EP0762072B1 - Heat exchanger with adapter - Google Patents

Heat exchanger with adapter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0762072B1
EP0762072B1 EP96306434A EP96306434A EP0762072B1 EP 0762072 B1 EP0762072 B1 EP 0762072B1 EP 96306434 A EP96306434 A EP 96306434A EP 96306434 A EP96306434 A EP 96306434A EP 0762072 B1 EP0762072 B1 EP 0762072B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
headers
heat exchanger
ports
tubes
port
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96306434A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0762072A3 (en
EP0762072A2 (en
Inventor
Mark G. Voss
Dennis C. Granetzke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Modine Manufacturing Co
Original Assignee
Modine Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/525,979 external-priority patent/US5529117A/en
Priority claimed from US08/690,145 external-priority patent/US5964281A/en
Application filed by Modine Manufacturing Co filed Critical Modine Manufacturing Co
Publication of EP0762072A2 publication Critical patent/EP0762072A2/en
Publication of EP0762072A3 publication Critical patent/EP0762072A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0762072B1 publication Critical patent/EP0762072B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28FDETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F9/00Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
    • F28F9/02Header boxes; End plates
    • F28F9/0246Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28DHEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D1/00Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
    • F28D1/02Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
    • F28D1/04Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
    • F28D1/053Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight
    • F28D1/0535Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight the conduits having a non-circular cross-section
    • F28D1/05366Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators
    • F28D1/05391Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits combined with a particular flow pattern, e.g. multi-row multi-stage radiators
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28FDETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F9/00Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
    • F28F9/02Header boxes; End plates
    • F28F9/0246Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines
    • F28F9/0251Massive connectors, e.g. blocks; Plate-like connectors
    • F28F9/0253Massive connectors, e.g. blocks; Plate-like connectors with multiple channels, e.g. with combined inflow and outflow channels

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising the features according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • heat exchangers in use today employ a core construction that includes two or more spaced, generally parallel, tubular headers.
  • a plurality of tubes extend between the headers and are in fluid communication with the interior of the headers.
  • a plurality of fins are located between the headers and in heat exchange relation with the tubes.
  • side pieces typically are plates that extend between corresponding ends of the headers. Where the fins are serpentine fins, the end most rows of serpentine fins will customarily be bonded to the side plates.
  • Various mounting fixtures may also be employed in connection with the side plates.
  • Typical of these constructions is the use of inlet and outlet fittings which are connected to one or the other or both of the headers.
  • the location of other components that are frequently disposed under the hood or dash of the vehicle may often dictate the location of conduits that are to be connected to the heat exchanger.
  • Other constraints, such as the desire to obtain good aerodynamic configurations of the vehicle exterior or maximum interior space to enhance fuel economy also bear on the design of heat exchangers so as to accommodate them within a given envelope under the hood or dash and at a location whereat conduits may be freely run to the inlet and outlet fittings of the headers.
  • inlet and outlet fittings on the headers increases the envelope that must be provided to encompass the heat exchanger in the direction extending from one header to another.
  • conduits at least at their point of connection to the headers must be spaced which can also create spacial problems in mounting the heat exchanger.
  • tubular headers are typically pierced with a plurality of parallel slots along their length to receive the ends of the tubes that extend between the headers.
  • flat sections are formed on the headers oppositely of the slots to receive holes which in turn receive the inlet and/or outlet or cross over fittings. This necessitates a forming operation that desirably would be eliminated.
  • US-A-5,529,117 describes a heat exchanger comprising: first and second spaced, generally parallel, tubular headers having opposed ends; a plurality of tubes in parallel and spaced from one another extending between and having their ends in fluid communication with the interiors of said headers; a plurality of fins located between said headers and in heat exchange relation with said plurality of tubes; and side pieces flanking said plurality of tubes and plurality of fins and extending between and fastened to corresponding ones of said opposed ends of said headers, one of said side pieces including at least one internal passage terminating in a first port at and in fluid communication with one of said headers at one of said opposed ends and in a second port at the other end of said passage.
  • the invention provides a heat exchanger of the type described in US-A-5,529,117 characterised by an adaptor having a first duct in fluid communication with said second port thereby extending said internal passage said internal passage being connected at said second port to a first adaptor port in said adaptor at one end of said first duct, said first duct terminating in a second adaptor port in said adaptor spaced from both said first and second ports.
  • the fins are serpentine fins and are bonded to the side pieces.
  • the first ports are in fluid communication with different ones of the headers.
  • the second port is located in a side of said side piece remote from the plurality of tubes and the plurality of fins so as to be readily connectable to a fixture or the like.
  • One embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of an additional header closely adjacent the one of the headers connected to the passage.
  • the second port of the passage is in fluid communication with the additional header.
  • the first and second headers and the plurality of tubes there is an additional set of the first and second headers and the plurality of tubes, and the same is located in side by side relation to the first set thereof with the first headers in each set being in close adjacency to one another and the second headers in each set being in close adjacency to one another.
  • the first ports of the first and second passages are in fluid communication with respective ones of the first headers and the second ports of the first and second passages are located oppositely of the plurality of tubes of the respective set.
  • the ports of the third passage are in fluid communication with respective ones of the second headers to define a crossover passage.
  • the side piece comprises a pair of plates with the passage being located at the interface of the plates.
  • the plates have a spacer there between to define a laminated side piece.
  • one of the plates has a peripheral flange and the other of the plates is nested within the peripheral flange in substantial abutment with the other of the plates.
  • FIGs. 1 and 2 An exemplary embodiment of a known heat exchanger is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and with reference thereto is seen to include a pair of generally tubular headers, 10, 12, of oval cross section.
  • the headers 10 and 12 are elongated and disposed in a generally parallel relationship with one another as well as being spaced from one another.
  • the headers 10 and 12 include pressure domes 14 in the shape of a compound curve as is known in the art.
  • the pressure domes 14 are separated by slots 16 which receive the ends 18 of elongated, flattened tubes 20, typically, but not always, of extruded construction.
  • a plurality of the tubes 20 extend in parallel, spaced relationship between the headers 10 and 12 as illustrated in Fig. 1.
  • a plurality of fins 22 are located between the headers 10 and 12 and are in heat exchange relationship with the tubes 20. In the usual case, the fins 22 will be brazed to the tubes 20 as when the fins 22 are serpentine fins as illustrated in Fig. 1. However, if plate fins are used, a mere mechanical contact may be employed in lieu of a metallurgical bond.
  • first and second side pieces generally designated 30 and 32, respectively.
  • the side piece 30 is conventional and includes inwardly directed tabs 34 at its opposite ends which are secured as by brazing to respective ones of the headers 10 and 12.
  • the adjacent fin 22 is also typically brazed to the side piece 30.
  • the side piece 30 and the side piece 32 tend to stabilize the overall construction against the various forces that it may incur in use. For example, if used in a vehicular application, the heat exchanger will typically be subjected to substantial vibration, pressure cycling and thermal cycling; and the side pieces 30 and 32 provide strength to resist the destructive forces generated during such vibration and/or cycling.
  • the ends of the headers 10 and 12 adjacent the side piece 30 are sealed by conventional end caps 36.
  • the side piece 32 is considerably different from the side piece 30. It is made up of an inner manifold plate 38, an outer manifold plate 40 and a spacer plate 42.
  • the inner manifold plate 38 includes an integrally formed nipple 44 at each end. Each nipple 44 is sized to be snugly received within the adjacent open end of a corresponding one of the headers 10, 12 and to be brazed thereto to be sealed thereto.
  • a spacer plate 42 includes three internal passages as will be described in greater detail hereinafter while the outer manifold plate 40 includes a pair of integrally formed nipples 46 that extend oppositely of the nipples 44, that is, away from tubes 20 and the fins 22.
  • the nipples 46 may receive fittings 48 which terminate in threaded ends 50 whereby fluid conduits may be connected to the same.
  • the nipples 44 and 46 may be formed in the plates 38 and 40 by a stamping operation.
  • FIG. 2 there are in actuality two rows of the tubes 22 extending between two of the headers 10 and two of the headers 12. That is to say, two cores, each including a header 10, a header 12 and tubes 22 extending between the same are provided. They are located in side by side relationship with the headers 10 in close adjacency to each other and with the headers 12 in close adjacency to each other.
  • the fins 22 may be a single set of fins extending between both cores or each core may have its own set of fins 22 as desired.
  • the inner manifold plate 38 has four of the nipples 44, two at each end.
  • the two upper nipples 44 as seen in Fig. 2 are respectively disposed in an associated one of the headers 10 while the two lower nipples 44 are respectively disposed in an associated one of the two headers 12.
  • the spacer plate 42 includes a first internal cut-out 60 that aligns with the two upper nipples 44. As a consequence, fluid communication between the two upper headers 10 is established via the cut-out 60 but serves as a crossover passage from one module to the other.
  • the spacer plate 42 also includes an internal passage 62 having the configuration shown and still another internal passage 64 having the configuration shown.
  • the internal passages are formed by cut-outs in the spacer plate 42. It will be seen that the passage 62 extends between the uppermost one of the nipples 46 and the left lower most one of the nipples 44. Thus, the upper fitting 48 is in fluid communication with the lower left header 12.
  • the cut-out 64 extends from the lower right header 12 to the lower fitting 48 and thus places the latter in fluid communication with the former.
  • one of the fittings 48 may be used as a fluid inlet to the heat exchanger while the other fitting 48 may be used as a fluid outlet.
  • Fluid is passed into one of the modules, entering the header 12 thereof, to pass upwardly through the tubes 20 to the upper header 10 where it crosses over to the other header 10 via the passage 60. The fluid then descends through the tubes 20 of that module to the header 12 and ultimately exit the system through the other of the fittings 48.
  • the side piece 32 is a laminated construction that results in the passages being disposed at the interface between the inner and outer plates 38 and 40.
  • a two piece construction may be preferred. Such a two piece construction will be described with reference to Figs. 3-5, inclusive.
  • an inner plate 70 is basically planar but includes a peripheral flange 72 extending from one side thereof and integrally formed nipples 74 at the ends projecting from the opposite side thereof.
  • the nipples 74 serve the same function as the nipples 44 and will not be further described.
  • the plate 70 is flat, it is ideally suited for bonding to the serpentine fins 22.
  • An outer plate 76 is also provided and is sized and shaped so as to nest within the peripheral flange 72 of the inner plate 70. Near its upper end, the plate 76 includes an elongated bubble 78 stamped in one side thereof so as to extend between and overlie the two upper nipples 74 to thereby establish a crossover passage corresponding to that shown at 60 in Fig. 2.
  • the outer plate 76 includes an additional bubble 80 that is configured as the cutout 62 as well as a further bubble 82 which is configured as the cutout 64.
  • Both the bubbles 80 and 82 have, at their upper ends, integral stamped nipples 84 which extend away from the plate 70 and which are adapted to receive fixtures for connection to heat exchange fluid as is well known.
  • the lower ends of the bubbles 80 and 82 extend downwardly to respectively overlie the left and right lower nipples 74 and thus provide for a passage of heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger that is the same as that previously described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • the plate 76 is flat so that it will abut the plate 70 and, when subjected to a typical bonding operation such as brazing, the flat areas on the plates 70 and 76 will braze to one another to seal the passages defined by the bubbles 78, 80 and 82 from one another and from the exterior of the heat exchanger.
  • brazing is a preferred method of assembly of the heat exchanger.
  • its components will be formed of aluminum and where brazed joints are required, one or the other or both of the components will be provided with a braze clad at that location.
  • the envelope between the headers 10 and 12 is not increased in that direction by the presence of fittings.
  • the invention allows the fittings to be connected to the heat exchanger at some location other than the headers to provide an increase in design flexibility.
  • the illustrated embodiment shows the fittings as being within the plane of the heat exchanger, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that, if desired, plates such as the plates 70 and 76 could be extended to one side of the heat exchanger and provided with bubbles to extend to such locations so that the fittings could be located to the front or to the rear of the heat exchanger, rather than to the side thereof.
  • the nipples 46 and/or 84 could be directed to the sides of the heat exchanger, 90° (or any other desired angle) from the position illustrated, if desired.
  • the tubular headers 10, 12 are illustrated as being formed of a single piece of material, two or even more pieces of material may be used to form the tubular headers so long as the interior passage is a passage such as illustrated.
  • an adapter 90 is included in the above heat exchanger.
  • Such an adapter 90 can be used with heat exchangers having a laminated side piece (Fig. 2) and with embodiments having side pieces having a two piece construction (Figs. 3-5).
  • the adapter 90 serves to lengthen the internal passages and to introduce new passage end points to adapt a single basic heat exchanger configuration for use in several different environments, each having differently located inlet and outlet port locations.
  • the adapter 90 is made up of an inner plate 92 and an outer plate 94 (Figs. 6-7).
  • the inner plate 92 has a peripheral flange 96 and first and second openings 98 that are in alignment with the nipples 46 or 84 of the above described heat exchangers.
  • the openings 98 are sized to snugly receive the nipples 46 or 84 and to braze thereto to form a liquid tight joint.
  • the outer plate 94 is sized and shaped so as to nest within the peripheral flange 96 of the inner plate 92.
  • the outer plate 94 Near its upper end, the outer plate 94 has first and second adapter ports 100. These ports 100 are located to align with the particular fluid conduits of the system in which the heat exchanger is being installed. For purposes of illustration, the ports 100 are aligned side by side and extend perpendicularly to the side piece 32. The ports 100 could just as easily be positioned at a different angle to the side piece 32 for any particular installation.
  • the outer plate 94 has a first bubble 102 extending from one of the ports 100 to an area surrounding one of the openings 98.
  • the bubble 102 is stamped in one side of the outer plate 94 so as to extend between and overlie the top opening 98 and the left port 100 to thereby establish a duct from the adapter port 100 to one of the side piece nipples 46 or 84.
  • a second bubble 104 is stamped in the outer plate 94 and extends between the other port 100 and the remaining opening 98 to thereby establish a duct between such port 100 and the remaining nipple 46 or 84.
  • Both bubbles 102 and 104 have, at their upper ends, integral, stamped nipples 106 which define respective ports 100 and which extend away from the inner plate 92 and which are adapted to receive fixtures for connection to heat exchange fluid conduits.
  • the outer plate 94 Surrounding the bubbles, the outer plate 94 is flat so that it will abut the inner plate 92 and, when subjected to a typical bonding operation such as brazing, the flat areas on the plates 94 and 96 will braze to one another to seal the passages defined by the bubbles 102, 104 from one another and from the exterior of the heat exchanger.
  • a laminated construction with cut outs in a central section may be used.
  • the improvement allows heat exchangers to be adapted for use in a wide variety of systems. It is often the case that a particular heat exchanger is right for a particular use but that the inlet and outlet fluid conduits are not aligned with the inlet and outlet ports of the heat exchanger, making the heat exchanger unusable in that situation. To tool up for a heat exchanger that could be used is costly and inefficient. However, as a result of the above described adapter, it is possible to adapt a single heat exchanger for many different tasks.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
  • Steam Or Hot-Water Central Heating Systems (AREA)

Description

  • This invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising the features according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Many different types of heat exchangers in use today employ a core construction that includes two or more spaced, generally parallel, tubular headers. A plurality of tubes extend between the headers and are in fluid communication with the interior of the headers. A plurality of fins are located between the headers and in heat exchange relation with the tubes.
  • In this type of construction, for strength, and/or for mounting purposes, it is customary to include side pieces. The side pieces typically are plates that extend between corresponding ends of the headers. Where the fins are serpentine fins, the end most rows of serpentine fins will customarily be bonded to the side plates. Various mounting fixtures may also be employed in connection with the side plates.
  • Typical of these constructions is the use of inlet and outlet fittings which are connected to one or the other or both of the headers. When the heat exchangers are, for example, employed in vehicles, the location of other components that are frequently disposed under the hood or dash of the vehicle may often dictate the location of conduits that are to be connected to the heat exchanger. Other constraints, such as the desire to obtain good aerodynamic configurations of the vehicle exterior or maximum interior space to enhance fuel economy also bear on the design of heat exchangers so as to accommodate them within a given envelope under the hood or dash and at a location whereat conduits may be freely run to the inlet and outlet fittings of the headers.
  • Not infrequently, the use of inlet and outlet fittings on the headers increases the envelope that must be provided to encompass the heat exchanger in the direction extending from one header to another.
  • Additionally, when connections are made to opposite headers, the conduits, at least at their point of connection to the headers must be spaced which can also create spacial problems in mounting the heat exchanger.
  • Furthermore, where tubular headers are used, they are typically pierced with a plurality of parallel slots along their length to receive the ends of the tubes that extend between the headers. In many of these constructions, flat sections are formed on the headers oppositely of the slots to receive holes which in turn receive the inlet and/or outlet or cross over fittings. This necessitates a forming operation that desirably would be eliminated.
  • US-A-5,529,117 describes a heat exchanger comprising: first and second spaced, generally parallel, tubular headers having opposed ends; a plurality of tubes in parallel and spaced from one another extending between and having their ends in fluid communication with the interiors of said headers; a plurality of fins located between said headers and in heat exchange relation with said plurality of tubes; and side pieces flanking said plurality of tubes and plurality of fins and extending between and fastened to corresponding ones of said opposed ends of said headers, one of said side pieces including at least one internal passage terminating in a first port at and in fluid communication with one of said headers at one of said opposed ends and in a second port at the other end of said passage.
  • The invention provides a heat exchanger of the type described in US-A-5,529,117 characterised by an adaptor having a first duct in fluid communication with said second port thereby extending said internal passage said internal passage being connected at said second port to a first adaptor port in said adaptor at one end of said first duct, said first duct terminating in a second adaptor port in said adaptor spaced from both said first and second ports.
  • In a preferred embodiment, the fins are serpentine fins and are bonded to the side pieces.
  • In one embodiment of the invention, there are two of the passages, two of the first ports and two of the second ports to provide first and second ports for each passage. The first ports are in fluid communication with different ones of the headers.
  • In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second port is located in a side of said side piece remote from the plurality of tubes and the plurality of fins so as to be readily connectable to a fixture or the like.
  • One embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of an additional header closely adjacent the one of the headers connected to the passage. The second port of the passage is in fluid communication with the additional header.
  • According to another embodiment of the invention, there is an additional set of the first and second headers and the plurality of tubes, and the same is located in side by side relation to the first set thereof with the first headers in each set being in close adjacency to one another and the second headers in each set being in close adjacency to one another. There are three of the passages within the side piece and each has first and second ports. The first ports of the first and second passages are in fluid communication with respective ones of the first headers and the second ports of the first and second passages are located oppositely of the plurality of tubes of the respective set. The ports of the third passage are in fluid communication with respective ones of the second headers to define a crossover passage.
  • In one embodiment of the invention, the side piece comprises a pair of plates with the passage being located at the interface of the plates. In one embodiment of the invention, the plates have a spacer there between to define a laminated side piece. In another embodiment, one of the plates has a peripheral flange and the other of the plates is nested within the peripheral flange in substantial abutment with the other of the plates.
  • Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
  • Fig. 1 is an elevation of a known heat exchanger; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the heat exchanger taken from the right of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a view of part of a side piece made according to a modified known heat exchanger:
  • Fig. 4 is a view of another part of the side piece of the modified heat exchanger;
  • Fig. 5 is an exploded view illustrating the intended assembly of the parts of Figs. 3 and 4 together;
  • Fig. 6 is an exploded elevation view of the adaptor made according to the invention;
  • Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the adaptor made according to the invention; and
  • Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a heat exchanger having the adaptor mounted thereon.
  • An exemplary embodiment of a known heat exchanger is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and with reference thereto is seen to include a pair of generally tubular headers, 10, 12, of oval cross section. The headers 10 and 12 are elongated and disposed in a generally parallel relationship with one another as well as being spaced from one another.
  • On their facing sides, the headers 10 and 12 include pressure domes 14 in the shape of a compound curve as is known in the art. The pressure domes 14 are separated by slots 16 which receive the ends 18 of elongated, flattened tubes 20, typically, but not always, of extruded construction.
  • A plurality of the tubes 20 extend in parallel, spaced relationship between the headers 10 and 12 as illustrated in Fig. 1. A plurality of fins 22 are located between the headers 10 and 12 and are in heat exchange relationship with the tubes 20. In the usual case, the fins 22 will be brazed to the tubes 20 as when the fins 22 are serpentine fins as illustrated in Fig. 1. However, if plate fins are used, a mere mechanical contact may be employed in lieu of a metallurgical bond.
  • The construction is completed by first and second side pieces, generally designated 30 and 32, respectively. The side piece 30 is conventional and includes inwardly directed tabs 34 at its opposite ends which are secured as by brazing to respective ones of the headers 10 and 12. The adjacent fin 22 is also typically brazed to the side piece 30. The side piece 30 and the side piece 32 tend to stabilize the overall construction against the various forces that it may incur in use. For example, if used in a vehicular application, the heat exchanger will typically be subjected to substantial vibration, pressure cycling and thermal cycling; and the side pieces 30 and 32 provide strength to resist the destructive forces generated during such vibration and/or cycling.
  • The ends of the headers 10 and 12 adjacent the side piece 30 are sealed by conventional end caps 36.
  • The side piece 32 is considerably different from the side piece 30. It is made up of an inner manifold plate 38, an outer manifold plate 40 and a spacer plate 42. The inner manifold plate 38 includes an integrally formed nipple 44 at each end. Each nipple 44 is sized to be snugly received within the adjacent open end of a corresponding one of the headers 10, 12 and to be brazed thereto to be sealed thereto.
  • A spacer plate 42 includes three internal passages as will be described in greater detail hereinafter while the outer manifold plate 40 includes a pair of integrally formed nipples 46 that extend oppositely of the nipples 44, that is, away from tubes 20 and the fins 22. The nipples 46 may receive fittings 48 which terminate in threaded ends 50 whereby fluid conduits may be connected to the same. The nipples 44 and 46 may be formed in the plates 38 and 40 by a stamping operation.
  • As seen in Fig. 2, there are in actuality two rows of the tubes 22 extending between two of the headers 10 and two of the headers 12. That is to say, two cores, each including a header 10, a header 12 and tubes 22 extending between the same are provided. They are located in side by side relationship with the headers 10 in close adjacency to each other and with the headers 12 in close adjacency to each other.
  • The fins 22 may be a single set of fins extending between both cores or each core may have its own set of fins 22 as desired. In this configuration, the inner manifold plate 38 has four of the nipples 44, two at each end. The two upper nipples 44 as seen in Fig. 2 are respectively disposed in an associated one of the headers 10 while the two lower nipples 44 are respectively disposed in an associated one of the two headers 12.
  • The spacer plate 42 includes a first internal cut-out 60 that aligns with the two upper nipples 44. As a consequence, fluid communication between the two upper headers 10 is established via the cut-out 60 but serves as a crossover passage from one module to the other.
  • The spacer plate 42 also includes an internal passage 62 having the configuration shown and still another internal passage 64 having the configuration shown. The internal passages are formed by cut-outs in the spacer plate 42. It will be seen that the passage 62 extends between the uppermost one of the nipples 46 and the left lower most one of the nipples 44. Thus, the upper fitting 48 is in fluid communication with the lower left header 12.
  • The cut-out 64 extends from the lower right header 12 to the lower fitting 48 and thus places the latter in fluid communication with the former.
  • Thus, it will be appreciated that one of the fittings 48. may be used as a fluid inlet to the heat exchanger while the other fitting 48 may be used as a fluid outlet. Fluid is passed into one of the modules, entering the header 12 thereof, to pass upwardly through the tubes 20 to the upper header 10 where it crosses over to the other header 10 via the passage 60. The fluid then descends through the tubes 20 of that module to the header 12 and ultimately exit the system through the other of the fittings 48.
  • As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the side piece 32 is a laminated construction that results in the passages being disposed at the interface between the inner and outer plates 38 and 40. In some instances, a two piece construction may be preferred. Such a two piece construction will be described with reference to Figs. 3-5, inclusive.
  • Referring first to Figs. 3 and 5, an inner plate 70 is basically planar but includes a peripheral flange 72 extending from one side thereof and integrally formed nipples 74 at the ends projecting from the opposite side thereof. The nipples 74 serve the same function as the nipples 44 and will not be further described.
  • Because the plate 70 is flat, it is ideally suited for bonding to the serpentine fins 22.
  • An outer plate 76 is also provided and is sized and shaped so as to nest within the peripheral flange 72 of the inner plate 70. Near its upper end, the plate 76 includes an elongated bubble 78 stamped in one side thereof so as to extend between and overlie the two upper nipples 74 to thereby establish a crossover passage corresponding to that shown at 60 in Fig. 2.
  • The outer plate 76 includes an additional bubble 80 that is configured as the cutout 62 as well as a further bubble 82 which is configured as the cutout 64. Both the bubbles 80 and 82 have, at their upper ends, integral stamped nipples 84 which extend away from the plate 70 and which are adapted to receive fixtures for connection to heat exchange fluid as is well known. The lower ends of the bubbles 80 and 82 extend downwardly to respectively overlie the left and right lower nipples 74 and thus provide for a passage of heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger that is the same as that previously described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • Between the bubbles, the plate 76 is flat so that it will abut the plate 70 and, when subjected to a typical bonding operation such as brazing, the flat areas on the plates 70 and 76 will braze to one another to seal the passages defined by the bubbles 78, 80 and 82 from one another and from the exterior of the heat exchanger.
  • As noted, brazing is a preferred method of assembly of the heat exchanger. Typically, its components will be formed of aluminum and where brazed joints are required, one or the other or both of the components will be provided with a braze clad at that location.
  • The envelope between the headers 10 and 12 is not increased in that direction by the presence of fittings. Furthermore, the invention allows the fittings to be connected to the heat exchanger at some location other than the headers to provide an increase in design flexibility. And while the illustrated embodiment shows the fittings as being within the plane of the heat exchanger, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that, if desired, plates such as the plates 70 and 76 could be extended to one side of the heat exchanger and provided with bubbles to extend to such locations so that the fittings could be located to the front or to the rear of the heat exchanger, rather than to the side thereof.
  • Similarly, the nipples 46 and/or 84 could be directed to the sides of the heat exchanger, 90° (or any other desired angle) from the position illustrated, if desired. Additionally, while the tubular headers 10, 12 are illustrated as being formed of a single piece of material, two or even more pieces of material may be used to form the tubular headers so long as the interior passage is a passage such as illustrated.
  • It may be desirable to utilize the above described heat exchanger in systems having fluid conduits out of alignment with the nipples 46, 84 described above. According to the invention, an adapter 90 is included in the above heat exchanger.
  • Such an adapter 90 can be used with heat exchangers having a laminated side piece (Fig. 2) and with embodiments having side pieces having a two piece construction (Figs. 3-5). The adapter 90 serves to lengthen the internal passages and to introduce new passage end points to adapt a single basic heat exchanger configuration for use in several different environments, each having differently located inlet and outlet port locations.
  • The adapter 90 is made up of an inner plate 92 and an outer plate 94 (Figs. 6-7). The inner plate 92 has a peripheral flange 96 and first and second openings 98 that are in alignment with the nipples 46 or 84 of the above described heat exchangers. The openings 98 are sized to snugly receive the nipples 46 or 84 and to braze thereto to form a liquid tight joint. The outer plate 94 is sized and shaped so as to nest within the peripheral flange 96 of the inner plate 92. Near its upper end, the outer plate 94 has first and second adapter ports 100. These ports 100 are located to align with the particular fluid conduits of the system in which the heat exchanger is being installed. For purposes of illustration, the ports 100 are aligned side by side and extend perpendicularly to the side piece 32. The ports 100 could just as easily be positioned at a different angle to the side piece 32 for any particular installation.
  • Additionally, the outer plate 94 has a first bubble 102 extending from one of the ports 100 to an area surrounding one of the openings 98. The bubble 102 is stamped in one side of the outer plate 94 so as to extend between and overlie the top opening 98 and the left port 100 to thereby establish a duct from the adapter port 100 to one of the side piece nipples 46 or 84.
  • A second bubble 104 is stamped in the outer plate 94 and extends between the other port 100 and the remaining opening 98 to thereby establish a duct between such port 100 and the remaining nipple 46 or 84.
  • Both bubbles 102 and 104 have, at their upper ends, integral, stamped nipples 106 which define respective ports 100 and which extend away from the inner plate 92 and which are adapted to receive fixtures for connection to heat exchange fluid conduits.
  • Surrounding the bubbles, the outer plate 94 is flat so that it will abut the inner plate 92 and, when subjected to a typical bonding operation such as brazing, the flat areas on the plates 94 and 96 will braze to one another to seal the passages defined by the bubbles 102, 104 from one another and from the exterior of the heat exchanger.
  • In some instances, rather than use a two piece adaptor construction having stamped passages, a laminated construction with cut outs in a central section may be used.
  • From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the improvement allows heat exchangers to be adapted for use in a wide variety of systems. It is often the case that a particular heat exchanger is right for a particular use but that the inlet and outlet fluid conduits are not aligned with the inlet and outlet ports of the heat exchanger, making the heat exchanger unusable in that situation. To tool up for a heat exchanger that could be used is costly and inefficient. However, as a result of the above described adapter, it is possible to adapt a single heat exchanger for many different tasks.
  • In all events, many of the problems encountered with prior heat exchanger designs, and the use of inlets, outlets and cross over fittings therewith, are avoided through the use of the invention.

Claims (8)

  1. A heat exchanger comprising:
    first and second spaced, generally parallel, tubular headers (10,12) having opposed ends;
    a plurality of tubes (20) in parallel and spaced from one another extending between and having their ends (18) in fluid communication with the interiors of said headers (10,12);
    a plurality of fins (22) located between said headers (10,12) and in heat exchange relation with said plurality of tubes (20);
    side pieces (30,32) flanking said plurality of tubes (20) and plurality of fins (22) and extending between and fastened to corresponding ones of said opposed ends of said headers (10,12), one of said side pieces (32) including at least one internal passage (62;80) terminating in a first port (44;74) at and in fluid communication with one of said headers (12) at one of said opposed ends and in a second port (46;84) at the other end of said passage; and
       characterised by an adaptor (90) having a first duct (102) in fluid communication with said second port (46;84) thereby extending said internal passage (62;80) said internal passage (62;80) being connected at said second port (46;84) to a first adaptor port (98) in said adaptor (90) at one end of said first duct (102), said first duct (102) terminating in a second adaptor port (100) in said adaptor (90) spaced from both said first and second ports (44,46;74,84).
  2. The heat exchanger of Claim1 wherein said fins (22) are serpentine fins and are bonded to said side pieces (30,32).
  3. The heat exchanger of Claim 1 wherein there are two said passages (62,64;80,82), two said first ports (44;74) and two said second ports (46;84) to provide first and second ports for each said passage; and said first ports are in fluid communication with different ones of said headers (12).
  4. The heat exchanger of Claim 1 wherein said second port (46,84) is located in a side of said side piece (32) remote from said plurality of tubes and said plurality of fins.
  5. The heat exchanger of Claim 1 further including an additional set of said first and second headers (10,12) and said plurality of tubes (20), and located in side by side relation to said first named first and second headers (10,12) and plurality of tubes (20), with the first headers (12) being in close adjacency to one another and the second headers (10) being in close adjacency to one another; and there are three said passages (60,62,64), each having first and second ports, the first ports of said first and second passages (62,64) being in fluid communication with respective ones of said first headers (12), and the second ports of said first and second passages (62,64) being located oppositely of the respective said plurality of tubes; the ports of said third passage (60) being in fluid communication with respective ones of said second headers (10).
  6. The heat exchanger of Claim 1 wherein said one side piece comprises a pair of plates (38,40;70,76) with said passage (62;80) being located at the interface of said plates.
  7. The heat exchanger of Claim 6 wherein one of said plates (70) has a peripheral flange (72) and the other of said plates is nested within said peripheral flange in substantial abutment with the other of said plates.
  8. The heat exchanger of Claim 6 further including a spacer (42) between said pair of plates (38,40) to define a laminated side piece.
EP96306434A 1995-09-07 1996-09-05 Heat exchanger with adapter Expired - Lifetime EP0762072B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/525,979 US5529117A (en) 1995-09-07 1995-09-07 Heat exchanger
US525979 1995-09-07
US690145 1996-07-31
US08/690,145 US5964281A (en) 1996-07-31 1996-07-31 Heat exchanger with adapter

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0762072A2 EP0762072A2 (en) 1997-03-12
EP0762072A3 EP0762072A3 (en) 1998-02-04
EP0762072B1 true EP0762072B1 (en) 2001-07-18

Family

ID=27061974

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96306434A Expired - Lifetime EP0762072B1 (en) 1995-09-07 1996-09-05 Heat exchanger with adapter

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EP (1) EP0762072B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH09113176A (en)
KR (1) KR980010327A (en)
CN (1) CN1114814C (en)
AR (1) AR003533A1 (en)
AT (1) ATE203319T1 (en)
AU (1) AU700639B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2184647A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69613918T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2158248T3 (en)

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EP1295072B1 (en) * 2000-06-28 2007-03-21 Alfa Laval Corporate AB A heat exchanger and a heat exchanger/expansion valve assembly
DE10156498A1 (en) 2001-11-16 2003-05-28 Behr Gmbh & Co Heat exchanger, in particular evaporator
DE102005058769B4 (en) * 2005-12-09 2016-11-03 Modine Manufacturing Co. Intercooler
KR101720056B1 (en) * 2010-06-15 2017-03-27 한온시스템 주식회사 Heater Core
FR2962800B1 (en) * 2010-07-15 2017-11-24 Valeo Systemes Thermiques DEVICE FOR CONNECTION BETWEEN A COMPONENT OF A CLIMATE LOOP AND A HEAT EXCHANGER
CN104677170B (en) * 2011-01-21 2017-12-05 大金工业株式会社 Heat exchanger and air-conditioning device
KR101336090B1 (en) * 2011-11-16 2013-12-03 주식회사 경동나비엔 Heat exchanger for hot-water supply
WO2015061447A2 (en) * 2013-10-23 2015-04-30 Modine Manufacturing Comapny Heat exchanger and side plate
FR3034183B1 (en) * 2015-03-24 2018-04-27 Valeo Systemes Thermiques COLLECTOR BOX FOR HEAT EXCHANGER OF AIR CONDITIONING CIRCUIT OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND HEAT EXCHANGER COMPRISING SUCH A COLLECTOR BOX.
JP6467714B2 (en) * 2015-09-28 2019-02-13 有限会社和氣製作所 Thin hot and cold air device and method of manufacturing heat exchanger unit used therefor
KR102600972B1 (en) 2018-12-28 2023-11-13 삼성전자주식회사 Heat exchanger

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JP2605035Y2 (en) * 1993-06-25 2000-06-19 昭和アルミニウム株式会社 Stacked heat exchanger

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Publication number Publication date
DE69613918D1 (en) 2001-08-23
EP0762072A3 (en) 1998-02-04
AR003533A1 (en) 1998-08-05
AU6448496A (en) 1997-03-13
DE69613918T2 (en) 2001-11-08
ATE203319T1 (en) 2001-08-15
CN1114814C (en) 2003-07-16
AU700639B2 (en) 1999-01-07
JPH09113176A (en) 1997-05-02
CA2184647A1 (en) 1997-03-08
KR980010327A (en) 1998-04-30
ES2158248T3 (en) 2001-09-01
CN1155067A (en) 1997-07-23
EP0762072A2 (en) 1997-03-12

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