US2759709A

US2759709A - Combination heater and muffler

Info

Publication number: US2759709A
Application number: US383105A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert B Chapman; Robert P Mcdonough; William H Jackson
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1953-09-29
Filing date: 1953-09-29
Publication date: 1956-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-21

Description

Aug. 21, 1956 A. B. CHAPMAN ET AL 2,759,709 COMBINATION HEATER AND MUFFLER I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 195s 21, 1956 A. B. CHAPMAN ET AL 2,759,709

' COMBINATION HEATER Ayn MUFFLER Fi led'Sept. 29, 1953 w s Sheet-Sheet. 2

M Ga ATTORNEY 21, 1956 A. B. CHAPMAN ET AL 2,759,709

COMBINATION HEATER AND MUFFLER 5 Sheets-She t- 5 Filed Sept. 29, 1953 I f INVENTORS Q/iez/fi.

ZZZ

United States Patent @fliee COMBINATION HEATER AND MUFFLER Albert B. Chapman, Robert P. McDonough, and William H. Jackson, Lockport, N. Y., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1953, Serial No. 383,105 21 Claims. (Cl. 257-16) This invention relates to heaters for fluids and more particularly to combinations of heaters and mufllers in units of such compactness and eificiency as to make them suitable for use in vehicles.

Two convenient forms of construction are hereinafter described as examples embodying features of the present invention. in each of these forms, provision is made whereby an efficient heat exchange may be had between a heated fluid such as the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine and a relatively cool fluid such as air which is to be heated for use in heating the interior of a vehicle. Obviously, the invention may be utilized in the heating or cooling of other fluids and in other connections without departing from the spirit thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved heater or heat exchanger for fluids, such as gases, which is compact, eflicient and low in cost.

Another object is to provide a heat exchanger for effecting a transfer of heat between two fluids in which the flow of one of the fluids is broken up to secure an eflective muffler action and in which a maximum of heat transfer is simultaneously assured.

A feature of the present invention comprises a heater or a heat exchanger employing laterally juxtaposed tubes, some of which are perforated and some being imperiorate.

Another feature of the invention resides in a combined heater and muflier structure utilizing laterally juxtaposed tubes arranged in sets, one set of tubes being imperforate and smaller than the other tubes which are perforated.

Still another feature comprises a heat exchanger utilizing three sets of tubes, one of which is angularly disposed with relation to the other two sets of tubes, the latter two sets including individual tubes each of which is capped or closed at one end only and some of these closed ends are located at one end of the heat exchanger and some at the opposite end.

Another feature comprises a heat exchanger utilizing relatively large and relatively small tubes passing through a casing, the small tubes being interposed between groups of the large tubes and arranged transverse thereto and partitions being provided to divide the interior of the casing into compartments.

These and other important features of the invention and novel combinations of parts will now be described in detail and then pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination heater or heat exchanger and mufller in the form of a unit embodying the features of the present invention and enclosed within a suitable housing with portions of the latter and the heater broken away;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation with parts broken away of the heater shown in Figure l but with the entire outer housing removed;

Figure 3 is a plan view ofthestructure shown in Fig- 2,759,709 Patented Aug. 21, 19 56 ure 2 with parts of it taken in section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in section taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 2 with intermediate portions broken away better to illustrate certain tubes;

Figure 5 is a plan view and section similar to that of Figure 3 but showing a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 5 with parts broken away.

It has been recognized that in a vehicle such as an army tank or in an automobile, it is essential that a heater or cooler unit be compact and so proportioned and contoured as to be easily installed with a minimum of space requirements. To this end, a heater embodying the present invention is shown in Figure 1 as inclosed within an outer box-like housing 10. This housing is provided with an opening 12 at its top, through which air to be heated may be admitted, and an opening 14 at one end through which heated air may be discharged into the vehicle. The air may be forced through the heater by the action of a fan or by movement of the vehicle. Figure 1 shows a portion of the top of the housing 16] broken away as at 16 for purposes of better illustration, and it is at this area that the housing is apertured to accommodate a vertical conduit 18. A portion 20 at the other side of the housing 10 is also broken away better to show how the heater fits snugly within the housing to make a compact unit and it is to this side of the heater that a conduit 22 is connected.

The heater or heat exchanger, per se, in part comprises a casing generally indicated at 24 made up of one piece of sheet metal bent to form four sides, i. e. a top 26, bottom 28, and the two vertical sides and 32. The ends of the sheet metal forming those sides are caused to overlap (Fig. 4) and are welded together as at 34.

A number of relatively small, imperforated and parallel tubes 36, which are open at both ends and herein are considered as the first set of tubes, extend in spaced relation through the casing 24 and the ends thereof project slightly from each of the

sides

30 and 32 and are tightly welded thereto as at (Figure 4).

The ends of the casing 24 comprise two plates or

tube sheets

42 and 44, the margins of which are in the form of flanges within which the

sides

26, 28, 30 and 32 are firmly afl'ixed as by welding 46. The

plates

42 and 44 serve as supports for three tubes 59A, 56B and 59C and three

tubes

52A, 52B and 52C which are laterally juxtaposed with relation to the first set of tubes 36, are relatively larger, and are provided with spaced perforations 54 and 56. The tubes A, 50B and 59C are arranged as a second set of tubes located above or to one side of the first set of tubes 36 and the

tubes

52A, 52B and 52C are placed below the tubes as in the form of a third set of tubes. The two sets of tubes are welded to the

plates

42 and 44 and each is capped at one end by a

flanged disc

58 or 60 welded thereto. it will be noted that the tubes EtlA, 50B and 50C are capped at the lefthand end of the casing 24 as viewed in Figure 3 and that the

tubes

52A, 52B and 52C are capped at the opposite end as seen in Figures 2 and 4.

One end of the casing 24 is joined by means of a weld 46 to a header or manifold 61 which is tapered in two directions as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and joined to an enlarged portion 62 having an annular flange 64 to which the end of the conduit 18 may be aflixed for discharge of fluid. A baifle plate 66 is vertically placed within the header 6]. dividing the same into two compartments, one of which is in direct communication with the conduit 18 and the tube 52C and the other being in direct communication with the two

tubes

52A and 52C. The plate 66 is preferably welded to the header 61 before assembly with the-main body ofthe heater. No need exists for a tight fit of the plate 66 as incidental direct communication of the two compartments around theedge or edges of the plate would have no appreciable eifect'on the operation.

Another header 70 is joined to the other end of the easing 24 in the same manner as shown with respect -to"theheader 61 but in this case, an enlarged portion 72 thereof is located at the diagonally opposite and lower corner of the casing 24 with adownwardly directed flan ga "74 to which the conduit 22 is affixed for introducing the heatingfluid to the heater. This header 70 has a vertically "disposed baffle plate 76 similar to the plate 66 and serves to guide the'fiuid flow whereby fluid from conduit 22 is led directly-through the enlarged portion 72 and into the tube 50A. The paths of the fluid are described more fully' hereinafter.

In order toassist inproperly assembling and maintainmg the heater within .and with relation to the outer housing 10, it has been found advantageous to provide a small plate 78 which is generally triangular in shape and is permanently afiixed to the header 71} by welding. The

'so doing, is heated to an elevated temperature and discharged into whatever compartment or zone of the vehicle it is desired to heat.

Exhaust gases from the vehicle engine are directed by the conduit 22 into the enlarged portion 72 and then these gases, except for a minor amount which incidentally may leak by the baffle 76, are guided into one end of the large .tube 50A which is located just above the outlet of the conduit 22. The baffie plate 76 assures or determines the initial path of the larger portion of the gases which subsequently emerge from the tube 50A into the space within the casing and surrounding all the tubes. These gases emerge by way of the perforations 54 of the tubev 50A and some of these flow downwardly and in contact with the outer surfaces of the tubes 36 subsequently to enter .the

tubes

52A, 52B, and 52C by means of the perforations 56 therein. The remainder of the gases emanating from the tube 50A is directed toward tubes 50B and 50C.

The latter tubes communicate, because of the header 70,

more evenly to distribute the gases for subsequent effective heat exchange through the tubes 36 with the air flowing through the latter. The gases entering the tube 52A are caused to emerge into the header 61 and these gases,

because of the presence of the baffle 66, are for the most partguided into the end of the tube 52B. Some of those gases may pass by the edge of the bafile 66 but this is immaterial. The only outlet from the heater for all the exhaust gases is the conduit 18 and, as this is in com- -in the modification of Figures .2, 3, and 4. Theheader 70 is in. communication with a conduit.22 as is the case of iheader 70 in the priorfigures. A casing generally indicated at100:is provided and this casing is made of sheet-"metal and is similar' in construction to the casing '4 24 and is made to form four sides or walls, i. e., a top 102, a bottom 104 and two vertical sides 1G6 and 198.

A number of relatively small and imperforated tubes 110 are placed in spaced relation through an intermediate portion of the casing with the ends thereof projecting slightly from each of the

sides

106 and 108. These tubes 110 form unrestricted passages leading through the casing 160 forpassage of air tobeheated.

The casing 100 includes two end plates 112 and 114, the margins of which are. flanged-and welded in place between the margins'sof the

headers

61 and 70 and the walls of the casing 100. The plates 112 and 114 serve as tube sheets to support such tubes as

tubes

116, 118, and 120. Unrestricted passages are provided by those tubes which lead through the casing 100 and transverse to the tubes 110.

Tubes

122 and 124 are also supported by the plates 112 and 114 but these tubes are closed or capped at their endsadjacent or at the plate 112. A sixth'tube .126 is :similarly supported but in this case the tube is closedor'capped at the end which otherwise would be in direct communication with the header 70. As can be seen in Figure 6;

tubes

122, 118, and 124 are arranged in the upper portion of the casing 100 and above tubes 110,

Whereasthe tubes

116, 126, are placed beneath tubes 110. Flanged discs consititute the means for capping-one endzonly of each of the

tubes

122, 124, and 126. Eachiof the six large tubes has perforations-13l spaced; around and .along its length. As both ends of each '

of'theathree tubes

120, 118, and 116 are open, it will be.understood that some of the gases, that is, those not deflected. by the perforations in those tubes, are caused .to:pass axially. through the three tubes in series.

In alignment with" each

bafiie

66 and 76 and within the casing 100 is arranged a vertical-

partition

132 or 134 and tubes;110 pass1through' these partitions.

In the operation of the structure of Figures 5 and 6 air is caused to;passiaxially through each of the tubes 110 as heretoforetstated withregard to the tubes 36 of Figure l and this air is heated by virtue of heat extracted from hot;:gasessintroducedwto the heater from the conduiti22 and as'initially'guidedi'by the baffle 76. The gases first axiallyenter both

ofthe tubes

120 and 124 because of the open ends that they present to the enlarged portion of. the header-70. It is' -not essential that the baffle 76 form a'tightfit:within'the header. The gases in the tube1124 emerge therefrom through its perforations and contact the tubes 110 after which they must enter the tube 120 through'the-per-forations of the latter and ultimately pass'into the -header 61 because of the presence of the partition 134. These gases then are constrained to enter :the' ends of

the'tubes

118 and 126 leading from the header 61. The 'gases'in thetube '126'emerge laterally therefrom'by way-of the 'perforations in that tube and, because of the

bafiles

132 and 134, these gases sweep over the'middle, portionsof the t'ubes'110 and emerge with the gases already in thetube118 intothe header 70. These gases then enter' the

tubes

116 and 122 by way of the header' '70 and eventually'discharge from the tube 116 into the-enlargedportion of the header 61 which communicates with an exhaust conduit ('not shown) similar to conduit 18of Figures -l and 2. "The enlarged portion in the-header '61 is, as heretofore stated, partially de- It will be noted that in the modification of Figures 5 and 6, those exhaust gases entering the

tubes

124, 126, and'122 are constrained by the

baffles

134 and 132 to make three passes across the tubes'110. Gases emerging from'theends'ofor' axially through the

tubes

120, 118, and1'16'arenotpositively constrained to'pass over the tubes 110 but gases emerging from the ends of tubes 120 and'118 are '"divide'din the

headers

61 and 70 respectively for subsequent contact withthe tubes 110.

We claim:

1. A-'heater"comprising'acasing, a set of parallel and relatively small imperforate tubes passing through said casing, larger perforated tubes passing through said casing at an angle with said imperforate tubes, some of said larger tubes being open at one end only, and headers at opposite sides of said casing and communicating with said larger tubes.

2. A heater comprising a casing, imperforated tubes forming spaced passages through said casing, perforated tubes passing through said casing at an angle with said imperforated tubes, said perforated tubes each being open at least at one end, and headers at opposite sides of said casing communicating with said perforated tubes.

3. A heater comprising a casing, a set of imperforated and parallel tubes forming spaced passages through said casing, perforated tubes passing through said casing transverse to said imperforated tubes, some of said perforated tubes being open at one end only and the remainder of said perforated tubes being open at both ends, and headers at opposite sides of said casing communicating with said perforated tubes.

4. A heater comprising a casing, imperforated tubes passing through said casing, perforated tubes passing through said casing transverse to said imperforated tubes, some of said perforated tubes being open at one side of said casing and closed at the other side, the other perforated tubes being open at the said other side and closed at the one side, and headers at opposite sides of said casing each communicating with the open ends of said perforated tubes.

5. A heater comprising a casing, imperforated tubes forming spaced passages through said casing, perforated tubes passing through said casing transverse to said imperforated tubes, at least some of said perforated tubes being open at one end only, headers at opposite sides of said casing each communicating with the open ends of some of said perforated tubes, and baffie means in each header.

6. A heater comprising a casing, imperforated tubes forming parallel and spaced passages through said casing, perforated tubes passing through said casing transverse to said imperforated tubes, some of said perforated tubes being open at one end only, each of the remaining perforated tubes being open at both ends, headers at opposite sides of said casing communicating with said perforated tubes, and bafiie means in each of said headers.

7. A heat exchanger comprising a casing, a first set of tubes each of which is open at both ends and all passing in one directions through said casing, a second set of tubes, each of which is closed at one end, passing through said casing and located at one side of said first set and transverse thereto, a third set of parallel tubes closed at one end and arranged at the other side of said first set and also passing through said casing, said second and third sets of tubes having their side walls perforated, and means connecting a conduit with the open tube ends of each of the second and third sets.

8. A heat exchanger comprising a casing, a first set of tubes passing through said casing, each of said tubes being open at both ends thereof, a second set of tubes, each of which is closed at one end and located at one side of said first set, a third set of tubes, each of which is closed at one end and located at the other side of said first set, each tube of said second and third sets being at an angle with the tubes of the said first set and having its sides perforated, and means connecting a conduit to each of the second and third sets.

9. A heat exchanger comprising a casing, a first set of imperforated tubes arranged in said casing to provide passages therethrough, second and third sets of tubes located at opposite sides of said first set and arranged transverse thereto, the tubes of the said second and third sets being perforated and each being closed at one end and open at the other, and means for connecting conduits to the open ends of each of the second and third sets.

10. A heat exchanger comprising a casing, a first set of tubes arranged in said casing to provide passages therethrough in one direction, other sets of parallel tubes being arranged transverse to said first set and being separated by the latter, said parallel tubes being perforated and each being open at one end and closed at the other, and a manifold at each of opposite sides of said casing in communication with the corresponding open ends of said parallel tubes.

11. A heat exchanger comprising a casing, laterally juxtaposed tubes passing through said casing, some of said tubes being parallel and open at both ends, each of the other tubes being perforated and also being closed at one end only, and manifold means connected to the said casing and communicating with the ends of said other tubes to conduct fluid passing through said perforations.

12. A heat exchanger comprising a casing, a first set of imperforated tubes passing through an intermediate portion of said casing forming passages leading therethrough, partitions and other perforated tubes in parallel relation with said partitions arranged within said casing transverse to said first set of tubes, each of at least three of said perforated tubes being open at each end and separated from the adjacent one of said three tubes by one of said partitions, each of the other of said perforated tubes being capped at one end only, and manifolds at opposite sides of said casing in communication with said perforated tubes.

13. A combined heater for air and a mufiier for an engine comprising a casing, a first set of imperforated tubes forming air passages leading through an intermediate portion of said casing, two partitions arranged transverse to said imperforated tubes and dividing the interior of said casing into three compartments, two perforated tubes within each of said compartments, one of said two tubes having only one end open and the other having both ends open, and manifolds at opposite sides of said casing and each being in communication with the open end of one of said perforated tubes leading through each of said compartments.

14. A combined heater and muffler comprising a casing, a first set of relatively small and imperforated tubes joined to said casing to form parallel passages leading through an intermediate portion of said casing, spaced partitions arranged at right angles to said small tubes and dividing the interior of said easing into compartments, perforated relatively large tubes placed in each of said compartments parallel with said partitions and passing through two sides of said casing, one of said large tubes in each compartment being open at both ends andthe others of said large tubes each being open at one end only, and a manifold at each of said two sides forming a chamber enclosing the closed and open ends of the large tubes passing thereto.

15. A combined heater and mnfiier comprising a sheet metal casing, a first set of relatively small, spaced, parallel and imperforated tubes leading from one side wall to the opposite side wall of said casing, two partitions dividing the casing interior into three compartments, each of said partitions being arranged at an angle with said irnperforated tubes, two perforated relatively large tubes arranged in each of said compartments parallel with said partitions, said imperforated tubes being interposed between said two large tubes, one of said large tubes in each compartment being open at both ends, the other of said large tubes in each compartment being closed at one end and open at the other end, the closed end of one large tube in the middle compartment being at one end wall of said casing, the closed ends of the large tubes in the outer compartments being at the opposite end wall of said casing, and a header connected to each of said end walls for conducting fluid to and from said large tubes.

16. A combined heater and mufiier comprising a casing, a first set of relatively small imperforated tubes passing through said casing and each being open at both ends thereof, parallel larger and perforated tubes laterally juxtaposed with relation to said first set and also passing through said casing, at least some of said larger tubes being capped at one end, and headers at opposite sides of said casing communicating with said larger tubes.

17. A combined heater and mufiler comprising a casing, relatively small, imperforated and unobstructed tubes passing through said casing, larger and perforated tubes laterally juxtaposed with relation to said imperforated tubes and afiixed to-opposite ends of said casing, at least one of said larger tubes being capped at one of said casing ends and open at the other, at least one of said larger tubes being open at both of said casing ends, and a header at each casing end communicating with the corresponding open ends of the said larger tubes.

18. A combined heater and mufiier comprising a casing, a first set of relatively small, imperforated and unobstructed tubes passing through said casing, larger perforated tubes passing through said casing and opposite ends thereof and laterally disposed with relation to said first set, some of said larger tubes being closed at one end of said casing and open at the other casing end, some of said larger tubes being unobstructed, and a manifold at each end of said casing and communicating with the corresponding open ends of said larger tubes.

19. A combined heater and muffler comprising a casing, a first set of relatively small, imperforated and unobstructed tubes passing through said casing, larger, parallel and perforated tubes passing through said casing and the ends thereof and laterally disposed with relation to said first set, at least one of said larger tubes being capped at one end, a manifold at each opposed end of the casing in communication with the corresponding open ends of said larger tubes, anda baffle in at least one manifold adapted to channel a major portion of fluid flow through one of said larger tubes.

20. A combined heater and muffler comprising an oblong casing, a first set of relatively small, imperforated and unobstructed tubes passing through the interior and opposite sides of said casing, larger, parallel and perforated tubes passing through the interior and ends of said casing, said larger tubes being arranged transverse to said small tubes and on either side thereof, at least one of said larger tubes being capped at one end, a manifold at each opposed end of the casing in communication with the corresponding open ends of said larger tubes, and a bathe in each of said manifolds arranged to channel a major portion of fluid passed therein through one of said larger tubes.

21. A heater comprising a casing, a set of imperforated tubes passing in one direction through said casing for conducting a first fluid, other perforated tubes passing through the said casing transverse and adjacent to said first set for conducting a second fluid, each of said perforated tubes being open at least at one end, and headers at opposite sides of said casing communicating with the open ends of said perforated tubes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 929,656 Coles Aug. 3, 1909 1,168,136 White Jan. 11, 1916 1,275,465 Petz Aug. 13, 1918 1,762,465 Bovey June 10, 1930