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US 12,173,637 B2Granted
Exhaust system heat sink for increasing efficiency of internal combustion engines
OwnerJarom Christensen, Alexander J. Sorenseninventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat sink can be coupled to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine to cool the exhaust gas and thereby increase the efficiency of the internal combustion engine. The heat sink can include a plurality of heat transfer projections extending outward from the exhaust pipe. The heat sink is a separate component that is coupled to the exterior of the exhaust pipe.
Claims16
A heat sink comprising:
- a first base plate having a cylindrical shape sized to fit around and contact an exterior surface of an exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine;
- a second base plate having a cylindrical shape sized to fit around and contact the exterior surface of the exhaust pipe from the internal combustion engine;
- heat transfer fins positioned directly on and extending radially outward from the first base plate and the second base plate, the heat transfer fins extending along the first base plate and the second base plate in a direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the heat sink;
- and
- at least two clamps configured to releasably couple the first base plate and the second base plate to the exterior surface of the exhaust pipe, each of the at least two clamps including a bracket and a U-shaped bolt having ends that extend through openings in the bracket;
- wherein the first base plate and the second base plate form two halves configured to be releasably coupled around the exterior surface of the exhaust pipe;
- wherein the heat sink is a passive heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the exhaust pipe to ambient air;
- wherein the first base plate and the second base plate each include opposing end portions over which the heat transfer fins do not extend;
- and
- wherein the opposing end portions are configured to receive the at least two clamps.
7 more elements
A heat sink comprising:
- a first base plate having a cylindrical shape;
- a second base plate having a cylindrical shape;
- one or more thermoelectric generators positioned in contact with an interior surface of the first base plate and the second base plate, the one or more thermoelectric generators being configured to fit around and contact an exterior surface of an exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine;
- heat transfer fins positioned directly on and extending radially outward from the first base plate and the second base plate, the heat transfer fins extending along the first base plate and the second base plate in a direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the heat sink;
- and
- at least two clamps configured to releasably couple the first base plate and the second base plate to the exterior surface of the exhaust pipe, each of the at least two clamps including a bracket and a U-shaped bolt having ends that extend through openings in the bracket;
- wherein the first base plate and the second base plate form two halves configured to be releasably coupled around the exterior surface of the exhaust pipe;
- wherein the heat sink is a passive heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the exhaust pipe to ambient air;
- wherein the first base plate and the second base plate each include opposing end portions over which the heat transfer fins do not extend;
- and
- wherein the opposing end portions are configured to receive the at least two clamps.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.