GB2200201A

GB2200201A - Vehicle radiator turbulator

Info

Publication number: GB2200201A
Application number: GB08701255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Roger Michael Barnett; Frederick William Ballard
Original assignee: TRW United Carr Ltd
Current assignee: TRW United Carr Ltd
Priority date: 1987-01-21
Filing date: 1987-01-21
Publication date: 1988-07-27
Also published as: GB8701255D0; EP0282148A2; EP0282148A3

Description

2,22 0 0 2 0 1 Vehicle Radiator Turbulato.r The present invention is

concerned with a turbulator for a vehicle radiator tube which is adapted to enhance the turbulence of water flowing through the tube.

Until recently vehicles have had their radiators positioned with the water tubes oriented vertically. The convection currents in the water flowing through the vertical tubes created sufficient turbulence in the water to assist the effectiveness of the radiator. However, modern aerodynamic vehicle designs now demand very low bonnet lines. This has led to the adoption of crossflow, or horizontally disposed, radiators. The drive towards weight saving in vehicles has also resulted in crossflow radiators being produced in a very dense, shallow form in aluminium alloys. This has produced radiator systems operating just within their maximum capability, with no effective convection currents to aid efficiency.

In order to improve the water flow it is known to insert into each tube a turbulator in the form of analuminium spiral which is designed to increase the turbulence of the water as it flows through the radiator tube. This known type of turbulator however, creates a 11 number of problems. It is limited in its effect, being loose within the tube it is liable to rotate as the water flows through the tube which sets up vibration and being made of aluminium, the vibration is liable to damage the wall of the aluminium tube causing leakage.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a turbulator for a vehicle radiator tube which significantly enhances the turbulence in the water flowing through the tube, but which is fixed in relation to the tube and will not set up any significant vibration.

According to the present invention, we provide a turbulator for a vehicle radiator tube comprising an elongate, element adapted for insertion into the tube and a deflecting vane or vanes on the elongate element oriented to enhance turbulence in water flowing through the tube, characterised in that means are provided for locating and locking the elongate element in position in the tube.

Preferably, the elongate element is in the form of a substantially flat strip and the vanes of the turbulator are advantageously designed to extend outwardly generally normally from a major face of the strip. Preferably, each of the vanes is in the shape of a segment of a circle or an ellipse. The vanes may be staggered along the length of the turbulator and arranged alternately on opposite sides of the flat strip. The vanes are oriented to provide the turbulence required and may, by way of example, be oriented at an angle of approximately 35 0 to- the length of the strip with adjacent vanes being inc lined at approximately 110 0 to each other. Preferably an aperture is provided in the strip adjacent and to the same side of each vane to thereby produce a sinuous flow of water through the tube.

The present invention also provides a vehicle radiator comprising a plurality of hollow tubes and a turbulator as defined in the preceding paragraphs located and locked in each tube to enhance the turbulence of the water flowing through the tubes.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,. in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle radiator; Figure 2 is a section taken on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of one end of the radiator shown in Figure 1 with the sealed end cap of the radiator removed; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the opposite end of the radiator; Figure 5 is a front elevation of a turbulator according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a side elevation of the turbulatorshown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is an end view Of the turbulator shown in Figures 5 and 6; Figure 8 is a side view of a modification of the turbulator shown in Figures 5 to 7; Figure 9 is a side view of the turbulator shown in Figure 8 rotated through 900; Figures 10 and 11 are views similar to Figures 8 and 9 showing a further modification of the turbulator; Figure 12 is a section through a further modification of the turbulator mounted in an oval section tube; and Figure 13 is an elevation of a turbulator adapted for use particularly with the radiator tube of Figure 12.

In Figure 1 a vehicle radiator is indicated generally at 10. The vehicle radiator 10 comprises a plurality of radiator tubes 11 joined by end plates 12 and 13, each of which is sealed by an end cap 14 and 15 respectively. -The end plates 12 and 13 are cup-shaped so as to form water reservoirs into which the open ends of the tubes 11 project. Vanes 16 are provided on the tubes 11 to protect the tubes and enhance the heat exchange capability of the radiator.

In order to enhance the turbulence of the water flowing through the tubes 11, a turbulator 20 is located J i 1 il C v and locked in place in each tube. One of the turbulators 20 is shown in Figures 5 to 7 and will now be described in more detail.

The turbulator 20 is formed from a synthetic plastics material such as polypropylene and comprises an elongate element which in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7 is in the form of a flat strip 21 formed with a plurality of apertures 22 and a plurality of deflecting vanes 23. The width of the strip 21 over a major part of its length is such that it is a close fit within the tube 11 as shown particularly in Figure 2 ' and will not therefore move transversely within the tube to any significant extent.

Each vane 23 extends outwardly generally normally to: and from a major face of the strip and is in the shape of a segment of an ellipse, having a convexly curved outer edge 24. The vanes 23 are staggered along the length of the turbulator and arranged alternately on opposite sides of the strip 21.- In the particular example shown, each vane is oriented at an angle of approximately 35 0 to the longitudinal axis of the strip 21 and adjacent vanes, on opposit-e sides of the strip, are inclined at approximately 1100 to one another. However, the angle of inclination of the vanes to the length of the strip may be varied to give the required turbulence.

An aperture 22 is provided in the strip adjacent and to the same side of each vane so that, as water flows through the tube it is deflected by a vane on one side of the strip through the aperture adjacent the strip and then deflected by the next vane on the opposite side of the strip back through the next adjacent aperture to the first side of the strip and so on. The turbulator thus creates a sinuous flow of water along the length of the tube from side to side of the strip.

The leading end of the turbulator 20 is formed with locking means 25 in the form of resilient tongues 26 and 27 which can be compressed to pass through the tube but which then spring outwardly to abut the end of the tube and resist withdrawal of the turbulator from the tube. The trailing end of the turbulator 20 is formed with locating means in the form of two outwardly directed lugs 28 and 29. The lugs 28 and 29 extend outwardly further than the width of the strip 21 and are adapted to locate in slots in an end location cap 30, so as to resist rotation of the turbulator relative to the tube.

In order to assemble the turbulator 20 in a tube 11, an end location cap 30 is first fitted onto an end of the tube 11. As shown in Figure 3, the end location cap 30 is tubular and adapted to fit onto an end of the tube 11 as a tight friction fit. To enable the end location cap 30 to fit a range of tube diameters, the cap 30 is made from a 1 L 1 A 1, resilient plastics material such as polypropylene and is formed with two axially extending expansible webs 31 and 32 The cap 30 is also provided with two diametrically opposed slots 33 and' 34. The turbulator is inserted through the cap 30 and the tube 11 until the lugs 28 and 29 locate in the slots 33 and 34. As the leading end of the turbulator is inserted through the tube 11, the tongues 26 and 27 are compressed and then spring outwardly to abut the end of the tube and resist withdrawal of the turbulator from the tube. As shown,-in Figure 4, the length of the turbulator. is such, in relation to the length of tube 11, that in the assembled position, the lugs 28 and 29 of the turbulator abut the opposite end of the tube 11.

When the turbulator is mounted in the tube 11, lengthways movement of the turbulator is prevented by the tongues 26, 27 and the lugs 28, 29 and rotation of the turbulator is resisted by the engagement of the lugs 28 and 29 with the end cap 30.

When a turbulator 20 has been mounted in each of the tubes 11, the radiator is filled with water and the reservoirs at each end of the radiator sealed with the closure lids 14 and 15. In use, as water flows along the tubes, it is deflected by alternate vanes from side to side through the strip 21 so that a sinuous movement, of water is achieved along the length of each tube. This turbulence in the water flow significantly enhances the heat exchange characteristics and efficiency of the radiator.

It is envisaged that an end of each tube may be -formed with slots to receive the lugs 28 and 29 of the turbulator so as to eliminate the need for the end cap 30. The turbulator may also take other forms than that shown in Figures 5 to 7. For instance, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, a turbulator 40 may comprise a circular section elongate element in the form of a rod 41, and vanes 42, 42a each of which partly encircles the rod 41 so as to form an interrupted spiral around the rod. In use, water is caused to flow around the rod 41 as it passes along the radlator tube thereby increasing the movement and turbulence of the water.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention, comprising a turbulator 43 having a circular section elongate element in the form of a rod 44, and vanes 45, 45a and 46,46a which are similar to the vanes 42,42a but which are arranged around the rod 44 to form a double spiral.

It is also envisaged that each tube of the radiator may be oval in section as shown in Figure 12 which illustrates a vehicle radiator tube 50 and a turbulator 51 similar to the turbulator 20 except that vanes -52 of the turbulator are shaped so as to fit closely within the 1 I11 oval section tube. In this embodiment, it will be apparent that rotation of the turbulator within the tube is resisted by the fact that the tube is oval in crosssection and the vanes are a close fit within the tube.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention it is envisaged that similar looking means may be provided at each end of the flat strip, as shown in Figure 13, which illustrates a-turbulator 60. The turbulator 60 comprises a flat strip 61 which is provided with locking means at each end in the form, of tongues 62, 63 and 64, 65, respectively. The turbulator 60 can be inserted either end first into a radiator tube unti'l the tongues at the leading end of the strip snap through the end of the tube. The turbulator is then locked in position by the tongues at each end, which overlap the end of the tube.

Since the turbulator of the present invention is made from a plastics material it is not subject to corrosion. It cannot move significantly within the tube once it is locked in place, axially, transversely or rotationally and consequently is not liable to vibrate and set up undesirable noise. As it is locked in place and is made of a plastics material the risk of the turbulator damaging th e wall of the tube is reduced to a minimum.

While the preferred shape and orientation of the vanes is disclosed in the embodiments described herein, it is envisaged that the number, orientation and shape of the vanes may be varied, the apertures in the turbulator strip may be varied in number, position and shape and other changes of a minor nature may be made to the turbulator without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A turbulator for a vehicle radiator tube comprising an elongate, element adapted for insertion into the tube and a deflecting vane or'vanes on the elongate element oriented to enhance turbulence in water flowing through the tube, characterised in that means are provided for locating and locking the elongate element in position in the tube.

2. A turbulator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the elongate element is in the form of a substantially flat strip.

3. A turbulator as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that-the width of at least a part of the length of the strip is such that it is a close fit in the tube.

4. A turbulator as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the strip is formed with a plurality of apertures for the flow of water therethrough.

5. A turbulator as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that each vane extends outwardly, generally normally from a major face of the strip.

6. A turbu lator as claimed in claim 5,_ characterised in that each vane is generally in the shape of a segment of an ellipse having a convexly curved outer edge.

7. A turbulator as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the vanes are staggered along the length of the turbulator and arranged alternately on opposite sides of the flat strip.

8. A turbulator as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the vanes are oriented at an angle of approximately 35 0 to the length of the strip with adjacent vanes being linclined at approximately 1100 to one another.

9. A turbulator as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that an aperture is provided in the strip adjacent and to the same side of each vane to thereby produce a sinuous flow of water through the tube.

10. A turbulator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the elongate element comprises a cylindrical rod characterised in that each vane partly encircles the rod.

11. A turbulator as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that vanes form an interrupted spiral around the rod.

12. A turbulator as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the vanes form two interrupted spirals around the rod.

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13. A turbulator as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that looking means is provided at a leading.end of the elongate eleme'nt which is insertable through the tube but adapted to resist withdrawal of the turbulator from the tube.

14. A turbulator as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the locking means comprises two resilient tongues adapted to spring outwardly and lock behind one end of the tube.

15. A turbulator as claimed in claim 14, characterised In that similar locking means are provided at each end of the elongate element.

16. A turbulator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that locating means are provided at the trailing end of the elongate element, the locating means comprising two outwardly extending lugs adapted to abut an end of the tube to limit insertion of the turbulator through the tube and to locate in slots to resist rotation of the turbulator relative to the tube.

17. A turbulator as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that a tubular cap is provided to fit tightly over one end of the tube, the cap having two slots adapted to receive the lugs to resist rotation of the turbulator relative to the tube.

18. A turbulator as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the turbulator is made from a plastics material.

19. A vehicle radiator comprising a plurality of hollow tubes, characterised in that a turbulator as claimed in any preceding claim is located and locked in each tube to enhance the turbulence of the water flowing through the tubes.

20. A vehicle radiator as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that each tube is oval in transverse section, the elongate element is in the form of a flat strip and the width of the strip is approximately equal to the major internal diameter of the tube.

21. A turbulator for a vehicle radiator tube substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A vehicle radiator substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

m The Patent Office.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66 171 High Holborn, London WClR 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained fro Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Rent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques itcL St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1187.

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