With Tube Manifold Patents (Class 165/153)
  • Patent number: 6250381
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiator achieving a structure that enables integrated brazing, facilitates mounting of an automatic oil cooler and repair on areas with defective brazing and realizes good mountability and recyclability. A tank portion 4 at which tubes 2 of the radiator are inserted is constituted of a first L-shaped tank member 30 and a second L-shaped tank member 40. Prior to the process for assembling the tank portion 4, intake/outlet pipes 9 and 10 are mounted at the first L-shaped tank member 30 and an A/T oil cooler 46 is mounted at the second L-shaped tank member 40 to facilitate mounting of the A/T oil cooler 46 inside the tank portions 4. In addition, since at least the tank portion 4, the tubes 2, the fins 3 and the side plate 11 are brazed together as an integrated unit in a furnace, the production of the radiator is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignees: Zexel Corporation, Toyo Radiator Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Nishishita
  • Publication number: 20010004013
    Abstract: A tube is provided with elastically deformable tube deforming sections (tube curved sections), and a fin is provided with the quality of spring so that the fin deforms in accordance to changes of dimension between the tubes. Accordingly, it is possible to weaken (absorb) stress by the tube deforming sections (tube curved sections), and to prevent the fin from separating from the tube even when the tube deforming section (tube curved section) deforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventors: Shingo Morishima, Tadayoshi Terao, Toshihiro Mafune
  • Publication number: 20010004010
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a pair of manifolds, each of which has a plurality of axially spaced oblong slots, and each of which has at least two detents formed therein. A plurality of generally flat tubes extends between the manifolds and individually through the slots for providing fluid communication between the manifolds. A plurality of radiation fins extends between adjacent flat tubes. A plurality of brackets is provided for mounting the heat exchanger. Each of the brackets has a curved portion, a flange portion and a mounting portion. The curved portion extends circumferentially around a portion of the manifold. The curved portion has opposite ends and has means located midway between the ends for allowing the ends of the curved portion to move resiliently relative to each other to widen the distance between the ends. The curved portion also has at least one protrusion adjacent to each end. Each of the protrusions extends into one of the detents in the manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventor: Immanuel Halm
  • Patent number: 6247527
    Abstract: An improved fin array for use in a heat transfer assembly, such as a condenser for a vehicle air conditioning system, and a method of making the improved fin array, are disclosed. The fin array comprises an elongated one-piece fin member having top and bottom base portions with fin sets extending between adjacent top and bottom base portions. The top and bottom base portions are generally flat for bonding to the heat exchanger tubes, such as by brazing. Each fin set includes a plurality of individual fins extending generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal length of the fin member and having side edges that are longitudinally offset with respect to each other. The offset fin edges provide increased air flow over the individual fins and thus increase the efficiency of the overall heat exchanger. The fins may also be slightly bowed to accommodate for variation in the tolerances of the adjacent tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Peerless of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Paulman
  • Patent number: 6247523
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heat exchanger includes exhaust gas tubes through which exhaust gas generated by a combustion flows and cooling water tubes through which cooling water for cooling exhaust gas flows. Plural segments of offset fins are disposed within each exhaust gas tube to be arranged staggeringly in a tube longitudinal direction. The cooling water tubes communicate with each other through cooling water communication passages disposed on both end sides of each exhaust gas tube in the tube longitudinal direction at diagonal positions when being viewed from a minor-diameter direction of each exhaust gas tube. The segments are tilted relative to the tube longitudinal direction toward a side opposite to a diagonal line (L1) connecting the cooling water communication passages. Thus, a cross angle between the tilt direction of the segments and a main flow of the exhaust gas becomes smaller, and a pressure loss in the exhaust gas tubes is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shibagaki, Takaki Okochi, Katsunori Uchimura, Shigeki Daidou
  • Publication number: 20010003310
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flat tube evaporator for motor vehicle air conditioning equipments with flat tubes (2), the longitudinal extension direction of which is vertical, and zig zag fins (8) arranged between the flat tubes (2), against which the external heat exchange fluid can flow (arrow 9). According to the invention it is provided that a water flow gutter (50) extending downwards on both sides of the flat tubes (2) is designed next to the rear end region (52) of the zig zag fins (8), seen in the flow direction (arrow 9) of the external heat exchange fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Applicant: Valeo Klimatechnik Gmbh & Co.
    Inventor: ROLAND HAUSSMANN
  • Patent number: 6244334
    Abstract: Self-enclosing heat exchangers are made from stacked plates having raised peripheral flanges on one side of the plates and continuous peripheral ridges on the other side of the plates, so that when the plates are put together, fully enclosed alternating flow channels are provided between the plates. The plates have raised bosses defining fluid ports that line-up in the stacked plates to form manifolds for the flow of heat exchange fluids through alternate plates. Turbulizers in the form of half-height shim plates are located between the plates. The shim plates have central portions defining flow augmentations extending from one side of the plates only, and the plates have peripheral edge portions that are coterminous with the respective continuous ridges raised peripheral flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Long Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan K. Wu, Bruce L. Evans
  • Patent number: 6241011
    Abstract: A layered heat exchanger for use as a motor vehicle air conditioner evaporator comprises pairs of generally rectangular adjacent plates, which are joined together in layers with the corresponding recesses of the plates in each pair opposed to each other to thereby form juxtaposed flat tubes each having a U-shaped fluid channel, and front and rear headers in communication respectively with opposite ends of each flat tube. The turn portion of U-shaped fluid channel of the flat tube has a fluid mixing portion comprising many small projections, and a rectifying portion comprising parallel long projections along a flow of fluid. The channel turn portion rectifies the flow of fluid and mixes the fluid at the same time, permitting the fluid to flow through the turn portion smoothly to result in a diminished fluid pressure loss, an improved heat transfer coefficient and improved performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Showa Aluminium Corporation
    Inventors: Jumpei Nakamura, Hiroki Shibata, Keiji Yamazaki, Tatsuya Hanafusa, Nobuaki Go
  • Patent number: 6230787
    Abstract: A stack type evaporator for use in an automotive air conditioner comprises generally a first mass which includes first heat exchanging elements, each first heat exchanging element having mutually independent first and second passages; and a second mass which includes second heat exchanging elements, each second heat exchanging element having a generally U-shaped third passage which has first and second ends. The second mass is arranged beside the first mass in such a manner that the first and second heat exchanging elements are aligned on a common axis. An inlet tank passage connects to upper ends of the first passages. An upstream tank passage connects to lower ends of the first passages and the first ends of the third passages. A downstream tank passage connects to lower ends of the second passages and the second ends of the third passages. An outlet tank passage connects to upper ends of the second passages. An inlet pipe connects to the inlet tank passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Koga, Mitsunari Narahara, Toru Asanuma
  • Patent number: 6227290
    Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger with a pair of tank portions formed at one side of each tube element and intake/outlet portions for heat exchanging medium provided at one end in the direction of the lamination or in the direction running at a right angle to the direction of the lamination, a constricting portion for limiting the flow passage cross section is provided in an area in the tank portions where the flow shifts from an even-numbered pass to an odd-numbered pass in a plurality of passes. This allows the heat exchanging medium to flow in sufficient quantities into the tube elements near the outlet side of the partitioning portion, preventing inconsistency in temperature distribution. This constricting portion, which is formed in the tank group opposite the tank group where the partitioning portion is provided, is provided at the same lamination position as the partitioning portion. The constricting portion may be also formed with a plurality of holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nishishita, Seiji Inoue, Kiyoshi Tanda, Hitoshi Sakata
  • Patent number: 6220340
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed having a plurality of stacked plate pairs or tubes, each having a predetermined internal cold flow resistance. A bypass conduit is included in the stack of plate pairs or tubes. The bypass conduit includes a central row of spaced-apart, mating dimples defining longitudinal flow channels on either side of the dimples for bypass flow through the bypass conduit under cold flow conditions. The longitudinal flow channels have a height and width such that the cold flow resistance therethrough is less than the cold flow resistance through the stacked plate pairs or tubes. In normal or hot flow conditions, the dimples create flow resistance by forcing the fluid flowing through the bypass conduit to change velocity and direction. This forces more oil to flow through the stacked plate pairs or tubes increasing heat transfer performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Long Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex S. Cheong, Yong N. Lee
  • Patent number: 6220343
    Abstract: A connecting device for a heat exchanger which has a fluid circulating channel formed with an opening at one end thereof and an opening at the other end thereof, the openings being formed as juxtaposed in one side of the heat exchanger. The connecting device comprises a blocklike connector body having two horizontal through bores corresponding to the respective openings and fixed to the heat exchanger with the through bores in coincidence with the respective openings. A tubular member is fluid-tightly fitted in each of the through bores and has a connecting end projecting toward a connectable device. The connecting end is in the form of a spigot fittable in a socket of the connectable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventor: Shigeharu Ichiyanagi
  • Patent number: 6220342
    Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger with a pair of tank portions formed at one side of each tube element and intake/outlet portions for heat exchanging medium provided at one end in the direction of the lamination or in the direction running at a right angle to the direction of the lamination, a constricting portion for limiting the flow passage cross section is provided in an area in the tank portions where the flow shifts from an even-numbered pass to an odd-numbered pass in a plurality of passes. This allows the heat exchanging medium to flow in sufficient quantities into the tube elements near the outlet side of the partitioning portion, thereby avoiding inconsistency in temperature distribution. This constricting portion, which is formed in the tank group opposite the tank group where the partitioning portion is provided, is provided at the same lamination position as the partitioning portion. The constricting portion may be also formed with a plurality of holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nishishita, Seiji Inoue, Kiyoshi Tanda, Hitoshi Sakata
  • Patent number: 6216773
    Abstract: An evaporator (20) of the stacked plate, straight flow type achieves multi pass flow while locating the inlet (28) and outlet (30) adjacent to one another, without the use of embedded inlet or outlet pipes, and with only two basic plate shapes. A standard plate (32), included in all plate pairs but for the last plate pair at the far end, has a pair of identical protruding cups (34, 36), one of which (34) is open to the flow tube formed by the pair of facing plates, and the other of which, (36) is discrete from both the flow tube and the other cup (34). When stacked and aligned, the main cups (34) make up a header pipe (48) that is open to the flow tubes, one at both the top and bottom. Each header pipe (48) is adjacent to an entirely discrete transfer pipe (50). A next to last special plate (40) has an identical pair of cups (34, 36) at the bottom end, but a single, wider cross over cup (42) at the top end, which is open to the header pipe (48) and transfer pipe (50) a the top side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Falta
  • Patent number: 6199401
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distributing/collecting tank (distributor/header case) of aluminum or an aluminum alloy of an at least dual flow (double-flow) brazed evaporator of a motor vehicle air conditioning equipment, wherein the case comprises a tube bottom and a cap (28), which supplement each other at least in the direction of the narrow cross-section to the case, and in its longitudinal extension direction corresponding to the number of flows at least a longitudinal partition, wherein at least one case wall on the front side is formed by a separate end piece (62) being in close contact to each adjacent longitudinal partition and at least one case wall is provided with the refrigerant inlet (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Klimatechnik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6196304
    Abstract: A tube-block-type heat transfer device has a tube block consisting of several tubes arranged side-by-side, having spacing elements which are inserted between two adjacent flat tube end areas respectively, and have in each case at least one connection duct along each transverse side of the tube block. The tubes are sealed off on the end side and are provided with transverse openings in their two end areas, which transverse openings are in a connection-duct-forming connection with spacing element transverse openings. At least one pair of separation spacing elements 5a, 5b situated opposite one another in the same space between two tubes have a closed construction so that, on each transverse side of the tube block, at least two mutually separated connection ducts is are formed so that several fluids can flow separately through pertaining tube block sections. The heat transfer device is especially useable as an oil/air cooler for motor vehicles for cooling engine and transmission oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Gebhard Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6196306
    Abstract: A side refrigerant outlet passage and a side refrigerant inlet passage are provided between first and second protruding portions of a side plate and an end plate, which are joined to one another. The side plate has base portions protruding in an opposite direction of the end plate, and a pipe joint including an outlet pipe and an inlet pipe is joined to the base portions of the side plate. Accordingly, a strength of joining portions between the side pate and the pipe joint is improved, and simultaneously processing cost of the pipe joint is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasukazu Aikawa, Tomohiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6192975
    Abstract: First heat-transfer plates S1 and second heat-transfer plates S2 are radially arranged between a larger diameter cylindrical-shaped outer casing 6 and a smaller diameter cylindrical-shaped inner casing 7 to form combustion gas passages 4 and air passages 5 alternately in a circumferential direction, and a multiplicity of projections 22, 23 formed on both surfaces of the first heat-transfer plates S1 and second heat-transfer plates S2 are jointed to one another at tip ends thereof. Pitches P between adjacent projections 22, 23 are changed in a radial direction to make the number of heat transfer units substantially constant in a radial direction to uniformize temperature distributions on the first heat-transfer plates S1 and second heat-transfer plates S2 in the radial direction, thereby avoiding a decrease in heat exchanging efficiency and generation of unwanted thermal stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yanai, Tadashi Tsunoda, Tsuneo Endou, Tokiyuki Wakayama
  • Patent number: 6176303
    Abstract: A radiator includes a plurality of flat tubes in which refrigerant flows, corrugated fins each of which is disposed between adjacent the flat tubes, and a header tank disposed at both end sides of each flat tube in a longitudinal direction of the flat tubes. A plurality of insertion holes into which the flat tubes are inserted are formed in a tank portion of the header tank, and each of the insertion holes has a hole width approximately equal to a tank width of the header tank in a width direction perpendicular to both of the longitudinal direction of the flat tubes and an extending direction of the header tank. The tank portion of the header tank is integrally formed from extruding or drawing, and the insertion holes are formed by shaving the tank portion after the extruding or drawing. Thus, the insertion holes can be readily provided in the tank portion integrally formed from the extruding or the drawing, and pressure tightness and manufacturing workability of the header tank can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Yamauchi, Ken Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6173766
    Abstract: An integrated heat exchanger includes a radiator having a core formed between a pair of radiator tanks, a condenser adjoining the radiator and having the core formed between a pair of condenser tanks, and a corrugated fin provided in the core and shared between the radiator and the condenser, the heat exchanger containing first partitions which divide the inside of the pair of condenser tanks to thereby create fluid chambers on one side of the respective condenser tanks in such a way as to become opposite to each other; and a fluid inflow pipe and a fluid outflow pipe connected to the fluid chamber of the condenser tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Nakamura, Michitake Sumida
  • Patent number: 6173764
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger formed by laminating tube elements alternately with fins over a plurality of levels, a plurality of beads are formed in each of tube elements provided with intake/outlet portions in the areas where the tank portions change to a passage portion. The width of these beads are set to be larger than the beads in other tube elements so as to constrict the passage cross section. In addition, the areas of the communicating holes formed in tank portions away from the intake/outlet portion through which the heat exchanging medium flows in are made smaller than the areas of the communicating holes formed in tank portions near the intake/outlet portion. The centers of the communicating holes in the tank portions further away from the intake/outlet portion are located further downward than the centers of the communicating holes in the tank portions provided closer to the intake/outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Inoue
  • Patent number: 6170569
    Abstract: An intake plenum unit is provided for a heat exchanger with a tube block made of a plurality of heat exchanger tubes. The heat exchanger incorporates an intake plenum with a tube wall in which a lengthwise slot is provided for receiving ends of the heat exchanger tubes. The intake plenum is made of one or more individual tubes inserted into one another endwise or fitted together. Each intake plenum has, at least at one individual tube end, a lengthwise slot that is open and made before or after the construction of the intake plenum. This allows problem-free compensation for manufacturing tolerances of the tube ends to be fitted into the lengthwise slot regarding their length in the direction of the lengthwise slot. The intake plenum unit is suitable for use, for example, for gas coolers and evaporators of carbon-dioxide air conditioners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Bernd Dienhart, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Hagen Mittelstrass, Jochen Schumm, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christopher Walter
  • Patent number: 6170567
    Abstract: An oil cooler 11 comprises oil channel members 2A arranged one above another in parallel at a spacing and each composed of a pair of plates 20A, each of the plates 20A having a hole 21 at each of opposite ends thereof and a channel portion 22 between the end holes 21, the pair of plates 20A being joined with recessed surfaces of their channel portions 22 opposed to each other to form the oil channel member 2A; and annular header members 4A each interposed between each pair of adjacent oil channel members 2A at each of opposite lateral ends of the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakada, Toshiaki Muramatsu, Kaoru Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6170566
    Abstract: A high performance louvered fin for a heat exchanger includes a base wall extending longitudinally to form a strip having a longitudinal axis. The high performance louvered fin includes a plurality of entrance louvers in the base wall extending outwardly at a predetermined angle in a first direction from the base wall. The high performance louvered fin also includes a plurality of exit louvers in the base wall extending outwardly at a predetermined angle in a second direction from the base wall reversed from the first direction. The entrance louvers and the exit louvers extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and are spaced laterally. The high performance louvered fin further includes a turnaround rib in the base wall extending laterally and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between the entrance louvers and the exit louvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry W. Blumel, Eugene G. Rhodes, Ajit R. Shembekar
  • Patent number: 6167954
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for motor-vehicle equipment, has tubes (1) for a heat-exchange fluid and produced from a flexible material, as well as two parallel manifold plates (2a, 2b) with apertures (3a, 3b) for the extremities of each tube (1). These apertures (3a, 3b) are configured into parallel rows (rk, ri, rj) to form a bundle of rows of parallel tubes. The successive rows of one of the plates (2a) are offset alternately in a first direction, parallel to the rows, then in a second direction opposite to this first direction. The rows of the other plate (2b) are respectively offset in the second direction, then in the first direction, in such a way that the tubes of two consecutive rows cross over between the two manifold plates (2a, 2b). Moreover two successive rows of the same plate (2a) are spaced by an interstice (d) close to one tube thickness, in such a way that the tubes of two consecutive rows, in crossing over, are in contact (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Carlos Martins
  • Patent number: 6161616
    Abstract: The invention refers to a hard-soldered (brazed) flat tube evaporator with a dual flow (double flow) and one row in the air flow direction of aluminum or an aluminum alloy for a motor vehicle air conditioning equipment in which on the inlet side a distributor of the refrigerant to the inlets of individual flat tubes or preferably groups thereof is provided and the flat tubes are extruded multi-chamber tubes between which zig zag fins are internested in a sandwich fashion. According to the invention, it is provided that the structural depth of the evaporator is at most 50 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Kilmatechnik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6155340
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a plurality of flat tubes for heat exchange between a first fluid flowing inside the tubes and a second fluid flowing outside the tubes. A pair of hollow headers is connected to the ends of the flat tubes. An inlet and outlet are provided in the headers for introducing the first fluid into the flat tubes and discharging it therefrom. Each header is composed of at least two parallel tubes with substantially circular cross-section, two adjacent tubes having integrated wall portions, thereby providing a substantially flat header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro
    Inventors: Leif Folkedal, Peter Grundlach, Jostein Pettersen, Liming Xu
  • Patent number: 6152216
    Abstract: An evaporator unit in the form of a plate construction has evaporation spaces and heat transfer medium spaces respectively arranged between successive plates. The plates have an essentially circular construction and have recesses for forming inflow and outflow lines for the medium to be evaporated and for a heat transfer medium which extend perpendicularly to the plates. The inflow line for the medium to be evaporated is arranged in the area of the center of the circular plates. The outflow lines for the evaporated medium and for the heat transfer medium are arranged in the circumferential area of the circular plates. For the heat transfer medium, several inflow lines can be provided at a radial distance from the center of the circular plates between the inflow line and the outflow lines for the medium to be evaporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: DBB Fuel Cell Engines Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Konrad Schwab, Alois Tischler, Marc Weisser
  • Patent number: 6145587
    Abstract: An evaporator comprises front and rear header portions, and U-shaped flat tubular portions arranged in parallel and each connected at opposite ends thereof to the header portions. Each of the header portions is provided with a partition for blocking a refrigerant flowing inside thereof and directing the refrigerant toward some of the flat tubular portions to thereby form a refrigerant channel comprising a plurality of paths each turned by the partition. The rear header portion of the final path is provided with a refrigerant dividing wall having refrigerant apertures for passing therethrough a portion of the refrigerant flowing in from the path immediately upstream from the final path, with the remaining portion of the refrigerant blocked by the wall and directed toward some of the flat tubular portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 6145589
    Abstract: A manifold for heat exchangers with a manifold segment having slots which are perpendicular to the tube axis and spaced in the longitudinal direction and separated by webs, into which hollow flat tubes can be inserted and joined to the contact surface of the respective slot. The webs each have a pair of stampings to strengthen the material on each side of each web and the webs are relatively flat in shape such that the cross-section of the manifold segment has a generally D-shaped profile. At least one baffle is inserted in the manifold segment, centered between a pair of adjacent slots. The baffle has a principle circular edge and a truncated edge so as to have a truncated circular profile substantially corresponding to the approximately D-shaped profile of the manifold segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Thermal Components a division of Insilco Corporation
    Inventor: James D. Gowan
  • Patent number: 6142222
    Abstract: A plate tube type heat exchanger using porous fins is manufactured of foamed metal. The porous fins used for the plate tube type heat exchanger are formed of a foamed metal such as aluminum or copper having a high thermal conductivity. The plate tube type heat exchanger using such porous fins exhibits an excellent heat transfer capability, compared to a conventional plate tube type heat exchanger using louvered fins, thereby simplifying production steps and realizing an excellent structural rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Byung Ha Kang, Seo Young Kim, Dae Young Lee, Jin-Ho Kim, Hae Seong Ryu
  • Patent number: 6129144
    Abstract: An evaporator consisting of stacked pockets wherein the refrigerating fluid is injected into an upstream connecting duct formed by a sub-assembly of the pockets by a longitudinal tubing which passes through an end face of the evaporator, distant from the upstream connecting duct, and at least another connecting duct formed by other pockets. According to the invention, the tubing is offset with respect to the centers of the openings through which the pockets forming the other connecting duct communicate between them. This results in an improvement in the heat exchange efficiency. The invention is applicable to the air conditioning of the passenger space of automobile vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Frederic Bousquet
  • Patent number: 6125926
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is constructed by laminating rectangular shaped partition walls and corrugated fins alternately. A first fluid passage through which a high temperature internal air and a second fluid passage through which the low temperature external air flows are formed into rectangular parallelopipe-shape the longitudinal direction of which is upper and lower direction. The corrugated fin is disposed inside the fluid passage to incline frontwardly. A first fluid inlet is provided at an upper position and a first fluid outlet is provided at a lower position of the first fluid passage. While, a second fluid inlet is provided at a lower position and a second fluid outlet is provided at an upper position of the second fluid passage. That is, the first fluid and the second fluid flow in an opposite direction to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Kiyoshi Kawaguchi, Shigeru Kadota, Hajime Sugito
  • Patent number: 6119340
    Abstract: A heat exchanger member (12) having an internal passage in which a baffle assembly (14) is received to define at least two separate flow regions within the passage. The baffle assembly (14) includes a pair of baffles (18, 26), a first (18) of which having a first peripheral portion (22) contacting the wall (16) of the heat exchanger member (12) so as to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The first baffle (18) further has a second peripheral portion (24) spaced apart from the wall (16) of the heat exchanger member (12) so as to form a peripheral gap (32) therebetween. The second (26) of the two baffles also has a peripheral portion (30) contacting the wall (12) of the heat exchanger member (12) so as to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. A second peripheral portion (30) of the second baffle (26) contacts the second peripheral portion (24) of the first baffle (18) so that the baffles (18, 26) are joined together as an assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro A.S.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Insalaco, Cowley Wendell Phillips, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6105665
    Abstract: Heat exchangers are known which are constructed of flat tubes which are formed in that the bent-open tube ends of the flat tubes are joined with contact surfaces, openings in the contact surfaces contributing to the formation of coolant tanks. The closure of the bent-open areas is achieved by inserting special covers. The bent-open areas of the tube ends are constructed to be larger and to use the wall parts projecting beyond the contact surface for forming a tight closure. This can take place by a folding, an overlapping or an obtuse placing against one another of the wall parts which are folded to the inside. The flat-tube heat exchangers may be used, for example, as transmission oil coolers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Patent number: 6103739
    Abstract: A compound of general formula (I), wherein X is a group of formula (II) or (III), R.sub.2, R.sub.1, R.sub.21, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, and R.sub.5 being as defined in the specification are matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: British Biotech Pharmaceuticals Limited
    Inventors: Christopher David Floyd, Raymond Paul Beckett, Mark Whittaker, Andrew Miller
  • Patent number: 6098703
    Abstract: A refrigerant passage formed by a pair of metallic thin plates therebetween is divided into many subpassages by a corrugated inner fin. The subpassages are independent from one another and are elongated in the longitudinal direction of the thin plates. An inlet tank portion is provided at an end of the refrigerant passage, and communicating portions are provided between the inlet tank portion and the subpassages. One of the communicating portions provided at an air upstream side in an air flow direction has a flow resistance of refrigerant smaller than that of the other communicating portion provided on an air downstream side. Accordingly, an amount of the refrigerant flowing in the subpassages on the air downstream side is controlled to be smaller than that on the air upstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Keiichi Yoshii
  • Patent number: 6098706
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is formed from a metal strip wound concertina fashion to provide superimposed plates. The plates are stamped in pairs separated by a narrow section which forms a return bend for folding the two plates over one another. Each plate is provided with ribs shaped to guide gas flow paths through the pocket between an inlet in one corner region of the plate and an outlet in a second corner region of the plate. Corrugated zones are formed in the plate between the ribs to promote a whirling motion of air as it travels between the ribs flanking the corrugated zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Eco Air Limited
    Inventor: John Francis Urch
  • Patent number: 6082447
    Abstract: A heat exchanger member (12) having an internal passage in which a baffle assembly (14) is received to define at least two separate flow regions within the passage. The baffle assembly (14) includes a pair of baffles (18, 26), a first (18) of which having a first peripheral portion (22) contacting the wall (16) of the heat exchanger member (12) so as to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The first baffle (18) further has a second peripheral portion (24) spaced apart from the wall (16) of the heat exchanger member (12) so as to form a peripheral gap (32) therebetween. The second (26) of the two baffles also has a peripheral portion (30) contacting the wall (12) of the heat exchanger member (12) so as to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. A second peripheral portion (30) of the second baffle (26) contacts the second peripheral portion (24) of the first baffle (18) so that the baffles (18, 26) are joined together as an assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro A.S.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Insalaco, Cowley Wendell Phillips, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6073686
    Abstract: A high efficiency modular OLF heat exchanger with heat transfer enhancement is disclosed. The OLF heat exchanger has an oblique louver fin provided with oblique strips. The oblique louver fin thus effectively forms transverse and longitudinal vortexes in a main gas flow while breaking the boundary layer of the gas flow, thus having an improved heat transferring effect. In the OLF heat exchanger, a plurality of flat tubes are assembled with two opposite header pipes, thus forming a module. The OLF heat exchanger is thus manufactured while easily permitting changes in its size and heat exchanging capacity by assembling a selected number of modules into a single body using a plurality of header pipe sockets. The oblique strips violently mix the gas flow and thereby further improve the heat transferring effect of the louver fin. The oblique louver fin thus has advantages expected from typical louver fins with swirlers and typical offset strip fins with swirlers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Byung-Kyu Park, Hyo-Bong Kim, Koon-Sup Oh, Joon-Sik Lee
  • Patent number: 6070428
    Abstract: A stack type evaporator has a compact structure and a high cooling ability. A plurality of flat and plate-like tubular elements 1, each having a pair of formed plates 7, are stacked together in the lateral direction. Each tubular element 1 has two or more passages 10 inside it, each extending along the longitudinal direction. A refrigerant flows through a forward passage 10 in the tubular elements 1, and shifts to a return passage 10 in the direction opposed to the air flow. A corrugate inner fin 11 is placed throughout the refrigerant passages 10. One of the formed plate pair 7 has short cylindrical tanks 12a projecting outward, while the other has short cylindrical tanks 12b projecting outward, but in the opposite direction. When stacking up the tubular elements 1, the tanks 12a are fit into the corresponding tanks 12b of the adjacent formed plate 7 of the next tubular element 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Naohisa Higashiyama, Nobuyuki Okuda
  • Patent number: 6068049
    Abstract: The heat exchanger has a plurality of stacked individual boxes for defining locally an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber for fluid. The heat exchanger includes an insert that comprises an inlet and outlet opening for fluid extended into the chambers by a body arranged for fluid communication of the opening with the first or second chamber. The insert that comprises a common part the body of which is provided with at least two openings capable of communicating with the first and second chambers, and it comprises a separating member for isolating the fluid currents between the opening and the chamber with which the opening must not communicate, the separating member being selected between two different shapes each corresponding to the fluid communication of the opening with one of the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Climatisation
    Inventor: Patrick Hoger
  • Patent number: 6065533
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed which is designed to be fabricated from sheet material. The heat exchanger core assembly comprises a plurality of stacked substantially identical strips of formed sheet members each having a plurality of troughs formed therein. The troughs are positioned in nested relationship so as to define fluid flowpaths through the core assembly and between headers secured to opposite ends of the core assembly. Each of the troughs includes a bottom portion having a plurality of openings therein through which fluid may flow. In one embodiment the openings are in the form of louvers. In another embodiment, the openings are rectangularly shaped and offset between successive strips in the stack so as to impart a mixing action to the fluid flowing through the core. Heat radiating fin portions separate the respective fluid flowpath defining troughs and may include louvered-like openings therein. A method of fabricating the heat exchanger is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Karmazin Products Corporation
    Inventor: Ivan D. Woodhull, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6056047
    Abstract: A manifold for heat exchangers with a manifold segment having slots which are perpendicular to the tube axis and spaced in the longitudinal direction and separated by webs, into which hollow flat tubes can be inserted and joined to the contact surface of the respective slot. The webs each have a pair of stampings to strengthen the material on each side of each web and the webs are relatively flat in shape such that the cross-section of the manifold segment has a generally D-shaped profile. At least one baffle is inserted in the manifold segment, centered between a pair of adjacent slots. The baffle has a principle circular edge and a truncated edge so as to have a truncated circular profile substantially corresponding to the approximately D-shaped profile of the manifold segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Thermal Components, a division of Insilco Corporation
    Inventor: James D. Gowan
  • Patent number: 6053243
    Abstract: When forming a circular tube-shaped header pipe by rolling a plate material, surfaces extending at a right angle to the internal and external surfaces of the plate material are formed at the two side edges extending in the lengthwise direction, and the plate material is rolled in such a manner that the two side edges face opposite each other while setting the two side edges in a non-contact state. In this process, the gap between the two side edges is set at or less than 0.3 mm. In order to manufacture this header pipe, a plate material that has been cut to a specific length is trimmed in the direction of its short side to achieve a specific dimension and also at a right angle to the front and rear surfaces of the plate material. After a piping insertion hole is formed, the entirety of the plate material is rolled so that its cross section achieves a U-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kato, Takashi Sugita, Hitoshi Makabe
  • Patent number: 6047769
    Abstract: A pair of heat conductive plates forming an evaporator core portion has a plurality of projection ribs. The projection ribs protrude toward outsides of the pair of heat conductive plates for forming refrigerant passages thereinside. Air flows outside the heat conductive plate perpendicularly to a flow direction of the refrigerant, and is prevented from flowing straightly by the projection ribs to make a turbulent flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Shimoya, Yoshiyuki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6035931
    Abstract: A header of a heat exchanger includes a seat member having bent portions on its end portions, a tank member having side walls on its end portions, and a pair of caps sealing the open ends of a barrel formed from the seat member and the tank member. Each side wall has a free end portion bent inwardly by an amount substantially equal to a thickness of the bent portion. The inner surface of each bent portion and the outer surface of each offset free end portion are joined to form the barrel. Thus, protrusions on the exterior shape of the formed barrel are eliminated, thereby eliminating contours from the shape of each cap provided on each open end of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Kado, Akimichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6035928
    Abstract: A fin-tube block and method of making a fin tube block for heat exchangers is disclosed. Tubes provided for the through-flow of the coolant are manufactured as adjacent channels in an extruded section with a plate shape and then stacked on one another, alternating with corrugated ribs and additional extruded sections in a packet assembly and then soldered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Behr Industrietechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ruppel, Gunther Schmalzried, Rolf Sieber
  • Patent number: 6032728
    Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) having a pair of spatially separated manifolds (12 and 14) interconnected by a plurality of transverse tubes (16). The ends of the tubes are attached to a plurality of manifold inserts (20) slidably received in the manifolds. The lengths of the individual manifold inserts may be controlled to adjust the pitch and the number of the transverse tubes. The heat exchanger configuration is ideally suited for fabricating low production runs and prototype heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Livernois Research & Development Co.
    Inventors: Gary R. Ross, James R. Bacoccini
  • Patent number: RE37009
    Abstract: The present invention is an enhanced tubular heat exchanger for a furnace with the heat tubes of the heat exchanger having two straight sections connected by a bend. The tubes of the heat exchanger include an enhanced portion which has a smaller cross-sectional area than the flue portion, in the form of an elliptically shaped tube. The enhanced portion further includes turbulators to promote the heat exchange from the heated flue gases. Circulation of air around the exterior of the tubes is also facilitated because the enhanced portion is disposed at a small angle relative to the flue portion. A plurality of tubes are disposed within the heat exchanger so that the circulation air first flows over the enhanced portions then over and around the generally cylindrical portions. This lowers the initial pressure drop in the circulation air flow and thereby facilitates the circulation of and heat transfer to the air being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: International Comfort Products Corporation (USA)
    Inventor: Mark A. Diesch