Louvered plastic heat exchanger

Details Louvered plastic heat exchanger Louvered plastic heat exchanger

1999-12-22

2001-10-16

Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)

Heat exchange

Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections

With manifold type header or header plate

C165S175000, C165S153000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06302197

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to heat exchangers and, more specifically, to a louvered plastic heat exchanger for a cooling system in a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide a heat exchanger such as a radiator for a cooling system in a motor vehicle. The radiator receives a fluid such as a coolant, at a reasonably high temperature, and cools the coolant. Typically, the radiator includes a plurality of tubes forming a radiator core extending between opposite headers or end tanks mechanically attached to the radiator core. The radiator also includes a plurality of cooling fins disposed between the tubes. Typically, the tubes and headers are made of a metal material such as aluminum.
It is also known to manufacture the heat exchanger from a plastic material. An example of such a heat exchanger is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,915. In this patent, the heat exchanger has a plurality of parallel tubes in a spaced apart side-by-side relationship with the tubes being located between two plastic sheets. The tubes and sheets are made of a thermoplastic polymer. However, the sheets prevent the tubes from conducting direct heat exchange with the air.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a plastic heat exchanger with a core made of tubes that conduct direct heat exchange with air. It is also desirable to provide a plastic heat exchanger with a louvered heat transfer surface. It is further desirable to provide a plastic heat exchanger that provides more packaging flexibility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is a louvered plastic heat exchanger including a first manifold, a second manifold spaced from and opposing the first manifold, and a plurality of louvered panels extending laterally between and in fluid communication with the first manifold and the second manifold. The louvered panels are spaced longitudinally and vertically and positioned at an angle off a direction of airflow therethrough.
One advantage of the present invention is that a louvered plastic heat exchanger is provided for a motor vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the louvered plastic heat exchanger has a core made of polymer tubes that are aligned in rows to create a louvered heat transfer surface. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the louvered plastic heat exchanger provides heat exchange directly with air. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the louvered plastic heat exchanger has a polymer louvered tube core that optimizes air flow and heat transfer characteristics, while providing more packaging flexibility.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 33528 (1991-01-01), Doty
patent: 3112793 (1963-12-01), Sass
patent: 3648768 (1972-03-01), Scholl
patent: 4693302 (1987-09-01), Dodds
patent: 4799540 (1989-01-01), Pietzcker
patent: 4901792 (1990-02-01), Komiya
patent: 59-197753 (1983-04-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Louvered plastic heat exchanger does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Louvered plastic heat exchanger, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Louvered plastic heat exchanger will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2596201