Automatic transmission fluid cooler and associated method
AssigneeEDC Automotive, LLC
InventorsGeorge MOSER, Gordon SOMMER, Adam OSTAPOWICZ
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transmission fluid cooler for cooling the automatic transmission fluid of a motor vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, and associated method. The transmission fluid cooler can include a fluid inlet tank, a fluid outlet tank, and a plurality of extruded aluminum heat transfer tubes connecting the inlet tank to the outlet tank. Each tube can include first and second substantially flat sidewalls, a plurality of internal webs extending between the first and second sidewalls, and a plurality of dimples and convolutions to cause turbulation and stirring of the transmission fluid in order to increase heat transfer.
Claims20
A transmission fluid cooler for cooling the automatic transmission fluid in a motor vehicle by immersion of the transmission fluid cooler into a cooling liquid, the transmission fluid:
- a fluid inlet tank;
- a fluid outlet tank;
- and
- a plurality of extended aluminum heat transfer tubes connecting the inlet tank to the outlet tank, wherein each tube comprises:
- first and second substantially flat sidewalls;
- a plurality of internal webs extending between the first and second sidewalls;
- and
- a plurality of first dimples formed on the first sidewall, each first dimple formed over one of the webs.
A method of cooling an automatic transmission fluid of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a transmission fluid cooler having a fluid inlet tank, a fluid outlet tank and a plurality of heat transfer tubes connecting the inlet and outlet tanks, each tube comprising first and second substantially flat sidewalls, internal webs extending between the sidewalls and a plurality of first dimples formed on one of the sidewalls, each of the first dimples formed over one of the webs;
- immersing at least the plurality of aluminum extruded tubes in a cooling liquid;
- and
- routing the automatic transmission fluid through the plurality of aluminum extended tubes.
A method for making a transmission fluid cooler for cooling the automatic transmission fluid in a motor vehicle by immersion of the transmission fluid cooler into a cooling liquid, the method comprising:
- extruding a plurality of aluminum tubes having first and second substantially flat sidewalls;
- coupling a first end of each tube to a fluid inlet tank;
- coupling a second end of each tube to a fluid outlet tank;
- forming webs between the first and second sidewalls of each tube;
- forming a plurality of first dimples on the first sidewall of each tube, each first dimple formed over one of the webs;
- and
- brazing the transmission fluid cooler in a brazing oven.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.