NESTED HEAT EXCHANGERS

Abstract

A heat exchanging apparatus may include a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, which may be flat plate heat exchangers and may be located entirely within an end tank of a third heat exchanger. The first and second heat exchangers each may include an inlet and an outlet and may be plate style heat exchangers. The entire first heat exchanger is located between the inlet and the outlet of the second heat exchanger. A first heat exchanger inlet mount surface, a first heat exchanger outlet mount surface, a second heat exchanger inlet mount surface and a second heat exchanger outlet mount surface may each terminate in a single plane. The third heat exchanger end tank may define a hole such that the hole is located aft of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger with respect to a direction of coolant flow through the end tank.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/470,367, filed on Mar. 31, 2011. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to heat exchangers, and more particularly, to nested heat exchangers.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. Heat exchangers have generally been satisfactory for their intended purposes; however known heat exchangers are generally not without their share of limitations. FIGS. 19 and 18 depict currently know configurations of heat exchangers. FIG. 18 depicts a tubular heat exchanger 2 with a first fitting 4 located at a first end 6 of a tubular section 12 and a second fitting 8 located at a second end 10 of the tubular section 12. Tubular section is circular in cross-section. Tubular heat exchanger 2 is designed to be used with two fluids, which may be different fluids. For instance, a first fluid 14 may enter at first fitting 4 and flow through tubular section 12 in a cavity defined or formed by inside tubular wall 16 and outside tubular wall 18. A second fluid 20 may enter tubular heat exchanger 2 at first end 6 and pass through tubular section 12 in a cavity formed only by inside tubular wall 16 and then pass from or out of tubular heat exchanger 2 via the second end 10. Thus, first fluid 14 and second fluid 20 do not mix or come into contact with each other and may facilitate heat transfer between each other. Second fluid 20 may flow over an outside surface 21 of tubular section 12.

FIG. 19 depicts a plate heat exchanger 22, which may be configured with multiple flat plates such as a first plate 24, second plate 26, third plate 28 and fourth plate 30. Each plate 24, 26, 28, 30 itself may define a hollow interior such that each plate 24, 26, 28, 30 may accommodate a first fluid 32 that may flow between a top surface 36 of fourth plate 30 and a bottom surface 34 of fourth plate 30. First fluid 32 may enter plate heat exchanger 22 at first fitting 38 and then flow through each plate 24, 26, 28, 30 in a parallel fashion as indicated with a phantom arrow. First fluid 32 may then flow from second fitting 40. A second fluid 42 may flow through gaps created by adjacent plates 24 and 26, between adjacent plates 26 and 28, and between adjacent plates 28 and 30. Thus, heat transfer may occur between first fluid 32 flowing through each of plates 24, 26, 28, 30 and second fluid 42, which flows around an outside surface of plates 24, 26, 28, 30.

Tubular heat exchanger 2 and plate heat exchanger 22 only permit heat transfer between two fluids as described above. Therefore, a need exists for a single heat exchanger that permits heat exchange between two or more fluids and that provides a relatively small overall package.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. A heat exchanging apparatus may employ a first heat exchanger, which may include a first heat exchanger inlet and a first heat exchanger outlet. The heat exchanging apparatus may also employ a second heat exchanger, which may include a second heat exchanger inlet and a second heat exchanger outlet. The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger may be flat plate heat exchangers. The heat exchanging apparatus may also employ a third heat exchanger, which may include numerous tubes and fins. The tubes may be arranged in a parallel fashion and positioned horizontally when the third heat exchanger is installed in a vehicle. The third heat exchanger may also employ a side end tank that defines a liquid chamber. The entire first heat exchanger and the entire second heat exchanger may be located within the side end tank. The entire first heat exchanger may be located between the inlet and the outlet of the second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger may be connected together and one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger may include a plurality of plates separated by a plurality of gaps.

The first heat exchanger inlet, the first heat exchanger outlet, the second heat exchanger inlet, and the second heat exchanger outlet may each protrude through a wall of the end tank. The first heat exchanger inlet may include a first heat exchanger inlet mount surface. The first heat exchanger outlet may include a first heat exchanger outlet mount surface. The second heat exchanger inlet may include a second heat exchanger inlet mount surface. The second heat exchanger outlet may include a second heat exchanger outlet mount surface. The first heat exchanger inlet mount surface, the first heat exchanger outlet mount surface, the second heat exchanger inlet mount surface and the second heat exchanger outlet mount surface may be mounted against an inside surface of the side end tank and may each terminate in a single plane.

The third heat exchanger end tank may define a hole such that the hole is located aft (i.e. downstream) of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger with respect to a direction of coolant flow through the end tank. A longitudinal cross-sectional envelope of the entire first heat exchanger may be located within a longitudinal cross-sectional envelope of the entire second heat exchanger.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an automobile depicting a location of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a vehicle engine and radiator depicting an example location of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an engine side of a radiator depicting an example location of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a side view of another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a nested heat exchanger in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a top view of a plate used to transport fluid in heat exchanger;

FIG. 12 is a top view of a plate used to transport fluid in heat exchanger;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the plate of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view of the plates taken through lines 14A-14A of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view of the plates taken through lines 14B-14B of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 15 is a single plate of a two plate type of a fluid carrying channel of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a separator plate in the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a separator plate installed within a single plate of a two plate type of a fluid carrying channel used in the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger known to be prior art; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger known to be prior art.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to FIGS. 1-17 of the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 depicts a vehicle 100 with an engine 102, and in front of engine 102, a heat exchanger 104, which may be an engine radiator, may be mounted to provide heat exchange between outside or ambient air 106 and a liquid, such as engine coolant, flowing through channels or tubes of heat exchanger 104. Throughout this detailed description, terms such as “in front of,” “behind,” are relative to a front and rear of vehicle 100. Thus, when heat exchanger 104 is positioned in front of engine 102, this means that heat exchanger 104 is located closer to a front end 108 of vehicle 100 than engine 102. Similarly, if engine 102 is described as being located behind heat exchanger 104, this means that engine 102 is both, farther from a front end 108 of vehicle 100 and closer to a rear end 110 of vehicle 100 than heat exchanger 104. Heat exchanger 104, as depicted in FIG. 1, may be part of the present disclosure, as discussed below in further detail.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view which includes heat exchanger 104, engine 102, a cooling fan 112, a transmission 114, and a power steering pump 116. Moreover, heat exchanger 104 may be fluidly linked to engine 102 using traditional fluid lines 118, 120, which may be flexible rubber hoses, metal tubes, etc. More specifically, fluid line 118 may deliver liquid coolant from engine 102, such as from a water jacket of engine 102, to heat exchanger 104 and fluid line 120 may deliver liquid coolant from heat exchanger 104 to engine 102, such as to a water jacket of engine 102. A water jacket of an engine normally surrounds the cylinders within which combustion occurs. Cooling fan 112 may be a fan that rotates under power supplied by a shaft 122 protruding from engine 102, or power to rotate fan may be supplied by an electric motor powered by electrical energy. In accordance with the present disclosure, nested heat exchangers 124 may be resident within heat exchanger 104. Nested heat exchangers 124 may receive and discharge fluid through separate fluid lines. More specifically, in one example, fluid line 126 delivers fluid into a first fluid heat exchanger 134 and fluid line 128 may remove fluid from first fluid heat exchanger 134. Similarly, fluid line 132 may deliver fluid into a second fluid heat exchanger 136 and fluid line 130 may remove fluid from second fluid heat exchanger 136. Together, first fluid heat exchanger 134 and second fluid heat exchanger 136 may comprise nested heat exchangers 124, which may or may not be a single component.

FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of a heat exchanger 140 employing nested heat exchangers 142, which may employ a first fluid heat exchanger 144 and a second fluid heat exchanger 146. More specifically, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 at least insofar as inlets and outlets of nested heat exchangers 124 pass through a rear surface of either a hot side end tank or cool side end tank. The rear surface being that surface that faces a rear of vehicle 100. Conceivably, ports could reside at an pass out from a front side of a radiator or one set could pass from a front side and another port could pass from a side other than a front side. Continuing with FIG. 3, a liquid engine coolant, which may be known as anti-freeze, may enter heat exchanger 140 through a heat exchanger inlet hole 148 in a hot side end tank 150. As depicted in FIG. 3, heat exchanger inlet hole 148 may be located near a top end 152 of hot side end tank 150. In operation, and in accordance with arrow 161 which may represent hot liquid coolant (e.g. 190 degrees Fahrenheit) immediately after exiting an internal combustion engine, coolant may enter heat exchanger inlet hole 148 and flow through numerous tubes 154, which may be aligned in a parallel fashion and each fluidly linked to hot side end tank 150 and a cold side end tank 156. Between each pair of tubes 154, fins 155, which may be solid pieces of relatively thin metal, may contact tubes 154 to transfer heat from tubes 154 after heat is transferred from hot liquid coolant in tubes 154 to tubes 154. As the hot liquid coolant flows through tubes 154, air that passes through gaps defined by tubes 154 and fins 155 removes heat from surfaces of tubes 154 and fins 155, thereby removing heat from hot liquid coolant passing through tubes 154. Thus, the liquid coolant is lowered in temperature before it flows into cold side end tank 156. The liquid coolant then flows from outlet hole 158, which may be located near a bottom end 160 of cold side end tank 156. While liquid coolant flows through an internal chamber 162 of cold side end tank 156, nested heat exchangers 142 are in contact with the liquid coolant resident within and flowing through internal chamber 162.

Continuing with FIG. 3, inlet 164 may be tubular and protrude through a wall of cold side end tank 156. Protrusion of inlet 164 may be through a rear wall that faces a rear of vehicle 10, a front wall that faces a front of vehicle 100 or a side wall, which may be a wall that neither faces a rear or a front of vehicle 100. As an example, inlet 164 may connect with fluid line 126 of FIG. 2 while outlet 166 may connect with fluid line 128. As depicted in FIG. 2, fluid lines 126, 128 may be connected to a transmission 114 to cool transmission fluid using heat exchanger 144 within cold side end tank 156. Similarly, as an example, inlet 170 may connect with fluid line 130 of FIG. 2 while outlet 168 may connect with fluid line 132. As depicted in FIG. 2, fluid lines 130, 132 may be connected to power steering pump 116 to cool pump fluid (e.g. oil) using heat exchanger 146 within cold side end tank 156. Inlets 164, 170 and outlets 166, 168 may connect to side wall 172 of cold side end tank 156, a rear wall (as depicted in FIG. 2) or another wall of cold side end tank 156 using known structures. What wall inlets 164, 170 and outlets 166, 168 protrude through may depend upon packaging requirements for a particular vehicle and inlets 164, 170 and outlets 166, 168 may protrude through different walls.

FIG. 3 also depicts nested heat exchangers 142′ located within hot side end tank 150. Such a configuration may be utilized when additional vehicle components requiring cooling of a liquid are present. Nested heat exchangers 142′ would function similarly to nested heat exchangers 142 although heat transfer from liquids flowing through nested heat exchangers 142′ into liquid within internal chamber 163 of hot side end tank 150 may be different because of the temperature of the flowing fluid within internal chamber 163 and fluids flowing through nested heat exchangers 142′.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of heat exchanger 144 and heat exchanger 146 as nested heat exchangers 142. Heat exchanger 146 may have an inlet mount surface 174 and an outlet mount surface 176. Similarly, heat exchanger 144 may have an inlet mount surface 180 and an outlet mount surface 178. As depicted in FIG. 5, inlet mount surfaces 174, 180 and outlet mount surfaces 176, 178 may or may not reside in the same plane or be at the same level to provide a flush mount to an internal wall surface of either hot side end tank 150 or cold side end tank 156. FIGS. 4 and 5 also depict a juncture of heat exchanger 144 and heat exchanger 146. More specifically, in one example, heat exchanger 146 may reside against or adjacent a surface 182 of heat exchanger 144 and form a junction at surface 182. FIG. 5, which is a side view drawing, also depicts outside surface 184 and gaps 188, 190 of heat exchanger 146, and outside surface 186 and gaps 192, 194 of heat exchanger 144 around which and through which ambient air 106 may circulate. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 also depict to scale perspective views of nested heat exchangers 142. Nested heat exchangers 142 of FIGS. 4-7 may be made as a single piece or heat exchanger 144 and heat exchanger 146 may be made as separate pieces and then brazed or otherwise welded or secured against each other.

FIG. 8 depicts another embodiment of nested heat exchangers 200. More specifically, plate heat exchanger 202 may nest within concentric heat exchanger 204. That is, the entire construction of plate heat exchanger 202 may fit within and between an envelope formed by protruding inlet 206, protruding outlet 208 and concentric heat exchanger 204. Plate heat exchangers may also be known as stacked plate heat exchangers due to their structural arrangement evident in at least FIGS. 4-7. Concentric heat exchanger 204 is hollow through its center about its longitudinal axis. By locating the entire length of plate heat exchanger 202 between protruding inlet 206 and protruding outlet 208 of concentric heat exchanger 204, an overall depth of nested heat exchangers 200 may be limited to dimension 210, which is the sum of a diameter of concentric heat exchanger 204 and a protruding length of either protruding inlet 206 or protruding outlet 208. Protruding inlet 206 and protruding outlet 208 may protrude to the exact same plane (e.g. length or distance), or a little less or a little more, as protruding inlet and protruding outlet of plate heat exchanger 202. Plate heat exchanger 202 may be welded, brazed or otherwise held securely against concentric heat exchanger 204 to form nested heat exchangers 200. An advantage of nested heat exchangers 200 is that heat transfer capacity may be increased (i.e. heat transfer between at least three fluids) while minimizing overall depth 210 of nested heat exchangers 200 to that of just one heat exchanger.

FIG. 9 depicts another embodiment of nested heat exchangers 300. More specifically, concentric heat exchanger 302 may nest within plate heat exchanger 304. Plate heat exchanger 304 is similar to plate heat exchanger 22 depicted in FIG. 19. Concentric heat exchanger 302 is similar to tubular heat exchanger 2 depicted in FIG. 18. By locating the entire length of concentric heat exchanger 302 between protruding inlet 314 and protruding outlet 316 of plate heat exchanger 304, an overall depth of nested heat exchangers 300 may be limited to dimension 310, which is the sum of a width of plate heat exchanger 304 and a protruding length of either protruding inlet 314 or protruding outlet 316. Concentric heat exchanger 302 may be welded, brazed or otherwise held securely against plate heat exchanger 304 to form nested heat exchangers 300. An advantage of nested heat exchangers 300 is that heat transfer capacity may be increased while minimizing an overall depth 310 of nested heat exchangers to that of one heat exchanger.

FIG. 10 depicts a plate style nested heat exchanger 400, which may be a fully integrated one piece dual fluid aluminum plate heat exchanger. Heat exchanger 400 may be made of any suitable material. Dual fluid means that each heat exchanger may have one fluid running through it while a third fluid, such as a fluid within a tank filled with liquid, or even outside air, depending upon the application, may flow over or between plates of nested heat exchanger 400. Nested heat exchanger 400 may employ an outlet that protrudes from a major flat surface of nested heat exchanger 400 that has an outlet mount surface 402 and an inlet that protrudes from a major flat surface of heat exchanger 400 that has an inlet mount surface 404. A first fluid entering at inlet mount surface 404 travels through a nesting or outer heat exchanger 406 before such fluid passes from outlet mount surface 402. In a similar fashion, a second or different fluid from first fluid may enter nested heat exchanger 400 at inlet mount surface 408 and travel through a nested or inner heat exchanger 412 before such second fluid passes from outlet mount surface 410. FIG. 10 also depicts a separator plate area 414 between outlet mount surface 402 and inlet mount surface 408. Another separator plate area exists between outlet mount surface 410 and inlet mount surface 404. Thus, as depicted in FIG. 10, which may be to scale, a compact and lightweight nested heat exchanger 400 may be provided. In another arrangement, inlet mount surface 408 and outlet mount surface 410 may be arranged so that they protrude from an opposite surface or side of heat exchanger 400 from that depicted in FIG. 10, yet still between outlet mount surface 402 and inlet mount surface 404.

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of an end of nested heat exchanger 400. More specifically, separator plate area 414 may employ a first separator plate 416 and a second separator plate 418, which add strength and prevent any fluid from nesting or outer heat exchanger 406 from mixing with nested or inner heat exchanger 412. Thus, nested heat exchanger 412 may be easily assembled with nesting or outer heat exchanger 406 because of separator plates 416, 418. When outer heat exchanger 406 is assembled, reinforcement collars 420, 422, 424 are placed between successive plates to provide spacing and support to outer heat exchanger 406. A bottom cap 426 may be secured to an outside surface (e.g. bottom surface) of outer heat exchanger 406. Turbulators 428, 430, 432, 434 may be installed within fluid flow passageways 436, 438 of inner heat exchanger 406 and within fluid flow passageways 440, 442 of outer heat exchanger 412 to create more turbulent flow in the fluid and enhance heat transfer away from or into the fluid traveling in the respective passageway 436, 438, 440, 442.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a plate, such as for outer heat exchanger 406, and FIG. 12 is a top view of a plate, such as for heat exchanger 412. A stack or sandwich of plates 441, 443 are used to transport fluid in nested heat exchanger 400. Channel 440 is defined by two plates brazed together and channel 436 is defined by two plates brazed together. Separator plate area 414 is also depicted.

FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view of nested heat exchanger 400 taken through lines 14A-14A of FIG. 10A, and FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view taken through lines 14B-14B of FIG. 10A. FIG. 14A depicts an end portion of nested heat exchanger 400. More specifically, FIG. 14A depicts outlet mount surface 402, reinforcement collars 420, 422, 424 and flow channels 440, 442. FIG. 14B depicts an end portion of nested heat exchanger 400. More specifically, FIG. 14B depicts inlet mount surface 408, flow channels 436, 438, 440, 442 and turbulators 440, 442.

FIG. 15 depicts plate 444, which is one end of plate 443 (FIG. 13) that when combined with another plate makes fluid carrying channel 436. Plate 444 may be a c-shaped part also known as a c-channel (e.g. a physical piece of aluminum bent or formed into a shape depicted in FIG. 15). Plate 444 has a recession 446 cut or formed into it along with a first hole 448 and a second hole 450. Recession 446 may be cut or formed into a bottom surface, such as a major or largest flat surface of plate 444, and also into side plate surfaces 454, 456. Recession 446 faces an interior of plate 444 and not an exterior. Stated differently, recession 446 is formed into surfaces 452, 454, 456 that face fluid flowing through the channel defined by two opposing plates, as depicted in FIG. 10A.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of separator plate 458 that is assembled into plate 444, as depicted in FIG. 17 as assembly 460. Separator plate 458 may have substantially a rectangular-shaped body 462 with protrusions 464 on opposing surfaces. Rectangular-shaped body 462 may also have protrusions 466, 467 on opposing longitudinal ends such that a bottom surface 468 of protrusion 466 contacts a top surface 472 of wall 474 that may be ninety degrees to surface 452. Similarly, a bottom surface 470 of protrusion 467 contacts a top surface 476 of wall 478 that may be ninety degrees to surface 452. Separator plate 458 may make a full contact fit within plate 444, such as recession 446. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of separator plate 458 installed within plate 444 of a plate type of construction that may form, when combined with another plate, a fluid carrying channel of nested heat exchanger 400.

Stated slightly differently, the teachings of the present disclosure may include a heat exchanging apparatus 140 that employs a first heat exchanger 144 with a first heat exchanger inlet 164 and a first heat exchanger outlet 166, and a second heat exchanger 146 with a second heat exchanger inlet 170 and a second heat exchanger outlet 168. Heat exchanging apparatus 140 may also employ a third heat exchanger 104, 140 with two side end tanks 150, 156 that each define a liquid chamber 163, 162. Side end tanks 150, 156 may each have a vertical longitudinal axis that runs substantially through a center of each liquid chamber 163, 162. An entirety of first heat exchanger 144 and an entirety of second heat exchanger 146 may be located within one of side end tanks 150, 156 (however, inlets 164, 170 and outlets 166, 168 may protrude through wall 172 and thus be outside of liquid chambers 163, 162, or inlets could protrude from opposite sides of tank). Of side end tanks 150, 156, one may be a relatively hot side end tank 150, because hot liquid coolant enters it from a running internal combustion engine 102, and one may be a relatively cold side end tank 156, because the liquid coolant enters it after the liquid coolant has passed through a series of tubes 154 with cooling fins 155 attached to the tubes 154. The entire second heat exchanger 146 may be located between the inlet 164 and the outlet 166 of the first heat exchanger 144, and first heat exchanger 144 and second heat exchanger 146 may be connected together (e.g. by welding or fasteners) or rather, manufactured as a single component.

First heat exchanger inlet 164, first heat exchanger outlet 166, second heat exchanger inlet 170, and second heat exchanger outlet 168 each may protrude through a wall 172 of end tank 156. To securely mount first and second heat exchangers 144, 146 within end tank 156, first heat exchanger inlet 164 may further employ a first heat exchanger inlet mount surface 180, the first heat exchanger outlet 166 may further employ a first heat exchanger inlet mount surface 174, the second heat exchanger inlet 170 may further employ a second heat exchanger outlet mount surface 176, and the second heat exchanger outlet 168 may further employ a second heat exchanger outlet mount surface 178. Such surfaces may be mounted against an interior or inside surface of side end tank 156 such that inlets 164, 170 and outlets 166, 168 may protrude through end tank wall 172.

One or both of first heat exchanger 144 and second heat exchanger 146 may be a plate type of heat exchanger and employ a plurality of parallel plates 24, 26, 28, 30 separated by a plurality of gaps (i.e. alternating plate-gap-plate). First heat exchanger inlet mount surface 180, first heat exchanger outlet mount surface 178, second heat exchanger inlet mount surface 174 and second heat exchanger outlet mount surface 176 may be aligned in a straight fashion such that ends of each terminate in a single plane, as depicted in FIG. 5, to facilitate a flush mount.

Third heat exchanger end tank 156 of heat exchanging apparatus 140 may further define a hole 158 that is located aft of first heat exchanger 144 and second heat exchanger 146 with respect to a direction of coolant flow through end tank 156. That is, aft of first heat exchanger 144 and second heat exchanger 146 along a longitudinal axis of the end tank and in a coolant flow direction (from a top of the third heat exchanger at inlet hole 148 to a bottom of the third heat exchanger at outlet hole 158 via flow of coolant indicated by arrow 161). To efficiently utilize space within end tank 156, a longitudinal cross-sectional envelope of the entire second heat exchanger 146 may be located within a longitudinal cross-sectional envelope of the entire first heat exchanger 144. Similarly, in a side view as depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the entire second heat exchanger will nest within or fit within an envelope created or bordered by outside surface of a plate of first heat exchanger 144, inlet 164, and outlet 166.

In another structural arrangement, a heat exchanging apparatus may employ a first heat exchanger with a first heat exchanger inlet and a first heat exchanger outlet that pass through a first heat exchanger top plate surface, and a second heat exchanger with a second heat exchanger inlet and a second heat exchanger outlet that pass through a second heat exchanger top plate surface. The first heat exchanger top plate surface is in the same plane as the second heat exchanger top plate surface.

A first separator plate may be positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, and a second separator plate positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The first separator plate and the second separator plate prevent liquid from passing between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The separator plate may further employ a plurality of protrusions projecting from a main body portion of the separator plate. Each heat exchanger may be constructed from a plurality of half plates arranged for liquid flow. For instance two half plates may be placed together to form a flow channel. Each half plate may define a recession formed perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of each plate, as depicted in FIGS. 15 and 17. Each half plate may further defines a plurality of holes, such as in the recession, as depicted in FIG. 15. The plurality of protrusions of a given separator plate may reside within corresponding holes of the half plates, as depicted in FIG. 17.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Claims

1. A heat exchanging apparatus comprising:

a first heat exchanger comprising: a first inlet; and a first outlet;

a second heat exchanger comprising: a second inlet; and a second outlet;

wherein the entire second heat exchanger is located between the inlet and the outlet of the first heat exchanger.

2. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger is a concentric heat exchanger with a hollow center about its longitudinal axis and another of the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger is a stacked plate heat exchanger.

3. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are welded together.

4. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third heat exchanger comprising: a side end tank defining a liquid chamber; and a side end tank, wherein the entire first and the entire second heat exchanger are located with the side end tank.

5. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the first inlet further comprises a first inlet mount surface;

the first outlet further comprises a first outlet mount surface;

the second inlet further comprises a second inlet mount surface; and

the second outlet further comprises a second outlet mount surface, wherein the first inlet mount surface, the first outlet mount surface, the second inlet mount surface and the second outlet mount surface each terminate in a single plane.

6. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first inlet mount surface, the first outlet mount surface, the second inlet mount surface and the second outlet mount surface are mounted to an inside surface of the side end tank.

7. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 4, wherein the third heat exchanger end tank further defines a hole, wherein the hole is located aft of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger with respect to a direction of coolant flow.

8. A heat exchanging apparatus comprising:

a first heat exchanger comprising: a first inlet; a first outlet; and a plurality of plates separated by a plurality of gaps;

a second heat exchanger comprising: a second inlet; a second outlet; and a plurality of plates separated by a plurality of gaps;

a third heat exchanger comprising: a side end tank defining a liquid chamber; and a side end tank,

wherein: the entire first heat exchanger and the entire second heat exchanger are located within the side end tank, the entire first heat exchanger is located between the inlet and the outlet of the second heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are connected together.

9. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the first inlet, the first outlet, the second inlet, and the second outlet each protrude through a wall of the end tank.

10. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the first inlet further comprises a first inlet mount surface;

the first outlet further comprises a first outlet mount surface;

the second inlet further comprises a second inlet mount surface; and

the second outlet further comprises a second outlet mount surface, wherein:

the first inlet mount surface, the first outlet mount surface, the second inlet mount surface and the second outlet mount surface each terminate in a single plane, and

the first inlet mount surface, the first outlet mount surface, the second inlet mount surface and the second outlet mount surface are mounted to an inside surface of the side end tank.

11. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are a single component.

12. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third heat exchanger end tank further defines a hole, wherein the hole is located aft of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger with respect to a direction of coolant flow.

13. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are flat plate heat exchangers.

14. A heat exchanging apparatus comprising:

a first heat exchanger comprising: a first heat exchanger inlet and a first heat exchanger outlet that pass through a first heat exchanger top plate surface;

a second heat exchanger comprising: a second heat exchanger inlet and a second heat exchanger outlet that pass through a second heat exchanger top plate surface, wherein the first heat exchanger top plate surface is in the same plane as the second heat exchanger top plate surface.

15. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a first separator plate positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and

a second separator plate positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

16. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first separator plate and the second separator plate prevent liquid from passing between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

17. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 16, wherein the separator plate further comprises:

a plurality of protrusions projecting from a main body portion of the separator plate.

18. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 17, wherein each heat exchanger is further comprised of a plurality of half plates arranged for liquid flow, each plate having a half plate defining a recession formed perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of each plate.

19. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 18, wherein each half plate further defines a plurality of holes.

20. The heat exchanging apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of protrusions of the separator plate reside within the plurality of holes of the half plates.