US2981520A

US2981520A - Plate-type heat-exchangers

Info

Publication number: US2981520A
Application number: US851862A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Chadburn
Original assignee: Borg Warner Corp
Current assignee: Borg Warner Corp
Priority date: 1959-11-09
Filing date: 1959-11-09
Publication date: 1961-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1978-04-25

Description

2,981,520 ,PLATE-TYPE HEAT-EXCHANGERS Robert A. Chadburn, York, Pa., assignor to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 851,862

Claims. (Cl. 257-256) This invention relates to plate-type heatexchangers and more particularly to such a heat-exchanger wherein United States Patent 0 sible that the refrigerant piping be formed integrally with t the cover plates instead of separate therefrom; the piping being embossed in the plates. Such plates are commonly used on refrigerated vehicles and also in refrigerated storage boxes.

The refrigerated plates presently in use are, in many cases, adequate for the purpose and oftentimes are of simple and rugged construction. However, they suffer from the disadvantage that they cannot be readily altered to provide for variations in the refrigerant flow path. Where such variations are desired, the cost of the standard type plate becomes nearly prohibitive because of the additional tooling that is required.

Applicant has devised a plate which is relatively simple in construction and nature, and which may be stocked in the form of blanks of random length. By a simple process, the plate may be designed to have any number or sequence of refrigerant flow passages, the flow passages may vary in size throughout the length of the plate, and any number of possible combinations to suit the particular need are readily available.

It is among the objects of the invention, therefore, to provide aplate-type heat-exchanger, which may be stocked in the form of blanks of random length and converted to its intended use in an expeditious and simple fashion. Yet another object is to provide aheat-exchanger of the type just above-mentioned, wherein the number and sequence of refrigerant flow passages may be varied at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a platetype heat-exchanger, which may be stocked in the form of blanks having a plurality of internal passages therein. By providing access openings to the internal passages through a top wall of the blank, the blank may be converted into heat-exchangers The flow paths of refrigerant through the plates may be varied merely by having the access openings encompass the number of passages through which it is desired the refrigerant flow.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above-stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a plate-type heat-exchanger according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation in cross section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view in cross section, taken on the line 3-'-3 of Fig. 1;

Patented Apr. 25, 1961 Fig. 4 is a front view of an end closure and header member for the heat-exchanger as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a heat-exchanger having an alternative arrangement of flow paths;

Fig. 7 is a front view of an end closure and header member for the Fig. 6 embodiment;

Fig.- 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a heatexchanger having yet another arrangement of flow paths; and

Fig. 9 is a front viewof an end closure and header member for the Fig. 8 embodiment.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, except where otherwise noted. I

A plate-type heat-exchanger 10 comprises an extruded panel member 11, having a plurality of passageways 12 formed therein. It will be apparent that panel member 11 may be cast rather than extruded, or formed in any other manner suitable to the purpose. Panel member 11 has a top wall 13 and a bottom wall 14, and further in cludes dividing walls 15 between adjacent passageways 12.

An inlet aperture 16 and an outlet aperture'17 are provided in top wall 13. In addition, a piurality of crossover apertures 18 are provided in top wall 13 on either end of panel member 11, the cross-over apertures having lands 19 therebetween. It will be seen that the various apertures 13 at the ends of panel member 11 are linearly olfset with respect to one another. The purpose for this will readily become apparent hereinafter.

A combined enclosure plate and header member 20 is provided to close the terminal ends of passageways 12 at either end of panel member 11. Member 26 is formed with a U-shaped portion 21, which acts as a header for flow of fluid through passageways 12 and cross-over. apertures 18. Member 20 isprovided with a plurality of ribs 22, which seat on lands 1? and aid in suitably defining various fiow passages. It will be apparent as the description progresses that, as the apertures 18 change in order to define different flow passages, spacing of ribs 22 will correspondingly change. Member 20 is fitted to panel 11 and suitably welded thereto as at 23 and 24.

Turning now to Fig. 1, it will beapparent that re frigerant enters a panel member 11 by way of inlet aperture 16 and flows through the corresponding passageway 12 in one direction, crosses over to the next passageway by way of cross-over aperture 18 and reverses its flow to fiowthrough this next passageway. This reversing flow continues until at last the fluid exists panel member 11 byway of outlet aperture 17. The flow described is that of the simplest nature and an inspection of Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show various possible arrangements of flow passageways possible merely by varying the size of the cross-over apertures 18 and the location of ribs 22. It will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 6-9 that an infinite variety of combinations is possible.

Turning now to Fig. 6, there is shown a construction in which the size of the flow passageway is double that shown in Fig. 1. Parts similar to the Fig. 1 construction have been given similar numerals, preceded by the numeral 1. An inspection of Fig. 6 reveals that the fluid at all times flows concurrently through two passageways 112, cross-over apertures 118 being correspondingly twice as large as apertures 18. The spacing of ribs 122 on member 120 has been correspondingly increased to correspond with apertures 118. It will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 6 that the size of the flow passageways may be readily varied, as was set out above.

In Fig. 8 there is shown a construction wherein fluid initially flows through by one passageway, which later in the flow is broadened to two passageways, and still later, three passageways, etc. In some cases of refrigerant flow, it will be apparent that, as the refrigerant takes up heat from whatever substance it is desired to cool, it is evaporated. Since the gastakes much more space than the liquid in order to maintain the constant flow rate, it would be necessary to continuously enlarge the flow passageway. This can very easily be taken care of in this construction again merely by varying the size and spacing of

cross-over apertures

218 and 222 as shown. Parts similar to Fig. 1 construction have been given similar numerals preceded by the numeral 2.

I wish it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be madewithout departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top and bottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passageways therethrough, said top wall having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough on either end thereof whereby fluid may enter and leave said passageway by way of said apertures, certain of said apertures on one end being linearly oflset with respect to certain of said apertures on the other end whereby fluid travelling through one of said passageways may cross over to the next said passageway by way of said apertures for counter flow travel, and a pair of header member means enclosing said apertures and defining, in conjunction with said apertures, flow paths for fluid through said passageways.

'2. A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top and bottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passageways therethrough, means for sealing said passageways at either end of said panel, said top wall having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough on either end thereof whereby fluid may enter and leave said passageways by Way of said apertures, said apertures on one end being linearly offset with respect to the apertures on the other end whereby fluid travelling through one of said passageways may cross over to the next said passageway by way of said apertures for counter flow travel, a pair of header members including a plurality of ribs enclosing said apertures and defining, in conjunction with said apertures, flow paths for fluid through said passageways, and means providing an inlet to said passageways and an outlet therefrom.

3.;A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top and bottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passageways therethrough, means for sealing said passageways at either end of said panel,

said top wall having an inlet and outlet aperture and a plurality of cross-over apertures formed therethrough on either end thereof whereby fluid may enter and leave said passageways by way of said apertures, said cross-over apertures on one end being linearly oflset with respect to the cross over apertures on the other end and spanning at least two passageways whereby fluid travelling through one of said passageways may cross over to the next said passageway by way of said apertures for counter flow travel therethrough, and a. pair of header member means enclosing said apertures and defining, in conjunction with said apertures, flow paths for fluid through said passageways.

4. A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top and bottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passageways therethrough, means for sealing said passageways at either end of said panel, said top wall having an inlet and outlet aperture and a plurality of cross-over apertures formed therethrough on either end thereof whereby fluid may enter and leave said passageways by way of said apertures, said crossover apertures spanning at least two passageways whereby fluid travelling through one of said passageways may cross over to the next said passageway by way of said apertures for counter flow travel, and a pair of header members including a plurality of ribs enclosing said apertures and defining, in conjunction with said apertures, flow paths for fluid through said passageways.

5. A plate-type heat-exchanger comprising a panel member having top and bottom walls and including a plurality of transverse passageways therethrough, said top wall having an inlet and outlet aperture and a plurality of cross-over apertures formed therethrough on either end thereof whereby fluid may enter and leave said passageways by way of said apertures, said cross-over apertures on one end being linearly offset with respect to the cross over apertures on the other end and spanning at least two passageways whereby fluid travelling through one of said passageways'may cross over to the next said passageway by way of said apertures for counter flow travel therethrough, and a pair of end closure and header members sealing said passageways at either end of said panel and including a plurality of ribs enclosing said apertures and defining, in conjunction with said apertures, flow paths for fluid through said passageways.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,053,540 Stoneman Sept. 8, 1936