Heat exchange – Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections – With manifold type header or header plate
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-27
2003-09-16
Bennett, Henry (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections
With manifold type header or header plate
C165S176000, C029S890052
Reexamination Certificate
active
06619386
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchangers. More specifically, the invention relates to stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchangers for use in an air conditioning system of a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a known stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchanger
70
may comprise a first header pipe
71
and a second header pipe
72
formed opposite first header pipe
71
. Heat exchanger
70
also may comprise a plurality of heat transfer tubes
73
extending between first header pipe
71
and second header pipe
72
, such that first header pipe
71
and second header pipe
72
are in fluid communication via heat transfer tubes
73
. Heat exchanger
70
further may comprise a plurality of corrugated fins
74
, which are alternately stacked with heat transfer tubes
73
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a portion (A) of heat exchanger
70
is depicted. In heat exchanger
70
, each end of first header pipe
71
comprises a disk-shaped plug member
75
positioned inside an opening formed in each end of first header pipe
71
, and a bracket member
76
fixed to each end of first header pipe
71
. Bracket member
76
comprises a cap portion
78
and a rod portion
77
. Cap portion
78
is formed over and is fixed to each end of first header pipe
71
, and rod portion
77
extends vertically from cap portion
78
. Similarly, each end of second header pipe
72
comprises disk-shaped plug member
75
positioned inside an opening formed in each end of second header pipe
72
, and bracket member
76
fixed to each end of second header pipe
72
. Bracket member
76
comprises cap portion
78
and rod portion
77
. Cap portion
78
is formed over and is fixed to each end of second header pipe
72
, and rod portion
77
extends vertically from cap portion
78
. Moreover, a frame of a vehicle (not shown) may have a plurality of holes formed therethrough, such that each rod portion
77
may be inserted into a corresponding hole. As such, heat exchanger
70
may be fixed to the frame of the vehicle via rod portions
77
. Nevertheless, bracket member
76
must be manufactured separately from first header pipe
71
and second header pipe
72
, respectively, and subsequently must be fixed to the ends of first header pipe
71
and second header pipe
72
, respectively. Consequently, the number of parts of heat exchanger
70
and the manufacturing cost of heat exchanger
70
may increase.
As disclosed in Japanese (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. HEI 11-83377,
FIG. 3
depicts another known stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchanger. The heat exchanger comprises a first header pipe
71
and a second header pipe
72
, and the ends of first header pipe
71
and second header pipe
72
are compressed or deformed to form a flattened plate portion
79
. Flattened plate portion
79
has a substantially rectangular shape and a reduced thickness relative to a thickness of a center portion of first header pipe
71
and second header pipe
72
, respectively. Nevertheless, the width or the diameter of flattened plate portion
79
is the same as the width or the diameter of first header pipe
71
and second header pipe
72
, respectively. Flattened plate portion
79
also has a hole
80
formed therethrough. In this known heat exchanger, a frame of a vehicle (not shown) may have a plurality of threaded holes formed therethrough, such that a plurality of screws or a plurality of bolts may be used to fix the heat exchanger to the frame of the vehicle via holes
80
and the corresponding threaded holes. Nevertheless, because the ends of first header pipe
71
and second header pipe
72
originally were cylindrical shaped, and subsequently are compressed or deformed to form a substantially rectangular-shaped plate portion, the plate portion may become warped or twisted during the manufacturing process. Consequently, it may be difficult or impossible to fix the heat exchanger to the frame of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, a need has arisen for heat exchangers that overcome these and other shortcomings of the related art. A technical advantage of the present invention is that a stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchanger may be manufactured having fewer parts than known heat exchangers. Another technical advantage of the present invention is that the heat exchanger may more readily and accurately be fixed to a frame of a vehicle.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchanger is described. The heat exchanger comprises a first header pipe and a second header pipe formed opposite the first header pipe. The heat exchanger also comprises a plurality of beat transfer tubes extending between the first header pipe and the second header pipe, such that the first header pipe and the second header pipe are in fluid communication via the heat transfer tubes. The heat exchanger further comprises a plurality of fins alternately stacked with the plurality of heat transfer tubes. Moreover at least one of the ends, e.g., each of the ends, of the first header pipe comprises a first tapered portion having a reduced diameter relative to a diameter of a center portion of the first header pipe. In another embodiment, each of the ends of the second header pipe comprises a second tapered portion having a reduced diameter relative to a diameter of a center portion of the second header pipe.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchanger is described. The method comprises the step of compressing at least one end, e.g., each of the ends, of a first header pipe of a stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchanger to form a first tapered portion having a reduced diameter relative to a diameter of a center portion of the first header pipe. In still another embodiment, the method also comprises the step of compressing each of the ends of a second header pipe of the heat exchanger to form a second tapered portion having a reduced diameter relative to a diameter of a center portion of the second header pipe.
Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5082051 (1992-01-01), Ando
patent: 5127466 (1992-07-01), Ando
patent: 5325914 (1994-07-01), Tanaka
patent: 5348079 (1994-09-01), Tanaka
patent: 5785119 (1998-07-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 5868196 (1999-02-01), Tanaka
patent: 5975197 (1999-11-01), Kado
patent: 6035931 (2000-03-01), Kado et al.
patent: 6289979 (2001-09-01), Kato
patent: 07301472 (1994-05-01), None
patent: 09280780 (1997-10-01), None
patent: 410290091 (1998-10-01), None
patent: 11083377 (1999-03-01), None
Iino Yuusuke
Okada Shigeru
Yamaguchi Tooru
Bennett Henry
Duong Tho V
Sanden Corporation
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