Patents by Inventor Franco Ghiani

Franco Ghiani has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10295276
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having a tube-fin block that is closed by two collecting tanks, whereby the ends of the tubes engage in a bottom of the particular collecting tank and the bottom is closed with a cover. A partition wall secured to the cover is formed transverse to a longitudinal extension of the collecting tank and divides an interior space of the collecting tank into two subchambers. The heat exchanger, which prevents great structural changes for compensating temperature-induced stresses, a first stress decoupling device is formed in the bottom and/or a second stress decoupling device in the area of the partition wall in the cover of at least one collecting tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Franco Ghiani, Thomas Strese, Hicham Rouhana, Roland Krisa, Chi-Duc Nguyen, Werner Helms, Reinhard Heine
  • Patent number: 9695733
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of a first fluid using a second fluid, wherein the heat exchanger has a base for separating the first fluid from the second fluid, said base having a sealing region. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a partition for separating the first fluid from the second fluid, wherein the at least one partition is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the base, wherein the at least one partition forms a fluid duct for the first fluid. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a housing. In the sealing region between the base and the housing, there is arranged a sealing element which is pressed in a fluid-tight manner against the base and against the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Dränkow, Franco Ghiani, Spasoje Ignjatovic, Ulrich Maucher, Jens Richter, Mark Schienemann
  • Patent number: 9239196
    Abstract: A heat exchanger with a heat exchanger block is disposed between two collecting tanks, whereby the collecting tank have a cover and a tube bottom, The tube bottom has upstanding edge regions. T-shaped tabs are disposed at an upper end of the upstanding edge regions, whereby the collecting tank has a flange rear engageable at least in part by the T-shaped tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Publication number: 20150159963
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having a tube-fin block that is closed by two collecting tanks, whereby the ends of the tubes engage in a bottom of the particular collecting tank and the bottom is closed with a cover. A partition wall secured to the cover is formed transverse to a longitudinal extension of the collecting tank and divides an interior space of the collecting tank into two subchambers. The heat exchanger, which prevents great structural changes for compensating temperature-induced stresses, a first stress decoupling device is formed in the bottom and/or a second stress decoupling device in the area of the partition wall in the cover of at least one collecting tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Franco GHIANI, Thomas STRESE, Hicham ROUHANA, Roland KRISA, Chi-Duc NGUYEN, Werner HELMS, Reinhard HEINE
  • Publication number: 20150107810
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of a first fluid using a second fluid, wherein the heat exchanger has a base for separating the first fluid from the second fluid, said base having a sealing region. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a partition for separating the first fluid from the second fluid, wherein the at least one partition is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the base, wherein the at least one partition forms a fluid duct for the first fluid. Furthermore, the heat exchanger has a housing. In the sealing region between the base and the housing, there is arranged a sealing element which is pressed in a fluid-tight manner against the base and against the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Dränkow, Franco Ghiani, Spasoje Ignjatovic, Ulrich Maucher, Jens Richter, Mark Schienemann
  • Patent number: 8651092
    Abstract: A gas cooler for an internal combustion engine is provided that includes a gas duct through which a gas flow supplied to the internal combustion engine can flow in a flow direction, and having a heat exchanger which is inserted into the gas duct through a lateral opening in an insertion direction, wherein a fluid or cooling the gas flow can flow through the heat exchanger, and wherein a first profile which runs in the insertion direction is formed on at least one side of the heat exchanger, which first profile meshes with a second profile provided on the gas duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Publication number: 20130299147
    Abstract: A heat exchanger with a heat exchanger block is disposed between two collecting tanks, whereby the collecting tank have a cover and a tube bottom, The tube bottom has upstanding edge regions. T-shaped tabs are disposed at an upper end of the upstanding edge regions, whereby the collecting tank has a flange rear engageable at least in part by the T-shaped tabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Franco GHIANI
  • Publication number: 20120210986
    Abstract: A gas cooler for an internal combustion engine is provided that includes a gas duct through which a gas flow supplied to the internal combustion engine can flow in a flow direction, and having a heat exchanger which is inserted into the gas duct through a lateral opening in an insertion direction, wherein a fluid or cooling the gas flow can flow through the heat exchanger, and wherein a first profile which runs in the insertion direction is formed on at least one side of the heat exchanger, which first profile meshes with a second profile provided on the gas duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Franco GHIANI
  • Patent number: 7896065
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger for motor vehicles, especially for utility vehicles. The heat exchanger can include a heat exchanger unit that includes tubes having tube ends and ribs disposed between the tubes, and collecting tanks disposed on both ends and produced by internal high pressure forming for introducing and discharging a medium. The collecting tanks can include bottoms with openings for receiving the tube ends, covers, and inlet and outlet tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus Augenstein, Karsten Emrich, Martin Engelhardt, Klaus Förster, Franco Ghiani, Daniel Hendrix, Scott Horoho, Reinhard Kull, Andre Schairer, Bernd Weiler, Stefan Weise
  • Publication number: 20090050306
    Abstract: The invention is based on a multi-chamber flat tube (V1-V17) having at least two chambers (1, 2) for holding the flow of a fluid, produced by deforming a sheet-metal strip, in particular produced in a bending and/or folding and/or crimping process, in which a closed profile is formed by: opposite wide walls (4, 6) which are connected to one another by means of opposite narrow walls (5, 7) which form in each case one deformed region, with the wide and narrow walls forming outer sides of the profile, with a first wide wall (4) being formed by an inner section of the sheet-metal strip which is situated between side sections of the sheet-metal strip, and with a second wide wall (6) being formed by side sections, which are arranged to the sides of the inner section, of the sheet-metal strip, with the first and second wide walls (4, 6) being connected by means of a web (3) which separates at least two chambers and which forms an inner side of the profile and which is formed by an edge section (3A, 3B) of at least o
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Werner HELMS, Michael Kohl, Werner Oswald, Christoph Kastle, Jurgen Hagele, Franco Ghiani, Kamal Galahroudi, Matthias Traub, Holger Auchter, Roger Matthissen, Cedric Baillieul
  • Publication number: 20070261836
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger with an all-metal construction, preferably an all aluminium construction. Said heat exchanger comprises a network (2) of ribs and tubes (4), the ends (4a) of the layer having and enlarged rectangular form, longitudinal and narrow sides and at least one U-profile (6) with collection chambers (3) that comprise lateral limbs (6a, 6b). The longitudinal sides (4b) are connected to one another and the narrow sides (7a, 7b) to the limbs (6a, 6b) of the U-profile (6) by a numeral union, preferably by means of soldering. According to the invention, the U-profile (6) is optimised for tension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Publication number: 20070114013
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger for motor vehicles, especially for utility vehicles. Said heat exchanger comprises a heat exchanger unit (2), constituted of tubes (5) having tube ends and ribs (6) disposed between said tubes (5), and collecting tanks (3, 4), disposed on both ends and produced by internal high pressure forming for introducing and discharging a medium. Said collecting tanks (3, 4) comprise bottoms with openings for receiving the tube ends, covers and inlet and outlet tubes (7, 11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Claus Augenstein, Karsten Emrich, Martin Engelhardt, Klaus Forster, Franco Ghiani, Daniel Hendrix, Scott Horoho, Reinhard Kull, Andre Schairer, Bernd Weiler, Stefan Weise
  • Patent number: 7048040
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is assembled in a simple and cost-effective way and needs a relatively low space requirement. According to the invention, the tubes (11) are expanded at the tube ends (16) in such a way that the tube ends (16) are of rectangular design in cross section. The tube ends (16) have parallel long connecting surfaces (18) which are brought into bearing contact with long connecting surfaces (18) of adjacent tube ends (16). Furthermore, the tube ends (16) have short connecting surfaces (22), onto which the collecting tanks (23, 29) are placed with their legs (24, 25) or collars (30, 31). A space-saving heat exchanger can be produced in a simple way by soldering the long connecting surfaces (18) together, on the one hand, and by soldering the short connecting surfaces (22) to the collecting tanks (23, 29), on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Patent number: 6899168
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is assembled in a simple and cost-effective way and needs a relatively low space requirement. According to the invention, the tubes (11) are expanded at the tube ends (16) in such a way that the tube ends (16) are of rectangular design in cross section. The tube ends (16) have parallel long connecting surfaces (18) which are brought into bearing contact with long connecting surfaces (18) of adjacent tube ends (16). Furthermore, the tube ends (16) have short connecting surfaces (22), onto which the collecting tanks (23, 29) are placed with their legs (24, 25) or collars (30, 31). A space-saving heat exchanger can be produced in a simple way by soldering the long connecting surfaces (18) together, on the one hand, and by soldering the short connecting surfaces (22) to the collecting tanks (23, 29), on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Publication number: 20050098306
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is assembled in a simple and cost-effective way and needs a relatively low space requirement. According to the invention, the tubes (11) are expanded at the tube ends (16) in such a way that the tube ends (16) are of rectangular design in cross section. The tube ends (16) have parallel long connecting surfaces (18) which are brought into bearing contact with long connecting surfaces (18) of adjacent tube ends (16). Furthermore, the tube ends (16) have short connecting surfaces (22), onto which the collecting tanks (23, 29) are placed with their legs (24, 25) or collars (30, 31). A space-saving heat exchanger can be produced in a simple way by soldering the long connecting surfaces (18) together, on the one hand, and by soldering the short connecting surfaces (22) to the collecting tanks (23, 29), on the other hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Publication number: 20020139522
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is assembled in a simple and cost-effective way and needs a relatively low space requirement. According to the invention, the tubes (11) are expanded at the tube ends (16) in such a way that the tube ends (16) are of rectangular design in cross section. The tube ends (16) have parallel long connecting surfaces (18) which are brought into bearing contact with long connecting surfaces (18) of adjacent tube ends (16). Furthermore, the tube ends (16) have short connecting surfaces (22), onto which the collecting tanks (23, 29) are placed with their legs (24, 25) or collars (30, 31). A space-saving heat exchanger can be produced in a simple way by soldering the long connecting surfaces (18) together, on the one hand, and by soldering the short connecting surfaces (22) to the collecting tanks (23, 29), on the other hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: BEHR GmbH & CO.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Patent number: 6397937
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is assembled in a simple and cost-effective way and needs a relatively low space requirement. According to the invention, the tubes (11) are expanded at the tube ends (16) in such a way that the tube ends (16) are of rectangular design in cross section. The tube ends (16) have parallel long connecting surface (18) which are brought into bearing contact with long connecting surfaces (18) of adjacent tube ends (16). Furthermore, the tube ends (16) have short connecting surfaces (22), onto which the collecting tanks (23,29) are placed with their legs (24, 25) or collars (30, 31). A space-saving heat exchanger can be produced in a simple way by soldering the long connecting surfaces (18) together, on the one hand, and by soldering the short connecting surfaces (22) to the collecting tanks (23, 29), on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Patent number: 6293334
    Abstract: An improved heat transfer assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. Typically, a heat transfer assembly has a fin/tube block consisting of flat tubes and corrugated ribs. The ends of the flat tubes are widened, and collection containers are installed at the widened tube ends. According to the invention, each collection container is kept open laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis. Side parts have end sections with opposing front ends facing the collection container. These opposing front ends close off the open side areas of the collection containers. One use of the heat transfer assembly is as a radiator in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Patent number: 6105665
    Abstract: Heat exchangers are known which are constructed of flat tubes which are formed in that the bent-open tube ends of the flat tubes are joined with contact surfaces, openings in the contact surfaces contributing to the formation of coolant tanks. The closure of the bent-open areas is achieved by inserting special covers. The bent-open areas of the tube ends are constructed to be larger and to use the wall parts projecting beyond the contact surface for forming a tight closure. This can take place by a folding, an overlapping or an obtuse placing against one another of the wall parts which are folded to the inside. The flat-tube heat exchangers may be used, for example, as transmission oil coolers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Patent number: 6068050
    Abstract: A heat transfer device for a motor vehicle includes a rib/tube block arranged between two collection containers. The tube ends of the fin/tube block are widened in the area of each collection container and are then brought together flat into end packets. Both collection containers are set flush to a respective tube end packet and brazed hermetically to the same. At least one collection container is provided with at least one partition wall that divides the collection container. The partition wall has an outer contour that corresponds to the inner contour of the wall of the collection container. As a result, the partition wall can be soldered hermetically around the inner contour. A holding leg is provided on the partition wall and is inserted over two adjacent wall sections of neighboring tube ends of the tube end packet. One use of the device is as a water/air radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani