With Internal Flow Director Patents (Class 165/174)
  • Patent number: 6354514
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for heating or cooling material having poor thermal conductivity, especially medium-consistency fiber suspensions. The material is directed, substantially as a plug flow, at a velocity below 5 m/s (e.g. 0.1-1 m/s) through an apparatus formed by a flow channel provided with heat exchange surfaces. The flow of the material is throttled at a throttling point by a more than 30% reduction in the cross-sectional area of the channel. After throttling, the material is discharged from the throttling point in such a manner that another portion of the material contacts the heat exchange surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Andritz-Ahlstrom Oy
    Inventors: Kaj Henricson, Kari Peltonen
  • Publication number: 20020023743
    Abstract: Disclosed is a head assembly of a heat exchanger for a vehicle including heads each consisting of a plurality of head pieces coupled together in a laminated fashion, thereby being capable of achieving an easy manufacture thereof and a reduction in manufacturing costs while easily coping with a changed specification. The head assembly includes at least two heads spaced apart from each other, a plurality of tubes coupled between the heads in a laminated state and defined with fluid passages, respectively, and a plurality of centers each interposed between adjacent ones of the tubes and adapted to provide an improved heat exchange efficiency. Each of the heads includes at least two head pieces assembled together in a laminated state. A separator is interposed between the head pieces. Caps are coupled to opposite ends of the head pieces, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Jong Dae Jung, Han Kyung Kim
  • Publication number: 20020020521
    Abstract: An evaporator comprises a pair of upper and lower horizontal header tanks, a group of heat exchange tubes arranged laterally of the evaporator in front and rear two rows and each connected to the upper header tank and the lower header tank respectively, and a vertical partition wall provided inside the upper header tank and extending laterally of the evaporator so as to form sectioned header chambers for causing a refrigerant to flow through each pair of front and rear adjacent heat exchange tubes in directions opposite to each other. An inlet is provided for a liquid-vapor mixture refrigerant in a sectioned rear header chamber, and an outlet is provided for vaporized refrigerant in a sectioned front header chamber. The evaporator is 3 to 30% in channel opening ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Ryoichi Hoshino, Noboru Ogasawara, Hirofumi Horiuchi, Hiroyasu Shimanuki
  • Publication number: 20020021742
    Abstract: A manifold for a heat exchanging appliance is disclosed. The manifold may include an externally adjustable bypass valve, a compression fitting for connecting a conduit to the manifold, a flow cup for adding passes to the heat exchanging appliance, an apparatus for conveying the temperature of a medium in a nonconductive manifold to a temperature sensor, a blind threaded hole for engaging an insertion apparatus to the manifold, and an integrated thermostatic valve assembly. Methods for controlling the pressure in a pressure chamber, for connecting a conduit to a manifold, for adding passes to the heat exchanging appliance, for conveying the temperature of the medium to a temperature sensor, for engaging an insertion apparatus to the manifold, and for controlling the flow of a medium through the manifold are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Bruce W. Maskell, Gene L. Pecci
  • Patent number: 6341648
    Abstract: A heat exchanger a width dimension of which is much larger than a height dimension, in which an heat-exchanging medium flow resistance in a heat exchanging core portion is suppressed from increasing, and discharged air temperature is made uniform in the width direction of the heat-exchanging core portion. The heat-exchanging core portion is divided into a first core portion and a second core portion. The hot water in the first core portion and hot water in the second core portion flow in an opposite direction to each other. Thus, even when the heating heat exchanger, the width dimension of which is much larger than the height dimension, is used, the air temperature is prevented from varying in the width direction. Further, as the heat-exchanging medium flows in the first and second core portions in parallel, the heat-exchanging medium flow resistance is suppressed from increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Fukuoka, Mitsugu Nakamura, Kazushi Shikata, Hikaru Sugi, Yukio Uemura
  • Publication number: 20020007646
    Abstract: A condenser includes a pair of headers 11 and a plurality of heat exchanging tubes 12 disposed between the headers 11 with their opposite ends connected to the headers 11. The plurality of heat exchanging tubes 12 are grouped into three paths P1-P3 by partitions 16. A refrigerant introduced from a refrigerant inlet 11a provided at the lower portion of one of headers passes upwardly through the paths P1-P3 in sequence, and flows out of a refrigerant outlet 11b provided at an upper portion of one of headers. The cross-sectional area of each path decreases stepwise towards a downstream side path, and the reduction rate of the cross-sectional are of the downstream side path of the adjacent two paths to the cross-sectional area of the upstream side path thereof is set to 20%. Thereby, the cooling performance can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Hideaki Manaka
  • Patent number: 6340055
    Abstract: A tube for a heat exchanger has notch portions at a longitudinal direction end portion to be inserted into a header tank. Further, several passage holes are provided in the tube to extend in a longitudinal direction of the tube in which refrigerant flows. The notch portions are formed by cutting parts of the tube to be defined by cut surfaces. The passage holes are not provided at portions corresponding to the cut surfaces. Therefore, the passage holes are securely prevented from being crushed and cut when the notch portions are formed by cutting. As a result, joining failure between the tube and the header tank can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamauchi, Ken Yamamoto, Osamu Kobayashi, Minoru Ohta, Toshiya Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6338383
    Abstract: A heat exchanger and method of making same includes a plate extending longitudinally. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of apertures forming a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet extending through the plate. The heat exchanger further includes a mechanism forming a restriction to fluid flow through either one of the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramez S. Abdulnour, Kevin Bennett Wise
  • Patent number: 6332495
    Abstract: A plate and fin type heat exchanger is disclosed which can be made in any convenient size with minimum tooling required. The heat exchanger is made from a plurality of stacked plate pairs having raised peripheral edge portions to define flow channels inside the plate pairs. The plates of the plate pairs are formed with offset, diverging end flanges that space the plate pairs apart. A U-shaped channel envelops the plate end flanges to form part of a manifold at each end of the plate pairs. End caps or plates close the open ends of the U-shaped channels to complete the manifolds, and inlet and outlet openings are formed in the manifolds as desired to complete the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Long Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: S. Donald Jamison, Carl C. J. Decaire, Jeffrey D. Peeler, Chad A. Kreutzweiser
  • Patent number: 6321831
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a refrigerant tank containing boiling and condensing refrigerant and a radiator for cooling the refrigerant. The radiator is connected to the refrigerant tank on a front surface thereof, and hot objects to be cooled are attached to a heat-receiving surface formed on a rear surface of the refrigerant tank. The refrigerant is circulated in the apparatus so that the refrigerant is vaporized in the refrigerant tank and condensed in the radiator. The radiator is connected to the refrigerant tank by inserting a pair of header tanks thereof into the refrigerant tank. The insertion length is controlled to obtain good heat conductivity between the radiator and the refrigerant tank and to avoid deformation of a radiator fin contacting the refrigerant tank. Holes for mounting a substrate carrying the hot objects may be made on enlarged portions of a cover plate closing the refrigerant tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Tadayoshi Terao, Kiyoshi Kawaguchi, Takahide Ohara, Akihiro Maeda, Eitaro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6321834
    Abstract: A laminate-type heat exchanger includes a core 10 formed by a plurality of plate-shaped tubular elements 20 laminated in a thickness direction thereof. Each tubular element 20 is provided with two refrigerant passages 25a and 25b extending in a longitudinal direction thereof and arranged fore and aft. The core 10 includes a plurality of passes P1 to P4 each formed by a prescribed number of the refrigerant passages arranged in the width direction of the core 10 and a turn portion T formed between the upper portions of the second pass P2 and the third pass P3. At a prescribed portion of the turn portion T, a refrigerant flow resisting portion including a semi-restricting passage 43 and/or an interrupting passage 44 is provided. The refrigerant passed through the second pass P2 is restricted by the refrigerant flow resisting portion when passing through the turn portion T to be equally distributed. Then, the refrigerant is introduced into the third pass P3 in an equally distributed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Naohisa Higashiyama
  • Publication number: 20010040027
    Abstract: In a refrigerant heat exchanger, a flow direction of refrigerant flowing through tubes in each of first and second units is opposite to that flowing through tubes in each of third and fourth heat-exchanging units arranged at upstream air sides, the flow directions of refrigerant flowing through first header tanks for distributing refrigerant into the tubes of the first and fourth units are the same, and the flow directions of refrigerant flowing through first header tanks for distributing refrigerant into the tubes of the second and third units are the same. Accordingly, even when a flow direction (flow rate) of refrigerant is small, a uniform temperature distribution of air can be obtained in the refrigerant heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Tatsuya Tooyama, Yutaka Shintani
  • Patent number: 6315037
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flat tube heat exchanger with two or more flows for motor vehicles with a deflecting (or reversing) bottom for deflecting (or reversing) adjacent flows of the flat tubes. According to the invention, it is provided that the deflecting bottom is resolved into deflecting bowls individually assigned to each flat tube, which bowls are connected to one another only via their connection to the respectively assigned flat tubes. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a flat tube beat exchanger by pulling off, straightening and cutting into sections the flat tubes from a coil, mechanically pre-assembling the flat tube heat exchanger from its structural parts including the flat tubes and soldering or brazing. Here, it is provided that the deflecting bowls are mechanically pre-assembled with the flat tubes after they have been cut into sections and before pre-assembling the flat tube heat exchanger with the flat tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Klimatechnik GmbH & Co., KG.
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6308410
    Abstract: The partitions are inserted through an open end of the cylindrical tubular wall of the fluid box, positioned and immobilised by means of deformations in the tubular wall, before the tubes are inserted and the assembly is soldered in a fluidtight manner. According to the invention, the deformations are localised on the outside of the region of the perimeter of the tubular wall on which the passage openings for the tubes extend, so as not to affect these openings. The method may be used in a condenser for a motor vehicle air conditioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Pierre Sabathie
  • Patent number: 6302196
    Abstract: The invention relates to an at least double-flow flat tube heat exchanger of aluminum for motor vehicles with at least one water case with cap and tube bottom connected in communication with one end of the flat tubes, the multi-flow flat tubes engaging in a soldered or brazed connection with their free ends each slit in the tube bottom, the water case being divided into at least one compartment on the inlet and one compartment on the outlet side by at least one partition arranged at the plane of each of the partitions between adjacent flows of the flat tubes, and the partition of the water case each engaging a groove or a slit in the tube bottom thereby intersecting the free ends of the flat tubes. Accordingly to the invention, it is provided that across the edge of the tube bottom openings formed therein are distributed, which are engaged by tongues formed at the free edge of the cap in a soldered or brazed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Klimatechnik GmgH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Publication number: 20010025705
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange cells positioned in a stacked configuration with respect to each other. Each cell includes first and second parting sheets, an internal finned member, and at least one external finned member. The first and second parting sheets include opposing first and second surfaces, an inlet manifold portion, an outlet manifold portion, an internal finned member portion and peripheral edges. The second parting sheet is substantially superimposed by, is spaced apart from and is coupled to the first parting sheet. The second surface of the second parting sheet confronts the second surface of the first parting sheet. The peripheral edges of the first and second parting sheets are attached to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: James S. Nash, Alexander Haplau-Colan
  • Patent number: 6293334
    Abstract: An improved heat transfer assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. Typically, a heat transfer assembly has a fin/tube block consisting of flat tubes and corrugated ribs. The ends of the flat tubes are widened, and collection containers are installed at the widened tube ends. According to the invention, each collection container is kept open laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis. Side parts have end sections with opposing front ends facing the collection container. These opposing front ends close off the open side areas of the collection containers. One use of the heat transfer assembly is as a radiator in a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Franco Ghiani
  • Patent number: 6289980
    Abstract: A heat exchanger baffle and method by which the internal passage of a heat exchanger member is divided into two separate flow regions. The baffle includes first and second members having planar portions that define edges of the first and second members. The planar portions are connected to each other so as to form a connection region between the first and second members. The connection region is deformable to enable the planar portions to be folded onto each other. The baffle can then be installed in a heat exchanger member by installing the planar portions together into a slot in the wall of the heat exchanger member. After installation, the planar members remain substantially parallel to each other, and the connection region preferably contacts a portion of the wall opposite the slot. The manner in which the baffle is folded serves to bias the first and second members against the slot, so that the baffle is more reliably retained within the slot prior to being permanently secured by such methods as brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro, A.S.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lee Insalaco, Cowley Wendell Phillips, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6286590
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heat exchanger with flat tubes of two columns, including: a first header having a plurality of connecting grooves formed at a zigzag arrangement of two columns; a second header having a plurality of connecting grooves formed at the corresponding positions of the first header; and a plurality of flat tubes coupled to the plurality of connecting grooves of the first and second headers, for transferring refrigerant, wherein a first flat tubes at a first column are placed at fluid inlet side of air, and a second flat tubes at a second column are placed at ejecting outlet side of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong-Jin Park
  • Publication number: 20010018970
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises: a pair of headers (10, 10) which are provided in parallel facing each other through a predetermined distance and a pathway of the fluid is respectively provided therein; and a plurality of flat heat-exchange tubes (20, 20 . . . ) which are provided between the headers in parallel, both ends thereof are fastened to the headers, and a pathway of the refrigerant for connecting the pathways of both headers is respectively provided therein. In this heat exchanger, the heat-exchange tubes and the headers are air-tightly and liquid-tightly fastened by inserting end portions (21, 21 . . . ) of the heat-exchange tubes into insertion holes (11, 11 . . . ) which are bored on the headers. Furthermore, in the vicinity of opening ends (29) of both end portions of the flat heat-exchange tubes, shape-holding portions (41) for preventing deformation of the opening ends are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: Koji Nakado, Toru Okamura, Masashi Inoue, Kei Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 6283200
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has plural tubes and a header tank communicating with each tube. The tank has an opening through which coolant is introduced, and an elevated portion formed in the vicinity of the opening by elevating a wall of the tank outwardly, so that a dimension of the tank including the elevated portion becomes larger than a dimension of the tank excluding the elevated portion in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank. As a result, a volume and a sectional area of the tank in the vicinity of the opening are increased, thereby decreasing pressure loss of coolant flowing into the tank. Therefore, even when a size of the tank is reduced to reduce a size of the heat exchanger, pressure loss of coolant flowing into the tank is restricted from increasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Sugimoto, Norihisa Sasano, Satomi Muto, Takaaki Sakane
  • Publication number: 20010017201
    Abstract: Manifold with integrated pipe for a heat exchanger A manifold for, e.g. a motor vehicle heat exchanger, has a first part formed from a shaped metal sheet and featuring a bottom and two lateral walls folded face-to-face, at least one of which is provided with an aperture for fixing a pipe there. A second part is formed from a shaped metal sheet and able to be fitted onto the lateral walls of the first part to form a cover opposite the bottom of this first part. Either the first part or the second part has a manifold plate. The first part, the second part and the pipe are assembled by brazing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: Interntl Srch Rpt
    Inventors: Stephane Avequin, Carlos Martins
  • Publication number: 20010017202
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for an easily polymerizing substance-containing gas provided with a shell possessed of a heat-exchanging gas inlet and a heat-exchanging gas outlet and a heat-exchanging part adapted to circulate fluid introduced from outside the shell between the gas inlet and said gas outlet, which heat exchanger is characterized by being provided with a gas distributing plate between the gas inlet and the heat-exchanging part. The heat exchanger is characterized by the gas distributing plate having a cross-sectional area in the range of 1.0-10.0 times the cross-section of the gas inlet. When an easily polymerizing substance-containing gas contacts a structure, the gas is condensed on the contact surface of the structure and suffered to generate a polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Tetsuji Mitsumoto, Takeshi Nishimura, Kazuhiko Sakamoto, Hiroo Iwato
  • Publication number: 20010013407
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heat exchanger made of an aluminum alloy having a radiator part (10) and an oil cooler part (11) in combination and manufactured integrally by the brazing method, wherein a refrigerant tank (13) for covering and sealing the oil cooler part is made of an aluminum alloy, an aluminum alloy containing Si in an amount from more than 7.0 wt % to 12.0 wt %, Fe in an amount from more than 0.05 wt % to 0.5 wt %, Cu in an amount from more than 0.4 wt % to 8.0 wt %, Zn in an amount from more than 0.5 wt % to 10.0 wt %, and the balance of aluminum and inevitable impurities is used as a filler material of brazing sheets that are used for the oil cooler part and are brazed in the tank, and the refrigerant tank is assembled integrally with the radiator part and the oil cooler part by brazing with the brazing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Doko, Koji Okada, Takeshi Iguchi, Takaaki Sakane, Yoshihiro Kinoshita, Taketoshi Toyama, Akira Uchikawa, Satoshi Nohira, Homare Koutate
  • Patent number: 6272881
    Abstract: An evaporator has plural tubes arranged in parallel with each other in a width direction perpendicular to an air flowing direction. The tubes are further arranged in a plural rows in the air flowing direction, and tank portions extending in the width direction are arranged in the plural rows in the air flowing direction to correspond to the tubes. In the evaporator, refrigerant flows through a zigzag-routed refrigerant passage formed by the tank portions and the tubes. A partition wall defining adjacent two tank portions in the air flowing direction has plural bypass holes through which the adjacent two tank portions directly communicate with each other. Therefore, the zigzag-routed refrigerant passage of the evaporator is readily formed without an additional side passage or the like. Thus, the number of components of the evaporator is reduced thereby simplifying the structure of the evaporator, and pressure loss of refrigerant flowing in the evaporator is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Kuroyanagi, Masamichi Makihara, Toshio Ohara, Sadayuki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 6267173
    Abstract: A collection box with an integrated reservoir for a heat exchanger, has a cylindrical tubular wall and a separation wall, disposed inside the tubular wall to delimit a collection compartment and a reservoir compartment. The tubular wall is equipped with spaced holes to receive the ends of tubes of a bundle of tubes. The separation wall comprises a central core prolonged on either side by a first edge region and by a second edge region having profiles each designed and suitable to be applied and soldered against the inside of the tubular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventors: Zaiqian Hu, Pierre Sabathie, Michel Guerand
  • Patent number: 6263963
    Abstract: A support surface is disclosed for transferring heat from a source to food articles placed adjacent said surface and having a plurality of heat conductive support elements each with at least one passageway therethrough, tubular means in each passageway and having a portion thereof extending beyond the ends of said passageways, and header or tubular means for interconnecting adjacent extending portions of said tubular means for transferring therebetween heated fluid from said source. The method of making the support surface is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: Joseph R. Tippmann, Vincent P. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 6253840
    Abstract: A refrigerant passage of an evaporator, in which refrigerant flows, is divided into plural sub-passages by partition wall portions of inner fins. The partition wall portions have plural louvers for flowing the refrigerant from an air flow downstream side sub-passage to an ajdacent air flow upstream side sub-passage. The louvers are alternately arranged on the partition wall portions with specific intervals in a refrigerant flow direction. Accordingly, refrigerant distributed amounts into the plural sub-passages can be adjusted to correspond to variations in thermal load on an air side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Kuroyanagi
  • Patent number: 6250379
    Abstract: For the sterilization of liquids (43) containing harmful microorganisms, or for the conditioning of mixtures of substances, a process and a heat exchanger (1) in the form of a tubular heat exchanger are used. The tube bundle (3) between the intake flange (2) and the outlet flange (4) is comprised of a number of tubes (18, 20) that are equal in length and that possess a narrow flow area and thin walls. These tubes, characterized as capillary tubes, are connected via distribution canals (15, 16) that are equal in length and similar in cross-section, to the central tube (12, 13) in the intake flange and in the outlet flange (2, 4). This causes the residence time distribution in the heat exchanger (1) to be held within very narrow limits, and causes the medium to be heated within fractions of a second to, for example, 140° C. or more, or less. This ensures a sterilization with the best possible preservation of thermolabile components, such as vitamins and proteins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: hde Metallwerk GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Geissler, Karl Heinz Schweitzer, Helmut Beykirch, Gert Langer, Udo Werner
  • Patent number: 6241012
    Abstract: A folded tube and method of making the same for a heat exchanger includes a base, a top spaced from and opposing the base, a first side interposed between the base and the top along one side thereof, and a second side interposed between the base and the top along another side thereof. The folded tube includes at least one of the base and the top having at least one internal web having an initial web width and initial outside shoulder radius and being compressed to compress the at least one internal web to a final web width less than the initial web width and a final outside shoulder radius less than the initial outside shoulder radius and defining a plurality of fluid ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Fel Yu, Eugene E Rhodes, Greg Whitlow
  • Patent number: 6237677
    Abstract: An air conditioning system refrigerant condenser (24) has opposed, parallel, vertical header tanks header tanks (12′, 14′) with a substantially uniform internal cross sectional area. The inlet tank (12′) and return tank (14′) are connected by a plurality of generally parallel flow tubes (16′), each of which is identical in size and shape with unrestricted ends opening into each header tank (12′, 14′). The refrigerant inlet (20′) into the inlet tank (12′) is located relatively high up, as is the outlet (22′) on the other tank, creating both a vapor deficit in the lower flow tubes (16′) that are farthest from the inlet (20′), as well as liquid pooling in the lower flow tubes (16′) that are below the outlet (22′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Edward Kent, David A. Southwick, Mohinder Singh Bhatti
  • Patent number: 6234238
    Abstract: Tanks are respectively structured such that seat plates are combined with tank main bodies, and the two end openings thereof are respectively closed by end plates. The direction in which the end plates are combined with the seat plate and tank main body is defined in an only-one-meaning manner in accordance with the engagement between engagement projecting pieces and engagement holes. The seat plates and end plate are respectively clad members structured such that brazing material is cladded only on the outer surface side of the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Sachio Koyama, Toru Takai
  • Patent number: 6230794
    Abstract: In a plate heat exchanger heat transfer plates abut against each other in such a way that heat transfer passages are formed therebetween, port holes provided in the heat transfer plates forming port channels through the plate heat exchanger. Between the heat transfer portion (15) of a heat transfer plate (2) and a port hole (14) forming a part of a port channel, that constitutes an inlet for a refrigerant, the heat transfer plate (2) has a passage portion (16). The passage portion (16) is adapted to delimit a distribution passage between the heat transfer plate (2) and an adjacent heat transfer plate, through which distribution passage the refrigerant is intended to flow from the inlet port channel to the heat transfer passage between the heat transfer plates. In the distribution passages the refrigerant shall be subjected to a pressure drop. According to the invention the pressure drop can be given different magnitudes by punching of different kinds of port holes (14) in the heat transfer plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventor: Klas Bertilsson
  • 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: 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: 6216776
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has plural flat tubes through which refrigerant flows, and a pair of header tanks disposed on each longitudinal ends of the flat tubes. Each of the flat tubes has a flow passage portion having plural flow passages through which refrigerant flows, and a non-flow passage portion disposed on both sides of the flow passage portion, having at least one non-flow passage through which no refrigerant flows. The flow passage portion is inserted into the header tank so that the flow passages communicate with the header tank, and the non-flow passage portion is exposed outside the header tank. Each of the flow passages has a circular-shaped cross-section while the non-flow passage has a polygonal-shaped cross-section, so that a wall thickness of the non-flow passage is made thinner than that of the flow passages. Therefore, weight of the flat tube is decreased, while sufficient strength thereof is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Kobayashi, Ken Yamamoto, Yoshiyuki Yamauchi, Kazuhiro Mitsukawa
  • 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: 6192976
    Abstract: A plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed at certain intervals, in-tube operating fluid (such as coolant) passes therethrough, and a plurality of small-gage wires are used as a heating fin. One small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1a and 1c in a spiral manner, and another small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1b and 1c in the spiral manner, and still another small-gage wire is wound at a pair of heat transfer tubes 1b and 1d in the spiral manner. Thereby, while higher heat transfer coefficient can be achieved, and a heating surface area is ensured, clogging can be avoided even when moisture in air condenses on a surface of a heat exchanger. As a result, it is possible to realize a high-performance and compact heat exchanger used for air conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Yoshida, Takashi Gotoh, Tsuneo Yumikura, Michimasa Takeshita, Atsushi Motizuki, Yuji Sueto, Kaoru Ikejima
  • Patent number: 6189607
    Abstract: A multi-flow type heat exchanger includes a pair of headers and a plurality of heat transfer tubes interconnecting the headers. The flow direction of the heat exchange medium through the whole of the heat transfer tubes is only one direction. A flow division parameter &ggr; is defined as a ratio of a resistance parameter &bgr; of the heat transfer tubes to a resistance parameter &agr; of an entrance side header and is set to at least about 0.5. The flow division parameter is calculated, such that &ggr;=&bgr;/&agr;, where &bgr;=Lt/(Dt·n), and &agr;=Lh/Dh. The equation variables are defined as follows: Lt equals a length of each tube, Dt equals a hydraulic diameter of one tube, n equals a number of tubes, Lh equals a length of an entrance side header, and Dh equals a hydraulic diameter of the header. The flow division from the header to the tubes may be chosen at an optimum condition, and the heat exchanger may have superior performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventors: Kazuki Hosoya, Toshiharu Shinmura, Hirotaka Kado, Akira Sakano
  • Patent number: 6179051
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has stacked plate elements that are joined together so as to form first and second sets of channels. Each set of channels has an inlet port and an outlet port to allow fluid to flow in and out of the channel in the set. A distributor is located in the inlet port of the first set. The distributor has a first and a second end, with the distributor first end being located near a fitting in the inlet port, and the distributor second end being located near a rear plate of the heat exchanger. The presence of the distributor in the inlet port forms a passage for fluid flow into the respective channels. The passage is larger at the distributor first end than at the distributor second end. The passage can be formed by channels or grooves in the outside diameter of the distributor. Alternatively, the passage can be formed by variations in the outside diameter between the first and second ends of the distributor. For example, such a distributor could be frusto-conical in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: Zahid H. Ayub
  • Patent number: 6158503
    Abstract: In an air conditioning condenser having a fluid tank with interchangeable cartridge the tank is screwed axially into a connecting base which is in turn brazed to a header box of the condenser. It contains an interchangeable axial cartridge and is in communication with the header box through ducts provided in the connecting base. Applications include apparatus for air conditioning the passenger space of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventors: Gerard Gille, Patrick Balthazard
  • 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: 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: 6142217
    Abstract: The invention refers to a flat tube heat exchanger for motor vehicles in which the flat tubes leaving an internally projecting free end as an overhand are inserted in collars which extend to the inside and which are opened up in the form of a tulip of slits of a tube bottom of a header case for the internal heat exchange fluid and the header case comprises at least one partition dividing off various chambers of the header case and intersecting the flat tubes, the partition reaching at least down to the ground of the tube bottom adjacent to the flat tubes or to the collars extending to the inside and comprising in the region of the free ends of the flat tubes in the header case recesses overgripping the free ends, and the free ends of the first tubes in the header case being arranged with an undercut with respect to the collars opened up as a tulip which locks the flat tubes against being pulled out of the tubes bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Klimatechnik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Roland Haussmann
  • Patent number: 6125927
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a bank of tubes mounted between first and second longitudinal headers, the first header being provided with a longitudinal opening, first and second manifolds, and first and second tubes, parallel to the first header, connected respectively to the first and second manifolds, and provided with a longitudinal opening. It also comprises a connection plate having, first and second edges having longitudinal extensions substantially equal to those of the openings and able to be respectively inserted in the latter so as to make the first header integral with the first and second tubes, and two passages to allow the circulation of a fluid between the fist header and each of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Sylvain Hubert
  • 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: 6116335
    Abstract: An automotive radiator reduces coolant pressure drop with a novel flow turning structure integrally molded into the inlet header tank, opposite the inlet pipe. A pair of compound curved surfaces, sloping toward opposite directions from a crest edge, split and divide the flow leaving the inlet pipe and send it proportionately toward opposite ends of the tank, smoothing out the flow transition and reducing the attendant pressure loss. The curved surfaces also have a component of curvature toward the flow tubes, as well as being sloped toward opposite ends of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Earl Beamer, Chris A. Calhoun
  • Patent number: 6109344
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having a core of a plurality of cooling tubes with a tank at each end of the core tubes. The tanks are formed with a plurality of cooling tube receiving apertures along a side portion of the tanks. These apertures receive the ends of the cooling tubes directly into the tanks and are attached to the tubes by brazing. Since the cooling tubes are received in apertures formed in the tanks themselves, the need for a separate head sheet at the end of the core is eliminated thereby eliminating the need for sealing of a head sheet to a separate tank. The tanks are preferably formed in a hydroforming operation to shape the tanks from a tubular blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Lattimore & Tessmer, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Higgins
  • 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: 6095240
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having a plurality of coaxially aligned chambers for providing radiant, thermal heat transfer between a plurality of separately contained fluids within a single unit and a helical tube having at least one portion positioned within at least one of the chambers. A first, second, third, and fourth chambers are in coaxial alignment. The heat exchanger heats a cryogenic liquid to a gas phase using four different heat transfer fluids in one contained unit without mixing any of the fluids in the exchanger, thus reducing the size and cost, while increasing the efficiency of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Vita International, Inc.
    Inventors: Hany E. Hassanein, James A. Bodhaine