Heat exchanger for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9360262-B2
Application number	US-201113316193-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2011
Priority date	Sep 19, 2011
Publication date	Jun 7, 2016
Grant date	Jun 7, 2016

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a vehicle is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a heat radiating portion provided with first and second connecting lines formed alternately by stacking a plurality of plates, and receiving first and second operating fluids respectively into the first and second connecting lines. The first and second operating fluids exchange heat with each other during passing through the first and second connecting lines. The heat exchanger also includes a bifurcating portion connecting an inflow hole for flowing one operating fluid of the first and second operating fluids with an exhaust hole for exhausting the one operating fluid, adapted for the one operating fluid to bypass the heat radiating portion according to a temperature of the one operating fluid, and mounted at an exterior of the heat radiating portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger for a vehicle, comprising:
a heat radiating portion provided with first and second connecting lines formed alternately by stacking a plurality of plates, and receiving first and second operating fluids respectively into the first and second connecting lines, the first and second operating fluids heat-exchanging with each other during passing through the first and second connecting lines; and
a bifurcating portion connecting an inflow hole for flowing one operating fluid of the first and second operating fluids with an exhaust hole for exhausting the one operating fluid, wherein the bifurcating portion is adapted for the one operating fluid to bypass the heat radiating portion according to a temperature of the one operating fluid, and mounted at an exterior of the heat radiating portion,
wherein the first operating fluid flows into the heat radiating portion through a first inflow hole and flows out from the heat radiating portion through a first exhaust hole, and the first inflow hole is connected to the first exhaust hole through the first connecting line,
wherein the second operating fluid flows into the heat radiating portion through a second inflow hole and flows out from the heat radiating portion through a second exhaust hole, and the second inflow hole is connected to the second exhaust hole through the second connecting line,
wherein the first and second inflow holes are formed at both sides of a surface of the heat radiating portion along a length direction of the heat radiating portion, and
the first and second exhaust holes are distanced from the first and second inflow holes and are formed at the both sides of the surface of the heat radiating portion along the length direction of the heat radiating portion,
wherein the bifurcating portion comprises:
a connecting pipe connecting the first inflow hole with the first exhaust hole at the exterior of the heat radiating portion, and having an inflow port formed at a position closer to the first inflow hole than to the first exhaust hole and an exhaust port confronting the inflow port and formed at a position closer the first exhaust hole than to the first inflow hole, and
a valve unit mounted at one end portion of the connecting pipe between the first inflow hole and the inflow port, and adapted to extend or contract according to the temperature of the operating fluid to selectively close the first inflow hole, wherein the operating fluid flowing in through the inflow port flows directly to the exhaust port when the first inflow hole is closed by the valve unit, or flows into the first inflow hole of the heat radiating portion when the first inflow hole is opened by the valve unit,

wherein the valve unit comprises
a mounting cap fixedly mounted to one end of the connecting pipe closer to the first inflow hole than to the first exhaust hole, and
a deformable member having a first end portion connected to the mounting cap inserted in the connecting pipe and a second end portion disposed outside the mounting cap, and adapted to extend or contract according to the temperature of the operating fluid and selectively close the first inflow hole, wherein the deformable member is formed by overlapping and contacting a plurality of ring members with each other in a coil spring shape, and
wherein, when neighboring ring members directly contact each other in response to the temperature of the operating fluid decreasing, the operating fluid flowing into the inflow port flows directly to the exhaust port when neighboring ring members of the ring members directly contact each other such that a gap between the neighboring ring members is closed and contacted neighboring ring members physically seal the first inflow hole and the operating fluid flowing into the inflow port flows directly to the exhaust port, and wherein, when the neighboring ring members are spaced apart from each other in response to the increasing temperature of the operating fluid, the operating fluid flowing into the inflow port flows into the first inflow hole through the gap formed between spaced neighboring ring members.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first inflow hole and the first exhaust hole are formed at corner portions of the surface of the heat radiating portion facing diagonally with each other.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the second inflow hole and the second exhaust hole are formed at corner portions of the surface of the heat radiating portion at which the first inflow hole and the first exhaust hole are not positioned and which face diagonally with each other.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the deformable member is made from shape memory alloy adapted to extend or contract according to the temperature of operating fluid.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the deformable member comprises:
a pair of fixed portions positioned at both sides of the deformable member in a length direction of the deformable member and adapted not to being deformed according to the temperature; and
a deformable portion disposed between the pair of fixed portions and adapted to extend or contract according to the temperature of the operating fluid.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the mounting cap comprises:
an inserting portion having one end portion inserted in and fixed to the deformable member; and
a mounting portion having one end integrally connected to the other end of the inserting portion, and mounted at an interior circumference of the connecting pipe.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein a screw is formed at an exterior circumference of the mounting portion so as to be threaded to the interior circumference of the connecting pipe.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein a blocking portion for being sealed by an end portion of the connecting pipe is integrally formed with the other end of the mounting portion.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein a tool hole is formed at an interior circumference of the blocking portion.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , further comprising a sealing for preventing the operating fluid from leaking from the connecting pipe,
wherein the sealing is mounted between the mounting portion and the inserting portion.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heat radiating portion heat-exchanges the first and second operating fluids by counterflow of the first and second operating fluids.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first operating fluid is a coolant flowing from a radiator and the second operating fluid is a transmission oil flowing from an automatic transmission.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 12 , wherein the coolant circulates through the first inflow hole, the first connecting line, and the first exhaust hole, and the transmission oil circulates through the second inflow hole, the second connecting line, and the second exhaust hole.

14. A heat exchanger for a vehicle, comprising:
a heat radiating portion provided with first and second connecting lines formed alternately by stacking a plurality of plates, and receiving first and second operating fluids respectively into the first and second connecting lines, the first and second operating fluids exchanging heat with each other during passing through the first and second connecting lines; and
a bifurcating portion connecting an inflow hole for flowing one operating fluid of the first and second operating fluids with an exhaust hole for exhausting the one operating fluid, wherein the bifurcating portion is adapted for the one operating fluid to bypass the heat radiating portion according to a te

Assignees

• Kim Jae Yeon
• Cho Wan Je
• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Jae Yeon
• Cho Wan Je

Classifications

• F28C1/14

  comprising also a non-direct contact heat exchange · CPC title

• F01K9/003

  condenser cooling circuits · CPC title

• F28B1/02

  using water or other liquid as the cooling medium · CPC title

• F28D9/005

  the plates having openings therein for both heat-exchange media · CPC title

• F28D2021/0089

  Oil coolers · CPC title