Heat exchanger having bypass seal with retention clip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10451362-B2
Application number	US-201715783337-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2017
Priority date	Oct 14, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A heat exchanger comprises a stack of flat tubes defining first and second fluid flow passages, and a housing having side covers over the sides of the core, and being spaced from the sides of the core. The heat exchanger further comprises a bypass seal comprising a pair of side seals and a pair of clip members. The side seals are received between the sides of the core and the housing. Each side seal has an inner surface engaging the first side of the core and an outer surface engaging the first side wall of the housing. Each clip member has a middle portion to which a side seal is connected, as well as opposed first and second end portions which engage inwardly extending surfaces of the core.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising:
(a) a core comprising:
a plurality of first fluid flow passages for flow of a first fluid and a plurality of second fluid flow passages for flow of a second fluid, the first and second fluid flow passages arranged in alternating order along a height of the core;
a top and an opposed bottom, and a first side and an opposed second side, the first and second sides each extending between the top and the bottom along the height of the core, wherein the top, the bottom and the sides extend at least generally along an axis defined by a flow direction of the first fluid;
a first end and an opposed second end spaced apart along the axis;
a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, each of the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet being located in one of the first and second ends of the core, and facing the axis;
each of the first fluid flow passages having opposed first and second sides which are closed, wherein a first side plane passes through at least some of the first sides of the first fluid flow passages, and a second side plane passes through at least some of the second sides of the first fluid flow passages;
wherein the first side of the core defines a first inwardly extending surface and a second inwardly extending surface which are spaced apart along the height of the core, and both the first and second inwardly extending surfaces extend inwardly of the first side plane toward the second side plane;
wherein the second side of the core defines a third inwardly extending surface and a fourth inwardly extending surface which are spaced apart along the height of the core, and both the third and fourth inwardly extending surfaces extend inwardly of the second side plane toward the first side plane;

(b) a housing comprising a top wall and an opposed bottom wall, and a first side wall and an opposed second side wall, wherein the side walls extend between the top wall and the bottom wall;
wherein the first side wall of the housing is spaced from the first side of the core and from the first side plane, and the second side wall of the housing is spaced from the second side of the core and from the second side plane;

(c) a bypass seal comprising:
(i) a first side seal portion received between the first side of the core and the first side wall of the housing, wherein the first side seal portion has an inner surface engaging the first side of the core and an outer surface engaging the first side wall of the housing;
(ii) a first clip member having a middle portion, a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the middle portion received between the first side of the core and the first side wall of the housing, the first end portion extending inwardly of the first side plane of the core and engaging the first inwardly extending surface, and the second end portion extending inwardly of the first side plane of the core and engaging the second inwardly extending surface, wherein the first side seal portion is connected to the middle portion of the first clip member;
(iii) a second side seal portion received between the second side of the core and the second side wall of the housing, wherein the second side seal portion has an inner surface engaging the second side of the core and an outer surface engaging the second side wall of the housing; and
(iv) a second clip member having a middle portion, a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the middle portion received between the second side of the core and the second side wall of the housing, the first end portion extending inwardly of the second side plane of the core and engaging the third inwardly extending surface, and the second end portion extending inwardly of the second side plane of the core and engaging the fourth inwardly extending surface, wherein the second side seal portion is connected to the middle portion of the second clip member.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the top wall of the housing is spaced from the top of the core, and wherein the bypass seal further comprises:
(v) a top seal portion received between the top of the core and the top wall of the housing, wherein the top seal portion has an inner surface engaging the top of the core and an outer surface engaging the top wall of the housing.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the top seal portion has one end which is connected to the first side seal portion and another end which is connected to the second side seal portion.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein at least the outer surface of the top seal portion is comprised of a resilient, foamed polymeric material.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the top seal includes one or more apertures in its inner surface, and the top of the core includes one or more projections;
wherein each of the one or more projections is received in one of the one or more apertures.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the first clip member and the second clip member are comprised of plastic or metal, and wherein one or both of the first side seal portion and the second side seal portion are comprised of a resilient, foamed polymeric material.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein the core, the first clip member and the second clip member are each comprised of an aluminum alloy or stainless steel, wherein the first and second end portions of the first clip member are brazed to the respective first and second inwardly extending surfaces of the core, and wherein the first and second end portions of the second clip member are brazed to the respective third and fourth inwardly extending surfaces of the core.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the second end portions of the first and second clip members each comprise a contact portion engaging the core and an arcuate portion which is connected to the contact portion, which is spaced from the core, and which extends between the contact portion and the middle portion of the clip member.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 8 , wherein the second and fourth inwardly extending surfaces are each provided with a local projection protruding therefrom along the height of the core, wherein each said projection is located laterally between the contact portion of the first or second clip member and the respective first or second side plane.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the first and third inwardly extending surfaces are each provided with one or more slots facing toward the respective first and second side planes, wherein each of the slots are axially spaced from the first and second side seal portions, and wherein the first end portion of each of the first and second clip members has an axially extending tip portion which is received within one of the slots.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 10 , wherein the slots are diagonally oriented relative to the axis.

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein each of the first and third inwardly extending surfaces has a pair of slots, wherein the slots of each said pair are axially spaced apart and located on either side of the respective first and second side seal portions, and wherein the first end portion of each of the first and second clip members is flat and planar and has a pair of said tip portions extending axially in opposite directions and each received inside one of the slots.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein the middle portion of each of the first and second clip members includes one or more apertures, and wherein the first and second side seal portion

Assignees

• Dana Canada Corp

Inventors

• Kinder Lee M
• Abels Kenneth M A
• Shore Colin A
• Schouten Eric J

Classifications

• F28D9/0043

  the plates having openings therein for circulation of at least one heat-exchange medium from one conduit to another · CPC title

• F02B29/0462

  Liquid cooled heat exchangers · CPC title

• F28F3/027

  with openings, e.g. louvered corrugated fins; Assemblies of corrugated strips · CPC title

• F28D9/0056

  with U-flow or serpentine-flow inside conduits; with centrally arranged openings on the plates · CPC title

• F28F9/0075

  Supports for plates or plate assemblies · CPC title