The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger for an automotive vehicle. More particularly, the heat exchanger may include an inlet and/or outlet tank that directs fluid flow to and/or from a core of the heat exchanger.
Heat exchangers can be used to cool or heat associated components within a vehicle. For example, radiators cool engine fluid (e.g., coolant), and condensers cool fluid of a heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. In some heat exchangers, a tank may receive and direct the fluid into a core having tubes and fins that perform heat exchange. The tank may have a shape and/or features which make its manufacturing more complex.
According to one embodiment, a first tank for a heat exchanger is disclosed. The first tank may comprise: an axially extending body, comprising a first wall, a second wall, a third wall between the first and second walls, and a plurality of ribs, wherein the first, second, and third walls define a channel; a transition, comprising a first transition portion and a second transition portion each axially extending from respective distal ends of the first and second walls; and a foot, comprising a first foot portion and a second foot portion coupled to the first and second transition portions, respectively, the first and second foot portions extending axially and positioned outboard of the body by the transition, wherein the plurality of ribs extends radially outwardly from an outer surface of the body, wherein at least some of the plurality of ribs extend over the outer surface extending from the first transition portion to the second transition portion.
According to another embodiment, a heat exchanger is disclosed. The heat exchanger may comprise: a tank, comprising: an axially extending body, comprising a first wall, a second wall, a third wall between the first and second walls, and a plurality of ribs, wherein the first, second, and third walls define a channel; a transition, comprising a first transition portion and a second transition portion each axially extending from respective distal ends of the first and second walls; and a foot, comprising a first foot portion and a second foot portion coupled to the first and second transition portions, respectively, the first and second foot portions extending axially and positioned outboard of the body by the transition, wherein the plurality of ribs extends radially outwardly from an outer surface of the body, wherein at least some of the plurality of ribs extend over the outer surface extending from the first transition portion to the second transition portion, wherein the first transition portion is oriented relative to the first wall at an angle of inclination defined by a position of the first transition portion relative to a transverse axis of the tank, wherein the angle of inclination is defined by a height of the first foot portion and the first transition portion, a transverse spacing of the channel, and a transverse spacing of the first foot portion and the second foot portion; and a core comprising a plurality of passages and a header plate, wherein the header plate comprises a first plurality of openings to the plurality of passages and a trough that retains the foot, wherein a cavity defined by the channel is in fluid communication with the plurality of passages via the header plate.
According to another embodiment, a first tank for a heat exchanger is disclosed. The first tank may comprise: an axially extending body, comprising a first wall, a second wall, a third wall between the first and second walls, and a plurality of ribs, wherein the first, second, and third walls define a channel; a transition, comprising a first transition portion and a second transition portion each axially extending from respective distal ends of the first and second walls; and a foot, comprising a first foot portion and a second foot portion coupled to the first and second transition portions, respectively, the first and second foot portions extending axially and positioned outboard of the body by the transition, wherein the plurality of ribs extends radially outwardly from an outer surface of the body, wherein the first transition portion is oriented relative to the first wall at an angle of inclination defined by a position of the first transition portion relative to a transverse axis of the tank, wherein the angle of inclination is defined by a height of the first foot portion and the first transition portion, a transverse spacing of the channel, and a transverse spacing of the first foot portion and the second foot portion.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
Turning now to the figures, a heat exchanger 10 is shown, wherein throughout the figures like reference numerals indicate like or similar features or functions. According to at least one embodiment, heat exchanger 10 may comprise a core 12 that cools a fluid (e.g., such as from an automotive engine or the like), an inlet (first) tank 14 configured to direct heated fluid into the core 12, and an outlet (second) tank 16 configured to receive fluid cooled by the core 12 (e.g., and direct it toward the automotive engine again). As discussed more below, the inlet tank 14 and/or outlet tank 16 may be suitable for maintaining a threshold fluid pressure within the tank (14 or 16), may have a shape and size suitable for spatial constraints within an automotive environment, and may be manufactured using a two-piece mold thereby simplifying the manufacturing procedure and reducing manufacturing costs.
Further, while the description that follows discusses the heat exchanger 10 functioning as a radiator, this is not required. For example, heat exchanger 10 could function as a condenser (e.g., as part of a HVAC system) or any other heat exchanging device instead.
Core 12 may comprise a frame 18, a plurality of passages 30, a plurality of fins 32, a header plate 34 at one end 36 of core 12, and a footer plate 38 at another, opposite end 40 of core 12. Frame 18 may be any suitable support and may retain the passages 30 and fins 32 in an assembly. Embodiments may exist wherein frame 18 is omitted (e.g., frame 18 is optional). For example, the passages 30 may be welded or otherwise fixed to one another in a structure that does not require a frame 18.
Passages 30 may be arranged in a coiled pattern that maximizes lengths of the respective passages 30 and/or optimizes air flow therethrough. This is merely an example; other suitable arrangements may be used instead. The passages 30 may have an inlet side 42 (e.g., for receiving heated fluid) and an outlet side 44 (e.g., for delivering fluid with a reduced temperature). In
One or more fins 32 may be coupled to each of the passages 30 (e.g., typically multiple fins 32 along a length of each passage 30; an example of fins 32 is shown in
As discussed above, header plate 34 may be located at end 36. By way of example in
Referring to
As shown in
According to at least one embodiment, footer plate 38 may be identical to, a mirror-image of, or otherwise similar to header plate 34, except that it is located at opposite end 40 of core 12 and similarly coupled to passages 30—e.g., except at the outlet side 44 thereof. Accordingly, the outlet tank 16, footer plate 38, and passages 30 may function as another manifold on the outlet side 44.
As shown in
Body 80 may comprise a plurality of ribs 112 extending from an exterior surface 114 of the body 80 and providing structural support thereto—e.g., in order to maintain structural integrity when a fluid in the channel 92 is pressurized. According to an example, each of the ribs 112 may be similar; therefore, only one will be described. Rib 112 may comprise an elongated protrusion extending across the first, second, and third walls 86-90 and radially outwardly from exterior surface 114. More particularly, beginning at the transition 82 (nearest the first wall 86), rib 112 may extend transversely along the z-axis in a +z-axis direction across first wall 86. Rib 112 may continue to extend transversely across third wall 90 (e.g., along the y-axis). And rib 112 may continue to extend transversely across second wall 88 (along the z-axis in a −z-axis direction) to the transition 82 (nearest second wall 88). As shown in
In some examples, the body 80 may comprise inwardly extending ribs (not shown). However, in at least one example, the U-shaped channel 92 may be a smooth surface (e.g., no internal ribs) thereby minimizing fluid turbulence during use.
Turning now to transition 82, as shown best in
A proximal end 118 of transition portion 82a may be coupled to distal end 100 of first wall 86, and a distal end 120 of transition portion 82a may be coupled to the foot 84. Transition portion 82a may extend radially outwardly of first wall 86 (and body 80) (e.g., relative to they-axis)—e.g., extending outwardly from end 118 to end 120. As transition portion 82a may extend a length of body 80; accordingly, it may extend relative the x-axis. According to at least one example, the transition portion 82a may have a predetermined angle of inclination (a)—e.g., defining an angle between transition portion 82a relative to the y-axis (discussed more below). In at least one example, transition portion 82a defines a radially-outwardly extending, uniform spacing TransSPACING from the exterior surface 114 of the first wall 86 to the foot 84 (relative to the z-axis). E.g., the spacing TransSPACING may be defined by a lateral distance between an outwardly-facing angle 122 (where body 80 (and first wall 86) adjoins transition portion 82a) and an outwardly-facing angle 124 (where transition portion 82a adjoins foot 84). In at least one example, a height of rib 112 also may be the same as spacing TransSPACING, as shown in
While the transition portion 82a is shown as a straight portion between ends 118, 120, this is not required. E.g., in other examples, transition portions 82a, 82b may comprise one or more curves, bends, or the like.
As shown best in
According to an example, the angle of inclination a may be 30 to 50 degrees. According to at least one example, the angle of inclination has a predefined relationship with a height h (measured from second laterally-extending surface 144 of foot 84 to outwardly-facing angle 122), a transverse spacing d of the U-shaped channel 92 of body 80 of inlet tank 14, and a transverse spacing D of the foot 84 of inlet tank 14 (e.g., from outboard surface 142 on one side of the inlet tank 14 to outboard surface 142 on the other side). See e.g.,
Inlet tank 14 may comprise any suitable metal, plastic, or the like. According to at least one example, the body 80, the transition 82, and the foot 84 of inlet tank 14 may comprise a single-piece construction of a common material—e.g., a plant-derived resin, a plastic such as polyamide (e.g., non-limiting examples include PA66GF25 or PA66GF30), or the like. Additionally, inlet tank 14 may be formed by an injection molding process.
Inlet tank 14 may have one or more other features as well. For example, it may have an inlet port 160 spaced between ends 58, 64 of the inlet tank 14 (for receiving fluid into the channel 92 (and into cavity 111)), a drain 162 near end 58 (for draining fluid from the inlet tank 14—e.g., for servicing the inlet tank 14 or core 12), and various other mounting features 164 (a few are indicated in
Outlet tank 16—shown in
During assembly of the heat exchanger 10, the foot 84 of inlet tank 14 may be located within trough 48 of the header plate 34 along with an optional gasket 172 (e.g., see
In use, heated fluid may flow into the inlet tank 14 via inlet port 160 and be directed through the cavity 111 and into the passages 30. There, via the passages 30 and fins 32, the fluid may be cooled. Afterwards, the fluid may exit the passages 30 into the outlet tank 16 and ultimately leave the outlet tank 16 via outlet port 170. During use, each of the inlet and outlet tanks 14, 16 may have a respective, suitable volume and structural integrity to facilitate pressure within an automotive application (e.g., as a radiator) (e.g., according to vehicle manufacturer requirements), while still fitting within spatial constraints (e.g., according to vehicle manufacturer requirements). Further, as described above, the inlet and outlet tanks 14, 16 may be manufactured in a more cost effective manner (e.g., in two-piece mold 150)—e.g., avoiding undercut areas which require mold side action reduces cost. Side-action may refer to a more complex molding process that facilitates undercutting a geometry of a molded object (e.g., as opposed to a straight-pull molding process, wherein a first side of a mold and a second side of the mold are opened, and the completed molded object may be removed by pulling it straight out of either the first or second side).
Thus, there has been described a heat exchanger comprising a core and a tank, wherein the tank can be manufactured using a two-piece mold. The tank may comprise an axially extending body, a transition that may extend axially on either side of the body, and a foot which may extend circumferentially around the body and extend radially outwardly of the transition. The transition may position the foot outboard of the body so that rollers in a manufacturing assembly process may bend a flange of the core over the foot and thereby retain it in a manner that avoids separation of the tank from the core during use. In at least one example, the heat exchanger is a cross-flow type, and an inlet tank is mounted to one side of the core and an outlet tank is mounted to the opposite side of the core.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, to the extent any embodiments are described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics, these embodiments are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.