Heat exchange – Radiator core type – With edge cover or frame means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-02
2001-02-06
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Radiator core type
With edge cover or frame means
C165S134100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182745
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to heat exchangers, especially but not exclusively for motor vehicles. More particularly, it relates to a heat exchanger of the type comprising a matrix consisting of a bundle of tubes and a bundle of fins, or a bundle or stack of finned tubes, together with at least one lateral traverse member or side cover. This cover is made in the form of a profiled member of plastics material, with a U-shaped cross section.
The side cover is arranged to cover a side face of the matrix extending parallel to the tubes, and the U-shaped profiled element comprises a central spine portion joined to two side branches which are provided with anchor hooks, these anchor hooks being arranged to engage in lateral notches formed in the fins of the matrix.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known, in particular from French patent specification No. 2 745 075, to provide a heat exchanger of the above type which comprises a packet or stack of fins made in the form of thin metallic leaves of rectangular form, which extend parallel to each other through which the tubes of the bundle pass. Each of the side faces, or minor faces, is protected by the lateral traverse member or side cover, which protects the free edges of the fins, these edges being particularly fragile. In this type of known heat exchanger, the spine portion of the side cover is deformable and has a concave form so as to take up clearance between the side cover and the matrix (having regard to the dimensional variations which are inherent in high quantity production).
Due to the concavity of the spine portion of the side cover, the two side branches of the latter have a natural tendency to spread apart from each other, which gives rise to a danger that the anchor hooks may become inadvertently disengaged from the notches in the fins of the matrix. In order to reduce this danger, it is necessary to make the anchor hooks, and the corresponding notches, with specific shapes which are similar to those of a fish hook or harpoon.
In addition, in the known heat exchangers of the above type, it frequently happens that at least one of the side covers includes a lateral wing portion, which may for example constitute a profiled sealing element for making sealing engagement against an appropriate item of equipment of the vehicle or against the structure of the vehicle itself. When this wing portion is subjected to a force, by engagement with such a part of the vehicle, it can increase the natural tendency of the side branches of the side cover to spread apart from each other, with consequent separation of the side cover from the matrix.
DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION
A main object of the invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks. In particular, it aims to provide a lateral traverse member or side cover which is able to take up clearances with the matrix as discussed above, but without any risk of separation of the side cover from the matrix.
A further object of the invention is to obtain such a side cover in which the side branches run no risk of being displaced away from each other, or spreading, and which also makes it unnecessary to give the notches in the sides of the fins, and the associated anchor hooks, any specific form or profile.
To this end, according to the invention, a heat exchanger comprising a matrix in the form of a bundle of tubes and fins, the heat exchanger including at least one lateral traverse member in the form of a profiled member of plastics material with a U-shaped cross section, the traverse member being adapted to cover a lateral face of the matrix, and the U-shaped profiled member comprising a spine portion joined to two side branches having anchor hooks adapted to engage in lateral notches of the said fins, is characterized in that the said spine portion of the traverse member is flat, and has an internal face facing towards the said fins, with a longitudinal rib on the said internal face adapted to make contact with the adjacent free edges of the fins.
This longitudinal rib (or, in more general terms, a projecting element or protuberance), ensures permanent contact between the edges of the fins and the traverse member, due to the inherent elasticity of the fins themselves. The lateral traverse members may also be referred to as side covers.
Due to the fact that the spine portion of the side cover is flat, there is no danger of the side branches spreading with respect to each other.
The longitudinal rib causes local deformation to take place in the fins of the matrix. This deformation is facilitated by the fact that the fins are in the form of thin metallic leaves. As a result, the rib penetrates into the free edges of the fins, so that the side cover is effectively caught on the matrix and thereby prevented from undergoing any longitudinal displacement under the effect of any mechanical applied forces, in particular when the side cover is in engagement on some other element external to the heat exchanger itself.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal rib is continuous. It is preferably V-shaped in cross section in order to facilitate its penetration into the free edges of the fins of the matrix.
According to another preferred feature of the invention, the longitudinal rib lies in the center of the central spine portion of the traverse member, halfway between its two side branches.
Given that the side branches of the traverse member of the invention are in no danger of spreading apart, the lateral notches formed in the fins of the matrix can be made with a simple rectangular form. In addition, the anchor hooks do not have to have any specific form.
One of the branches of the traverse member may be attached to a lateral wing portion which may constitute a sealing profiled element, for engagement on an item of equipment of the vehicle or on the structure of the vehicle.
The or each lateral traverse member is preferably a profiled component formed by extrusion in plastics material.
The heat exchanger preferably includes two side covers covering two respective opposed side faces of the matrix.
Further features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on a reading of the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3165151 (1965-01-01), Astrup et al.
patent: 3795274 (1974-03-01), Fieni
patent: 4465126 (1984-08-01), Winterer
patent: 4484621 (1984-11-01), Kuchelmeister
patent: 4705104 (1987-11-01), Potier
patent: 24 18 132 (1975-11-01), None
patent: 2418132 (1975-11-01), None
patent: 2 145 383 (1973-02-01), None
patent: 2 371 6660 (1978-06-01), None
patent: 2 522 401 (1983-09-01), None
patent: 2 573 189 (1986-05-01), None
patent: 2 585 462 (1987-01-01), None
patent: 2 614 688 (1988-11-01), None
patent: 2 745 075 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 19605909 (1997-08-01), None
patent: 783925 (1957-10-01), None
patent: 0072996 (1957-10-01), None
French Search Report dated Nov. 4, 1998.
Duong Tho
Lazarus Ira S.
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Valeo Thermique Moteur
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