Plate fin heat exchanger and manufacturing method for heat exchanger corrugated fins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016348987-A1
Application number	US-201515116790-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 12, 2015
Priority date	Feb 14, 2014
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A plate fin heat exchanger 1 includes a corrugated fin 3 and tube plates 2. An intermediate portion 33 of the corrugated fin between crest and trough portion 31 and 32 thereof has a plurality of protruding ribs 34 protruding beyond a surface of the corrugated fin and arranged in a first direction. Surfaces of the crest and trough portions being in contact with the tube plates are configured as contact surfaces 310, 320 with no protruding rib. Gently sloping portions 341 are provided between the protruding ribs and the contact surfaces of the crest and trough portions to gradually protrude from the surface of the corrugated fin with increasing distance from the contact surfaces, and are continuous with the protruding ribs.

First claim

1 . A plate fin heat exchanger comprising:
a corrugated fin having a crest portion having a crest line extending in a first direction, a trough portion having a trough line extending in the first direction, and an intermediate portion connecting the crest and trough portions together, the crest and trough portions being alternately arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; tube plates disposed to sandwich the corrugated fin therebetween, the tube plates being configured so as to be bonded to the corrugated fin while being in contact with respective surfaces of the crest and trough portions of the corrugated fin, wherein the intermediate portion of the corrugated fin has a plurality of protruding ribs protruding beyond a surface of the corrugated fin, extending between the crest and trough portions, and arranged in the first direction, the surface of the crest portion being in contact with one of the tube plates and the surface of the trough portion being in contact with the other tube plate are configured as contact surfaces with no protruding rib, and gently sloping portions are provided between the protruding ribs and the contact surfaces to gradually protrude from the surface of the corrugated fin with increasing distance from the contact surfaces of the crest and trough portions, and are continuous with the protruding ribs.

2 . The plate fin heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein
the crest and trough portions of the corrugated fin are curved, and the gently sloping portions each extend along an associated one of the curved crest and trough portions.

3 . The plate fin heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein
the corrugated fin and the tube plates are bonded together by brazing, and fillets that are made of a brazing filler metal gathering during brazing are provided between the gently sloping portions and the tube plates.

4 . The plate fin heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein
the corrugated fin is creased to provide a plurality of grooved projections and recesses, and the projections or recesses provided by the creasing constitute the protruding ribs and the gently sloping portions.

5 . The plate fin heat exchanger of claim 4 , wherein
the grooved projections and recesses provided by the creasing extend on the corrugated fin in the second direction, and the protruding ribs of the corrugated fin are orthogonal to the crest line of the crest portion and the trough line of the trough portion.

6 . A method for making a corrugated fin for a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
creasing a thin plate member to form grooved projections and recesses both extending in a predetermined direction, the grooved projections and recesses being alternated; and processing the creased thin plate member into the corrugated fin having a crest portion having a crest line extending in a first direction, and a trough portion having a trough line extending in the first direction, the crest and trough portions being alternately arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein while the thin plate member is processed into the corrugated fin, the projections and recesses on surfaces of the crest and trough portions are evened to prevent the crest and trough portions from having a surface that has the projections and recesses.

Assignees

• Sumitomo Precision Prod Co

Inventors

• Minami Takeo
• Kanemura Kenta
• Aoki Shigeru
• Shigemori Hideki

Classifications

• F28D9/0062

  the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements (F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• F28F3/025 Primary

  the means being corrugated, plate-like elements · CPC title

• B23K1/19

  taking account of the properties of the materials to be soldered · CPC title

• B23K2101/14

  Heat exchangers · CPC title

• B23K2103/10

  Aluminium or alloys thereof · CPC title