Heat exchanger with heater insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016209125-A1
Application number	US-201514599919-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2015
Priority date	Jan 19, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes fins that are spaced apart from each other, and that each include one or more tube slots. A coil is coupled to the fins and includes a tube section extending through axially aligned tube slots. A heater insert extends through one or more of the axially aligned tube slots adjacent an exterior of the tube section to defrost the heat exchanger.

First claim

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
fins spaced apart from each other, each of the fins including one or more tube slots; a coil coupled to the fins and including a tube section extending through axially aligned tube slots; and a heater insert extending through one or more of the axially aligned tube slots adjacent an exterior of the tube section to defrost the heat exchanger.

2 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heater insert is defined by a U-shaped body coupled to the fins such that the U-shaped body is aligned with an airflow direction associated with the fins.

3 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heater insert contacts one or more of the fins.

4 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heater insert contacts the tube section.

5 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heater insert includes pleats disposed along a length of the heater insert, and wherein the pleats are disposed between adjacent fins upon full insertion of the heater insert into the axially aligned tube slots.

6 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein the pleats are resiliently biased into contact with the adjacent fins.

7 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heater insert includes carbon fiber material.

8 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the coil defines a serpentine arrangement having two tube sections extending through each of the axially aligned tube slots, and wherein the heater insert is disposed between the two tube sections.

9 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the fins are arranged to define an airflow path through the heat exchanger, wherein the heater insert is a first heater insert and the heat exchanger includes a second heater insert, and wherein the first heater insert and the second heater insert are coupled to the fins in a location closer to an airflow outlet than an airflow inlet of the heat exchanger.

10 . A heater insert for defrosting a heat exchanger including fins and a coil with tube sections extending through tube slots within the fins, the heater insert comprising:
a body elongated along an axis; and pleats disposed along and oriented on the elongated body to contact one or more of the fins upon installation of the heater insert in the heat exchanger.

11 . The heater insert of claim 10 , wherein the elongated body has opposite extension portions and a bridge connecting the extension portions, and wherein the pleats are disposed along the extension portions.

12 . The heater insert of claim 11 , wherein the extension portions resiliently flex toward and away from each other.

13 . The heater insert of claim 11 , wherein the extension portions resiliently flex along the axis, and wherein at least one of the extension portions further resiliently flexes toward and away from the axis.

14 . The heater insert of claim 13 , wherein the elongated body includes carbon fiber material.

15 . A heat exchanger comprising:
fins spaced apart from each other, each of the fins including one or more tube slots; a coil coupled to the fins and including a tube section extending through axially aligned tube slots; and a heater insert including an elongated body extending through the axially aligned tube slots and in contact with one or both of the fins and an exterior surface of the tube section to conductively heat the one or both of the fins and the exterior surface.

16 . The heat exchanger of claim 15 , wherein the heater insert includes a plurality of pleats disposed along a length of the heater insert, and wherein the pleats are disposed between adjacent fins upon full insertion of the heater insert into the heat exchanger.

17 . The heater exchanger of claim 16 , wherein the elongated body has opposite extension portions and a bridge connecting the extension portions, and wherein at least one of the extension portions defines the pleats.

18 . The heater exchanger of claim 17 , wherein the extension portions resiliently flex along an axis along which the body is elongated, and wherein at least one of the extension portions further resiliently flexes toward and away from the axis.

19 . The heat exchanger of claim 15 , wherein the heater insert is oriented in the aligned tube slots such that a gap between the extension portions is aligned with an airflow direction associated with the fins.

20 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the coil defines a serpentine arrangement having two tube sections extending through each of the axially aligned tube slots, and wherein the heater insert is disposed between the two tube sections.

Assignees

• Hussmann Corp

Inventors

• Hanlon Sean M
• Fowler Tobey D

Classifications

• F28F1/12 Primary

  the means being only outside the tubular element · CPC title

• F28F19/006

  Preventing deposits of ice · CPC title

• F28F1/32 Primary

  the means having portions engaging further tubular elements · CPC title

• F28D1/0477

  the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag · CPC title

• F28D2021/0071

  Evaporators · CPC title