U.S. patent application number 11/902329 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-09 for heat exchanger plate.
Invention is credited to Haretaro Hidaka, Soichiro Ishikawa, Seiji Matsushima.
Application Number | 20080245516 11/902329 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39825945 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080245516 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ishikawa; Soichiro ; et
al. |
October 9, 2008 |
Heat exchanger plate
Abstract
In a heat exchanger plate, machine time required for processing
can be shortened, production costs can be reduced, and a
penetration bead of a weld can be prevented from intruding into a
flow channel, thereby preventing the weld from deforming a cover
section. The heat exchanger plate comprises: a flat main body on a
surface of which is formed at least one first groove having a
rectangular cross-sectional shape; and a cover which has
substantially the same shape as the first groove in plan view and
which is formed such that when embedded in the first groove, a rear
face thereof contacts a bottom of the first groove and opposite
side faces thereof contact opposite side faces of the first groove,
and a surface thereof is substantially flush with that of the main
body, wherein there is provided a second groove formed extending
along the opposite side faces at a center of the rear face, and the
cover is joined to the main body by friction stir welding.
Inventors: |
Ishikawa; Soichiro; (Mihara,
JP) ; Hidaka; Haretaro; (Mihara, JP) ;
Matsushima; Seiji; (Mihara, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
39825945 |
Appl. No.: |
11/902329 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/164 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 3/12 20130101; B23K
2101/14 20180801; B23K 20/1225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/164 |
International
Class: |
F28D 21/00 20060101
F28D021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 6, 2007 |
JP |
2007-100698 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger plate comprising: a flat main body on a surface
of which is formed at least one first groove having a rectangular
cross-sectional shape; and a cover which has substantially the same
shape as said first groove in plan view and which is formed such
that when embedded in said first groove, a rear face thereof
contacts a bottom of said first groove and opposite side faces
thereof contact opposite side faces of said first groove, and a
surface thereof is substantially flush with that of said main body,
wherein there is provided a second groove formed extending along
said opposite side faces at a center of said rear face, and said
cover is joined to said main body by friction stir welding.
2. A heat exchanger plate comprising: a flat main body on a surface
of which is formed at least one first groove having a rectangular
cross-sectional shape; and a flat cover which covers an entire
surface of said main body, and on a rear face of which is formed a
protrusion whose top face contacts a bottom of said first groove
and whose opposite side faces contact opposite side faces of said
first groove, when the cover is superposed on the surface of said
main body, wherein there is provided a second groove formed
extending along said opposite side faces at a center of said top
face, and said cover is joined to said main body by friction stir
welding.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger plate
comprising flow channels through which a cooling medium or heating
medium passes.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] One example of such a heat exchanger plate is a backing
plate used to hold a target material during a sputtering process of
a liquid crystal manufacturing device (for example Japanese Patent
No. 3,818,084).
[0005] However, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent No.
3,818,084, a problem occurs in that because the cross-sectional
shape of the flow channel (water passage) processed into a top face
(surface) of the main body has a complex shape (T shape),
processing this flow channel requires a large amount of machine
time, which increases production costs.
[0006] Furthermore, although the invention disclosed in Japanese
Patent No. 3,818,084 proposes the use of the simplest
cross-sectional shape (a rectangle) for the flow channel processed
into the top face of the main body, in this case the weld is formed
in the vicinity of the flow channel, which presents a danger of the
penetration bead of the weld intruding into the flow channel.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the above circumstances, an object of the
present invention is to provide a heat exchanger plate in which the
machine time required for processing can be shortened, and
production costs can be reduced, and in which the penetration bead
of the weld can be prevented from intruding into the flow channel,
thereby preventing the weld from deforming the cover section.
[0008] In order to resolve these problems, the present invention
employs the following means.
[0009] A heat exchanger plate according to the present invention
comprises: a flat main body on a surface of which is formed at
least one first groove having a rectangular cross-sectional shape;
and a cover which has substantially the same shape as the first
groove in plan view and which is formed such that when embedded in
the first groove, a rear face thereof contacts a bottom of the
first groove and opposite side faces thereof contact opposite side
faces of the first groove, and a surface thereof is substantially
flush with that of the main body, wherein there is provided a
second groove formed extending along the opposite side faces at a
center of the rear face, and the cover is joined to the main body
by friction stir welding.
[0010] In the heat exchanger plate according to the present
invention, because the cross-sectional shape of the first groove
processed into the top face (surface) of the main body has the
simplest cross-sectional shape (a rectangle), the machine time
required to process the first groove can be shortened, and
production costs can be reduced.
[0011] Furthermore, because the second groove which forms the flow
channel is formed at the center of the bottom face (rear) of the
cover, the load applied to the cover when the main body and cover
are welded together can be transmitted to the bottom of the first
groove, that is the main body, via the edges of the cover whose
height is substantially equal to the depth of the first groove, and
consequently intrusion of the penetration bead of the weld into the
flow channel can be prevented, and deformation of the cover
resulting from the welding process can be prevented.
[0012] In addition, because the edges of the cover are formed so as
to have a height substantially equal to the depth of the first
groove, the rigidity of the cover in its entirety can be improved,
the width of the second groove can be increased, and the width of
the flow channel can be increased, thereby enabling an increase in
the cross-sectional area of the flow channel.
[0013] The heat exchanger plate according to the present invention
comprises: a flat main body on a surface of which is formed at
least one first groove having a rectangular cross-sectional shape;
and a flat cover which covers an entire surface of the main body,
and on a rear face of which is formed a protrusion whose top face
contacts a bottom of the first groove and whose opposite side faces
contact opposite side faces of the first groove, when the cover is
superposed on the surface of the main body, wherein there is
provided a second groove formed extending along the opposite side
faces at a center of the top face, and the cover is joined to the
main body by friction stir welding.
[0014] According to the heat exchanger plate according to the
present invention, because the cross-sectional shape of the first
groove processed into the top face (surface) of the main body has
the simplest cross-sectional shape (a rectangle), the machine time
required to process the first groove can be shortened, and
production costs can be reduced.
[0015] Furthermore, because the second groove which forms the flow
channel is formed at the center of the top face of the protrusion,
the load applied to the cover when the main body and cover are
welded together can be transmitted to the bottom of the first
groove, that is the main body, via the edges of the protrusion
whose height is substantially equal to the depth of the first
groove, and consequently intrusion of the penetration bead of the
weld into the flow channel can be prevented, and deformation of the
cover resulting from the welding process can be prevented.
[0016] In addition, because the edges of the protrusion are formed
so as to have a height substantially equal to the depth of the
first groove, the rigidity of the cover in its entirety can be
improved, the width of the second groove can be increased, and the
width of the flow channel can be increased, thereby enabling an
increase in the cross-sectional area of the flow channel.
[0017] According to the present invention, there is the effect that
the machine time required for processing can be shortened,
production costs can be reduced, intrusion of the penetration bead
of the weld into the flow channel can be prevented, and deformation
of the cover by the welding process can be prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a heat exchanger plate
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a similar figure to FIG. 2 showing a partial
cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger plate according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Embodiments of the present invention are described below
with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1
[0022] A first embodiment of a heat exchanger plate according to
the present invention is described below with reference to FIG. 1
and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a heat exchanger
plate according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a partial
cross-sectional view of FIG. 1.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger plate (referred to
hereafter as "backing plate") 1 according to the present embodiment
comprises a main body 2 and a cover 3.
[0024] The main body 2, for example, is a flat member produced from
oxygen-free copper or a copper alloy containing 5% or less Zr or
Cr, having a rectangular shape in plan view which is approximately
2350 mm long, 2010 mm wide, and 15 mm deep. Furthermore, a (first)
groove 4 having a U-shape in plan view and a rectangular shape in
cross-section and/or a groove 4 having a wave shape in plan view
and a rectangular shape in cross-section is provided on a top face
(surface) 2a of this main body 2.
[0025] The cover 3 is a plate member formed so as to have the same
shape in plan view as the groove 4, such that when the cover 3 is
embedded in the groove 4, a lower face (rear surface) 3a of the
cover contacts a bottom 4a of the groove 4, and side faces 3b
thereof contact side faces 4b of the groove 4, such that a top face
(surface) 3c thereof is coplanar with the top face 2a of the main
body (thereby forming a flush surface). Furthermore, at the center
of the lower face 3a of the cover 3 is provided a (second) groove 5
which is rectangular in cross-section and is formed so as to extend
along the side faces 3b. In addition, a void formed when the cover
3 is engaged in the groove 4 (more specifically the void enclosed
by the groove 5 and the bottom 4a of the groove 4) serves as a flow
channel 6 through which a cooling medium or heating medium
passes.
[0026] The main body 2 and the cover 3 are joined by friction stir
welding (FSW). Friction stir welding is a welding method that
involves inserting a rotating tool 9 comprising a shoulder section
7 and a pin section 8 as shown in FIG. 2, into the joint (boundary:
joint line) between the main body 2 and the cover 3, and rotating
the rotating tool 9 as it moves along the joint.
[0027] Furthermore, when the main body 2 and the cover 3 are joined
by friction stir welding, a plurality (2 in the present embodiment)
of independent flow channels 6 are formed in the backing plate 1
(the flow channel 6 formed between the bottom 4a of the groove 4
having a U shape in plan view and the groove 5 formed on the lower
face 3a of the cover 3 having a U shape in plan view, and the flow
channel 6 formed between the bottom 4a of the groove 4 having a
wave shape in plan view and the groove 5 formed on the lower face
3a of the cover 3 having a wave shape in plan view). Furthermore,
after the welding process, an inlet for the cooling or heating
medium is provided at one end of each flow channel 6, and an outlet
for the cooling or heating medium is provided at the other end.
[0028] According to the backing plate 1 according to the present
embodiment, because the groove 4 processed into the top face 2a of
the main body 2 has the simplest cross-sectional shape (a
rectangle), the machine time required to process the groove 4 can
be shortened, and production costs can be reduced.
[0029] Furthermore, because the groove 5 which forms the flow
channel 6 is formed at the center of the bottom face 3a of the
cover 3, the load applied to the cover 3 when the main body 2 and
cover 3 are welded together can be transmitted to the bottom 4a of
the groove 4, that is the main body 2, via the edges of the cover 3
whose height is substantially equal to the depth of the groove 4,
and consequently intrusion of the penetration bead of the weld into
the flow channel 6 can be prevented, and deformation of the cover 3
resulting from the welding process can be prevented.
[0030] In addition, because the edges of the cover 3 are formed so
as to have a height substantially equal to the depth of the groove
4, the rigidity of the cover 3 in its entirety can be improved, the
width of the groove 5 can be increased, and the width of the flow
channel 6 can be increased, enabling an increase in the
cross-sectional area of the flow channel 6.
Embodiment 2
[0031] A second embodiment of a backing plate according to the
present invention is described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is
a similar figure to FIG. 2 showing a partial cross-sectional view
of a backing plate according to the present embodiment.
[0032] The backing plate according to the present embodiment
differs from that of the first embodiment described above in that a
cover 13 is provided instead of the cover 3. Other components are
the same as those in embodiment 1, and hence description of these
components is omitted here.
[0033] Those members the same as in embodiment 1 are denoted by the
same reference symbols.
[0034] The cover 13, which covers the entire top face 2a of the
main body 2, is a flat member having a rectangular shape in plan
view with dimensions of 2350 mm long and 2010 mm wide. Furthermore,
on the bottom face (rear) 13a of the cover 13 is formed a
protrusion 14 whose top face 14a contacts the bottom 4a of the
groove 4 and whose side faces 14b contact the side faces 4b of the
groove 4 when the cover 13 is superposed on the top face 2a of the
main body 2. In addition, a (second) groove 5 which is rectangular
in cross-section and is formed along both side faces 14b, is
provided in the center of the top face 14a of the protrusion 14.
Furthermore, the void formed when the protrusion 14 is engaged in
the groove 4 (more specifically the void enclosed by the groove 5
and the bottom 4a of the groove 4) serves as the flow channel 6
through which a cooling medium or heating medium passes.
[0035] The main body 2 and the cover 13 are joined by friction stir
welding (FSW). Friction stir welding is a welding method that
involves inserting a rotating tool 9 comprising a shoulder section
7 and a pin section 8 as shown in FIG. 3, into the joint (boundary:
joint line) between the main body 2 and the cover 3 which extends
along the thickness direction of the plate, and rotating the
rotating tool 9 as it moves along the joint.
[0036] Furthermore, when joining the main body 2 and the cover 13
are joined by friction stir welding, a plurality (2 in the present
embodiment) of independent flow channels 6 are formed in the
backing plate (the flow channel 6 formed between the bottom 4a of
the groove 4 having a U shape in plan view and the groove 5 formed
on the top face 14a of the protrusion 14 having a U shape in plan
view, and the flow channel 6 formed between the bottom 4a of the
groove 4 having a wave shape in plan view and the groove 5 formed
on the top face 14a of the protrusion 14 having a wave shape in
plan view). Furthermore, after the welding process, an inlet for
the cooling or heating medium is provided at one end of each flow
channel 6, and an outlet for the cooling or heating medium is
provided at the other end.
[0037] According to the backing plate 1 according to the present
embodiment, because the cross-sectional shape of the groove 4
processed into the top face 2a of the main body 2 has the simplest
cross-sectional shape (a rectangle), the machine time required to
process the groove 4 can be shortened, and production costs can be
reduced.
[0038] Furthermore, because the groove 5 which forms the flow
channel 6 is formed at the center of the top face 14a of the
protrusion 14, the load applied to the cover 13 when the main body
2 and cover 13 are joined can be transmitted to the bottom 4a of
the groove 4, that is the main body 2, via the edges of the
protrusion 14 whose height is substantially equal to the depth of
the groove 4, and consequently intrusion of the penetration bead of
the weld into the flow channel 6 can be prevented, and deformation
of the cover 13 resulting from the welding process can be
prevented.
[0039] In addition, because the edges of the protrusion 14 are
formed so as to have a height substantially equal to the depth of
the groove 4, the rigidity of the cover 13 in its entirety can be
improved, the width of the groove 5 can be increased, and the width
of the flow channel 6 can be increased, thereby enabling an
increase in the cross-sectional area of the flow channel 6.
[0040] The present embodiment can be used with a reduced plate
thickness by grinding or polishing the top face (surface) of the
cover 13 after the main body 2 and the cover 13 are welded together
until the state shown in FIG. 2 is obtained, that is, until the
entire surface 2a of the main body 2 is exposed.
[0041] Furthermore, the heat exchanger plate according to the
present invention can be applied not only to the backing plate
described in the embodiments above, but also to any object with the
same form or function used in an array formation process.
* * * * *