line (C1) in a thickness of the flat tube (10). The outer rim (22) extends beyond the center line (C1). The outer rim (22) has an end face (22a) placed on the small curvature region (102). The flat tube (10) has flared portions (15, 16) expanded at insertion holes (54).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Denso Corproation
    Inventors: Toshihide Ninagawa, Tatsuo Ozaki, Takahide Oohara
  • Patent number: 7667166
    Abstract: A heat-generating element of a heating device for heating air includes at least one PTC element and, lying on opposing side surfaces of the PTC element, electric strip conductors. A heat-generating element that is improved with a view to safety from electric flashovers and leakage currents is created with the invention under consideration by providing an insulating gap between the PTC element and the positioning frame material that circumferentially surrounds the frame opening. Also disclosed is a heating device for heating air with multiple heat-generating elements, each heat-generating element comprising at least one PTC element and, lying on opposing side surfaces of the PTC element, electric strip conductors and multiple heat-emitting elements that are arranged in parallel layers and that are held in position in a frame on opposing sides of the heat-generating element with a spring bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Zeyen, Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Franz Bohlender
  • Publication number: 20100032149
    Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, a heat exchanger including a plurality of tubes providing a flow path for a first fluid, a fin supported between two of the plurality of tubes and positioned along a flow path for a second fluid. Together, the fin and the plurality of tubes at least partially define a heat exchanger core. The heat exchanger can also include first and second tanks positioned adjacent to opposite ends of the plurality of tubes and an elastically deformable side part extending across the heat exchanger core and including a pair of integrally formed caps for closing openings in the first and second tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Helmut Roll, Ramez Abdulnour, Thomas M. Shields, Robert J. Barfknecht, Erwin Schnell
  • Publication number: 20100025028
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger with a receiver tank, a coupling member and an adapter member constitute a connecting member that connects the receiver tank and the heat exchanger, where the connecting member has header connecting portions respectively connected with a concentrating part and a supercooling part of one of headers and the adapter member is connected with the connecting member and the receiver tank and is detachably attached to the receiver tank. The coupling member is assembled with a first divided member and a second divided member, where the first divided member is formed with header connecting portions to be connected with the second divided member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Masayoshi Shinhama, Masakazu Takizawa
  • Publication number: 20100012304
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic heat exchanger in which, when a heat exchanger tube of the plastic heat exchanger is coupled to a header, the heat exchanger tube and a junction portion of the header are melted and pressed simultaneously through a heat fusion jig including a fusion portion and a fusion valley so as to secure reliability against leakage of refrigerant, and a method of manufacturing the same, by which the plastic heat exchanger can be mass-produced at low fabricating cost through simple processes. The present invention provides a method of fabricating a plastic heat exchanger, comprising a step of melting and pressing a plastic heat exchanger tube and a junction of a header by using a heat fusion jig, and a plastic heat exchanger fabricated by the method, thereby securing reliability against leakage of refrigerant, having heat exchange performance more excellent than or equal to a metallic heat exchanger and also mass-producing the plastic heat exchanger at low fabricating cost through simple processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eon-Seok Lee, Ho-geun Ryu, Du-soon Choi, Sang-Hoon Han
  • Publication number: 20100011804
    Abstract: A parallel flow heat exchanger is disclosed having heat transfer tubes with a plurality of relatively small channels, which are aligned in a parallel manner, and wherein the heat transfer tubes are in fluid communication with at least one manifold structure, are received in manifold wall openings and are attached to the manifold structure by brazing process The manifold walls and/or the tubes are modified to minimize the likelihood of brazing material plugging or at least partially blocking any of the plurality of channels In one feature, the openings in the manifold structure are formed by deforming the material of the manifold structure outwardly In another feature, the edges of the heat transfer tubes may be formed such that the outermost end channels within each heat transfer tube extend farther inwardly than do the central channels Various design configurations are disclosed
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Publication number: 20100012305
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first generally vertical header and a second generally vertical header and a generally vertical array of a plurality of generally flat heat exchange tubes extending in a horizontal direction therebetween. Each heat exchange tube has a plurality of channels extending longitudinally in parallel relationship from its inlet end to its outlet end, each channel defining a discrete refrigerant flow path. A plurality of fins extends between parallel-arrayed tubes. To facilitate drainage of the collected condensate from the external surfaces of the flat heat exchange tubes, the tubes are aligned at a slight angle with respect to the horizontal so that the trailing edge of each tube is positioned lower than the leading edge of each tube. To further assist in the condensate drainage, the trailing edge of each of the fins may extend beyond the trailing edge of the associated heat transfer tubes and a lower extension lip may extend downwardly from the trailing edge of each of the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Publication number: 20100006276
    Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided that include multichannel tube and fin configurations designed to promote the release of condensate. The multichannel tubes may have a curved, round, or airfoil shape, and may be used with plate or corrugated fins. In certain embodiments, corrugated fins may be brazed to multichannel tubes and then trimmed to form individual fin structures. Double header configurations also may be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Lorenzo Cremaschi, Daniel E. Fisher, John T. Knight
  • Patent number: 7637314
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for carbon dioxide, in which a tank having a number of domes is coupled with a header and a connection member having a connection flow channel is interposed between the header and the tank, thereby easily changing a refrigerant flow channel, reducing the volume of a header tank, and improving productivity, pressure resistance and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Taeyoung Park, Kwangheon Oh, Duckho Lee
  • Patent number: 7637309
    Abstract: A cooling module (1) comprises a first heat exchanger (3), which has a first pair of parallel manifolds (10, 11), and a second heat exchanger (4), which is in back-to-front relationship with the first heat exchanger (3) and has a second pair of parallel manifolds (7, 8) perpendicular to the first pair of manifolds (10, 11). The first pair of manifolds (10, 11) is fastened to the second pair of manifolds (7, 8) at four corners (13, 14, 15, 16) by means of four fasteners, of which the first is a rigid fastener (19), the second (20) and third (22) are two-way fasteners, and the fourth (27) is a four-way fastener. The four-way fastener (27) is situated at the corner (16) diametrically opposed to the corner (13) with the rigid faster (19), and the two-way fasteners (20, 22) are situated at one of the remaining corners (14, 15) each.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Titanx Engine Cooling Holding AB
    Inventor: Arnaud Contet
  • Patent number: 7635456
    Abstract: A syngas reforming reactor has a shell-and-tube configuration wherein the shell-side fluid flow path through the tube bundle has a longitudinal configuration. The reactor can include a shell-side inlet fluid distributor plate below the lower end of the tube bundle, and a flow sleeve in an enlarged-diameter discharge annulus at an upper end adjacent the tube sheet to prevent short-circuiting of the shell-side fluid into the shell-side fluid outlet. The tube bundle can include a plurality of ring baffles and lattice baffles. The longitudinal flow configuration can provide a lower shell-side pressure drop and lower cost compared to a conventional cross-flow reforming exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Robert Stevens Burlingame, Lloyd Edward Cizmar, Larry Gene Hackemesser, Laura Beth Aguilar
  • Patent number: 7631595
    Abstract: A milk pasteurizing unit having a force fluid convection chamber which is adapted to hold a milk product mass therein. There is an ejection nozzle which is in communication with a pressurization device such as a pump which forcefully ejects a nozzle over a separator plate which separates the milk product mass from a direct heat source such as a combustion chamber. The force convection of the milk prevents scalding of the same and allows for a more rapid heat transfer from the heat source to the milk product mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Daritech, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan DeWaard
  • Patent number: 7621150
    Abstract: A gas cooler and heat exchanger assembly comprises a gas cooler, including a cylindrical inlet header and a cylindrical outlet header, and a heat exchanger, including a first tank and a second tank, with at least a portion of each of the tanks being cylindrical and being an extension of and integral with each of the associated and aligned headers. In the first embodiment, the entirety of each of the tanks is cylindrical in shape and extends from the associated header. Each of the tanks is bisected thus defining a semi-cylindrical hot chamber and a semi-cylindrical cool chamber. In the second embodiment, only the cylindrical hot chamber of each of the tanks is cylindrical in shape and extends from the associated header. An additional box-shaped structure defines a box-shaped cool chamber disposed along and inwardly of each of the cylindrical hot chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Prasad Shripad Kadle, Xiaoxia Mu
  • Publication number: 20090260788
    Abstract: A tube for a heat exchanger includes a first segment that couples to a chamber for transportation of heat exchange media. The chamber receives the heat exchange media that disperses throughout the chamber and mixes within the chamber. The heat exchange media is then transported from the chamber. The chamber may include redirection members for controlling the direction in which the heat exchange media travels throughout the chamber. The tube may be connected to a header or manifold. The tube and chamber combination alone may be used as a heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: MiKuTAY Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Nitta, Kuniko Nitta, Takeyoshi Nitta
  • Patent number: 7604044
    Abstract: There is provides a heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of tubes (110) stacked on each other; and a pair of header tanks (140), each header tank (140) having a flow section (151) in which fluid flows, extending in a direction of stack of the tubes (110), wherein both end sections (111) of the tubes (110) in the longitudinal direction are joined to the pair of header tanks (140), the flow section (151) of each header tank (140) and the inside of each tube (110) are communicated with each other, a tip position (a) of the tube end section (111) is arranged in an outside region of the flow section (151), and an inner wall width size (b) of the flow section (151) is smaller than a size (c) in the width direction of the header tank (140) at the tube end section (111).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Kawakubo, Norihide Kawachi, Ken Muto, Ken Yamamoto, Etsuo Hasegawa, Yoshiki Katoh
  • Publication number: 20090255657
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes tubes, a core plate connected to the tubes, a tank connected to the core plate to be in communication with the tubes and a sealing member sealing a connecting portion between the core plate and the tank. The core plate has a groove portion including at least a base wall and an inner side wall to define a groove having a loop shape. The sealing member is disposed in the groove portion to be in contact with the inner side wall at least at two opposite locations of the loop shape. Alternatively, the sealing member is disposed in the groove portion to be in contact with at least one of the inner side wall and an outer side wall opposed to the inner side wall, and a substantially middle portion of a width of the sealing member is pressed by a projection of the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Hakamata, Tatsuo Ozaki, Toshihide Ninagawa
  • Publication number: 20090229282
    Abstract: A parallel-flow evaporator has a liquid trap for regulating velocity of refrigerant delivered to an evaporator from an expansion device. In its simplest configuration, the liquid trap is a u-shaped pipe positioned vertically and connected to an inlet manifold of the evaporator. By providing a liquid trap, a small amount of liquid refrigerant separates from the vapor phase at certain conditions. This separated liquid will tend to collect in the trap, and reduce a flow cross-sectional area of the line leading to the inlet manifold of the evaporator. As this cross-sectional area decreases, the velocity of the refrigerant passing through the line will increase. In this sense, as a small amount of liquid phase separates out, it will ensure that the velocity of the remaining refrigerant will increase such that further separation will be significantly reduced or entirely avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Publication number: 20090229800
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a pair of outer headers each defining an outer cavity and a pair of inner headers each defining an inner cavity. Each inner header is disposed in one of the outer headers, and each header defines a plurality of header slots. A plurality of first fluid tubes extend between the outer headers from one of the header slots of each outer header to fluidly interconnect the outer cavities defined by the outer headers and a plurality of second fluid tubes are interleaved with the first refrigerant tubes and extend between the outer headers and through one of the header slots of each outer header and through the associated outer cavities defined by the outer headers and to the one of the header slots of each inner header to fluidly interconnect the inner cavities defined by the inner headers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Mohinder Singh Bhatti, Mark James Zima, Prasad Shripad Kadle
  • Publication number: 20090218084
    Abstract: In a liquid tank structure of a heat exchanger, a liquid tank 4 is attached to a heat exchanger having a heat exchanger core defining a condensation part AC and an under cooling part BC, and a pair of headers 1 and 2 each having an inlet part R1, R2 connected with the condensation part AC and an outlet part R3, R4. The condensed refrigerant from the inlet part R2 flows in the liquid tank 4 through an inlet port 1a of an inlet-port side connecting pipe 4a connected with the inlet part R2 of one header 2 of the pair of header. The condensed refrigerant Q accumulated in a bottom portion of the liquid tank 4 is discharged to the outlet part R3 through an outlet port b1 of an outlet-port side connecting pipe 4b connected with the outlet part R3 at a position under an inlet port a1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Shinhama, Masahiro Morishita
  • Patent number: 7571761
    Abstract: A refrigerant evaporator includes an upstream tank portion for distributing refrigerant into all laminated tubes of a core portion. The upstream tank portion includes a first distribution passage for distributing the refrigerant into the tubes in a direction parallel to a tank longitudinal direction, a second distribution passage for distributing the refrigerant from the first distribution passage into the tubes in a tank width direction, and a communication passage through which the refrigerant from the first distribution passage is supplied to the second distribution passage after flowing in the tank longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Katoh, Masaaki Kawakubo, Etsuo Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7562697
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes an inlet header, an outlet header and a plurality of flat, multi-channel heat exchange tubes extending therebetween. A longitudinally extending member divides the interior of the header into a first chamber on one side thereof for receiving a fluid and a second chamber on the other side thereof. A plurality of multi-channel heat exchange tubes extend between the headers with the respective inlet end of each heat exchange tube passing into the second chamber of the inlet header. Fluid passes through a series of longitudinally spaced openings in the longitudinally extending member for distribution to the inlets to the channels of the multi-channel heat exchange tubes. The fluid may undergo expansion as it passes through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Mikhail B. Gorbounov, Igor B. Vaisman, Parmesh Verma, Moshen Farzad, Mark A. Daniels, Joseph B. Wysocki
  • Patent number: 7549465
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) having at least one inlet tube (12) that ducts a heat exchange fluid (14). At least some of the inlet tubes (12) are characterized by a first cross-sectional profile (16). A core (18) is in fluid communication with the at least one inlet tube (12). The core (18) has one or more rows of core tubes that also duct the fluid. At least some of the core tubes (20) are characterized by a second cross-sectional profile (22). The first cross-sectional profile (16) is different from the second cross-sectional profile (22). A first endplate assembly (26) is positioned between the at least one inlet tube (12) and the core (18). The first endplate assembly (26) has a first section (28) that defines an inlet orifice (30) that is sized to sealingly engage the first cross-sectional profile (16). A second section (32) defines an outlet orifice (34) that is sized to sealingly engage the second cross-sectional profile (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Lennox International Inc.
    Inventors: Ying Gong, Steven Falko Wayne
  • Publication number: 20090151919
    Abstract: A mounting unit connects a coolant pipe within a radiator tank to a coolant supply pipe or a coolant return pipe outside the radiator tank. The mounting unit includes an engaging structure on the coolant pipe and an engaging flange on the coolant supply pipe or the coolant return pipe. The engaging structure includes a boss, a flange, a connecting hole, and an engaging bolt. The boss is configured to be inserted through a mounting hole of the radiator tank. The engaging flange includes a recess configured for the engaging structure to be inserted therein, a bolt hole configured for the engaging bolt to be inserted therein, and a connecting nipple configured to fluidly communicate with the connecting hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventor: Jae Woo Park
  • Patent number: 7503382
    Abstract: There is provided a heat exchanger including: a heat exchange section in which a plurality of flat tubes are arranged substantially in parallel in a minor axis direction at first intervals and in which fins are disposed between the flat tubes; and a header to which at least some flat tubes out of the plurality of flat tubes are connected, in a state where the at least some flat tubes are bent in the minor axis direction outside the heat exchange section and end parts of the at least some flat tubes are arranged substantially in parallel at second intervals that are narrower than in the heat exchange section, so that the minor axis direction and a central axis direction of the header are the same direction. With this heat exchanger, it is possible to distribute fluid to the individual flat tubes with more equal conditions so that the heat exchange efficiency can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: GAC Corporation
    Inventors: Takahide Maezawa, Masanori Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20090065185
    Abstract: A tube bundle heat exchanger has tubes which are held at each side in tube plates or oval-tube collecting-tube plates and are connected to these in each case by means of a weld seam. The connection of the tubes to the inlet-side tube plate or oval-tube collecting-tube plate is formed in each case by means of a conical and/or trumpet-shaped transition piece. The cross section of the transition piece reduces as viewed in the gas flow direction in such a way that the inlet-side end, as viewed in the gas flow direction, of the transition piece is connected in a butt joint to the tube plate or oval-tube collecting-tube plate. The inner and outer contours of the transition piece and of the welded connection region are formed without gaps and corners to the tube plate or oval tube collecting-tube plate and so as to be straight and/or with a radius, measured from the outer contour, of at least 5 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Jiri Jekerle
  • Patent number: 7481266
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a heat exchanger with tubes (1) and at least one end piece, which has a tube bottom that, in turn, has a bottom plate (8), a baffle plate (12) and a covering plate (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Demuth, Martin Kotsch, Michael Kranich, Hans Joachim Krauss, Hagen Mittelstrass, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christoph Walter
  • Publication number: 20090018629
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger including a plurality of tubes 1 through which a first fluid passes, a housing 2 in which the tubes 1 are installed, and sealing members for sealing a second fluid that flows over surfaces of the tubes 1, the housing 2 includes an inlet 4 for introducing the second fluid therein and a first outlet 5 and second outlets 6 for discharging the second fluid, and the sealing members include a first sealing member 3a positioned on one of end sides of the tubes 1, a second sealing member 3b positioned on the other end side of the tubes 1, and a third sealing member 3c positioned between the first and second sealing members 3a and 3b. The third sealing member 3c is provided so that a gap 7 is provided between the first sealing member 3a and the third sealing member 3c while another gap 7 is provided between the second sealing member 3b and the third sealing member 3c, and that a flow path for the second fluid is formed therein. The second outlets 6 are provided so as to be connected to the gaps 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: JMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Yoshida, Minoru Tanaka, Tomokazu Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 7469741
    Abstract: A non-metallic intercooler assembly includes an intake header tank, outlet header tank, and a multitude of non-metallic charge tubes which communicate airflow from the intake header tank to the outlet header tank. Several combinations of plastics parts are described. Tanks of intercoolers can be made from plastics today but with complicated clamping and sealing. Each tank in this description can be laser welded in place. Various combinations of laser opaque and laser transparent materials are utilized to achieve an effective laser welding assembly process. Intake systems for automotive use are widely made of plastic materials today and this description shows how those types of materials can be employed in an intercooler. Each non-metallic tube can be supported by a plastic fin feature whose primary function is to support the structure to promote airflow conditions favorable to heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Paul Daly
  • Patent number: 7422054
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Inventor: Robert F. Dierbeck
  • Publication number: 20080202739
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is provided and in a highly preferred form is an EGR cooler (52) having first and second passes (56A,56B) that are connected to an inlet/outlet manifold (70) by a pair of corresponding thermal expansion joints (87,93) to allow differential thermal expansion between the various structural components of the heat exchanger (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Robert J. Barfknecht, Biao Yu, LeRoy Goines, Robert J. DeGroot, Peter C. Kottal
  • Patent number: 7398779
    Abstract: An improved thermosiphon solar heater is disclosed. The thermosiphon solar heater includes a substantially planar collector including a plurality of heat exchanger channels that are positioned next to one another in a parallel relationship. The thermosiphoning solar heater also includes a pair of headers fluidly coupled to the collector. A first header is disposed at a top end of the collector. A second header is disposed at a bottom end of the collector. The thermosiphoning solar heater further includes one or more exposed storage tanks fluidly coupled to the header and positioned in a side by side relationship next to the collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: FAFCO, Incorporated
    Inventors: Galen Bowen, Robert Bowen
  • Publication number: 20080121387
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is formed by connecting tube-group blocks along a tube axis, where each one of tube-group blocks includes a plurality of substrates having a large number of through holes, which communicate with insides of a plurality of tubes placed between the substrates. A length of the tubes can be shortened so that the tube-group block can be formed within a predetermined size. The substrates and the tubes can be formed by injection molding or die-casting simultaneously with ease, so that the manufacturing steps of inserting the tubes and bonding the substrates can be eliminated. The heat exchanger can be available at a lower cost while it maintains excellent heat exchanging performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Taniguchi, Osao Kido, Kiyoshi Kinoshita, Takashi Okutani
  • Publication number: 20080115920
    Abstract: A showcase having a fin-and-tube type cooler which comprises plural planar fins and a refrigerant pipe penetrating through the plural planar fins and cools air to be fed toward display racks, wherein the plural planar fins comprise long fins arranged in parallel to an air flow direction along which air flows through the cooler, and short fins that are shorter in length in the air flowing direction than the long fins and arranged between respective adjacent long fins at the downstream side of the cooler with respect to the air flowing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Uchida, Toshiyuki Tamura, Hirofumi Yanagi
  • Patent number: 7367386
    Abstract: An air cooled oil cooler has an upper plate, a lower plate and a plurality of tubes and outer fins disposed therebetween. Each tube contains an inner offset fin, and the outer fins formed in a corrugated shape and each having one return louver on an intermediate portion between a top portion and a bottom portion of the outer fin. The outer fins is disposed between the tubes so that the tubes and the outer fins are arranged alternatively and stacked in a pile between the upper and lower plates. The tubes are formed to be flat tubes having a height-width ratio of the tube to be 4.8-7.4%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Sato, Takeshi Yamaguchi, Tatsuhiro Ozawa, Norimitsu Matsudaira
  • Patent number: 7367387
    Abstract: A tube plate for exhaust heat exchangers, with punched openings to hold the tube ends of a tube bundle, wherein the openings are arranged grid-like with a web width b, and each of the openings has a shear surface with a height h produced by punching, and a bevel of depth t, that is manufactured before punching, and wherein the height h is roughly the same as or smaller than the web width b, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Steffen Brunner, Thomas Bachner
  • Patent number: 7337833
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic circuit element (20) for heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid, which defines a path for the first fluid and comprises at least one tube (22) having two ends and at least one tip (24) at one of said ends of the tube (22), said tip having at least one communicating passage (28b) that defines the path of the first fluid. The invention also relates to a heat exchanger obtained by stacking circuit elements (20). Such a heat exchanger can be used in particular in motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Laveran, Jacques Hoffnung, Jerome Genoist
  • Publication number: 20080023186
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a first and second manifold. Each of the manifolds includes a tubular wall and a pair of manifold ends spaced from each other defining a flow path. A plurality of flow tubes extend between the manifolds and are in fluid communication with the flow paths. An insert is slidably disposed in the flow path of the first manifold. The insert divides the flow path into a plurality of chambers. The chambers and the flow tubes cooperate to establish a plurality of flow passes. The flow passes are for directing a heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger assembly. The chambers are useful for orienting and connecting plumbing connections at various locations along the manifolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Henry Earl Beamer, David A. Southwick
  • Patent number: 7296620
    Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus includes an inlet header, an inlet connection connected to the inlet header, an outlet header, an outlet connection connected to the outlet header and a plurality of serpentine tube bodies. The plurality of serpentine tube bodies interconnect and are in communication with the inlet header and outlet header. Each serpentine tube body has a plurality of straight tube sections and a plurality of U-shaped return bend sections. Each one of the straight tube sections and each one of the return bend sections have an elliptically-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The plurality of serpentine tube bodies are arranged in a juxtaposed manner with consecutive ones of the serpentine tube bodies contacting each other at a point defining a series of stacked common planes disposed parallel with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: EVAPCO, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas William Bugler, III, George Robert Shriver, Richard Preston Merrill
  • Patent number: 7290597
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a specific relationship to be achieved by numerical values selected to sustain a desired level of coolant distributability as well as miniaturization and weight reduction for tanks in a heat exchanger adopting a structure in which the width of tubes therein is set smaller relative to the inner diameter of the tanks. In the heat exchanger according to the present invention, the inner diameter of the tanks is set small relative to the tube width, and with Dt representing an equivalent diameter at the passage section of the tanks and L representing the length of the longest path extending from an entrance to an open end of a tube, 15?L/Dt?42 is true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Thermal Systems Japan Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiko Takano
  • Patent number: 7258159
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes. The flat tubes have a pair of tube sheets facing each other and joined together. The tube sheets have a flat part, a recess part, and a cylindrical tank. The tube sheet is one of a first tube sheet and a second tube sheet. The first tube sheet has a first type of tank. The second tube sheet has the first type of tank and a second type of tank. Identifiers are provided at each end of the second tube sheet. The identifiers distinguishing the second tube sheet from the first tube sheet when viewed from externally of the stacked flat tubes. A mark provided at one of the identifiers of the second tube sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Kume, Keiji Maezawa
  • Publication number: 20070187081
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of tubes inside of which a fluid passes; fins which are joined to the outer surfaces of the tubes and promote heat exchange between a fluid passing around the tubes and the fluid passing through inside the tube; and tank sections comprising core plates having insertion holes formed for the tubes to be inserted therein and tank bodies having the core plates joined thereto for distributing or collecting the fluid to be passed through the tubes; the tube comprises a first and a second tube plates joined in opposition to each other and inner fins disposed between the first and second tube plates, and that the portion of the tube to be inserted into the insertion hole of the core plate has generally the same outer shape as the periphery of the insertion hole, and that the portions of the first and second tube plates not to be inserted into the insertion hole of the core plate have overlapping sections which overlap each other in laminating direction of the tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhiko Watanabe, Sumio Susa, Masaki Harada
  • Patent number: 7234335
    Abstract: According to a method for producing head elements for heaters, a piece of sheet metal (1) is deep drawn and cut along the edge (9) of an open side (6) to obtain a hollow body (8) with larger and narrower sides (4,5,14,15). An aperture (12) is made on each opposite larger side (4,5) of the hollow body, and threaded rings (26) are then applied around the lateral through apertures (12). Notches (16) are made on the opposite large sides (4,5), along the edge (9) of the open side (6), and then three cores (18) are introduced through the edge (9), so that a flange (17) around the notches (16) can be made by pressing, so as to close the sheet metal (1) around the cores (18) widening the notches (16). After the cores (18) have been removed, the edge (9) is welded along the flange (17) of the widened notches (16), thus obtaining holes (21) separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Walter Lolli
  • Patent number: 7234515
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, particularly a flat-tube heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, which includes two coolant boxes and a tube block with an inlet tube attached to one of the boxes and an outlet tube attached to another of the boxes, and wherein each tube extends at least in part along one longitudinal side of the associated box and has at least one radial opening which communicates with a side opening formed in the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Holger Auchter, Thomas Fricker, Bruno Lösch
  • Patent number: 7207378
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly that addresses the thermal cycling problem to increase the durability of the heat exchanger core by fabricating at least the tube next adjacent to each of the reinforcing members with a cross section adjacent each of the headers including a radius having a partial maximum tube strain energy density and fabricating each of the reinforcing members with a connection section adjacent each of the headers having a reinforcement with a partial maximum strain energy density greater than the partial maximum strain energy density of the adjacent tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Paul Kroetsch, Brian M. Hartman, Mark R Hammer
  • Patent number: 7201218
    Abstract: A pipe of a header pipe is formed by combining two separated bodies separated along a longitudinal direction. The first separated body has a tube holding wall portion including an insertion hole inserting a flat tube thereto, and a pair of straight portions protruded from the tube holding wall portion in an approximately orthogonal direction and set along both sides in a width direction of the tube, and is formed in a C-shaped cross sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Jinichi Hiyama, Masayoshi Shinhama
  • Patent number: 7165606
    Abstract: A heat exchanging tube is provided with a flat tube main body having a predetermined length and a plurality of refrigerant passages extending in a tube longitudinal direction and arranged in a tube widthwise direction. The following relational equations (a) to (c) are satisfied: W=6 to 18 mm . . . (a); Ac/At×100=50 to 70% . . . (b) and P/L×100=350 to 450% . . . (c), where “W” is a width of the tube main body, “Ac” is a total cross-sectional area of the refrigerant passages, “At” is a total cross-sectional area of the tube main body ( including the refrigerant passages), “L” is an external perimeter of the tube main body and “P” is a total inner perimeter of the refrigerant passages. With this tube, enough pressure strength can be obtained and the passage resistance can be decreased while keeping the light weight, and further the heat exchanging performance can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Koichiro Take
  • Patent number: 7152669
    Abstract: An end cap closes the open end of the tank. The end cap is comprised of an inlet diverter wall and tube diverter wall. The inlet diverter wall extends into the tank across the inlet axis for redirecting fluid from the inlet and longitudinally into the tank along the end of the core. The tube diverter wall also extends longitudinally into the tank in a spaced relationship to the tubes of the core for directing fluid out of the tubes and longitudinally into the tank. A first embodiment of the invention provides tube diverter walls that are planar. A second embodiment of the invention provides tube diverter walls that are curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Paul Kroetsch, David A. Southwick
  • Patent number: 7086249
    Abstract: A refrigerant distribution device 10 situated in an inlet header 12 of a multiple tube heat exchanger 14 of a refrigeration system 20. The device 10 includes an inlet passage 32 that is in communication with an expansion device. Small diameter nozzles 34 are disposed within the inlet header 12 and are in fluid communication with the inlet passage 32. Capillary liquid nozzles 36 also lie within the inlet header 12 and are in fluid communication with the inlet passage 32. A two-phase refrigerant fluid in the inlet passage 32 has a refrigerant liquid-vapor interface 38. The vapor nozzles 34 have vapor inlet ports 40 that lie above the refrigerant liquid-vapor interface 38. The capillary liquid nozzles 36 have liquid inlet ports 42 that lie below the refrigerant liquid-vapor interface 38. Vapor emerging from the vapor nozzles 34 blow onto and atomize liquid emerging from the liquid nozzle to create a homogeneous refrigerant that is uniformly delivered to the multiple tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Heat Transfer, LLC
    Inventors: Younglib Bae, Michael E. Heidenreich