Patents Examined by Leonard Leo
  • Patent number: 6712131
    Abstract: The exchanger is made from a number of tubes sealingly connected to a pipe plate which is further connected to an enclosure. The pipe plate is realized by positioning enclosure and tubes in a mould and pouring a ceramic slurry which is subsequently sintered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast - Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Hendrik Willem Brinkman, Harrie Gorter, Rinse Alle Terpstra, Johannes Coenradus Theodorus Van Der Heijde, Joost Petrus Gerardus Maria Van Eijk, Godefridus Hendricus Maria Gubbels
  • Patent number: 6705387
    Abstract: A bracket (300) is coupled to tank caps (122, 222) of header tanks (120, 220), and the bracket (300) is separably attached to a radiator (200) and a condenser (100) by means of hooks (311, 312) and holes (female screw section) (331) for fixing bolts (330). Thereby, it is unnecessary to provide fixing means in a side plate (130, 230) for fixing the bracket (300) thereto. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size and the weight of the side plate (139, 230), and easily attach and detach the radiator (200) and the condenser (100) from a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kokubunji, Tatsuo Ozaki
  • Patent number: 6702000
    Abstract: A blower is provided for effectively cooling heat generating parts in a casing of a personal computer and so on, with a heat sink apparatus using the blower and an electronic equipment using the heat sink apparatus. The blower comprises a fan and an outer frame. The outer frame of the fan is made of a highly thermally conductive material such as aluminum. A radiation board is fixed to or formed integrally with a lower surface of the outer frame. Heat generated from a heat generating device is conveyed through the radiation board to the outer frame. The blower is provided with radiation fins so that the heat conveyed to the outer frame is transferred to the radiation fins as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaharu Miyahara, Koji Mehara, Kenji Suga, Kazuya Shibasaki, Hiroshi Nakamura, Hironori Ito
  • Patent number: 6702005
    Abstract: The present invention is a plate heat exchanger for heat transfer between two fluids, having several thin heat transfer plates (1) abutting towards each other and between the heat transfer plates (1) arranged sealing members (6), which in alternate plate interspaces delimit a flow space for a first fluid and in the remaining plate interspaces delimit flow spaces for a second fluid, each heat transfer plate (1) having a pressed corrugation pattern, which has two distribution portions (7, 8) and, arranged between these, a main heat transfer portion (9), which is divided in several areas (10a, 10b) with parallel ridges and valleys, and the plate heat exchanger having inlets and outlets for the fluids, arranged such that the fluids will have a flow direction between the heat transfer plates (1) essentially from one to the other of the distribution portions (7, 8) at each heat transfer plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventor: Ralf Blomgren
  • Patent number: 6695044
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger and/or fluid mixing means comprises a bonded stack of plates, the stack comprising at least one group of plates, the group comprising one or more perforated plates (10) sandwiched between a pair of primary separator plates (40, 62, 64), characterised in that each perforated plate (10) has perforations (14) arranged in rows across the plate in a first direction, with a land (16) between each adjacent pair of perforations (14) in a row and with ribs (18) between adjacent rows, the lands (16) forming barriers to flow in a first direction across the plate and the ribs (18) forming barriers to flow in a second direction across the plate, the second direction being normal to the first direction, the ribs (18) having vents (20) through a portion of their thickness, the vents (20) extending from one side of a rib (18) to the other side in the second direction, whereby flow channels are provided through the vents (20) and the flow channels lying between each adjacent pair of lands (16) provide
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Chart Heat Exchangers Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Keith Thomas Symonds
  • Patent number: 6691771
    Abstract: A plurality of cooling tubes (7) are connected and communicated with one another in multisteps in a vertical direction bridging a pair of header pipes (3). One of the header pipes (3) is provided with a liquid tank (9) for storing a cooling medium in a liquid phase which has been condensed and liquidized by cooling, and an auxiliary machinery part (23) is fitted to a peripheral wall face 9a of the liquid tank which serves as a large mounting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Shinhama, Jinichi Hiyama
  • Patent number: 6688381
    Abstract: Thermal management devices and methods include branching networks comprising flow channels of varying cross-sectional area. The branching networks can be fractal-like in nature with an increase in the total flow area following a flow channel bifurcation. In representative embodiments, the branching networks are defined in a channel pattern that is laminated between cover plates to form a thermal management device. The channel pattern includes bridging portions so that the branching network is defined with a single pattern piece. The branching networks can exhibit radial symmetry or be aligned with respect to one or more axes. Heat exchangers and diffusive mixers that include such networks are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: The State of Oregon Acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State University
    Inventors: Deborah V. Pence, Jose N. Reyes, Jr., Nathan Phillips, Qiao Wu, John T. Groome
  • Patent number: 6687995
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising two manifolds (10). Profiled pipe sections (11) are accommodated with a lamella configuration (12) between said manifolds. According to the invention, an obstructing means (13) for preventing the flow of solder is provided on the exterior of the profiled pipe section (11) between the manifold (10) and the lamella configuration (12). The invention also relates to a method for producing a heat exchanger. The invention provides that the obstructing means (13) is formed on the profiled pipe sections (11) before the sections are cut from a profiled pipe billet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Erbslöh AG
    Inventors: Norbert Sucke, Ismail Boyraz
  • Patent number: 6679319
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a connector (7) for connecting a receiver tank (4) brazed to a header pipe (3) and the receiver tank (4) connected to the connector (7) by male screw parts, wherein the connector (7) is formed to have a brazing face (7a) against the header pipe (3) narrower than a mating face (7b) against the receiver tank (4). The connector (7) has a plurality of holes (73), (73) into which a plurality of male screw parts are inserted or screwed, and the holes (73), (73) are formed symmetrically or substantially symmetrically on the brazing face (7a) against the header pipe (3) with respect to a straight line connecting the center of an outflow path (71) and that of an inflow path (72) on the mating face (7b) against the receiver tank (4). And, a groove (74) which divides the brazing face (7a) is formed between the inflow path (71) and the outflow path (72) on the brazing face (7a) against the header pipe (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Zexel Valeo Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Kato
  • Patent number: 6672376
    Abstract: A twisted-louver high performance heat exchanger fin assembly includes a plurality of fin elements each having a louver formed therein. The louvers include first and second portions connected by a twisted portion such that the first and second portions cross in an X-shaped profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ajit R. Shembekar, Barry W. Blumel, Eugene E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 6662861
    Abstract: Waved uneven portions (112f, 122f) are formed on the protrusion portions (112e, 122e) of the fins (112, 122) protruded from an end of the tubes (111, 121) in the width direction of the tube without cutting part of the protrusion portions (112e, 122e) to increase the surface area of the fins (112, 122). As a result, the surface area of the protrusion portions (112e, 122e) may be increased without decreasing the thermal conductive area extending to the end of the protrusion portions (112e, 122e), and thereby a sufficient amount of heat may be conducted especially to the protrusion portions (112e, 122e), with decreasing airflow resistance, and an improvement in radiation ability appropriate to the increase of radiation area may, accordingly, be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Ozaki, Satomi Muto, Takaaki Sakane
  • Patent number: 6644389
    Abstract: A fin tube heat exchanger includes plate-shaped elongated fin members spaced at regular intervals, in parallel with one another. Each fin member has a fin base, through-holes in two rows in a longitudinal direction of the fin member, and raised portions with legs. Heat exchanger tubes are inserted into the through-holes. Each fin member has flat areas at a front and middle regions of a front half and a middle region of a rear half. The raised portion disposed at a rear region of the front half and a front region of the rear half has the legs inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to a traverse centerline which passes through the center of an adjacent through-hole of the front row. The distance from the centerline generally increases with a direction of airflow. A larger volume of air can be directed toward the vicinity of the tubes of the rear row. Each fin member has a front edge and a rear edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Pohang University of Science and Technology Foundation
    Inventors: Hie-chan Kang, Moo-hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 6644396
    Abstract: An anchor base for a heat sink for an IC chipset is formed basically in a rectangular frame comprising: two lateral plates respectively formed at the bottom of two opposite lateral stiles of the rectangular frame, each of the two opposite lateral plates having a respective snap barb at its lower portion; a longitudinal resilient rod bridging the other two opposite lateral stiles of the rectangular frame, wherein two ends of the longitudinal resilient rod are extended downwardly to form a pair of protruding rods which are no shorter than the height of the lateral plates; a shorter resilient rod crossing the longitudinal resilient rod; wherein a protrusion is formed at the bottom of each of two ends of the shorter resilient rod. Thus, an anchor base for a heat sink can be made without any extra perforation or cutting steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Malico Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Liang
  • Patent number: 6640887
    Abstract: A heat exchanger manifold for use in heat exchanger used mainly in automobiles is provided. The manifold comprises of two components a header and tank. The header consists of several half cylinders that have ferrule openings and communication port stamped on them. The communication ports are in form of channels that coincide with the ferrule opening. The ferrule openings allow the heat exchanger tubes to slide into the manifold and without any interference. The second component of the manifold comprises a tank. Like the header the tank also consists of several half cylinders, which combined with the header forms several full cylinder. The tank also includes an integral seal along the mating end of the manifold. The manifold also contains a unique inlet/outlet port that allows for ease of assembly of the final heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Abell, Richard G. Gibbons
  • Patent number: 6622783
    Abstract: A self-fixturing fan shroud (12) for use with a heat exchanger assembly (13), the heat exchanger assembly (13) includes an upper horizontal surface (16), a lower, upwardly opening, horizontal channel (18), and at least one core (14 or 15) extending between the upper horizontal surface (16) and the channel (18). Each of the cores (14 and 15) has a front face (24), a back face (26), and air flow passages extending from the front face (24) to the back face (26). The fan shroud (12) comprises a covering portion (28) having an opening (30) disposed therethrough. The opening (30) is of a predetermined size sufficient to receive a fan. An upper horizontal flange (38) extends from the covering portion (28) to rest on the upper horizontal surface (16) of the heat exchanger assembly (13) to vertically locate the fan shroud (12) relative to the heat exchanger assembly (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Hitt, Gregg D. Olson
  • Patent number: 6607026
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for a heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning device including a thermal loop equipped with a heat exchanger, is characterized in that at least one of the first and second longitudinal ends (92) of at least one partition plate (20) and/or of at least one end plate (9) is coupled to at least one of the first and second ends of a said orientation plate (2, 20) by means of a damper element (94, 95).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventors: Said Naji, Laurent Legot
  • Patent number: 6564863
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for heat extraction of a refrigerating fluid such as CO2, comprising at least one collecting box defined by a solid body (41) with a thick wall capable of resisting the high pressure of said fluid, and communicating with a row of flat tubes (44). In order to limit bulkiness in the width of the heat exchanger, only one part of the length of the cross section of the tubes is located opposite the inner volume of said body, whereby tightness of the fluidic communication between the tubes and the inner volume is obtained by means of a cradle (50) in the form of a shaped strip receiving the body and brazed thereto on the periphery of the tubes. The heat exchanger can be used to air condition passenger compartments in vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Carlos Martins
  • Patent number: 6546999
    Abstract: A flat tube for use in a heat exchanger includes a reversal bend section connected between parallel extending tube sections. The reversal bend section extends from a plane of the tube sections by a distance less than a width of the tube sections. The tube sections can be straight or serpentine. A plurality of the flat tubes can be stacked and connected to collector tubes to form a heat exchanger for use as an evaporator in a vehicle air conditioning system. Corrugated ribs are positioned between adjacent flat tubes for increased heat conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd Dienhart, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Hagen Mittelstrass, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christoph Walter, Jochen Schumm
  • 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: 6536514
    Abstract: A method for preparing a heat exchanger, comprising forming a moisture-permeable film having an air-impermeable function on a single side of a plate-shaped porous member to provide a gas-impermeable member for heat exchange, bonding a spacer corrugated for forming a fluid passage to a side of the gas-impermeable member with the moisture-permeable film formed thereon to provide a plurality of heat exchanger constituent elements, and layering the heat exchanger constituent elements so that the spacer in each of the heat exchanger constituent elements forms a fluid passage in each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Sugiyama, Hidemoto Arai, Kenji Mizoguchi