U.S. patent application number 13/457369 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-01 for integrated condenser-accumulator-subcooler assembly for vehicles.
Invention is credited to Gabriele Maione, Davide Perocchio, Giuseppe Tiziano.
Application Number | 20120273179 13/457369 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44554210 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120273179 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tiziano; Giuseppe ; et
al. |
November 1, 2012 |
INTEGRATED CONDENSER-ACCUMULATOR-SUBCOOLER ASSEMBLY FOR
VEHICLES
Abstract
Heat exchange assembly for vehicles, comprising a condenser and
a plate subcooler, and an accumulator having an accumulator inlet
and an accumulator outlet. The condenser and the subcooler are
connected to one another in such a way as to form a single pack of
plates. The accumulator is defined by a plurality of through
apertures formed through the plates, and aligned with one another.
In the accumulator, a filter is arranged, comprising a cage support
and a filtering medium arranged on the cage support. The cage
support has a first end provided with a sealing lip formation
adapted to elastically engage the edges of the through apertures
defining the accumulator, and a second end provided with a spacer
adapted to engage a bottom of the accumulator so as to set the
position of the sealing formation between the accumulator inlet and
the accumulator outlet.
Inventors: |
Tiziano; Giuseppe; (Poirino
(Torino), IT) ; Maione; Gabriele; (Poirino (Torino),
IT) ; Perocchio; Davide; (Poirino (Torino),
IT) |
Family ID: |
44554210 |
Appl. No.: |
13/457369 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2339/043 20130101;
F25B 43/003 20130101; F25B 40/02 20130101; F28D 9/005 20130101;
F25B 2339/044 20130101; B60H 1/3227 20130101; F25B 39/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/166 |
International
Class: |
F28F 3/08 20060101
F28F003/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 27, 2011 |
IT |
TO2011 A000366 |
Claims
1. A heat exchange assembly for vehicles, comprising a condenser
having a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, said condenser
having a body formed by a pack of condenser plates secured to one
another and defining cavities between a pair of plates and the
other for refrigerant fluid to flow therebetween, wherein inlet
passages for fluidically connecting said cavities to the condenser
inlet and outlet passages for fluidically connecting said cavities
to the condenser outlet are formed on said condenser plates; an
accumulator having an accumulator inlet in fluid connection with
the condenser outlet, and an accumulator outlet, and including a
filter inserted within the accumulator; and a subcooler having a
subcooler inlet in fluid connection with the accumulator outlet,
and a subcooler outlet, said subcooler having a body formed by a
pack of subcooler plates secured to one another and defining
cavities between a pair of plates and the other for refrigerant
fluid to flow therebetween, wherein inlet passages for fluidically
connecting said cavities to the subcooler inlet and outlet passages
for fluidically connecting said cavities to the subcooler outlet
are formed on said subcooler plates; wherein said condenser and
said subcooler are connected to one another in such a way as to
form a single pack of plates; wherein said accumulator is defined
by a plurality of through apertures formed through said plates, and
aligned with one another when said plates are in packing
relationship; wherein at least one of said outlet passages of the
condenser plates is formed coplanarly with a respective one of said
condenser plates, and constitutes the condenser outlet, being in
fluid connection with the accumulator inlet; and wherein at least
one of said inlet passages of the subcooler plates is formed
coplanarly with a respective one of said subcooler plates and
constitutes the subcooler inlet, being in fluid connection with the
accumulator outlet; characterized in that said filter comprises a
cage support and a filtering medium arranged on said cage support,
said cage support having a first end provided with sealing means
adapted to elastically engage the edges of said through apertures
defining the accumulator, and a second end provided with spacer
means adapted to engage a bottom of the accumulator so as to set
the position of the sealing means between the accumulator inlet and
the accumulator outlet, in such a way as that the accumulator inlet
and the accumulator outlet are in mutual fluid connection only
through the filtering medium.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means
comprise a sealing lip formation arranged circumferentially on the
first end of the cage support.
3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said accumulator is
fluidically separated from said cavities for refrigerant fluid to
flow by means of projecting portions of the plates surrounding each
of the through apertures of the plates and are sealingly joined to
one another when the plates are in packing relationship, and
wherein the condenser outlet and the subcooler inlet are formed
through said projecting portions of the plates, being located in a
length of the projecting portions of the plates interposed between
said accumulator and said cavities, and extending in a direction
which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of said plates.
4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the last condenser
plate and the first subcooler plate constitute connection plates
fluidically separating said condenser from said subcooler, and
wherein the outlet passages constituting the condenser outlet and
the inlet passages constituting the subcooler inlet are formed at
least on said connection plates.
5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein, with the exception of
the condenser outlet and the subcooler inlet, the inlet and outlet
passages of the condenser plates and the subcooler plates are
constituted by through apertures formed through said condenser
plates and subcooler plates.
6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein, with said plates in
packing relationship, the through apertures constituting the inlet
passages of the condenser plates are arranged aligned with one
another, defining a condenser inlet header; the through apertures
constituting the inlet passages of the subcooler plates are
arranged aligned with one another, defining a subcooler inlet
header, the through apertures constituting the outlet passages of
the condenser plates are arranged aligned with one another,
defining a condenser outlet header; and the through apertures
constituting the outlet passages of the subcooler plates are
arranged aligned with one another, defining a subcooler outlet
header.
7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein said inlet and outlet
headers and said accumulator are arranged at one side end of the
heat exchange assembly.
8. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the through apertures
constituting the inlet and outlet passages are formed through
punched recesses formed on the plates, the connection plates having
corresponding punched blind recesses.
9. A filter accumulator for a plate heat exchanger, wherein said
plate heat exchanger comprises an accumulator defined by a
plurality of through apertures, aligned with one another and formed
through plates of the heat exchanger, characterized in that said
filter comprises a cage support and a filtering medium arranged on
said cage support, said cage support having a first end provided
with sealing means adapted to elastically engage the edges of said
through apertures defining the accumulator, and a second end
provided with spacer means adapted to engage a bottom of the
accumulator so as to set the position of the sealing means within
the accumulator.
10. A filter according to claim 9, wherein said sealing means
comprise a sealing lip formation arranged circumferentially on the
first end of the cage support.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of Italian patent
application number TO2011A000366, filed Apr. 27, 2011, which is
herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a heat exchange assembly
for vehicles, comprising:
[0004] a condenser having a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet,
said condenser having a body formed by a pack of condenser plates
secured to one another and defining cavities between a pair of
plates and the other for refrigerant fluid to flow therebetween,
wherein inlet passages for fluidically connecting said cavities to
the condenser inlet and outlet passages for fluidically connecting
said cavities to the condenser outlet are formed on said condenser
plates;
[0005] an accumulator having an accumulator inlet in fluid
connection with the condenser outlet, and an accumulator outlet,
and including a filter inserted within the accumulator; and
[0006] a subcooler having a subcooler inlet in fluid connection
with the accumulator outlet, and a subcooler outlet, said subcooler
having a body formed by a pack of subcooler plates secured to one
another and defining cavities between a plate pair and the other
for refrigerant fluid to flow therebetween, wherein inlet passages
for fluidically connecting said cavities to the subcooler inlet and
outlet passages for fluidically connecting said cavities to the
subcooler outlet are formed on said subcooler plates;
[0007] wherein said condenser and said subcooler are connected to
one another in such a way as to form a single pack of plates;
[0008] wherein said accumulator is defined by a plurality of
through apertures formed through said plates, and aligned with one
another when said plates are in packing relationship;
[0009] wherein at least one of said outlet passages of the
condenser plates is formed coplanarly with a respective one of said
condenser plates and constitutes the condenser outlet, being in
fluid connection with the accumulator inlet; and
[0010] wherein at least one of said inlet passages of the subcooler
plates is formed coplanarly with a respective one of said subcooler
plates and constitutes the subcooler inlet, being in fluid
connection with the accumulator outlet.
[0011] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0012] The conventional condensers for automotive uses, inserted in
the conventional refrigerant circuit, are air-refrigerant heat
exchangers.
[0013] Such condensers are exchangers with welded elements, and are
produced with jacketed fins and extruded tubes, and have integrated
accumulators and filtering systems.
[0014] In recent years, water-cooled condensers (WCDS) have been
developed, to be inserted in a low temperature refrigerant circuit
(LTCL).
[0015] Such low temperature circuits are constantly under
development, due to the increasing demand of the automotive market
and the needs for a reduction of pollutant emissions and fuel
consumption.
[0016] The LTCL circuit is a circuit which is separated from the
engine refrigerant circuit, composed by a dedicated radiator, an
electric water pump, and a number of auxiliary heat exchangers.
Such circuit operates at low temperatures of the refrigerant
(.about.50.degree. C.), in order to cool the intercooler,
condenser, EGR cooler and the electronics for hybrid or electric
vehicles.
[0017] The advantages of the LTCL systems are as follows:
[0018] simplification of the architecture of the conditioning
system and a low condensation pressure (with consequent low fuel
consumption and reduced pollutant emissions);
[0019] simplification and standardization of the vehicle front
part;
[0020] simplification of the air charge architecture, lower
temperature of the air charge, lower pressure drop of the air
charge;
[0021] flexibility of the system in integrating other components,
such as automatic transmission oil cooler (ATOC), EGR cooler,
electronics cooler;
[0022] better ability in thermal management.
[0023] In the LTCL circuit field, plate condensers and subcoolers
have been developed with a separated modulator.
[0024] Such technique involves some drawbacks:
[0025] undue weight and sizes, due to the use of multiple separate
components;
[0026] increase of the annual refrigerant loss, due to the high
number of connections between condenser and modulator, and between
modulator and subcooler (in this regards, it shall be noted that
the new European standards require a radical reduction of such
losses).
[0027] FR 2 947 041 discloses a heat exchange assembly of the type
defined at the beginning. Such exchanger assembly is an integrated
assembly comprising a condenser, a subcooler, and an accumulator,
in which a filter is included.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0028] An object of the present invention is to provide a heat
exchange assembly for vehicles which is able to at least partially
obviate the above-listed drawbacks. A particular object is to
provide a heat exchange assembly for vehicles wherein the
arrangement of the filter within the accumulator is carried out
easily and in an inexpensive manner.
[0029] Such objects are achieved according to the invention by a
heat exchange assembly of the type defined at the beginning,
wherein said filter comprises a cage support and a filtering medium
arranged on said cage support, said cage support having a first end
provided with sealing means adapted to elastically engage the edges
of said through apertures defining the accumulator, and a second
end provided with spacer means adapted to engage a bottom of the
accumulator so as to set the position of the sealing means between
the accumulator inlet and the accumulator outlet, in such a way as
that the accumulator inlet and the accumulator outlet are in mutual
fluid connection only through the filtering medium.
[0030] Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the
dependant claims, which are to be meant as an integral part of the
present description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] Further characteristics and advantages of the heat exchange
assembly according to the invention will be more clearly understood
from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the
finding, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which
are given by way of illustrative, non-limiting example only, in
which:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchange assembly
according to the invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the exchanger
assembly of FIG. 1;
[0034] FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale view of a part of the exchanger
assembly of FIG. 2, indicated by the arrow III;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a further enlarged scale view of a detail of FIG.
3;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a filter for the exchanger
assembly of FIG. 1; and
[0037] FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the exchanger
assembly of FIG. 1, which show an initial step and a final step of
the installation of the filter of FIG. 5 in an accumulator of the
heat exchange assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] With reference to the FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat exchange
assembly for vehicles is indicated 10. The assembly 10 is formed by
a single, indivisible constructive unit, which performs the
function of a condenser and subcooler for an LTCL circuit, with an
accumulator fluidically interposed therebetween. Conventionally,
the condenser cools the gaseous refrigerant coming from the
radiator, and partially condensates it to liquid refrigerant. The
accumulator (also known as modulator or liquid receiver) separates
the liquid and gaseous refrigerants, and sends the liquid
refrigerant to the subcooler. The subcooler further cools the
liquid refrigerant in order to increase the enthalpy thereof.
[0039] The refrigerant fluid path through the condenser, the
accumulator, and the subcooler is represented by arrows in the
Figures.
[0040] Therefore, the exchanger assembly 10 comprises a condenser
20, having a condenser inlet 21 and a condenser outlet 22 for the
refrigerant. In the Figures, a condenser water inlet CWI and a
condenser water outlet CWO are further represented, for the
refrigerant cooling water. The water path in the condenser is not
an object of the present invention; therefore, it is not described
herein.
[0041] The condenser 20 has a body formed by a pack of condenser
plates 23 secured to one another and defining cavities between a
pair of plates 23, 23 and the other for refrigerant fluid to flow.
As it can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, in the illustrated
example, each pair of plates comprises two plates connected by
crimping to one another, and defining a cavity therebetween for the
water to flow, which is not visible in the Figures. Instead, the
refrigerant fluid flow cavities are shown open, due to the exploded
view, and they will be described in more detail herein below. As it
can be appreciated, the cavities for water are alternated to the
refrigerant fluid cavities, and the plates 23 thereby define the
thermal exchange surfaces between the two fluids. In the finished
product, the plates 23 are conventionally welded to one
another.
[0042] Each of the cavities for refrigerant fluid to flow is formed
by two cavity halves that are substantially specular, formed on
adjacent plates 23. In the Figures, only one of the halves of each
cavity is visible, indicated 24. As it can be seen, each cavity
half 24 is formed by a depressed portion of the corresponding plate
23 having a U-shaped path extending along such plate, and obtained,
for example, by means of plastic deformation of the material of the
plate itself. More generally, the plates have a corrugated, or
anyhow variably convoluted section, in order to define the thermal
exchange surfaces, the paths, and the cavities in a desired
shape.
[0043] Inlet passages 25 are formed on the condenser plates 23, to
put the refrigerant cavities in fluidic communication with the
condenser inlet 21, and outlet passages 27, 27' to put such
cavities in fluidic communication with the condenser outlet 22. One
of the outlet passages, indicated 27', in fact constitutes the
condenser outlet 22. Such outlet passage 27' is formed coplanarly
to the corresponding condenser plate 23, as it can be seen in
particular in FIG. 4.
[0044] With the exception of the condenser outlet, the inlet and
outlet passages 25, 27 of the condenser plates 23 are constituted
by through apertures formed through the condenser plates 23, on
which the ends of the refrigerant fluid flow cavities are directly
open.
[0045] In the packing condition of the plates 23, the through
apertures constituting the inlet passages 25 of the condenser
plates 23 are arranged aligned with one another, defining a
condenser inlet header, in fluid connection with the condenser
inlet 21, and the through apertures constituting the outlet
passages 27 of the condenser plates 23 are arranged aligned with
one another defining a condenser outlet header, in fluid connection
with the condenser outlet 22. The above-mentioned inlet and outlet
headers are arranged at one side end of the heat exchange
assembly.
[0046] The exchange assembly 10 then comprises an accumulator 30
having an accumulator inlet 31 in fluid connection with the
condenser outlet 22, and an accumulator outlet 32, which are
visible in particular in the FIGS. 6 and 7. Such accumulator will
be described in more detail herein below.
[0047] The exchange assembly 10 further comprises a plate subcooler
40. The subcooler 40 has a subcooler inlet 41 and a subcooler
outlet 42 for the refrigerant. In FIG. 1, a subcooler water inlet
SWI and a subcooler water outlet SWO are further represented, for
the refrigerant cooling water. The water path in the subcooler is
not an object of the present invention; therefore, it is not
described herein.
[0048] The subcooler 40 is connected to the condenser 20 in such a
way as to form a single pack of plates. From a structural point of
view, in fact, the subcooler is composed by unitary elements that
are substantially the same as those of the condenser 20. The last
condenser plate and the first subcooler plate constitute so-called
connection plates, fluidically separating the condenser 20 from the
subcooler 40. In FIG. 3, the connection plates are composed of the
central pair of plates, looking top-down. In FIG. 4, such
connection plates are represented in a further enlarged scale,
together with the pair of subcooler plates contiguous thereto.
[0049] The subcooler 40 has a body formed by a pack of subcooler
plates 43 secured to one another and defining cavities between a
pair of plates 43, 43 and the other for the refrigerant fluid to
flow. As it can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, in the illustrated
example, each pair of plates comprises two plates connected by
crimping to one another, and defining a cavity for the water to
flow therebetween, which is not visible in the Figures. Instead,
the refrigerant fluid flow cavities are shown open, due to the
exploded view, and they will be described in more detail herein
below. As it can be appreciated, the water cavities are alternated
to the refrigerant fluid cavities, and the plates 43 thereby define
thermal exchange surfaces between the two fluids. In the finished
product, the subcooler plates 43 are conventionally welded to one
another, together with the condenser plates 23.
[0050] Each of the cavities for the refrigerant fluid to flow is
formed by two cavity halves that are substantially specular, formed
on adjacent subcooler plates 43. In the Figures, only one of the
halves of each cavity is visible, indicated 44. As it can be seen,
each cavity half 44 is formed by a depressed portion of the
corresponding plate 43, having a U-shaped path extending along such
plate, and obtained for example by plastic deformation of the
material of the plate itself. More generally, the plates have a
corrugated, or anyhow variably convoluted section, in order to
define thermal exchange surfaces, the passages, and the cavities in
a desired shape.
[0051] Inlet passages 45, 45' are formed on the subcooler plates
43, in order to put the refrigerant cavities in fluidic
communication with the subcooler inlet 41, and outlet passages 47
in order to put such cavities in fluidic communication with the
subcooler outlet 42. One of the inlet passages, indicated 45', in
fact constitutes the subcooler inlet 41. Such inlet passage 45' is
formed coplanarly to the corresponding subcooler plate 43, as it
can be seen in particular in FIG. 4.
[0052] As it can be seen in the FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7, the outlet
passages 27' constituting the condenser outlet 22/accumulator inlet
31 and the inlet passages 45' constituting the subcooler inlet
41/accumulator outlet 32 are formed at least on the connection
plates between the condenser and the subcooler.
[0053] With the exception of the subcooler inlet/accumulator
outlet, the inlet and outlet passages 45, 47 of the subcooler
plates 43 are constituted by through apertures formed through the
subcooler plates 43, on which the ends of the refrigerant fluid
flow cavities are directly open.
[0054] In the packing condition of the subcooler plates 43, the
through apertures constituting the inlet passages 55 of the
subcooler plates 43 are arranged aligned with one another, defining
a subcooler inlet header, in fluid connection with the subcooler
inlet 41, and the through apertures constituting the outlet
passages 47 of the subcooler plates 43 are arranged aligned with
one another, defining a subcooler outlet header, in fluid
connection with the subcooler outlet 42. The above-mentioned inlet
and outlet headers are arranged at one side end of the heat
exchange assembly.
[0055] The accumulator 30 is defined by a plurality of through
apertures 35 formed through the condenser 23 and subcooler 43
plates, and aligned with one another when such plates 23, 43 are in
packing relationship. The accumulator 30 is arranged at one side
end of the heat exchange assembly, in the proximity of the inlet
and outlet headers of the condenser and the subcooler.
[0056] The accumulator 30 is fluidically separated from the
refrigerant fluid flow cavities by means of projecting portions 29,
49 of the plates 23 and 43 surrounding the through apertures 35 of
the plates 23 and 43, and are sealingly joined to one another when
the plates are in the packing condition. The projection
relationship is defined in the direction perpendicular to the
planes of the plates, relative to the depressed portions 24, 44
forming the cavities between the plates. The condenser outlet
22/accumulator inlet 31 and the subcooler inlet 41/accumulator
outlet 32 are formed through the projecting portions 29, 49 of some
of the plates 23, 43, in particular the projecting portions of the
connection plates between the condenser and the subcooler. The
condenser outlet 22/accumulator inlet 31 and the subcooler inlet
41/accumulator outlet 32 are located in a length of the projecting
portions interposed between the accumulator 30 and the cavities,
and extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of
the plates, as it can be seen in particular in FIG. 4.
[0057] The through apertures constituting the inlet 25, 45 and
outlet passages 27, 47 of the condenser and subcooler plates are
formed through corresponding punched recesses 25a, 45a, 27a, 47a
formed on the plates at the ends of the depressed portions 24, 44.
Corresponding punched blind recesses 25a', 27a' are arranged at the
connection plates (in the Figures, only the punched blind recesses
of the condenser side of the connection plates are visible, while
those at the subcooler side are hidden), arranged aligned with the
other punched recesses, and precisely free from apertures, since
the fluid passages are arranged coplanarly to the plates, directly
connecting the depressed portion 24, 44 to the through opening 35
of the accumulator of the corresponding plate. Such arrangement
actually simplifies the manufacturing process of the heat exchanger
plates, since the plates are practically the same, with the only
difference characterizing the connection plates, where the punched
recesses are free from through apertures, and where the condenser
outlet and subcooler inlet passages are formed, arranged coplanarly
to the plates (it shall be clear that such outlet and inlet
passages can be also formed in the corresponding condenser and
subcooler plates, arranged in contact with the connection plates,
as in the illustrated example--see in particular the FIGS. 4, 6,
and 7).
[0058] As it can be seen in the FIGS. 5 to 7, the assembly 10
further includes a filter 50 inserted within the accumulator 30.
Such filter 50 comprises a cage support 51 and a filtering medium
53 arranged on the cage support 51. The filtering medium acts to
hold optional foreign material which can be present in the
refrigerant fluid.
[0059] The cage support 51 has a first end 55 provided with sealing
means 56 adapted to elastically engage the edges of the through
apertures 35 defining the accumulator 30, and a second end 57
provided with spacer means 58 adapted to engage a bottom of the
accumulator 30 so as to set the position of the sealing means 56
between the accumulator inlet 31 and the accumulator outlet 32, in
such a way as that the accumulator inlet and outlet are in mutual
fluidic connection only through the filtering medium 53.
[0060] Preferably, the sealing means comprise a sealing lip
formation arranged circumferentially/peripherally on the first end
55 of the cage support 51.
[0061] The spacer means can be constituted by axially projecting
formations, arranged on the second end 56 of the cage support 51.
The axial extent of such spacer means is advantageously sizeable as
a function of the number of plates and the arrangement of the
accumulator inlet and outlet, and, therefore, as a function of the
accumulator 30 axial dimensions.
[0062] The installation of the filter takes place as illustrated in
the FIGS. 6 and 7, which represent cross sections of the exchanger,
taken along the accumulator. The filter 50 is inserted in the
accumulator 30 from its condenser side end, through the through
opening 35 of the first condenser plate 23 (FIG. 6). During the
installation process, the sealing lip formation 56 engage in
sequence the edges of the through apertures of the plates through
which the filter passes, while advancing towards the accumulator
bottom, repeatedly flexing and bouncing back in a resting
condition. When the spacer means abut against the accumulator
bottom (FIG. 7), the filter movement halts, and the sealing lip
formation comes to be correctly positioned between the accumulator
inlet and outlet, engaging the edges of the through opening 35
associated to the connection plates between condenser and
subcooler.
[0063] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the
present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention
may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and
the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
* * * * *