Heat exchange – Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections – With manifold type header or header plate
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-09-04
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections
With manifold type header or header plate
C165S174000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283200
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application relates to and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Nos. 10-344472 filed on Dec. 3, 1998 and 11-287207 filed on Oct. 7, 1999, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, and is suitably applied to a radiator which cools engine coolant of a vehicle engine.
2. Related Art
Conventionally, a radiator has plural tubes, a first header tank connected to one flow-path end of each tube and a second header tank connected to the other flow-path end of each tube. Coolant introduced into the first header tank is distributed into each tube and is heat-exchanged with air while flowing through each tube. After heat exchange, coolant is discharged from each tube and is collected into the second header tank.
Recently, while the number of devices disposed in an engine compartment of a vehicle has been increased, size reduction of each device such as a radiator has been demanded to enlarge a passenger compartment of the vehicle without increasing a vehicle body size. It is proposed to reduce a volume of the header tank to reduce a size of the radiator.
However, the header tank has an opening through which coolant flows into the header tank, and the opening is open in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the header tank, for example. Therefore, when coolant flows into the header tank, coolant changes a flow direction by approximately 90 degrees at the opening. Further, a sectional area of the header tank is relatively small due to volume reduction of the header tank in comparison with an area of the opening, a sectional area of a coolant flow passage of the radiator is largely decreased in the header tank. As a result, coolant may largely lose pressure thereof in the header tank, and flow resistance of coolant in the header tank may be increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger having a header tank reduced in size and decreasing pressure loss of fluid in the header tank.
According to the present invention, a heat exchanger has plural tubes through which fluid flows and a tank communicating with each tube. The tank has an opening open in a direction at a preset angle to a longitudinal direction of the tank, and an elevated portion elevated outwardly in the vicinity of the opening. A dimension of the tank including the elevated portion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tank is larger than a dimension of the tank excluding the elevated portion in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tank.
As a result, a volume of the tank and a sectional area of the tank in the vicinity of the opening are increased. Therefore, when fluid enters the tank while changing a flow direction through the opening, pressure loss of fluid is decreased. Further, since the sectional area of the tank in the vicinity of the opening is increased, a sectional area of a fluid flow passage of the heat exchanger is restricted from being largely decreased in the tank. As a result, pressure loss of fluid in the tank is further decreased. Thus, a size of the tank is reduced while pressure loss of fluid in the tank is decreased.
Preferably, an inner diameter of an inserted portion of a pipe inserted into the opening is increased toward an inside of the tank. As a result, fluid flows smoothly at a connection portion between the pipe and the tank, and pressure loss of fluid in the tank is further decreased.
More preferably, the opening is formed in the elevated portion. As a result, a width of the heat exchanger including the pipe in an air flow direction is maintained even when a width of the tank in the air flow direction is increased by the elevated portion.
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Muto Satomi
Sakane Takaaki
Sasano Norihisa
Sugimoto Tatsuo
Denso Corporation
Harness Dickey & Pierce PLC
Lazarus Ira S.
McKinnon Terrell
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