Reinforcement Patents (Class 165/906)
  • Publication number: 20030131976
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system having a fluid inlet member, a fluid outlet member, and a plurality of multi-port heat transfer members. Each of the multi-port heat transfer member extends between the fluid inlet member and the fluid outlet member to define a plurality of fluid paths between the fluid inlet member and the fluid outlet member for carrying a refrigerant or coolant. The plurality of multi-port heat transfer members are spaced apart from each other so as to maximize the product of the total air-side surface area and the heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger. If necessary for structural rigidity, at least one reinforcing member fixedly interconnects at least some of the plurality of multi-port heat transfer members in a woven pattern to provide both longitudinal and lateral reinforcement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Paul E. Krause, Robert E. Utter
  • Publication number: 20030121650
    Abstract: A cooler for an electrical component, including a pressure-tight vessel enclosing the electrical component and including a support plate above the electrical component, a bath of electrically insulating and evaporating liquid surrounding the electrical component within the vessel, a flow channel for cooling liquid on the support plate, and a heat exchange element. The heat exchange element includes a serpentine plate having generally horizontally extending and aligned flanks alternately connected along horizontally extending upper and lower edges, with the lower edges being connected by connectors spaced along the horizontally extending edges and the upper edges being connected by horizontally extending crests secured to the flow channel for heat conduction therebetween. The flow channel may define a U-shaped path with two channel legs connected at one end, with a cooling liquid inlet connected to one of the channel legs and a cooling liquid outlet connected to the other of the channel legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Roland Strahle, Dominik Zurek, Martin Mann
  • Publication number: 20030094271
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring heat from a first fluid to a second fluid, which is separated from the first fluid, having a stack-like or saucer-like structure comprising at least two plies (1, 2, 3), in particular plates (1, 2, 3), whereby each ply (1, 2, 3) comprises a heat-transferring area that has numerous passages (11, 12, 13), an inlet area located in front of the heat-transferring area in the direction of flow, and an exit area located behind the heat-transferring area in the direction of flow is proposed in which a relatively large heat-transferring surface area is realized in a small volume, hereby ensuring uninterrupted operation, even when the pressure differential between the two fluids is great. This is achieved according to the invention in that the inlet and/or exit area comprises at least one support element (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Stephan Leuthner, Petra Kanters
  • Patent number: 6540015
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first tube in which water flows and a second tube in which refrigerant flows, and performs heat exchange between water and refrigerant. The first tube and the second tube are bonded to each other by brazing at joint surfaces thereof such that water flow crosses refrigerant flow perpendicularly. The joint surface of the first tube is divided into several surface regions by grooves. Accordingly, the joint surface of the first tube can be brazed to the joint surface of the second tube uniformly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
    Inventors: Norihide Kawachi, Ken Yamamoto, Takeshi Okinotani, Toshiya Kouga, Toshihiro Imai, Norimasa Baba, Tomoaki Kobayakawa, Kazutoshi Kusakari, Michiyuki Saikawa
  • Patent number: 6520252
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of fluid flow pathways including fins. Closure bars associated with each of the layers have a core reinforcing portion. Each core reinforcing portion includes first and second reinforcing members with a modified flow passage between them. The example embodiments include modified flow passages with generally C-shaped cross sections. The reinforcing portions preferably extend toward a center of the heat exchanger core varying distances along the body of the core so that reinforcing material is concentrated near the ends of the core where deformation caused by heat stress is most likely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand
    Inventor: Peter Bizzarro
  • Patent number: 6513579
    Abstract: An automotive condenser includes closely nested, plastic molded support brackets solidly tightly fitted to the four corners thereof, post braze and with no separate fasteners, which adhere to the corners solidly enough to prevent any significant twisting or shifting relative thereto. A reinforced support flange on the bracket is stiff enough to prevent any significant twisting relative to the bracket itself, when subjected to the level of torque to be expected when an inlet or outlet pipe of the condenser is installed to a refrigerant line. Therefore, the support flange of the bracket can hold the end of the pipe solidly enough to allow the refrigerant line to be connected thereto with no need for a back up tool or other external support to resist the torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Edward Kent, David A. Southwick
  • Patent number: 6510893
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, e.g. an evaporator, has end plates arranged at two opposite axial ends and at least a part of which is secured, particularly by brazing, to an orientation plate. At least one edge of said part has no region which is not secured to said orientation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Clamatisation
    Inventors: Said Naji, Laurent Legot
  • Publication number: 20030000685
    Abstract: A condenser for vehicle air-conditioning systems, comprising a pair of parallel distributors (12) between which there is set a heat-exchange core (14) including a plurality of pipes (16) having a flat cross section, which are parallel to one another, and a plurality of undulated fins (18) set between each pair of adjacent pipes, in which a reinforcing element (22) is applied on at least one end side (20) of the heat-exchange core (14). The aforesaid reinforcing element (22) is fixed directly on an end pipe (16a) of the heat-exchange core (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: DENSO THERMAL SYSTEMS SPA.
    Inventor: Andrea Parola
  • Publication number: 20020174978
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the invention is a heat exchanger with increased stiffness to prevent buckling of the core and which carries externally produced loads without damage to the core. In some embodiments, the present invention is a heat exchanger having a core with a heat exchange portion, and a shaft with at least part of it positioned in the core to increase the stiffness of the core. The shaft is positioned at least adjacent to the heat exchange portion of the core. The shaft is also located to limit movement of the heat exchange portion and to receive loads from the heat exchange portion. The shaft can be positioned through some or the entire heat exchange portion of the core. In another embodiment, the heat exchanger includes a core, a duct in fluid communication with the core, a load bearing member positioned adjacent to the core, and a mount which attaches the duct to the load bearing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: David W. Beddome, Steven Ayres, Edward Yuhung Yeh, Ahmed S. Hammoud, David G. Bridgnell
  • Publication number: 20020148599
    Abstract: The invention relates to a component, in particular a heat exchanger, in particular for motor vehicles, having a finned tube block. Preferably, at least one inlet chamber and at least one outlet chamber are provided having walls made of a synthetic resin material possessing a heat- and/or chemical-resistant coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: BEHR GMBH & CO.
    Inventors: Georg Kaemmler, Matthias Schuele, Hans-Dieter Hinderberger
  • Patent number: 6460614
    Abstract: The heat exchanger according to the invention consists of two flat or slightly incurved parallel surfaces formed in two sheets of metal (2) and (3). The longitudinal edge pieces (8) and (9) and transverse edge pieces (12) and (13) have rounded edges. The entire exterior surface is coated with enamel. These exchangers may be used in groups of several parallel units arranged inside a tubular body, or they may be disposed in a radiating pattern inside a cylindrical tank in a chemical reactor, forming a complex exchanger. This invention is of interest to manufacturers of industrial heat exchangers, particularly exchangers designed for the chemcial, pharmaceutical or agricultural/food industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignees: DE Dietrich Process Systems, Icoss S.r.l.
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Hamert, Antonio Castiglioni
  • Publication number: 20020134535
    Abstract: First depressed portions are formed on transverse sides of an insert so that the magnitude of depression of the first depressed portions increases as the first depressed portions approach toward the associated transverse side of the insert, whereby, as the first depressed portions are located to constitute a lower side of a core when brazing (in an oven), a brazing material, which is fused and is then allowed to flow into the first depressed portions in a brazing process, can be accumulated for retention within the first depressed portions by the surface tension of the brazing material so accumulated therein. Consequently, as the dispersion of more of the brazing material to outer fins, which constitute the lower side of the core when brazing, can be prevented, the erosion of the outer fins, which would otherwise occur due to the dispersion of the brazing material, can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Takahiro Nozaki, Yasutoshi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20020134536
    Abstract: An extension 123 of a core plate 121 is brazed to an insert 130 with the extension 123 being held in a holding portion 131 formed in the insert plate 130, and the width Wi of the extension 123 is made to be substantially the same as the width Wc of the insert 130, whereby the retention of flux at longitudinal end portions of the core plate 121 is made difficult. In addition, as a contact area between the extension 123 and the insert 130 can be made larger, the brazing of the extension 123 and the insert 130 can be ensured while the welding of a tank main body 122 and the core plate 121 can be facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Takahiro Nozaki, Yasutoshi Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20020096317
    Abstract: A flat, heat exchanger tube formed by rolling metal strip to fold inwardly the lateral edge regions of the strip to provide a tube having parallel, spaced, generally planar upper and lower walls, one of said lateral edge regions being bent to define a longitudinally extending partition wall extending within the tube towards said lower wall, said partition wall including first and second longitudinally extending regions disposed at an angle to one another so as to provide in one face of the partition wall a longitudinally extending recess receiving the free edge portion of the other of said lateral edge regions of the strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Colin Hargreaves
  • Patent number: 6408940
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning device has a heat exchanger consisting of a stack of orientation plates (1, 20) having a first and a second opposite longitudinal ends, certain orientation plates having separation elements intended to divert a flow of cooling liquid circulating in an axial direction of the heat exchanger so as to direct it to a channel region in which it travels from one said end to the other in a longitudinal direction of the orientation plates (1, 20). At least one separation element has at least one stiffening means (26′) integral at least with one region of said separation element (6, 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventors: Said Naji, Laurent Legot
  • Patent number: 6357521
    Abstract: A radiator has plural metal tubes and a metal header tank. The header tank has plural connection portions each of which is connected to each of the tubes, and plural reinforcement ribs formed opposite the connection portions at a non-connection portion of the header tank to which no tube is connected. The reinforcement ribs and the connection portions are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the header tank at substantially the same pitch, so that each of the reinforcement ribs is disposed opposite each of the connection portions. Therefore, a rigidity of the non-connection portion is increased by the reinforcement ribs, and an internal pressure of the header tank is restricted from being intensively applied to the non-connection portion. As a result, a mechanical strength of the header tank is sufficiently increased without increasing a thickness of a metal plate from which the header tank is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Sugimoto, Norihisa Sasano, Satomi Muto, Takaaki Sakane, Akira Uchikawa
  • Patent number: 6343646
    Abstract: A motor vehicle heat exchanger has a bundle (10) formed solely from flexible tubes (12) made of plastics, as well as two end blocks (22, 24) joining these tubes. The heat exchanger further has at least one spacer (50) arranged at a chosen location between the end blocks (22, 24) and including apertures for the tubes to pass in order to provide support for the tubes (12) with a chosen spacing or pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Carlos Martins
  • Patent number: 6223812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger core for use in a fluid cooling apparatus, of the type comprising two tanks (12, 13), each provided with a tube plate (17), and a number of parallel tubes (15) through which the fluid to be cooled flows and around which a cooling fluid is passed. The tubes (15) extend between the two tube plates (17). A connecting strip (20) in the form of a strengthening comb connects the tank wall (12) and the tube plate (17). The strip (20) is provided with a tube plate location slot (18) and a recess (19) adapted to house the end of the tank wall (12). The connecting strip (20) has a number of tooth-like portions or fingers (40) which extend between the tubes (15) and are bonded to the tube plate (17), but not to the tubes (15) themselves. The fingers (40) add strength to the tube plate overhang, allowing the operating pressure in the chamber inside the tank (12) to be increased without the need to use a thicker tube plate (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Serck Heat Transfer Limited
    Inventor: Robert James Gough
  • Patent number: 6196305
    Abstract: A radiator assembly for a cooling system on an internal combustion engine includes a radiator core having a plurality of tube-flow passages for transferring heat from fluid coolant to ambient atmosphere and at least one tank in fluid communication between an internal combustion engine and the radiator core. The radiator core includes a header flange extending about at least a portion of a perimeter of the radiator core and the tank includes a clamping flange extending about at least a portion of a perimeter of the tank corresponding to and in adjacent relationship with the header flange of the radiator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Great Lakes, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Erwin Geiger
  • 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: 6102112
    Abstract: A structure for supporting and at least transferring heat energy away from at least a first heat source interconnected thereto is disclosed. In one embodiment, the structure includes a deck member having a plurality of layers of thermally conductive fibers packed within a matrix material. Fibers of at least a first layer are orientable to transfer heat energy toward at least a first sidewall of the deck member, and fibers of at least a second layer are orientable about .+-.45.degree. relative to the fibers of the first layer to enhance the structural strength of the deck member. In another embodiment, fibers of at least a first layer of thermally conductive fibers of the deck member are orientable to transfer heat energy from a first heat source to a second, cooler heat source, both of which are interconnectable to the deck member, such that the first and second heat sources operate at substantially uniform temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred Herzl
  • 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: 6098705
    Abstract: A coil type condenser for a refrigerator holds a flow of air which cools the condenser by securing a condenser length enough to radiate heat and simultaneously holding enough pitch. In the coil type condenser, a pipe is wound spirally to face a blowing direction of cool air generated by a cooling fan of the refrigerator. The pipe includes a plurality of coils formed integrally each having upper and lower horizontal portions and left and right vertical sides, each of even numbered coils of the coils having a size different from that of each of odd numbered coils thereof. A support member welded to the pipe supporting the pipe. According to the condenser, since pitches between coils forming the coil type condenser are short, a suitable coil length of the condenser can be maintained in a narrow space. Thus, the coil type condenser can prevent an excessive pressure from generating when a compressor initially operates and can used for a small or medium refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byeong-Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 6082439
    Abstract: In a mechanically assembled type heat exchanger, in which an end portion of an oval tube is inserted into a barring hole of a core plate and expanded to be press fit to the core plate. Then adhesive is potted on the core plate for sealing the press fit portion in the end of the tube. A reinforcing member is formed around the barring hole for increasing the rigidity of the core plate so as to improve the durability of sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Kato, Hisashi Nakashima, Sumio Susa
  • Patent number: 6082448
    Abstract: The invention relates to a header of a heat exchanger for motor vehicles with an at least two-part design of the header of a tube bottom and a cap, which together form, optionally with at least one further component, the housing of the header. According to the invention, it is intended that the cap and/or the tube bottom together with the respective housing wall extending around is an integral diecast part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Klimatechnik GmbH & Co, KG
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6050329
    Abstract: A liquid-filled cooling fin generally includes two roughly rectangular opposing fin walls separated by a relatively thin liquid space or chamber. In this invention the fin walls have reinforcing ripples to increase fin wall rigidity and resistance to deformation. The opposing walls are sealed at both ends along the depth of the fin and at one of the two edges along the height of the fin. The second, open edge of the fin is attached along the height of the fin in a liquid tight seal to a tank in which a transformer or other heat generating device to be cooled is submerged in a cooling fluid. The tank is provided with holes or other fluid passages so that cooling fluid can circulate between the tank and the fin. Cooling fluid is heated in the tank by the transformer and flows from the tank to the cooling fins, where it is then cooled by transferring heat through the fin walls to ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: McGraw Edison Company
    Inventors: Stewart William Durian, Stephen Durian
  • Patent number: 6016865
    Abstract: In a plate heat exchanger the heat transfer plates (7, 8) are in pairs welded together to form cassettes (6). The two plates in every cassette bear on each other via corrugation ridges (25), which are crossing each other and create a flow path (33) between them for a first fluid. The cassettes (6) bear on each other via elevations (26), which are higher than the corrugation ridges (22) on the outsides of the cassettes. Between the cassettes (6) flow paths (34) are delimited for a second fluid. The main directions of flow for the two fluids are in parallel. Each one of the mentioned elevations (26) is elongated and extends with its longitudinal axis substantially in parallel with the main directions of flow for the fluids, bridging at most two valleys (23) between corrugation ridges (22) extending next to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Ralf Blomgren
  • Patent number: 6012513
    Abstract: To provide a heat exchanger capable of installing the side plate to the header pipe accurately without improper joining and errors respectively is disclosed. In a heat exchanger in which both end portions of the side plate are inserted into end portions of a pair of header pipes respectively, a large number of tubes are provided between the header pipes between the side plates, and fins are provided between the large number of tubes, a pair of pawls for pinching the header pipe wall therebetween are provided on both sides of both end portions of the side plates respectively so that the pair of pawls regulate the angle of installation and the insertion position of the side plate to the header pipe. This enables the side plate to be accurately installed to the header pipes in a state free from improper joining and errors, and the header pipes are accurately positioned, thus eliminating any possibility of causing obstruction to piping or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iokawa, Yoshifusa Tobata
  • Patent number: 5979543
    Abstract: What is disclosed herein deals with low to medium pressure, high temperature, all ceramic, air-to-air, indirect heat exchangers, novel ball joints; connecting slip ring collars for ceramic tubes, that are useful in such heat exchangers, systems comprising several heat exchangers or systems comprising heat exchangers that are fabricated such that they provide more efficient heat exchangers than has been possible heretofore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Robert G. Graham
  • Patent number: 5964284
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for an air conditioner comprises a plurality of heat-transfer tubes arranged in parallel to each other at predetermined intervals, and heat-transfer fins formed by helically winding a plurality of fine wires around the plurality of heat-transfer tubes. Preferably, the heat-transfer tubes are divided into groups of two adjacent heat-transfer tubes (1a, 1b), (1b, 1c), (1c, 1d), . . . , and at least one fine wire fin is wound helically around the two adjacent heat-transfer tubes of each group so that the fine wire fin does not cross other portions of the fine wire fin as viewed along a direction perpendicular to a plane including the axes of the plurality of heat-transfer tubes. When fabricating the heat exchanger, at least either the outer circumferences of the heat-transfer tubes or the outer circumferences of the fine wires are coated with a metal film formed by plating, and then the heat-transfer tubes and the fine wires are interlaced to form a heat exchanging structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Ikejima, Takashi Gotoh, Tsuneo Yumikura, Michimasa Takeshita, Takayuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5964283
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, especially an oil cooler for internal combustion engines. The heat exchanger consists of a plurality of mutally parallel tubes to convey the heat exchanging medium and blade-like heat exchange elements arranged perpendicularly to the tubes. The heat exchange elements are firmly secured to the tubes and also bent at the outer edges and are super imposed in the manner of scales. The medium to be cooled is fed via pipes arranged perpendicularly to the heat exchanging elements. The pipes open into a distributor plate having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet. The inlet and/or outlet for the coolant is also fitted in the diameter of the distributor plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Jaroslav Pavlin
  • Patent number: 5954128
    Abstract: Many recuperators have components which react to corrosive gases and are used in applications where the donor fluid includes highly corrosive gases. These recuperators have suffered reduced life, increased service or maintenance, and resulted in increased cost. The present header assembly when used with recuperators reduces the brittle effect of a portion of the ceramic components. Thus, the present header assembly used with the present recuperator increases the life, reduces the service and maintenance, and reduces the increased cost associated with corrosive action of components used to manufacture recuperators. The present header assembly is comprised of a first ceramic member, a second ceramic member, a reinforcing member being in spaced relationship to the first ceramic member and the second ceramic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Solar Turbines
    Inventors: Bruce D. Harkins, Michael E. Ward
  • Patent number: 5927394
    Abstract: Known constructions of oil coolers for motor vehicles are generally fastened directly by means of the base plate on the engine block and are therefore subjected to extremely high lateral acceleration forces during the operation of the engine. Stacking disk oil coolers, as a rule, do not withstand such forces because the lowest disk may deform during the operation so that the effectiveness of the cooler becomes questionable. It is suggested to arrange a reinforcing plate between the lowest plate of the stacking disk oil cooler and a base plate, which reinforcing plate is provided with a rim surrounding the edge of the lowest plate. This measure increases the stability of the stacking disk oil cooler so that it can be fastened directly to the engine block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Robert Mendler, Gerd Schleier, Gebhard Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5904206
    Abstract: A novel extruded aluminum condenser flow tube cross section includes a wider central web flanked by a pair of wider, inboard flow passages with rounded corners integral to the wider web. When inserted into the slot of a highly curved header plate, the wider central web corresponds to a central area of higher bending stresses, which are more strongly resisted. The two wider, inboard flow passages help compensate for the potential flow area removed by the wider central web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Karl Paul Kroetsch
  • Patent number: 5894885
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a condenser in which the lateral cheeks serving for the attachment of the condenser are replaced by the end tubes of the array, which open into the collectors beyond end partitions therein so as to be separated from the circulation of the liquid coolant. In this way, the particular parts formed by the cheeks and the positioning operation thereof are omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Andre Paquet
  • Patent number: 5894884
    Abstract: A liquid filled cooling fin generally comprising two, roughly rectangular, opposing fin walls separated by a relatively thin liquid space or chamber. The opposing walls are sealed at both ends along the depth of the fin and at one of the two edges along the height of the fin. The second, open edge of the fin is attached along the height of the fin in a liquid tight seal to a tank in which a transformer or other heat generating device to be cooled is submerged in a cooling fluid. The tank is provided with holes or other fluid passages so that cooling fluid can circulate between the tank and the fin. Cooling fluid is heated in the tank by the transformer and flows from the tank to the cooling fins, where it is then cooled by transferring heat through the fin walls to ambient air. The cooled cooling fluid then circulates back to the tank, completing a circulation pattern which is continuously repeated in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stewart W. Durian, Stephen Durian
  • Patent number: 5881456
    Abstract: A header tube for heat exchangers with a tube segment having slots which are perpendicular to the tube axis and spaced in the longitudinal direction and separated by webs, into which hollow flat pipes can be inserted and joined to the contact surface of the respective slot. The webs each have a pair of stampings to strengthen the material on each side of each web and the webs are shaped largely flat such that the cross-section of the tube segment has a largely D-shaped profile. A method of manufacturing the header tubes is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: ARUP Alu-Rohr und Profil GmbH
    Inventors: Michael E. Bergins, Peter Brede
  • Patent number: 5868198
    Abstract: The header pipes 3 and 4 of a heat exchanger 1, wherein each of the header pipes is provided with a plurality of tube insertion holes 9 in a longitudinal direction; the ends of tubes 2 are inserted into the tube insertion holes; the extended portions 3a and 4a respectively include longitudinally extended portions respectively extending from the portion provided with the tube insertion holes; further, the extended portions are provided with the reinforcing beads 13 respectively. The beads 13, each having a width equal to the opening width of each of the tube insertion holes 9, are pitched substantially equally as the tube insertion holes. Further, the header pipes 3 and 4 are formed by shaping a flat-sheet header pipe material H into pipes having a predetermined diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Kato
  • Patent number: 5853047
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for an air conditioner having a plurality of parallel heat exchanging tubes passing through flat fins perpendicular thereto, the flat fins being arranged in parallel to each other at predetermined intervals, and each heat exchanging tube having fluids flowing inside therethrough, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of louvers radially arranged around the tube, each louver being opened in flow direction of the air currents, such that the air currents flowing into the front and rear surfaces is turbulent around the tube, and first and second beads formed, respectively, before and behind the heat exchanging tubes in flow direction of the air currents, thereby enlarging a whole surface area of the flat fins, and reinforcing the flat fins, by which there is provided the turbulence and mixture of the air currents, further improving the heat transfer effect and reducing the air dead region around the heat exchanging tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Saeng Kim
  • Patent number: 5823251
    Abstract: A heat exchanger of the tube bundle type has a cylindrical body unit with an intake and outlet for the primary fluid. End sections of the body have closing flanges across which the tubes pass. Each flange is made of a material of rubber type and has a circular plate which bears on it periphery a set of circular lips. The flange rests with one of the sets of lips on a radial surface of the corresponding end section of the body unit. A mount element with a radial front surface rests on the other set of lips. A screw fastened to the outer wall of each end section locks the mouth element against the flange between the mount element and the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Piscine Service Anjou SA
    Inventor: Francis Romero
  • Patent number: 5806587
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a first tank and a second tank. Heat transfer tubes are disposed between the tanks and are connected to the tanks to place the tanks in fluid communication. At least one of the tanks is divided into chambers by a partition. A reinforcement plate member is disposed in at least one of the first and the second tanks for reinforcing the tank to prevent deformation of the tank due to an increase of the pressure within the tanks. The reinforcement plate member is not connected to the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasaki, Rei Oikawa, Tomohiro Chiba, Jun Iwai
  • Patent number: 5797448
    Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes generally perpendicular to and extending through a stack of humped plate fins. The plate fins have a plurality of holes to receive the tubes. These holes are disposed in rows, and are defined by wrinkle free collars surrounding the holes. A number of trapezoidal stiffening beads both short and long are integral to the plate and are disposed between the rows of holes. The rows of holes coincide with rows of arced humps in the plate fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Gregory G. Hughes, Brian P. Gilner
  • Patent number: 5794691
    Abstract: A plate type heat exchanger as disclosed having a plurality of stacked plate pairs. Each plate pair has opposed inlet and outlet openings that are in registration to form respective inlet and outlet flow manifolds for the flow of fluid through the plate pairs. Each of the inlet and outlet openings has an inner peripheral edge portion including opposed, flange segments extending inwardly and being joined together to prevent expansion of the manifolds under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Long Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruce Laurance Evans, James Gerrard Sorensen, Brian Ernest Duke
  • Patent number: 5732768
    Abstract: A condenser for air-conditioning systems for vehicles comprises at least one row of tubes fixed to a pack of substantially flat fins by the mechanical expansion of the tubes after they have been inserted in aligned holes in the fins. At least a substantial number of the fins have side portions which are thicker than the remaining portions of the fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Climatizzazione S.r.l
    Inventor: Franco Fraulo
  • Patent number: 5730208
    Abstract: Apparatus for exchanging heat between biothermal and geothermal ground heat sources and a heat pump for a building comprises a tank having a chamber for holding septic waste underground. The tank includes a heat conductive inner membrane for transferring heat to and from the waste. A fluid jacket located outside the chamber passes a heat transfer fluid adjacent a portion of the inner surface of the tank. Waste entry and exit piping transfers the waste to and from the chamber. Fluid inlet piping and outlet piping supplies the heat transfer fluid to and from the heat pump and the fluid jacket. When coupled to a heat pump in the heating mode, heat transfer fluid absorbs heat from biothermal sources within the tank and geothermal sources in and around the tank. In the cooling mode, heat transfer fluid conducts heat from a building to the tank and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: Reno L. Barban
  • Patent number: 5704423
    Abstract: A flat tube for a heat exchanger is disclosed. The flat tube is produced by assembling a main part made of a folded metal strip defining a flat side, two rounded ends and two side portions with two free edges, as well as a secondary part made of a metal strip forming a central portion with two flanged free edges, whereby the secondary part is sandwiched into the main part to form a multichannel tube. The tube may be used in heat exchangers for motor vehicle heating and/or air conditioning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Frederic Letrange
  • Patent number: 5697546
    Abstract: Heater coils usually intended primarily for the handling of low pressure heating fluid such as hot water from an engine cooling system are converted to use with elevated pressure hydraulic fluid by tying the inlet and outlet of said coil together with a sturdy structural frame, usually in the form of a plate provided with threaded fittings on one side for connection to hydraulic lines and having the ends of the tubing secured by brazing or other hot metal fusion welding to the rear of the reinforcing plate in alignment with the orifices through the plate. The plate also serves as a safety shield in case of failure of the radiator coils or connections and can also be advantageously applied to radiator coils formed especially for hydraulic heating coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Albert Brian Cicioni
  • Patent number: 5667004
    Abstract: A side mounting channel for a radiator is an integrally molded plastic unit with a shape particularly tailored to efficiently resisting the warping forces that result from thermal growth of the radiator core. Each side channel has a flat web and parallel, perpendicular edge flanges that substantially symmetric to the web. The edge flanges taper down into the plane of the web over a transition portion of defined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Karl Paul Kroetsch
  • Patent number: 5645126
    Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger in which a heat exchanging medium flows into a specific tank portion via a communicating passage that is connected to a surface that is at a right angle to the direction of the lamination, a reinforced portion is formed in the tank portion that faces opposite the opening portion of communicating passage (communicating pipe). The reinforced portion minimizes the likelihood of a rupture at the shoal-like bead near the communicating passage, which is provided among shoal-like beads formed in an area where the tank portions change to a U-shaped passage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nishishita, Takashi Sugita
  • Patent number: 5630472
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, in particular an engine cooling radiator for a motor vehicle, and especially one having a single row of tubes, comprises a bundle of tubes which are fitted sealingly in holes in a metallic tube plate, with a header being fitted over the tube plate. The heat exchanger also includes retaining plates which are formed integrally with the tube plate from a single press-formed sheet metal blank, the retaining plates then being bent over into their correct orientation. Each retaining plate extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tubes in the bundle, and is such as to engage against the edges of cooling fins of the tube bundle, thus preventing any movement, in pivoting or torsion, of the tube bundle with respect to the assembly consisting of the tube plate and the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Michel Potier