U.S. patent application number 11/703779 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for cooler and method of cooling a medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to BEHR GmbH & CO.. Invention is credited to Karsten Emrich.
Application Number | 20070199683 11/703779 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7696465 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070199683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Emrich; Karsten |
August 30, 2007 |
Cooler and method of cooling a medium
Abstract
The invention relates to a cooler having means for directing a
cooling medium, means for directing a medium to be cooled, and an
essentially axially symmetrical housing. The means for directing
the medium to be cooled is arranged in such a way that the medium
to be cooled, in at least one first region, flows in an essentially
axial direction, and the medium to be cooled, in at least one
second region, flows in a direction having a radial component. The
invention also relates to a method of cooling a medium and to
various uses of a cooler according to the invention.
Inventors: |
Emrich; Karsten; (Stuttgart,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
BEHR GmbH & CO.
|
Family ID: |
7696465 |
Appl. No.: |
11/703779 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11033313 |
Jan 12, 2005 |
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11703779 |
Feb 8, 2007 |
|
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10226194 |
Aug 23, 2002 |
6857468 |
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11033313 |
Jan 12, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/125 ;
165/157 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 9/0012 20130101;
Y02T 10/146 20130101; F28D 2021/0082 20130101; F02B 29/0412
20130101; F28F 1/32 20130101; F28F 1/34 20130101; Y02T 10/12
20130101; F28F 2215/00 20130101; F28D 7/06 20130101; F28D 7/1676
20130101; F02B 29/0462 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/125 ;
165/157 |
International
Class: |
F24B 1/06 20060101
F24B001/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 24, 2001 |
DE |
101 41 490.0 |
Claims
1. A cooler having a first passageway for directing a cooling
medium, at least one second passageway for directing a medium to be
cooled, and an essentially axially symmetrical housing, wherein the
at least one second passageway for directing the medium to be
cooled is arranged in such a way that the medium to be cooled, in
at least one first region, flows in an essentially axial direction,
and the medium to be cooled, in at least one second region, flows
in a direction having a radial component.
2. The cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one
second passageway is arranged such that the medium to be cooled, in
a radially inner region, flows in an axial direction into the
cooler, and the medium to be cooled flows out of a cooling region
of the cooler in a direction having a radial component.
3. The cooler as claimed in claim 1, comprising a multiplicity of
essentially axially symmetrical baffle plates arranged in layers
one above the other, the baffle plates having a radially inner
aperture forming the first passageway for the medium to be cooled,
and a plurality of tubes extending essentially in the axial
direction for directing the cooling medium and passing through
openings in the baffle plates, wherein flow paths are defined
between the baffle plates for the medium to be cooled, these flow
paths having a radial component.
4. The cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle plates each
have the shape of a conical envelope and enclose an angle of about
45.degree. with the axis of the cooler.
5. The cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
essentially axially symmetrical disks are arranged in layers one
above the other, the disks are arranged as disk pairs which form
passageways, running in the circumferential direction, for the
cooling medium, the disks have through-openings that define an
axial passage through the disks arranged in layers one above the
other, and cooling fins are arranged between the disk pairs and
oriented so that the medium to be cooled flows through these
cooling fins essentially perpendicularly to the axis of the
cooler.
6. The cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling fins
comprise corrugated fins placed on a radius.
7. The cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling fins
comprise fin plates having essentially parallel fin flanks.
8. A method of cooling a medium, in which a cooling medium and a
medium to be cooled are directed in an essentially axially
symmetrical housing, comprising: directing the medium to be cooled,
in at least one first region, in an essentially axial direction,
and directing the medium to be cooled, in at least one second
region, in a direction having a radial component.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the medium to be
cooled, in a radially inner region, flows in an axial direction
into the cooler, and the medium to be cooled flows out of a cooling
region of the cooler in a direction having a radial component.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the medium to be
cooled is deflected from an essentially axial flow direction into a
flow direction which forms an angle of about 45.degree. with the
axial flow direction.
11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the medium to be
cooled is deflected from an essentially axial flow direction into a
radial flow direction.
12. In an automotive engine assembly having a charge-air
pre-cooler, the charge air cooler comprising a cooler as defined by
claim 1.
13. In an engine assembly having an exhaust-gas cooler, the exhaust
gas cooler comprising a cooler as defined by claim 1.
14. In an engine assembly having an oil cooler, the oil cooler
comprising a cooler as defined by claim 1.
15. In a fuel tank assembly including a fuel cooler, the fuel
cooler comprising a cooler as defined by claim 1.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. application
Ser. No. 11/033,313, filed Jan. 12, 2005, which is a divisional of
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/226,194, filed Aug. 23, 2002, the
entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] German Priority Application 101 41 490.0, filed Aug. 24,
2001, including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract,
is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to a cooler having means for directing
a cooling medium, means for directing a medium to be cooled, and an
essentially axially symmetrical housing. The invention also relates
to a method of cooling a medium, in which a cooling medium and a
medium to be cooled are directed in an essentially axially
symmetrical housing.
[0004] Coolers of the generic type and methods of the generic type
are used, for example, for the charge-air pre-cooling of an
exhaust-gas turbocharger. Such charge-air coolers serve to cool the
air compressed by the turbocharger before entry into the engine of
a motor vehicle. There are a multiplicity of different embodiments
of such coolers, which differ greatly with regard to numerous
features. For example, cascade-shaped coolers are known, or also
coolers having an axially symmetrical housing, the latter being
designed, for example, as tube-nest coolers.
[0005] In the different embodiments, different problems occur, in
particular in connection with the aim of increasing the cooling
capacity. For example, if it is desired to increase the cooling
capacity in a surface cooler, this can be achieved by enlarging the
cooler perpendicularly to the flow direction of the medium to be
cooled. However, the cooler thus requires an enlarged construction
space, a factor which is a disadvantage in principle. In a round
cooler, such as a tube-nest cooler, for example, the cooling
capacity can be increased by the cooler being enlarged in the axial
direction. A disadvantage with this solution, however, is that an
increased pressure drop occurs inside the cooler.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide a cooler
and a method of cooling a medium which avoid the above-described
disadvantages of the prior art. A particular object is to avoid an
increase in the pressure drop inside the cooler. A further object
is to prevent adverse effects from occurring with regard to the
construction space of the cooler.
[0007] In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention,
there has been provided according to one aspect of the invention a
cooler having
[0008] a first passageway for directing a cooling medium,
[0009] at least one second passageway for directing a medium to be
cooled, and
[0010] an essentially axially symmetrical housing, wherein
[0011] the at least one second passageway for directing the medium
to be cooled is arranged in such a way that the medium to be
cooled, in at least one first region, flows in an essentially axial
direction, and the medium to be cooled, in at least one second
region, flows in a direction having a radial component.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the invention there has
been provided a method of cooling a medium, in which a cooling
medium and a medium to be cooled are directed in an essentially
axially symmetrical housing, comprising:
[0013] directing the medium to be cooled, in at least one first
region, in an essentially axial direction, and
[0014] directing the medium to be cooled, in at least one second
region, in a direction having a radial component.
[0015] Further objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the detailed description of
preferred embodiments that follows, when considered together with
the appended figures of drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] In the drawings:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a
cooler according to the invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a partly cutaway second
embodiment of a cooler according to the invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged part of the cooler according to
FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of part of the cooler
according to FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation for explaining a first
arrangement of baffle plates/fin plates;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation for explaining a second
arrangement of baffle plates/fin plates;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation for explaining a third
arrangement of baffle plates;
[0024] FIG. 8 is perspective representation showing a partly
cutaway third embodiment of a cooler according to the
invention;
[0025] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged part of the cooler according to
FIG. 8;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a perspective representation of a disk for use in
a cooler according to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9;
[0027] FIG. 11 is a plan view of a first cooling fin arrangement
for use in a cooler according to FIGS. 8 and 9;
[0028] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a second cooling fin arrangement
for use in a cooler according to FIGS. 8 and 9;
[0029] FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a first example of use
of coolers according to the invention;
[0030] FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a second example of use
of coolers according to the invention;
[0031] FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of a charge
pre-cooling system with a cooler according to the invention;
and
[0032] FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of a double cooler
using coolers according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] According to the invention, the means for directing the
medium to be cooled are arranged in such a way that the medium to
be cooled, in at least one first region, flows in an essentially
axial direction, and the medium to be cooled, in at least one
second region, flows in a direction having a radial component. In
such a cooler, an increase in the cooling capacity can be achieved
by enlarging the cooler in the axial direction. When the cooler is
used as a charge-air cooler, it is therefore merely necessary to
replace some of the lines leading to the cooler in the axial
direction, which are present anyway, by the enlargement of the
cooler. Furthermore, however, with such an axial enlargement of the
cooler, the undesirable increased pressure drop does not occur in
the cooler. This is achieved by redirecting the flow inside the
cooler, which ensures that the medium to be cooled does not have to
flow around cooling surfaces over the entire length of the cooler,
as is the case, for example, in a tube-nest cooler.
[0034] According to one preferred embodiment of the cooler
according to the invention, the medium to be cooled, in a radially
inner region, flows in an axial direction into the cooler, and the
medium to be cooled flows out of the cooling region of the cooler
in a direction having a radial component. The cooler may thus, at
the same time, be advantageously used to connect together a pipe
associated with a turbocharger and having a comparatively narrow
diameter and another line at the inlet of the charge-air/air
cooler, this line having a larger diameter. With the cooler,
therefore, a cross-sectional transition is achieved in addition to
its cooling effect.
[0035] Furthermore, in an especially advantageous embodiment, a
multiplicity of essentially axially symmetrical baffle plates are
arranged in layers one above the other, and the baffle plates have
a radially inner aperture, so that a flow passage for the medium to
be cooled is formed. In addition, a multiplicity of tubes are
provided which run essentially in the axial direction, for
directing the cooling medium, and pass through openings in the
baffle plates. Also, there are flow paths between the baffle plates
for the medium to be cooled, these flow paths having a radial
component. Such a round-tube/disk type of construction withstands
very high loads and can also be used where there is susceptibility
to contamination. Due to the baffle plates, it is possible to carry
out the inventive deflection of the medium to be cooled and to
arrange this deflection in such a way that there is a low pressure
drop.
[0036] In this connection, it is especially advantageous that the
baffle plates are each designed like a conical envelope and enclose
an angle of about 45.degree. with the axis of the arrangement. Thus
the air flowing in an axial direction is first of all deflected by
about 45.degree. when entering between the baffle plates and is
deflected again by about 45.degree. when discharging from the
intermediate space between the baffle plates. This is a variant
which is very advantageous from a fluidics point of view, since
only two deflections of the medium to be cooled are required, which
in addition only have to be effected by an angle of 45.degree..
[0037] However, it may also be useful for the baffle plates to each
have a radially inner region which is designed like a conical
envelope and a radially outer region which is designed like a
conical envelope, and for there to be a region which runs
essentially perpendicular to the axis of the arrangement and which
has openings for the tubes to pass through. This last region is
provided between the radially inner region and the radially outer
region. In this way, it is likewise ensured that the air entering
the cooler in the axial direction only has to be deflected by about
45.degree. and that likewise only comparatively slight redirecting
is necessary when the air discharges from the intermediate space
between the baffle plates/fin plates. At the transition between the
regions, such as a conical envelope and the radially running
region, further deflections with corresponding angles are
necessary. It may be useful to tolerate these further deflections,
since the plates running perpendicularly to the axis of the
arrangement in this region can be attached in a very much simpler
manner to the tubes running in the axial direction and directing
the cooling medium.
[0038] In a further especially advantageous embodiment of the
present invention, provision may be made for a multiplicity of
essentially axially symmetrical disks to be arranged in layers one
above the other; for the disks to be arranged as disk pairs which
form guides for the cooling medium, running in the circumferential
direction; for the disks to have through-openings, so that an axial
passage is formed through the disks arranged in layers one above
the other; and for cooling fins to be arranged between the disk
pairs, such that the medium to be cooled flows through these
cooling fins essentially perpendicularly to the axis of the
arrangement. Such a disk/fin/disk arrangement is especially
advantageous on account of its simplicity from the production point
of view.
[0039] In connection with the disk/fin/disk type of construction,
it may be advantageous for the cooling fins to be corrugated fins
placed on a radius. It is thus possible to ensure a radially
directed flow of the medium to be cooled through the fins, so that
ultimately the entire region available for the cooling is indeed
utilized for the cooling.
[0040] However, it may also be useful for the cooling fins to be
designed as fin plates having essentially parallel fin flanks. This
certainly sometimes results in the disadvantage that the medium to
be cooled does not flow around the entire region available for the
cooling. On the other hand, however, an embodiment with fin plates
is especially simple to produce, since fin plates and disks can be
arranged in layers one above the other without problems.
[0041] The invention also comprehends a method wherein the medium
to be cooled, in at least one first region, flows in an essentially
axial direction, and wherein the medium to be cooled, in at least
one second region, flows in a direction having a radial component.
In this way, the advantages and features of the cooler according to
the invention are also realized within the scope of a method. This
also applies to the especially preferred embodiments of the method
according to the specifically describe embodiments of the invention
which are set forth below.
[0042] According to one preferred embodiment of the method
according to the invention, the medium to be cooled, in a radially
inner region, flows in an axial direction into the cooler, and the
medium to be cooled flows out of a cooling region of the cooler in
a direction having a radial component. In this way, the cross
section of flow is changed.
[0043] Furthermore, according to another preferred aspect of the
method according to the invention, the medium to be cooled is
deflected from an essentially axial flow direction into a flow
direction that forms an angle of about 45.degree. with the axial
flow direction. In this way, by only a comparatively small change
in the direction of the flow, the effect that the medium to be
cooled is transported radially outward is nonetheless achieved.
[0044] It is likewise advantageous in some instances for the medium
to be cooled to be deflected from a flow direction which forms an
angle of about 45.degree. with the axial flow direction into a
radial flow direction and to be subsequently deflected into a flow
direction forms an angle of about 45.degree. with the axial flow
direction. Transport of the medium to be cooled radially outwardly
is therefore likewise achieved. Four deflections are required,
these being tolerated so that the cooling fins can be fastened in
an intermediate region in a simple manner to tubes which direct the
cooling medium.
[0045] In a further preferred embodiment, provision is made for the
medium to be cooled to be deflected from an essentially axial flow
direction into a radial flow direction. In this embodiment, two
changes in the flow direction of 90.degree. take place. These
pronounced changes in direction can be tolerated, in particular
with regard to the embodiment of the cooler in a disk/fin/disk type
of construction.
[0046] Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a cooler
according to the invention as a charge-air pre-cooler.
[0047] Furthermore, the cooler according to the invention can
advantageously be used as an exhaust-gas cooler.
[0048] It may likewise be useful to use the cooler according to the
invention as an oil cooler.
[0049] Furthermore, it is useful to use the cooler according to the
invention as a fuel cooler.
[0050] The invention is based on the principle that coolers which
have a cross-sectional transition and can also be subjected to
extreme loads can be made available. It is possible to realize the
heat-exchange area by enlarging the cooler in the primary flow
direction, while at the same time reducing the pressure drop.
Within the scope of the invention, embodiments are possible which
are distinguished by their especially simple construction, for
example, the disk/fin/disk type of construction described. Other
embodiments, in particular with regard to pressure loading and
contamination, are especially robust, for example, the
round-tube/disk type of construction described.
[0051] The invention will now be explained by way of example with
reference to the attached drawings and preferred exemplary
embodiments.
[0052] In the description below of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention, the same reference numerals designate the same
or comparable components. For the explanation of the invention, it
is assumed that the medium to be cooled is air. However, the
comments also equally apply to other media to be cooled.
[0053] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cooler according to the
invention in perspective representation. The cooler has a
multiplicity of baffle plates 32 which are arranged in layers one
above the other and expose an opening 44 in an inner region as
means 28 for directing a medium to be cooled. The cooler is defined
on the underside by a coolant box or tank 72. A tank 74 is provided
on the top side. The interior of the top tank 74 is provided with
two separating elements 76, 78. Cooling medium is directed into the
right-hand part of the tank 74. Cooling medium is extracted from
the left-hand part of the tank 74. From the right-hand part of the
tank 74, the cooling medium passes into the openings 10 which
continue in the axial direction through the cooler in the form of
tubes. From tubes 12, which likewise continue in the axial
direction through the cooler, the heated cooling medium passes into
the left-hand part of the tank 74. The bottom tank 72 is designed
in such a way that the cooling medium is delivered from the tubes
10 into said bottom tank 72, can spread there at random, that is to
say there are no boundaries corresponding to the elements 76, 78 in
the top tank 74, and can then flow upward through the tubes 12 into
the top tank 74. The baffle plates 32 are designed in such a way
that the air entering the cooler in the axial direction 80
discharges in radial directions 82, 84. The baffle plates/fin
plates 32 of this embodiment may be formed in a similar manner to
the baffle plates explained in connection with FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
and 7.
[0054] FIG. 2 shows a partly cutaway second embodiment of a cooler
according to the invention in perspective representation. The
cooler according to FIG. 2 may be provided with baffle plates 32
over its entire inner axial length, although, for the sake of
clarity, only some baffle plates 32 arranged in the bottom region
and one baffle plate 32 arranged in the top region are shown in
this case. The cooler is surrounded by a housing 40. Arranged in
the top region of the housing is a tank 88 which has a partition 90
running in the circumferential direction. Cooling medium is
directed into the radially inner part of the tank 88, and cooling
medium is extracted from the radially outer part of the tank 88.
The cooling medium directed into the tank passes through the tubes
14, which extend axially downward into the cooler, into the region
of the baffle plates 32. The tubes 14 are curved in the bottom
region, and they merge into the part of the tubes which is
identified by the reference numeral 16, i.e., passing back upwardly
through the baffle plates. These tubes 16 then open into the
radially outer region of the tank 88, from which the cooling medium
can be extracted again. This embodiment, in contrast to the
embodiment according to FIG. 1, therefore does not need a bottom
tank. However, curved tubes 14, 16 are required. The cooling plates
32 have a multiplicity of openings 86, through which the tubes 14,
16 can pass. Furthermore, the baffle (cooling) plates 32 expose a
radially inner region 46, which serves as a means 30 for directing
a cooling medium. From this region, the medium to be cooled is
deflected radially through the regions 50, 52, 54 in directions
having a radial component.
[0055] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged part of the cooler according to
FIG. 2.
[0056] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of part of the cooler
according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the section being taken in the axial
direction. The air entering the cooler in the axial direction is
deflected into the regions 50 of the baffle plates 32, then passes
into the radially extending region 52, for which purpose it is
again deflected, then flows around the tube 14, 16 and is deflected
once again in order to pass into the region 54 of the baffle plates
32. From there, the medium to be cooled then leaves the cooler in a
cooled form. The baffle plates 32 are fastened or bonded to the
tube 14, 16.
[0057] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation for explaining a
first arrangement of baffle plates. This embodiment is especially
simple to produce, since only simple circular-disk-shaped baffle
plates/fin plates 32 are used. However, this embodiment has the
fluidic disadvantage of requiring two deflections of 90.degree.,
one into the flow path 56 and the other out of the flow path
56.
[0058] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation for explaining a
second arrangement of baffle plates. This embodiment is to be
preferred from the fluidic point of view, since only two
deflections by 45.degree. through the baffle plates 32, designed
like a conical envelope 62, into the flow paths 58 or out of the
flow paths 58 take place. However, this embodiment is more
complicated from the production point of view, for the fastening of
the baffle plates 32 to the tubes 14, 16 is complicated on account
of the angled position.
[0059] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation for explaining a
third arrangement of baffle plates. This embodiment constitutes a
compromise between fluidic requirements and manufacture in the
simplest possible manner. The baffle plates 32 each have a first
region 64, a second region 66 and a third region 68. The first and
the second region are each formed like a conical envelope. The
region 68 lying between these regions 64, 66 is radially oriented.
Thus flow paths having three regions 50, 52, 54 are obtained, so
that four deflections are certainly required, but in each case only
by 45.degree.. On account of their perpendicular arrangement
relative to the tubes 14, 16, the baffle plates 32 formed in this
way can be fastened to the latter in a simple manner.
[0060] FIG. 8 shows a partly cutaway third embodiment of a cooler
according to the invention in perspective representation. In this
embodiment of a cooler according to the invention, a multiplicity
of disks 70 are arranged inside a housing 42. One of these disks is
shown individually in FIG. 10. Cooling liquid can be directed into
the cooler through an opening 18. This cooling liquid then passes
into a passage 24 which is formed by openings in the disks 70. The
disks are arranged in such a way that passages 22 running in the
circumferential direction are formed, which will be explained in
more detail below with reference to FIG. 10. The cooling liquid
directed into the passage 24 can thus be distributed in the
circumferential direction through the passages 22 and can discharge
again from the cooler through the opening 20. Cooling fins 36, 38
are arranged between the disks 70, which themselves are arranged in
pairs in each case to form a closed passage. Air entering the
opening 48, which serves as means 34 for directing the inflowing
medium to be cooled, can therefore enter the regions 60 and flow
radially outwardly.
[0061] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged part of the cooler according to
FIG. 8. Here, the individual flow directions are shown in more
detail with the aid of the arrows. The arrow 90 identifies the flow
direction of the inflowing air. The arrows 92, 94 identify the
deflection of the air and its flow direction perpendicularly to the
axis of the arrangement in the region 60. The arrow 96 identifies
the flow of the cooling medium in the circumferential direction
through the passages 22.
[0062] FIG. 10 shows a perspective representation of a disk for use
in a cooler according to FIGS. 8 and 9. The disk 70 has two
openings 24, 26. Cooling medium flows through one opening 24 in the
one direction and through the other opening 26 in the other
direction. The radially outer boundary of the disk 70 is like the
rim of a plate. If a disk of the same type of construction is
placed the other way round onto the disk shown in FIG. 10, so that
the rims 98 of the disks touch one another, the passage 22 is
formed between the disks. Furthermore, if a further disk 70, in the
same orientation as the first disk 70, is placed onto the disk 70
at the top, and so on, a stack of disks consisting of disk pairs is
gradually formed, with the disks forming two axially running
through-passages on account of the openings 24, 26. Cooling fins
are placed between the disk pairs. These cooling fins bring about
the air flow running perpendicularly to the axis of the
arrangement.
[0063] FIG. 11 shows a plan view of a first cooling fin arrangement
for use in a cooler according to FIGS. 8 and 9. The two passages
24, 26 for the cooling medium are shown. The corrugated fins 32
placed on a radius ensure that a radial flow of the cooling air is
possible. However, such an arrangement may be more difficult from
the production point of view, since the arrangement of the
corrugated fins 36 placed on a radius produces a stress in the
corrugated fins. It is therefore necessary to reliably fasten the
corrugated fins to the disks during assembly.
[0064] FIG. 12 shows a plan view of a second cooling fin
arrangement for use in a cooler according to FIGS. 8 and 9. A
simpler solution from the production point of view is shown here.
Fin plates 38 are provided. However, this solution is fluidically
less desirable, since the medium to be cooled does not flow through
certain regions, for example, the regions on the outside relative
to the passages 24, 26.
[0065] FIG. 13 shows a first example of a use for the coolers
according to the invention. An engine 100, an oil sump 102 and an
oil pump 104 are shown. In a first embodiment, a cooler according
to the invention is arranged in the oil sump 102. In a further
embodiment, a cooler according to the invention is similarly
provided outside the oil sump.
[0066] FIG. 14 shows a second example of a use for the coolers
according to the invention. A fuel tank 106 with an integrated, for
example encapsulated, cooler is shown here.
[0067] FIG. 15 shows a schematic representation of a charge
pre-cooling system having a cooler 110 according to the invention.
The system comprises an engine 100, a supercharger 108, a cooler
110 according to the invention, a charge-air line 112, a
charge-air/air cooler 114, a charge-air line 116 and an air
manifold 118 for the entry of air into the engine 100. The air to
be cooled or the cooled air is shown by arrows 120.
[0068] FIG. 16 shows a schematic representation of a double cooler
using coolers 110 according to the invention. The system consists
of two coolers 110 which are separated from another by a separating
plate 124. The double cooler is surrounded by a casing tube 126. A
base and water tank 128 are provided inside the casing tube. The
medium to be cooled or the cooled medium is designated by arrows
120. The cooling medium is designated by arrows 122.
[0069] The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and
variations are possible and/or would be apparent in light of the
above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the
principles of the invention and its practical application to enable
one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various
embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and that the
claims encompass all embodiments of the invention, including the
disclosed embodiments and their equivalents.
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