Motor vehicles – Power – Radiators and condensers – mounting
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-01-30
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Motor vehicles
Power
Radiators and condensers, mounting
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179077
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to heat exchangers for vehicles that affect the aerodynamics of a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for providing a heat exchanger on a vehicle, where the heat exchanger augments and modifies aerodynamic forces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, heat exchangers on vehicles are typically placed substantially perpendicular to an air flow and towards the front of the vehicle, which requires a large frontal area on the vehicle, thereby producing a high associated drag.
FIG. 1
illustrates a traditional heat exchanger device on a typical commercial vehicle. Private and commercial vehicles usually employ a heat exchanger commonly referred to as a “radiator” to effect heat transfer. As illustrated, the radiator is traditionally placed substantially perpendicular to the free stream flow encountered by the vehicle as the vehicle travels forward. As a result, the vehicle experiences a substantial drag force. While the perpendicularly arranged radiator cools the vehicle engine effectively, the associated drag greatly affects the performance of the vehicle. The result is a decrease in fuel efficiency.
FIG. 2
depicts a typical Formula 1 or “Indy” racing car. On this type of vehicle, a heat exchange device, or radiator, is also traditionally placed substantially perpendicular to a free stream flow of air encountered by the vehicle when the vehicle travels in a forward direction. However, the heat exchanger is usually built into a side pod, rather than mounted on the front end as with the commercial vehicle. In this configuration, air is ducted from the free stream into the pod such that it passes through the heat exchanger and out through an exhaust port. Similar to the commercial vehicle of
FIG. 1
, there is a large amount of drag created by the heat exchange device. Furthermore, in neither the commercial application nor the racing application does the heat exchanger perform well at low vehicle speed, unless a mechanical device, such as a fan, is used to promote flow through the radiator. Fans, however, absorb and reduce engine power.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system and method for supplying high density heat exchange to a vehicle at various speeds, including zero to low speeds. In structure, the high density heat exchanging system essentially comprises an aerodynamic member, a porous device, and a force augmentation device. The aerodynamic member is configured to generate aerodynamic forces when a free stream flow is encountered, and includes a high pressure surface, a low pressure surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge, where the leading edge and the trailing edge define a length therebetween. The aerodynamic member is arranged and configured on the vehicle to produce forces and loads on the vehicle generally desirable for improving traction and handling of the vehicle. The porous device is disposed intermediate within the length of the aerodynamic member and provides heat exchange when fluid flows through the porous device. The porous device includes an inlet, configured to receive fluid flow and disposed in the high pressure surface of the aerodynamic member, and an outlet, configured to expel fluid flow and disposed in the low pressure surface of the aerodynamic member. In this configuration, the fluid flow passes from flowing adjacent the high pressure surface of the aerodynamic member to flowing adjacent the low pressure surface of the aerodynamic member through the porous device. The force augmentation device is disposed on the aerodynamic member. The force augmentation device can augment forces generated by the aerodynamic member or be configured to generate force independently, thereby encouraging fluid flow through the porous device when a free stream of flow is absent.
The present invention can also be viewed as a method for producing high density heat exchange in a vehicle. The method can be broadly summarized by the following steps: providing an aerodynamic member on a vehicle and generating an aerodynamic force on that vehicle with the aerodynamic member. The method further comprises the steps of providing heat exchange with a porous device disposed within the aerodynamic member and augmenting the aerodynamic force with a device disposed on the aerodynamic member.
An advantage of the present invention is a system that provides an increased pressure differential across a porous device and radiator core for efficient heat transfer.
Another advantage of the present invention is a system that provides effective heat transfer for a vehicle, even at zero to low speed, while reducing the frontal area of the vehicle and aerodynamic drag upon the vehicle.
An additional advantage of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange device for racing cars that improves aerodynamic down force and reduces aerodynamic drag while providing high cooling rates without the use of moving parts, such as fans.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a system of non-moving parts comprising a synergistic radiator/aerodynamic control surface in a single structure contributing to improved mechanical reliability of the system and reduced weight of the vehicle.
An additional advantage of the present invention is improved traction in turns for race cars, or in icy/snowy/rainy weather for commercial vehicles.
Another advantage is reduction of frontal area and radiator drag.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is an improvement in fuel economy for commercial vehicles due to the reduction in frontal area and radiator drag.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention.
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Burdges Kenneth P.
Englar Robert J.
Fischmann Bryan
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
Johnson Brian L.
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley, L.L.P.
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