U.S. patent application number 12/334867 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-17 for curled manifold for evaporator.
This patent application is currently assigned to DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Laurent Art, Kenneth R. Handley, III.
Application Number | 20100147501 12/334867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42239144 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100147501 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Art; Laurent ; et
al. |
June 17, 2010 |
CURLED MANIFOLD FOR EVAPORATOR
Abstract
A manifold for use in a heat exchanger assembly and a method of
forming the manifold is disclosed herein. The assembly includes an
upper manifold defining an interior and having a upper top portion
having an upper opening in the center of said upper top portion. A
partition is inserted through the upper opening to define a
plurality of chambers in the interior. The partition has a
plurality of locking tabs and dimples that abut the upper top
portion. The method starts with the step of forming the upper
manifold defining an interior and having an upper top portion
defining an upper opening in the center of the upper top portion.
The method continues with the step of dividing the upper manifold
to define a plurality of chambers in the interior of the upper
manifold and is finalized by joining the partition and the upper
manifold through a snap fit.
Inventors: |
Art; Laurent;
(Williamsville, NY) ; Handley, III; Kenneth R.;
(Lockport, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC;LEGAL STAFF - M/C 483-400-402
5725 DELPHI DRIVE, PO BOX 5052
TROY
MI
48007
US
|
Assignee: |
DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Troy
MI
|
Family ID: |
42239144 |
Appl. No.: |
12/334867 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/175 ;
165/173; 29/890.052 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 2275/085 20130101;
Y10T 29/49389 20150115; F28F 2275/14 20130101; F28D 1/05391
20130101; F28F 9/0207 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/175 ;
165/173; 29/890.052 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20060101
F28F009/02; B21D 53/02 20060101 B21D053/02 |
Claims
1. A manifold assembly for a heat exchanger: an upper manifold
defining an interior and having a upper top portion and an upper
bottom portion; said upper top portion having an upper opening in
the center of said upper top portion; a partition for insertion
through said upper opening for defining a plurality of chambers in
the interior of said upper manifold; and said partition having a
plurality of spaced projections and said upper bottom portion
having a plurality of spaced upper recesses extending
longitudinally straight along a central axis for accepting said
projections.
2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of
dimples for abutting said upper top portion at the interior of said
upper manifold to form a snap fit through said opening.
3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said partition has a
plurality of spaced and alternating locking tabs for abutting said
upper top portion at the exterior of said upper manifold.
4. The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said dimple has a
ramp-like shape when looking at a plane normal to said
partition.
5. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said upper bottom
portion of said upper manifold define a plurality of spaced upper
tube slots.
6. The assembly as set forth in claim 5 including a plurality of
tubes extending between upper and lower tube ends and parallel and
spaced from one another for defining a plurality of air passages
there between and said upper tube end of each of said tubes is
disposed in one of said upper tube slots of said upper
manifold.
7. The assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a lower manifold
extending in spaced and parallel relationship with said upper
manifold and defining a plurality of lower tube slots being spaced
and aligned with said upper tube slots and said lower tube ends of
each of said tubes extending into corresponding said lower tube
slots of said lower manifold to establish fluid communication
between said passages of said tubes and said lower manifold.
8. The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said tube slots
include a plurality of rows of tube slots one on each side of said
central axis.
9. The assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said tubes include
a plurality of tube rows one on each side of said central axis and
are disposed in said tube slots.
10. The assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said lower
manifold defines an interior and has a lower top portion and a
lower bottom portion and wherein said top portions of said
manifolds have at least one slot.
11. The assembly as set forth in claim 10 including at least one
separator for insertion into said slots in said top portions of
said manifolds to divide the interior of said manifolds into more
than two chambers.
12. The assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said top portions
have a curved shape.
13. The assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said tubes have a
cross-section defining flat sides and round ends.
14. The assembly as set forth in claim 13 including an air fin
disposed between and brazed to of said tubes and extending between
said upper and lower manifolds for dissipating heat from said
tubes.
15. The assembly as set forth in claim 7 including an end cap
disposed on each end of said manifolds.
16. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said partition
defines a plurality of holes for conveying refrigerant through said
manifold.
17. A method of forming a manifold assembly for a heat exchanger
including the steps of: forming an upper manifold defining an
interior and having an upper top potion defining an upper opening
in the center of the upper top portion and an upper bottom portion
defining a plurality of spaced upper tube slots; dividing the upper
manifold to define a plurality of chambers in the interior of the
upper manifold; and joining the partition and the upper
manifold.
18. The method as set forth in claim 17 further including the step
of: wherein said joining step includes projecting a dimple from the
partition and providing an opening in the upper top portion and
elastically forming the opening by sliding the dimple through the
opening.
19. The method as set forth in claim 18 further including the step
of: permanently fixing at least one locking tab disposed on the
partition to the exterior of the upper top portion of the upper
manifold wherein the permanent fixing is further defined as
brazing.
20. The method as set forth in claim 19 further including the step
of: forming a plurality of tubes extending between upper and lower
tube ends and defining a plurality of air passages there
between.
21. The method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step
of: inserting the upper tube end of each tube into one of the upper
tube slots of the upper manifold and to establish fluid
communication between the passages of the tubes and the chambers of
the upper manifold.
22. The method as set forth in claim 21 further including the step
of: forming a lower manifold defining an interior and having an
upper top potion defining and an upper bottom portion defining a
plurality of spaced upper tube slots aligning with the upper tube
slots;
23. The method as set forth in claim 22 further including the step
of: inserting the lower tube end of each of the tubes into the
corresponding lower tube slot of the lower manifold to establish
fluid communication between the passages of each tube and the lower
manifold.
24. The method as set forth in claim 23 further including the step
of: forming an air fin between adjacent tubes to dissipate heat
from the tube.
25. The method as set forth in claim 24 further including the step
of: inserting a separator into the top portions for dividing the
interior of the manifolds into more than two chambers.
26. A heat exchanger assembly comprising: an upper manifold
defining an interior and having an upper top portion and an upper
bottom portion; said top portion having a curved shape and an upper
opening in the center of said upper top portion; a lower manifold
being spaced and parallel from said upper manifold; said upper
bottom portion of said upper manifold defining a plurality of
spaced upper tube slots; said lower manifold defining a plurality
of spaced lower tube slots; a plurality of tubes having flat sides
and extending between upper and lower tube ends in said upper and
lower tube slots and parallel and spaced from one another for
defining a plurality of air passages there between; said tube slots
including a plurality of rows of tube slots one on each side of
said central axis; said tubes include a plurality of tube rows
disposed in said tube slots to define a plurality of passages; an
air fin disposed between and brazed to said flat sides of said
tubes and extending between said upper and lower manifolds for
dissipating heat from said tubes; said lower manifold defining an
interior and having a lower top portion and a lower bottom portion
and said top portions of said manifolds having at least one slot;
at least one separator for insertion into said slots in said top
portions to divide the interior of said manifolds into more than
two chambers; an end cap disposed on each end of said manifolds; a
partition disposed in said upper manifold to define a plurality of
chambers in the interior of said upper manifold; said partition
having a plurality of spaced and alternating locking tabs for
abutting the top portion at the exterior of said upper manifold and
a plurality of spaced dimples for abutting the top portion at the
interior of said upper manifold to form a snap fit through said
opening; said dimples having a ramp-like shape when looking at a
plane normal to said partition; and said partition having a
plurality of spaced projections and said upper bottom portion
having a plurality of spaced upper recesses extending
longitudinally straight for accepting said projections; and said
partition defines a plurality of holes for conveying refrigerant
through said manifold.
27. The assembly as set forth in claim 26 wherein said tubes
including a plurality of tube rows one on each side of said central
axis.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to manifolds having multiple passages.
More specifically, the invention relates to multi-pass
manifolds.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Air-cooling (or heating) cross-counter flow heat exchangers
are often used in applications where space limitations restrict the
surface are of the heat exchanger. Cross-counter flow heat
exchangers typically include a plurality of stacked, assembled
modules, with each module including a pair of spaced manifolds
interconnected by a plurality of spaced and parallel tubes. The
modules are stacked such that air flows in a direction
perpendicular to the face of the heat exchanger, and air fins are
disposed between adjacent pairs of tubes for transferring heat from
the tubes to the passing air. U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,679 granted to
Fisher discloses a heat exchanger having an upper manifold defining
an interior and having an upper top portion and an upper lower
portion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,239 granted to Tsunoda discloses an
upper manifold having a partition.
[0005] There is a need for more efficient heat exchangers and
methods of manufacturing the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In summary, the invention provides a manifold for use in a
heat exchanger assembly and a method of forming the manifold. The
method starts with the step of forming an upper manifold defining
an interior and having an upper top potion defining an upper
opening in the center of the upper top portion and an upper bottom
portion defining a plurality of spaced upper tube slots. The method
is finalized by the step of dividing the upper manifold to define a
plurality of chambers in the interior of the upper manifold and
joining the partition and the upper manifold through a snap
fit.
[0007] The apparatus includes a partition disposed in the upper
manifold to define a plurality of chambers in the interior of the
upper manifold. The partition has a plurality of spaced projections
and a plurality of spaced upper recesses that extend longitudinally
straight along a central axis for accepting the projections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view and exploded view of the
exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view and exploded view of a second
embodiment of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of the upper manifold;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tubes taken along
line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front view of the partition;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the partition of the second
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper manifold;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper manifold including
the partition;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the upper manifold of a
third embodiment; and
[0018] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the upper manifold of the
embodiment of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to the Figures, like numerals indicate
corresponding parts throughout the several views. Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat exchanger assembly is generally shown and
includes an upper manifold 20 defining an interior. Referring to
FIG. 3, the upper manifold 20 has an upper top portion 22 and an
upper bottom portion 24. The upper top portion 22 has a
semi-circular or curved shape and an upper opening 26 in the center
of the upper top portion 22. Referring again to FIG. 2, a lower
manifold 28 is spaced and parallel from the upper manifold 20. The
upper bottom portion 24 of the upper manifold 20 defines a
plurality of spaced upper tube slots 30 and the lower manifold 28
defines a plurality of spaced lower tube slots 32.
[0020] A plurality of tubes 34, each having flat sides 36 and round
ends 68, extend between upper and lower tube ends 38, 40 in the
upper and lower tube slots 30, 32. Each of the tubes 34 extend
parallel and spaced from one another and define a plurality of air
or refrigerant passages 42 there between. The tube slots 30, 32
include a plurality of rows of tube slots 30, 32 one on each side
of said central axis A and the tubes 34 include a plurality of rows
of tubes 34 one on each side of said central axis A and are
disposed in the tube slots 30, 32.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, an air fin 46 is disposed between and
is brazed to the flat sides 36 of the tubes 34. The air fin 46
extends between the upper and lower manifolds 20, 28 for
dissipating heat from the tubes 34. Referring to FIG. 1, an end cap
44 is disposed on each end of the manifolds 20, 28. The lower
manifold 28 further defines an interior and has a lower top portion
60 and a lower bottom portion 62
[0022] A partition 48 is disposed in the upper manifold 20 and
defines a plurality of chambers 50 in the interior of the upper
manifold 20. The partition 48 has a plurality of spaced projections
58. The upper bottom portion 24 has a plurality of spaced upper
recesses 64 extending longitudinally straight for accepting the
projections 58. The partition 48 defines a plurality of holes 56
for conveying refrigerant through the manifold. The holes 56 may be
gradient as shown in FIG. 1, or consistent, as they extend along
the partition 48. The holes 56 may also be any shape or frequency
to facilitate communication between the first and second passes of
the manifolds 20, 28.
[0023] In a second embodiment and as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 9, and
10, the partition 48 has a plurality of spaced and alternating
locking tabs 52 disposed on the opposite end as the projections 58
for abutting the top portion at the exterior of the upper manifold
20. The partition 48 also has a plurality of spaced dimples 54 for
abutting the top portion 22, 60 at the interior of the upper
manifold 20 to form a snap fit through the opening 26. The dimples
54 have a ramp-like shape when looking at a plane normal to the
partition 48 and as shown in FIG. 5. The upper top portion 22 is
made of a material that may bend to allow the dimple 54 of the
partition 48 to be inserted through the opening 26. Further, the
upper top portion 22 and the lower top portion 24 are a single
piece forming the upper manifold 20.
[0024] When applied to an Inlet/Outlet manifold, the partition 48
prevents the refrigerant from flowing from one chamber 50 to
another. When applied to a return manifold, the partition 48
includes holes 56 that allow the refrigerant to flow from one
chamber 50 to the other. The partition 48 also acts as a stiffener
and provides additional strength.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a third embodiment includes a
four pass heat exchanger. The top portions 22, 60 of the manifolds
20, 28 have at least one slot 66 extending from the side opposite
of the locking tabs 52. At least one separator 70 is included for
insertion into the slots 66 in the top portions 22, 60, dividing
the interior of the manifolds 20, 28 into more than two chambers
50.
[0026] The invention also includes a method of forming a manifold
for use in a heat exchanger assembly. The method starts with the
step of forming an upper manifold 20 defining an interior and
having an upper top portion 22 defining an upper opening 26 in the
center of the upper top portion 22 and an upper bottom portion 24
defining a plurality of spaced upper tube slots 30. The method
continues with the step of dividing the upper manifold 20 to define
a plurality of chambers 50 in the interior of the upper manifold
20. The method proceeds with the step of joining the partition 48
and the upper manifold 20. The joining step includes inserting
projections 58 from the partition 48 into spaced recesses 64
defined by the bottom portion of the manifold. The joining step
also includes projecting a dimple 54 from the partition 48 and
providing an opening 26 in the upper top portion 22 and elastically
forming the opening 26 of the upper top portion 22 and sliding the
dimple 54 through the opening 26, creating a snap fit.
[0027] The method continues with the step of permanently fixing the
partition 48 to the upper manifold 20. The method proceeds with the
step of permanently fixing at least one locking tab 52 disposed on
the partition 48 to the exterior of the upper top portion 22 of the
upper manifold 20 wherein the permanent fixing is further defined
as brazing. The method proceeds with the step of forming a
plurality of tubes 34 extending between upper and lower tube ends
38, 40 and defining a plurality of air or refrigerant passages 42.
The method continues with inserting the upper tube ends 38 of each
tube 34 into one of the upper tube slots 30 of the upper manifold
20 to establish fluid communication between the passages 42 of the
tubes 34 and the chambers 50 of the upper manifold 20.
[0028] The method continues with the step of forming a lower
manifold 28 defining an interior and having an lower top portion 60
defining and a lower bottom portion 62 defining a plurality of
spaced upper tube slots 30 aligning with the upper tube slots 30.
The method further continues with the step of inserting the lower
tube end 40 of each of the tubes 34 into the corresponding lower
tube slot 32 of the lower manifold 28 to establish fluid
communication between the passages 42 of each tube 34 and the lower
manifold 28.
[0029] The method proceeds with the step of forming an air fin 46
between adjacent tubes 34 to dissipate heat from the tube 34. The
method is completed with the step of inserting a separator 70 into
the top portions 22, 60 for dividing the interior of the manifolds
20, 28 into more than two chambers 50.
[0030] It is to be understood that "upper" and "lower" as used in
the present application are arbitrary, inasmuch as a heat exchanger
in accordance with the present invention can be oriented in
different directions. Therefore, "upper" and "lower" should be
understood to be used with reference to the orientation of the
manifolds 20, 28 and tubes 34 as shown in the drawings herein, and
is not limiting the orientation of the manifolds 20, 28 or tubes 34
in actual use.
[0031] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope
of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to
adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *