Aspects of this invention relate generally to heat exchangers, and, in particular, to heat exchangers with tank and tube-and-fin assemblies, having improved tank construction and improved tube-to-tank sealing arrangements.
Heat exchangers typically are formed of a plurality of tube-and-fin assemblies, which are mounted and interconnected to a pair of opposed tanks. A heating or cooling fluid, e.g., oil, air, etc. flows from one tank into and through the tubes and then out through the second tank. Air is passed over the tubes and fins to add or remove heat from the fluid passing through the tubes. The heat exchanger must be able to withstand system operating pressures without leaking. Elastomeric seals, or seals of other materials, are sometimes used within the heat exchanger to provide suitable sealing between the tubes and the tanks.
It would be desirable to provide a heat exchanger that reduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain embodiments.
Particular objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments.
Aspects of the present invention may be used to advantageously provide a heat exchanger having advantageous pressure capabilities and improved performance.
In accordance with a first aspect, a heat exchanger assembly includes first and second tanks having tube side walls, reservoirs formed therein, and apertures extending through the tube side walls. A flow tube having a plurality of fins on an exterior surface thereof, a first end, and a second end, the first end being received in an aperture of the first tank. A first seal is positioned between the flow tube and the first aperture. A retainer is positioned between the flow tube and the first aperture and between the first seal and the fins on the tube. A mounting blocked is positioned between the first tank and the fins on the tube, and is secured to the first tank. A second seal is positioned between the flow tube and the second aperture.
In accordance with another aspect, a heat exchanger assembly includes first and second tanks having tube side walls, reservoirs formed therein, and a plurality of apertures extending through the tube side walls. Each of a plurality of flow tubes has a plurality of fins on an exterior surface thereof, a first end, and a second end, the ends being received in a corresponding aperture of the first and second tanks. Each of a plurality of first seals is positioned between one of the flow tubes and an interior surface of a corresponding aperture in the first tank. Each of a plurality of retainers is positioned between one of the flow tubes and the interior surface of a corresponding aperture in the first tank and between the first seal and the fins on one of the flow tubes. Each of a plurality of mounting blocks is positioned between the first tank and the fins on the one of the flow tubes, and is secured to the first tank. Each of a plurality of second seals is positioned between one of the flow tubes and an interior surface of a corresponding aperture in the second tank.
From the foregoing disclosure, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this area of technology, that preferred embodiments of a heat exchanger as disclosed herein provide a significant technological advance in terms of improved sealing and performance at high operating pressures. These and additional features and advantages will be further understood from the following detailed disclosure of certain preferred embodiments.
The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale and should be understood to provide a representation of the invention, illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the heat exchanger depicted in the drawings have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components and features shown in various alternative embodiments. Heat exchangers as disclosed herein would have configurations and components determined, in part, by the intended application and environment in which they are used.
The present invention may be embodied in various forms. An embodiment of a heat exchanger 10 is shown in
It is to be understood, however, that the heat exchanger is not limited to use in cooling hot fluid in industrial machinery, and may easily be used with fluids or gases in other fields. For example, embodiments of the present invention find application in heat exchangers such as radiators used to cool an engine where coolant, such as water or antifreeze, flows through flow tubes and fluid such as air or a suitable liquid can be used to flow around the exterior of flow tubes. For convenience, the terms “upper” and “lower” and “top” and “bottom” are used herein to differentiate between the upper and lower ends of the heat exchanger and particular elements. It is to be appreciated that “upper” and “lower” and “top” and “bottom” are used only for ease of description and understanding and that they are not intended to limit the possible spatial orientations of the heat exchanger or its components during assembly or use.
Heat exchanger 10 includes a first tank 12 having a first reservoir 14 formed therein. In the illustrated embodiment, first tank 12 is a lower or bottom tank of heat exchanger 10. A second tank 16 having a second reservoir 18 formed therein is positioned opposite and spaced from first tank 12, and is referred to in the illustrated embodiment as an upper or top tank of heat exchanger 10. In certain embodiments, a web 15 may extend vertically within first reservoir 14 between the tube side wall and tank side wall of first tank 12, thereby dividing first reservoir into a first portion 14A and a second portion 14B. A corresponding web 17 may be formed in second tank 16, dividing second reservoir 18 into first portion 18A and second portion 18B.
Each of a plurality of tube-and-fin assemblies 19 includes a flow tube 20, and a plurality of fin elements or fins 22 secured to an exterior surface of each flow tube 20. Flow tubes 20 extend between first tank 12 and second tank 16. Fins 22 may be welded or otherwise secured to the exterior of flow tubes 20. It is to be appreciated that heat exchanger 10 can have any desired number of tube-and-fin assemblies 19.
A first or lower end 24 of each tube 20 is received in a first aperture 25 (seen in
First end 24 of tube 20 is secured within first tank 12 with a mounting block 28. Mounting block 28 is secured to first tank 12. In the illustrated embodiment, mounting blocks 28 are secured to first tank 12 by way of fasteners, such as bolts 30 that are received in threaded recesses 32, seen in
Adjacent mounting blocks 28 are configured and mounted to first tank 12 such that they abut one another along sides thereof, which helps to keep them in position when they are subject to the large pressures often produced within such heat exchangers 10. Positioning mounting blocks 28 in abutting relationship provides a structural advantage for heat exchanger 10, since the mounting blocks include apertures extending therethrough, as described below, and providing multiple mounting blocks abutting one another provides strength to one another to help withstand the high operating pressures of the heat exchanger.
As shown in
As seen in
As seen in
As used herein, the term “approximately” is intended to mean “close to” or “about” a particular value, within the constraints of sensible, commercial engineering objectives; costs; manufacturing tolerances; and capabilities in the field of heat exchanger manufacture and use.
Tube 20 is then tilted till it is oriented vertically as seen in
As seen in
As seen in
Once tube 20 has been tilted to the vertical position, second end 26 is then moved upwardly into second aperture 27 of second tank 16, as illustrated in
As seen in
In certain embodiments, as seen in
In certain embodiments, retainer 56 is formed of a plastic, such as a nylon plastic, for example. It is to be appreciated that retainer 56 could be formed of a metal, such as aluminum, for example. Other suitable materials for retainer 56 will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure.
After retainer 56 is fully engaged about first end 24 of tube 20, first end 24 is then pressed downwardly into first aperture 25. As retainer 56 moves downwardly into first aperture 25, it pushes first seal 34 into first aperture 25 of first tank 12, as seen in
A mounting block 62 is then slid into position adjacent tube 20 between the lower most fins 22 and first tank 12, as seen in
In certain embodiments, as illustrated in
The mounting blocks 62 are secured to first tank with bolts 30 that extend through apertures 72 formed in mounting blocks 62 and are threadingly received in recesses 32 in first tank 16, as seen in
In use, first seal 34 and second seal 52 are compressed a predetermined amount to provide a proper seal between the tube 20, first tank 12, and second tank 16. It is to be appreciated that seals 34, 52 can have differing sizes and shapes. For example, the seals could have a circular cross-section, such as those seals commonly known as “O-rings.” Other useful seals include those having a square or rectangular cross-section or a cross-section resembling that of an “X.” Other suitable seal shapes will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, and the configuration of the elements within which the seal is seated.
In certain embodiments, seals 34, 52 are fashioned from an elastomeric material. In certain embodiments, seals 34, 52 may be formed of fluorocarbon, silicone, nitrile, ethylene propylene, or fluorosilicone, for example. In certain applications, seals 34, 52 are formed of a material that is suitable for long term exposure to elevated temperatures, which may degrade elastomeric materials. A flexible graphite type material, for example, may provide a long life span when exposed to elevated temperatures. Useful seals are capable of withstanding operating pressures and temperatures of a given heat exchanger, and are also resistant to degradation by fluids used in a given heat exchanger. The seals may be installed by hand or by suitable instrument so as to seat the seal into a given location. Other suitable materials used to form seals 34, 52 will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure.
Thus, while there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or steps which perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/008,505, filed Jan. 28, 2016, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190219343 A1 | Jul 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15008505 | Jan 2016 | US |
Child | 16367883 | US |