Heat exchange – Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections – With manifold type header or header plate
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-05-01
Atkinson, Christopher (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections
With manifold type header or header plate
C165S175000, C165S067000, C165S906000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223812
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a heat exchanger core for use in a fluid cooling apparatus. The fluid may be oil, compressed air, fuel, exhaust gases or other fluid. In particular the invention relates to a heat exchanger core of the type comprising a number of parallel tubes through which the fluid to be cooled flows and around which a cooling fluid is passed, wherein the tubes extend between tube plates.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
FIG. 1
shows a known cooling apparatus. The apparatus has an inlet
1
, a first tank
2
, a second tank
3
and an outlet
4
. Oil is cooled by passing it through the inlet
1
into the first tank
2
, and then through a number of tubes
5
to the second tank
3
, from where it exits through the outlet
4
. The tubes
5
are spaced apart so that coolant fluid (gas or liquid) can pass between the tubes
5
. The tubes
5
are connected to each tank
2
,
3
by means of a tube plate
7
. The inside tank wall has a tube plate location slot
8
at each side, and the tube plate
7
is located in the two tube plate location slots and is fastened in place by some form of bonding technique.
Other methods of achieving the tank to tube plate connection in this form of heat exchanger are known. The simplest method is to extend the tank and tube plate so that they touch and then to use some form of bonding technique to achieve a simple butt joint. Alternatively the tube plate can be formed as a channel section, with the channel webs extending parallel to the tank walls locally, and the webs being joined to the tank wall.
The problem with all these methods is that as the pressure inside the enclosure or tank is increased, the overhanging portion of the tube plate bends towards the tank. This causes high local stresses either at the tank to plate joint or at the periphery of the outermost tube immediately adjacent to the tube plate. The magnitude of these local stresses limits the allowable operating pressure of the heat exchanger.
The conventional solution to the problem of increasing the pressure retention capability is to increase the tube plate thickness t. However the central portion
7
a
of the tube plate
7
does not need to be as thick as the overhanging portion
7
b
, so this solution results in adding unnecessary material to the structure. It also adds cost to the manufacture of the structure and hinders the piercing operation required to form the tube holes
6
in the tube plate
7
. Another solution is to form a tube plate of varying thickness, but this would be costly since separate tooling would be required to form tube plates of different widths.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid comprising:
a tank having a tank wall,
a tube plate having a plurality of apertures therein, and
a plurality of internal tubes, each extending from a corresponding aperture in said tube plate and defining a fluid passage,
said tank wall and said tube plate defining a chamber adapted to hold said fluid to be cooled, and said fluid passages of said internal tubes communicating with said chamber,
wherein the tank wall is connected to the tube plate by means of a connecting strip member having a plurality of substantially parallel projecting tooth or finger-like portions.
Preferably the projecting tooth portions extend at least partially between said internal tubes. Preferably the projecting portions are bonded to the tube plate between said internal tubes. Preferably there is a clearance gap between each projecting portion and the adjacent internal tubes.
Preferably the connecting strip member is provided with a tube plate location slot in which is housed an edge of the tube plate.
Preferably the connecting strip member is provided with a tank wall location recess adapted to locate against an edge of said tank wall. Preferably the connecting strip member has a thickness in the region of the location recess greater than the thickness of the tank wall.
Preferably the internal tubes and apertures are substantially rectangular in cross-section. Each internal tube may be provided with ribs which extend longitudinally. Said ribs may sub-divide said internal tubes into a plurality of longitudinally extending passages. Alternatively the internal tubes may be circular or oval in cross-section.
Preferably the apparatus is made of metal, most preferably aluminium or aluminium alloy.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3710858 (1973-01-01), Young
patent: 3793701 (1974-02-01), Chartet
patent: 4917180 (1990-04-01), Wolf et al.
patent: 5178213 (1993-01-01), Watson et al.
patent: 5297624 (1994-03-01), Haussmann et al.
patent: 5363911 (1994-11-01), Velluet et al.
patent: 5487422 (1996-01-01), Bertva et al.
patent: 5570737 (1996-11-01), Tokutake
patent: 5676200 (1997-10-01), Laveran
patent: 5881456 (1999-03-01), Bergins et al.
patent: 6065533 (2000-05-01), Woodhull, Jr.
patent: 3047411 (1982-07-01), None
patent: 0022235 (1981-01-01), None
patent: 0 133 401 A1 (1985-02-01), None
patent: 2 108 648 (1983-05-01), None
patent: 9014571 (1990-11-01), None
Atkinson Christopher
Ratner & Prestia
Serck Heat Transfer Limited
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