KR101441123B1 - Louvered fin for heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

A louvered pin for a heat exchanger has been disclosed and the louver is formed to maximize strength and stiffness while minimizing the amount of material required for manufacture.

Louver, pin, strength, material, rib

Description

Louvered Pin for Heat Exchanger {LOUVERED FIN FOR HEAT EXCHANGER}

1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger fin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a planar cross-sectional view of a plurality of louvers of the heat exchanger fins shown along line 2-2 in Fig.

3 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger fin in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a planar cross-sectional view of a plurality of louvers of the heat exchanger fins shown along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

5 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger fin in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger fin in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a front view of an apparatus used to manufacture a heat exchanger fin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a front view of an apparatus used to manufacture a heat exchanger fin in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art

11: outer surface

12: Base wall

13: inner surface

14: upper

16: Lower

22: Middle part

23: Edge edge louver

24: entrance louver

26: conversion louvers

28: Exit louver

29: Edge edge louver

38: rib

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, and more particularly to a louvered fin for a heat exchanger in which ribs are formed on a louver to maximize strength and stiffness.

Air-cooled fin-type heat exchangers are very well known. Heat exchangers are used to vary the temperature of various working fluids, such as, for example, engine coolant, engine lubricant, air conditioning refrigerant, and automatic transmission fluid. Typically, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of spaced apart fluid conduits or tubes connected between an inlet tank and an outlet tank, and a plurality of heat exchange fins disposed between adjacent conduits. The air passes through the fins of the heat exchanger due to, for example, the movement of the cooling fan or the vehicle. As the air flows through the fins, the heat of the fluid flowing through the tubes is conducted through the walls of the tubes, into the fins and transferred to the air.

One of the main objectives in heat exchanger design is to achieve high pin column strength. It is already known that the thicker the overall thickness of the pin, the stronger the pin. However, increasing the total thickness of the fin increases the amount of material required to manufacture the fin. If the amount of the material is large, the weight becomes heavy, which is undesirable. Various types of pin designs are known in the art for the purpose of increasing the overall thickness to increase the strength of the pins. It is desirable to produce a louvered fin for a heat exchanger that minimizes the use of materials while maximizing the strength of the fin.

Surprisingly in the present invention, a louver-like fin for a heat exchanger has been developed which minimizes the use of materials while maximizing the strength of the fin.

In one embodiment, the heat exchanger fin includes a base wall having a first base end, a second base end, and a middle portion; A switching louver disposed in the middle portion of the base wall and having a first edge and a second edge; A plurality of spaced apart inlet louvers disposed between the first base end of the base wall and the diverting louver and having a first edge and a second edge; A plurality of spaced outlet louvers disposed between the switching louver and the second base end of the base wall, the plurality of spaced outlet louvers having a first edge and a second edge; And at least one rib formed in at least one of the switching louver, the inlet louver and the outlet louver.

In another embodiment, the heat exchanger fin includes a base wall having a first base end, a second base end, and a middle portion; At least one switching louver having a first edge extending laterally and a second edge extending laterally and at least one rib formed between the first edge and the second edge, Wow; A first edge extending laterally, a second edge extending laterally, and at least one rib formed between the first edge and the second edge, the first edge being disposed between the first base end of the base wall and the switching louver, A plurality of spaced apart inlet louvers; At least one rib disposed between the transition louver and the second base end of the base wall, the first edge extending laterally, the second edge extending laterally, and at least one rib formed between the first edge and the second edge, The branch includes a plurality of spaced outlet louvers.

Providing a substantially flat sheet of material; forming a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs in the sheet of material; forming a plurality of laterally extending corrugations in the sheet of material; And forming a plurality of rows of louvers extending longitudinally in the sheet of material.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The following detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrate and describe various embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings are intended to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In the method disclosed by way of example, the steps presented are for illustration purposes, so the order of steps is not necessarily or important.

1 shows a heat exchanger fins 10 having an outer surface 11, an inner surface 13, a first fin end 15 and a second fin end 17. The heat exchanger fin (10) includes a plurality of base walls (12). It will be appreciated that more or less base wall 12 may be used within the spirit or scope of the present invention. The base wall 12 has an upper portion 14, a lower portion 16, a first base end portion 18, a second base end portion 20 and an intermediate portion 22. The intermediate portion 22 is disposed between the first base end portion 18 and the second base end portion 20.

The base wall 12 includes a leading edge louver 23, a plurality of inlet louvers 24, a switching louver 26, a plurality of outlet louvers 28 and a terminal edge louver 29. The leading edge louver 23 and inlet louver 24 are connected at the first end 30 to the top 14 of the base wall 12 and at the second end 32 to the bottom 16 of the base wall 12 . 2, the leading edge louvers 23 and each of the inlet louvers 24 have a first surface 33, a second surface 35, a first edge 34, The second edge 36, and the rib 38. The rib 38 is formed between the first edge 34 and the second edge 36 and extends laterally outward from the second surface 35. It is shown that a single rib 38 is formed on the leading edge louver 23 and on each inlet louver 24. It will be appreciated, however, that more or fewer ribs 38 may be formed in the leading edge louvers 23 and inlet louvers 24, if desired, within the scope of the present invention. The rib 38 extends from the leading edge louver 23 and the first end 30 of the inlet louver 24 to the second end 32. In the illustrated embodiment, The gap 39 is formed between adjacent inlet louvers 23 and 24 and between the inlet louver 24 adjacent the diverting louver 26 and the diverting louver 26.

The conversion louver 26 is connected to the top 14 of the base wall 12 at the first end 40 and to the bottom 16 of the base wall 12 at the second end 42. 2, the conversion louver 26 includes a first surface 43, a second surface 45, a first edge 44, a spaced apart second edge 46, and a rib (not shown) 48). A rib 48 is formed between the first edge 44 and the second edge 46 and extends laterally outward from the second surface 45. It has been shown that a single rib 48 is formed on the conversion louver 26. However, it can be seen that more or fewer ribs 48 may be formed in the switching louver 26 if desired. The rib 48 extends from the first end 40 to the second end 42 of the switching louver 26.

The outlet louver 28 and the end edge louver 29 are connected at the first end 50 to the upper portion 14 of the base wall 12 and at the second end 52 to the lower portion 16 of the base wall 12 . 2, each outlet louver 28 and end edge louver 29 includes a first surface 53, a second surface 55, a first edge 54, Two edges 56, and ribs 58. The ribs 58 are formed between the first edge 54 and the second edge 56 and extend laterally outward from the second surface 55. It is shown that a single rib 58 is formed on each exit louver 28 and end edge louver 29. However, it can be seen that more or fewer ribs 58 may be formed in the exit louver 28 and the end edge louver 29, if necessary. The ribs 58 extend from the first end 50 to the second end 52 of the outlet louver 28 and the end edge louver 29. The gap 59 is formed between adjacent louvers 28 and 29 and between the switching louver 26 and the outlet louver 28 adjacent the switching louver 26. [

Air flows through gaps 39 between adjacent inlet louvers 24, as is known in the art. The heat taken from the fluid (not shown) flowing in the flow tube (not shown) is transferred to the air via the heat exchanger fins 10 and the inlet louver 24. The air is then redirected at the conversion louver 26. The air flows through a gap 59 between adjacent outlet louvers 28, where additional heat is transferred from the outlet louvers 28 to the air.

Ribs 38,48 and 58 are formed on the louvers 24,26 and 28 to increase the overall thickness of the louvers 24,26 and 28. [ As the total thickness of the louvers 24, 26, 28 increases, the strength of the fins 10 increases. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the strength was measured to have increased by about 18%.

As the strength of the fin 10 increases, a flat material measured thinner to make the fin 10 may be used. Accordingly, the fin 10 having substantially the same strength as the conventional fin structure can be made of a small material. Therefore, the overall weight of the fin 10 is minimized. It has been disclosed that the fins 10 comprising the louvers 24, 26, 28 with the ribs 38, 48, 58 formed can be made up to 20% less material than conventional pin structures.

The heat exchanger fins 10 'shown in Figures 3 and 4 include ribs 38', 48 ', 58'. Structures similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 repeated in FIGS. 3 and 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals ('). The ribs 38 ', 48', 58 'are formed to extend laterally outward from the respective first surfaces 33, 43, 53. The remaining structure is the same as that described above in Fig. 1 and Fig. The air flow through the louvers 24 ', 26', 28 'is the same as described in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 illustrates a strong heat exchanger fin in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The ribs 38 ", 48 ", and 58 "in the present embodiment are similar to the first and second ribs < RTI ID = 0.0 > Extends from the pin end 15 to the second pin end 17 of the pin 10 ". The ribs 38 ", 48 ", and 58 "may be formed to extend laterally outward from the inner surface 13 of the pin 10" Ribs 38 "', 48' ', 58' '' may also be formed to extend laterally outward from the outer surface 11 of the pin 10 '' as shown in FIG. The structure similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 repeated in Figure 6 is denoted by the same reference numeral ("'). The remaining structures and louvers 24", 26 ", 28", 24 " 'Are the same as those described in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A method of forming the heat exchanger fins 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be described. A substantially flat sheet of material 110, such as aluminum, is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the material sheet 100 is fed into the holding roll 111 for height and straightness adjustment, and then fed to a pair of rib forming rolls 112. The first rib-forming roll of the rib-forming rolls 112 includes a plurality of spaced-apart annular projections (not shown). The second rib-forming roll of the rib-forming rolls 112 comprises a plurality of spaced annular channels or indents. The projections and depressions of the rib forming roll 112 interact to form a plurality of continuous ribs 38, 48, 58 in the material sheet 100. Optionally, the material sheet 110 may then be fed into the second holding roll 111 as shown in Fig. Thereafter, the sheet 110 is fed into a pair of corrugated fin forming rolls 114. A cutter (not shown) disposed on the crease fin forming roll 114 cuts the sheet 110 to form a plurality of rows. Each row includes a leading edge louver 23, a plurality of inlet louvers 24, a switching louver 26, a plurality of outlet louvers 28 and an end edge louver 29. The corrugated fin forming roll 114 simultaneously curves the sheet 110 alternately to form a corrugation and forms a wavy shape in the sheet 110. In addition, the corrugated fin forming rolls 114 interact to flatten the sheet 110 between adjacent louvers 23, 24, 26, 28, 29. Therefore, the ribs 38, 48, 58 formed in the upper portion 14 and the lower portion 16 of the sheet 110 are removed. The sheet 110 is fed to the density station 116 so that the sheet 110 can be further adjusted as desired. The sheet 110 is fed to a cutting station 118 to cut the sheet 110 to a desired length.

The steps of flattening the sheet 110 between adjacent louvers 23 ", 24", 26 ", 28", 29 "are omitted to form the pin 10" shown in FIG. The ribs 38 ", 48 ", and 58 "made in this manner are located at the first ends 30, 40, 50 and the second ends 32, 42, 52 of the louvers 24", 26 " But extends continuously from the first pin end 15 of the pin 10 to the second pin end 17 of the pin 10. [

 Those skilled in the art will readily understand the essential features of the present invention from the foregoing description, and can variously modify and alter the present invention to various uses and conditions within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The present invention can produce a louvered fin for a heat exchanger that minimizes the use of materials while maximizing the strength of the fins.

Claims (6)

As a heat exchanger pin, A plurality of base walls having a first base end, a second base end and an intermediate portion and formed in a contiguous corrugated shape between a first fin end and a second fin end, A switching louver disposed at an intermediate portion of at least one base wall of the base walls and having a first edge and a second edge, A plurality of spaced apart inlet louvers disposed between the first base end of the base wall of at least one of the base walls and the diverter louver and having a first edge and a second edge, A plurality of spaced outlet louvers disposed between the switching louver and the second base end of the base wall of at least one of the base walls, the plurality of spaced outlet louvers having a first edge and a second edge; The transition louvers, the inlet louvers, and at least one rib formed in at least one of the outlet louvers, The rib extending substantially from the first fin end to the second fin end. The heat exchanger pin of claim 1 wherein said rib is formed between a first edge and a second edge of a louver of at least one of said conversion louvers, said inlet louvers and said outlet louvers. 3. The heat exchanger pin of claim 2, wherein the ribs are formed substantially parallel to a first edge and a second edge of the louvers of at least one of the conversion louvers, the inlet louvers and the outlet louvers. The heat exchanger pin of claim 1, wherein the rib is formed from a first end to a second end of the louver of at least one of the switching louvers, the inlet louvers and the outlet louvers. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the ribs are formed to extend laterally outward from one of the first surface and the second surface of the louvers of the transition louvers, the inlet louvers and the outlet louvers. . 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a leading edge louver and a trailing edge louver, The leading edge louver being disposed between the first base end of the base wall and the inlet louvers and having a first edge, a second edge, and ribs formed on the edges, The end edge louvers being disposed between the outlet louvers and the second base end of the base wall, the heat exchanger having a first edge, a second edge, and ribs formed on the edges.

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