Patent · US Expired

Heat exchanger

US5934367A · kind A · utility

53Cited by
3References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 1997
Grant dateAug 10, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF28F9/0217
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A two path flow, laminated-type heat exchanger for an automotive refrigerant circuit includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes, a plurality of fins, and a tank. The tank is divided into three chambers. The second and third chambers are in fluid communication with the heat transfer tubes, each of which tubes has an interior U-shaped flow path. A plurality of holes of different radii or one diamond-shaped hole or a wall dividing the first chamber into two sub-chambers may be provided between the first chamber and the second chamber. The fluid enters through an inlet orifice and flows into the first chamber. Imbalances in the fluid's mass-flow rate along the length of the tank are leveled as the fluid passes from the first chamber to the second chamber. The fluid now possessing a leveled mass-flow rate enters the heat transfer tubes. Thus, the fluid in every heat transfer tube is leveled. The fluid flowing within each of heat transfer tubes then is collected in the third chamber, and exits through the outlet orifice. Therefore, the surface temperature of the heat exchanger is balanced during operation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.