WO2011009412A1

WO2011009412A1 - Heat exchanger assembly and machine using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2011009412A1
Application number: PCT/CN2010/075427
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gengxin Liu; Guochao Li; Kesheng Xu
Original assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
Priority date: 2009-07-23
Filing date: 2010-07-23
Publication date: 2011-01-27
Also published as: CN201440047U

Abstract

Heat exchanger assembly comprises a heat exchanger, a cover plate (52) attached to the heat exchanger and a connecting member. The connecting member has a first end positioned within a cavity (53) defined between the cover plate (52) and the heat exchanger and a second end extending out of the cover plate (52). A machine uses the heat exchanger assembly. The heat exchanger assembly and the machine enable easy connection of a heat exchanger to a corresponding device with a simple connecting structure and high efficiency.

Description

HEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY AND MACHINE USING THE SAME

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to a heat exchanger assembly, and more particularly, to a heat exchanger connecting mechanism. This disclosure further relates to a machine using the heat exchanger assembly.

Background

[0002] Conventional stacked plate heat exchanger generally comprises a plurality of plate pairs stacked one on top of the other with associated assembly elements. In order to fit such a plate heat exchanger directly to a system, such as an engine block, the plate heat exchanger is required to be equipped with fixing members. These fixing members are often in the form of fixing lugs, flange with fixing holes or the like, and project outside the cooling package. This means that the stacked plate heat exchanger takes up additional transverse space in addition to that occupied up by the actual package. Moreover, the stacked plate heat exchanger can be made of a rigid material, such as copper or steel, or a less rigid material, such as aluminum. This known type of assembly is not ideal for a less rigid material from a strength point of view, since vibrations can lead to deformations where the fixing lugs and/or flanges with fixing holes are attached to the stacked plate heat exchanger and elsewhere. One example of an

arrangement for a plate heat exchanger is disclosed in the U.S. Patent No.

7,416,018 issued to Thunwall ("the '018 patent").

[0003] The arrangement for a plate heat exchanger for connection to a system in the '018 comprises an elongated package of mutually parallel plates. A first passage for a first medium and a second passage for a second medium are defined between the parallel plates. The package defines width and edge portions of the plates, which define recesses. The outermost plates of the package have at each of their respective ends first and second plate elements partially covering each end, of which only the first plate situated nearest the system have mounting through- holes disposed outside the recesses for assembly of the package by assembly elements. A medium through-hole is essentially within the width of the package.

[0004] Although in the '018 patent the arrangement for a plate heat exchanger for connection to a system is within the width of the package, the plate elements are relatively difficult to attach to the package, especially when the heat exchanger and the plate element are made of different materials. Moreover, the recess makes the heat exchanger have a complex structure and the medium through-hole results in complicated manufacture of the package.

[0005] The disclosed heat exchanger is directed to overcome one or more of the problems outlined above.

Summary

[0006] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a heat exchanger assembly comprises a heat exchanger, a cover plate attached to the heat exchanger and a connecting member having a first end positioned within a cavity defined between the cover plate and the heat exchanger, and having a second end extending out of the cover plate.

[0007] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a machine has a device and a heat exchanger assembly attached to the device. The heat exchanger assembly comprises a heat exchanger, a cover plate attached to the heat exchanger, and a connecting member having a first end positioned within a cavity defined between the cover plate and the heat exchanger, and having a second end extending out of the cover plate and connected to the device.

[0008] Wherein the cavity is formed by recess defined in the cover plate and corresponding portion of the heat exchanger or by recess defined in the heat exchanger and corresponding portion of the cover plate, or by aligned recesses formed respectively in the heat exchanger and the cover plate. [0009] The heat exchanger assembly further includes a sealing plate positioned between the heat exchanger and the cover plate, wherein the first end of the connecting member is positioned within the cavity defined between the cover plate and the sealing plate.

[0010] Wherein, the cavity is formed by recess defined in the cover plate and corresponding portion of the sealing plate or by recess defined in the sealing plate and corresponding portion of the cover plate, or by aligned recesses formed respectively in both the sealing plate and the cover plate.

[0011] Wherein, the connecting member is a bolt, threaded rod of the bolt is the second end of the connecting member and head of the bolt is the first end of the connecting member positioned within the cavity.

[0012] Wherein, the heat exchanger and the cover plate are made of a first material and the connecting member is made of a second material which is different from the first material.

[0013] Wherein, the heat exchanger, the cover plate and the sealing plate is made of a first material and the connecting member is made of a second material which is different from the first material.

[0014] The first material is aluminum and the second material is steel.

[0015] With the heat exchanger assembly and the machine according to the present disclosure, it is convenient to connect a heat exchanger to a

corresponding device by a simple connecting structure and with a high efficiency.

And it is especially applicable to the case where the heat exchanger and the connectin ¹gO member are made of different materials.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger assembly with a connecting member for use with the present disclosure. -A-

[0017] FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 10-10 in FIG 1 with the heat exchanger of the heat exchanger assembly being removed to show the connecting structure.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a partially exploding view of the heat exchanger assembly in FIG. 1 to show the connecting structure of the heat exchanger assembly.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the heat exchanger assembly mounted to an engine block, showing the connecting structure between the heat exchanger assembly and the engine block.

Detailed Description

[0020] FIGS. 1 and 3 show a liquid- to-liquid stacked plate type heat exchanger assembly, such as an oil cooler 11, according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The oil cooler 11 is constructed conventionally in a manner known in the art with a plurality of alternating stacked plates 21, 22 positioned parallel to one another, which define channels 24 therebetween. Between two adjacent channels, passages 23 are formed. Within the oil cooler 11, each of the plates 21 and 22 includes respective openings 31, 32, which are aligned to fluidly connect all the channels and also aligned with inlet and outlet ports (not shown). The most bottom plate 25 is an imperforate plate.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, a sealing plate 51, according to one embodiment of the disclosure, is soldered, brazed, or attached through some other method known in the art to the most top plate 21 of the oil cooler 11. The sealing plate 51 may also be attached to another portion of the oil cooler 11, such as the bottom plate 25 or side surface of the oil cooler 11. Two cover plates 52 are attached to the sealing plate 51, although the cover plates 52 can be in one piece or more than two pieces. A recess 58 is defined on one side of each of the cover plates 52 facing towards the sealing plate 51. The cover plates 52 are connected to sealing plate 51 to define two cavities 53. Alternatively, the recess 58 may be formed on one side of the sealing plate 51 facing towards the cover plate 52 when the sealing plate 51 is thick enough. In this case, the cover plates 52 are attached to the sealing plate 51 to define two cavities 53. In addition, recesses, i.e. partial cavities, can be correspondingly formed in both of the sealing plate 51 and cover plates 52, so that the corresponding recesses are aligned with each other to define the cavities 53 when the sealing plate 51 and the cover plates 52 are connected. In above-mentioned embodiment, the cavities 53 are defined between the sealing plate 51 and the cover plates 52, the sealing plate 51 secured to the cover plates

52 seals the cavities 53 and prevents coolant from entering into the cavities 53, thus to prevent leakage of coolant from the cavities 53 and possible corrosion to connecting members inside the cavities 53. The sealing plates 51 also can reinforce rigidity of the cover plates 52, the cavities 53 and the oil cooler 11. Alternately, the sealing plate 51 can be removed, and the cover plate 52 may be directly attached to the oil cooler 11. The recesses 58 are formed on the surface of the cover plates 52 facing toward the cooler 11. The cover plates 52 are attached to the cooler 11 to define the cavities 53. The recesses 58 can be also formed on one side of the cooler 11 facing toward the cover plates 52. The cover plates 52 are attached to the cooler 11 to form the cavities 53. Further, recesses, i.e. partial cavities, can be correspondingly formed in both of the cover plates 52 and the cooler 11. The corresponding recesses are aligned with each other to define the cavities 53 when the cover plates 52 are attached to cooler 11. In above-mentioned structure, in which the sealing plate 51 is removed, the cavities

53 are defined between the cooler 11 and the cover plates 52. The number of the cavity 53 may be one or more than two. Bolts 61 are used as connecting members to connect the oil cooler 11 to other devices, such as an engine block. The heads 62 of the bolt 61 are received in the cavities 53. Openings 59 are defined in the cover plates 52. Rods 63 of the bolts 61 extend out of the cavities 53 through the openings 59.

[0022] The oil cooler 11, the sealing plate 51 and the cover plates 52 are made of a first material, particularly of aluminum. However, other materials known in the art may also be used, such as aluminum alloys. The bolt 61 may be made of a second material, such as iron, steel or some other material known in the art, which is different from the first material of the oil cooler 11, the sealing plate 51 and the cover plates 52.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, material thickness for the cover plates 52 is selected to be substantially larger than the thickness of the heads 62 of the bolts 61, so as to hold the heads 62 and keep good rigidity of the cover plates 52. The sealing plate 51 is selected to be thick enough to reinforce the oil cooler 11, mainly the most top plate 21 of the oil cooler 11, to prevent the oil cooler 11 from deforming when connecting the oil cooler 11 by the bolts 61. As further shown in FIGS. 1-3, the cover plates 52 are stepped, with each cover plate 52 having a lower portion 54 and an upper portion 55. The step type structure can save material to reduce cost and also reduce the space occupied by the oil cooler 11 and the connecting structure.

[0024] Corresponding to the opening 31, 32 of the plates 21, 22 of the oil cooler 11, openings 31, 32 are also formed in the sealing plate 51 and cover plates 52, which are also aligned with the openings 31, 32 in the plates 21, 22. These openings 31, 32 allow hot oil to enter inlet opening 31 and cooled oil to exit from the outlet opening 32.

[0025] FIG.4 illustrates an embodiment illustrating the oil cooler 11 connected to a device, such as cover portion 71 of an engine block (not shown). The device can be other equipment or components known in the art. Generally, the oil cooler 11 may be enclosed in a casing 57 that is defined by a recess formed in the engine block and by the cover portion 71. Only the cover portion 71 of the block is shown in FIG. 4. The rods 63 of the bolts 61 extend out of the casing 57 through openings or bushings 72 formed in the cover portion 71 of the engine block. Fastening nuts 64 fasten the rods 63 on the cover portion 71 of the engine block to rigidly connect the oil cooler 11 to the engine block. Because the heads 62 of the bolts 61 are stably fixed within the cavities 53, the oil cooler 11 can easily and stably connect to the cover portion 71 of the engine block. Furthermore, vibrations or movements occurring at the engine during the operation of a machine, such as a wheel loader and an earth mover etc., cannot damage the connection between the oil cooler 11 and the engine block.

Industrial Applicability

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the stacked plate heat exchanger consists of an oil cooler 11 and may be used with a machine such as a wheel loader or an earth mover having an engine. In assembling the oil cooler 11 to the engine block, the oil cooler 11 is received in the recess(not shown) of the engine block. The cover portion 71 of the engine block engages to the peripheral of the recess of the engine block. The rods 63 of the bolts 61 extend out of the cavities 53 through bushings 72 in the cover portion 71 of the engine block. Gaskets (not shown) may be positioned in circular grooves 56 that are defined on the top surface of the upper portions 55 of the cover plates 52 and surround the openings 59. Fastening nuts 64 fasten the rods 63 on the cover portion 71 of the engine block to rigidly connect the oil cooler 11 to the engine block. The gaskets, such as rubber gasket or other gasket made of flexible material known in the art, may be squeezed between the cover portion 71 and the cover plate 52 to seal the opening 59 and prevent the coolant from entering the cavities 53 from the openings 59. By the sealing plate 51 and the gaskets, the cavities 53 may be fluid-tight sealed. Meanwhile, the inlet and outlet ports of the oil cooler 11 fluidly connect to the passages of the oil lubricating operation of the engine. Thus the oil cooler 11 is sealingly held within the casing 57 defined by the recess and the cover portion 71 of the engine block.

[0027] In applying the present disclosure according to a preferred embodiment, hot oil from the engine flows into the oil cooler 11 through a bore 73 in the cover portion 71 of the engine block. The hot oil passes through the inlet openings 31 of stacked plates 21, 22, contacts the imperforate bottom plate 25 and then is directed by the bottom plate 25 through the channels 24 to the outlet opening 32. The cooled oil finally returns to the engine through a bore 74 in the cover portion 71 of the engine block. The coolant, such as water, flows through coolant passage (not shown) in the engine block, and then enters into the casing 57 via an inlet port. The coolant flows out of the casing 57 through a coolant passage in the engine block to a passage connecting to a radiator (not shown). During oil and coolant circulation mentioned above, the oil flowing through the channels 24 defined between the plates 21 and 22 exchanges heat with coolant flowing through passages 23 defined between adjacent channels 24, thus to achieve the desired heat transfer between the coolant and the oil.

[0028] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed heat exchanger assembly, such as the connecting member may be in "I" shape. One end of the connecting member may be positioned within the cavity and the other end of the connecting member may be bolted to the device, or attached to the device in some other structure known in the art. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope may be indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger assembly, comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a cover plate attached to the heat exchanger; and

a connecting member having a first end positioned within a cavity defined between the cover plate and the heat exchanger, and having a second end extending out of the cover plate.

2. The heat exchanger assembly in claim 1, wherein the cavity is formed by recess defined in the cover plate and corresponding portion of the heat exchanger or by recess defined in the heat exchanger and corresponding portion of the cover plate, or by aligned recesses formed respectively in the heat exchanger and the cover plate.

3. The heat exchanger assembly in claim 1, further including a sealing plate positioned between the heat exchanger and the cover plate, wherein, the first end of the connecting member being positioned within the cavity defined between the cover plate and the sealing plate.

4. The heat exchanger assembly in claim 3, wherein, the cavity is formed by recess defined in the cover plate and corresponding portion of the sealing plate or by recess defined in the sealing plate and corresponding portion of the cover plate, or by aligned recesses formed respectively in both the sealing plate and the cover plate.

5. The heat exchanger assembly in claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a bolt, threaded rod of the bolt is the second end of the connecting member and head of the bolt is the first end of the connecting member positioned within the cavity.

6. The heat exchanger assembly in claim 1, wherein, the heat exchanger and the cover plate is made of a first material and the connecting member is made of a second material which is different from the first material.

7. The heat exchanger assembly in claim 3, wherein, the heat exchanger, the cover plate and the sealing plate is made of a first material and the connecting member is made of a second material which is different from the first material.

8. The heat exchanger assembly in claim 6 or 7, wherein the first material is aluminum and the second material is steel.

9. A machine having a device and a heat exchanger assembly attached to the device, the heat exchanger assembly comprising:

a heat exchanger;

a cover plate attached to the heat exchanger; and

a connecting member having a first end positioned within a cavity defined between the cover plate and the heat exchanger, and having a second end extending out of the cover plate and connected to the device.

10. The machine in claim 9, wherein the cavity is formed by recess defined in the cover plate and corresponding portion of the heat exchanger or by recess defined in the heat exchanger and corresponding portion of the cover plate, or by aligned recesses formed respectively in the heat exchanger and the cover plate.

11. The machine in claim 9, further including a sealing plate positioned between the heat exchanger and the cover plate, wherein, the first end of the connecting member being positioned within the cavity defined between the cover plate and the sealing plate.

12. The machine in claim 11, wherein, the cavity is formed by recess defined in the cover plate and corresponding portion of the sealing plate or by recess defined in the sealing plate and corresponding portion of the cover plate, or by aligned recesses formed respectively in both the sealing plate and the cover plate.

13. The machine in claim 9, wherein the connecting member is a bolt, threaded rod of the bolt is the second end of the connecting member and head of the bolt is the first end of the connecting member positioned within the cavity.

14. The machine in claim 9, wherein, the heat exchanger and the cover plate is made of a first material and the connecting member is made of a second material which is different from the first material.

15. The machine in claim 11, wherein, the heat exchanger, the cover plate and the sealing plate are made of a first material and the connecting member is made of a second material which is different from the first material.

16. The machine in claim 14 or 15, wherein the first material is aluminum and the second material is steel.