Tube for a heat exchanger, and method of making the same
AssigneeModine Manufacturing Company
InventorsRoman C. Reinhardt, Andreas F. Stolz, Marius Dornseif
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tube for a heat exchanger includes a tube outer body enclosing a tube inner volume, and a corrugated insert received within the tube inner volume. The tube outer body has a pair of broad planar walls joined by arcuate end walls. The corrugated insert defines flow channels through the tube, with opening in flanks of the insert allowing for flow communication between adjacent flow channels. Bypass channels adjacent the arcuate end walls are fluidly isolated from the adjacent flow channels by the absence of such openings in the end flanks. Flow through the bypass channels is obstructed by flow blocks at one or both ends of the bypass channels.
Claims12
A tube for a heat exchanger, comprising:
- a tube outer body including first and second broad, opposing, spaced apart, planar walls joined by first and second arcuate end walls, the tube outer body enclosing a tube inner volume bounded by the first and second broad planar walls and the first and second arcuate end walls;
- a corrugated insert received within the tube inner volume, the corrugated insert including planar flanks joined by crests and troughs, the crests and troughs being bonded to the first and second broad planar walls, respectively;
- a plurality of flow channels extending through the tube inner volume from an inlet end of the tube to an outlet end of the tube, each one of the plurality of flow channels being bounded by one of the first and second broad planar walls of the tube outer body, a crest or a trough of the corrugated insert, and two adjacent ones of the planar flanks that are joined by that crest or trough, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of flow channels are in fluid communication with one another between the inlet and outlet ends of the tube by way of a plurality of openings in the planar flanks;
- a first bypass channel bounded by at least one of the first and second broad planar walls, the first arcuate end wall, and a first planar flank of the planar flanks, the first planar flank being that one of the planar flanks arranged nearest to the first arcuate end wall;
- and
- a second bypass channel bounded by at least one of the first and second broad planar walls, the second arcuate end wall, and a second planar flank, the second planar flank being that one of the planar flanks arranged nearest to the second arcuate end wall;
- wherein the first and second planar flanks are absent of any openings, so that flow between any one the plurality of flow channels and the first and second bypass channels is prevented, and
- wherein the tube includes a first flow block, the first flow block being formed by a portion of the first planar flank and prevents fluid flow through the first bypass channel by extending to contact the first arcuate end wall to close the first bypass channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.