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US 8,387,686 B2Granted
Automotive heat exchanger assemblies having internal fins and methods of making the same
OwnerPaul R. Smith, Kellie M. Irish +4inventors
InventorsPaul R. Smith, Kellie M. Irish, Sam J. Lamancuso, Kevin L. Freestone, David S. Johnson, Terrence P. Lynch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to automotive heat exchanger assemblies that may withstand high environmental temperature and pressures conditions. By providing a tube strengthener into the tubes at the areas of highest stress, the heat exchanger assembly may be strengthened so that it is substantially more efficient under typical operating conditions.
Claims24
A heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
- a first end tank;
- a second end tank opposite the first end tank;
- at least one tube in fluid communication with the first and second end tanks, the at one least tube adapted to have a fluid flow therethrough;
- at least one tube strengthener;
- and
- at least one internal fin distinct from the tube strengthener;
- wherein:
- the at least one tube strengthener and the at least one internal fin are positioned inside the at least one tube;
- the at least one tube strengthener replaces an end portion of the internal fin;
- and
- the at least one tube strengthener is joined to the at least one tube at localized, spaced-apart joints alternating with portions of an inner surface of the at least one tube that are not in contact with or joined to the at least one tube strengthener in a cross-section orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the at least one tube.
8 more elements
A heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
- a first end tank;
- a second end tank opposite the first end tank;
- at least one tube positioned between the first and second end tanks;
- at least one tube strengthener;
- and
- at least one internal fin distinct from the tube strengthener;
- wherein the at least one tube strengthener is positioned inside the at least one tube;
- wherein the at least one tube is in fluid communication with at least the first end tank or the second end tank;
- wherein the at least one tube strengthener is a tube strengthener-end contact or a tube strengthener-structural;
- wherein the at least one tube strengthener is a complete modified fin, a piece of a modified fin, or a part of a modified fin positioned inside the at least one tube such that an outermost area of the modified fin contacts and follows the contour of an inside wall of the at least one tube on either the radius or minor dimension of the at least one tube;
- and wherein the at least one tube strengthener is joined to the at least one tube at localized, spaced-apart joints alternating with portions of an inner surface of the at least one tube that are not in contact with or joined to the at least one tube strengthener in a cross-section orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the at least one tube.
8 more elements
A heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
- a first end tank;
- a second end tank opposite the first end tank;
- at least one tube having a fluid inlet defined in a first tube-end and having a fluid outlet defined in a second tube-end opposite the first tube-end, the at least one tube in fluid communication with the first end tank and the second end tank, the at least one tube defining a fluid flow path from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet;
- at least one tube strengthener disposed inside the at least one tube in a first segment of the fluid flow path wherein the at least one tube strengthener is joined to the at least one tube at localized, spaced-apart joints alternating with portions of an inner surface of the at least one tube that are not in contact with or joined to the at least one tube strengthener in a cross-section orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the at least one tube;
- and
- at least one internal fin disposed inside the at least one tube in a second segment of the fluid flow path, serially adjacent to the first segment of the fluid flow path.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.