JP2008508497A - Heat exchanger and fluid reservoir - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved fluid reservoir (100) design that provides little or no dead volume or non-sweep volume and provides efficient heat exchange. An exemplary fluid reservoir may have a serpentine channel (102) with a cross section selected such that the fluid flow sweeps through the entire cross sectional volume and reduces or eliminates dead volume. The fluid reservoir (100) can be molded from two sheets of polymeric material that are joined to form the fluid reservoir (100). As another option, the fluid reservoir (100) can be formed from a flexible polymeric material that is joined along the seam (118) to define the boundaries of the flow channel (102). The fluid reservoir (100) can be placed either upstream or downstream of the filtration system so that a cooled filtration liquid is provided. The fluid reservoir (100) can be integrated with a device such as a refrigerator. A method of making the fluid reservoir (100) is also disclosed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

[Cross-reference of related applications]
This application is related to US Provisional Application No. 60 / 591,646 filed July 28, 2004 under the name “Heat Exchanger and Liquid Reservoir”, 2004 under the name “Heat Exchanger and Liquid Reservoir”. No. 60 / 604,952 filed on Aug. 27, and No. 60 / 634,621 filed Dec. 9, 2004 under the name “Heat Exchanger and Liquid Reservoir”. Claiming priority as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) based on them (all three of the aforementioned applications are consistent with this disclosure) Incorporated herein by reference).

  The present disclosure relates generally to the field of fluid reservoirs, and more particularly to the use of fluid reservoirs in devices with a water supply system. A fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure can provide a first-in / first-out flow that provides beneficial performance characteristics such as prevention of stagnant flow and improved heat transfer to provide cold water.

  There are several design tradeoffs when connecting a water reservoir to a device such as a refrigerator. Such tradeoffs include balancing the positioning of the fluid reservoir in the device, avoiding contamination of water in the fluid reservoir, the fluid capacity of the fluid reservoir, and the efficiency of the heat exchange element when designing the fluid reservoir. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Among the design criteria for positioning a water reservoir or other liquid reservoir in a device such as a refrigerator generally includes the requirement to occupy a minimum amount of storage space in the device.

  For example, conventional water supply system designs have utilized tank fluid reservoirs and coiled tubular fluid reservoirs. One of the disadvantages of prior known tank fluid reservoirs is that significant non-sweep or “dead” volumes can be formed with little or no flow. Such dead volumes can cause stagnant flow conditions, which can result in the liquid becoming musty and unpleasant and / or contaminated with microorganisms. One known drawback of conventional coiled tube tanks is that the heat exchange efficiency can be relatively poor due to the small tank surface area available for heat exchange when installed in a particular configuration. is there. Coil tube fluid reservoirs can also be difficult to manufacture, require large amounts of polymer or other material to manufacture, and are associated with the large volumes associated with prior known coil tube fluid reservoir materials. There is also the possibility of producing bad taste water due to fluid contact with the surface area. Moreover, conventional coiled tube fluid reservoirs often exhibit significant internal friction that can cause large pressure drops during operation.

  The improved fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure includes a structure that eliminates low flow conditions so that there is little or no non-sweep volume or dead volume in the fluid reservoir. In addition, the improved fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure can provide relatively high efficiency heat exchange so that a desired cooling fluid product suitable for use and consumption is provided. In some exemplary presently preferred embodiments, the improved fluid reservoir allows the fluid flow in the flow path to reduce the total cross-sectional volume of the flow path without leaving a significant amount of dead volume or non-sweep volume inside. A serpentine fluid flow path having a cross section configured to sweep may be provided. The cross-sectional shape of the flow path can be configured to have a larger heat transfer surface than known conventional coiled tube reservoirs, such as the interior of or in the vicinity of a refrigerator or freezer compartment in a refrigerator. The fluid may be cooled by positioning an improved fluid reservoir in the vicinity of the cooling environment, such as.

  In some exemplary embodiments, the improved fluid reservoir is, for example, from two sheet-like molded polymeric materials that are operatively joined to form a fluid reservoir, as described below. It can be assembled functionally. In other exemplary embodiments, the fluid reservoir can be functionally assembled from, for example, a flexible polymeric material that is joined along the seam to ensure a flow channel. In some exemplary embodiments, the improved fluid reservoir can include a non-rigid design that cannot contour the flow channel or flow path until the fluid flow deforms the flexible polymer along the flow channel. . In a further exemplary embodiment, the fluid reservoir can be functionally assembled as is known in the art, for example, using blow molding techniques and the like. The fluid reservoir can be connected to a filtration system such that a cooled filtration liquid is provided. The fluid reservoir and / or filtration system can be integrated with a device such as a refrigerator.

  In one aspect, a fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure may have a thin profile suitable for convenient positioning along and / or within a wall / floor / ceiling and / or braid of the device. This thin profile is consistent with both very good heat exchange and flow with little or no dead volume. The fluid reservoir can be placed in thermal contact with the cooling chamber. Based on the thermal contact, it is possible to cool the liquid delivered from the fluid reservoir, and this configuration provides good cooling efficiency. The fluid reservoir design according to the present disclosure combines the advantages of a coiled tube fluid reservoir with the advantages of a tanked fluid reservoir, while eliminating many of the disadvantages associated with either the coiled tube fluid reservoir or the tanked fluid reservoir.

  In other aspects, fluid reservoirs according to the present disclosure will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art, with little or no dead by designing and making them to achieve the desired flow characteristics through the fluid reservoir. It is possible to provide an entire sweep area without volume and at the same time to have a wider flow area than a pipe tank or the like. More specifically, an exemplary fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure is such that the conduit of the fluid reservoir has a Reynolds number of 800-2500 at a flow rate of 1.89 liters / minute, In a further exemplary embodiment, the fluid reservoir has a Reynolds number of 1300-1900 at a flow rate of 1.89 liters / minute so that the fluid reservoir can have a Reynolds number of 1000-2000 at a flow rate of 1.89 liters / minute. It can be produced with a desirable cross-sectional shape so that it can be a number.

  In general, a presently preferred exemplary embodiment of a fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure includes an inlet, an outlet, and an elongated channel connecting the inlet and the outlet. In some presently contemplated exemplary embodiments, the elongate channel has a serpentine shape such that the elongate channel is configured compactly. The elongated shape and corresponding length of the flow path is generally many times the diameter across the cross-section of the flow path providing the desired fluid storage volume while having little or no dead volume in a first-in-first-out flow is there.

  In some exemplary embodiments, the channels are functionally assembled, such as from two sheets of predetermined contoured sheet material, and then functionally joined by any suitable method known in the art. Integrated. The predetermined contour sheet can be functionally formed, for example, from a substantially rigid material such as plastic that retains the contour shape to form a flow channel having a selected shape. The seam between the sheets separates adjacent sections of the flow path. In some exemplary embodiments, one sheet may include a generally planar surface such that a substantially planar sheet and a sheet having a predetermined contour are functionally connected to form a flow path. In other presently contemplated exemplary embodiments, the top and / or bottom sheets of the fluid reservoir may perform a desired function, for example, from a flexible material, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. It can be functionally formed from a flexible polymer or other elastic material. In these flexible exemplary embodiments, the shape of the flow channel may be formed due to fluid pressure within the flow channel. In general, the shape of the flow channel with the fluid present in the channel is currently preferably approximately circular with some distortion in the vicinity of the seam, but the wall thickness of the flow channel is desired Thus, when fluid pressure is applied, the shape of the flow channel may vary radially along the cross-section of the flow channel so that it expands to a different shape.

  In some presently preferred exemplary embodiments based on a rigid material of a predetermined profile, a fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure is preferably a longest edge distance of 10 across the generally planar surface of the fluid reservoir. It may have a generally planar extent having a thickness of no more than a percent, in other exemplary embodiments no more than 5 percent, and in further exemplary embodiments, no less than 0.2 percent to 3 percent of the longest edge distance. If both surfaces are of a predetermined contour, it is possible to use a planar projection of the surface with the largest area to evaluate the distance across the surface. The elongated channels are preferably presently generally at least three times as long as the longest edge distance across the planar surface. The preferred cross-sectional properties of the flow path in the case of a rigid material will be described in more detail below.

  For some presently contemplated exemplary embodiments based on flexible polymers, the shape of the fluid reservoir can be similarly evaluated in an expanded configuration with fluid pressure within the fluid reservoir. In the expanded configuration, the fluid reservoir will generally have dimensions comparable to a fluid reservoir formed using a predetermined contour of rigid material as described herein. While flexible materials may be somewhat elastic so that they can change shape in response to pressure, the difference in shape is generally not significant over a range of standard residential water pressures. When evaluating the shape and properties of the flexible fluid reservoir described herein, the fluid reservoir flow channel is subjected to a pressure providing a fluid flow rate of 1.9 liters / minute. The preferred dimensions for providing the desired flow characteristics are described. When mounted in the desired location, the flexible fluid reservoir can be bent as long as the flow channel is not blocked. However, it should be noted that for convenience and definition, the dimensions and other characteristics of the fluid reservoir are evaluated in a flat shape.

  In some presently contemplated exemplary embodiments, a fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure can be functionally connected to a suitable dispenser. In general, the operation of the dispenser can be initiated by a user requesting a desired amount of fluid (eg, water, etc.). In some presently contemplated exemplary embodiments, the water can be dispensed via a dispenser in a device door, such as a refrigerator door. In an exemplary embodiment of some other options, the dispenser is a co-pending US Provisional Application No. 60 / 537,781 entitled “Water Filter and Dispenser Assembly” granted to Meuleners et al. (This disclosure is incorporated herein by reference to the extent that it is not inconsistent with the present disclosure) and can be placed inside a device, such as a refrigerator compartment, for example. The location and orientation of the fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure within the device may take into account practical requirements during installation and are confined within the fluid filtration system and / or within the fluid reservoir itself prior to connection to the fluid supply. The effective discharge of air that may be present may also be considered. A fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure may have a channel cross-section selected to be small enough to push air out of the channel based on the surface tension of the fluid regardless of the orientation of the fluid reservoir. .

  In other embodiments, an exemplary fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure can be connected to a filtration system. For example, water sent from a water supply, well, or other water source to a house or other structure can be filtered before being distributed to the user. In general, the fluid reservoir can be functionally positioned either upstream or downstream of the filtration system. When placed upstream, the fluid reservoir will contain water or other liquids along with any antimicrobial agents such as chlorine found in water / feeds, but these agents will be It can be removed from the liquid prior to dispensing by filtration. Thus, the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and filamentous fungi can be prevented prior to use and / or consumption by the user. An example of a typical filtration system having a water fluid reservoir upstream of the filtration system was filed on May 23, 2003 under the name "Water Filter Assembly" and was granted to Fritzze et al., And May 2002. Are further described in co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 10 / 445,372 claiming priority based on US Provisional Application No. 60 / 383,187, filed on the 23rd (each disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference) Incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure). If the fluid reservoir is located upstream of the filter system and the fluid reservoir is located between the two valves, the fluid reservoir can be subjected to steady or intermittent indoor line pressure.

  Another alternative configuration that provides relatively high flexibility and versatility with respect to filtration system positioning is feasible when the fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure is located downstream of the water filtration system. In some representative presently contemplated embodiments, the water filtration system may have a potential for water flow interruption due to complete or partial liquid freezing within the filtration system, and more particularly within the filter element itself. Can be placed outside the refrigeration unit so that it is effectively eliminated if not completely. In these exemplary embodiments, for example, a US provisional application filed September 23, 2004 under the name "Reduced Water Filtration System" and granted to Fritzze and filed September 23, 2003. As described in co-pending US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0103721 A1, claiming priority under 60 / 505,152 (each disclosure being referenced to the extent not inconsistent with this disclosure). The fluid reservoir may be subjected to intermittent fluid line pressure when placed between the two valves, or the fluid reservoir may be open to the atmosphere. Exposure to the pressure may always be lower than the line pressure.

  The improved fluid reservoir described herein combines the features of a coiled tube fluid reservoir and a tank fluid reservoir to achieve both types of desirable features, but each presents fewer typical drawbacks. New and improved desirable processing methods have made these previously commercially unavailable fluid reservoirs available on a commercial scale. In some presently preferred exemplary embodiments, the fluid reservoir is designed to provide a flow that provides a first-in-first-out flow without a low flow region or dead volume region that can produce musty liquids. The At the same time, some presently preferred exemplary embodiments of fluid reservoirs have a larger flow rate than conventional coiled tubes, such that less material is used and less pressure drop for a given tank capacity. It is possible to have a road cross section. In some exemplary embodiments, the fluid reservoir takes the form of a monolithic structure with adjacent flow channels separated by curved channels and seams. The monolithic structure can be formed by a molding method or by joining two or more sheet-like materials. The improved fluid reservoir can be incorporated into a filtration system and / or in a device such as a refrigerator so that cooled water is supplied.

  In some exemplary embodiments, the fluid reservoir described herein includes a monolithic polymer structure comprising two ports and a flow path between the ports. The flow path can form a serpentine flow path. The seam formed in the polymer structure can ensure a boundary between adjacent sections of the flow path. In some exemplary embodiments, the flow path has a substantially constant diameter over most of the flow path associated with the contour of the material so that the desired flow characteristics are ensured through the flow path. In the case of a monolithic structure formed from a rigid material, the flow path corresponds to the contour of the rigid material. In another exemplary embodiment, the flow path corresponds to an inflatable section of flexible material having a seam that defines the flow path boundary. The all monolithic structure can take a generally planar form having at least one predetermined contour surface forming a flow path. Further, the structure can be coupled to the filtration system via a suitable fluid connection, for example, by a fitting or other suitable connection method known to those skilled in the art. With or without a filtration system, the fluid reservoir can be installed in a device such as a refrigerator and / or the fluid reservoir can be connected to a domestic water supply.

  In some exemplary embodiments, the fluid reservoir can be incorporated into a device having a liquid source fluidly connected to a flow path defined in the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir can be made such that the flow path has a Reynolds number of 800-2500 at a flow rate of 1.9 liters / minute. Besides having advantageous flow characteristics, the fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure can simultaneously serve a dual function as a heat exchanger. In this case, the fluid reservoir is a device that allows cooling of the fluid as it flows through the flow path and / or in thermal contact with the refrigerator compartment when present in the flow path. Can be positioned inside the wall, braid or partition. A flow rate of 1.9 liters / minute is specified for evaluation purposes, but liquid fluid reservoirs can be used at other flow rates.

  In some exemplary embodiments, the monolithic fluid reservoir structure can be formed by joining two generally rigid polymer sheets. Here, at least one sheet has a predetermined contour. When joined, the profile defines a flow path between the two ports of the resulting monolithic fluid reservoir structure. The joining of the two sheets can be accomplished by a variety of fabrication methods, such as ultrasonic welding, thermal joining, RF joining, or adhesive joining, or any other connecting means that can effectively achieve the target function. Is achievable. The contour can be formed, for example, by vacuum forming and / or pressure forming. In other exemplary embodiments, at least one sheet contouring and sheet joining is accomplished without the need for sheet repositioning between fabrication steps.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the monolithic fluid reservoir joins the first flexible polymer surface to the adjacent flexible polymer surface such that a continuous flow channel is defined that fluidly interconnects at least two flow ports. Can be formed. Adjacent flexible polymer surfaces can be formed by stacking two flexible polymer sheets or a single so that a first flexible polymer surface and a second flexible polymer surface are formed. By folding the polymer sheet, it can be arranged in a shape suitable for joining. Adjacent flexible polymer surfaces can be joined using suitable joining methods, such as ultrasonic welding, thermal joining, RF joining, or adhesive joining, or any other connection means that can effectively achieve the target function, etc. Can be functionally joined. With adjacent flexible polymer surfaces, the monolithic fluid reservoir structure can be inherently flexible, facilitating installation and assembly when used with the device.

  As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a presently preferred exemplary embodiment of the fluid reservoir 100 includes a monolithic structure with a flow channel 102 that operably fluidly interconnects the inlet 104 and outlet 106. sell. The flow channel 102 comprises a generally serpentine flow structure defined by a plurality of flow legs 108 operably interconnected through a plurality of left side bends 110 and a plurality of right side bends 112. In this exemplary embodiment, the bend is round, but other shaped bends may produce suitable flow characteristics. Although other channel shapes can be used for the flow channel 102, the generally serpentine structure provides a compact positioning of the expansion channel while at the same time providing a large total suitable for heat exchange with little or no dead volume. Provides volume and large surface area. The fluid reservoir 100 includes a fluid reservoir body 114 that provides a substantially rigid structure to the fluid reservoir 100 to assist in the manufacture, storage, handling, and installation of the fluid reservoir 100 in the fluid circuit. The fluid reservoir body 114 may include a handling portion 116 and a plurality of seams 118. The handling part 116 provides a convenient gripping or handling position when the fluid reservoir 100 is manufactured and / or installed. The seam 118 may provide interconnection and coupling of adjacent flow legs 108 to provide strength and rigidity to the fluid reservoir 100. The seam 118 is fluid-tight so that direct flow between adjacent flow legs 108 is avoided, but the flow snakes continuously through the flow channel 102.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the flow channel 102 forms a generally serpentine flow path that includes a bend that folds over itself. In contrast to coiled tubes, the flow channels exist in substantially the same plane and do not intersect or overlap. However, if desired, the monolithic structure may intersect or overlap with a flow with desired properties such as a large total volume and large surface area suitable for heat exchange with little or no dead volume, for example. A flow channel may be included. Nevertheless, intersecting flow channels are generally not preferred at this time as more complex processing methods are generally required and mounting can be complicated due to increased thickness. The serpentine flow path can be configured to have any of a series of structures with a plurality of segments that may or may not have the same length, and the number of segments is It can be selected to produce a desired volume that matches the footprint of the structure for attachment.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the seam 118 can be positioned in a substantially planar direction that defines a midplane 120 that is substantially parallel to and between the top surface 122 and bottom surface 124. It is. Here, the top surface and the bottom surface are substantially defined by a flow channel 102. In other words, the flow channel corresponds to the contour of the monolithic structure. It should be noted that throughout the disclosure, the designations top and bottom surfaces are for convenience and ease of understanding and are not related to the orientation of the fluid reservoir 100 in use. .

  The fluid reservoir 100, as well as other exemplary embodiments of the fluid reservoir described herein, can be formed from one or more suitable materials as described below. In general, it is desirable to form the fluid reservoir 100 from a polymer, although metals (including blends thereof) may also be suitable. The selection of a suitable material, such as a polymer, can be based on various factors such as, for example, cost, processing performance, durability, and compatibility with beverages. Suitable polymers include, for example, polyolefins (eg, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene copolymers), Dowlex®, polyurethane, polystyrene, nylon (polyamide), and polyesters (eg, Mylar ( Polyethylene terephthalate, etc.) including, but not limited to, registered trademarks). The specific molecular weight and specific formulation of the polymer can be selected by methods known to those skilled in the art. Optionally, a polymer having either rigid, semi-rigid or flexible characteristics based on the manufacturing method utilized and the desired physical or installation characteristics of the fluid reservoir, such as wall thickness and external dimensions Can be selected. For rigid materials, any suitable metal (including blends thereof) such as stainless steel can be used in place of the polymer.

  Suitable fittings can be incorporated into the inlet 104 and outlet 106 to connect the fluid reservoir to pipes, tubes, and the like. The fitting can be selected to match the material of the fluid reservoir 100 and the material of the tubing connecting the fluid reservoir 100 to the associated fluid system with respect to process and composition. In particular, when a cross-linked polyethylene pipe or a PEX pipe (generally means any of PEX-a pipe, PEX-b pipe, or PEX-c pipe), the crosslinkability of the pipe polymer is heat-welded. And a fitting that mechanically grips the tube is desirable because it is not useful for ultrasonic welding. However, it is also possible to use an adhesive to secure the tube at the inlet 104 and outlet 106. Other materials can be selected so that thermal welding or ultrasonic welding can be performed.

  The polymer used to form the fluid reservoir 100 may or may not be crosslinked initially, but the polymer can be further crosslinked after the formation process. In general, physical methods such as, for example, the electron beam, ultraviolet light, and / or corona discharge used to crosslink PEX-c, as well as other physical methods such as, but not limited to, Cross-linking can be performed using other methods known in the art. In some exemplary embodiments, chemical crosslinkers (eg, liquid peroxides used to crosslink and form PEX-a in the Engel process), as well as catalysts and / or air and moisture It is possible to initiate cross-linking of the polymer by exposure to. For example, it is possible to crosslink and form PEX-b using a tin catalyst and moisture curing (water bath or steam sauna) with a silane crosslinking technique.

  While polymers are convenient, cost effective and efficient materials for forming fluid reservoirs, many polymers have low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the selected polymer can be increased by filling the polymer with a material having increased thermal conductivity. Suitable thermally conductive materials include, for example, metal particles / powder (eg, copper flakes, aluminum and / or iron powder) and / or carbon particles (eg, carbon black and / or graphite), and further targets Examples include, but are not limited to, any other material that can perform the target function in the environment. The particles can have any reasonable shape and size that results in suitable mechanical properties of the resulting composite. In some exemplary embodiments, the particle loading can be 40 weight percent or less, and in other exemplary embodiments, from 2 weight percent to 35 weight percent. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, further ranges within the above specified range of particle loading are also the subject of this disclosure. With respect to the description herein for sheets and the like, such an indication can mean a laminate comprising a plurality of layers that may or may not have different compositions.

  Another exemplary embodiment of a fluid reservoir 200 based on a rigid material is shown in FIGS. The fluid reservoir 200 can include a monolithic rigid body 202 having a bottom surface 204 that can be a substantially flat planar surface, but the top surface 206 forms a fluid flow path 208 between the fluid inlet 210 and the fluid outlet 212. It is possible to contour as described. Rigid body 202 includes materials similar to those described above in connection with fluid reservoir 100 and is manufactured using similar manufacturing techniques and using other manufacturing methods known to those skilled in the art. Is possible. Although substantially planar, the bottom surface 204 can be partially contoured to form a fluid inlet 210 and a fluid outlet 212 as shown in FIG. In this exemplary embodiment, fluid flow path 208 is serpentine with eleven 180 degree bends 214 and two 90 degree bends 216 suitable for connection to fluid inlet 210 and fluid outlet 212. Has a shape. Although described as fluid inlet 210 and fluid outlet 212, it is understood that any port can be used interchangeably as fluid inlet 210 and fluid outlet 212 based on the orientation and ease of installation of fluid reservoir 100. Let's do it. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inlet tube 218 and the outlet tube 220 can be secured to the fluid inlet 210 and the fluid outlet 212 so as to flow into and out of the fluid reservoir 100. If formed from a suitable material, inlet tube 218 and outlet tube 220 can be welded to fluid inlet 210 and fluid outlet 212, but other bonding methods such as adhesive bonding, thermal bonding, mechanical gripping, etc. are used. It is also possible. Other locations of fluid inlet 210 and fluid outlet 212 along either bottom surface 204 or top surface 206 can be used, particularly where fluid inlet 210 and fluid outlet 212 need to be positioned next to each other. There is no. No. 10 / 975,193, filed Oct. 28, 2004 and assigned to Meuleners et al. In the apparatus, for example, under the name “Improved design of filtration system in apparatus”. As described in the specification (incorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent with the present disclosure), fluid reservoirs within the walls, braids, or partitions of the device, or within the refrigeration portion of the device When positioning and mounting 200, maximizing the amount of physical contact between the fluid reservoir 200 and the device will increase the total heat transfer between the device and the fluid reservoir 200, ultimately resulting in fluid usage. And a substantially flat bottom surface 204 can be placed directly against the wall of the device so that the fluid in the fluid flow path 208 can be cooled before consumption. That.

  Another alternative variation of fluid reservoir 200 is shown as fluid reservoir 250 in FIGS. The fluid reservoir 250 may be substantially similar to the fluid reservoir 200, including similar features such as, for example, a rigid body 202 having a generally flat bottom surface 204 and a predetermined contoured top surface 206. The fluid reservoir 250 may further include a fluid flow path 208 having an effective 180 degree bend 214 and an effective 90 degree bend 216. Of course, it is possible to incorporate bends having other angles with suitable designs. The fluid reservoir 250 may differ from the fluid reservoir 200 in that the fluid inlet 252 and the fluid outlet 254 each have a substantially constant cross-sectional area from the fluid inlet 252 to the fluid outlet 254, including the fluid flow path 208. . In contrast, the fluid flow path 208 shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 diverges into a larger cross-sectional area between the fluid inlet 210 and the fluid outlet 212. The fluid reservoir 250 can be manufactured using similar manufacturing methods, including similar materials as described above in connection with the foregoing exemplary embodiment of the fluid reservoir 100.

  Exemplary alternative embodiments of fluid reservoir 300 based on rigid material selection and manufacture are shown in FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. FIG. In this exemplary embodiment, the fluid reservoir 300 includes a predetermined contour top surface 304 and a predetermined contour bottom surface 306 such that a fluid flow path 308 is formed between the fluid inlet 310 and the fluid outlet 312. A fluid reservoir body 302 that also has Thus, although the fluid reservoir 300 includes a generally symmetric channel cross section through the central plane 314 of the fluid reservoir body 302, other alternative exemplary embodiments may have an asymmetric predetermined profile surface. . As described, fluid flow path 308 has a substantially uniform cross section between fluid inlet 310 and fluid outlet 312, but other options include, for example, fluid flow rate, desired fluid reservoir storage capacity, fluid flow path 308. Depending on the desired fluid velocity within and the design requirements such as the overall heat transfer characteristics of the fluid reservoir 300, the cross section of the fluid flow path 308 can be larger than the similar cross sections of the fluid inlet 310 and the fluid outlet 312. Will be understood. The fluid flow path 308 includes a substantially meandering shape including 15 180-degree bent portions 314 and two 90-degree bent portions 316.

  An exploded view of the fluid reservoir 300 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 will be described. Appropriate fittings 318 can be secured within the fluid inlet 310 and the fluid outlet 312 to facilitate connection to and gripping of the inlet tube 320 and outlet tube 322. The pipe fitting 318 is, for example, a John Guest International Ltd. (John Gus International, Ltd., of Middlesex, United Kingdom) and other push-type fittings available from various manufacturers, or, for example, filed April 11, 2003 under the name "Plastic fittings" Any of a variety of suitable fittings known to those skilled in the art, such as a barbless fitting as described in co-pending U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0201212A1 granted to Marks. Can be made up of. The pipe joint 318 can be appropriately fixed in the fluid inlet 310 and the fluid inlet 312 by using a suitable connection method such as, for example, an integral molding method, an adhesive bonding method, or a heat welding method or an ultrasonic welding method. It is. With the pipe joint 318, it is possible to reliably hold the inlet and outlet pipes 320 and 322 formed from a pipe material that is not easily joined directly to a heat exchanger material such as a highly crosslinked polymer.

  An exemplary embodiment of a flexible fluid reservoir 400 is shown in FIGS. The flexible fluid reservoir 400 has a fluid reservoir body 402 with a generally serpentine flow channel 404 between a fluid inlet 406 and a fluid outlet 408. The flow channel 404 is generally defined by eleven 180 degree bends 410 and two 90 degree bends 412. A weld seam or section 414 defines a boundary between adjacent sections of the flow channel 404. The perimeter seam 416 is provided near the outer edge of the fluid reservoir body 402 in a non-expanded, generally planar structure as shown in FIGS. In this exemplary embodiment, the overall shape of the fluid reservoir 400 is generally rectangular with an extended portion 418 at one corner that provides a fluid inlet 406 and a fluid outlet 408, but is generally required Any convenient shape can be used depending on.

  A detailed view shown in FIG. 19 will be described. The tube 420 can be operably connected, eg, by welding or adhesive bonding, to a fluid inlet 406 and a fluid outlet 408 for operably interconnecting the flow channel 404 to a fluid source and outlet water outlet. . As discussed in connection with the exemplary embodiments above, welding and / or joining is similarly performed in the fluid inlet 406 and fluid outlet 408 for fluidly interconnecting the flow channel 404 to the fluid supply and outlet water intakes. The fluid reservoir 400 can be configured and fabricated such that the assembled pipe fitting is incorporated.

  Another exemplary alternative embodiment of the flexible fluid reservoir 500 is shown in FIGS. The flexible fluid reservoir 500 includes a generally serpentine flow channel 502 that fluidly interconnects the fluid inlet 504 to the fluid outlet 506. The flow channel 502 is generally defined by eleven “square” corners 508 at eleven 180 degree bends 510. Both the fluid inlet 504 and the fluid outlet 506 are directly coupled through the wall 514 of the fluid reservoir 500 such that the integral flow port 512 is generally perpendicular to the substantially planar surface defined by the wall 514. An integral flow port 512 is included. The integral flow port 512 can be formed by welding and / or joining a pipe fitting as previously described in connection with other fluid reservoir exemplary embodiments into the fluid inlet 504 and the fluid outlet 506. is there. Accordingly, except that the fluid inlet 504 and the fluid outlet 506 have openings to join the integral flow port 512, the flow channel 502 is not shaped to form the integral flow port 512, and FIGS. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of the flexible fluid reservoir 400 shown in FIG.

  In addition to the fluid reservoirs discussed and discussed above, other alternative exemplary fluid reservoir embodiments can be made to include both rigid and flexible components in a single monolithic fluid reservoir It is. For example, an exemplary monolithic fluid reservoir may include a combination of a monolithic rigid body 202 and a fluid reservoir body 402 so as to define a rigid first surface and a flexible second surface. The rigid first surface and the flexible second surface will be known to those skilled in the art, but using suitable manufacturing methods such as adhesive bonding, thermal welding, and various molding methods, for example. And can be operably joined to define a continuous serpentine fluid channel.

  The flow paths associated with the various aforementioned fluid reservoirs can include a wide range of cross-sectional shapes and sizes. These shapes may be particularly applicable in the case of fluid reservoirs formed using rigid materials, such as, for example, fluid reservoir 100, fluid reservoir 200, and fluid reservoir 300, but in addition to the generally circular cross-section. Some of these cross-sectional shapes are also selective in the flexible fluid reservoir sheet thickness, for example in the case of flexible fluid reservoirs such as flexible fluid reservoir 400 and flexible fluid reservoir 500. Can be formed. Some representative examples of cross-sectional shapes are shown in FIGS. FIG. 22 will be described. These channels have a flat bottom 600 and a curved top 602 that correspond to the fluid reservoir 200 and fluid reservoir 250 described above in connection with FIGS. Four predetermined contour shapes are shown in FIG. 22: a long semicircle 604, a semicircle 606, a long ellipse 608, and an ellipse 610. FIG. 23 will be described. An exemplary embodiment of the flow path has a top surface 620 with a predetermined contour and a bottom surface 622 with a predetermined contour. As shown in FIG. 23, the contoured top surface 620 and the contoured bottom surface 622 are substantially corresponding to the contours of FIGS. 1-5, 13-17 representing the fluid reservoir 100 and the fluid reservoir 300, respectively. Share the same contour. The top and bottom shapes shown in FIG. 23 are as follows: long semicircle 624, semicircle 626, long ellipse 628, and ellipse 630. As another option, the predetermined contour top surface 620 and the predetermined contour bottom surface 622 may include different contours. For example, the predetermined contour top surface 620 includes an ellipse 624, while the predetermined contour bottom surface 622 includes an ellipse 630.

  Representative embodiments of other options for cross-sectional shape and size to increase the surface area and heat transfer efficiency of the fluid flow path are shown in FIGS. The flow path shown in FIG. 24 includes a curved top surface 700 and a curved bottom surface 702. The curved bottom surface 702 can be a predetermined contour as shown in the various frames of FIGS. The curved top surface 702 can be arched similar to the shape shown for the curved bottom surface 702, which can have advantages in certain flow applications. For example, the contoured indentation 703 of the curved top surface 700 and the curved bottom surface 702 may prevent breakage during freezing by causing the indentation 703 to bulge outward in response to the expansion of frozen water. Can be helpful. Depending on the material selected to be used for the curved top surface 700 and the curved bottom surface 702, the indentation 703 will revert to its original state when the expansion pressure is released when the frozen water melts to form a liquid. It is possible to return to the state. Based on the representative examples shown in FIGS. 22, 23, 24, and 25, various other alternative cross-sectional shapes of the flow path can be formed. Specific shapes can be selected to provide the desired heat exchange and fluid flow characteristics and processing convenience.

  In some presently preferred exemplary embodiments, the fluid reservoir can be formed as a single unitary piece. For example, the fluid reservoir can be formed using blow molding. Blow molding is generally accomplished by expanding a polymer softening tube in a mold. At this time, the polymer abuts against the wall of the mold and expands, whereby the polymer assumes the shape of the mold. Next, the polymer is cooled so that the molded shape is maintained. However, in other alternative processing methods, the fluid reservoir is formed by joining and integrating two sheets (eg, a predetermined contour top surface 304 and a predetermined contour bottom surface 306 as shown in FIG. 16). It can be formed. Thus, in these exemplary embodiments, there are two steps in the process, the contouring step and the joining step for one or both sheets, but these steps may or may not be separated in time. Also good. Other additional steps can also be used. The contour formation can be performed using, for example, blow molding or pressure molding. In these methods, the polymer sheet is thermally softened to a predetermined contour on the mold. In vacuum forming, the softening sheet is pressed against the male mold or the female mold by suction. In pressure molding, the softening sheet is pressed against a male mold or a female mold by blowing. It is also possible to use a combination of suction and pressurization. Two sheets can be hermetically integrated using ultrasonic welding, thermal welding / staking, high-frequency RF heating / bonding, adhesive bonding, and the like. Various molds for performing these joining methods are known in the art. Position and seal a piece with a predetermined contour. After the sheets are joined, the structure can be trimmed, smoothed, or similarly finished.

  Manufacture of a representative fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure can be achieved by applying a substantially continuous / simultaneous twin sheet molding method to sheets that are essentially positioned to be joined during contouring. In this twin sheet molding method, at the start of the process, the sheet is positioned and integrated with one or two molds adjacent to the appropriate sheet. Next, it is possible to heat the sheet, in which case the contouring step achieved by vacuum / suction and the joining step are performed in combination. The exact timing of the joining process and the contouring process can generally be simultaneous. A significant feature of the twin sheet forming method is that after starting processing, the sheet is aligned once for both sheet contouring and joining without requiring significant translation and repositioning of the sheet. That is. This improves reproducibility and makes the processing more efficient.

  Further, when using a twin sheet forming method, the sheet may include multiple layers. In some exemplary embodiments, the layers can provide various functions to the composite sheet. For example, the layer can provide an antimicrobial function, inhibit flavor migration, limit oxygen migration, and / or increase thermal conductivity. Before performing the twin sheet forming method, it is possible to integrate a plurality of layers by lamination.

  When manufacturing a flexible fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir structure can be formed, for example, from two sheets or from a single folded sheet, but the edge between the sheets is positioned along the seam. If so, it is possible to form a fluid reservoir using more sheets. The forming process involves joining adjacent sheets to form a seam between flow channels. For many flexible polymers, bonding can be performed by thermal bonding or other thermal bonding methods. However, it is possible to use an adhesive bonding method or other bonding methods as well to form the seam.

  In some exemplary embodiments, the cross-sectional area is selected to provide the desired flow characteristics in the fluid reservoir, thereby providing a continuous sweep region with little or no dead volume, and more than a tube tank or the like. It is possible to have a wide area. In some exemplary embodiments of interest, 800-2500 at a flow rate of 1.89 liters / minute, 1000-2000 in other exemplary embodiments, 1.89 liters / minute in a further exemplary embodiment. It is possible to manufacture the fluid reservoir so that a flow path having a Reynolds number of 1300-1900 is obtained.

  Reynolds number is a parameter associated with fluid flow characteristics. It is defined as the product of density, speed, and characteristic length divided by the viscosity. A flow rate of 1.89 liters / minute is within the standard range for home use and is a convenient reference point for assessing flow. The flow path can be evaluated at a flow rate of 1.89 liters / minute, but can be used at various flow rates in actual use. These assessments can be similarly performed on fluid reservoirs formed using rigid or flexible materials. Evaluation of the flow path based on the selected flow is a convenient way to evaluate the flow path regardless of the details of the cross-sectional shape. The Reynolds numbers calculated for tubes of various diameters for water of viscosity at 4.4 ° C. are summarized in Table 1 below and plotted in FIG.

  For comparison, a standard commercial tank with a 1.25-1.5 inch cross-sectional inner diameter at a flow rate of 1.9 liters / minute has a Reynolds number of 680. The Reynolds number of the commercial tank is calculated and listed in bold font in the upper right part of the table in Table 1. These tanks can also have mixing with non-sweep volume and thermal stratification. Thus, these tanks generally do not have a first-in-first-out flow and can produce undesirable properties with respect to taste and contamination. However, tube tanks typically have a Reynolds number greater than 4000. These are calculated and listed in Table 1 in bold font in the lower left part of the table. Tube tanks generally have a first-in-first-out flow, but these are other undesirable characteristics associated with excess surface area, such as high pressure drop, high manufacturing cost, and undesirable taste of the storage fluid. May have. The design described herein overcomes these problems through a fluid reservoir design that combines many of the desirable properties of tank and coil tube designs. For example, the fluid reservoir in each case maintains a Reynolds number in the range of 680-4000, while providing a first-in first-out flow similar to a coiled tube design, while at the same time in tank design. Similarly, it can be specially designed to obtain an engineering conduit cross section suitable for increasing the storage volume.

  The above exemplary embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Other embodiments are within the scope of the inventive concepts described herein. Although the concepts of the present invention have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the spirit and scope of the concepts described herein and the claims of this disclosure do not depart from It will be appreciated that various changes, modifications, and substitutions may be incorporated.

1 is a perspective view of one possible exemplary fluid reservoir according to the present disclosure with a serpentine channel having a cross-sectional area that is larger than the cross-sectional area of the inlet and outlet ports. FIG. FIG. 2 is an end view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 1 cut at the detail 5 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of one possible exemplary embodiment of a fluid reservoir with a serpentine flow path having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet and outlet ports. FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a side view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a side view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 6 representing the inlet and outlet ports. FIG. 6 is a top view of one possible exemplary embodiment of a fluid reservoir with a serpentine flow path having a cross-sectional area equal to the cross-sectional area of the inlet and outlet ports. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is a side view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of one possible exemplary embodiment of a fluid reservoir having a constant cross-sectional area with respect to a serpentine channel, an inlet port, and an outlet port. FIG. 14 is a top view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 is a side view of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 13. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of one possible exemplary embodiment of a fluid reservoir having a fitting that is integrated into an inlet port and an outlet port. FIG. 17 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the inlet and outlet ports of the exemplary fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of one possible exemplary embodiment of a flexible fluid reservoir with a serpentine flow path having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet and outlet ports. FIG. 19 is a detailed bottom view of the inlet and outlet ports of the exemplary flexible fluid reservoir shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of one possible exemplary embodiment of a flexible fluid reservoir with an integral inlet port and an integral outlet port oriented generally perpendicular to the plane of the flexible fluid reservoir. FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the exemplary flexible fluid reservoir shown in FIG. 20. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a possible exemplary flow channel suitable for use in an exemplary embodiment of either a rigid fluid reservoir or a flexible fluid reservoir. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a possible exemplary flow channel suitable for use in an exemplary embodiment of either a rigid fluid reservoir or a flexible fluid reservoir. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a possible exemplary flow channel suitable for use in an exemplary embodiment of either a rigid fluid reservoir or a flexible fluid reservoir. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a possible exemplary flow channel suitable for use in an exemplary embodiment of either a rigid fluid reservoir or a flexible fluid reservoir. FIG. 6 is a graph showing Reynolds numbers versus possible representative flow channel diameters suitable for use in household fluid flow applications.

Claims (20)

A structure having a fluid flow path fluidly connecting the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet;
The fluid flow path has at least two bends positioned between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and the fluid flow path is water at 0.00189 m ³ / min at 4.4 ° C. A fluid reservoir having a Reynolds number of 680-4000. The fluid flow path is
A plurality of effective 180 degree bends defining a serpentine fluid flow path;
The fluid reservoir of claim 1, comprising: The fluid flow path is
A cross-sectional area of the flow path that exceeds a cross-sectional area of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
The fluid reservoir of claim 1, comprising: The fluid flow path is
Top polymer sheet and bottom polymer sheet,
Including
The fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the top polymer sheet and the bottom polymer sheet are operably joined to form a monolithic structure. The inlet and outlet ports are respectively
Pipe fittings,
The fluid reservoir of claim 1, comprising: The structure is
Rigid monolithic fluid structure,
The fluid reservoir of claim 1, comprising: The rigid monolithic fluid structure is
A material selected from the group comprising polyolefin polymers and metals,
The fluid reservoir of claim 6, comprising: The structure is
A flexible monolithic fluid structure,
The fluid reservoir of claim 1, comprising:   The fluid reservoir of claim 8, wherein the fluid flow path expands to a fully open position under the action of pressurized fluid. The flexible monolithic fluid structure comprises:
Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene copolymer, polyurethane, polystyrene, polyamide, and polyester,
9. The fluid reservoir of claim 8, comprising a polymer selected from the group comprising: The fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path has a Reynolds number of 820-2725 with water of 0.00189 m ³ / min at 4.4 ° C.   An apparatus comprising the fluid reservoir of claim 1. The device is
refrigerator,
The apparatus of claim 12, comprising: A water filtration system operatively fluidly coupled to the fluid reservoir;
14. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising: An operation of functionally creating a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein each surface has a plurality of seams formed therein;
An operation of functionally joining the top surface and the bottom surface at the plurality of seams to define a flow path having at least two bends, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface At least one has a surface with a predetermined contour;
Forming a fluid reservoir structure. The operation of functionally joining
Ultrasonic welding, thermal bonding, high frequency bonding, adhesive bonding, and combinations thereof,
A joining method selected from the group comprising:
The method of claim 15 comprising: The method of forming
Blow molding, pressure molding, and vacuum molding,
The method of claim 15, comprising a molding method selected from the group comprising: An operation of folding a polymer sheet to define the top surface and the bottom surface;
The method of claim 15 comprising:   The method of claim 15, comprising manipulating pipe joints in a fluid inlet and in a fluid outlet, wherein the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are at a fluidly opposed end of the flow path.   A fluid reservoir comprising a monolithic structure having a flow path along a serpentine path between an inlet and an outlet, wherein adjacent flow paths are separated by a seam.

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