U.S. patent application number 13/885253 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-05 for heat exchanger.
This patent application is currently assigned to T.RAD CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Shozo Fuji, Ryuji Kanzaka. Invention is credited to Shozo Fuji, Ryuji Kanzaka.
Application Number | 20130228307 13/885253 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45446092 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130228307 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kanzaka; Ryuji ; et
al. |
September 5, 2013 |
HEAT EXCHANGER
Abstract
A positioning protruding portion (86b) that protrudes toward a
fluid side cup plate (81) side and is to be fitted into a
positioning hole (81a) formed through the fluid side cup plate (81)
is formed in a base plate (86) in a position opposite, in the
stacking direction, fluid flow hole portions (80b, 82b) formed in
cup plates (80, 82) for introducing fluid (Fld) into a fluid flow
layer (90) that contacts the base plate (86).
Inventors: |
Kanzaka; Ryuji;
(Miyoshi-shi, JP) ; Fuji; Shozo; (Toyota-shi,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kanzaka; Ryuji
Fuji; Shozo |
Miyoshi-shi
Toyota-shi |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
T.RAD CO., LTD.
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
JP
TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken
JP
|
Family ID: |
45446092 |
Appl. No.: |
13/885253 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
November 14, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2011/002683 |
371 Date: |
May 14, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 3/08 20130101; F28D
2021/0089 20130101; F01P 11/08 20130101; F28D 2021/0049 20130101;
F01M 5/002 20130101; F28F 2280/06 20130101; F28D 9/005 20130101;
F28D 9/0043 20130101; F28F 2280/04 20130101; F28F 2225/02 20130101;
F28F 9/0075 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/76 |
International
Class: |
F28F 3/08 20060101
F28F003/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2010 |
JP |
2010255423 |
Claims
1. A vehicle heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of cup plates
arranged such that a first layered space into which a first heat
carrier is introduced and a second layered space into which a
second heat carrier is introduced are defined alternately between
the plurality of cup plates when the plurality of cup plates are
stacked, and in which peripheral end portions of the plurality of
cup plates are fixed together in a liquid-tight manner; and a base
plate that is thicker than the cup plates and on which the cup
plates are stacked in order, wherein the vehicle heat exchanger
performs heat exchange between the first heat carrier and the
second heat carrier; the plurality of cup plates is provided with a
heat carrier flow hole portion to introduce the heat carrier into
one of the first layered space and the second layered space; the
one of the first layered space and the second layered space
contacts the base plate; the base plate includes a positioning
protruding portion; the positioning protruding portion is arranged
in a position facing the heat carrier flow hole portion, in a
stacking direction of the cup plates; the base plate contacts an
end cup plate that is one of the stacked cup plates and through
which a positioning hole is provided; and the positioning
protruding portion protrudes toward an end cup plate side and is
fitted into the positioning hole to position the end cup plate with
respect to the base plate.
2. The vehicle heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the
positioning protruding portion provided on the base plate has in a
shape that protrudes no more than a thickness of the end cup plate,
toward a side where there is the layered space that contacts the
base plate.
3. The vehicle heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the end
cup plate is thicker than the cup plates other than the end cup
plate.
4. The vehicle heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a
thickness of the end cup plate is a predetermined thickness set in
advance as a thickness that does not require an annular protrusion
to be formed by burring at the positioning hole in order to ensure
strength.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a vehicle heat exchanger that
performs heat exchange between a first heat carrier and a second
heat carrier that flow between stacked plates.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Published Japanese Translation of PCT application No.
2007-518958 (JP-A-2007-518958), Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2000-310497 (JP-A-2000-310497), and Japanese Patent
Application Publication No. 2000-283661 (JP-A-2000-283661), for
example, all describe heat exchangers in which plates are stacked
together. In JP-A-2007-518958, JP-A-2000-310497, and
JP-A-2000-283661, various heat exchangers that improve heat
exchanger safety, the ease of assembling a plurality of plates that
form the heat exchanger, and the ability to ensure the rigidity of
a plurality of plates and the like are proposed.
[0005] A stacked vehicle heat exchanger (such as a transmission
fluid cooler) has also been proposed that has dish-shaped plates
(i.e., a cup plates), of which the peripheral edge portions are
fixed in a liquid-tight manner when stacked, formed such that a
first layered space into which a first heat carrier (such as
transmission fluid) is introduced and a second layered space into
which a second heat carrier (such as coolant) is introduced, are
formed alternately between them. This stacked vehicle heat
exchanger performs heat exchange between the first heat carrier and
the second heat carrier. This kind of vehicle heat exchanger is
provided with a base plate that serves as a base when the cup
plates are stacked together in order, for example. That is, in this
kind of vehicle heat exchanger, cup plates are formed (i.e.,
assembled) stacked together in order on the base plate. At this
time, in order to uniquely determine the relative position of the
base plate and the cup plate that abuts against (i.e., is stacked
directly on) this base plate, shapes for positioning, for example,
must be provided on each. However, such shapes for positioning may
affect the mountability to the vehicle. While it is possible to
perform positioning by providing a recessed portion on one and a
protruding portion on the other, these shapes may protrude outside
of the vehicle heat exchanger, or if this is avoided, may
conversely become protruding portions that protrude toward the
layer side of the heat carrier and thus impede the flow of the heat
carrier. In this way, there is room for innovation with respect to
the positioning of the base plate and the cup plate. These issues
are not well-known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention provides a vehicle heat exchanger capable of
improving mountability in a vehicle.
[0007] A first aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle heat
exchanger. This vehicle heat exchanger includes a plurality of cup
plates that are formed such that a first layered space into which a
first heat carrier is introduced and a second layered space into
which a second heat carrier is introduced are formed alternately
between the plurality of cup plates when the plurality of plates
are stacked, and in which peripheral end portions of the plurality
of cup plates are fixed together in a liquid-tight manner; and a
base plate that is thicker than the cup plates and on which the cup
plates are stacked in order. The vehicle heat exchanger performs
heat exchange between the first heat carrier and the second heat
carrier. A positioning protruding portion that protrudes toward a
side where there is an end cup plate that contacts the base plate
and is to be fitted into a positioning hole for positioning the end
cup plate with respect to the base plate, formed through the end
cup plate, from among the stacked cup plates, is formed in the base
plate in a position facing, in a stacking direction of the cup
plates, a heat carrier flow hole portion provided in the plurality
of cup plates for introducing the heat carrier into a layered space
that contacts the base plate, from among the first layered space
and the second layered space.
[0008] Accordingly, a positioning protruding portion that protrudes
toward an end cup plate that contacts the base plate and is to be
fitted into a positioning hole for positioning the end cup plate
with respect to the base plate, formed through the end cup plate,
from among the stacked cup plates, is formed in the base plate in a
position opposite, in the stacking direction, a heat carrier flow
hole portion provided in the plurality of cup plates for
introducing the heat carrier into a layered space that contacts the
base plate, from among the first layered space and the second
layered space. As a result, the positioning hole formed in the end
cup plate and the positioning protruding portion formed on the base
plate make it possible to appropriately position the end cup plate
and the base plate relative to one another, while avoiding a
protruding shape that protrudes out to the outside, opposite the
end cup plate side, of the base plate. Accordingly, the
mountability (or the degree of freedom with regards to mounting) of
the heat exchanger to the vehicle can be improved. In particular,
the heat carrier flow hole portions formed on the cup plates other
than the end cup plate are provided in positions opposite, in the
stacking direction, the positioning hole formed in the end cup
plate, i.e., the holes of the cup plates are provided in the same
positions, so when the thicknesses of the cup plates that form the
same layered spaces as that of the end cup plate are the same,
these cup plates can be treated as common parts, which enables
productivity to be improved.
[0009] The positioning protruding portion formed on the base plate
may be formed in a shape that protrudes no more than a thickness of
the end cup plate, toward a side where there is a layered space
that contacts the base plate. Accordingly, the flow of a heat
carrier introduced into the flow layer that contacts the base plate
is impeded as little as possible, so cooling performance improves,
compared to a case in which the positioning protruding portion is a
shape that protrudes toward the side with the flow layer that
contacts the base plate, or a case in which the positioning
protruding portion is a shape that cuts through the layered space
and abuts against the cup plate that is stacked on the base plate
after the end cup plate in order to support that cup plate.
[0010] The end cup plate may be made thicker than the cup plates
other than the end cup plate. Accordingly, positioning strength can
be adequately ensured even if the shape for determining the
relative position with respect to the base plate is a simple hole
that has not been burred (i.e., formed with a cylindrical surface),
for example.
[0011] A thickness of the end cup plate may be a predetermined
thickness set in advance as a thickness that does not require an
annular protrusion to be formed by burring at the positioning hole
in order to ensure strength. Accordingly, positioning strength is
able to be adequately ensured without forming an annular protrusion
for positioning by burring on the end cup plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial
significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be
described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which like numerals denote like elements, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an example of a block diagram schematically
showing the structure of a cooling system provided in a
vehicle;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a heat exchanger shown in FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another heat exchanger to
which the invention may be applied;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a reference example (related
art) of a heat exchanger when another fluid side cup plate
structure is employed as it is as an end fluid side cup plate;
and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of another reference example
(other related art) of a heat exchanger.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0018] In the invention, the first heat carrier is preferably
transmission fluid, the second heat carrier is preferably coolant,
and the vehicle heat exchanger is preferably a transmission fluid
cooler capable of cooling at least the transmission fluid.
[0019] Also, the transmission fluid is preferably hydraulic fluid
(transmission fluid) that can be used in a vehicular automatic
transmission, for example. More specifically, this hydraulic fluid
may be, for example, well-known hydraulic fluid (ATF: Automatic
Transmission Fluid) used in a planetary gear type automatic
transmission or a synchronous mesh twin shaft parallel axis-type
automatic transmission or the like, well-known hydraulic fluid
(CVTF) used in a belt-type continuously variable transmission
(belt-type CVT) or a traction-type continuously variable
transmission or the like, well-known hydraulic fluid used in an
automatic transmission for a hybrid vehicle that functions as a
so-called electric continuously variable transmission that includes
a differential mechanism and an electric motor, or well-known
hydraulic fluid used in an automatic transmission mounted in a
so-called parallel hybrid vehicle that includes an electric motor
capable to transmitting power to an engine shaft and an output
shaft or the like.
[0020] Also, the coolant is preferably coolant that can be used to
cool an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or a
diesel engine, for example, and that is cooled by heat exchange
being performed with the outside air by a well-known radiator.
[0021] Hereinafter, example embodiments of the invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the
structure of a cooling system 20 provided in a vehicle 10. In FIG.
1, the cooling system 20 includes, for example, a radiator 30, a
thermostat 40, a water pump 50, a heater core 60, and a vehicle
heat exchanger (hereinafter, referred to as "heat exchanger") 70 to
which the invention may be applied. The solid arrows in FIG. 1
indicate the flow of coolant Clt, and the broken arrows indicate
the flow of transmission fluid Fld (hereinafter, referred to as
"fluid Fld").
[0023] The radiator 30 receives coolant Clt for an engine 100 that
flows out from an outlet 102 of a water jacket of the engine 100
mounted in the vehicle 10, cools the coolant Clt through heat
exchange with outside air, and discharges the cooled coolant Clt
out from an outlet 34 into an inlet 42 of the thermostat 40.
[0024] Until the coolant Clt becomes equal to or greater than a
predetermined temperature, for example, the thermostat 40 closes a
value on the inlet 42 side to prevent the coolant Clt from flowing
from the inlet 42 to an outlet 44. On the other hand, when the
coolant Clt becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined
temperature, for example, the thermostat 40 opens the valve on the
inlet 42 side to allow the coolant Clt to flow from the inlet 42 to
the outlet 44, from which the coolant Clt then flows out to the
water pump 50. Also, the thermostat 40 receives, from an inlet 46,
coolant Clt that flows through a bypass flow path 104 in the water
jacket of the engine 100, and channels this coolant Clt from the
outlet 44 to the water pump 50. Also, the thermostat 40 receives,
from an inlet 48, coolant Clt that flows through the heater core
60, and channels this coolant Clt from the outlet 44 to the water
pump 50.
[0025] The water pump 50 is provided in the engine 100, for
example, and draws in coolant Clt via the thermostat 40 and
supplies it to the water jacket of the engine 100 that channels the
coolant Clt to various parts.
[0026] The heater core 60 receives coolant Clt that flows out from
an outlet 106 of the water jacket of the engine 100, and performs
heat exchange between this coolant Clt and air, thereby generating
warm air.
[0027] The heat exchanger 70 includes a coolant inlet 72 that
receives coolant Clt that flows out from an outlet 108 of the water
jacket of the engine 100, a coolant outlet 74 that channels the
coolant Clt to the heater core 60 after it flows through the inside
of the heat exchanger 70 itself, a fluid inlet 76 that receives
fluid Fld that flows out from a vehicular automatic transmission
(hereinafter, referred to as "automatic transmission") 110, and a
fluid outlet 78 that channels this fluid Fld to the automatic
transmission 110 after it flows though the inside of the heat
exchanger 70 itself. The heat exchanger 70 structured in this way
performs heat exchange between the fluid Fld that serves as a first
heat carrier that is received from the fluid inlet 76, and the
coolant Clt that serves as a second heat carrier that is received
from the coolant inlet 72.
[0028] With the cooling system 20 structured in this way, the
coolant Clt that flows out from the water jacket of the engine 100,
for example, is returned to the water jacket by the water pump 50
through the heater core 60 and the heat exchanger 70. Also, for
example, when the valve of the thermostat 40 is closed, the coolant
Clt that flows out from the water jacket of the engine 100 flows
through the bypass flow path 104 and is returned to the water
jacket by the water pump 50. In addition, for example, when the
valve of the thermostat 40 is open, the coolant Clt that flows out
from the water jacket of the engine 100 flows through the radiator
30 and is returned to the water jacket by the water pump 50.
[0029] Also, in the heat exchanger 70, for example, when it is cold
(during warm-up), heat is transferred from coolant Clt that has
been warmed by the engine 100 to the fluid Fld, so that the fluid
Fld is warmed quickly, which in turn promotes warm-up of the
automatic transmission 110, thereby improving fuel efficiency. On
the other hand, after warm-up, heat is transferred to the coolant
Clt from the fluid Fld that has been warmed by the automatic
transmission 110, so the fluid Fld is cooled, and thus, the
automatic transmission 110 is cooled.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the heat exchanger 70. In FIG.
2, the heat exchanger 70 includes, in addition to the coolant inlet
72, the coolant outlet 74, the fluid inlet 76, and the fluid outlet
78 described above, fluid side cup plates 80 that serve as first
cup plates, coolant side cup plates 82 that serve as second cup
plates, a base plate 86 that serves as an end plate that abuts
against a cup plate (for example, a fluid side cup plate 80) on one
side in the stacking direction of a core main body 84 formed by a
stack of fluid side cup plates 80 and coolant side cup plates 82,
and a top plate 88 that serves as an end plate that abuts against a
cup plate (for example, a coolant side cup plate 82) on the other
side in the stacking direction of the core main body 84. The fluid
side cup plates 80, the coolant side cup plates 82, and the top
plate 88 are each formed by a thin metal plate. Also, the base
plate 86 is a thick metal plate (for example, an aluminum plate
that is sufficiently thicker than the fluid side cup plates 80)
that serves as the base when the fluid side cup plates 80 and the
coolant side cup plates 82 are stacked in order. This base plate 86
functions as a strengthening member for mounting the heat exchanger
70 to the vehicle 10 (for example, to the automatic transmission
110). In FIG. 2, for the sake of convenience, the cross-section
passing through the center of the coolant inlet 72 and the
cross-section passing through the center of the fluid inlet 76 are
shown on the same plane. Also, the coolant outlet 74 and the fluid
outlet 78 are of course provided on the surface of the top plate
88, just like the coolant inlet 72 and the fluid inlet 76.
[0031] In the fluid side cup plates 80, coolant flow hole portions
80a that allow the coolant Clt to flow and correspond to the
coolant inlet 72 and the coolant outlet 74, and fluid flow hole
portions 80b that allow the fluid Fld to flow and correspond to the
fluid inlet 76 and the fluid outlet 78, are formed in an aluminum
plate that is approximately 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm thick, for example, by
press-forming. Also, in the coolant side cup plates 82, coolant
flow hole portions 82a that allow the coolant Clt to flow and
correspond to the coolant inlet 72 and the coolant outlet 74, and
fluid flow hole portions 82b that allow the fluid Fld to flow and
correspond to the fluid inlet 76 and the fluid outlet 78, are
formed in an aluminum plate that is approximately 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm
thick, for example, by press-forming.
[0032] Also, the plurality of fluid side cup plates 80 and coolant
side cup plates 82 are formed (i.e., assembled) in a stacked manner
such that fluid flow layered spaces (hereinafter, referred to as
"fluid flow layers") 90 that serve as first layered spaces into
which the fluid Fld is introduced, and coolant flow layered spaces
(hereinafter, referred to as "coolant flow layers") 92 that serve
as second layered spaces into which the coolant Clt is introduced,
are formed alternately between them. The plurality of fluid side
cup plates 80 and coolant side cup plates 82 are fixed together in
a liquid-tight manner at their peripheral edge portions by brazing.
That is, the fluid side cup plates 80 form the fluid flow layers 90
and the coolant side cup plates 82 form the coolant flow layers 92,
by the fluid side cup plates 80 and the fluid flow layers 90 being
alternately stacked together. The fluid flow layers 90 are also
flow paths (i.e., passages) for the fluid Fld, and the coolant flow
layers 92 are also flow paths for the coolant Clt, so the heat
exchanger 70 is a stacked vehicle heat exchanger that performs heat
exchange between the fluid Fld in the fluid flow layers 90 and the
coolant Clt in the coolant flow layers 92.
[0033] Inner fins 94 that serve as fins that abut against the fluid
side cup plates 80 and the coolant side cup plates 82 are provided
across the entire fluid flow layers 90, inside the fluid flow
layers 90. Also, a plurality of individual convex protrusions 96
that protrude out toward the coolant flow layers 92 and abut
against the fluid side cup plates 80 are formed at approximately
equal density, for example, on the coolant side cup plates 82. The
inner fins 94 and the convex protrusions 96 are both provided to
improve heat-transfer performance during heat exchange performed
between the fluid FM and the coolant Clt. In this way, the inner
fins 94 and the convex protrusions 96 are both structures that
perform heat exchange between the fluid Fld and the coolant Clt,
but their structures for performing heat exchange are different
with the fluid side cup plates 80 and the coolant side cup plates
82. In addition, the fluid side cup plates 80 and the coolant side
cup plates 82 are both formed with thin metal plates, so the inner
fins 94 and the convex protrusions 96 are both provided to ensure
strength with respect to a load in the stacking direction in
particular. The convex protrusions 96 are formed by press-forming
the coolant side cup plates 82, for example. In other words, the
convex protrusions 96 are depressions (i.e., dimples) formed by
press-forming the coolant side cup plates 82.
[0034] Therefore, in the heat exchanger 70 of this example
embodiment, the structure of the convex protrusions 96 is used and
the structure of the inner fins 94 is not used, on the coolant side
cup plates 82 (in the coolant flow layers 92). Therefore, the
height of the convex protrusions 96 (i.e., the dimension of the
amount that the convex protrusions 96 protrude out in the stacking
direction from the surface of the flat portion on the coolant flow
layer 92 side of the coolant side cup plates 82) that corresponds
to the thickness dimension in the stacking direction of the coolant
flow layers 92 is set to a smaller value than the height in the
stacking direction of the inner fins 94 that corresponds to the
thickness dimension in the stacking direction of the fluid flow
layers 90. For example, the height of the convex protrusions 96
(i.e., the thickness of the coolant flow layers 92) is obtained
through testing (or by design) in advance and set taking into
account the number and formation positions of the convex
protrusions 96, and the heat balance between the fluid side heat
release amount Qf and the coolant side heat release amount Qc.
[0035] As described above, the fluid flow layers 90 and the coolant
flow layers 92 are set to thicknesses with different thickness
dimensions in the stacking direction. Also, the shape of the fluid
side cup plates 80 and the shape of the coolant side cup plates 82
are formed different from each other, such that fluid flow layers
90 and coolant flow layers 92 of different thicknesses are formed
(matching each of the different thicknesses, for example). For
example, flange portions formed on the coolant flow hole portions
80a of the fluid side cup plates 80 and on the fluid flow hole
portions 82b of the coolant side cup plates 82, respectively,
protrude in the stacking direction corresponding to the fluid flow
layers 90 and the coolant flow layers 92, respectively, that have
different thicknesses. Also, outer wall portions 80c of the fluid
side cup plates 80 and outer wall portions 82c of the coolant side
cup plates 82 protrude out in the stacking direction corresponding
to the fluid flow layers 90 and the coolant flow layers 92,
respectively, that have different thicknesses, while also
protruding out the same amount in the stacking direction
corresponding to the liquid-tight brazing between the plates when
stacked.
[0036] In the heat exchanger 70, with the base plate 86 as the
lowest level, the core main body 84 is formed by stacking the fluid
side cup plate 80, the inner fins 94, the coolant side cup plate
82, the fluid side cup plate 80, and the inner fins 94, . . . in
this order from the base plate 86 upward, and the top plate 88 is
stacked on top as the highest level. Also, the heat exchanger 70 is
manufactured by brazing these together in a liquid-tight manner in
a brazing furnace, for example, and then a complete inspection is
performed after manufacturing (for example, an inspection is
performed for fluid Fld and coolant Clt leaks).
[0037] Here, the coolant flow hole portions 80a, the fluid flow
hole portions 80b, the coolant flow hole portions 82a, and the
fluid flow hole portions 82b are formed in predetermined shapes
that enable the stacked plates to be brazed together in a
liquid-tight manner, while serving as positioning holes when
alternately stacking the fluid side cup plates 80 and the coolant
side cup plates 82 together. For example, annular protrusions that
are the inner peripheral edges of the fluid flow hole portions 80b
and are burred (i.e., formed with a cylindrical surface) so as to
protrude out toward the coolant side cup plate 82 side are brazed
in a liquid-tight manner while fit into the fluid flow hole
portions 82b on which flange portions that protrude out toward the
fluid side cup plate 80 side are formed. Also, annular protrusions
that are the inner peripheral edges of the coolant flow hole
portions 82a and are burred so as to protrude out toward the fluid
side cup plate 80 side are brazed in a liquid-tight manner while
fit into the coolant flow hole portions 80a on which flange
portions that protrude out toward the coolant side cup plate 82
side are formed.
[0038] In order to uniquely determine the relative positions of the
base plate 86 and the end fluid side cup plate 80 that is
contacting the base plate 86, from among the stacked cup plates,
(hereinafter, the end fluid side cup plate 80 that contacts the
base plate 86 will be referred to as "fluid side cup plate 81")
when the fluid side cup plates 80 and the coolant side cup plates
82 are stacked in order on the base plate 86, a shape for
positioning must be provided on each of the plates. FIG. 4 is a
sectional view of a reference example (related art) of a heat
exchanger 170 when a fluid side cup plate 80 is employed as it is
as an end fluid side cup plate. In FIG. 4, the fluid flow hole
portions 80b also serve as positioning holes when stacking the
fluid side cup plates 80 onto the base plate 86. Therefore, a
positioning recessed portion 86a corresponding to annular
protrusions 80b1 that are burred on the fluid flow hole portions
80b and protrude toward the base plate 86 side is formed by
press-forming, for example, on the base plate 86, such that the
annular protrusion 80b1 will fit into the base plate 86. As a
result, a protrusion toward the outside, opposite the fluid side
cup plate 80 side, is produced on the positioning recessed portion
86a, which may affect the mountability of the heat exchanger 170 to
the vehicle 10 (e.g., the automatic transmission 110). In other
words, the degree of freedom when mounting the heat exchanger 170
to the vehicle 10 may decrease. It should be noted that the annular
protrusions 80b1 must be formed to ensure positioning strength with
the fluid side cup plates 80 that are formed with thin metal
plates. From another perspective, forming the annular protrusions
80b1 by burring on the fluid flow hole portions 80b enables the
fluid side cup plates 80 to be made as thin as possible. It is also
possible to have the annular protrusions 80b1 protrude toward the
fluid flow layer 90 side, but in this case, they may impede the
flow of fluid Fld inside the fluid flow layers 90.
[0039] Therefore, with the heat exchanger 70 according to this
example embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the fluid side cup plate 81
is made thicker than the fluid side cup plates 80 other than the
fluid side cup plate 81, and a positioning hole 81a for determining
the relative position with respect to the base plate 86 is formed
through this fluid side cup plate 81. The thickness of the fluid
side cup plate 81 is a predetermined thickness of approximately 1
mm, for example, set in advance as a thickness at which it is not
necessary to form an annular protrusion (such as the annular
protrusions 80b1) by burring at a positioning hole 81a that extends
through to ensure positioning strength, for example. That is, the
thickness of the fluid side cup plate 81 is a predetermined
thickness set in advance to adequately ensure positioning strength,
even if the positioning hole 81a for determining the relative
position with the base plate 86 is a simple hole (i.e., a drainage
hole) that has not been burred.
[0040] Also, a positioning protruding portion 86b that protrudes
toward the fluid side cup plate 81 side and is to be fitted into
the positioning hole 81a formed through the fluid side cup plate 81
is formed by press-forming, for example, so as to be able to fit
into the positioning hole 81a when the fluid side cup plate 81 is
stacked onto the base plate 86. That is, the positioning protruding
portion 86b that protrudes toward the fluid side cup plate 81 side
and is to be fitted into the positioning hole 81a formed through
the fluid side cup plate 81, is formed in the base plate 86 in a
position opposite, in the stacking direction, the fluid flow hole
portions 80b and 82b formed in the cup plates 80 and 82,
respectively, for introducing fluid Fld into the fluid flow layer
90 that contacts the base plate 86. In this way, the fluid flow
hole portions 80b and the positioning hole 81a are provided in the
same positions in the fluid side cup plates 80 and 81, so if the
thicknesses of the fluid side cup plates 80 and 81 are the same,
the fluid side cup plates 80 and 81 can be common parts. Also, this
positioning recessed portion 86a has a flat shape that protrudes
corresponding to the positioning hole 81a, for example, and the
height of the protruding portion, is set to a predetermined height
(for example, a height of approximately the same as or less than
the thickness of the fluid side cup plate 81) that is set in
advance and that enables the fluid side cup plate 81 and the base
plate 86 to be appropriately positioned, for example. Therefore, in
the fluid flow layer 90 formed by the fluid side cup plate 81, the
protruding portion 86b will not protrude toward the fluid flow
layer 90 side more than the thickness of the positioning hole 81a
at the positioning hole 81a portion, so the flow of fluid Fld will
be impeded as little as possible. In this way, with the heat
exchanger 70 of this example embodiment, making the fluid side cup
plate 81 thicker than the other fluid side cup plates 80 obviates
the need for the annular protrusion formed by burring at the
positioning hole 81a for positioning the fluid side cup plates on
the base plate 86. Also, on the base plate 86, the shape for
positioning may be changed from an inner recessed shape (see the
positioning recessed portion 86a) to an inner protruding shape (see
the positioning protruding portion 86b). This makes it possible to
prevent (i.e., avoid) protrusions protruding toward the outside
from the base plate 86.
[0041] As described above, according to this example embodiment,
the positioning protruding portion 86b that protrudes toward the
fluid side cup plate 81 side and is to be fitted into the
positioning hole 81a formed through the fluid side cup plate 81 is
formed in the base plate 86 in a position opposite, in the stacking
direction, the fluid flow hole portions 80b and 82b formed in the
cup plates 80 and 82, respectively for introducing fluid Fld into
the fluid flow layer 90 that contacts the base plate 86. As a
result, the positioning hole 81a formed in the fluid side cup plate
81 and the positioning protruding portion 86b formed on the base
plate 86 make it possible to appropriately position the fluid side
cup plate 81 and the base plate 86 relative to one another, while
avoiding a protruding shape that protrudes out to the outside,
opposite the fluid side cup plate 81 side, of the base plate 86.
Accordingly, a protrusion toward the outside from the base plate 86
can be prevented, i.e., there is no longer an outer protruding
shape on the base plate 86, so the mountability of the heat
exchanger 70 to the vehicle 10 (i.e., the automatic transmission
110) (or the degree of freedom when mounting the heat exchanger 70
to the vehicle 10) can be improved. In particular, the fluid flow
hole portions 80b and 82b formed on the fluid side cup plates 80
and 82 are provided in positions opposite, in the stacking
direction, the positioning hole 81a formed in the fluid side cup
plate 81, i.e., the fluid flow hole portions 80b and the
positioning hole 81a are provided in the same positions on the
fluid side cup plates 80 and 81, respectively, so when the
thicknesses of the fluid side cup plates 80 and 81 are the same,
the fluid side cup plates 80 and 81 can be treated as common parts,
which enables productivity to be improved.
[0042] Also, according to this example embodiment, the positioning
protruding portion 86b formed on the base plate 86 is formed in a
shape that does not protrude toward the side with the fluid flow
layer 90 that contacts the base plate 86 more than the thickness of
the fluid side cup plate 81 (i.e., the thickness of the positioning
hole 81a formed in the fluid side cup plate 81). Therefore, the
flow of fluid Fld introduced into the fluid flow layer 90 that
contacts the base plate 86 is impeded as little as possible, so
cooling performance improves, compared to, for example, a case in
which the positioning protruding portion 86b is a shape that
protrudes toward the side with the fluid flow layer 90 that
contacts the base plate 86, or a case in which the positioning
protruding portion 86b is not formed in a position opposite the
fluid flow hole portions 80b and 82b in the stacking direction and
is shaped so as to cut through the fluid flow layer 90 that
contacts the base plate 86 and abut against the coolant side cup
plate 82 in order to support this coolant side cup plate 82.
[0043] Also in this example embodiment, the fluid side cup plate 81
is formed thicker than the fluid side cup plates 80 other than from
the fluid side cup plate 81. Therefore, positioning strength can be
adequately ensured even if the shape for determining the relative
position with respect to the base plate 86 is a simple hole that
has not been burred, for example.
[0044] Also in this example embodiment, the thickness of the fluid
side cup plate 81 is a predetermined thickness set in advance as a
thickness that does not require the annular protrusion 80b1 to be
formed by burring at the positioning hole 81a in order ensure
positioning strength. As a result, positioning strength can be
adequately ensured without forming the annular protrusion 80b1 for
positioning by burring on the fluid side cup plate 81.
[0045] Next, another example embodiment of the invention will be
described. Portions in the description below that are common to the
example embodiment described above will be denoted by like
reference characters and descriptions of those portions will be
omitted.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a heat exchanger 200 to which
the invention may be applied, according to another example
embodiment that is different from the example embodiment with the
heat exchanger 70 described above. In FIG. 3, the heat exchanger
200 includes fluid side cup plates 206 and coolant side cup plates
208 that are stacked together, with their peripheral edge portions
fixed in a liquid-tight manner by brazing, between a base plate 202
and a top plate 204, such that fluid flow layers 210 and coolant
flow layers 212 are alternately formed between them. That is, the
fluid side cup plates 206 form the fluid flow layers 210 and the
coolant side cup plates 208 form the coolant flow layers 212, by
the fluid side cup plates 206 and the coolant side cup plates 208
being alternately stacked together. Also, just like the heat
exchanger 70 described above, the heat exchanger 200 is a stacked
vehicle heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the
fluid Fld in the fluid flow layers 210 and the coolant Clt in the
coolant flow layers 212. In the heat exchanger 200, inner fins 214
that abut against the fluid side cup plates 206 and the coolant
side cup plates 208 are provided both inside the fluid flow layers
210 and inside the coolant flow layers 212.
[0047] Coolant flow hole portions 206a that allow the coolant Clt
to flow and correspond to a coolant inlet 216 and a coolant outlet,
not shown, and fluid flow hole portions 206b that allow the fluid
Fld to flow and correspond to a fluid inlet 218 and a fluid outlet,
also not shown, are formed in the fluid side cup plates 206. Also,
coolant flow hole portions 208a that allow the coolant Clt to flow
and correspond to the coolant inlet 216 and the coolant outlet, not
shown, and fluid flow hole portions 208b that allow the fluid Fld
to flow and correspond to the fluid inlet 218 and the fluid outlet,
not shown, are formed in the coolant side cup plates 208.
[0048] In the heat exchanger 200, with the base plate 202 as the
lowest level, the core main body 220 is formed by stacking the
inner fins 214, the fluid side cup plate 206, the inner fins 214,
the coolant side cup plate 208, the inner fins 94, the fluid side
cup plate 206, . . . in this order from the base plate 202 upward,
and stacking the top plate 204 on top as the highest level. Also,
the heat exchanger 200 is manufactured by brazing these together in
a liquid-tight manner in a brazing furnace, for example, and then a
complete inspection is performed after manufacturing (for example,
an inspection is performed for fluid Fld and coolant Clt
leaks).
[0049] Here, the coolant flow hole portions 206a, the fluid flow
hole portions 206b, the coolant flow hole portions 208a, and the
fluid flow hole portions 208b are formed in a predetermined shapes
that enable the stacked plates to be brazed together in a
liquid-tight manner, while serving as positioning holes when
alternately stacking the fluid side cup plates 206 and the coolant
side cup plates 208 together.
[0050] Just as with the example embodiment described above, it is
necessary to provide shapes for positioning on each of the plates
in order to uniquely determine the relative positions of the base
plate 202 and the end fluid side cup plate 206 that abuts against
the base plate 202 (hereinafter this end fluid side cup plate will
be referred to as "fluid side cup plate 207"). FIG. 5 is a
sectional view of another reference example (other related art) of
a heat exchanger 300 in which a fluid side cup plate 206 is
employed as it is as an end fluid side cup plate, just like the
heat exchanger 170 shown in FIG. 4.
[0051] In FIG. 5, the coolant flow hole portions 206a are made to
function as positioning holes when stacking the fluid side cup
plates 206 onto the base plate 202. Therefore, a positioning
recessed portion 202a corresponding to annular protrusions 206a1
that are burred on the coolant flow hole portions 206a and protrude
toward the base plate 202 side is formed by press-forming, for
example, on the base plate 202, such that the annular protrusion
206a1 will fit into the base plate 202. As a result, a protrusion
toward the outside, opposite the fluid side cup plate 206 side, is
produced on the positioning recessed portion 202a of the base plate
202, which may affect the mountability of the heat exchanger 300 to
the vehicle 10 (e.g., the automatic transmission 110).
[0052] Therefore, with the heat exchanger 200 of this example
embodiment, just as with the heat exchanger 70 of the example
embodiment described above, the fluid side cup plate 207 is made to
be thicker than the fluid side cup plates 206 other than the fluid
side cup plate 207, and a positioning hole 207a for determining the
relative position with respect to the base plate 202 is formed, as
shown in FIG. 3. Also, a positioning protruding portion 202b that
protrudes toward the fluid side cup plate 207 side and is to be
fitted into the positioning hole 207a formed in the fluid side cup
plate 207, is formed by press-forming, for example, on the base
plate 202 so as to be able to fit into the positioning hole 207a
when the fluid side cup plate 207 is stacked onto the base plate
202. That is, the positioning protruding portion 202b that
protrudes toward the fluid side cup plate 207 side and is to be
fitted into the positioning hole 207a formed through the fluid side
cup plate 207, is formed in the base plate 202 in a position
opposite, in the stacking direction, the coolant flow hole portions
206a and 208a formed in the cup plates 206 and 208, respectively,
for introducing coolant Clt into the coolant flow layer 212 that
contacts the base plate 202. In this way, with the heat exchanger
200 of this example embodiment, the coolant flow hole portions 206a
and the positioning hole 207a are provided in the same positions in
the fluid side cup plates 206 and 207, so if the thicknesses of the
fluid side cup plates 206 and 207 are the same, the fluid side cup
plates 206 and 207 can be common parts. Also, making the fluid side
cup plate 207 thicker than the other fluid side cup plates 206
obviates the need for the annular protrusion formed by burring at
the positioning hole 207a for positioning the fluid side cup plates
on the base plate 202. Also, on the base plate 202, the shape for
positioning may be changed from an inner recessed shape (see the
positioning recessed portion 202a) to an inner protruding shape
(see the positioning protruding portion 202b). This makes it
possible to prevent (i.e., avoid) protrusions protruding toward the
outside from the flat portion of the base plate 202.
[0053] As described above, according to this example embodiment,
with the heat exchanger 200, the positioning protruding portion
202b that protrudes toward the fluid side cup plate 207 side and is
to be fitted into the positioning hole 207a formed through the
fluid side cup plate 207 is formed in the base plate 202 in a
position opposite, in the stacking direction, the coolant flow hole
portions 206a and 208a formed in the cup plates 206 and 208,
respectively for introducing coolant Clt into the coolant flow
layer 212 that contacts the base plate 202. As a result, similar
effects as those obtained with the example embodiment described
above are obtained.
[0054] Heretofore, example embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the
invention may also be applied in other modes.
[0055] For example, in the example embodiment described, above, the
heat exchangers 70 and 200 are transmission fluid heat exchangers
that perform heat exchange between the fluid Fld and the coolant
Clt, but the invention is not limited to this. That is, the
invention may be applied to any stacked vehicle heat exchanger
capable of performing heat exchange between a first heat carrier
and a second heat carrier. For example, the invention may also be
applied to a stacked vehicle heat exchanger in which the first heat
carrier is the coolant Clt and the second heat carrier is the fluid
Fld, or a stacked vehicle heat exchanger in which the first heat
carrier is coolant (or engine oil) and the second heat carrier is
engine oil (or coolant), or the like.
[0056] Also, in the example embodiment described above, the fluid
side cup plates 81 and 207 are made thicker than the fluid side cup
plates 80 and 206, but the invention is not limited to this. For
example, the fluid side cup plates 81 and 207 may also be the same
thickness as the fluid side cup plates 80 and 206. That is, the
thickness of the fluid side cup plates 81 and 207 need only be a
predetermined thickness that at least adequately ensures
positioning strength, even if the positioning holes 81a and 207a
are simple holes.
[0057] While the invention has been described with reference to
example embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the described embodiments or
constructions. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements. In addition,
while the various elements of the example embodiments are shown in
various combinations and configurations, other combinations and
configurations, including more, less or only a single element, are
also within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *