Heat exchanger

Details Heat exchanger Heat exchanger

2000-05-16

2001-09-04

Leo, Leonard (Department: 3743)

Heat exchange

Expansion and contraction relieving or absorbing means

C165S167000, C165S178000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283199

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger provided with a casing, received in which casing is a heat exchanger core provided with a pair of inlet/outlet convex portions in its opposite end portions, wherein the core has its inlet/outlet convex portions project outward from the casing, and a difference in thermal expansion between the casing and the core is adequately absorbed in the heat exchanger.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional heat exchanger is provided with a casing, which receives therein a heat exchanger core. A pair of inlet/outlet convex portions, for example such as inlet/outlet pipes and their corresponding boss portions in which the inlet/outlet pipes are mounted, are provided in opposite longitudinal end portions of the core. The inlet/outlet convex portions or pipes pass through the casing through a pair of through-hole portions of the casing, are brought into fluid-tight contact therewith and fixedly mounted therein through a suitable fixing means such as soldering and the like. A first fluid is introduced into the core through these inlet/outlet pipes. On the other hand, a second fluid is introduced into the casing so that the exchange of heat between the first and the second fluid is conducted in the conventional heat exchanger.
Now, the problem to be solved by the present invention will be described.
In the conventional heat exchanger having the above construction, for example, cold water which serves as the second fluid is introduced into the casing. On the other hand, hot fluid serving as the first fluid is introduced into the core. Under such circumstances, the casing reaches substantially the same temperature as that of the cold water. On the other hand, the core reaches substantially the same temperature as that of the hot fluid. In this case, the core is larger in thermal expansion than the casing, which causes thermal stresses to concentrate in root portions of the inlet/outlet pipes. Consequently, due to such concentration of the thermal stresses, there is a fear that a crack is produced in the root portions of the inlet/outlet pipes in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger, which is provided with means for absorbing any difference in thermal expansion between its components, wherein the means is simple and compact in construction to realize the heat exchanger high in reliability and large in crack-resistance properties.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing:
A heat exchanger comprising:
a core (
3
) provided with a pair of inlet/outlet pipe portions (
1
) or a pair of inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) such as a pair of inlet/outlet boss portions and the like for receiving therein the inlet/outlet pipe portions (
1
), wherein the inlet/outlet pipe portions (
1
) or the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) are longitudinally spaced apart from each other on an outer peripheral surface of the core (
3
);
a casing (
5
) for receiving therein the core (
3
), wherein the casing (
5
) is provided with a pair of through-hole portions (
4
) which are brought into liquid-tight contact with the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
), wherein a first fluid (
17
) and a second fluid (
18
) are introduced into the core (
3
) and the casing (
5
), respectively, to perform heat exchange between the first fluid (
17
) and the second fluid (
18
); and
a bellows (
6
) interposed between at least one of the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
) and a corresponding one of the through-hole portions (
4
) of the casing (
5
) to realize fluid-tight contact between the bellows and each of the one of the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
) and the corresponding one of the through-hole portions (
4
) of the casing (
5
), wherein the bellows (
6
) permits the one of the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
) to move relative to the corresponding one of the through-hole portions (
4
) of the casing (
5
) in a radial direction of the corresponding one of the through-hole portions (
4
) of the casing (
5
).
In the heat exchanger having the above construction, preferably, a short sleeve portion (
7
) larger in diameter than the one of the inlet/outlet convex portion (
1
) of the core (
3
) is provided in a position corresponding to that of the corresponding one of the through-hole portions (
4
) of the casing (
5
); the short sleeve portion (
7
) of the casing (
5
) has its front-end opening portion brought into fluid-tight contact with one of opposite ends of the bellows (
6
), the other one of the opposite ends of the bellows (
6
) being brought into fluid-tight contact with the one of the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
).
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the above object of the present invention is accomplished by providing:
A heat exchanger comprising:
a core (
3
) provided with a pair of inlet/outlet pipe portions (
1
) or a pair of inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) such as a pair of inlet/outlet boss portions and the like for receiving therein the inlet/outlet pipe portions (
1
), wherein the inlet/outlet pipe portions (
1
) or the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) are longitudinally spaced apart from each other on an outer peripheral surface of the core (
3
); and
a casing (
5
) for receiving therein the core (
3
), wherein the casing (
5
) is provided with a pair of through-hole portions (
4
) which are brought into liquid-tight contact with the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
), wherein a first fluid (
17
) and a second fluid (
18
) are introduced into the core (
3
) and the casing (
5
), respectively, to perform heat exchange between the first fluid (
17
) and the second fluid (
18
), wherein the casing (
5
) is provided with an insertion portion (
4
a
) an inner diameter of which is sufficiently larger than an outer diameter of the one of the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
) to permit the one of the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
) to project outward through the insertion portion (
4
a
) of the casing (
5
), wherein an edge portion of the insertion portion (
4
a
) of the casing (
5
) is brought into fluid-tight contact with one of opposite ends of a bellows (
6
) which has the other of its opposite ends brought into fluid-tight contact with an outer peripheral portion of the one of the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
).
In the heat exchanger having the above construction, preferably, the short sleeve portion (
7
) of the casing (
5
) is provided with an inner flange portion (
8
) of the casing (
5
) in its root portion; and, a holding means (
9
,
15
) for slidably holding the inner flange portion (
8
) of the casing (
5
) is provided in the root portion of the one of the inlet/outlet convex portions (
1
) of the core (
3
).
Further, preferably, the short sleeve portion (
7
) of the casing (
5
) assumes a circular truncated cone shape.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4263964 (1981-04-01), Masai et al.
patent: 4291752 (1981-09-01), Bridgnell
patent: 6119766 (2000-09-01), Blomgren
patent: 2453961 (1976-05-01), None
patent: 62-242791 (1987-10-01), None

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