Abstract: A heat-exchanger assembly, which can be advantageously employed as an intercooler for an air-charging system for an internal combustion engines includes a plurality of generally wedge-shaped coolant tubes through which coolant is directed for effecting cooling of compressed air flowing about the tubes. In order to promote efficient operation, each of the wedge-shaped cooling tubes includes a plurality of coolant passages of substantially identical hydraulic diameter or cross-sectional area, thereby promoting uniform flow of coolant through each coolant tube. Each coolant tube includes outer walls which may be of a substantially uniform thickness, or which may increase in thickness across the width of the tube.

Abstract: A rotary compressor machine, such as a combustion air charger, includes a rotatable shaft (18) having at least one compressor wheel (20,22) thereon and disposed within a housing (12,14). A donut-shaped heat exchanger (36) is located within the housing (12,14) between the compressor wheel (22) and an outlet (32) from the housing and has radially inner and outer peripheries (40,42). The outer periphery (40) defines an inlet for the heat exchanger (36) for gas discharged by the compressor wheel (20). The heat exchanger is provided with radially inner and outer flow paths defined by tubes (92) and includes a combined manifold and tank (44) which is secured and sealed to a header plate (88) receiving the tubes (92). The combined manifold and tank (44) includes first, second and third axially spaced walls (96,98,100) with each having a central opening (110,112,114).

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: Improved efficiency is obtained in a rotary machine having a rotary shaft (18) mounting a compressor wheel (20) that discharges into a heat exchanger (36) having a core (82) with a central opening (42) in surrounding relation to the shaft (18). The heat exchanger (36) includes a coolant tank (90) on one side of the core (82) and in fluid communication with the same which serves as one boundary of radially extending space (68) through which a gas is discharged by a compressor wheel (20). A deswirling vane structure (80) causes gas discharged by the compressor wheel (22) to move radially outward within the space (68) and is formed of a material of good thermal conductivity and thermally bridged to the tank (90) to conduct heat thereto to be rejected to coolant in the tank.

Abstract: An improved combustion air charger, such as a turbocharger or a supercharger, includes a housing (10) having a rotary shaft (18) journalled therein. At least one compressor wheel (20,22) is located on the shaft (18). The housing (10) includes an ambient inlet (30) as well as a compressed air outlet (32) and a heat exchanger (36) is located between at least one of the compressor wheels (20) and the outlet (32) and is arranged so that air flow through the heat exchanger (36) is generally in the radially inward direction.