Radiator Tube
A radiator tube (111) having a portion at each end which is adapted to be received in a header tank of a radiator and an intermediate portion between the ends, said intermediate portion having a cross section defined by a pair of side walls (121) and a pair of end walls (123), the side walls are generally parallel and have a spacing between them which is less than the spacing between the end walls, the side walls supporting a set of generally parallel fins (113), each fin extending laterally from the tube, each fin having an inner side edge thermally communicating with the respective side wall of the tube and an outer side edge (119) in a substantially spaced parallel relationship with the inner side edge, a forward edge (115) and a rear edge (117), said forward edge having an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve extending from the forward most edge of the fin to the outer side edge.
This invention relates to radiator tubes and in particular finned radiator tubes.
BACKGROUNDThe finned radiator tubes to which the invention relates comprise tubes having ends which are adapted to be receivable in the header tanks of the radiator and have an intermediate portion between the ends which supports a set of fins. The invention particularly relates to such tubes where the intermediate portion has a generally rectangular configuration and where the fins are supported along the sides of the tubes which have the greater width. The fins can be formed as individual fins or alternatively may be formed from a folded length of material bonded to the tube. In such tubes the ends have a circular cross-section and are received in apertures provided in the respective wall of the respective header and each aperture is usually associated with a seal which sealingly retains the tubes within the tank.
The cross section of examples of finned radiator tubes according to the prior art to the present invention are illustrated at
It has been found that both of the prior art arrangements as referred to above and as shown at
In addition it is very desirable in radiator design that the heat transfer effected by the fins be optimised. It has been found that in the case of the prior art as shown at
The discussion throughout this specification, of the background and prior art to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia or anywhere in the world as at the priority date of the application.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly the invention resides in a radiator tube having a portion at each end which is adapted to be received in a header tank of a radiator and an intermediate portion between the ends, said intermediate portion having a cross section defined by a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls in which the side walls are generally parallel and have a spacing between them which is less than the spacing between the end walls, the side walls supporting a set of generally parallel fins, each fin extending laterally from the tube, each fin having an inner side edge thermally communicating with the respective side wall of the tube and an outer side edge in a substantially spaced parallel relationship with the inner side edge, a forward edge and a rear edge, said forward edge having an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve extending from the forward most edge of the fin to the outer side edge.
According to a preferred feature of the invention the rear edge of each fin has an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve from the rearmost edge to the outer side edge.
According to a preferred feature of the invention the curvature of the forward edge is part circular. According to a preferred feature of the invention the curvature of the rear edge is part circular. According to a particular embodiment of the invention the profile of the front edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle. According to a particular embodiment of the invention the profile of the rear edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.
According to a preferred feature of the invention the fins are individually bonded to the tube.
According to a preferred feature of the invention the fins are formed integrally with the tube.
According to an alternative preferred feature of the invention the fins are formed from a folded length of material having a series of inner folds and a series of outer folds with the fins defined between the inner and outer folds wherein the inner fold is bonded to the tube and defines the inner side edge of the fins extending therefrom and the outer fold defines the outer side edge.
The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of one specific embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:
As in the case of the prior art as shown at
The intermediate portion supports a set of fins 113 which are formed from a length of material which has been folded into a convoluted form to provide a series of inner folds and a series of outer folds and set of fins 113 which extend between the inner and outer folds, are generally parallel to each other and are transverse to the central longitudinal axis X of the tube to extend laterally from the sidewalls 121 of the tube. The material of which the fins comprises a suitably conductive metal such as copper or like conductive metal. The inner folds define the inner side edges of the fins and are bonded to the external face of the side walls 121 of the tube 111 and the outer folds define the outer side edges 119 of the fins and which are parallel to the inner side edges. A forward edge 115 and a rearward edge 117 is defined between the inner and outer edges.
The forward edge and rearward edges 115 and 117 respectively are curved such that they are define a quadrant of a circle having a radius corresponding to the width of the fins between the inner side edge and the outer side edge 119.
The advantage that is offered by the embodiment over the prior art as shown at
In addition as illustrated at
In addition it is a feature of the function of the fins of the radiator tubes of the prior art of
In addition as illustrated at
Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.
It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiment described above.
Claims
1. A radiator tube having a portion at each end which is adapted to be received in a header tank of a radiator and an intermediate portion between the ends, said intermediate portion having a cross section defined by a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, the side walls are generally parallel and have a spacing between them which is less than the spacing between the end walls, each side wall of the tube supporting a set of fins, the fins being generally parallel and positioned at spaced intervals along each side to extend across each side wall between the end walls, each fin extending laterally from the tube, each fin having an inner side edge thermally communicating with the respective side wall of the tube and an outer side edge, the outer side edge being substantially parallel with the inner side edge and side wall, each fin having a forward edge and a rear edge, the forward edges and rear edges being of the fins to opposed sides of the tube being spaced from each other by the tube, the forward edge of each fin having an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve extending from the forward most edge of the fin to the outer side edge.
2. A radiator tube as claimed at claim 1 wherein the rear edge of each fin has an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve from the rearmost edge to the outer side edge.
3. A radiator tube as claimed at claim 2 the curvature of the rear edge is part circular.
4. A radiator tube as claimed at claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein the curvature of the forward edge is part circular.
5. A radiator tube as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the profile of the front edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.
6. A radiator tube as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the profile of the rear edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.
7. A radiator tube as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the fins are individually bonded to the tube.
8. A radiator tube as claimed at any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the fins are formed integrally with the tube.
9. A radiator tube as claimed at any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the fins are formed from a folded length of material having a series of inner folds and a series of outer folds with the fins defined between the inner and outer folds wherein the inner fold is bonded to the tube and defines the inner side edge of the fins extending therefrom and the outer fold defines the outer side edge.
10. A radiator tube substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A radiator core comprising a set of radiator tubes wherein each radiator tube has a portion at each end which is adapted to be received in a header tank of a radiator and an intermediate portion between the ends, said intermediate portion having a cross section defined by a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, the side walls are generally parallel and have a spacing between them which is less than the spacing between the end walls, each side wall of the tube supporting a set of fins, the fins being generally parallel and positioned at spaced intervals along each side to extend across each side wall between the end walls, each fin extending laterally from the tube, each fin having an inner side edge thermally communicating with the respective side wall of the tube and an outer side edge, the outer side edge being substantially parallel with the inner side edge and side wall, each fin having a forward edge and a rear edge, the forward edges and rear edges being of the fins to opposed sides of the tube being spaced from each other by the tube, the forward edge of each fin having an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve extending from the forward most edge of the fin to the outer side edge, said tubes being arrayed to define at least two substantially parallel rows of tube wherein each tube of is located to be substantially equidistant form adjacent tubes and the fins of each tube are spaced from the fins of adjacent tubes.
12. A radiator core as claimed at claim 11 wherein the rear edge of each fin has an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve from the rearmost edge to the outer side edge.
13. A radiator core as claimed at claim 22 the curvature of the rear edge is part circular.
14. A radiator core as claimed at claim 1 or 12 or 13 wherein the curvature of the forward edge is part circular.
15. A radiator core as claimed at any one of claims 11 to 14 wherein the profile of the front edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.
16. A radiator core as claimed at any one of claims 11 to 15 wherein the profile of the rear edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.
17. A radiator core as claimed at any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein the fins are individually bonded to the tube.
18. A radiator core as claimed at any one of claims 11 to 17 wherein the fins are formed integrally with the tube.
19. A radiator core as claimed at any one of claims 11 to 17 wherein the fins are formed from a folded length of material having a series of inner folds and a series of outer folds with the fins defined between the inner and outer folds wherein the inner fold is bonded to the tube and defines the inner side edge of the fins extending therefrom and the outer fold defines the outer side edge.
20. A radiator core substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2007
Inventor: Laurence Petrie (Western Australia)
Application Number: 11/628,969
International Classification: F28F 1/24 (20060101);