Patents Examined by Leonard Leo
  • Patent number: 5988266
    Abstract: A high performance, high pin fin density heat sink (10) has mating first and second opposing base members (22, 24) having first and second pin fins (18, 20) extending generally perpendicularly therefrom. The pin fins (18, 20) are generally cylindrical and each bonded into recesses (30,32) formed on the opposing base member (22, 24). The spaces between nearest adjacent first and second pin fins (18, 20) form narrow fluid passageways (12) having a gas inlet in (14) for communicating with a heat generating body and gas out let end (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dean L. Smith, Edmund J. Sobresky, Roger S. Kerr
  • Patent number: 5988269
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger for two or more flowing media may according to the invention be designed so that the front and rear cover plates (1, 8) of the exchanger act as channel defining walls for a flowing heat exchanging medium, and so that the tube connections at the inlet and outlet ports (10-13) can be established in a common plane. This is obtained thereby that the front and rear cover plates (1, 8) together with the adjacent first (2) and last (5) channel forming plates define distribution channels (18) crossing the direction between adjacent inlet and outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: SWEP International AB
    Inventors: Sven Karlsson, Sven Andersson, Thomas Dahlberg, Veikko Pihlajaniemi
  • Patent number: 5988267
    Abstract: A multistage gaseous and liquid phase separation type condenser has a pair of headers disposed in parallel with each other, and a plurality of flat tubes each connected to the headers at opposite ends thereof and corrugated fins interposed between adjacent flat tubes. Each header is divided by baffles into four chambers. The second header has a receiver and chambers of the second header have communication passageways for placing the chambers of the second header in flow communication with the receiver. The first header has an inlet pipe connected to a middle chamber thereof so as to form an inlet path and an outlet pipe connected to a lower chamber thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Tae Young Park, Kwang Heon Oh
  • Patent number: 5983991
    Abstract: A tissue chuck for use with a chuck holder for preparing a tissue sample for sectioning in a cryostat or the like, includes a base, having a tissue mounting surface and a heat transfer surface, and a plurality of fins for transferring heat from the heat transfer surface. Each fin terminates in a fin end, and each fin end is in spaced relation to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: James W. Franks
  • Patent number: 5984000
    Abstract: A layered heat exchanger for use as a motor vehicle air conditioner evaporator comprises pairs of generally rectangular adjacent plates, which are joined together in layers with the corresponding recesses of the plates in each pair opposed to each other to thereby form juxtaposed flat tubes each having a U-shaped fluid channel, and front and rear headers in communication respectively with opposite ends of each flat tube. The turn portion of U-shaped fluid channel of the flat tube has a fluid mixing portion comprising many small projections, and a rectifying portion comprising parallel long projections along a flow of fluid. The channel turn portion rectifies the flow of fluid and mixes the fluid at the same time, permitting the fluid to flow through the turn portion smoothly to result in a diminished fluid pressure loss, an improved heat transfer coefficient and improved performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Jumpei Nakamura, Hiroki Shibata, Keiji Yamazaki, Tatsuya Hanafusa, Nobuaki Go
  • Patent number: 5983992
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat between an external fluid and an internal fluid includes two or more heat exchange cells, each heat exchange cell having a top plate with an inlet aperture at one end thereof and an outlet aperture at the other end thereof, the top plate including a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The heat exchange cell also includes a bottom plate juxtaposed with the top plate, the bottom plate having an inlet aperture at one end thereof and an outlet aperture at the other end thereof. The bottom plate includes a first surface, a second surface and peripheral edges. The peripheral edges of the top and bottom plates are attached to one another, the second surfaces of the top and bottom plates confronting one another and the inlet and outlet apertures of the top and bottom plates being in substantial alignment with one another. The attached top and bottom plates define a high pressure chamber between the second surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignees: Northern Research, Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Child, James B. Kesseli, James S. Nash
  • Patent number: 5983994
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for cleaning the inside of a heat exchanger tube while the tube is in operation and for simultaneously enhancing the heat transfer rate across the tube wall. The method consists of positioning a rod containing a tube cleaner inside of the heat exchanger tube and moving the rod in a back and forth motion during operation of the heat exchanger tube. The tube cleaner is designed to scrape the inside wall of the heat exchanger tube and to create turbulence in the fluid near the tube wall thereby improving the heat transfer rate across the tube wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Tsou
  • Patent number: 5979541
    Abstract: With the objective of providing a cooling fan and a cooling fan assembly in which the cooling efficiency is high, and which has been lightened, the invention has been composed by a cooling fan 1, a casing 2 composed from a casing main body 3 and a lid part 4 in which a circular aperture 42 is formed, a fan motor 5 arranged within this casing 2, a circuit board 8 and the like. A plurality of radiator plates 32 are arranged in a standing formation in the outer peripheral part 312 of the casing main body 3. The fan motor 5 includes a rotor 7 in which seven fan blades 72 are arranged as projecting toward the outer peripheral direction, and a stator 6 fixed in a base plate 31. The outermost diameter b of the large diameter part 722 of the fan blades 72 is set so that it is larger than the inner periphery of the aperture 42, and the outer diameter c of the inner diameter part 723 of the fan blades 72 is set as smaller than the inner diameter of the aperture 42.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kohichi Saito
  • Patent number: 5979547
    Abstract: In a distribution device (1) including a distribution tank (3) supplied with a mixed-phase medium consisting essentially of a gas-phase medium and a liquid-phase medium, and a plurality of distribution paths (4), each of which has a medium inlet port and a medium outlet port coupled to the distribution tank and a heat exchanger, respectively, and which are for directing the mixed-phase medium from the distribution tank to the heat exchanger, the medium inlet ports of the plurality of distribution paths are coupled to the distribution tank substantially along an equal void ratio line defined by connecting those points of the distribution tank which are equal in a void ratio to each other, where the void ratio is defined as a ratio of the volume of the gas-phase medium to the volume of both the gas-phase medium and the liquid-phase medium. Typically, the medium outlet ports of the distribution paths are coupled to a plurality of exchanger tubes of the heat exchanger, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Shinmura, Tomohiro Chiba
  • Patent number: 5979546
    Abstract: An improved end tank-to-header joint is disclosed. An end tank is formed with a flange portion that has at least one groove therein. A gasket having a predetermined cross-sectional shape is provided with at least one tongue portion that is adapted to engage the groove in an interference fit, thereby integrating the gasket with the end tank. A header is crimped to form a channel. The channel has a shape the corresponds to the shape of the gasket, such that the gasket is fully seated within the channel. A distal end of the header is then crimped around the flange of the end tank to ensure a fluid-tight seal at the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Carlisle Engineered Products
    Inventors: Donald Stolarski, Thomas Powers, Steve Ringe, Richard Nieno
  • Patent number: 5979369
    Abstract: A once-through steam generator includes a gas flue formed of steam generator tubes welded to one another in a gas-tight manner through fins. The steam generator tubes are connected in parallel for the throughflow of a flow medium, they have a surface structure on their inside for generating a high flow turbulence in the medium flowing through them and they are disposed approximately in a spiral coil in a firing region of the gas flue. The steam generator tubes are constructed in such a way that, when they are in operation, the geodetic pressure loss of the medium flowing through them is at least 0.5 times their pressure loss due to friction. This ensures that such a once-through steam generator can also be operated in low load states of, for example, about 20% of the design load, without excessive thermal stresses occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Seimens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Eberhard Wittchow, Rudolf Kral
  • Patent number: 5979542
    Abstract: In order to improve the anticorrosion properties of a flat plate or an intake/outlet passage plate provided at an outermost end in the direction of lamination in a laminated heat exchanger, a sacrificial layer, whose electrical potential is lower than the electrical potential of the core material, is provided at the outer surface of the flat plate or the intake/outlet passage plate located at the outermost end of the laminated heat exchanger in the direction of lamination. The above arrangement prevents corrosion of the core material through sacrificial corrosion of the sacrificial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Zexel Corportion
    Inventors: Seiji Inoue, Kunihiko Nishishita, Fumio Ohkubo
  • Patent number: 5975199
    Abstract: A flat heat exchanger fin includes a body having arrays of louver groups formed therein. Each array includes four louver groups. The first and second louver groups are disposed over a respective pipe, with the second louver group disposed behind the first louver group. The third and fourth louver groups are disposed beneath a respective pipe, with the fourth louver group disposed behind the third louver group. Each louver group includes a plurality of louvers which form slits through the body. The slits extend transversely relative to the air flow direction and generally radially with respect to the respective pipe. Each louver group includes a proximate edge facing a respective pipe, and a remote edge facing away from the pipe. The remote edge is spaced from the respective pipe by a substantially constant separation distance. Dew-draining ridges are formed in the fin above, below, in front of, and behind respective pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Yeon Park, Young-Saeng Kim
  • Patent number: 5975196
    Abstract: A heat transfer tube having an internal surface that enhances the heat transfer performance of and also improves the workability of the tube and a method of manufacturing such a tube. The internal surface has a plurality of ribs that extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube. A pattern of parallel notches, extending at an angle to the ribs, extend through the ribs and into the main inner surface of the tube wall. The tube can be made by rolling embossing the pattern of ribs and notches on to one side of a flat metal strip, then roll forming the strip into a tubular shape with the embossed pattern on the interior of the tubular shape and the edges of the strip forming a longitudinal seam, then joining, preferably by welding, the edges along the longitudinal seam to form a tube. In a preferred embodiment, the notches in the inner surface extend into the weld zone of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Paul Gaffaney, Steven Joseph Spencer, Donald Leman Bennett, Hannu Tapani Heiskanen, Gerald Lee Riggs, Edward Goeb Rottmann, James Marvin Satterly
  • Patent number: 5975195
    Abstract: A rotatable heat transfer coupling for rotatably connecting a first object to a second object for transfer of heat from the first object to the second object is provided. The rotatable heat transfer coupling includes a first heat transfer housing for attachment to one of the first and second objects. The housing has an outside surface and an inside surface defining a generally cylindrical cavity having a longitudinal axis. A slot is provided through the housing between the surface and the generally cylindrical cavity. A cylindrical heat transfer component which is connected to the other of the first and second objects is located within the generally cylindrical cavity. A clamp is positioned on the outside surface of the housing to apply an additional force on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: CEMA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Lowry, Eugene Novin
  • Patent number: 5975193
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is made of a metal such as aluminum and for use in the air conditioning apparatuses such as the car coolers and the room air conditioners. A coolant inlet pipe (6) has an end which is forced into a pipe insertion bore (10) of a pipe joint (8) for connection to an external piping, with a cylindrical brazing agent piece (15) being interposed between the outer periphery of the inlet pipe end and the inner peripheral wall of the bore, such that the pipe (6) is brazed integral to the joint (8) by means of the cylindrical piece (15). This cylindrical brazing agent piece (15) is composed of a core layer which has an outer and inner surfaces clad with a brazing agent layer. The pipe (6) and the joint (8) can be preassembled without failing to interpose between them the brazing agent piece (15), so that said pipe and said joint can be brazed one to another surely and at a lowered cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Tokita, Shinji Ito, Toshinori Tokutake, Kanji Takasaki, Katsuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5975197
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a pair of header pipes, each having an end closed by a header cap; a plurality of heat transfer tubes interconnecting the header pipes; a plurality of fins; a side fin disposed on the outer surface of at least one of the outermost heat transfer tubes; and a side plate disposed on the outer surface of the side fin. The header cap comprises a header pipe connecting portion and a portion extending toward the side fin and side plate and having a concave portion engaged with the side fin and side plate. The header pipe and the side fin and side plate are connected to each other by the header cap; in particular, by the extended portion of the header cap, when assembled and brazed. The rotational shifting of the header pipe and the positional shifting of the side fin and side plate in the brazing process are prevented by the structure of the header cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotaka Kado
  • Patent number: 5960867
    Abstract: A tube nest of a compact condenser has flow passages, tube bundles and a noncondensable gas extracting opening. The tube nest is installed in a vessel having a bottom surface. The tube nest is spaced from the bottom surface and the side walls of the vessel so that stream is able to flow from every direction into the tube nest at a reduced steam velocity. The extracting opening is disposed below the center of gravity of the outer circumference, and the plurality of flow passages extend from the outer circumference toward the extracting opening. Each flow passage has open outer end on the outer circumference and the width of each flow passage increases toward the open outer end. The area ratio and the length of the flow passage increase toward the center axis of the tube nest. The result is a compact condenser capable of reducing pressure loss and of efficiently removing noncondensable gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Takahashi, Iwao Harada, Yasuo Fujitani
  • Patent number: 5957194
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed for dissipating heat from a heat generating component. The heat exchanger comprises a thermally conductive base in thermal communication with the component, a plurality of thermally conductive plate fins affixed to the base wherein the plate fins define a fin field and channels, and fluid control means for controlling the fluid flow within the fin field. In one embodiment, the fluid control means utilizes the low pressure created by flow bypass to vent relatively high pressure fluid within the fin field. Alternatively or in conjunction, the fluid control means substantially prevents premature egress of fluid from the top of the fin field caused by the high pressure region within the fin field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Thermal Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Kaveh Azar
  • Patent number: 5956846
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly with a first header, a second header, a plurality of seamed or folded type heat exchanger tubes extending between the two headers, and a plurality of heat exchanger fins. Each of the plurality of fins has between 0.01% and 0.9% magnesium to improve the braze between the header and tube joint and the tube seam to inner surface joint. Additionally, the headers have a cladded inner surface with between about 0% to about 12.6% silicon to improve the braze at the tube-to-header joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Livernois Research & Development Co.
    Inventors: Gary R. Ross, James R. Bacoccini