Heat exchange – Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections – With manifold type header or header plate
Utility Patent
2000-04-26
2001-01-02
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Side-by-side tubular structures or tube sections
With manifold type header or header plate
C165S148000, C165S153000
Utility Patent
active
06167954
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a heat exchanger, especially for air-cooling equipment of a motor vehicle. It relates more particularly to a heat exchanger equipped with tubes for conveying a heat-exchange fluid, these tubes being produced from a flexible substance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such heat exchangers usually include two manifold boxes for the abovementioned heat-exchange fluid. Each of the boxes includes a manifold plate, generally secured leaktightly to the box. The two manifold plates include apertures for respectively housing the extremities of each tube leaktightly.
In heat exchangers of the abovementioned type, the apertures of the plates are configured into substantially parallel rows in order to form a bundle of rows of substantially parallel tubes. Such an arrangement of the tubes advantageously allows satisfactory heat exchange between the tubes and a fluid passing through the exchanger.
However, having regard to the flexible structure of the tubes, it is necessary to hold them, at least in the same row, spaced appreciably away from each other.
One solution would consist in providing spacer elements between the tubes, in order to keep them spaced apart. However, such spacing means contribute to adding excess stages to the method of manufacturing such an exchanger, as well as adding to the number of components to be provided.
The present invention aims to improve the situation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a the present invention there is provided a heat exchanger, specially adapted for motor-vehicle equipment, of the type comprising a plurality of tubes intended to convey a heat-exchange fluid and produced from a flexible material, as well as two substantially parallel manifold plates comprising apertures for respectively housing the extremities of each tube, while the said apertures are configured into substantially parallel rows in order to form a bundle of rows of substantially parallel tubes, wherein the successive rows of one of the plates are offset alternately in a first direction, substantially parallel to the rows, then in a second direction substantially opposite to the said first direction, while the rows of the other plate are respectively offset in the second direction, then in the first direction, in such a way that the tubes of two consecutive rows cross over between the two manifold plates, and wherein two successive rows of the same plate are spaced by an interstice essentially close to one tube thickness, in such a way that the tubes of two consecutive rows, in crossing over, are substantially in contact.
Hence, the tubes of the heat exchanger according to the invention are in contact only at one or two substantially point-like areas, and remain spaced apart from one another outside these point-like areas.
Advantageously, two consecutive apertures of the same row are spaced substantially by a predetermined pitch, which amounts to arranging the tubes of the same row substantially spaced apart from one another.
This predetermined pitch is preferably less than two and a half times the diameter of a tube.
According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the tubes, at least in a part comprising their areas of mutual contact, include outer walls coated with a layer of adhesive in order to form means for holding the tubes.
In one preferred embodiment of the heat exchanger according to the invention, the outer walls of the tubes carry a material which is made adhesive by a heat treatment.
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Lazarus Ira S.
McKinnon Terrell
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Valeo Thermique Moteur
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