# US 11,029,102 B2 · Heat exchanger

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- Number: US 11,029,102 B2
- Document ID: US11029102B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/867,929
- Filed: 2018-01-11
- Published: 2018-07-19
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-13
- Assignees: Hs Marston Aerospace Limited
- Applicants: HS Marston Aerospace Limited
- Inventors: Neil Basini
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029102B2

## CPC

- F28F 13/12: by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation (F28F13/08 takes precedence)
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- F28D 1/05366: {Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators}
- F28F 1/00: Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements (specially adapted for movement F28F5/00)
- F28F 9/0246: {Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines}
- F28F 9/0268: {in the form of multiple deflectors for channeling the heat exchange medium}
- F28F 9/028: {by using inserts for modifying the pattern of flow inside the header box, e.g. by using flow restrictors or permeable bodies or blocks with channels}
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)

## Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a conduit, a header, and a swirler been formed as a unitary piece by additive manufacturing. The swirler is disposed within the conduit and the header and is arranged to disperse a flow from an inlet flow path a heat exchanger matrix. The swirler extends a only portion of the length of the header between the conduit and the heat exchanger matrix and thereby provides space within the header for fluid to diffuse before entering the heat exchanger matrix.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heat exchanger comprising:
a conduit defining an inlet flow path for a fluid;
a header disposed to receive a flow from the inlet flow path;
a heat exchanger matrix disposed to receive a flow from the header; and
a swirler disposed within the conduit and the header, wherein the swirler is arranged to disperse a flow from the inlet flow path over the heat exchanger matrix, and wherein the swirler extends over only a portion of the length of the header between the conduit and the heat exchanger matrix and thereby provides space within the header for fluid to diffuse before entering the heat exchanger matrix;
wherein the conduit, header, and swirler have been formed as a unitary piece by additive manufacturing; and
wherein the portion of the swirler in the header extends across the entire width of the heat exchanger matrix in two dimensions, and extends across the entire width of the header in two dimensions and joins integrally with opposing walls of the header, and is thereby arranged to provide structural support to the header during use and during formation of the header by additive manufacturing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swirler divides the header into a plurality of equal volumes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swirler comprises a plurality of curved blades arranged to direct a flow of fluid through the inlet flow path and the header.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 3, wherein the blades are smooth between the conduit and the header.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 3, wherein the swirler blades curve through 90 degrees along their entire length.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swirler is arranged to complement the shape of a cross section of the heat exchanger matrix.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An aircraft comprising a heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1.