U.S. patent application number 13/772745 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-22 for plate type heat exchanger.
This patent application is currently assigned to VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Ales Hana, Petr Kolder, Eric D. Pierre, Robert Graeme Stewart.
Application Number | 20130213621 13/772745 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48981387 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130213621 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pierre; Eric D. ; et
al. |
August 22, 2013 |
PLATE TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER
Abstract
A plate type heat exchanger of the present invention includes a
heat exchange assembly formed by a plurality of interconnected heat
exchange plates in stacked relationship. Each of the heat exchange
plates includes longitudinal side webs terminating in seating rims
extending toward a longitudinal center axis of the heat exchange
plate. The heat exchange plates are disposed between a bottom cover
and a top cover of the exchanger. The top cover is provided with
couplings at opposite ends for an inlet and an outlet of
refrigerant. Each end of the heat exchange assembly, with
longitudinal openings of passageways formed between the heat
exchange plates, is provided with a manifold having an aperture for
a passage of cooled air therethrough.
Inventors: |
Pierre; Eric D.; (Montcy
Notre Dame, FR) ; Kolder; Petr; (Novy Jicin, CZ)
; Stewart; Robert Graeme; (Warwickshire, GB) ;
Hana; Ales; (Koprivnice, CZ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES,
INC.
Van Buren Twp.
MI
|
Family ID: |
48981387 |
Appl. No.: |
13/772745 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 9/0043 20130101;
F28F 3/08 20130101; F28F 2009/029 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/166 |
International
Class: |
F28F 3/08 20060101
F28F003/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 21, 2012 |
CZ |
PV2012-128 |
Claims
1. A plate type heat exchanger, comprising: a heat exchange
assembly formed by a plurality of heat exchange plates in stacked
relationship, wherein each of the heat exchange plates includes a
web extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the heat
exchange plate, the web terminating in a seating rim extending
toward a longitudinal center axis of the heat exchange plate.
2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange plates
are substantially identical.
3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange plates
are disposed between a first cover and a second cover of the heat
exchanger.
4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchange plates
are joined at the seating rims.
5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a manifold
coupled to at least one end of the heat exchange assembly, wherein
the manifold includes an aperture formed therein to permit a fluid
to be received into the heat exchange assembly.
6. The heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein the manifold has a height
corresponding to a spacing between an edge of the heat exchanger
and another opposite edge of the heat exchanger.
7. The heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein the manifold is provided
with at least one attachment mechanism configured to cooperate with
at least one of a first cover and a second cover of the heat
exchanger for attachment to the at least one of the first cover and
the second cover of the heat exchanger.
8. The heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein the manifold has a
generally multilateral truncated pyramid shape.
9. A plate type heat exchanger, comprising: a first cover having an
outwardly extending peripheral rim; a second cover having an
outwardly extending peripheral rim; and a heat exchange assembly
disposed between the first cover and the second cover, the heat
exchange assembly formed by a plurality of heat exchange plates in
stacked relationship and configured to receive a first fluid
therein, wherein each of the heat exchange plates includes a web
extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the heat
exchange plate, the web terminating in a seating rim extending
toward a longitudinal center axis of the heat exchange plate, and
wherein one of the heat exchange plates is joined to an adjacent
one of the heat exchange plates along the seating rims thereof.
10. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein the heat exchange plates
are substantially identical.
11. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of at
least one of the first cover and the second cover has a width
greater than a width of the heat exchange assembly.
12. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of at
least one of the first cover and the second cover adjacent an end
of the heat exchange assembly has a width substantially equal to a
width of the heat exchange assembly.
13. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein at least one of the
first cover and the second cover is provided with at least one
coupling to permit the first fluid to be received into the heat
exchange assembly.
14. The heat exchanger of claim 9, further comprising a manifold
coupled to at least one end of the heat exchange assembly, wherein
the manifold includes an aperture formed therein to permit a second
fluid to be received into the heat exchange assembly.
15. The heat exchanger of claim 14, wherein the manifold has a
height corresponding to a spacing between a free edge of the
peripheral rim of the first cover and a free edge of the peripheral
rim of the second cover of the heat exchanger.
16. The heat exchanger of claim 14, wherein the manifold is
provided with at least one attachment mechanism configured to
cooperate with at least one of the peripheral rim of the first
cover and the peripheral rim of the second cover for attachment to
the at least one of the peripheral rim of the first cover and the
peripheral rim of the second cover.
17. The heat exchanger of claim 14, wherein the manifold has a
generally multilateral truncated pyramid shape.
18. A plate type heat exchanger, comprising: a first cover having
an outwardly extending peripheral rim; a second cover having an
outwardly extending peripheral rim, wherein at least one of the
first cover and the second cover is provided with at least one
coupling to permit a first fluid to be received into the heat
exchanger; a heat exchange assembly disposed between the first
cover and the second cover, the heat exchange assembly formed by a
plurality of heat exchange plates in stacked relationship, wherein
each of the heat exchange plates includes a web extending along at
least a portion of a periphery of the heat exchange plate, the web
terminating in a seating rim extending toward a longitudinal center
axis of the heat exchange plate, and wherein one of the heat
exchange plates is joined to an adjacent one of the heat exchange
plates along the seating rims thereof; and a manifold coupled to at
least one of a first end and a second end of the heat exchange
assembly, the manifold including an aperture formed therein to
permit a second fluid to be received into the heat exchange
assembly.
19. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of
at least one of the first cover and the second cover has a width
greater than a width of the heat exchange assembly.
20. The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of
at least one of the first cover and the second cover adjacent at
least one of the first end and the second end of the heat exchange
assembly has a width substantially equal to a width of the heat
exchange assembly.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to Czech Republic Patent
Application No. PV 2012-128 filed on Feb. 21, 2012, hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The invention concerns a plate heat exchanger, and more
particularly to a plate type heat exchanger for cooling of
compressed air in motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Plate type heat exchangers are commonly known in the art.
One such plate type heat exchanger is disclosed in U.S. Pat. App.
Pub. No. 2006/0011333A1. The plate type heat exchanger includes a
heat exchange assembly formed by a system of two different types of
interconnected heat exchange plates. The first heat exchange plate
is a plate with low longitudinal side webs terminating in seating
rims oriented toward the longitudinal center axis of the heat
exchange plate. The second heat exchange plate is a horizontal
plate, having a width corresponding to a width of the first heat
exchange plate. The second heat exchange plate is placed on the
seating rims of the first heat exchange plate and connected
thereto. The system of the two heat exchange plates are connected
and stacked to form the heat exchange assembly. The heat exchange
assembly is then placed between a bottom cover and a top cover of
the exchanger. The top cover is provided with couplings at opposite
ends for an inlet and an outlet of refrigerant. Each end of the
heat exchange assembly, with longitudinal openings of passageways
formed between the heat exchange plates, is provided with a
manifold with an aperture for a passage of cooling air. A drawback
of the plate type heat exchanger is that two different types of
heat exchange plates are required to produce the heat exchange
assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In concordance and agreement with the present invention, a
plate type heat exchanger including a plurality of interconnected
heat exchange plates in stack relationship which minimizes a cost
and complexity of manufacture, as well as an overall weight of the
exchanger, has surprisingly been discovered.
[0005] The problems associated with the prior art plate type heat
exchanger are solved by the plate type heat exchanger of the
present invention. The plate type heat exchanger according to an
embodiment the present invention includes a heat exchange assembly
formed from stacked and interconnected heat exchange plates. The
heat exchange plates include low longitudinal side webs terminating
in seating rims oriented toward the longitudinal center axis of the
heat exchange plate. The heat exchange plates are placed between a
bottom cover and a top cover of the exchanger. The top cover is
provided with couplings at opposite ends for an inlet and an outlet
of refrigerant. Each end of the heat exchange assembly, with
longitudinal openings of passageways formed between the heat
exchange plates, is provided with a manifold with an aperture for a
passage of cooled air. According to the invention, the heat
exchange assembly is formed from an even number of identical heat
exchange plates which are assembled into closely adjoining pairs of
heat exchange plates. The heat exchange plates are joined by the
seating rims on the longitudinal lateral webs. Each of the covers
formed by a plate with an outwardly oriented peripheral rim has a
width greater than a width of the heat exchange assembly. Only in
regions at the ends of the heat exchange assembly is the width of
the covers equal to the width of the heat exchange assembly for
connecting a manifold to end parts of the covers and tight seating
on the sides of the heat exchange assembly.
[0006] The essence of the plate type heat exchanger is that each of
the manifolds has a height corresponding to a spacing between a
free edge of the peripheral rim of the bottom cover and a free edge
of the peripheral rim of the top cover. For connection to the
opposite ends of the heat exchange assembly, each of the manifolds
is provided with one or more attachment mechanisms such as a set of
snaps, for example, configured to interact with the peripheral rims
on the respective end parts of the covers.
[0007] It must also be considered as being essential to this
solution that the manifold has a multilateral truncated pyramid
shape, for example, between the parts for connection to the heat
exchange assembly with the covers and the aperture for intake or
delivery of the cooled air.
[0008] An advantage of the plate type heat exchanger according to
the invention is the need to manufacture only one type of heat
exchange plate, one type of cover, and one type of manifold.
[0009] Another advantage is the simplified method of sealing and
connecting the manifolds to the opposite ends between the covers of
the heat exchange assembly. Furthermore, it is not necessary to use
side covers (not shown) in this design, as is required in prior art
exchanger systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above, as well as other advantages of the present
invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following detailed description, when considered in the
light of the accompanying drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled plate exchanger
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the plate
exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of two oppositely
oriented heat exchange plates, which are ready to be joined
together by means of longitudinal seating rims, wherein portions of
the longitudinal seating rims are shown in detail;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the heat exchange
plate illustrated in FIG. 3B;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the heat exchange assembly
of the exchanger arranged between a top cover and a bottom cover,
showing a corner of the heat exchange assembly in detail;
[0016] FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of the top cover,
showing an upper surface of the top cover and a lower surface of
the top cover, respectively, and features of mounting the covers
for fitting an edge of a manifold in detail;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane A-A of
FIG. 1, showing an upper corner part of the exchanger in detail;
and
[0018] FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective views of the bottom cover,
showing an upper surface of the bottom cover and a lower surface of
the bottom cover, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The following detailed description describes various
exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description enables one
skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is not
intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
[0020] FIGS. 1-2 show a plate type heat exchanger according to the
present invention. The exchanger shown is designed especially for
motor vehicles. It is understood, however, that the exchanger may
be used in other applications as desired. The exchanger includes a
heat exchange assembly 1 formed from stacked and interconnected
heat exchange plates 2 (see FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4). The heat exchange
plates 2 with low longitudinal side webs 3 terminating in seating
rims 4 oriented toward the longitudinal center axis of the heat
exchange plate 2.
[0021] The heat exchange assembly 1 is placed between a bottom
cover 5 and a top cover 6 of the exchanger (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The
top cover 6 is provided with couplings 7 at opposite ends for an
inlet and an outlet of refrigerant.
[0022] Each end of the heat exchange assembly 1, with longitudinal
openings of passageways formed between the heat exchange plates 2,
is provided with a manifold 8 (see FIGS. 1-2) with an aperture for
a passage of cooled air.
[0023] As a non-limiting example, the heat exchange assembly 1
includes an even number of identical heat exchange plates 2
assembled (connected) into closely adjoining pairs of heat exchange
plates 2. The heat exchange plates 2 are joined together by the
seating rims 4 on the longitudinal lateral webs 3 (see FIG. 5).
[0024] Each of the covers 5, 6 formed by a plate with the outwardly
oriented peripheral rim 9 (see FIGS. 6A, 6B, 8A, 8B) has a width
greater than a width of the heat exchange assembly 2. Only in
regions at the ends of the heat exchange assembly 2 is the width of
the covers 5, 6 equal to the width of the heat exchange assembly 2
for connecting the manifolds 8 to the end parts of the covers 5, 6
and their tight seating on the sides of the heat exchange assembly
1.
[0025] Each of the manifolds 8 advantageously has a multilateral
truncated pyramid shape between the parts for connection to the
heat exchange assembly 1 with the covers 5, 6 and an aperture for
passage of the cooled air.
[0026] From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in
the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this
invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof,
can make various changes and modifications to the invention to
adapt it to various usages and conditions.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0027] 1 heat exchange assembly [0028] 2 heat exchange plate [0029]
3 lateral web [0030] 4 seating rim [0031] 5 bottom cover [0032] 6
top cover [0033] 7 coupling [0034] 8 manifold [0035] 9 peripheral
rim [0036] 10 snap
* * * * *