Pins for heat exchangers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11933554-B2
Application number	US-202117493541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2021
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Mar 19, 2024
Grant date	Mar 19, 2024

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a body defining a flow channel, and a pin extending across the flow channel, the pin including an at least partially non-cylindrical shape. The pin can be a double helix pin including two spiral branches defining a double helix shape. The two branches can include a uniform winding radius. The two branches include a non-uniform winding radius. The non-uniform winding radius can include a base radius and a midpoint radius, wherein the midpoint radius is smaller than the base radius. The two branches can be joined together by one or more cross-members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:
a body defining a flow channel; and
a pin extending along a pin axis and across the flow channel in a direction perpendicular to a flow direction, the pin including an at least partially non-cylindrical shape, wherein the pin includes a hollow tubular trunk portion and a plurality of hollow tubular branches extending away from the hollow tubular trunk portion of the pin, wherein the pin includes a plurality of pins, wherein the plurality of pins includes pins of different shape, wherein the hollow tubular trunk portion and/or one or more of the hollow tubular branches includes one or more holes defined therethrough to allow a flow to flow through the hollow tubular trunk and/or the one or more hollow tubular branches in the flow direction, perpendicular to the pin axis.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular trunk portion and/or one or more of the hollow tubular branches includes a plurality of holes defined therethrough to allow the flow to flow through the hollow tubular trunk and/or the one or more hollow tubular branches in the flow direction, perpendicular to the pin axis.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the branches connect to an electronics side of the body.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the pin includes a plurality of multi-branches connected to each other.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pins are defined in the channel in a predetermined pattern relative to each other.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein one or more of the tubular branches of the pin include a flared end.

7. A heat exchanger, comprising:
a body defining a flow channel; and
a pin extending across the flow channel perpendicular to a flow direction, the pin including an at least partially non-cylindrical shape, wherein the pin includes a tubular trunk portion having at least one hole defined therethrough allowing flow to flow through the trunk of the pin along the flow direction, wherein the pin includes a plurality of branches extending away from a trunk portion of the pin.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein the tubular trunk portion is hollow.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of branches extending away from the tubular trunk portion are hollow.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the hollow tubular trunk portion is circumferential about the pin axis.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 10 , wherein the hollow tubular branches extend away from the hollow tubular trunk portion in a radial direction and an axial direction.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein a diameter of the of the one or more hollow tubular branches increases along a length of the respective branch in a direction from the hollow trunk portion towards the flared end of the respective hollow tubular branch.

13. A heat exchanger, comprising:
a body defining a flow channel; and
a pin extending across the flow channel perpendicular to a flow direction from a first side of the flow channel to a second side of the flow channel such that a first end of the pin is in contact with the first side of the flow channel and a second side of the pin is in contact with the second side of the flow channel, wherein the pin includes a trunk portion extending from the first side of the pin to a branch point and wherein the pin further includes one or more branches extending from the branch point to the second side of the pin such that the trunk portion is in contact with the first side of the flow channel and wherein the one or more branches are in contact with the second side of the flow channel, wherein the pin includes at least one hole defined in the trunk portion and/or the one or more branches allowing flow to flow through the trunk of the pin along the flow direction.

14. The heat exchanger of claim 13 , wherein the pin extends across the flow channel along a pin axis, wherein the trunk portion has a generally cylindrical shape circumferential to the pin axis, and wherein each branch extends from the branch point along a respective branch axis, wherein each branch has a generally cylindrical shape circumferential to the respective branch axis.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 14 , wherein the trunk portion and the one or more branches are hollow.

16. The heat exchanger of claim 15 , wherein the trunk portion and the one or more branches are fluidly connected to one another.

17. The heat exchanger of claim 16 , wherein each of the trunk portion and the one or more branches have a plurality of holes defined therethrough to allow flow to flow therethrough, wherein flow entering the trunk portion is able to exit the pin at the trunk portion or any one of the one or more branches.

18. The heat exchanger of claim 13 , wherein the pin extends across the flow channel along a pin axis, wherein the trunk portion has a non-cylindrical shape defined about the pin axis, and wherein each branch extends from the branch point along a respective branch axis, wherein each branch has a non-cylindrical shape defined about the respective branch axis, wherein a width of the trunk portion and/or the one or more branches varies along a respective length of the trunk portion and/or the one or more branches.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Karlen Eric W
• Wentland William L

Classifications

• F28F3/022 Primary

  the means being wires or pins · CPC title

• F28F1/405

  and being formed of wires · CPC title

• F28F1/40 Primary

  the means being only inside the tubular element · CPC title

• F28F13/12

  by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation (F28F13/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F2215/00

  Fins · CPC title