# US 2019/0170455 A1 · Heat exchanger bell mouth inlet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170455 A1 - Document ID: US20190170455A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/185,110 - Filed: 2018-11-09 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Michael G. McCaffrey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170455A1 ## CPC - F28F 9/0229: {Double end plates; Single end plates with hollow spaces} - F28F 1/025: {with variable shape, e.g. with modified tube ends, with different geometrical features (F28F1/06, F28F1/08, F28F9/16, F28F9/18 take precedence)} - F28F 1/26: the means being integral with the element (F28F1/32 takes precedence) - F28F 9/0221: {Header boxes or end plates formed by stacked elements} - F28F 9/0224: {Header boxes formed by sealing end plates into covers (F28F9/0221 takes precedence)} - F28F 9/0263: {by varying the geometry or cross-section of header box} - F28F 9/165: {by using additional preformed parts, e.g. sleeves, gaskets (F28F9/185 takes precedence)} - F28F 13/08: by varying the cross-section of the flow channels - F28D 9/0062: {the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements (F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence)} - F28D 2021/0021: {for aircrafts or cosmonautics} - F28F 2009/029: {with increasing or decreasing cross-section, e.g. having conical shape} - F28F 2009/0297: {Side headers, e.g. for radiators having conduits laterally connected to common header} - F28F 2250/02: Streamline-shaped elements - 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) ## Abstract A heat exchanger includes at least one passage defining a flow path for airflow. A manifold includes a transition region including at least two rib portions defining a smoothly curved transition surface into the at least one passage. A method is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat exchanger comprising: at least one passage defining a flow path for airflow; and a manifold including a transition region including at least two rib portions defining a smoothly curved transition surface into the at least one passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the manifold includes a housing with an inlet opening and the transition region is adjacent the at least one passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least two rib portions extend across the transition region of the manifold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least two rib portions include a support portion supporting the at least one passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 4, including a plate defining the at least one passage, the plate abutted against the support portion of the at least two rib portions so as to continue the smoothly curved transition surface through the at least one passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 5, including a seal disposed between the plate and the at least two rib portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 5, wherein the plate comprises a unitary part without joints. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1, wherein the smoothly curved transition surface comprises a bell mouth shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1, including a plurality of passages for airflow and the manifold comprises an inlet manifold at one end of the plurality of passages and an outlet manifold at an opposite end of the plurality of passages. ### Claim 10 A heat exchanger comprising: at least two plates defining an first flow passage, the at least two plates including an inlet region, wherein the inlet region comprises a smoothly curved transition region; and a manifold including an inlet opening and a transition region supporting the at least two plates. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 10, wherein the plate comprises a first end portion spaced apart from a second end portion, a cavity defining a first flow path between the first end portion and the second end portion, and an outer surface portion defining a second flow path, wherein the plate comprises a single unitary part without a joint between any two portions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the first end portion and the second end portion include the smoothly curved transition region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least two plates comprises a plurality of plates stacked atop each other and supported within the transition region of the manifold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 13, wherein the manifold comprises a first manifold at an inlet end of the at least two plates and a second manifold at the outlet end of the at least two plates. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 10, wherein the smoothly curved transition surface comprises a bell mouth shape. ### Claim 16 A method of assembling a heat exchanger comprising: defining a manifold to include a plurality of ribs extending across a transition region, each of the plurality of ribs including a smoothly curved transition surface; and inserting a plate defining an airflow passage between two of the plurality of ribs to hold the plates within the transition region and define a smoothly curved transition surface into the airflow passage. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, including inserting a seal between an end of the plate and at least two ribs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the manifold comprises an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold and the method includes inserting the plate into both the inlet manifold to define an inlet transition surface into the airflow passage and the outlet manifold to define an outlet transition surface for airflow exiting the airflow passage.