Abstract: A tube assembly for use in a heat exchanger includes a flat section with broad and flat opposing tube sides. Fin structures are bonded to the broad and flat tube sides in the flat section, and side sheets are bonded to the opposite ends of the fin structures. The flat section of the tube is located between cylindrical end sections adapted to be inserted into grommets. The construction of the tube assembly provides a stiff structure to survive insertion and removal of tube assemblies to and from a heat exchanger, for example, a radiator for heavy duty equipment.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling a heat generating device is provided that includes a plurality of plates each defining at least one through-bore. The plates are laminated together to form a stack so that a plurality of enclosed chambers are formed by an alignment of a first portion of the through-bores within the block, and a plurality of passageways are formed by an alignment of a second portion of the through-bores within the stack such that at least one of the passageways is arranged in fluid communication with at least two of the chambers. A baffle-plate is disposed within a portion of the stack so as to form a chamber boundary and thereby to define a circuitous fluid flow path between the chambers through the at least one passageway. A fluid entrance port is defined in a first outer one of the plates and arranged in fluid communication with one of the chambers, and a fluid exit port is also defined in a second outer one of the plates and arranged in fluid communication with another one of the chambers.

Abstract: A stacked plate heat exchanger is provided. The stacked plate heat exchanger includes a first end plate having an integrated connector. The connector has a first cross sectional plane at a first port and a second cross sectional plane at a second port with the first and second cross sectional planes forming an acute angle with respect to each other.

Abstract: An evaporative heat exchanger (10) is provided for the transfer of heat to a first fluid (30) from a second fluid (28) and a third fluid (22) to vaporize the first fluid (30). The heat exchanger (10) includes a core (40), a first flow path (60) in the core for the first fluid (30), a second flow path (66) in the core (40) for the second fluid (28), and a third flow path (68) in the core (40) for the third fluid (22). The core (40) includes a first section (42), a second section (44), and a third section (46), with the second section (44) connecting the first and third sections (42, 46). The first flow path (60) extends through all of the sections (42, 44, 46), the second flow path (66) extends through the first section (42), and the third flow path (68) extends through the third section (46).

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is provided to transfer heat between a first and second fluid flow. The heat exchanger 10 includes a flow path (20) provided in the form of one or more heat exchange tubes (40, 40A-C), and a second flow path (30) provided in the form of one or more serpentine heat exchange tubes (42, 42A-C). The tube(s) (40, 40A-C) is (are) “woven” together with the tube(s) (42, 42A-C) such that they are perpendicular to each other. The heat exchanger (10) can provide particular advantages when used as a suction line heat exchanger in a transcritical cooling system (12).

Abstract: A heat exchanger (50) is provided for transferring heat between first and second fluids (52) and (54) having a maximum operating mass flow rate through the heat exchanger (50) and mass flow rates that are substantially proportional to each other. The heat exchanger (50) provides essentially constant outlet temperatures for the first and second fluids (52,54) for all of the flow rates within the operating spectrum of the heat exchanger (50) without the use of an active control system. The heat exchanger (50) is of particular use in the fuel processing system (36) of proton exchange membrane type fuel cell systems.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (20) includes a stack (22) of heat exchanger tubes (24), with the stack (22) having a pair of spaced ends (26, 28) that are received into respective manifolds (30, 32) that direct a first fluid (33), such as an exhaust gas flow of a vehicle, to and from interiors (34) of the tubes (24). The manifolds (30) and (32) are bonded to the respective ends (26) and (28) using a suitable bonding technique, such as soldering. Each end (26, 28) has an outer periphery (54) that includes furrows (56) and elongate, narrow protrusions (58), and each manifold (30, 32) has a wall (60) that extends continuously around the associated end (26, 28) and includes inwardly directed ridges (62) that are received in the furrows (56) and elongate slots (64) that receive the protrusions (58) to provide a tight joint between the wall (60) and the associated end (50, 52).

Abstract: A header construction intended for use in a heat exchanger (36) employed in a relatively high pressure application includes an array of generally parallel tube runs (84) with fins (82) extending between adjacent ones of the tube runs. At least one relatively flat header plate (86) has a plurality of tube slots (88) for receiving ends (90) of the tubes (84) and a tank (94) is mounted to and sealed to the header plate (86). Peripheral flanges (112) are located about tube slots (86) in the headers and a header reinforcing plate (114) is bonded to the header plate (86) oppositely of the tank (94). Stiffening beads in the form of flanges (120) are located on the header reinforcing plate (114) between openings (118) therein through which the tubes (84) pass and extend away from the header plate (86).

Abstract: A compact cooling system includes a mounting panel adapted to receive a plurality of at least three cooling units, a cooling fan, and a fan drive mechanism. The mounting panel supports the fan and drive mechanism in a manner allowing rotation of the fan about the axis of rotation. A front side of the mounting panel is adapted for receiving and supporting the cooling units in a pattern defining a cantilevered, tubular polygonal solid disposed about the fan. The mounting panel includes a convex central region extending into the tubular polygonal solid and receiving the drive mechanism in operative connection to the fan. By virtue of this arrangement, a very compact cooling system is provided. The tubular polygonal shape of the cooling units, when mounted on the mounting panel, forms an air duct for directing a flow of cooling air induced by the fan through the cooling units.

Abstract: A method of installing a baffle (46) in a tubular header (10), (12) for a heat exchanger includes the steps of a) providing a concavo-convex baffle (60) with a periphery smaller than the internal periphery of the header (10), (12); b) locating the baffle (60) at a desired location within the header (10), (12); and c) applying a compressive force (102), (110) to the baffle (60) to compress the baffle toward a planar shape.

Abstract: A thermostatic valve assembly includes three housing components (16, 18, 20) containing two interconnected chambers (64, 78). A first thermally responsive valve unit (68) is disposed in the chamber (64) while a second thermally responsive valve element (98) is disposed in the chamber (78). Both the chambers (64) and (78) have inlets (60, 110) and the chamber (64) has an outlet (66). The valve may assume configurations allowing a minimal flow (FIG. 2), a large volume warm up flow (FIG. 3), a mixed flow regimen (FIG. 4) and a pure cooling flow regimen (FIG. 5).

Abstract: Two alternative flow patterns through a heat exchanger core are provided by a tank (20) including a baffle (40) dividing the tank into first and second chambers (42 and 44). A first port (50) is provided in the baffle (40) to establish communication between the chambers (42 and 44). A second port (52) is provided to the second chamber (44). The tank (20) further incudes plugs (62 and 64) that are receivable in the tank (20) for alternatively closing the first port (50) while opening the second port (52), and opening the second port (52) while closing the first port (50).

Abstract: Distribution of liquid refrigerant in an evaporator having a pair of spaced headers (20), (22) and a plurality of tubes (24) extending between the headers (20), (22) to define a plurality of spaced refrigerant passages (42) is achieved through the use of at least one refrigerant inlet (30), (32), (34), (36) within one of the headers (20). The inlet has a first port (49) adapted to be connected to a source of refrigerant to be evaporated, and oppositely directed second and third ports (50), (52) connected to the first port (49). The second port (50) is directed away from one side (44) of the header (20) while the third port (54) is directed toward the side (44) of the header (20).

Abstract: A highly efficient parallel flow evaporator is provided by combining a pair of identical units (10), (12) wherein each includes a pair of identical, parallel, spaced headers (40) each having slots (44) receiving the ends of identical flattened tubes (22). Identical tanks (42) are bonded to each of the headers (40) and each has an identical central flat surface (52) and an identical, centrally located port (60). Fins (26) extend between adjacent tubes (22) in each unit (10), (12) and an inlet/outlet fixture (32) is bonded to the flat surfaces (52) of one pair of tanks (42) defined by adjacent tanks (42) of both of the units (10),(12). A cross-over fixture (30) is bonded to the flat surfaces (52) of the other pair of tanks (42) defined by the remaining tanks (42) of both of the units (10),(12).

Abstract: Improved condensate drainage is achieved while compact size is retained in a condenser/evaporator for use in a heat pump system in a construction having first and second, curved, generally congruent tubular headers (10), (14) with one of the headers (10) being an upper header and the other of the headers (14) being a lower header. A first row of elongated tube slots (18) is located in the upper header (10) while a second row of elongated tube slots (20) is located in the lower header (14). Each tube slot (18) in the first row has a corresponding tube slot (20) in the second row and corresponding tube slots (18), (20) in the rows are aligned with one another. Elongated, straight, flattened tubes (22) extend between the headers (10), (14), in parallel with each other and a first port (32) is provided for refrigerant in one of the headers (10) and a second port (36) is provided for refrigerant in the other of the headers (14).

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.

Abstract: Restrictions on the major dimension of flattened tubes used in heat exchangers employing oval shaped, two piece headers/tank assemblies can be minimized in a construction including a plurality of flattened tubes (14) each having a minor dimension and a major dimension transverse thereto and extending in spaced parallel relation. Fins (16) are in heat exchange relation with the tubes (14) and a pair of spaced, parallel, elongated headers/tank assemblies (10, 12) are provided between which the tubes (14) extend. At least one of the headers/tank assemblies (10, 12) is a multiple piece header/tank assembly including a header piece (20) and a separate tank piece (22). The header piece (20) is elongated and provided with a plurality of slots (28) sized to receive ends of the tubes (14) with the tube major dimensions being generally transverse to the direction of elongation of the header piece (20). The header piece further includes a peripheral flange (24).

Abstract: Uncomfortable air temperatures in an air conditioned vehicle immediately following start up of the air conditioning system or when the air conditioning system compressor is being driven at low speeds are avoided in a cooling system including a blower (22) for blowing air into a compartment (10). An air/liquid heat exchanger (30) is located at the outlet (34) of the blower (22) for cooling air received from the blower (22). The system includes a compressor (50), an expansion device (58), a condenser (54) and a liquid/refrigerant evaporator (64) for expanding refrigerant and cooling a liquid coolant which is circulated through a thermal storage device (92) and the heat exchanger (30) by a pump (86). Upon system start up, or when the compressor (50) is being driven at low speed, the coolant is cooled by the thermal storage device (92) to provide a means of cooling air from the blower (22).

Abstract: Inconsistent and costly corrosion protection with prior art heat exchangers are eliminated in a heat exchanger (10) formed of an aluminum fin (16) clad with an Al--Si--Zn braze clad compound (18), an aluminum tube (14) brazed to the fin (16), and bonded thereto by the braze clad compound (18) with zinc diffused into the tube, whereby the aluminum tube (14) is corrosion resistant by reason of the presence of sacrificial zinc therein.

Abstract: An improved evaporator or evaporator/condenser for use in refrigeration or heat pump systems including first and second spaced, pressure resistant headers (10, 12); a plurality of elongated tubes (20) of flattened cross-section extending in parallel, spaced relation between and in fluid communication with the headers (10, 12) and serpentine fins (34) extending between and bonded to adjacent ones of the tubes (20). The tubes (20) and fins (34), between the headers (10, 12), define a non-planar configuration having an apex (80). A condensate trough (82) is aligned with and opens towards the apex (80) to receive condensate dripping therefrom.