Heat exchanger, especially for gases and fluids

Details Heat exchanger, especially for gases and fluids Heat exchanger, especially for gases and fluids

1999-10-08

2001-06-26

Flanigan, Allen (Department: 3743)

Heat exchange

Flow passages for two confined fluids

Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages

C165S166000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06250380

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to heat exchangers, and more particularly, to heat exchangers adapted to exchange heat between a gas and a liquid as, for example, a water cooled charge air cooler or an exhaust gas heat exchanger as are used in vehicles to cool combustion air from a turbo charger or engine exhaust gas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Charge air coolers and exhaust gas heat exchangers are known to increase efficiency of operation of vehicles and/or reduce pollution. One such typical heat exchanger, specifically described as an exhaust gas heat exchanger, is disclosed in EP 677 715 A1 and employs shell like, heat exchanger plates that are employed in a heat exchanger where exhaust gas is cooled with cooling air. The flow channels for the exhaust formed by the shell-like heat exchanger plates are arranged in a pre-arranged spacing with cooling air passed through the spaces between adjacent plates. However, where cooling of the exhaust gas is achieved by a cooling liquid as, for example, engine coolant, then the flow channels for both the coolant and the exhaust gas are formed by means of plates that have rods or spacers between them to form the flow channels and are also enclosed by a housing, which forms the outer wall of the water cooling channels. This design, while effective, is costly to manufacture because a large number of individual parts of different configurations are required.
The present invention is directed to provide such a heat exchanger wherein the number of non-identical parts is minimized and the outer housing dispensed with.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved gas/liquid heat exchanger. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide such a heat exchanger that is ideally suited for use as a charge air cooler or an exhaust gas heat exchanger. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a heat exchanger where the number of non-identical parts is minimized and the heat exchanger housing dispensed with.
A preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates a gas/liquid heat exchanger that includes a stack of abutting, substantially identical plates with there being first, second, third, fourth, . . . nth plates where “n” is an even integer of four or more. Each plate is a generally channel-shaped plate having a base with spaced sides and spaced ends extending between the spaced sides. Upstanding legs are located on the base with each leg extending along a corresponding side and being of equal height. Each leg terminates in a flange that is generally parallel to the base and each base includes a central section of raised height less than the height of the legs. The central section is spaced inwardly of the ends and the sides so as to be surrounded by a band of the base. The plates are stacked in the order 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . n in alternating fashion with the flanges on the first and second plates in abutment, the flanges on the third and fourth plates in abutment . . . and the flanges on the n-1 and the nth plates in abutment, and with the bands on the second and third plates in abutment . . . and the bands on the n-2 and n-1 plates in abutment. As a consequence, first flow channels exist between the first and second plates, the third and fourth plates, . . . and the n-1 and nth plates. Second flow channels exist between the central platforms of the second and third plates . . . and the n-2 and n-1 plates. Two side plates are provided, one on each of two opposite sides of the stack. First and second ports are located in the heat exchanger at opposite ends of the plates to be in fluid communication with the first flow channel and third and fourth parts are located in one or the other or both of the side plates and are in fluid communication with the second flow channels.
In one embodiment, there are a plurality of the central sections in each of the bases of the plates and each is surrounded by a band of the base.
A highly preferred embodiment contemplates the provision of dimples in the bases with the dimples in one base abutting the dimples in the base of one adjacent plate.
One embodiment of the invention contemplates that the substantially identical plates have spaced openings aligned with one another and with respective ones of the third and fourth ports. The substantially identical plates further include cup-shaped recesses in the platforms and opening oppositely of the central platform and surrounding the openings and sealed to one another.
The plates are sealed and bonded together at the flanges and at the bands.
One embodiment of the invention contemplates that there be fins in at least some of the flow channels and abutted to adjacent plates.
In one embodiment of the invention, the height of the legs is more than twice the height of the platform whereby the first flow channels are greater in size than the second flow channels. Preferably, fins are located in the first flow channels and are bonded to adjacent plates.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3240268 (1966-03-01), Armes
patent: 4310960 (1982-01-01), Parker
patent: 4869317 (1989-09-01), Jubb et al.
patent: 5327958 (1994-07-01), Machara et al.
patent: 5931219 (1999-08-01), Kull et al.
patent: 5964280 (1999-10-01), Wehrmann et al.
patent: 128287 (1900-12-01), None
patent: 3832013 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 4307504 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 4407080 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 4307503 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 0 677 715 A1 (1995-04-01), None

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