Reinforcement Patents (Class 165/906)
  • Patent number: 5590710
    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: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasaki, Rei Oikawa, Tomohiro Chiba, Jun Iwai
  • Patent number: 5540278
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes upper and lower tanks, a plurality of parallel heat transfer tubes fluidly interconnected between the upper and lower tanks, a plurality of reinforcing members connecting an upper wall and a lower wall of the upper and lower tanks, and a communication path associated with each reinforcing member. The reinforcing members increase the strength of the tank walls against deformation due to the high pressure working fluid without increasing the thickness of the walls or increasing the spacing between the tubes. The communication path ensures efficient flow of a heat medium in the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Chiba, Hisao Aoki, Rei Oikawa
  • Patent number: 5535821
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises an array of finned tubes in which the ends of the tubes are tightly fitted into holes formed in a collecting plate on which a collecting box is mounted. Stop means are provided between the collecting box and at least one tube end to prevent axial displacement of the tube during service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Michel Potier
  • Patent number: 5511612
    Abstract: The device relates to an oil cooler and the object thereof is to provide an oil cooler with an improved mounting strength of water pipes against external stresses. A core portion 33 is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of plates 35, 37 and arranging cooling water passages 39 and oil passages 41 alternately between these plates 35, 37. On an upper portion of the core portion 33 is an oil tank 57 that is formed of an upper plate 47 and a cover plate 55. The upper plate 47 has a cooling water passage holes 43 communicating with the cooling water passages 39 and the oil passages 41. The cover plate 55 has water pipe insertion holes 51, 53 so as to correspond to the cooling water passage holes 43. The water pies 59, 61 are inserted into the cooling water passage holes 43 of the upper plate 47 by causing the water pipes 59, 61 to pass through the water pipe insertion holes 51, 53.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Tajima, Kei Beppu, Tomoyuki Mano, Shigeru Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5511613
    Abstract: An elongated heat exchanger tube has an internally located stiffener assembly which prevents the deflection of the tube wall due to pressure differentials between the tube internal and external surfaces while allowing the flow of fluid between the areas on opposite sides of the stiffener inside of the tube. The heat exchanger tube can have an elliptical, oval or flat cross-section. The internal stiffener can have a variety of cross-sectional configurations having uniform or non-uniform shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Hudson Products Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Mohn, Douglas D. Zeigler
  • Patent number: 5507339
    Abstract: A reinforced hydraulically expanded flow channel (18) is disclosed which prevents the width of the hydraulically expanded flow channel (18) from changing. This reduces the strain rate in the high strain area next to the welds (16). After the hydraulic expansion process, the ends (20, 22) of the hydraulically expanded flow channel (18) are restrained by a rigid structure (24) such as a tubular member (28). When a tubular member (28) is employed, additional support is provided opposite the desired heat transfer surface (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 5492172
    Abstract: A header plate, which forms one wall of the internal space of a fluid header for a cooling radiator for air used in supercharging a motor vehicle engine, has apertures through which the fluid flow tubes of the heat exchanger extend. These apertures are formed in an elongated flat region of the header plate, which is joined to raised side flanges through respective curved regions. The material of the header plate is press-formed, on the same side as the concavity of these curved regions, in zones which are aligned in the transverse direction of the header plate and which extend over at least the whole length of arc of each of the curved regions. The deformation resulting from this press-forming operation causes local thickening of the material, which reinforces the plate in its curved regions and inhibits any tendency to fracture along the generatrices of the curved regions due to mechanical and thermal stresses encountered in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Laveran, Daniel Hervel, Dany Boquel
  • Patent number: 5482114
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is comprised of a pair of manifolds (12, 14) with a heat exchanger core (20) therebetween, and an upper side support (22) and a lower side support (44) along the outer sides of the core (20) connected between the manifolds (12, 14). The upper side support (22) includes mounting brackets (40). The lower side support (44) comprises the mounting bracket. A pair of loading members (52) are connected between the lower mounting bracket (44) and the manifolds (12, 14) in angular relationship thereto to allow additional support and loading through the manifolds (12, 14), and to allow thermal expansion of the exchanger (10) with minimal restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Behr Heat Transfer Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. B. Lu
  • Patent number: 5404940
    Abstract: Increased resistance to deformation caused by internal pressure within a heat exchanger acting in a direction generally transverse to the length of tubes (18) extending between spaced headers (10,12) is achieved in a construction wherein side pieces (22) sandwiching the core defined by the tubes (18) and interposed fins (20) are coupled by means of tie bars (30) having transverse ends (32) embracing the side pieces (22). Resilient clips (40) act to secure the tie bars (30) to the side pieces (22) and include retention notches (54) to positively hold the clips (40) assembled to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Jan van den Nieuwenhuizen, Joos de Hoog
  • Patent number: 5358034
    Abstract: A heat-exchanger includes a plurality of stacked tubular elements each having tanks, and passage-forming protrusions defining a passage connecting the tanks, fins interposed between adjacent ones of the tubular elements and contacting the passage-forming protrusions, inlet/outlet units each comprising a barrel-shaped element protruding from and open to the tank of a respective one of the tubular elements, inlet/outlet pipes fitted coaxially in contact with and joined to the barrel-shaped elements, respectively, and a measure (reinforcement) for preventing parts of the barrel-shaped elements from being deformed as the inlet/outlet pipes are fitted to the barrel-shaped elements during the assembly of the heat exchanger to in turn maintain the integrity of the joints between the inlet/outlet units and the inlet/outlet pipes. The reinforcement may include a ring disposed around the barrel-shaped element adjacent an end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nishishita, Tadaaki Ishikawa, Yasuyuki Nagakura, Takashi Sugita
  • Patent number: 5351751
    Abstract: A heat exchanger tank for connection to a header part to form a heat exchanger manifold has an elongate trough-shaped body 4 having opposed side walls 14,16; and at least one strengthening tie bar 36 extending between the side walls 14,16, the tie bar comprising an elongate body 37 having enlarged head portions 40 at opposite ends thereof which are of generally wedge-shaped section of dimension which decreases in a direction generally perpendicular to the elongate extent of the body of the tie bar, with the tank side walls 14,16 defining opposed pockets 44 for of shape which corresponds to the shape of the head portions for receiving therein respective head portions of the tie bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Valeo Engine Cooling, Incorp.
    Inventors: Lynn L. Cage, Rodney A. Spears, Lawrence R. Barron, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5325915
    Abstract: A modular cooler having a plurality of units which can be interconnected in a leak proof manner yet providing fluid flow therebetween. The cooler can be an oil or transmission fluid cooler and any suitable number of units and any suitable number of units may be stacked. Thus, a single unit can be used in conjunction with like units to provide any desired degree of cooling. The coolers are interconnected by fluid tight members between stacked units and by a nipple assembly on the uppermost unit having an adjustable member coupled to a sealing member on the lowermost unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Earl's Supply Co.
    Inventors: Robert E. Fouts, Craig Fouts, Earl J. Fouts
  • Patent number: 5279355
    Abstract: For the production of a heat storage means, more particularly in the form of latent heat storage means, for vehicle heating systems run on heat from the engine, comprising a housing, which is made up of an outer container and in inner container arranged in spaced relationship to the outer container so as to include an insulating zone between them, a heat storage core arranged in the inner container and having at least one chamber for a storage medium in it, said chamber being separated by a partition wall from at least one flow path for a heat transfer medium, and an inlet duct and outlet duct for the heat transfer medium, such ducts being connected with the flow path and extending outwards through the insulating zone, a high quality insulation may be produced without thermal damage in a substantially shorter period of time, which is economically acceptable and the insulation may be sufficiently long lasting for use in automobiles, if after the insulating zone has been heated after the production of the housi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Inventor: Oskar Schatz
  • Patent number: 5211220
    Abstract: Better mechanical properties are achieved with tubes for shell and tube heat exchangers by providing a coating on the tubes which is formed of fibers and a fluorine-containing polymer covering the fibers. The tubes are formed of fluorine-containing polymers whose use in heat exchangers is normally limited by the comparatively small compressive strength and fatigue resistance of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Sigri Great Lakes Carbon GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Swozil, Gerhard Ullmann
  • Patent number: 5209290
    Abstract: A heat exchanger body is connected in fluid communication with external tubing via tube fittings. The tube fittings are supported by a supporting member that is brazed to the heat exchanger body. The supporting member can securely support the tube fitting. The supporting member can be brazed together with the heat exchanger body, thus making assembly and fabrication of the heat exchanger easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Chigira
  • Patent number: 5193613
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising opposed parallel header tubes having circumferentially spaced grooves along the length thereof with inclined sides and a base on the external surface of the groove and spaced annular ribs on the inner surface opposite the grooves. Each groove has a transverse slot therein for receiving open ends of an elongated flat tube. Each header tube is made by performing a rolling operation to form the grooves and ribs. Thereafter, the grooved tubes are punched to form the transverse slots in the base of the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Bernard J. Wallis
  • Patent number: 5192499
    Abstract: The fluid processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing having a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet; a fluid processing tubular means received in the housing; partitions securing the opposed ends of the fluid processing tubular means to the housing in a fluid tight seal to partition the housing interior into a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet and a second fluid chamber defined in the fluid processing tubular means; a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet in fluid communication with the second fluid chamber; and projections formed on an inner surface of one end portion of the housing so as to project toward the nearer end opening of the housing, said partition of the one end portion side of said housing being secured to the one end portion of the housing so that the projections are positioned within the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Sakai, Kiyohide Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 5186247
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a tubular heat exchanger for operation at high gas temperature and high pressures with heat exchanger tubes, which are coiled on the greater section of their linear extension. Further, the tube bottoms have tie rods, which brace the tube bottoms. The tie rods (3) of a graduated circle (1a, 1b) are connected at several points in the longitudinal direction by rings (5) into a cage. The tie rods (3) are flattened (3a) in the area of the rings (5). The tubes arranged on the adjacent graduated circle are connected to one another in the coiled area (2a) by means of angular plates (4) in pairs in the area of the rings (5). The connection to the angular plates (4) is such that, the tube form a hollow-cylinder-shaped tube cage. At least three guiding plates (6, 6a) are arranged in each area of uncoiled tubes (2b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Man Gutehoffnungshutte AG
    Inventor: Alfred Schlemenat
  • Patent number: 5186251
    Abstract: Heat exchanger with double row tubes with each tube being substantially identical and made by a sequence of roll forming operations from a single piece blank so that it has a centralized vertical connector web of the thickness of the blank connecting and supporting opposite side walls of the tubes to separate each tube into separate flow passes for augmenting tube burst strength from high internal pressures. Also, the vertical connector web effectively eliminates tube crushing from compression loads exerted onto a core of tubes and corrugated air centers by retainer bands used to hold these components together for their subsequent brazing together in a high temperature oven to form a core. With these tubes employed, heat exchanger efficiency is improved since the apices of the air centers have extensive direct contact with the flat sides of the roll formed tubes thoughout their widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Shrikant M. Joshi
  • Patent number: 5181561
    Abstract: For use in a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes, a stiffener plate for supporting the tubes, the plate being in the form of a unitary relatively thin planar metal plate having an opening for each tube to be supported, each opening being in the form of an integral short-length tubular ferrule portion of internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the tube to be received therethrough, each integral ferrule portion having an end surface that is in a plane paralleled to and spaced from the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Lansing Overhaul And Repair, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Ayers, Thomas G. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5178211
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, in particular a coolant condenser which has a plurality of flat pipes, extending in parallel, and corrugated ribs are arranged between the flat pipes. The ends of the flat pipes are connected to corresponding openings in the base of junction boxes consisting of solder-plated material and are soldered to the junction boxes, wherein the flat pipes likewise consist of a soler-plated material and the ends have a round cross section, and a section with radial press-fit is present at the ends of the flat pipes in the region of the base of the junction boxes. The flat pipes consist preferably of material solder-plated on both sides, and supporting webs are situated in the flat pipes and are connected to the flat pipes by means of the solder of the flat pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Dieter Bauer, Klaus Herrmann, Karl-Heinz Staffa
  • Patent number: 5172761
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is formed by a pair of tanks with heat exchanger tubes connected therebetween. The tanks include a header plate with chamber indentions that cooperates with a tank plate to form a row of tank chambers for interconnecting the heat exchanger tubes joined to the header plate. The header plate has a plurality of tube indentations or dimples which extend at adjacent tube apertures and are contacted by a continuous tank rib on the tank plate within each chamber. The ribs and dimples provide substantially uniform contacting and sealing surfaces during brazing to strengthen the assembled header. The tank rib includes tube slots opposing the apertures in the tube plate to provide a stop for insertion of the exchanger tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Peter A. Lyon
  • Patent number: 5107924
    Abstract: A plastic radiator tank for heat exchangers of internal-combustion engines, particularly for radiators of commercial vehicles, having at least one connection tube for a heat exchange medium. The connection tube has an interior wall and includes a reinforcement on the interior wall. The reinforcement comprises webs which project toward the inside of the connection tube from the interior wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Damsohn Herbert, Walter Wolf
  • Patent number: 5042576
    Abstract: A finned tube heat exchanger having an improved flat louver fin configuration for increased heat transfer efficiency and low air pressure drop. The fins comprise generally planar sheet metal plates having a pattern of spaced apertures for receiving a group of heat exchanger tubes perpendicularly to the fin plate. Groups of louvers are formed as elongate strips extending generally in an area between adjacent tubes. The strips are selectively offset, i.e. raised or lowered from the nominal plane of the fin, so as to establish a louver pattern having flat louvers in a number of different planes each parallel to the direction of flow of air across the fin. Stiffness is provided for the fin plate by providing a slope and offset of the leading and trailing edges of the fin plate such that they are displaced in a direction parallel to the axes of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Heatcraft Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Broadbent
  • Patent number: 5033537
    Abstract: There is disclosed an air conditioning unit for location in the wall of a room and which comprises a heat exchanger, an external supply fan operable to blow air into the room through the heat exchanger and an extract fan operable to draw air out of the room through the heat exchanger, in which the heat exchanger comprises a stack of thin flexible plates which are spaced apart from each other so as to define between opposed faces of adjacent plates extract air flow paths and supply air flow paths through the heat exchanger, with the spacing apart of the faces defining the extract air flow paths being greater than the spacing apart of the faces defining the supply air flow paths whereby the depth of the extract air flow paths initially is greater than the depth of the supply air flow paths, but during operation any tendency for the flexible plates to deform under differential pressure action results in the depths of the extract air flow paths and supply air flow paths being substantially equalized, which provid
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Advance Design & Manufacture Limited
    Inventors: Howard S. Atkin, Christopher J. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4971145
    Abstract: A heat exchanger header is formed of a tube plate and a header plate having indentations that cooperate with the tube plate to form a row of tank chambers for interconnecting heat exchanger tubes joined to the tube plate. The tube plate has ribs extending between adjacent tube apertures that are contacted at a point midway along their length by respective projections from the indentations on the tank plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Peter A. Lyon
  • Patent number: 4936378
    Abstract: Closure plugs have heretofore been required in an apparatus for stabilizing an unstable tube of a heat exchanger with a weakened wall region, in addition to providing a stabilizer. Furthermore, differing inside diameters can often not be bridged with the spreading range of the stabilizer. A rod which is fitted with two axially spaced-apart cam discs is provided in order to achieve not only a vibration-free stabilization but a simple sealing as well. Each cam disc has a spreading sleeve which engages over it. Once the spreading sleeve has been pressed against the inner wall of the tube by a relative rotation of the rod, the sleeve-shaped end of the rod is expanded by rolling or is welded in the tube sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: ABB Reaktor GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kalthoff, Jakob Russ
  • Patent number: 4898233
    Abstract: A heat exchange device is provided whose exchange zone is formed by juxtaposing a plurality of plates parallel with each other and spaced apart two-by-two by a plurality of spacing elements consisting of spacers parallel to each other, which may be crenellated (they then comprise crenels and projecting parts) or continuous, said plates being formed so that for any two adjacent plates, at least one of the facing faces is provided with spacers, at least one part of said spacers being, over at least a part of their length, in contact with the facing face of the adjacent plate or with at least a part of the spacers possibly present on said facing face, over at least a part of their length, said plates, defining flow spacers for two fluids being further formed and disposed so that for one flow space out of two the spacers carried by at least one of the facing faces of two adjacent plates defining said space are crenellated spacers. The fluids flow advantageously in cross-current relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Alain Grehier, Alexandre Rojey
  • Patent number: 4858685
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a plurality of like plates each in turn provided with a base portion substantially on and defining a base plane and having a pair of generally parallel opposite outer edges, and respective lips bent upward from the outer edges and forming and lying on an attachment plane substantially parallel to the base plane. Adhesive bonds or welds secure the plates together in a stack to form generally perpendicular flow passages parallel to the plane. The lips of each plate extend generally perpendicular to the lips of the adjacent plate and the plates are secured together with the connection plane of each plate lying on the base plane of an adjacent plate. Each plate is formed between the respective opposite edges with a plurality of integral bumps projecting from the respective base plane toward the respective connection plane. These bumps each have an apex lying on the respective connection plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Energigazdalkodasi Intezet
    Inventors: Laszlo Szucs, Andras Harmatha
  • Patent number: 4858679
    Abstract: A corrugated heat pipe sealed at both ends is disclosed, having a longitudinally corrugated peripheral wall and containing operating liquid therein. The corrugated heat pipe comprises inside a rope-like tension member extending therethrough in its longitudinal direction and secured at both ends. The rope-like tension member has the effect of preventing the corrugated heat pipe from elongation due to the weight thereof when the pipe is inserted in the ground, thus eliminating the possibility of local flattening of the corrugated outer periphery or of breakage of the pipe. Further, even when the coefficient of thermal expansion of the rope-like tension member differs from that of the corrugated heat pipe, since the corrugated heat pipe has its outer periphery corrugated in a wavy form in the longitudinal direction, it can sufficiently absorb the thermal expansion of the rope-like tension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Masuji Sakaya, Tsuneaki Motai, Masataka Mochizuki, Kouichi Mashiko
  • Patent number: 4854372
    Abstract: A corrugated heat pipe sealed at both ends is disclosed, having a longitudinally corrugated peripheral wall and containing operating liquid therein. The corrugated heat pipe comprises inside a rope-like tension member extending therethrough in its longitudinal direction and secured at both ends. The rope-like tension member has the effect of preventing the corrugated heat pipe from elongation due to the weight thereof when the pipe is inserted in the ground, thus eliminating the possibility of local flattening of the corrugated outer periphery or of breakage of the pipe. Further, even when the coefficient of thermal expansion of the rope-like tension member differs from that of the corrugated heat pipe, since the corrugated heat pipe has its outer periphery corrugated in a wavy form in the longitudinal direction, it can sufficiently absorb the thermal expansion of the rope-like tension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Masuji Sakaya, Tsuneaki Motai, Masataka Mochizuki, Kouichi Mashiko
  • Patent number: 4852644
    Abstract: A tubular heat exchanger for operation at high gas temperatures and high jacket pressures include tube sheets which are exposed to high loads so that both sheets are kept thin and tie rods bracing the tube sheets are arranged on at least every other graduated circle of a plurality of graduated circles or tubes and tie rods. The heat exchanger tubes arranged between the tube sheets have a helical shape in an intermediate or central region. The heat exchanger design can be used, for example, as a cracked gas cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Man Gutehoffnungshuette GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Schlemenat, Helmut David
  • Patent number: 4836275
    Abstract: A corrugated heat pipe sealed at both ends is disclosed, having a longitudinally corrugated peripheral wall and containing operating liquid therein. The corrugated heat pipe comprises inside a rope-like tension member extending therethrough in its longitudinal direction and secured at both ends. The rope-like tension member has the effect of preventing the corrugated heat pipe from elongation due to the weight thereof when the pipe is inserted in the ground, thus eliminating the possibility of local flattening of the corrugated outer periphery or of breakage of the pipe. Further, even when the coefficient of thermal expansion of the rope-like tension member differs from that of the corrugated heat pipe, since the corrugated heat pipe has its outer periphery corrugated in a wavy form in the longitudinal direction, it can sufficiently absorb the thermal expansion of the rope-like tension member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Masuji Sakaya, Tsuneaki Motai, Masataka Mochizuki, Kouichi Mashiko
  • Patent number: 4789024
    Abstract: An element basket assembly (30) for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger (2) comprised of a plurality of heat transfer element plates (32) stacked in an array between first and second end plates (34,36) disposed at opposite ends of the stacked array of heat transfer element plates (32). Upper and lower side straps (40,42 and 50,52) run along opposite sides of the stacked array of heat transfer element plates, to interconnect the first and second end plates (34,36) to form the frame of the element basket housing the heat transfer element plates. A stiffening member (60) is disposed intermediate the spaced end plates (34,36) to extend transversely across the assembled element basket assembly in a plane through the centroid thereof to the interconnect the upper side straps (40,42) and to interconnect the lower side straps (50,52) thereby increasing the structural integrity of the basket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The Air Preheater Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Muscato
  • Patent number: 4745966
    Abstract: A heat exchanger panel suitable for cooling fluid filled electrical apparatus, such as electrical distribution and power transformers, and method of constructing same, which withstands substantially higher pressures without adding significantly to the weight of the heat exchanger. The metallic sheet which is used to construct the heat exchanger panel includes edges which define a substantially rectangular configuration, with predetermined opposite edges therof being folded to increase the edge thickness of the sheet prior to forming the fins. The fins are formed via bend lines which extend from folded edge to folded edge. This provides at least twice the material thickness where the heat exchanger panel is welded to the tank of the associated apparatus, and at least four times the material thickness where the folded fin is welded to form the fin cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Randall N. Avery
  • Patent number: 4708197
    Abstract: An air to air heat exchanger particularly for contaminated air from an animal barn or the like includes a core formed by a plurality of thin-walled flexible plastics tubes supported at respective ends in tube sheets. The tubes are held under tension and arranged vertically in parallel rows and columns so that cold fresh air enters parallel to the rows horizontally beneath the upper tube sheet and then moved downwardly along the outside of the tubes to escape horizontally parallel to the rows above the lower tube sheet. The contaminated warm air passes from a plenum beneath the lower tube sheet upwardly along the inside of the tubes to an outlet at the top of the tubes. This direction of movement of the air causes a self-cleaning effect by condensate at the top of the tubes running down and cleaning the interior of the tubes of any collected contaminants. The design also enables the use of convenient inexpensive flexible tubes without allowing air movement to cause unacceptable flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventor: R. Ralph Robbins
  • Patent number: 4696342
    Abstract: A plate-type heat exchanger comprises a stack of flat fluid flow tubes each composed of a pair of confronting core plates joined to each other and defining a fluid flow pass therebetween, each of the core plates having an inlet hole for introducing a fluid into the fluid flow pass and an outlet hole for discharging the fluid from the fluid flow pass. Each core plate has a plurality of ribs on an inner wall surface thereof, the ribs on one of the pair of plates being held in contact with the confronting ribs on the other core plate. The ribs are present in the fluid flow pass between the joined core plates in every direction along the inner wall surface of each of the core plates. The fluid flow pass does not have any fluid passage free of ribs. Therefore, the heat exchanger has improved heat transfer efficiency, and the fluid flow tube is mechanically strong or highly resistant to pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamauchi, Toshio Ohara, Toshio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4671064
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having annular construction for a constant operation at high temperatures and pressures. A series of heating walls at high temperature surround the fluid to which heat is desired to be transferred in annular spaces. Counterbalancing pressures in areas filled with high pressure fluid and insulating gases allow use of thinwall construction for the heating walls to reduce cost and increase heat transfer. Spacers that are placed under compression are provided to maintain dimensional stability and transmit forces. Embodiments describing the use of the device as a heater or cooler and operation in either direction are illustrated. A second embodiment illustrates a heater with single sided heating of the fluid desired to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Stirling Engine Associates
    Inventors: Maurice A. White, Stuart G. Emigh
  • Patent number: 4645000
    Abstract: A tube and fin heat exchanger is disclosed comprising a pair of tanks, a plurality of tubes of non-circular cross section connected at their ends to tanks, and a plurality of corrugated fin strips each arranged between and extending along the length of adjacent ones of the tubes. Each of the fin strips has a constant corrugation spacing extending along an intermediate and almost the entire length of the tubes and a smaller corrugation spacing extending the remainder of the length of the tubes to their ends so as to provide increased resistance to ballooning of the tubes at their ends by internal pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Louis Scarselletta
  • Patent number: 4635714
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packing groove in a plate member for a heat exchanger, especially to a packing groove at the inlet and outlet portions of the plate member. The bottom of the packing groove includes according to the invention strengthening bars, which are embossed in the bottom of the packing groove and extend substantially along the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: ReHeat AB
    Inventors: Christer Almqvist, Bengt Carlsson, Lars Lindahl
  • Patent number: 4592420
    Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger including generally parallel rows of flattened tubes extending through a stack of generally parallel plate fins. Each of the plate fins is provided with generally H-shaped deformations with the H-shaped deformations being in rows which are staggered with respect to each other. The deformations increase the rigidity of the plate fins during tube pushing and act to induce turbulence in a fluid flowing through the heat exchanger to enhance heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gregory G. Hughes
  • Patent number: 4583583
    Abstract: A cooling assembly for fuel cells having a simplified construction whereby coolant is efficiently circulated through a conduit arranged in serpentine fashion in a channel within a member of such assembly. The channel is adapted to cradle a flexible, chemically inert, conformable conduit capable of manipulation into a variety of cooling patterns without crimping or otherwise restricting of coolant flow. The conduit, when assembled with the member, conforms into intimate contact with the member for good thermal conductivity. The conduit is non-corrodible and can be constructed as a single, manifold-free, continuous coolant passage means having only one inlet and one outlet. The conduit has an internal coil means which enables it to be bent in small radii without crimping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventor: Charles F. Wittel, deceased
  • Patent number: 4580623
    Abstract: An evaporator for refrigeration devices comprises a serpentine tube bundle having a plurality of spaced-apart parallel fins. The tube bundle is arranged to provide sets of tubes in a staggered arrangement to increase the number of tube passes for the height of the evaporator and space the tubes apart to improve efficiency of air flow patterns over the tubes to enhance heat transfer. The fins are made of ultra-thin material of a thickness less than 0.20 millimeters. The fins have an embossed pattern to reinforce the fins through which the tubes extend in appropriately shaped apertures. Due to the thinness of the fins, portions of the fin walls are displaced by inserting the tubes in the apertures to ensure metal to metal contact between the fin and the tubes. The embossed pattern is such to induce turbulence in the air flowing over the fins and tubes to considerably increase the efficiency of the evaporator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Inglis Limited
    Inventors: Cory T. Smitte, Rico D. Ferrelli
  • Patent number: 4576223
    Abstract: The invention concerns a heat exchanger comprising a heat exchanger block having a plurality of tubes and fins arranged transversely to the tubes, at least one tube plate and a water tank, both made of a synthetic plastic material. The tube plate has orifices to receive the ends of the tubes and the water tank is fastened in a water tight manner to the tube plate. In order to obtain a simple and reliable joint of the heat exchanger tubes with the tube plate and the water tank with the tube plate, the plastic tube plate is provided on one side with projections. The orifices are located in these projections and the ends of the tubes are mounted in these orifices by expansion in the radial direction or impression in the axial direction. Both the tube plate and the water tank are equipped with flat surfaces at their edges. These surfaces rest on each other and the tube plate is joined with the water tank by vibration welding on these surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Sueddeutsche Kuehlerfabrik Julius Fr. Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bohumil Humpolik, Vlastimil Kluna, Wilfried Winterer, Reinhold Kuchelmeister, Jurgen Bayer
  • Patent number: 4570700
    Abstract: A transversally corrugated multi-luminal flat tube for circulating the refrigerant of an evaporator for an automotive air conditioner in indirect heat exchange relation with air is provided with one laterally marginal portion, being the one which faces inlet air flow in a transverse cross-flow system, that is so thick-walled about its outer perimeter, that inlet air, which is corrosive because it contains moisture and salt, will be prevented for a sufficiently long time from corroding pinholes through that part of the tube, the remaining part of the outer periphery of the flat tube, because it is less subject to corrosive attack being thinner walled, so as to maximize durability and mass flow rate, while minimizing weight and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Ohara, Sigenobu Fukumi, Yoshiyuki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 4565177
    Abstract: An aftercooler housing (26) is made of lightweight sheet material which is assembled with an aftercooler core (44) so that the core (44) reinforces the housing. Housing (26) can be constructed from a sheet of suitable metal, plastic, fiberglass which extends around the core to provide an open ended configuration. End walls (36, 38) enclose the housing, and wall (36) supports both an air inlet port (24) as well as coolant fluid inlet and outlet ports (62, 64). Top wall (28) of the housing is tapered downwardly from wall (36) to wall (38) to provide a tapered air inlet chamber for the aftercooler. Reinforcing sections (58) are provided on the sidewall of the housing adjacent the engine, and cross tie members (72, 78) pass from the remaining sidewall of the housing through the housing to the reinforcing sections to transfer some of the load on the housing to the reinforcing sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie A. Roettgen, Kenneth W. Israel
  • Patent number: 4559996
    Abstract: A modular bundle of tubes for a steam condenser comprises two perforated plates (24, 25), a series of tubes (22) interconnecting the perforated plates, and a set of intermediate supporting plates (23) distributed between the two perforated plates. The improvement wherein both perforated plates are the same size, each being surrounded by a reinforcing frame (24, 25) which is thicker than the perforated plate, and wherein drawbars (26) fitted with length-adjusting means (27) interconnect the perforated plates, said drawbars being fixed to said frames and being distributed along the said frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme Dite-Delas-Weir
    Inventor: Bernard Andrieux
  • Patent number: 4546823
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a radiator wherein grooves formed in a tank flange and in a header match each other and a mound formed on an associated clamping strip. Tapered edges formed on locking tabs cut in the tank flange cooperate with a sloped surface on the clamping strip when bent inwardly to urge the clamping strip and header toward the tank flange so as to compress a sealing gasket between the header and tank flange grooves, eliminating the need for solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: McCord Heat Transfer Corporation
    Inventor: William Melnyk
  • Patent number: 4546822
    Abstract: A solderless type automotive engine radiator has upper and lower tanks and a heat exchanger core connected at the upper and lower ends to the tanks through upper and lower header plates. The core is formed by tubes and fins secured to the tubes without soldering. The upper and lower ends of the tubes are in gripping engagement with inner peripheral surfaces of holes formed in the header plates. Layers of adhesive are formed on the surfaces of the header plates adjacent to the core to form liquid-tight seals between the header plates and the tubes. The adhesive layers and the fins are arranged such that at least the fin nearest to an adjacent adhesive layer is either in face-to-face engagement with the adjacent adhesive layer or embedded in the adjacent adhesive layer to strengthen the adhesive layer and protect the same against foreign materials such as water and dirt whereby the durability of the seals is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Tamura
  • Patent number: RE35098
    Abstract: A method of making a heat exchanger of the type used in vehicle radiators and having a core of spaced welded, as contrasted to lock-seam, tubes and interconnecting fins connected to spaced liquid tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Zalman P. Saperstein