With Repair Or Assembly Means Patents (Class 165/76)
  • Patent number: 6640880
    Abstract: A cover for a heat exchange element basket assembly includes a metal sheet and at least one lifting lug. A vertical groove extends inward from the outer surface of the metal sheet. Each lifting lug is a horizontal plate having an opening extending vertically there through, an outer edge, and a shape which is substantially complementary to the cross-sectional profile of the groove. The lifting lug is mounted within the groove, such that the outer edge of the lifting lug does not extend beyond the outer surface of the metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: William D. Slocum, Clair F. Updyke
  • Patent number: 6640881
    Abstract: A holding assembly for fastening an exhaust gas heat exchanger to a structural component, with a circumferential bracket which encloses the exhaust gas heat exchanger between its ends, which holding assembly presents at least one attachment bracket for fastening the holder to the structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Daniel Muller, Andreas Reschke, Jurgen Rosin
  • Publication number: 20030188847
    Abstract: A fan duct assembly includes a base (1), a first plate (20), a second plate (30) pivotably connected to the first plate, a connection member (40) pivotably connected to the second plate, and a fan cover (70) connected with the connection member. The base is mounted over a heat sink, and includes a pair of side panels (3). Each side panel has a horizontal portion (7), a slant portion (9) and a vertical portion (11). The horizontal portions, slant portions and vertical portions define a pair of locking apertures (13), respectively. The connection member has a pair of latches (52). The latches can be selectively engaged in any one pair of the locking apertures and orientations of the plates can be varied. Accordingly, outside cooling air from the fan cover can be guided through the connection member to the heat sink from a variety of directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Cheng-Tien Lai, Tsung-Lung Lee, Shuai Jiang
  • Patent number: 6626232
    Abstract: A mechanical control head system allows a vehicle user to control certain HVAC functions. The mechanical control head system includes a mounting plate, a faceplate, at least two user-adjustable actuators, at least two function interfaces and connections between the function interfaces and the HVAC module. The knobs provide the user a means to control, for example, the ambient temperature in the vehicle interior and the outside air circulation within the vehicle. The rotary cylinders can be coupled and uncoupled to the knobs in a single step instead of requiring individual steps for each knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob A Spinner, Douglas David Turner
  • Publication number: 20030178176
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided with a heat exchanger that has a thermally conductive tube over-molded with a plurality of thermally conductive fins. To form the heat exchanger, a thermally conductive tube is provided. Insert molding, over molding or injection molding is utilized to incorporate thermally conductive fins with the thermally conductive tubes. The molding process may also simultaneously create any required features, such as mounting features and fittings for tubing to be connected to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Kurt A. Jenkins, John G. Olendorf, Peter Davison
  • Publication number: 20030159805
    Abstract: A heat exchanger and mounting bracket therefor where the heat exchanger is formed of stacked plate pairs or tubes having longitudinal peripheral edge portions joined together. The mounting bracket has spaced-apart, C-shaped clips attached to the peripheral edge portions of different plate pairs and mounting portions attached to the C-shaped clips and extending outwardly from the plate pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Anis Muhammad, John W. Izard, Silvio Tonellato, Eric Luvisotto
  • Patent number: 6609563
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for an automotive vehicle includes a heater core and a mix door assembly installed in a case. The mix door assembly is detachably installed in the case through an opening formed at a side wall of the case. The mix door assembly constitutes a housing, a mix door and a slide mechanism. The slide mechanism is arranged to slide the mix door according to a received rotational force so as to vary the ratio of warm air to quantity and cool air quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Tsurushima, Koji Murayama, Katsuhiro Kurokawa, Noriyuki Kitahara, Kouichi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6601639
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner where an air conditioning unit is disposed at an approximate center within an instrument panel portion in a vehicle right-left direction, an evaporator is disposed to be inclined relative to the vehicle right-left direction by a predetermined angle so that a right seat side end (driver's seat side end) of the evaporator is placed at a vehicle front side and a left seat side end thereof is placed at a vehicle rear side while an air inlet surface of the evaporator extends in a vehicle up-down direction. Further, because an opening portion is provided at a left side surface of an air conditioning case, it is possible for the evaporator to be detached from the opening portion obliquely toward a vehicle left rear side. On the other hand, because a pipe connection member is connected to the right side end of the evaporator, a pipe structure of the evaporator become simple in a passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuji Shibata
  • Patent number: 6571898
    Abstract: The mounting device has at least two receiving blocks on a load-bearing structure, each block having two face-to-face parallel ribs, as well as at least two damping studs. Each is produced from an elastically deformable material and includes two parallel grooves able to interact, by sliding, with the two parallel ribs of a receiving block. Each damping stud also has a bearing face suitable for interacting with an item of equipment, as well as having an abutment face suitable for interacting with the receiving block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Jean-Nicolas Guyomard
  • Patent number: 6568464
    Abstract: A heat sink clip assembly for attaching a heat sink (10) to a CPU (60) mounted to a motherboard (50). The heat sink clip assembly includes two bolts (40), and two wire clips (30). Two screw holes (16) are defined in opposite side faces of the heat sink. Each bolt includes a pole (44), a head (42), and a threaded end (46). Each clip has a coiled portion (32), and two spring arms (34) extending from opposite ends of the coiled portion. The coiled portions of the clips are respectively placed over the poles of the bolts. The threaded ends of the bolts are screwed into the screw holes; thus, each clip is retained between the head of a corresponding bolt and a side face of the heat sink. A hook (36) is formed on each spring arm, for engaging in a corresponding through hole (52) of the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Li He, Tsung-Lung Lee, Cheng-Tien Lai
  • Patent number: 6564574
    Abstract: A sealed unit of refrigerant fluid for a refrigeration appliance, comprising a hermetic compressor (1), a condenser (3), an evaporator (2), an expanding device, and conducting tube (4) of refrigerant fluid, at least one of the parts consisting of the condenser (3) and the evaporator (2) being defined as a prismatic body which is at least partially tubular, the component parts of the sealed unit being relatively displaced from an inoperative position of transportation, in which the hermetic compressor (1) and the conducting tubes (4) remain contained within a contour defined by the contour of at least one of the parts consisting of the condenser (3) and the evaporator (2), to a mounting operative position in a refrigeration appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Empresa Brasileira de Compressores S.A. -EMBRACO
    Inventors: Roberto Horn Pereira, Ingwald Vollrath
  • Publication number: 20030056937
    Abstract: A holding assembly for fastening an exhaust gas heat exchanger to a structural component, with a circumferential bracket which encloses the exhaust gas heat exchanger between its ends, which holding assembly presents at least one attachment bracket for fastening the holder to the structural component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: BEHR GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Daniel Muller, Andreas Reschke, Jurgen Rosin
  • Patent number: 6530424
    Abstract: A plate and fin type heat exchanger is disclosed which can be made in any convenient size with minimum tooling required. The heat exchanger is made from a plurality of stacked plate pairs having raised peripheral edge portions to define flow channels inside the plate pairs. The plates of the plate pairs are formed with offset, diverging end flanges that space the plate pairs apart. A U-shaped channel envelops the plate end flanges to form part of a manifold at each end of the plate pairs. End caps or plates close the open ends of the U-shaped channels to complete the manifolds, and inlet and outlet openings are formed in the manifolds as desired to complete the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Long Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: S. Donald Jamison, Carl C. J. Decaire, Jeffrey D. Peeler, Chad A. Kreutzweiser
  • Publication number: 20020157809
    Abstract: In a brazed condenser for an air conditioner, such as a motor vehicle air conditioner, a collecting tube connected with a collector is a prefabricated as a one-piece tube which is connected by tack weld seams with the collector before brazing the collecting tube and the collector together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Martin Kaspar, Kurt Molt
  • Patent number: 6453990
    Abstract: A layered heat exchanger for use in evaporators or the like has a pipe mount plate which is given improved amenability to brazing at the portion thereof between a fluid introduction pipe socket and a fluid discharge pipe socket provided on the plate. This feature reliably precludes the development of a shortcut channel between the fluid introduction channel and the fluid discharge channel due to a faulty brazed joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Showa Denko K. K.
    Inventors: Naohisa Higashiyama, Nobuyuki Okuda, Hisashi Ide, Yoshinori Nakata
  • Patent number: 6450249
    Abstract: A heat sink fastening device is constructed to include two clamping plates each having two triangular clamping arms adapted for clamping on a holder to hold down a heat sink on the holder, and two hook wires respectively mounted in respective retaining notches in the triangular clamping arms of the clamping plates to hold down the clamping plates, each hook wire having two smoothly arched supporting portions at the ends and two hooking tips respectively horizontally extended from the smoothly arched supporting portions and respectively hooked in respective through holes in the triangular clamping arms of the clamping plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Hung Tsi Liu
  • Publication number: 20020029866
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assembling at least one item of equipment, such as a secondary heat exchanger, onto a primary heat exchanger, the said primary heat exchanger including a tube manifold (8) and a manifold chamber (9) crimped onto the tube manifold, the periphery of the said tube manifold forming a groove (12) for accommodating a sealing gasket (13) between the tube manifold and the manifold chamber. This device comprises, on the one hand, first means (19, 21, 23) for clipping onto the outside of the said groove, and, on the other hand, means (20) for accommodating and locking the said item of equipment. Application to motor vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Gerard Gille, Carlos Martins
  • Publication number: 20020029872
    Abstract: A plate and fin type heat exchanger is disclosed which can be made in any convenient size with minimum tooling required. The heat exchanger is made from a plurality of stacked plate pairs having raised peripheral edge portions to define flow channels inside the plate pairs. The plates of the plate pairs are formed with offset, diverging end flanges that space the plate pairs apart. A U-shaped channel envelops the plate end flanges to form part of a manifold at each end of the plate pairs. End caps or plates close the open ends of the U-shaped channels to complete the manifolds, and inlet and outlet openings are formed in the manifolds as desired to complete the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: S. Donald Jamison, Carl C.J. Decaire, Jeffrey D. Peeler, Chad A. Kreutzweiser
  • Publication number: 20010045268
    Abstract: In an air conditioner with an inside/outside air unit and an air conditioning unit, an attachment stay having an elongated hole is provided in the inside/outside air unit, and a pin is provided in the air conditioning unit to be fitted into the elongated hole of the attachment stay so that an attachment position between both units are determined. A hook portion is provided in the pin at a top end to form a recess portion between the hook portion and a wall surface of the air conditioning unit, and a plate portion of the attachment stay, defining the elongated hole, is disposed to be engaged with the recess portion after the pin is inserted into the elongated hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sato, Mitsutoshi Kato, Kazuo Kito, Takuya Natsume
  • Publication number: 20010019098
    Abstract: The mounting device has at least two receiving blocks on a load-bearing structure, each block having two face-to-face parallel ribs, as well as at least two damping studs. Each is produced from an elastically deformable material and includes two parallel grooves able to interact, by sliding, with the two parallel ribs of a receiving block. Each damping stud also has a bearing face suitable for interacting with an item of equipment, as well as having an abutment face suitable for interacting with the receiving block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventor: Jean-Nicolas Guyomard
  • Publication number: 20010018966
    Abstract: A layered heat exchanger for use in evaporators or the like has a pipe mount plate which is given improved amenability to brazing at the portion thereof between a fluid introduction pipe socket and a fluid discharge pipe socket provided on the plate. This feature reliably precludes the development of a shortcut channel between the fluid introduction channel and the fluid discharge channel due to a faulty brazed joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Naohisa Higashiyama, Nobuyuki Okuda, Hisashi Ide, Yoshinori Nakata
  • Patent number: 6278903
    Abstract: A robot body (21) is carried into the water chamber (2A) of a condenser (1) and disposed on a tube sheet (4) through which a number of narrow tubes (3) open. Inner nozzles (23) are inserted into narrow tubes (3) from working devices (24) installed on the front ends of four combined-use arms (22A through 22D) to position and fix the robot body (21). And the arm turning motors (25) and arm extending and contracting cylinder devices (26) of the combined-use arms (22A through 22D) are driven to move the robot body (21). Further, a cleaning brush (12) and a flaw detection probe (13) are inserted into a narrow tube (3) from each working device (24) and moved along the narrow tube (3) by cleaning water, whereby cleaning and inspection are performed. With three of the combined-use arms (22A through 22D) fixed to the narrow tubes (3), the inner nozzle (23) is extracted from the narrow tube (3) and the working device is moved to the next narrow tube (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Iwasaki, Shuji Komada, Hirotaka Takahashi, Minoru Hyuga, Takashi Fujimura
  • Patent number: 6269869
    Abstract: A continuous corrugated heat exchanger and method of making same includes a plurality of contiguous plates and a plurality of tabs disposed between adjacent plates. The plates include a plurality of refrigerant plates having a plurality of beads and at least one blank plate at each end of the refrigerant plates forming an end sheet. The refrigerant sheets are folded bellows-like to form a stack and the end sheet is folded on a top and bottom of the stack and connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Paul Tavi, James Harvey Hornsby, IV, Darrel Paul Massman
  • Patent number: 6247231
    Abstract: A method of repairing a heat exchanger tube in a steam generator includes the step of removing a degraded tube segment from an operative heat exchanger tube in a steam generator. A weld metal ring is then positioned between the operative heat exchanger tube and a new tube segment. The weld metal ring is then welded to the operative heat exchanger tube and the new tube segment to form a linking tube section. The linking tube section is then heat treated. The new tube segment is then expanded toward a steam generator tubesheet. Finally, the new tube segment is welded to the tube sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Shane Joseph Findlan, Jack C. Spanner
  • Patent number: 6206086
    Abstract: A multi-pass tubeside shell and tube heat exchanger comprises: a shell having flanged ends; a removable tube bundle having a fixed tubesheet at one end and a floating tube sheet at the opposite end; a false tube sheet bolted to the floating tubesheet and having a passage hole aligned with each tube in the floating tubesheet to direct the flow of tube fluid; and a bonnet having a flange bolted to the outer portion of the false tubesheet. The use of the false tubesheet and attachment of the bonnet to the outer portion thereof maximizes available tube space. With the removal of the bonnet, and the false tubesheet, the bundle can be conveniently removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: R. P. Adams Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. McKey
  • Patent number: 6189606
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fluid box-manifold assembly for a heat exchanger comprising at least a single-piece housing produced by swaging a sheet metal and including; a cap comprising a base linked to a peripheral wall defining an open surface, and a cover including a base provided with holes for receiving the tube ends of a tube bundle and linked to a peripheral edge matching in shape the cap peripheral wall, the cap and the cover being linked by a material strip forming a bend line, such that the cap and the cover can be mutually brought together up to an interlocking position to define an internal volume of the fluid box. The invention is applicable to motor vehicle heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Christophe Chevallier
  • Patent number: 6142217
    Abstract: The invention refers to a flat tube heat exchanger for motor vehicles in which the flat tubes leaving an internally projecting free end as an overhand are inserted in collars which extend to the inside and which are opened up in the form of a tulip of slits of a tube bottom of a header case for the internal heat exchange fluid and the header case comprises at least one partition dividing off various chambers of the header case and intersecting the flat tubes, the partition reaching at least down to the ground of the tube bottom adjacent to the flat tubes or to the collars extending to the inside and comprising in the region of the free ends of the flat tubes in the header case recesses overgripping the free ends, and the free ends of the first tubes in the header case being arranged with an undercut with respect to the collars opened up as a tulip which locks the flat tubes against being pulled out of the tubes bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Klimatechnik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6131646
    Abstract: There is provided a technique for removing unwanted heat from a heat generating device 12 operating aboard a space vehicle orbiting in outer space by placing a heat conductive interface 10 between the device and a support platform 14. The interface 10 comprises an array of spaced apart strips 16 made of aluminum aligned in spaced apart relationship so that the array covers the heat dissipating surface 20 at the underside of the device, the strips 16 are configured by deformable protuberances, such corrugations 22 which flatten under compression forces forming a heat conductive interface between the device 12 and the platform 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Kelley
  • Patent number: 6102106
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for heat exchange between a working fluid and a coolant having an inner casing, an outer casing, and an annular space formed therebetween. A tube bundle including at least one tube formed into a helical coil is located within the annular space. End plates are removably secured and sealed to the ends of the outer casing. Bulkhead fittings are mounted in openings of the end plates to seal the tube ends which pass through the end plates. The bulkhead fittings are sized to permit the end plates to be moved off of the bulkhead fittings in a direction away from the helical coil. The tube bundle may also include a separating plate extending longitudinally between the coils of two tubes within the tube bundle creating two separate passages through which coolant may flow. External tubes may be connected at the tube ends, outside of the outer casing and the end plates, such that the working fluid flows in a parallel single-pass flow or a series double-pass flow through the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Frank E. Manning, Ronald L. Grace
  • Patent number: 6102105
    Abstract: A system for repairing leaks, cracks and crevices in a stator assembly of the type having a fluid cooling system. The system includes an anaerobically activated, liquid polymer curable sealant supply which is circulated through the fluid cooling system of the stator assembly. Sealant connectors place the sealant supply in fluid communication with the cooling system and a pump circulates the curable sealant supply through the cooling system to repair the leaks, cracks and crevices in the stator assembly. In the preferred embodiment, a secondary curing system provides an initial curing of the curable sealant to form a protective "skin" after the removal of the excess curable sealant from the fluid cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Framatome Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Moran, Bruce William Schafer, Richard J. Fiola, Stanley Mark Gryder
  • Patent number: 6098701
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger (1) comprises a stack of heat transfer plates (2) provided between two end pieces (3, 4) and each having an essentially plane extension. Each end piece (3, 4) has an inner surface (9) facing said heat transfer plates and an outer surface (14) facing away from said heat transfer plates (2) and extending from one side to another of the end piece (3, 4). The plate heat exchanger (1) is compressed by means of at least one member (18) extending around the plate heat exchanger and abutting said outer surface (14) of each end piece (3, 4) in order to prevent the retreat of the end pieces from each other. The outer surface (14) of each end piece (3, 4) is curved in such a manner that the end piece has a convex shape in a cross section along a first plane (Y, Z) being perpendicular to the essentially plane extension of the heat transfer plate (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Ralf Erik Blomgren
  • Patent number: 6076597
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for heat exchange between a working fluid and a coolant having an inner casing, an outer casing, and an annular space formed therebetween. A tube bundle including at least one tube formed into a helical coil is located within the annular space. End plates are removably secured and sealed to the ends of the outer casing. Bulkhead fittings are mounted in openings of the end plates to seal the tube ends which pass through the end plates. The bulkhead fittings are sized to permit the end plates to be moved off of the bulkhead fittings in a direction away from the helical coil. The tube bundle may also include a separating plate extending longitudinally between the coils of two tubes within the tube bundle creating two separate passages through which coolant may flow. External tubes may be connected at the tube ends, outside of the outer casing and the end plates, such that the working fluid flows in a parallel single-pass flow or a series double-pass flow through the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Frank E. Manning, Ronald L. Grace
  • Patent number: 6059025
    Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger configuration which facilitates fluid flow along a generally "L" or "S" shaped path and which includes a plurality of heat exchanger plates with at least one of the edges comprised of a pair of edge sections which terminate in different edge configurations. The invention also relates to a plate configuration for such a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Hossfeld
  • Patent number: 6032728
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) having a pair of spatially separated manifolds (12 and 14) interconnected by a plurality of transverse tubes (16). The ends of the tubes are attached to a plurality of manifold inserts (20) slidably received in the manifolds. The lengths of the individual manifold inserts may be controlled to adjust the pitch and the number of the transverse tubes. The heat exchanger configuration is ideally suited for fabricating low production runs and prototype heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Livernois Research & Development Co.
    Inventors: Gary R. Ross, James R. Bacoccini
  • Patent number: 6029740
    Abstract: A protective cap comprises a cap portion and a mounting bracket attached to the cap portion along its peripheral walls. The mounting bracket includes upper and lower bars connected to opposite peripheral walls of the cap portion. A mounting seat is defined by the vertical beam and portions of the upper and lower bars. An attaching tab is seated within the mounting seat for attaching the protective cap to an under face of a heat sink. A tab extends outward from one of the upper and lower bars serving as a handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-Jung Lee, Hsieh-Kun Lee
  • Patent number: 6019162
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle includes a blower case for accommodating a blower, an air conditioning case for accommodating an evaporator and a heater core, and a middle duct detachably connected to both the blower case and the air conditioning case. The air conditioning case is disposed at a side of the blower case to form a space having a predetermined distance therebetween, the evaporator is disposed in the air conditioning case approximately horizontally, and the heater core is disposed approximately horizontally at an upper side of the evaporator. Further, a receiving portion for supporting the evaporator is formed on an inner surface of the middle duct. In the air conditioning apparatus, the evaporator can be taken out from the air conditioning case to the space between the air conditioning case and the blower case by the detachment of the middle duct from the blower case and the air conditioning case, while the blower case and the air conditioning case are installed in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Saida, Hiromi Tahara
  • Patent number: 6000459
    Abstract: A U-bend pipe spacer for separating vertical portions of a U-bend pipe in a bore in the ground during installation of the U-bend pipe in a geothermal vertical heat exchanger system. The U-bend pipe spacer includes a biasing member with a pair of elongate portions having free ends biased apart from one another. The elongate portions of the biasing member is resiliently deflectable from a relaxed position to a deflected portion such that the free ends of the elongate portions of the biasing member are positioned closer to each other when the elongate portions are in the deflected position. The spacer also includes a pair of clip members each comprising a body having a concave arcuate side face defining a channel and a tremie hook is coupled to the body. The tremie hook has a concave side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: Kris Jeppesen
  • Patent number: 5979545
    Abstract: This invention relates to a facade plate, method of assembly, assembled heat exchanger, and kit of parts therefor. The facade plate is adapted for securement to at least part of the tube plate of a heat exchanger, the facade plate having apertures conforming to openings in the said part of the tube plate, the facade plate being of a plastic material. The method of mounting the facade plate to the tube plate includes the steps of {i} securing a locking member within the end of each one of many or all of the heat exchanger tubes; {ii} placing the facade plate against the tube plate with the apertures aligned with respective tube plate openings; {iii} selecting a set of tubular inserts which have a part adapted for engagement with a locking member; {iv} passing a respective tubular insert through all or many of the apertures and into the corresponding tube so that the said part engages the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: David Bland Pierce
  • Patent number: 5954578
    Abstract: A temperature adjusting unit portion is constructed by two division cases, and the two division cases have vertically divided type case structure, each of which has a division surface in a vertical direction. An evaporator and a heater are held and accommodated in the division cases. Between the division cases of the division case below the evaporator, there is provided a sealing member formed in a stick shape and in a circular shape in a cross section thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Junji Takasaki
  • Patent number: 5950713
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes 2 alternately laminated with fins 3, header pipes 4 connected to and in communication with both ends of the laminated tubes, inlet and outlet connectors 8 connected to the header pipes to supply and receive a heat exchanging medium to and from an external equipment, and the heat exchanging medium meanders a plurality of times between the inlet and outlet connectors; a groove 15 is formed in one of the inlet and outlet connectors 8, on the rim of the piping connecting face of the connector having its piping connecting face 11 facing downward with respect to the vertical line during brazing, so as to prevent the flux from entering into the inside of the piping connecting face from the outside of the piping connecting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Kato
  • Patent number: 5937935
    Abstract: A method for forming a heat exchanger is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a plurality of generally planar plate members from a sheet of material, each of the plate members being connected to an adjacent plate member by a deformable link. The method further includes forming a plurality of tube members by folding the plurality of plate members at the deformable links, inserting a fin member between adjacent tube members, and compressing the plurality of tube members and fin members under a predetermined load to form a heat exchanger core. The method also includes the steps of bending the folded deformable links against the core and brazing the core at a predetermined temperature. A heat exchanger manufactured according to this method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Carl Eckardt Schornhorst, Gerald Joseph Selm, Kevin Bennett Wise
  • Patent number: 5937938
    Abstract: An oil cooler mounting structure includes: a heat exchanger tank main body that is made of aluminum and has an oil cooler mounting hole in a wall surface thereof; an oil cooler that is made of aluminum, has an insertion hole for an oil introducing/discharging pipe formed in a seat portion, and is mounted inside the heat exchanger tank with a plurality of projecting pieces erected around the circumference of the insertion hole; a patch that is made of an aluminum-containing brazing filler metal and is arranged on the outer circumference of the projecting pieces of the oil cooler; and the oil introducing/discharging pipe that is inserted into the insertion hole formed in the seat portion of the oil cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Makino, Haruo Ikeda, Hiroyasu Koizumi, Hideki Kobayashi, Katsumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5927096
    Abstract: Air conditioning apparatus and method are disclosed which provide for a bi-flow coil housing having air flow connection ends that are substantially identical. These coil housing features allow the coil housing to be configured to have either a right-hand or left-hand coil configuration to thereby allow installation flexibility so that the coil refrigerant and drain connections are readily available. In furtherance of this feature, a transition member and a plenum have substantially similar or identical ends for connection to the coil housing and may be connected to either end of the coil housing. Because there is only one end of the transition member that will vary in size thereby greatly reducing the number of different possible combinations of connection sizes the transition member must accord, a plurality of prefabricated transition members are preferably stored in the warehouse based on the type of heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: David O. Piccione
  • Patent number: 5918664
    Abstract: In a refrigerant evaporator constructed by laminating a plurality of tubes in which an inlet side refrigerant passage and an outlet side refrigerant passage are formed, a connecting member which sets a position of the adjacent tubes is provided. The connecting member is formed at inlet tank portions of the tube through which the refrigerant having a lower dryness is small flows. Thus, the adjacent tubes are connected firmly, and pressure loss of the refrigerant is decreased at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Eiichi Torigoe
  • Patent number: 5855240
    Abstract: A heat exchanger formed from a plurality of adjacent, contiguous plate members is disclosed. The plate members are joined together by a first and second set of tabs, the tabs being configured to bend at predefined locations. The plates are folded in a bellows-like fashion to form a heat exchanger core. The bend zones provide proper plate-to-plate contact when forming the plate tubes as well as proper fin height spacing between adjacent pairs of plate tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Paul Arthur Farrell, Carl Eckardt Schornhorst, Kevin Bennett Wise
  • Patent number: 5853046
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus for a heat exchanger used in an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The seal apparatus includes a closed loop of rigid material (29), the loop defining four substantially orthogonal edges (28, 30, 32, 34) configured to contact the respective sides of the heat exchanger (12). A sealing member (27) of soft material is attached to an outer face (21) of the closed loop and adapted to sealingly engage walls of a housing containing the heat exchanger. The loop includes a plurality of locating pins (38) integrally formed in the closed loop for located and retaining the sealing apparatus in a predetermined relationship with the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Amanda L. Williams, Bipin D. Parekh
  • Patent number: 5845704
    Abstract: An improved heat exchanger in which a housing defines an annular space containing coolant and a tube for carrying working fluid through the coolant. On the top end of the casing there is a cover that seals the annular space and provides entry and exit portals for the tube and the coolant. Maintenance and/or cleaning of the heat exchanger is accomplished by removing the cover and pulling the tube from the annular space. Baffles formed from flexible sheets of material isolate the surface of the coil from the housing thereby reducing corrosive bonding and easing the removal process. Tapered edges along the annular space also help overcome any binding that might occur between the housing and the coil or the baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Edward Lavelle, Ronald Leslie Grace
  • Patent number: 5826642
    Abstract: The heat exchange baskets for a rotary regenerative air preheater are loaded radially into the rotor rather than axially from the duct end. The rotor is divided into sectors by diaphragms, and support gratings are provided in each rotor sector with the baskets being positioned and supported on the gratings. The baskets are removed from the rotor with a removal lug or tool which includes a lever portion and a hook portion with a beveled edge. The beveled edge and then the entire hook portion are inserted under the outer edge of a basket and then rotated with the lever portion whereby the hook portion engages the basket. The lug or tool is then pulled outwardly to remove the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: ABB Air Preheater, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Brophy
  • Patent number: 5823247
    Abstract: A heat exchanger device and method of making same disclosed has a heat exchanger core and a stack of inner plates with alternating hot and cold flow fluid passages producing diagonal flow therethrough. One embodiment adds a pair of core retaining plates with end portions extending beyond the core with apertures at precise locations to connect with connectors of equipment to which it is coupled and the other embodiment has end connectors that weld to the core to provide straight in line fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Walter W. Weibler
  • Patent number: 5819841
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is introduced into a casing in the manner of a drawer, and is retained in a seating within the casing by a fastening device which consists of a pair of matching fastening elements, namely a lug fixed to a header of the heat exchanger, and a further lug which is fixed to the casing. The lugs have holes, which, when the heat exchanger is introduced fully into the casing, are aligned with each other in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction in which the heat exchanger is introduced into the casing. The fastening device is secured by a cotter pin which is passed through all of these holes. The invention is especially useful in heat exchangers for motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Pascale Moynat