Patents Examined by Leonard Leo
  • Patent number: 6164370
    Abstract: A heat exchange tube for air conditioning and refrigeration applications is internally enhanced with helically arranged fins. The fins are separated from adjacent fins by a trough. The heat transfer coefficient is increased by forming the fins with a height-to-trough width ratio, h:T, of from 1.3:1 to 2.5:1. A further gain in heat transfer coefficient is achieved by fins having a normalized height (fin height/tube inside diameter) of at least 0.02.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Robinson, Brian C. Stacks, Daniel J. Angeli, Phillip J. Campbell, Myron R. Randlett, Ralph L. Webb
  • Patent number: 6161610
    Abstract: A heat exchanger and a method of manufacturing the 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 for controlling the fluid flow within the fin field. The individual fins of the heat exchanger comprise an arc shape with diametrically opposed legs extending vertically downward from each end of the fins. The individual fins are comprised of thermally conductive material affixed to and in thermal communication with the base. The individual fins are arcuately shaped sections separated by arcuately shaped channels. The fins, together with the channels and base form a fin field having an inlet region, a middle region and an outlet region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Kaveh Azar
  • Patent number: 6155340
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of flat tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid flowing inside the tubes and a second fluid flowing outside the tubes. A pair of hollow headers is connected to the ends of the flat tubes. An inlet and outlet are provided in the headers for introducing the first fluid into the flat tubes and discharging it therefrom. Each header is composed of at least two parallel tubes with substantially circular cross-section, two adjacent tubes having integrated wall portions, thereby providing a substantially flat header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro
    Inventors: Leif Folkedal, Peter Grundlach, Jostein Pettersen, Liming Xu
  • Patent number: 6154960
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the brazeability of a heat exchanger manifold block (110) by promoting the braze metal flow in and around the manifold block (110) during brazing within a braze furnace. The invention is particularly directed to enhancing a brazement between a manifold block (110) and a jumper tube (124) that fluidically connects the block (110) to another component of the heat exchanger system. The method entails increasing the rate of convective and radiative heat transfer to the block (110) during brazing within a braze furnace by providing fins (116, 128), grooves (118, 130) or similar features on one or more surfaces of the block (110) that increase the surface area of the block (110), and consequently increase the heating rate of the block (110) to something closer to that of the tube (124). In effect, the surface features increase the heat transfer rate of the block (110) to compensate for the disparate thermal masses of the block (110) and tube (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro a.s.
    Inventors: Antonio Baldantoni, William Cagle
  • Patent number: 6145589
    Abstract: A manifold for heat exchangers with a manifold segment having slots which are perpendicular to the tube axis and spaced in the longitudinal direction and separated by webs, into which hollow flat tubes can be inserted and joined to the contact surface of the respective slot. The webs each have a pair of stampings to strengthen the material on each side of each web and the webs are relatively flat in shape such that the cross-section of the manifold segment has a generally D-shaped profile. At least one baffle is inserted in the manifold segment, centered between a pair of adjacent slots. The baffle has a principle circular edge and a truncated edge so as to have a truncated circular profile substantially corresponding to the approximately D-shaped profile of the manifold segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Thermal Components a division of Insilco Corporation
    Inventor: James D. Gowan
  • Patent number: 6142215
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system suitable for facilitating the economical cooling of hot fluids in the vicinity of a body of water. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a vertical, or combination vertical and horizontal thermosyphonic, passive, heat exchanger column situated in a body of water and enveloped by a caisson or the like, and configured to facilitate, through percolation, enhanced circulation of seawater therethrough and effecting significant cooling of a hot, hydrocarbon well stream, or other hot fluid in the vicinity of a body of water. A vertically situated bundle of tubes forms the heat exchanger, which may include a system of staggered baffles to direct the flow of cooling seawater to effect even temperature distribution throughout the tube bundle. The present system further teaches a system for cooling high pressure, hot fluids as may be found in a deep hydrocarbon reserve offshore, utilizing a the vertical heat exchange column of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: EDG, Incorporated
    Inventors: Dwight C. Paulsen, Leon G. Barnett, Timothy J. Moreau
  • Patent number: 6142218
    Abstract: A heat-exchanger unit (13) for recovering heat from the flue gases from a cylinder steam boiler (10), said heat exchanger unit comprising a flue-gas tube (14) and a heat-exchanging tube (16) which is supported concentrically inside the flue-gas tube (14) by a bent inlet pipe (19) extending from a lower opening (20) in the peripheral wall of the flue-gas tube (14) to an inlet opening (21) in a lower outwardly bulging end wall (22) of the heat-exchanging tube (16), and an outlet pipe (23) extending from an outlet opening (24) in an upper part of the peripheral wall of the heat-exchanging tube (16) to an upper opening (25) in the peripheral wall of the flue-gas tube (14). The inlet pipe (19) has a first, horizontal, straight end portion (19A), a second, upwardly directed, straight end portion (19B) and also an intermediate, curved portion (19C). The bending angle (.alpha.) of the curved portion exceeds 90.degree. and the other end portion (19B) extends with an inclination determined by said bending angle (.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Aalborg Industries A/S
    Inventors: H.ang.kan Nilsson, Wilhelm Sabelstrom
  • Patent number: 6142217
    Abstract: The invention refers to a flat tube heat exchanger for motor vehicles in which the flat tubes leaving an internally projecting free end as an overhand are inserted in collars which extend to the inside and which are opened up in the form of a tulip of slits of a tube bottom of a header case for the internal heat exchange fluid and the header case comprises at least one partition dividing off various chambers of the header case and intersecting the flat tubes, the partition reaching at least down to the ground of the tube bottom adjacent to the flat tubes or to the collars extending to the inside and comprising in the region of the free ends of the flat tubes in the header case recesses overgripping the free ends, and the free ends of the first tubes in the header case being arranged with an undercut with respect to the collars opened up as a tulip which locks the flat tubes against being pulled out of the tubes bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Klimatechnik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6142220
    Abstract: A finned heat exchanger includes a plurality of elongated fins which are arranged at a predetermined interval in parallel with one another such that air flows between neighboring ones of the fins in a predetermined direction. A plurality of heat transfer tubes which contain refrigerant passing therethrough are orthogonally inserted through the fins so as to be arranged in a plurality of columns on the fins. When the finned heat exchanger is operated for condensation, the heat transfer tubes are provided in two paths in the vicinity of an inlet for the refrigerant and are provided in one path in the vicinity of an outlet for the refrigerant, such that the heat transfer tubes of the one path occupy about 5 to 30% of all the heat transfer tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Motegi, Shoichi Yokoyama, Osamu Aoyagi
  • Patent number: 6138745
    Abstract: A chuck having two distinct portions mounts a substrate within a vacuum processing chamber. A first sealing stage confines a gas within a heat-transfer interface between one portion of the chuck and the substrate. A second sealing stage collects gas escaping from the heat-transfer interface within an intermediate space bounded by the two portions of the chuck and the substrate. Pressure in the intermediate space is reduced with respect to pressure at the heat-transfer interface to inhibit leakage of gas from the heat-transfer interface into the vacuum processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: CVC Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Mehrdad M. Moslehi
  • Patent number: 6138748
    Abstract: In order to provide a thermal coupling between a heat source and a heat sink, an interleaved-fin connector is provided. The connector comprises first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a first surface. A plurality of first channels are etched on the first surface to form a plurality of first fins and a first base. The first base can be thermally engaged with the heat source. The second substrate includes a second surface having a plurality of second channels etched therein. The second channels form a plurality of second fins and a second base. The second base can be thermally engaged with the heat sink. The first and second fins providing a thermally conductive path from the heat source to the heat sink when interleaved with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Hamburgen, John S. Fitch, Robert A. Eustace
  • Patent number: 6131648
    Abstract: A high pressure corrugated plate-type heat exchanger includes a plate pack consisting of stacked corrugated plates having seals between adjacent plates contained in a high pressure enclosure. The seals act as the primary arrangement for containing the high pressure fluids supplied to the spaces between the plates and the high pressure enclosure provides resistance to high pressures applied to the seals from the fluids in the spaces between the plates or in port holes extending through the plates. The high pressure seals comprise either a captive O-ring type seal or a welded joint between the plates, or combinations of both types of seal. In one embodiment, a compression block is inserted between the plate pack and the end of the high pressure enclosure to transfer pressure from the end of the enclosure to the plates of the plate pack and thereby compress resilient seals disposed between the plates to a desired degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Electric Boat Corporation
    Inventor: Gordon Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6129145
    Abstract: A heat dissipator includes a heat-conductive substrate, a lid and a heat-conductive cover layer, and a coolant groove for passing a coolant therethrough is formed on a major surface of the substrate. The lid is positioned on the coolant groove to seal the same, and the cover layer covers the major surface of substrate and the lid. The lid may be received in a lid groove to be flush with the major surface of the substrate. The substrate, lid and cover layer are all made of diamond, and are joined together with substantially no other material therebetween. Thus, a high heat conductivity is achieved. The heat dissipator can be a heat dissipating substrate for an electronic component, or an optical transmission window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Takahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 6125926
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is constructed by laminating rectangular shaped partition walls and corrugated fins alternately. A first fluid passage through which a high temperature internal air and a second fluid passage through which the low temperature external air flows are formed into rectangular parallelopipe-shape the longitudinal direction of which is upper and lower direction. The corrugated fin is disposed inside the fluid passage to incline frontwardly. A first fluid inlet is provided at an upper position and a first fluid outlet is provided at a lower position of the first fluid passage. While, a second fluid inlet is provided at a lower position and a second fluid outlet is provided at an upper position of the second fluid passage. That is, the first fluid and the second fluid flow in an opposite direction to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Kiyoshi Kawaguchi, Shigeru Kadota, Hajime Sugito
  • Patent number: 6125925
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) including a heat exchanger conduit and fins arranged on the conduit tubes (12, 12') to further heat transfer between the external fluid flowing over the fins (22, 22') and the fluid flowing within the conduit. The fins (22, 22') include a row of apertures through which tubes (12, 12') of the heat exchanger conduit extend. The leading (4, 6) and trailing (48) edges of the fins (22, 22') are contoured to substantially conform to isotherms around the circulating fluid flowing within the tubes (12, 12'). To achieve this edge configuration while also allowing for a dense packing of fins and tubes in a multi-row heat exchanger, the leading and trailing edges are wave-shaped such that adjacent fins can interfit together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: International Comfort Products Corporation (USA)
    Inventors: Charles B. Obosu, Alexander T. Lim, Craig B. Woodard
  • Patent number: 6123143
    Abstract: An automotive heat exchanger that includes a manifold (12) and a mounting block (10) attached to the manifold (12) and over an opening (30) in the wall of the manifold (12). The mounting block (10) has a flange portion (16) with a surface (18) that engages approximately half of the outer perimeter of the manifold (12). The block (10) also includes means (20, 24) for securing the heat exchanger to an automobile (14), and an inlet/outlet port (26) extending through the block (10) and in fluidic communication with the opening (30) in the wall of the manifold (12). Grooves (19) are preferably present in the surface (18) of the flange portion (16) of the block (10), two of which engage raised portions (23) on the perimeter of the manifold (12) in order to aid in securing the block (10) to the manifold (12). The remaining grooves (19) provide reservoirs between the block (10) and manifold (12) for braze material (21) that metallurgically bonds the block (10) to the manifold (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lee Insalaco
  • Patent number: 6119769
    Abstract: A heat exchanging device is disclosed. The device includes a fluid flow tube having a turbulator which includes a plurality of coil sections. Each of the coil sections includes a number of coil members of uniform diameter. The coil sections are spaced apart by a predetermined number of other coil members having smaller diameters and different heights than the coil members in the coil sections. These coil configurations force fluid flowing around them into heat exchanging contact with the tube walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Fei Yu, Shyr-Ing Hu
  • Patent number: 6102104
    Abstract: A die-cushion oil pressure locking device is composed of a locking cylinder which couples with the operation of the die-cushion device can be prevented the wrinkling when the mold products is processed, and an operating cylinder controls oil which is used in the operation of the locking cylinder; and a cooling oil cooler device made of stainless steel, being capable of falling down the increased-temperature oil which is discharged from the locking device body and regulated as to drop its pressure down in efficiency owing to provided the cooling oil cooler device having the inlet so that oil increased temperature through the locking device body passes through the off cooler tubes without the extra resistance in a durability at intermittent flow, and it is fallen down by a cooling water into the cooling device in a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Kazuo Sato
  • Patent number: 6102112
    Abstract: A structure for supporting and at least transferring heat energy away from at least a first heat source interconnected thereto is disclosed. In one embodiment, the structure includes a deck member having a plurality of layers of thermally conductive fibers packed within a matrix material. Fibers of at least a first layer are orientable to transfer heat energy toward at least a first sidewall of the deck member, and fibers of at least a second layer are orientable about .+-.45.degree. relative to the fibers of the first layer to enhance the structural strength of the deck member. In another embodiment, fibers of at least a first layer of thermally conductive fibers of the deck member are orientable to transfer heat energy from a first heat source to a second, cooler heat source, both of which are interconnectable to the deck member, such that the first and second heat sources operate at substantially uniform temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred Herzl
  • Patent number: 6098701
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger (1) comprises a stack of heat transfer plates (2) provided between two end pieces (3, 4) and each having an essentially plane extension. Each end piece (3, 4) has an inner surface (9) facing said heat transfer plates and an outer surface (14) facing away from said heat transfer plates (2) and extending from one side to another of the end piece (3, 4). The plate heat exchanger (1) is compressed by means of at least one member (18) extending around the plate heat exchanger and abutting said outer surface (14) of each end piece (3, 4) in order to prevent the retreat of the end pieces from each other. The outer surface (14) of each end piece (3, 4) is curved in such a manner that the end piece has a convex shape in a cross section along a first plane (Y, Z) being perpendicular to the essentially plane extension of the heat transfer plate (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Ralf Erik Blomgren