Heat Exchanger of a Ventilation Apparatus

Abstract

A heat exchanger of a ventilation apparatus including a first positioning disk, a second positioning disk, a fixing module and a plurality of guiding pipes is disclosed. The first positioning disk has a first fixing portion and a plurality of first positioning portions. The second positioning disk has a second fixing portion and a plurality of second positioning portions. The fixing module connects with the first and second fixing portions of the first and second positioning disks to separate the first and second positioning disks by a distance. The plurality of guiding pipes is arranged between the first and second positioning disks. A first end of each guiding pipe couples with a respective one of the first positioning portions of the first positioning disk, and a second end of each guiding pipe couples with a respective one of the second positioning portions of the second positioning disk.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a heat exchanger of a ventilation apparatus and, more particularly, it relates to a heat exchanger able to be conveniently and firmly assembled inside the ventilation apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a United Kingdom patent, entitled as “Heat Recovery Ventilation Device,” with patent number of GB2452927B is shown. The patent discloses a conventional ventilation apparatus 9 which includes a housing 91, a heat exchanger 92, an air guiding lid 93, and a fan 94. The heat exchanger 92 is received inside the housing 91, which has two end disks 921 and a plurality of pipes 922 connecting to said two end disks 921, wherein each of the two end disks 921 has a plurality of positioning holes 923 for respective ends of the pipes 922 to be inserted therein. The air guiding lid 93 and fan 94 are mounted on an end of the housing 91. Therefore, with an operation of the fan 94, the outside air is guided into the housing 91 by one end and expelled by the other end thereof for heat exchange performed through the heat exchanger 92.

Specifically, since the heat exchanger 92 is assembled merely by inserting the pipes 922 into the positioning holes 923 of the two end disks 921 without any additional positioning device between the two end disks 921 or between any one of the end disks 921 and the pipes 922, the structural strength of the heat exchanger 92 is low. Furthermore, it is also inconvenient for the heat exchanger 92 to be disposed into the housing 91 in manufacture of the conventional ventilation apparatus 9 because the assembled heat exchanger 92 can be loose again before a combination between the housing 91 and the heat exchanger 92 is secured.

As a result, it is necessary to improve the heat exchanger 92 of the conventional ventilation apparatus 9.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the objective of this invention to provide a heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus, which improves the structural strength of the combination of elements.

Another objective of this invention is providing a heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus, which can be inserted into a housing of the ventilation apparatus easily and fast.

One embodiment of the invention discloses a heat exchanger of a ventilation apparatus, which includes a first positioning disk, a second positioning disk, a fixing module and a plurality of guiding pipes. The first positioning disk has a first fixing portion and a plurality of first positioning portions. The second positioning disk has a second fixing portion and a plurality of second positioning portions. The fixing module connects with the first and second fixing portions of the first and second positioning disks to separate the first and second positioning disks by a distance. The plurality of guiding pipes is arranged between the first and second positioning disks. A first end of each guiding pipe couples with a respective one of the first positioning portions of the first positioning disk, and a second end of each guiding pipe couples with a respective one of the second positioning portions of the second positioning disk.

In a form shown, each of the first and second positioning disks has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surfaces of the first and second positioning disks face each other. The first and second positioning portions of the first and second positioning disks are positioning holes for the first and second ends of the guiding pipes to insert and couple with.

In the form shown, one of the positioning holes of the first positioning portions comprises an inner surface having a first positioning shoulder, one of the positioning holes of the second positioning portions comprises an inner surface having a second positioning shoulder, and one of the guiding pipes abuts against the first and second positioning shoulders by the first and second ends, respectively.

In the form shown, an outer surface of each guiding pipe has two outer flanges respectively adjacent to the first and second ends of the guiding pipe, with each outer flange abutting against a respective one of the first surfaces of the first and second positioning disks.

In the form shown, a rim of any one of the positioning holes has a round portion, with the rim connecting with the first surface.

In the form shown, each of the first and second positioning disks has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surfaces of the first and second positioning disks face each other. The first and second fixing portions of the first and second positioning disks are fixing holes.

In the form shown, the fixing module comprises a shaft and two fixing members. Two ends of the shaft respectively extend through the fixing holes, and the two fixing members are respectively fixed with said two ends of the shaft.

In the form shown, each of said two ends of the shaft has a thread hole, and the fixing members are screws for coupling with the thread holes of the shaft.

In the form shown, the fixing members are hidden within the fixing holes and below the second surfaces of the first and second positioning disks.

In the form shown, the fixing hole of the first fixing portion has an inner surface forming a first fixing shoulder, the fixing hole of the second fixing portion has an inner surface forming a second fixing shoulder, and the shaft of the fixing module abuts against the first and second fixing shoulders in the fixing holes of the first and second positioning disks by the two ends respectively.

In the form shown, a rim of any one of the fixing holes has a round portion, with the rim connecting with the first surface.

In the form shown, the first and second ends of each guiding pipe are openings communicating with each other.

In another form shown, the heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus further includes an additional fixing module. Each of the first and second positioning disks has an additional fixing portion for connecting with the additional fixing module. A reference plane including a center axis of any one of the first and second positioning disks and dividing this positioning disk into two parts is defined. The two fixing modules connect to the two parts respectively.

In the other form shown, the two fixing modules are symmetrically arranged about the reference plane.

In a further form shown, the heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus further includes three additional fixing modules. Each of the first and second positioning disks has three additional fixing portions for connecting with the three additional fixing modules. A first reference plane and a second reference plane perpendicular to each other and both including a center axis of any one of the first and second positioning disks is defined. Two of the four fixing modules are arranged on two sides of the first reference plane, and the other two of the four fixing modules are arranged on two sides of the second reference plane. The first and second reference planes intersect each other to form four areas on each of the first and second positioning disks, with each area provided with a respective one of the four fixing modules.

In the further form shown, the two fixing modules arranged on two sides of the first reference plane are symmetrically arranged about the first reference plane, and the two fixing modules arranged on two sides of the second reference plane are symmetrically arranged about the second reference plane.

In a still further form shown, the heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus further includes two additional fixing modules. Each of the first and second positioning disks has two additional fixing portions for connecting with the two additional fixing modules. A reference plane including a center axis of any one of the first and second positioning disks and dividing this positioning disk into two parts is defined. Two of the three fixing modules connect to the two parts respectively, and the other one of the three fixing modules is arranged in the reference plane.

In the form shown, each positioning disk has an outer peripheral surface whereon a sealing ring is formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded and perspective view of a conventional ventilation apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an exploded and perspective view of a heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus according to a preferable embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus according to the preferable embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partially-enlarged cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus according to the preferable embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a partially-enlarged cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus according to the preferable embodiment with positioning shoulders in positioning holes serving as positioning portions.

FIG. 6 is a partially-enlarged cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus according to the preferable embodiment with outer flanges adjacent to two ends of guiding pipes.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus according to the preferable embodiment with two fixing modules.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus according to the preferable embodiment with four fixing modules.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus according to the preferable embodiment with three fixing modules.

In the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the term “first,” “second,” “below,” and similar terms are used hereinafter, it should be understood that these terms refer only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings, and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a preferable embodiment of a heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus includes two positioning disks 1, a fixing module 2 for fixing the relative positions of the two positioning disks 1, and a plurality of guiding pipes 3 extending between the positioning disks 1.

Each of the two positioning disks 1 has a fixing portion 11 and a plurality of positioning portions 12, with the fixing portion 11 of one of the positioning disks 1 aligning with the fixing portion 11 of the other positioning disk 1, and with the positioning portions 12 of one of the positioning disks 1 respectively aligning with the positioning portions 12 of the other positioning disk 1. Besides, there can also be other fixing portions 11 in each positioning disk 1 if an enhanced structural strength is necessary. The fixing portion 11 is in a form for coupling with the fixing module 2, such as a groove, a pin, a fixing hole or a blind hole. Similarly, each positioning portion 12 is in a form for coupling with a respective one of the guiding pipes 3, such as a positioning hole. In this preferable embodiment, each positioning disk 1 includes a first surface 1a, a second surface 1b opposite to the first surface 1a, and an outer peripheral surface connecting the first and second surfaces 1a, 1b, and the first surfaces 1a of the two positioning disks 1 face each other. Preferably, for each positioning disk 1, the positioning portions 12 are arranged around the fixing portion 11, the fixing portion 11 is in the form of a fixing hole 111 extending from the first surface 1a to the second surface 1b, and the positioning portions 12 are in the form of positioning holes 121 also extending from the first surface 1a to the second surface 1b. In this regard, there is a sealing ring 13 formed on the outer peripheral surface for a desirable airtight connection between the heat exchanger and a housing of a ventilation apparatus.

The fixing module 2 is adapted to connect with the fixing portions 11 of the two positioning disks 1 for stably separating these two positioning disks 1; thereby, the positioning disks 1 are spaced with a predetermined and steady distance. In this embodiment, the fixing module 2 includes a first connecting end 2a and a second connecting end 2b. The first connecting end 2a connects with the fixing portion 11 of one of the positioning disks 1, and the second connecting end 2b connects with the fixing portion 11 of the other one of the positioning disks 1. Preferably, the fixing module 2 includes a shaft 21 and two fixing members 22 and has a hardness larger than those of the guiding pipes 3. The shaft 21 can be made by a material with rigidity higher than that of the guiding pipes 3, with the shaft 21 in the shape of a hollow tube to be easily coupled with the fixing members 22 by two ends of this hollow tube (as presented in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6), or in the shape of a solid rod (as presented in FIG. 5) to provide an enhanced strength. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, two ends of the shaft 21 extend through the fixing holes 111 serving as the fixing portions 11 respectively, and the two fixing members 22 are fixed with said two ends of the shaft 21 respectively, so as to form a first connecting end 2a and a second connecting end 2b of the fixing module 2. Specifically, the connection between the shaft 21 and each fixing member 22 can be in a thread combination as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein each of said two ends of the shaft 21 has a thread hole while the fixing members 22 are screws. Therefore, the two positioning disks 1 can be easily and detachably coupled with the shaft 21. Moreover, the fixing members 22 are preferably hidden within the fixing holes 111 without protruding from the second surfaces 1b of the positioning disks 1.

The plurality of guiding pipes 3 is arranged between the two positioning disks 1, with two ends of each guiding pipe 3 connecting with positioning portions 12 of the positioning disks 1 respectively. Namely, an end of each guiding pipe 3 couples with a respective one of the positioning portions 12 of one of the two positioning disks 1, and another end of each guiding pipe 3 couples with a respective one of the positioning portions 12 of another one of the two positioning disks 1. In the preferable embodiment, two end openings of the guiding pipe 3 communicate with each other and are used to guide the air outside of the heat exchanger via the second surfaces 1b of the positioning disks 1, so that airflow can pass through the guiding pipes 3 and thus improve the performance of heat exchange.

Referring to FIG. 4 again, preferably, there is a fixing shoulder 112 formed on an inner surface of the fixing hole 111 of each positioning disk 1, and each end of the shaft 21 abuts against the fixing shoulder 112 of a respective one of the positioning disk 1, so that the shaft 21 is firmly sandwiched between the two positioning disks 1 by the fixing shoulders 112. Similarly, referring to FIG. 5, it is preferable that the inner surface of each positioning hole 121 has a positioning shoulder 122, and each guiding pipe 3 abuts against two positioning shoulders 122 of the positioning disks 1 by two ends respectively and thus is firmly sandwiched between the two positioning disks 1 by the positioning shoulders 122.

Alternatively, referring to FIG. 6, instead of forming the positioning shoulders 122 in the positioning holes 121, an outer surface of each guiding pipe 3 has two outer flanges 31 respectively adjacent to two ends of the guiding pipe 3, with each outer flange 31 abutting against a respective one of the first surfaces 1a of the positioning disks 1. Therefore, the guiding pipes 3 can still be firmly sandwiched between the two positioning disks 1 by the outer flanges 31 thereof.

Please refer to FIG. 4 again. For each positioning disk 1, it is preferable that a rim of any one of the fixing holes 111, which connects with the first surface 1a, includes a round portion 111a. Particularly, a sectional view of the round portion 111a in a longitudinal direction of the shaft 21 is in an arc shape, so as to smoothly guide the shaft 21 when the shaft 21 is being inserted into the fixing hole 111. Similarly, there can also be a round portion 121a formed at a rim of any one of the positioning holes 121, with the rim connecting with the first surface 1a, wherein the sectional view of the round portion 121a in a longitudinal direction of the guiding pipe 3 passing through this round portion 121a is in an arc shape.

Please refer to FIGS. 7-9 now, which show the arrangements when there are more than one fixing modules 2 and more than one fixing portion 11 in each positioning disks 1 for an enhanced strength of the heat exchanger. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a reference plane “L” perpendicular to the first surface 1a of any one of the positioning disks 1, including a center axis of this positioning disk 1, and dividing this positioning disk 1 into two parts is defined. Instead of only one fixing module 2, two fixing modules 2 respectively connect to said two parts of the positioning disk 1, and these two fixing modules 2 are symmetrically arranged about the reference plane “L.” Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, there can be a first reference plane “L1” and a second reference plane “L2,” with both of these reference planes “L1,” “L2” perpendicular to each other and to the first surface 1a of any one of the positioning disks 1, and including the center axis of this positioning disk 1. There are four fixing modules 2 connecting to the positioning disk 1 in total, with two of them symmetrically arranged about the first reference plane “L1” and the other two of them symmetrically arrange about the second reference plane “L2.” In this embodiment, the first reference plane “L1” and the second reference plane “L2.” intersect with each other to form four areas, with each area provided with a respective fixing module 2. Referring to FIG. 9, another way for arrangement of plural fixing modules 2 is also capable. In addition to two fixing modules 2 symmetric about the reference plane “L,” a third fixing module 2 is arranged in the reference plane “L.” With the above illustrated arrangement of plural fixing modules 2, the strength of the heat exchanger is thus improved relative to that of the heat exchanger with only one fixing module 2.

The heat exchanger disclosed above can be applied to kinds of ventilation apparatus and thus cooperate with fans or air-guiding shields for cooling, such as in the conventional ventilation apparatus 9 shown by FIG. 1.

In sum, the above illustrated embodiment of the heat exchanger of ventilation apparatus can ensure the relative positions of the two positioning disks 1 by the fixing module 2 to prevent the guiding pipes 3 from easy disengagement. Therefore, with the fixing module 2 arranged in the heat exchanger to surely combine the guiding pipes 3 with the positioning disks 1, not only a structure with an improved strength is provided, but also the heat exchanger cannot be loose again in manufacture of the heat exchanger or in the step for inserting the heat exchanger into a housing. As a result, high structural strength and high manufacturing speed are thus achieved.

Although the above embodiments of the invention have been described by ways of two positioning disks 1 each having a fixing portion 11 and a plurality of positioning portions 12, along with a positioning shoulder 122 formed on the inner surface of the positioning hole 121, it can be readily appreciated that the two positioning disks 1 can be described as first and second positioning disks 1 as set forth in the appended claims for easy distinction. In this regard, the first positioning disk 1 includes a first fixing portion 11 and a plurality of first positioning portions 12, along with a first positioning shoulder 122 formed on the inner surface of the positioning hole 121. Similarly, the second positioning disk 1 includes a second fixing portion 11 and a plurality of second positioning portions 12, along with a second positioning shoulder 122 formed on the inner surface of the positioning hole 121.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferable embodiments, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger of a ventilation apparatus, comprising:

a first positioning disk having a first fixing portion and a plurality of first positioning portions;

a second positioning disk having a second fixing portion and a plurality of second positioning portions;

a fixing module connecting with the first and second fixing portions of the first and second positioning disks to separate the first and second positioning disks by a distance; and

a plurality of guiding pipes arranged between the first and second positioning disks, wherein a first end of each guiding pipe couples with a respective one of the first positioning portions of the first positioning disk, and a second end of each guiding pipe couples with a respective one of the second positioning portions of the second positioning disk.

2. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second positioning disks has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surfaces of the first and second positioning disks face each other, and wherein the first and second positioning portions of the first and second positioning disks are positioning holes for the first and second ends of the guiding pipes to insert and couple with.

3. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of the positioning holes of the first positioning portions comprises an inner surface having a first positioning shoulder, one of the positioning holes of the second positioning portions comprises an inner surface having a second positioning shoulder, and one of the guiding pipes abuts against the first and second positioning shoulders by the first and second ends, respectively.

4. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein an outer surface of each guiding pipe has two outer flanges respectively adjacent to the first and second ends of the guiding pipe, with each outer flange abutting against a respective one of the first surfaces of the first and second positioning disks.

5. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a rim of any one of the positioning holes has a round portion, with the rim connecting with the first surface.

6. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second positioning disks has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surfaces of the first and second positioning disks face each other, and wherein the first and second fixing portions of the first and second positioning disks are fixing holes.

7. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing module comprises a shaft and two fixing members, wherein two ends of the shaft respectively extend through the fixing holes, and the two fixing members are respectively fixed with said two ends of the shaft.

8. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said two ends of the shaft has a thread hole, and the fixing members are screws for coupling with the thread holes of the shaft.

9. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing members are hidden within the fixing holes and below the second surfaces of the first and second positioning disks.

10. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing hole of the first fixing portion has an inner surface forming a first fixing shoulder, the fixing hole of the second fixing portion has an inner surface forming a second fixing shoulder, and the shaft of the fixing module abuts against the first and second fixing shoulders in the fixing holes of the first and second positioning disks by the two ends respectively.

11. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a rim of any one of the fixing holes has a round portion, with the rim connecting with the first surface.

12. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second ends of each guiding pipe are openings communicating with each other.

13. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an additional fixing module, wherein each of the first and second positioning disks has an additional fixing portion for connecting with the additional fixing module, a reference plane including a center axis of any one of the first and second positioning disks and dividing this positioning disk into two parts is defined, and the two fixing modules connect to the two parts respectively.

14. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two fixing modules are symmetrically arranged about the reference plane.

15. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising three additional fixing modules, wherein each of the first and second positioning disks has three additional fixing portions for connecting with the three additional fixing modules, a first reference plane and a second reference plane perpendicular to each other and both including a center axis of any one of the first and second positioning disks is defined, two of the four fixing modules are arranged on two sides of the first reference plane, and the other two of the four fixing modules are arranged on two sides of the second reference plane, wherein the first and second reference planes intersect each other to form four areas on each of the first and second positioning disks, with each area provided with a respective one of the four fixing modules.

16. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the two fixing modules arranged on two sides of the first reference plane are symmetrically arranged about the first reference plane, and the two fixing modules arranged on two sides of the second reference plane are symmetrically arranged about the second reference plane.

17. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two additional fixing modules, wherein each of the first and second positioning disks has two additional fixing portions for connecting with the two additional fixing modules, wherein a reference plane including a center axis of any one of the first and second positioning disks and dividing this positioning disk into two parts is defined, wherein two of the three fixing modules connect to the two parts respectively, and the other one of the three fixing modules is arranged in the reference plane.

18. The heat exchanger of the ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each positioning disk has an outer peripheral surface whereon a sealing ring is formed.