Weld-free heat exchanger assembly
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsJames David Bolla, Richard Brian Kennedy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A weld-free heat exchanger assembly core includes a plurality of stacked fin-plate assemblies. A separate enclosure bar is positioned at the end of each fin-plate assembly. A plurality of apertures are pre-drilled in the enclosure bars before assembly of the core. Once the core is assembled, it is brazed to form a unitary structure. Apertures formed in the inlet and outlet manifolds are aligned with apertures formed in the enclosure bars and fasteners are inserted into the aligned apertures. The fasteners serve to draw each manifold into tight engagement with a plurality of separate enclosure bars.
Claims20
A fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
- a core assembly including at least two adjacently disposed fin assemblies;
- said core assembly further including a support plate located between said adjacently disposed fin assemblies, said core assembly further including an enclosure bar retained at opposite ends of at least one of said fin assemblies, said enclosure bar having at least one through aperture;
- at least one enclosure positioned adjacent said core assembly for directing fluid through said core assembly, said enclosure having at least one through aperture aligned with at least one through aperture in said enclosure bar;
- and
- at least one mechanical fastener extending through said aligned apertures for joining said enclosure to said enclosure bar.
A weld-free heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
- a core assembly including a plurality of separate fin assemblies stacked one upon another;
- a separate support plate spaced between each pair of adjacent fin assembles;
- a separate enclosure bar secured at the end of each fin assembly said enclosure bar having at least one through aperture;
- an inlet manifold positioned adjacent said core assembly and an outlet manifold positioned adjacent said core assembly, said manifolds and core assembly forming at least a first fluid flow passageway through said heat to exchanger assembly;
- and
- at least one mechanical fastening assembly extending through at least one aperture in said enclosure bar for joining each manifold to said enclosure bar.
An enclosure bar for a heat exchanger assembly, the bar comprising:
- a substantially flat, elongated intermediate portion;
- and
- enlarged first and second end portions of similar size, the end portions having manifold mounting surfaces, at least one end portion having an aperture extending therethrough to the mounting surface.
An environmental control system, comprising:
- an air conditioning system;
- and
- a weld-free heat exchanger having an outlet connected to an inlet of the air conditioning system;
- said heat exchanger including a core assembly of substantially rectangular configuration and formed by a plurality of separate fin assemblies stacked upon one another;
- said heat exchanger further including a plurality of separate support plates, each support plate being positioned between and supporting a pair of adjacent fin assemblies;
- said heat exchanger further including a plurality of separate, substantially rectangular-shaped enclosure bars, each enclosure bar being secured to an end of each fin assembly, each enclosure bar including a pair of enlarged end portions, each end portion having at least one aperture extending therein;
- said heat exchanger further including a separate manifold positioned adjacent each side of said core assembly, wherein each pair of manifolds and said core form a plurality of fluid flow passageways through said heat exchanger assembly;
- and
- the manifolds being mechanically fastened to said enclosure bars.
A method of forming a heat exchanger assembly, comprising the steps of:
- interposing a plurality of first and second fin-plate assemblies to form at least two separate fluid passageways extending through two separate fin-plates assemblies;
- positioning a separate support plate between each pair of adjacently disposed first and second fin-plate assemblies;
- positioning a separate enclosure bar having at least one through aperture at the end of each first and second fin-plate assemblies to maintain the spacing of said fin plates assemblies and prevent fluid from leaking from said two separate fluid passageways;
- brazing said first and second fin-plate assemblies, support plates and enclosure bars into a unitary core assembly;
- mechanically joining at least one fluid passageway enclosure to enclosure bars of the core assembly, through at least one aperture in said enclosure bar thereby forming a weld-free heat exchanger assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.