Flow funneling insert and heat exchanger with flow funneling element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10247490-B2
Application number	US-201514820113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2015
Priority date	Aug 6, 2015
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A heat exchanger can include a core, a first tank, and a set of guide members. The core can include a first end member, a second end member, and a plurality of tubes that can extend longitudinally between the first and second end members. The first tank can be fixedly coupled to the first end member. The first tank and first end member can define a first chamber that can be in fluid communication with a first port of the first tank and a first end of the tubes. The set of guide members can be coupled to the first end member. The set of guide members can cooperate to define a plurality of first funnels. A narrow end of each first funnel can be open to an individual one of the tubes. A wide end of each first funnel can be open to the first chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a core body including a first end member, a second end member, and a plurality of tubes that extend longitudinally between the first and second end members;
a first tank fixedly coupled to the first end member, the first tank including a first port, the first tank and first end member defining a first chamber in fluid communication with the first port and a first end of the tubes;
a second tank fixedly coupled to the second end member, the second tank including a second port, the second tank and second end member defining a second chamber in fluid communication with the second port and a second end of the tubes; and
a first set of guide members coupled to the first end member, the first set of guide members cooperating to define a plurality of first funnels, a narrow end of each first funnel being open to an individual one of the tubes, a wide end of each first funnel being open to the first chamber;
wherein the first set of guide members includes a first guide member and a second guide member, the first guide member extending into the first tank a greater distance from the first end member than the second guide member; and
wherein the first guide member includes a first wall and a second wall having different lengths and joined at a peak, the first wall is different from the second wall, the first guide member is asymmetrical about a plane that extends along a width of the peak and extends parallel to a length direction of the tubes.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second guide members have a pair of base walls that are parallel to the tubes, and a funnel portion that joins the base walls of the respective first or second guide member at the peak, wherein the base walls of the first guide member are longer than the base walls of the second guide member.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each of the guide members of the first set of guide members includes a pair of base walls and a funnel portion that joins the base walls of the respective guide members at peaks thereof, the base walls being flush with an interior surface of the tubes.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , further comprising a seal fixedly coupled to the first set of guide members and extending about a perimeter of the first set of guide members, the seal engaging the first tank and the first end member to form a seal there between.

5. An insert for a heat exchanger having a first tank, a second tank, and a core including a plurality of tubes that extend between the first and second tanks, the insert comprising:
a main body defining a plurality of funnels, the main body being configured to be received within the heat exchanger between the first tank and the core, each of the funnels being configured to align with one of the tubes and expanding from a narrow aperture proximate to one of the tubes to a wide aperture proximate to the tank to fluidly couple the tubes to the tank;
wherein the main body includes a plurality of guide members that cooperate to define the funnels and define a peak between each of the funnels, the peak of a first one of the guide members being a greater distance from the narrow aperture than the peak of a second one of the guide members; and
wherein at least the first guide member of the plurality of guide members includes a first wall and a second wall having different lengths and joined at the peak of the first guide member, the first wall is different from the second wall, the first guide member is asymmetrical about a plane that extends along a width of the peak and extends parallel to a length direction of the plurality of tubes.

6. The insert of claim 5 , further comprising a seal fixedly coupled to the main body and extending about a perimeter of the main body, the seal being configured to engage the first tank and the core to form a seal therebetween.

7. An insert for a heat exchanger having a first tank, a second tank, and a core including a plurality of tubes that extend between the first and second tanks, the insert comprising:
a main body including a plurality of guide members configured to be received within the heat exchanger between the first tank and the core, adjacent guide members cooperating to define a funnel having a narrow aperture that opens into one of the tubes, and a wide aperture that opens into the tank to fluidly couple the tubes to the tank;
wherein a distance between the narrow aperture and the wide aperture increases with decreased proximity to an inlet/outlet of the first tank; and
wherein at least a first guide member of the plurality of guide members includes a first wall and a second wall having different lengths and joined at a peak of the first guide member, the first wall is different from the second wall, the first guide member is asymmetrical about a plane that extends along a width of the peak and extends parallel to a length direction of the plurality of tubes.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc

Inventors

• Taylor Dwayne
• Pujols Sergio
• Tinsley Mylissa

Classifications

• F28D1/0233

  with air flow channels · CPC title

• F01P11/00 Primary

  Component parts, details, or accessories not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F01P1/00 - F01P9/00 · CPC title

• F28D1/05316

  Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators (F28D1/05366 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F9/028 Primary

  by using inserts for modifying the pattern of flow inside the header box, e.g. by using flow restrictors or permeable bodies or blocks with channels · CPC title

• F28D1/05366

  Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators · CPC title