Multiple tube heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12352500-B2
Application number	US-202318209221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2023
Priority date	Jun 13, 2023
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of manifolds and first and second pluralities of tubes that extend between different pairs of the plurality of manifolds. The heat exchange tubes each include a heat exchange portion extending along a straight direction, an outlet portion extending a transverse axis and a transition portion that connects the heat exchange portion to the outlet portion, wherein the transition portion transitions simultaneously in the transverse direction and along an offset axis, wherein the changing direction has vector components along both the transverse axis and the offset axis along the length of the transition portion. Wherein an end of the heat exchange as a jog region that comprises a bend along the offset axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A heat exchange tube for a heat exchanger, comprising a tube body delimiting at least one coolant channel for a coolant or a refrigerant,
the tube body having an outer top surface and an outer bottom surface arranged opposite one another at a thickness of the tube body and having two outer side surfaces arranged opposite one another at a width of the tube body, the outer side surfaces connecting the outer top to the outer bottom surface,
wherein the tube body has a heat exchange portion extending along an extension axis that is along a straight extension direction such that flow through the at least one coolant channel flows in the extension direction when flowing through the heat exchange portion,
wherein the tube body has an outlet portion extending along a transverse axis that is perpendicular with respect to the extension axis, such that flow through the at least one coolant channel flows in a transverse direction along the transverse axis when flowing through the outlet portion,
wherein the tube body has a transition portion connecting the heat exchange portion to the outlet portion, wherein the transition portion transitions simultaneously in the transverse direction and along an offset axis, wherein the offset axis is perpendicular to each of the extension direction and the transverse direction, wherein the transition portion is formed such that flow through the at least one coolant channel within the transition portion flows in a changing direction along a length of at least part of the transition portion, wherein the changing direction has vector components along both the transverse axis and the offset axis along the length of the transition portion,
wherein the outlet portion is arranged at a distance from the heat exchange portion measured in parallel to the offset axis,
wherein an end of the heat exchange portion has jog region that comprises a bend along the offset axis and on an opposite side of the heat exchange portion of the tube body than the outlet portion, wherein flow through the at least one coolant channel in the jog region has vector components along both the extension axis and the offset axis, and
wherein the jog region portion joins with the transition portion.

2. The heat exchange tube of claim 1 , wherein the transition portion further transitions simultaneously in along the extension axis, such that flow through the at least one channel within the transition portion has changing direction that also has vector components along the extension axis.

3. The heat exchange tube according to claim 1 , wherein the extension direction is a straight line.

4. The heat exchange tube according to claim 2 , wherein flow through the at least one coolant channel within the changing direction continuously changes direction along the transition portion such that the relative vector components along the transverse axis, the offset axis, and the extension axis each vary along the transition portion.

5. The heat exchange tube according to claim 1 , wherein an interface between the transition portion and the angled portion is at a varying linear distance along each of the top and bottom surfaces of the tube body.

6. The heat exchange tube according to claim 1 wherein the distance at which the outlet portion is arranged opposite the heat exchange portion is smaller than a minimum bending radius of tube wall.

7. The heat exchange tube according to claim 1 , wherein the tube body delimits numerous coolant channels arranged in a queue along the thickness of the tube, wherein directly adjacent coolant channels are separated by a division wall extending along the thickness of the tube body.

8. The heat exchange tube according to claim 1 , wherein the tube body comprises a uniform metal material.

9. A heat exchanger, comprising:
a first manifold, a second manifold, a third manifold, and a fourth manifold;
a plurality of first tubes each with a first end connected to the first manifold and a second end connected to the third manifold, each of the first tubes comprising a straight heat exchange portion and a curved transition portion;
a plurality of second tubes each with a first end connected to the second manifold and a second end connected to the fourth manifold, each of the second tubes comprising a straight heat exchange portion and a curved transition portion;
the plurality of first tubes all arranged in the same orientation and in parallel with each other and with a space between the straight heat exchange portions of adjacent first tubes the plurality of second tubes all arranged in the same orientation and in parallel with each other, each of the plurality of second tubes positioned within one of the spaces between adjacent first tubes with a possible exception of an one or more outermost second tubes of the plurality of second tubes,
wherein the first and fourth manifolds are arranged proximate to each other and the second and third manifolds are arranged proximate to each other and further from the first and fourth manifolds;
wherein each of the plurality of first and second tubes further comprise:
an outer top surface and an outer bottom surface arranged opposite one another at a thickness of the tube body and having two outer side surfaces arranged opposite one another at a width of the tube body, the outer side surfaces connecting the outer top to the outer bottom surface,
wherein the tube body has a heat exchange portion extending along an extension axis that is along a straight extension direction such that flow through the at least one coolant channel flows in the extension direction when flowing through the heat exchange portion,
wherein the tube body has an outlet portion extending along a transverse axis that is perpendicular with respect to the extension axis, such that flow through the at least one coolant channel flows in a transverse direction along the transverse axis when flowing through the outlet portion,
wherein the tube body has a transition portion connecting the heat exchange portion to the outlet portion, wherein the transition portion transitions simultaneously in the transverse direction and along an offset axis, wherein the offset axis is perpendicular to each of the extension direction and the transverse direction, wherein the transition portion is formed such that flow through the at least one coolant channel within the transition portion flows in a changing direction along a length of at least part of the transition portion, wherein the changing direction has vector components along both the transverse axis and the offset axis along the length of the transition portion,
wherein the outlet portion is arranged at a distance from the heat exchange portion measured in the parallel to the offset axis,
wherein an end of the heat exchange portion has jog region that comprises a bend along the offset axis and on an opposite side of the heat exchange portion of the tube body than the outlet portion, wherein flow through the at least one coolant channel in the jog region has vector components along both the extension axis and the offset axis, and
wherein the jog region portion joins with the transition portion.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the jog region of each of the plurality of first tubes extends from the right side wall of the heat exchange portion of the respective first tube and the jog region of each of the plurality of second tubes extends from the left side wall of the heat exchange portion of the respective second tube.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first tubes and the plurality of second tubes are arranged alternatingly along a stacking direction that corresponds to

Assignees

• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Kent Scott
• Runk Robert Louis

Classifications

• F28F1/025

  with variable shape, e.g. with modified tube ends, with different geometrical features (F28F1/06, F28F1/08, F28F9/16, F28F9/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• F28D7/16

  the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation ({F28D7/0008 - F28D7/0058 take precedence}; F28D7/02 - F28D7/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• F28F1/12

  the means being only outside the tubular element · CPC title

• F28D1/0426 Primary

  with units having particular arrangement relative to the large body of fluid, e.g. with interleaved units or with adjacent heat exchange units in common air flow or with units extending at an angle to each other or with units arranged around a central element · CPC title

• F28F1/022 Primary

  with multiple channels · CPC title