Heat exchanger

A heat exchanger has an exchanging assembly and a cleaning assembly. The exchanging assembly has multiple exchanging tubes. Each exchanging tube has an outer tube and an inner tube inserted into the outer tube. The cleaning assembly is connected to the exchanging assembly and has a front connecting board, a rear connecting board, a moving board, multiple brushing elements and a drive device. The moving board is mounted movably on the exchanging tubes between the connecting boards. The brushing elements are mounted in the moving board and contact with the exchanging tubes. The drive device is mounted with the connecting boards and the moving board to drive the moving board to move along the exchanging tubes.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, and more particularly to a heat exchanger with a cleaning assembly and that can improve a heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional heat exchanger in accordance with the prior art is used on an air condition system or a cooling system to absorb and exchange heat from a working mechanism to a refrigerant or a fluid to reduce the temperature of the working mechanism.

Furthermore, the conventional heat exchanger includes an air-cooling type and a water-cooling type and comprises an elbow or a casing storing the refrigerant or the high temperature fluid and exchanging heat with cooling air or water. After transmitting heat to the cooling air or the cooling water, the refrigerant or the fluid can absorb heat from and cool down the temperature of the working mechanism.

However, limescale or dirt is easily heaped on the external surface of the elbow or the casing of the conventional water-cooling type heat exchanger due to evaporating and condensing of the cooling water. The limescale and the dirt will block the heat exchanging action between the cooling water and the refrigerant. Thus, the heat transmit efficiency of the conventional heat exchanger is reduced and the limescale and the dirt also make the environment dirty.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a heat exchanger to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger with a cleaning assembly and that can improve a heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger has an exchanging assembly and a cleaning assembly. The exchanging assembly has multiple exchanging tubes. Each exchanging tube has an outer tube and an inner tube inserted into the outer tube. The cleaning assembly is connected securely to the exchanging assembly and has a front connecting board, a rear connecting board, a moving board, multiple brushing elements and a drive device. The moving board is mounted movably on the exchanging tubes between the connecting boards. The brushing elements are mounted in the moving board and contact with the exchanging tubes. The drive device is mounted with the connecting boards and the moving board to drive the moving board to move along the exchanging tubes.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view in partial section of a heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged operational side view in partial section of an exchanging assembly of the heat exchanger in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an exchanging tube of the heat exchanger in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a brushing element in the heat exchanger in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of the brushing element in the heat exchanger in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an operational top view of the heat exchange in FIG. 1.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention comprises an exchanging assembly (10) and a cleaning assembly (20).

The exchanging assembly (10) is used to hold refrigerant or fluid inside and has multiple exchanging tubes (11). The exchanging tubes (11) are parallel to each other and each exchanging tube (11) has an outer tube (13) and an inner tube (12). The outer tube (13) is hollow and has a mounting end (131) and an exhausting end (132). The mounting end (131) of the outer tube (13) is a closed end and may have a conical shape. The exhausting end (132) of the outer tube (13) is an open end.

The inner tube (12) is hollow, is inserted into the outer tube (13) and has an outer surface, an outlet end (122), an inlet end (121) and a guiding rib (123). The outlet end (122) of the inner tube (12) is inserted into the outer tube (13) from the exhausting end (132), is attached to the outer tube (13) near the mounting end (131). The inlet end (121) of the inner tube (12) is extended out the outer tube (13) from the exhausting end (132).

The guiding rib (123) is formed spirally on the outer surface of the inner tube (12) between the inlet end (121) and the exhausting end (132) of the outer tube (13) and contacts with the outer tube (13).

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the refrigerant or the fluid can flow into the exchanging tube (11) from the inlet end (121) of the inner tube (12) and flow to the mounting end (131) of the outer tube (13) from the outlet end (122) of the inner tube (12). Then, the refrigerant or the fluid will flow along the guiding rib (123) between the inner tube (12) and the outer tube (13) and flow out of the exchanging tube (11) from the exhausting end (132) of the outer tube (13). With such a flow of the refrigerant or fluid, heat in the refrigerant or the fluid can be transmitted to cooling air or water that is around the exchanging assembly (10).

After the refrigerant or the fluid flowing in and out of the exchanging tubes (11), the temperature of the refrigerant or the fluid will be decreased and the refrigerant or the fluid can be reused to transmit and absorb heat from a working mechanism.

The cleaning assembly (20) is attached to the exchanging assembly (10) and has a front connecting board (21), a rear connecting board (22), a moving board (23), multiple brushing elements (24), a drive device (25), multiple optional tracking shafts (28) and an optional reservoir (29).

The front connecting board (21) is connected securely with the exchanging tubes (11) and has multiple optional engaging holes (211). The engaging holes (211) are formed through the front connecting board (21), the mounting ends (131) of the outer tubes (13) are respectively inserted into the engaging holes (211) and mounted with the front connecting board (21).

The rear connecting board (22) is connected securely with the exchanging tubes (11), is parallel to the front connecting board (21) and has multiple optional connecting holes (221). The connecting holes (221) are formed through the rear connecting board (22), are aligned respectively with the engaging holes (211) of the front connecting board (21). The exhausting ends (132) of the outer tubes (13) are respectively connected to the connecting holes (221) of the rear connecting board (22). Then, the exchanging tubes (11) of the exchanging assembly (10) are mounted securely between the front connecting board (21) and the rear connecting board (22).

The moving board (23) is mounted movably on the exchanging tubes (11) between the front connecting board (21) and rear connecting board (22) and has two side walls, multiple mounting holes (231) and two optional linking frames (233). The mounting holes (231) are formed through the moving board (23) and align respectively with the engaging holes (211) of the front connecting board (21) and the connecting holes (221) of the rear connecting board (22) and each mounting hole (231) has an inner thread (232).

The linking boards (233) are respectively mounted on the side walls of the moving board (23) and each linking board (233) has two linking ends.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the brushing elements (24) are respectively and detachably mounted in the mounting holes (231) of the moving board (23) and respectively is mounted around an contact with the exchanging tubes (11). Each brushing element (24) is tubular and has an outer surface (241), an outer thread (243), an inner surface and an optional brush (242). The outer thread (243) of the brushing element (24) is formed on the outer surface (241) and is screwed with the inner thread (232) of a corresponding mounting hole (231). The brush (242) is attached in the inner surface and is mounted around and contacts with a corresponding outer tube (13) of the exchanging tube (11) for brushing limescale or dirt away the outer tube (13).

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the drive device (25) is mounted on the connecting boards (21, 22) and is connected to the moving board (23) to drive the moving board (23) to move along the exchanging tubes (11) back and forth between the front connecting board (21) and the rear connecting board (22). The drive device (25) has a chain wheel device (26) and a motor device (27).

The chain wheel device (26) is connected to the connecting boards (21, 22) and the moving board (23) and has two driven wheels (261), a drive shaft (264), two transmitting wheels (263) and two chains (262). The driven wheels (261) are respectively mounted on the front connecting board (21) and align respectively with the linking boards (233) of the moving board (23).

The drive shaft (264) is mounted rotatably on the rear connecting board (22) and has two ends. The transmitting gear wheels (263) are respectively mounted on the ends of the drive shaft (264) and align respectively with the linking boards (233) and the driven gear wheels (261). The chains (262) are respectively mounted around and engaged with the driven gear wheels (261) and the transmitting gear wheels (263) and each chain (262) has two connecting ends. The connecting ends of the chain (262) are contacted to the linking ends of a corresponding linking board (233). Then, the moving board (23) will be moved along the exchanging tubes (11) when the linking boards (233) are pulled by the chains (262) with the transmission of the transmitting wheels (263).

The motor device (27) is mounted on the rear connecting board (22), is connected to and drives the chain wheel device (26) and has a transmitting device (272) and a motor (271). The transmitting device (272) is mounted on the rear connecting board (22) and is engaged with the drive shaft (264). The motor (271) is connected to the transmitting device (272) and is mounted on the rear connecting board (22) to drive the transmitting device (272) rotating.

When the motor (271) is switched on, the moving board (23) and the brushing elements (24) will be moved along the exchanging tubes (11) by with the transmission of the chain wheel device (26).

The tracking shafts (28) are mounted with the connecting boards (21, 22) and the moving board (23) and are parallel to the exchanging tubes (11). With the arrangement of the tracking shafts (28), the moving board (23) can be moved along the tracking shafts (28) in stable to avoid the moving board (23) slanting to the exchanging tubes (11).

The reservoir (29) is mounted on the rear connecting board (22), communicates with the exchanging tubes (11) to store the refrigerant or the fluid and has a chamber and a dividing board (291). The chamber of the reservoir (29) is communicated with the exhausting ends (132) of the outer tubes (13) in the exchanging tubes (11).

The dividing board (291) is mounted in the chamber of the reservoir (29) to divide the chamber into two segments and has multiple through holes (292). The through holes (292) are formed through the dividing board (291) and the inlet ends (121) of the inner tubes (12) are connected respectively with the through holes (292). Accordingly, the refrigerant or the fluid flowing in and out of the exchanging tubes (13) are separated in the segments of the chamber by the dividing board (291) to make the refrigerant and the fluid to exchange heat energy from a working mechanism repeatedly.

The heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages.

1. The heat exchanger can clean limescale and dirt on the exchanging tubes (11) with the moving board (23) and the brushing elements (24) to clean the exchanging tubes (23) and provide a clean working environment.

2. After the limescale and dirt being cleaned up, the refrigerant or the fluid can transmit heat to the cooling air or the cooling water easily and quickly. This can improve the heat transmit efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present utility model have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the utility model, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger having

an exchanging assembly having multiple exchanging tubes being parallel to each other and each exchanging tube having an outer tube being hollow and having a mounting end being a closed end; and an exhausting end being an open end; and an inner tube bring hollow, being inserted into the outer tube and having an outer surface; an outlet end being inserted into the outer tube from the exhausting end, being attached to the outer tube near the mounting end; an inlet end being extended out the outer tube from the exhausting end; and a guiding rib being formed spirally on the outer surface of the inner tube between the inlet end and the exhausting end of the outer tube and contacting with the outer tube; and
a cleaning assembly being connected to the exchanging assembly and having a front connecting board being connected securely with the exchanging tubes; a rear connecting board being connected securely with the exchanging tubes and being parallel to the front connecting board; a moving board being mounted movably on the exchanging tubes between the front connecting board and rear connecting board and having multiple mounting holes formed through the moving board; multiple brushing elements being mounted respectively in the mounting holes of the moving board and respectively mounted around and contacting with the exchanging tubes; and a drive device being connected to the connecting boards and the moving board to drive the moving board to move along the exchanging tubes between the front connecting board and the rear connecting board.

2. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the front connecting board further has multiple engaging holes formed through the front connecting board;
the rear connecting board further has multiple connecting holes being formed through the rear connecting board and aligning respectively with the engaging holes of the front connecting board;
the mounting ends of the outer tubes being conical shape and respectively inserted into the engaging holes and being connected with the front connecting board; and
the exhausting ends of the outer tubes in the exchanging tubes respectively being mounted in the connecting holes of the rear connecting board.

3. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each mounting hole has an inner thread; and
each brushing element being tubular and further has an outer surface; an outer thread being formed on the outer surface, being screwed with the inner thread of a corresponding mounting hole; an inner surface; and a brush being attached on the inner surface, contacting with and mounted around the outer tube of a corresponding exchanging tube.

4. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the moving board further has two side walls; and two linking boards being respectively mounted on the side walls of the moving board and each linking board having two linking ends; and
the drive device has a chain wheel device being connected to the connecting boards and the moving board and having two driven wheels being mounted on the front connecting board and aligning respectively with the linking boards of the moving board; a drive shaft being mounted on the rear connecting board and having two ends; two transmitting wheels being respectively mounted on the ends of the drive shaft and aligning respectively with the linking boards and the driven wheels; and two chains being respectively engaged with the driven gear wheels and the transmitting gear wheels and each chain having two connecting ends connected to the linking ends of a corresponding linking board; and a motor device being mounted on the rear connecting board and having a transmitting device being mounted on the rear connecting board and being connected to the drive shaft; and a motor being connected to the transmitting device and mounted on the rear connecting board.

5. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning assembly further has multiple tracking shafts mounted with the connecting boards and the moving board and parallel to the exchanging tubes.

6. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning assembly further has a reservoir being mounted on the rear connecting board, connected to the exchanging tubes and having

a chamber being communicated with the exhausting ends of the outer tubes in the exchanging tubes; and
a dividing board being mounted in the chamber of the reservoir to divide the chamber into two segments and having multiple through holes formed through the dividing board and the inlet ends of the inner tubes being connected respectively with the through holes.

7. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein

each mounting hole has an inner thread; and
each brushing element being tubular and further has an outer surface; an outer thread being formed on the outer surface, being screwed with the inner thread of a corresponding mounting hole; an inner surface; and a brush being attached on the inner surface, contacting with and mounted around the outer tube of a corresponding exchanging tube.

8. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the moving board further has two side walls; and two linking boards being respectively mounted on the side walls of the moving board and each linking board having two linking ends; and
the drive device further has a chain wheel device being connected to the connecting boards and the moving board and having two driven wheels being respectively mounted on the front connecting board and aligning respectively with the linking boards of the moving board; a drive shaft being mounted on the rear connecting board and having two ends; two transmitting wheels being respectively mounted on the ends of the drive shaft and aligning respectively with the linking boards and the driven wheels; and two chains being respectively engaged with the driven gear wheels and the transmitting gear wheels and each chain having two connecting ends connected to the linking ends of a corresponding linking board; and a motor device being mounted on the rear connecting board and having a transmitting device being mounted on the rear connecting board and being connected to the drive shaft; and a motor being connected to the transmitting device and mounted on the rear connecting board.

9. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cleaning assembly further has multiple tracking shafts mounted with the connecting boards and the moving board and parallel to the exchanging tubes and the chain wheel device.

10. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cleaning assembly further has a reservoir being mounted on the rear connecting board, connected to the exchanging tubes and having

a chamber being communicated with the exhausting ends of the outer tubes in the exchanging tubes; and
a dividing board being mounted in the chamber of the reservoir to divide the chamber into two segments and having multiple through holes formed through the dividing board and the inlet ends of the inner tubes being connected respectively with the through holes.
Patent History
Publication number: 20080000620
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 3, 2008
Inventor: Chien-Chung Tao (Taichung Hsien)
Application Number: 11/476,977
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: With Cleaning Means For Heat Exchanger (165/95); Spur Tube Projects Into Enclosure (165/142)
International Classification: F28G 1/00 (20060101); F28D 7/12 (20060101);