Heat exchange – Three non-communicating fluids
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-05
2001-08-14
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Three non-communicating fluids
C165S153000, C165S175000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273184
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a parallel integrated heat exchanger having a plurality of heat exchangers provided next to one another along the direction of air flow, in which the heat exchanging units of adjacent heat exchangers are linked together facing opposite each other. More specifically, it relates to a parallel integrated heat exchanger in which fins of adjacent heat exchangers are integrated.
BACKGROUND ART
The restrictions imposed with regard to available installation space in vehicles in recent years have necessitated a plurality of heat exchangers (e.g., a condenser and a radiator) fulfilling different functions to be integrated. Examples of such integrated heat exchangers include the structure disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. H 2-14582.
In this integrated heat exchanger, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger are provided in parallel and the fins of these heat exchangers are integrated to reduce the air flow resistance and the number of assembly steps. In addition, heat transfer prevention louvers are formed in the areas of the integrated fins located between the tubes of the first heat exchanger and the tubes of the second heat exchanger to lessen the degree to which heat exchangers affect the temperature of other heat exchangers.
The publication also discloses that the heat transfer prevention louvers formed at the fins are formed in a shape roughly identical to that of normal louvers located between the tubes of the heat exchangers and that the heat transfer prevention louvers are constituted of symmetrical louver groups, each having louvers distanced from the louvers of other groups, formed between a tube of the first heat exchanger and the corresponding tube in the second heat exchanger (see
FIG. 1
of the publication).
However, it becomes difficult to manufacture the parallel integrated heat exchanger described above adopting a structure in which the heat transfer prevention louvers are symmetrically formed over a distance between the tubes of one of the plurality of heat exchangers adjacent to each other and the tubes of the heat exchangers if the heat exchangers installed in parallel need to be set closer to each other. In addition, it is not designed by taking into consideration how heat transfer prevention louvers, which will effectively prevent heat transfer, may be manufactured or how the process of manufacturing the louvers themselves is to be facilitated and, therefore, it cannot easily be put into practical use.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a parallel integrated heat exchanger having a plurality of heat exchangers set in parallel and fins of adjacent heat exchangers integrated, which facilitates the production of heat transfer prevention louvers by forming the heat prevention transfer louvers in a particular manner and also achieves a full heat transfer prevention effect regardless of the distance between the parallel-set heat exchangers.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The parallel integrated heat exchanger according to the present invention, having a plurality of heat exchangers each having a heat exchanging unit constituted of fins and a plurality of tubes laminated via the fins and tanks provided along the direction in which the plurality of tubes are laminated, to communicate with the individual tubes, with adjacent heat exchangers joined with their heat exchanging units facing opposite each other and their fins formed as integrated common members, is characterized in that performance-improving louvers formed between the tubes of each of the heat exchangers and heat transfer prevention louvers formed over the entire area between the tubes of one of the adjacent heat exchangers and the tubes of the other heat exchanger are provided at the fins and that the heat transfer prevention louvers are formed continuously to, at least, performance-improving louvers formed at one of the heat exchangers.
The performance-improving louvers, which are formed in the areas between the tubes of the individual heat exchangers to promote the exchange of heat through enhanced exposure to the passing air, may be constituted as a single group or a plurality of groups of continuous louvers. In addition, the heat transfer prevention louvers, which are formed over the entire area between the tubes of one of the adjacent heat exchangers and the tubes of the other heat exchanger, are provided to reduce the degree of heat transfer that occurs from the heat exchanger on one side to the heat exchanger on the other side via the fins. The performance-improving louvers and the heat transfer prevention louvers may be constituted as inclining louvers that incline relative to the surfaces of the fins or as parallel louvers that lie parallel to the surfaces of the fins.
In addition, it is desirable to form the individual louvers formed continuously to one another in a uniform mode. Achieving a uniform formation mode means that when the fins are viewed from the side on which the louvers are formed, the heat transfer prevention louvers are formed in a pattern identical to the pattern of the performance-improving louvers, and when the heat transfer prevention louvers incline relative to the surfaces of the fins, for instance, the direction along which the heat transfer prevention louvers open and the direction along which the performance-improving louvers open must match (they must incline in a uniform direction). If the heat transfer prevention louvers are to be formed so that they project out parallel to the surfaces of the fins, on the other hand, the heat transfer prevention louvers must be made to project out continuously in a pattern identical to the pattern in which the performance-improving louvers are formed.
By assuming the structure described above, the exchange of heat between the air passing between the fins and the fluid flowing inside the tubes is promoted by the performance-improving louvers in the individual heat exchangers provided in parallel and the heat transfer prevention louvers prevent the adjacent heat exchangers from thermally affecting each other readily. In particular, since the heat transfer prevention louvers are formed over the entire area between the tubes of one of the adjacent heat exchangers and the tubes of the other heat exchanger, heat transfer can be inhibited with a high degree of reliability even when the distance between the adjacent heat exchangers is reduced. In addition, since the heat transfer prevention louvers are formed continuously to, at least, the performance-improving louvers formed at one of the heat exchangers and the individual louvers formed continuously adopt a uniform formation mode, it is not necessary to employ special processes when manufacturing the heat transfer prevention louvers.
In correspondence to the tube widths at the individual heat exchangers, the heat transfer prevention louvers adopting one of the following structures may be formed. First, if the tube widths of the adjacent heat exchangers are different, an even number of louver groups achieved by aligning roughly equal numbers of louvers along the direction in which the heat exchangers are provided in parallel (i.e., the direction of the width of the fins and the direction of the air flow) may be evenly formed in series at each fin. In other words, two or four louver groups may be serially formed along the direction of air flow.
In this structure, since the adjacent heat exchangers have different tube widths, the areas between the tubes at one of the heat exchangers and the tubes at the other heat exchanger are offset from the center of the width of the fins. In addition, since an even number of louver groups are evenly formed at each fin along the width of the fins, no louvers are formed at the centers of the fins along their width. As a result, louvers can be formed at areas corresponding to the areas of the fins located between the tubes at one heat exchanger and the tubes at the other heat exchanger.
Next, if the tube widths of the adjacent heat exchangers are rough
Lazarus Ira S.
McKinnon Terrell
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
Zexel Valeo Climate Control Corporation
LandOfFree
Parallel-disposed integral 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 Parallel-disposed integral heat exchanger, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Parallel-disposed integral heat exchanger will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2531910