Heat exchange – With timer – programmer – time delay – or condition responsive... – Temperature responsive or control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-17
2001-02-06
Ford, John K. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
With timer, programmer, time delay, or condition responsive...
Temperature responsive or control
C165S167000, C165S916000, C165S103000, C123S1960AB
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182749
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a heat exchanger system which is responsive to changes in the temperature of a fluid flowing through the heat exchanger system, and in particular to changes in the temperature of a fluid as it flows through a heat exchanger in the heat exchanger system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heat exchanger systems which vary the path of fluid flowing therethrough in response to a change in the characteristics (e.g. temperature, pressure, etc.) of the fluid are old in the art. For example, WO 94/29659 shows a plate-type oil cooler which has a pressure-responsive valve assembly connected to the inlet of the oil-side to permit the oil to bypass the oil-side of the cooler when the pressure on the oil-side of the cooler exceeds a predetermined value. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,532 discloses a bimetallic valve which is disposed in the oil-side of an oil cooler to permit the oil to bypass the oil-side of the cooler when the temperature of the oil is below a predetermined value.
Additionally, there are numerous examples of heat exchanger systems wherein the flow rate of a fluid flowing through a heat exchanger is controlled according to the temperature of that of another fluid flowing through the heat exchanger. For example, German Laid-Open Application No. 196 37 818 and European Laid-Open Application No. 787 929 show two such systems wherein the flow of coolant through an oil cooler is controlled in response to the temperature of the oil flowing through the heat exchanger. In both of the systems, a thermostat is located upstream of the inlet to measure the oil temperature before the oil enters the heat exchanger, although it is also known to control the flow of coolant through the heat exchanger system in response to the oil temperature as it exits the heat exchanger.
The problem with these systems is that they may take up considerable amounts of space, which is always at a premium in automotive applications, a primary use of this art. Additionally, these systems may add weight to the vehicle to which they are attached, possibly degrading fuel economy thereby. Furthermore, the environment surrounding the thermostat in these systems may affect the oil temperature reading, causing more or less coolant to be directed to the heat exchanger than is actually necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger system has a heat exchanger including a plurality of conduits to receive a first fluid. The conduits have a plurality of passages therebetween which are in heat exchange relation therewith to receive a second fluid. An inlet and an outlet are connected to the plurality of conduits, and an inlet and outlet are connected to the plurality of passages. A valve is connected to one of the inlets to limit fluid flow therethrough. A thermally-responsive actuator is provided for the valve and extends into one of the conduits and the passages to control the valve as an incident of the temperature of a fluid flowing through the one of the conduits and the passages.
In a preferred embodiment, the thermally-responsive actuator may extend into one of the conduits and the passages between the respective inlet and outlet.
In another preferred embodiment, an entry conduit may be connected to the one of the inlets, said valve being disposed in the entry conduit to limit fluid flow therethrough to the one of the inlets.
Moreover, a bypass conduit may be connected to the entry conduit, the bypass conduit having an inlet connected to the entry conduit upstream of the valve and an outlet connected to the entry conduit downstream of the valve.
Furthermore, a bypass valve may be associated with the bypass conduit to limit the fluid flow therethrough. The bypass valve may be seatable in the outlet of the bypass conduit. Further, the bypass valve may be a bimetallic strip with a first end attached to the entry conduit and a second end disposed to occlude the bypass conduit outlet to limit the fluid flow therethrough. A thermally-responsive actuator may be included for the bypass valve, the actuator extending into the bypass conduit to control the bypass valve as an incident of the temperature of a fluid flowing through the bypass conduit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a plate type heat exchanger system includes a heat exchanger with a plurality of spaced plates secured together to form a stack having a plurality of fluid flow channels extending between adjacent plates, the channels of the plurality being divided into at least two groups, and an inlet and an outlet connected to the channels of each group. The system also includes an entry conduit attached to one of the inlets, a valve disposed within the entry conduit to limit the fluid flow through the conduit to said one of the inlets, and a thermally-responsive actuator for the valve and extending into one of the groups of channels between the respective inlet and outlet to control the valve as an incident of the temperature of a fluid flowing through the one of the groups of channels into which the thermally-responsive actuator extends.
In a preferred embodiment of the system, the system may include a bypass conduit connected to the entry conduit, the bypass conduit having an inlet connected to the entry conduit upstream of the valve and an outlet connected to the entry conduit downstream of the valve.
Moreover, a bypass valve may be associated with the bypass conduit to limit the fluid flow therethrough. The bypass valve is seatable in the outlet of the bypass conduit. Additionally, the bypass valve may be a bimetallic strip with a first end attached to the entry conduit and a second end disposed to occlude the bypass conduit outlet to limit the fluid flow therethrough. The system may include a thermally-responsive actuator for the bypass valve extending into the bypass conduit to control the bypass valve as an incident of the temperature of a fluid flowing through the bypass conduit.
In another preferred embodiment of the system, the heat exchanger may include a cover plate and a base plate, the stack of plates being disposed between the cover plate and the base plate such that one of the plurality of plates abuts the cover plate and another of the plurality of plates abuts the base plate. The inlets and outlets may be attached to the base plates to connect the inlets and outlets with the respective channel groups.
In still another preferred embodiment of the system, the heat exchanger may include a housing with a wall defining a cavity therein, and the stack of plates may be disposed within the cavity such that the cavity is in fluid communication with one of the channel groups and that fluid communication between the cavity and the other channel group is limited.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1382569 (1921-06-01), Tait
patent: 2070092 (1937-02-01), Ramsaun
patent: 2213017 (1940-08-01), Perkins
patent: 2655351 (1953-10-01), Hytte
patent: 2776092 (1957-01-01), Collins, Jr.
patent: 3343536 (1967-09-01), Brisson et al.
patent: 3513907 (1970-05-01), Hughes
patent: 3743011 (1973-07-01), Frost
patent: 4595046 (1986-06-01), Iino
patent: 4669532 (1987-06-01), Tejima et al.
patent: 5810071 (1998-09-01), Pavlin
patent: 5950715 (1999-09-01), Jonsson et al.
patent: 5960872 (1999-10-01), Huemer et al.
patent: 751785 (1953-02-01), None
patent: 3637483 (1988-01-01), None
patent: 19637818 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 787929 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 0285649 (1989-11-01), None
patent: WO/94/14021 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 94/29659 (1994-12-01), None
Brost Viktor
Kalbacher Klaus
Ford John K.
Modine Manufacturing Company
Wood Phillips VanSanten Clark & Mortimer
LandOfFree
Heat exchanger system with integral control valve does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Heat exchanger system with integral control valve, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Heat exchanger system with integral control valve will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2573524