U.S. patent number RE35,710 [Application Number 08/561,588] was granted by the patent office on 1998-01-06 for heat exchanger having a radiator and a condenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sanden Corporation. Invention is credited to Toshiharu Shinmura.
United States Patent |
RE35,710 |
Shinmura |
January 6, 1998 |
Heat exchanger having a radiator and a condenser
Abstract
A heat exchanger is disclosed which comprises first and second
cores aligned substantially parallel to each other in a horizontal
arrangement. Each of the first and second cores includes a
plurality of substantially parallel, spaced-apart, flat tubes
disposed in a vertical arrangement. A plurality of corrugated fins
are located in and extend through the spaces. First and second
header pipes are connected to either end of the flat tubes of the
first core to permit fluid flow. Third and fourth header pipes are
connected to either end of the flat tubes of the second core to
permit fluid flow. First and second plates are disposed on both
upper and lower ends of said first and second cores to securedly
affix them. Therefore, since the first and second cores for use as
a condenser and a radiator can be manufactured with the same
production process, the cost of manufacturing the heat exchanger is
reduced. Further, since the heat exchanger has a condenser and a
radiator, it can be easily attached in an automobile engine.
Inventors: |
Shinmura; Toshiharu (Isesaki,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Sanden Corporation (Gunma,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
15205840 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/561,588 |
Filed: |
November 21, 1995 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
426084 |
Oct 24, 1989 |
05000257 |
Mar 19, 1991 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 24, 1988 [JP] |
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63-137745 U |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/140; 165/135;
165/67; 180/68.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D
1/0435 (20130101); F28F 1/128 (20130101); F28D
2021/0084 (20130101); F28D 2021/0094 (20130101); F28F
2215/02 (20130101); F28F 2270/00 (20130101); F28F
2009/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F28F
1/12 (20060101); F28D 1/04 (20060101); F28D
021/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;165/41,67,140,135
;123/41.33,41.49,41.65 ;180/68.4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0021651 |
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Jan 1981 |
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EP |
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1191160 |
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Feb 1958 |
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FR |
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2423440 |
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Nov 1975 |
|
DE |
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58-67918 |
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Apr 1983 |
|
JP |
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61-202084 |
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Sep 1986 |
|
JP |
|
539970 |
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Sep 1941 |
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GB |
|
2113819 |
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Aug 1983 |
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GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Flanigan; Allen J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Baker & Botts, L.L.P.
Claims
I claim:
1. A heat exchanger comprising:
first and second cores aligned parallel to each other, each of said
cores including a plurality of flat tubes disposed in parallel with
a space therebetween, and a plurality of corrugated fins located in
and extending through the spaces between said flat tubes in each of
said first and second cores, said corrugated fins including a
plurality of slits located between said first and second cores;
header pipes connected to opposite ends of said flat tubes of said
first and second cores;
said header pipes being in fluid communication with said flat
tubes; and
flat and second plates disposed on the upper and lower ends of said
first and second cores to securely fix said first and second cores
together.
2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein said corrugated
fins are common to both of said cores.
3. A heat exchanger comprising:
first and second cores, each of said cores including a .Iadd.first
and second header and a plurality of parallel flat tubes connected
between the first and second headers, the .Iaddend.plurality of
parallel flat tubes arranged with a first predetermined space
therebetween, a second predetermined space maintained between
.Iadd.the headers and tubes of .Iaddend.said first and said second
core; and
a plurality of corrugated fins arranged such that each fin is
positioned in the first predetermined space between a first and a
second flat tube of said first core and in the first predetermined
space between a first and a second flat tube of said second core,
each of said fins extending through said second predetermined
space.
4. .[.The.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.heat exchanger .[.of claim 3.].
.Iadd.comprising:
first and second cores, each of said cores including a plurality of
parallel flat tubes arranged with a first predetermined space
therebetween, a second predetermined space maintained between said
first and said second core; and
a plurality of corrugated fins arranged such that each fin is
positioned in the first predetermined space between a first and a
second flat tube of said first core and in the first predetermined
space between a first and a second flat tube of said second core,
each of said fins extending through said second predetermined
space; .Iaddend.
wherein said corrugated fins include a plurality of slits located
between said first and second cores.
5. A heat exchanger for use as a radiator and a condenser
comprising:
a first .Iadd.core comprising first and second headers and a
.Iaddend.plurality of fluid-conducting tubes .Iadd.connected
between the first and second headers of the first core, the first
core .Iaddend.forming a radiator;
a second .Iadd.core comprising first and second headers and a
.Iaddend.plurality of fluid-conducting tubes .Iadd.connected
between the first and second headers of the second core, the second
core .Iaddend.forming a condenser;
.Iadd.a predetermined space between the headers and tubes of the
first and second core; .Iaddend.
each of said radiator and said condenser having an inlet and an
outlet, each of said radiator and said condenser having an upper
and a lower surface;
means for connecting said radiator to said condenser, said radiator
and condenser being disposed in a spaced, side by side
relationship;
and a plurality of corrugated fins common to both said radiator and
said condenser.
6. .[.The.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.heat exchanger .[.according to claim
5.]. .Iadd.for use as a radiator and a condenser comprising:
a first plurality of fluid-conducting tubes forming a radiator;
a second plurality of fluid-conducting tubes forming a
condenser;
each of said radiator and said condenser having an inlet and an
outlet, each of said radiator and said condenser having an upper
and a lower surface;
means for connecting said radiator to said condenser, said radiator
and condenser being disposed in a spaced, side by side
relationship;
and a plurality of corrugated fins common to both said radiator and
said condenser; .Iaddend.
wherein said connecting means is disposed on one pair of the pair
of upper and the pair of lower surfaces of said radiator and said
condenser.
7. A heat exchanger comprising:
a first core having a plurality of fluid-conducting tubes and a
plurality of fins associated therewith;
a second core having a plurality of fluid-conducting tubes and a
plurality of fins associated therewith wherein at least a portion
of said fins are common to and connected to said first and second
cores, and
means disposed between said first and second cores for reducing the
direct heat transfer between said first and second cores.
8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7 wherein said common fins
extend from the front of said first core to the rear of said second
core.
9. The heat exchanger according to claim 7 wherein all of said fins
are common to said first and second cores.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein said means
comprises at least one aperture disposed in each of said common
fins.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, rand more
particularly, to a heat exchanger which includes a first core for
use as a condenser and a second core for use as a radiator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The number of factory installed automotive air conditioning systems
is increasing in these modern times. A condenser in the air
conditioning system is generally disposed forward of a radiator
since the temperature of a fluid in the condenser can become higher
than that of a fluid in the radiator.
However, since the configuration of the condenser is different from
that of the radiator as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the condenser and
the radiator are manufactured during separate production processes,
respectively, thereby increasing production costs. In addition,
installing the condenser and the radiator in the automobile is also
done separately, and it takes much time to attach them thereto.
Accordingly, it has been proposed to the prior art to use a heat
exchanger in an automotive air conditioning system which functions
as a condenser and a radiator as disclosed in Japanese patent
application Laid-open Gazette No. 63-91488 and Japanese Utility
Model Laid-open Gazette No. 63-74970. The prior art heat exchangers
include a first core for a condenser and a second core for a
radiator, which are aligned vertically in series. Therefore, it is
necessary to enlarge the plane area thereof to maintain the same
effective area for heat exchange as in a conventional condenser and
radiator. This increased planar area creates difficulty during
installation in an automobile engine compartment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger
which can be manufactured at low cost.
It is another object of this invention to provide a heat exchanger
which can be easily installed in an automobile engine
component.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a compact heat
exchanger.
A heat exchanger according to the present invention comprises first
and second cores which are aligned parallel to each other in a
horizontal arrangement. Each of the first and second cores includes
an associated plurality of parallel flat tubes disposed in a
vertical arrangement with a space between any two immediately
adjacent flat tubes in the associated plurality, respectively. A
plurality of corrugated fins are located in and extend through the
spaces. First and second header pipes are each connected to one end
of the flat tubes of the first core to communicate therebetween.
Third and fourth header pipes are each connected to one end of the
flat tubes of the second core to communicate therebetween. First
and second plates are disposed on both the upper and lower ends of
said first and second cores to securedly fix thereof.
Further objects, features and other aspects of this invention will
be understood from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of this invention when read in conjunction
with the annexed drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art radiator.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art condenser.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger in accordance with
one embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger taken along
line A--A as shown in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a construction of a
heat exchanger in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.
For purposes of clarity only, the following descriptive locations
are defined. A forward location in FIGS. 3 and 4 is toward the left
side of the figures; a rear location is toward the right side of
the figures; a top location is toward the top side of the figures;
and a bottom location is toward the bottom side of the figures.
Since those descriptive locations are provided for purposes of
clarity only, they do not limit the scope of the invention
thereto.
Heat exchanger 1 includes first core 10 and second core 11 located
forward of first core 10. First core 10 has a plurality of flat
tubes 110 that include a plurality of fluid passageways 110a.
Second core 11 has a plurality of flat tubes 111 that include a
plurality of fluid passageways 111a. A plurality of corrugated fins
12 are provided for radiating heat. Preferably, corrugated fins 12
are common to both the first and second cores, although the
invention is not limited in this respect. Preferably flat tubes
110, 111 are aligned along reference surfaces X, Y, respectively
with a substantially horizontal gap 21 therebetween and
substantially vertical spaces 22 therebetween so that they are
substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart. Preferably,
reference surfaces X, Y are disposed along the sides of the heat
exchanger. It is also preferable to secure reference surfaces X, Y
at the top and bottom to reinforcing members 17. Corrugated fins 12
are disposed in and extend through spaces 22 and are attached to
the outer surfaces of the flat tubes in any conventional manner,
preferably by brazing.
As best seen in FIG. 4, each fin 12 is preferably common to both
cores 10, 11. Fins 12 preferably extend continuously from the front
of core 11 to the rear of core 10. Preferably cores 10, 11 function
independently. To this end core 10 has an inlet header pipe 13 and
an outlet header pipe 14. Inlet 13 and outlet 14 are connected by
flat tubes 110. Likewise, core 11 has an inlet header pipe 15 and
an outlet header pipe 16. Inlet 15 and outlet 16 are connected by
flat tubes 111. Both cores exchange heat with the surrounding
air.
To reduce the direct heat exchange between cores 10, 11 and to
facilitate the independent functioning of cores 10, 11, preferably
a plurality of apertures or slits 121 are formed through corrugated
fins 12 at a location preferably within horizontal gap 21 between
first and second cores 10, 11. Alternatively it is contemplated to
dispose louvers (not shown) on the fins preferably within gap 21
between tubes 110, 111 to reduce direct heat exchange between cores
10, 11. It is possible to provide insulation or other conventional
mechanisms for reducing the direct heat exchange, but they are not
as practical.
Header pipe 13 is connected to one end of flat tubes 110 and header
pipe 14 is connected to the other end thereof. Likewise, header
pipe 15 is connected to one end of flat tubes 111 and header pipe
16 is connected to the other end thereof.
Reinforcing members 17 are attached on the upper and lower end
surfaces of first and second cores 10, 11 to secure the engagement
between first and second cores 10, 11. Brackets 18 are attached on
respective reinforcing members 17 to attach heat exchanger 1 within
an automobile engine compartment.
Heat exchanger 1 is disposed in the front of an engine compartment.
First core 10 is preferably used as a radiator for cooling an
engine and second core 11 is preferably used as a condenser for an
automotive air conditioning system. Heat exchange between the air
and corrugated fins 12 occurs best while driving an automobile. The
width of flat tubes 110 is not always the same as the width of flat
tubes 111. Each width depends on the effective coefficient for heat
exchange of the heat exchanger.
Indica 20 are provided on fins 12 to true the fins with the rear
ends of flat tubes 110 and the front ends of flat tube 111.
Preferably indicia 20 are in the form of substantially
vertically-disposed lines, but may take the form of any
conventional indicia. Providing indicia 20 on the fins facilitates
adjusting the fin's position on the tubes prior to the operation
that secures the fins to the tubes.
This invention has been described in detail in connection with the
preferred embodiments, but these embodiments are for illustrative
purpose only and the invention is not restricted thereto. It will
be easily understood by those skilled in the art that other
variations and modifications can be made within the scope of this
invention, which is defined only by the following claims.
* * * * *