# US 2014/0190664 A1 · Heat exchanger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190664 A1 - Document ID: US20140190664A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/006,965 - Filed: 2012-03-23 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-24 - Assignees: Innova, Inc. - Inventors: Rosella Rizzonelli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190664A1 ## CPC - F28F 3/12: Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels {(F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence)} - F28D 9/0031: {the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by paired plates touching each other (F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence)} - F28D 21/0012: {the heat being recuperated from waste water or from condensates} - Y02B 30/56: Heat recovery units - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - 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) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A heat exchanger device (13) comprising a tubular body (2) having an inlet opening (3) and an outlet opening (4) and defining within itself a first pathway (5) for a first liquid in a first prevalent direction of advance (6) from the inlet opening (3) to the outlet opening (4); a first connecting terminal (7) having at least a first inlet (8) for the first liquid and being sealedly couplable to the inlet opening (3) of the tubular body (2) and further couplable, at the first inlet (8) for the first liquid, to a first outlet pipe (9) for the first liquid; a second connecting terminal (10) having at least a first outlet (11) for the first liquid and being sealedly couplable to the outlet of the tubular body (2) and further couplable, at the first outlet (11) for the first liquid, to a second outlet pipe (12) for the first liquid; and an exchanger element (13) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (15) for a second liquid and defining within itself a second pathway (16) for the second liquid, the exchanger element (13) being insertable in and couplable to the tubular body (2) in the first pathway (5) so as to define at least a surface (17) for the support and flow of the first liquid in the first pathway (5) inside the tubular body (2). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat exchanger device, comprising: a tubular body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and defining within itself a first pathway for a first liquid according to a first prevalent direction of advance from the inlet opening to the outlet opening; a first connecting terminal having at least a first inlet for the first liquid and being sealedly couplable to the inlet opening of the tubular body and further couplable, at the first inlet for the first liquid, to a first outlet pipe for the first liquid; a second connecting terminal having at least a first outlet for the first liquid and being sealedly couplable to the outlet of the tubular body and further couplable, at the first outlet for the first liquid, to a second outlet pipe for the first liquid; and an exchanger element having an inlet and an outlet for a second liquid and defining within itself a second pathway for the second liquid, the exchanger element being insertable in the tubular body in the first pathway and being couplable to the tubular body so as to define at least a surface for the support and flow of the first liquid in the first pathway inside the tubular body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the exchanger element is provided, at least at the support surface, with a plurality of projections adapted to cause turbulence in the first liquid during the flow of the first liquid across the exchanger element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the projections extend longitudinally transversally or perpendicularly to the first prevalent direction of advance of the first liquid in the first pathway and/or wherein the exchanger element is provided, for each 10 cm of the support surface, with at least two of the projections, or at least three of the projections, or at least four of the projections, or at least five of the projections, or at least 6 of the projections. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the exchanger element comprises a first and a second profiled plate, coupled to each other so as to define the second pathway between them and/or wherein the exchanger element comprises a first and a second profiled plate which are identical to each other and coupled to each other, one being tilted with respect to another, so as to define the second pathway between them. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of lateral walls, couplable in the proximity of lateral portions of the exchanger element, on opposite sides of the support surface, and in the proximity of lateral portions of the tubular body, inside the first pathway, so as to define lateral containing walls for the first liquid in the first pathway and channel the first liquid on the support surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of the exchanger element is operatively connected to a second inlet in the second connecting terminal and/or in the first connecting terminal and wherein the outlet of the exchanger element is operatively connected to a second outlet in the first connecting terminal and/or in the second connecting terminal and/or wherein the first inlet and the first outlet of the exchanger element, formed in the connecting elements, are orientated, when assembled, parallel and/or coaxially to one another and/or parallel or perpendicularly to the second inlet and the second outlet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the second pathway defined in the exchanger element is substantially coiled or undulating or zigzagged or transverse with respect to the first prevalent direction of advance of the first liquid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body is made by means of extrusion and/or in a single piece and/or of a plastic material and/or of polypropylene or PVC, and/or wherein the exchanger element is made of a metal material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the second pathway of the exchange element includes channels having a strongly flattened tubular section with main walls corrugated transversely to the channels to form alternating contiguous projections and valleys. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A plumbing system for discharging a first liquid such as water or the like, comprising a device as in claim 1, having its first inlet connected to a first outlet pipe for the first liquid and a first outlet connected to a second outlet pipe for the first liquid, located downstream of the first outlet pipe, and further having its second inlet connected to a supply pipe for water to be pre-heated and the second outlet connected to a delivery pipe for pre-heated water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Use of a device according to claim 1, connected to outlet pipes for used hot water, as a first liquid, and to supply pipes for water to be used, as a second liquid, in a domestic, residential, hotel or commercial plumbing system, downstream of wash basins, showers, bath tubs, bidets or the like, and/or use of a device according to any one of claim 1, integrated into a shower tray.