Heat Exchanger Assemblies with integrated valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10184735-B2
Application number	US-201815919978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	May 31, 2012
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to various ways in which to integrate control valves into the structure of a heat exchanger. The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger assembly that includes a heat exchanger and a valve integration unit. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of alternating first and second fluid passages in heat exchange relation, and at least one inlet manifold and one outlet manifold interconnected by one of the plurality of first or second fluid passages. The valve integration unit is fixedly attached to heat exchanger and includes a fluid passage in fluid communication with at least one of the inlet and outlet manifolds. A valve mechanism is mounted within the valve integration unit in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the valve mechanism controlling the flow of a heat exchange fluid through said fluid passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
a heat exchanger having a plurality of alternating first and second fluid passages in heat exchange relation;
at least one inlet manifold and at least one outlet manifold interconnected by one of the plurality of first or second fluid passages for the flow of a heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger;
a valve integration unit fixedly attached to the heat exchanger, wherein the valve integration unit is a manifold structure comprising:
a first pair of inlet and outlet ports for receiving a heat exchange fluid from a source and returning said heat exchange fluid to said source;
a second pair of inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with corresponding, respective inlet and outlet manifolds in said heat exchanger;
a third pair of inlet and outlet ports for directing said heat exchange fluid out of said manifold structure and returning said heat exchange fluid to said manifold structure;
a first internal fluid passage in fluid communication with the inlet port of said first pair of inlet and outlet ports and the inlet manifold of the heat exchanger;
a second internal fluid passage in fluid communication with the inlet port of said first pair of inlet and outlet ports and the outlet port of said third pair of inlet and outlet ports;
a third internal fluid passage in fluid communication with the inlet port of said third pair of inlet and outlet ports and the outlet port of the first pair of inlet and outlet ports;
a valve cavity in fluid communication with the outlet manifold of the heat exchanger, the third internal fluid passage and the outlet port of the first pair of inlet and outlet ports; and

a valve mechanism disposed within the valve cavity for controlling the flow of said heat exchange fluid to the one of the inlet and outlet manifolds, wherein the valve mechanism includes a valve disk or spool-type valve member coupled to a thermal actuator, and the thermal actuator is responsive to temperature of the heat exchange fluid entering the valve cavity and being returned to said source.

2. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism is moveable between a first valve position permitting fluid flow to said heat exchanger, and a second valve position preventing fluid flow to said heat exchanger.

3. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermal actuator is a wax motor.

4. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve mechanism is an electronic valve mechanism.

5. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve cavity is disposed entirely within the manifold structure such that the valve cavity is an internal valve cavity.

6. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve cavity has a first portion disposed within the manifold structure and a second portion mounted externally to manifold structure and coupled to said first portion.

7. The heat exchanger assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising inlet and outlet fittings disposed at one end of the heat exchanger that is opposite to the valve integration unit, wherein the inlet and outlet fittings are in fluid communication with the other one of the plurality of first or second fluid passages for inletting and discharging a heat exchange fluid into and out of the heat exchanger.

8. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
a heat exchanger having alternating first and second fluid passages in heat exchange relation;
a first inlet manifold and a first outlet manifold interconnected by the first fluid passages for the flow of a first heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger; and
a second inlet manifold and a second outlet manifold interconnected by the second fluid passages for the flow of a second heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger;
a manifold structure fixedly attached to and in fluid communication with one of said pairs of first or second inlet and outlet manifolds, the manifold structure comprising:
a first internal fluid channel for directing fluid to an inlet manifold of said heat exchanger;
a second internal fluid channel directing fluid away from said inlet manifold of said heat exchanger;
an internal valve cavity in fluid communication with an outlet manifold of said heat exchanger and the second internal fluid channel;
a valve mechanism disposed within the internal valve cavity for controlling fluid flow to either said heat exchanger or to said second internal fluid channel; and
a first pair of inlet and outlet ports for receiving a heat exchange fluid from a source and returning said heat exchange fluid to said source;
a second pair of inlet and outlet ports in fluid communication with corresponding, respective inlet and outlet manifolds in said heat exchanger; and
a third pair of inlet and outlet ports for directing said heat exchange fluid out of said manifold structure and returning said heat exchange fluid to said manifold structure;
wherein the first internal fluid channel interconnects said first inlet port and said inlet manifold of said heat exchanger, and the second internal fluid channel interconnects said first inlet port and said third outlet port and interconnects said third inlet port and said first outlet port via said internal valve cavity.

9. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second internal fluid channel is in fluid communication with a second heat exchanger.

10. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 8 , wherein said third pair of inlet and outlet ports are in fluid communication with corresponding inlet and outlet ports of a second heat exchanger disposed remotely with respect to said heat exchanger assembly.

11. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger functions as a warmer and wherein the second heat exchanger functions as a cooler.

12. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger is an oil-to water heat exchanger and wherein the second heat exchanger is an oil-to air heat exchanger.

Assignees

• Dana Canada Corp

Inventors

• Sheppard Jeff
• Bettio Dario
• Bhatia Sachin

Classifications

• F28F2280/06

  Adapter frames, e.g. for mounting heat exchanger cores on other structure and for allowing fluidic connections · CPC title

• F28F2250/06

  Derivation channels, e.g. bypass · CPC title

• F28F27/02 Primary

  for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels ({static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026}; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12) · CPC title

• F28F9/26

  Arrangements for connecting different sections of heat-exchange elements, e.g. of radiators (connecting different sections in water heaters F24H9/14 {, connecting headers with inlet or outlet fittings F28F9/0246}) · CPC title

• F28D2021/0089

  Oil coolers · CPC title