Heat-exchanger core

June 13, 1950

J. C. SHAW

HEAT EXCHANGER CORE

2,511,084

Filed Nov, 7, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2511084A_D0001.tif" />

June 13, 1950

J. C. SHAW

HEAT EXCHANGER CORE

2,511,084

Filed Nov. 7, 1947

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2511084A_D0002.tif" />

June 13, 1950

J. C. SHAW

HEAT EXCHANGER CORE

2,511,084

Filed Nov. 7, 1947

Sheets-Sheet 5

<img file="US2511084A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US2511084A_D0004.tif" />

<img file="US2511084A_D0005.tif" />

<img file="US2511084A_D0006.tif" />

<img file="US2511084A_D0007.tif" />

Patented June 13, 1950

2,511,084

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,511,084

HEAT-EXCHANGER CORE

Joe C. Shaw, Racine, Wis., assignor to Young Radiator Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin

Application November 7,1947, Serial No. 784,605

Claims. (Cl. 257—245)

The main objects of this invention are, to provide an improved heat-exchanger core for use in the cooling of fluids particularly the oil required for lubricating heat-generating, power-producing units; to provide improved construction of the 5 individual core units, a plurality of which are assemblable to form an improved heat-exchanger core of the required size and capacity; to provide improved complementarily-formed upper and lower plates and an intermediate baffle as- 10 semblable into a core unit of which several are required to make a core; to provide an improved form of fluid inlet and outlet conduits for an assembly of heat-exchange cores of this kind whereby the oil may be caused to flow through 15 the several core units in parallel, in series, or in a parallel-series combination, as may be desired; to provide an improved heat-exchanger core of this kind whereby the plates and baffle which form each core unit may be stemped from thin sheet 20 metal; and to provide an improved heat-exchanger core of this kind the several parts of which are extremely simple to manufacture, very facile to assemble, and when assembled highly efficient in operation. 25

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly broken away of an improved heat-exchanger core embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse detail, partly 30 sectional and partly elevational, of an embodiment of the improved core arranged for a parallel flow through the several units, the view being taken on the line 2—2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views respectively of the 35 bottom and top plates which assembled form an individual core unit, a plurality of which are assemblable to constitute ah improved core embodying this invention;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional details of such 40 bottom and top plates, taken on the lines 5—5 and 6—6 of Figs. 3 and 4 respectively;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the bottom support plate for an assembly of core units;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional detail of such a bot- 45 tom support plate, taken on the line 8—8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the baffle plate one of which is used between each pair of assembled bottom and top plates shown in the above-mentioned 50 figures;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional detail of such a beffle. taken on the line IS—10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail of one of the conduits by means of which the oil is admitted to or dis- 55 charged from the several core units;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of a core embodying a modified construction and arrangement of the inlet and outlet conduits whereby the oil flow through the several units is 60 in series rather than in parallel, as is the case with the embodiment shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a core embodying a still further modified construction and arrangement of the inlet and outlet conduits so as to provide a series-parallel combination oil flow through the several units which make up a core.

An improved heat-exchange core embodying this invention comprises, a mounting 15 on which a core 16 formed of a plurality of core units 17 is mounted and to and from which the fluid flows through inlet and outlet conduits 18 and 19.

The mounting IS is preferably in the form of a plate. By means of bolts 20 a predetermined number of core units 17 are secured to the plate or mounting 15 in parallel relationship. Other bolts 21 are anchored to the plate by means of which the core 16 may be appropriately secured to the supporting frame or a part of the power unit with which this improved heat-exchanger core is to be used. The mounting or plate IS is provided with appropriate bores 22 and 23, as indicated in Fig. 1, wherein are seated the upper ends of the conduits 18 and 19. Also a series of apertures 24 are formed around the periphery of the mounting 15 to permit the attachment of a housing (shown in dotted outline) for enclosing the core 16 where it is desired to channel the flow of a coolant such as water around the core units 17 rather than leaving them exposed for the flow of air as a coolant.

As is clearly Indicated, this improved core 16 is made up of a plurality of core units 17, held in spaced parallel relationship on the mounting 15 by means of the bolts 20 in cooperation with upper and lower support plates 25 and 26. Proper spacing of the units IT is obtained by means of bushings 27 embracing the bolts 20 intermediate the respective units 17. The bolts 20 are herein shown to have their ends upset to form conical heads 28 seated in conical sockets formed in the mounting 15 and in the bottom support plate 26. Obviously, other forms of heads 28 could be provided for this purpose.

A core unit IT comprises lower and upper plates S3 and 30 and an intermediate baffle 31. Each of the plates 29 and 30 is formed with peripheral flanges 32, ports 33 and 34 bounded by transversely outwardly-disposed flanges 35 and 36, and a plurality of embossments 37, certain of the embossments being apertured, as indicated at 38, to receive the bolts 20. Thus these two plates are identical in construction with the exception that the top plate 30 is made sufficiently smaller in width and length to permit the peripheral flange 32 thereon to telescope with the flange 32 on the bottom plate 29 when the plates are assembled. When thus assembled the ports 33 and 34 and the embossments 37 of the re3 spective plates are located in opposed registering alinement, the embossments serving to cooperate in supporting the baffle 31 intermediate the plates 29 and 30. Also, it should be noted that the plates 29 and 30 differ slightly in the size of the port flanges 35 and 36 on the two plates. On lower plate 29 these port flanges 35 and 36 have their inside diameter equal to the outside diameter of the port flanges 35 and 36 on the upper plate 30. This permits the port flanges 35 and 36 on the lower and upper plates of adjacent core units IT to telescope with each other when two or more of the core units 17 are assembled to form a core 16.

The baffle 31, for use in the preferred embodiment, is provided with a pair of ports 39 and 40, the bordering portion of the material being upset to provide oppositely-disposed embossments 41 and 42. These embossments not only co-act with the plate embossments 37 in supporting the baffle substantially equidistant between the plates 29 and 30 but also direct the fluid flow from and to the inlet and outlet conduits 18 and 19, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The baffle 31 is also provided with apertures 43 adapted to receive the bolts 20 and also may be provided with small bleed holes 44. Preferably, these bleed holes would be located in the area intermediate and adjacent the ports 39 and 40. These bleed holes provide communication between the spaces of the core unit 17 on opposite sides of the baffle 31 (see Fig. 13), to facilitate the thawing out of the space directly above that to which the fluid is previously introduced, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The several core units (7 which make up a core 16, of the desired size and capacity, are all identical with the exception of the lowermost core unit 17. This lower unit has its bottom plate 29 modified only to the extent that the flanged ports 33 and 34 are omitted. There are thus provided sections 45 which constitute caps or closures for the ends of the inlet and outlet conduits 18 and 19.

The conduits 18 and 19, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, shown in Fig. 2, are of identical construction. Each is in the form of a tube having peripheral slots 46 formed therein, the slots being so spaced axially of the tubes that when a plurality of the core units 17 are assembled on the mounting 15, with the conduits 18 and 19 in place, the slots 46 register or communicate with the spaces below and above the baffle 31 as controlled by the depressions 41 and 42 respectively.

In the modification shown in Fig. 12 the inlet conduit 18 omits the peripheral slots 46 and extends through the series of core units 17 to communicate with the lowermost unit, below the baffle 31. In this modification the outlet conduit 19 is of a length sufficient only to communicate with the uppermost core unit 17 above the baffle 31. It will be noted that in this modification the baffle 31 is without the ports 39 and 40 and the depressions 41 and 42. In this form the flow through the core units 17 is in series.

In the modification shown in Fig. 13 the conduits 18 and 19 are slotted as shown in Figs. 2 and 11. However, the inlet conduit 18 is provided with transverse partitions 47 and 48, which divide the conduit into upper, lower, and intermediate sections 49, 50, and 51. A tube 52, of less diameter than the inlet 18, extends through and is supported on the partitions 47

2,611,084 and 48 and provides communication between the conduit sections 49 and 50. Likewise the outlet conduit IS is provided with a partition 53 which divides that conduit into lower and up5 per sections 54 and 55. Such an arrangement provides for a parallel-series flow through the core units.

The upper' support plate 25 Is of a dimension sufficient to extend beyond the inlet and out10 let ports 18 and 19. Like the lower plate 29 of a core unit 17 this plate 25 is formed with ports 56 and 57 bordered by transverse outwardlydisposed flanges 58 and 59.

The bottom support plate 26 is formed with 15 unported embossments 60 and 61 to nest with the sections 45 of the bottom plate 28 of the lowermost core unit 17. The plate 28 is also provided with apertured embossments 62 to receive the heads 28 of the rods 20.

The assembly of a core 10 probably can be best effected in the following manner:

The mounting plate 15 with the studs 21 in place is mounted on a suitable jig or fixture, the studs 21 extending downwardly therefrom. The 25 rivets or bolts 20 are placed in position and secured against displacement by the jig or fixture, whereupon the first set of spacers or bushings 27 may be placed on the bolts 20. The upper support plate 25 is next placed in position with the 30 ports 56 and 57 in registration with the ports 22 and 23 in the mounting plate 15. Next a top plate 30 is placed over the rivets or bolts 20 and pushed down against the upper support plate 25 with the flanges 35 and 38 telescoping with the 35 flanges 58 and 59 of the upper support plate 25.

Next a baffle 31 is placed in position on the upper plate 30 following which a bottom plate 29 is placed on the bolts or rivets 20 and pressed into position with the upper plate 29 with the respec40 tive flanges 32 telescoping, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 13. Another set of bushings or spacers 27 are placed on the bolts or rivets 20 and another core unit 17 assembled as above described, the flanges 35 and 36 on the upper plate always tele45 scoping with the flanges 38 and 38 on the previously assembled lower plate. This process is continued until the desired number of core units 17 have been assembled, whereupon the lower support plate 26 is placed in position on the last 50 assembled core unit 17, after which heads would be suitably formed on the bolts or rivets 20.

Such operation having been finished, the assembly would be removed from the jig or fixture and inlet and outlet tubes 18 and 19 would be 55 pressed into place through the registering ports 33 and 34 in the several core units 17, the upper ends of the conduits being flared so as to properly secure them to the mounting plate 15.

Subsequently, the assembly would be passed 50 through a suitable hydrogen brazing furnace.

The operation of a heat-exchanger core embodying this invention is substantially as follows:

In any of the modifications herein shown oil is admitted through the inlet conduit 18. In the 65 modification shown in Fig. 2 the entering oil would flow into each of the units 17 through the peripheral slots 46 into communication with that part of each core unit 17 which is below the baffle 31. The flow would extend through the entire unit on 70 the lower side of the baffle and then pass over the outer edges of the baffle and return to the outlet tube 19 on the other side.

The embossments 37 would cause a considerable degree of turbulence in the flow so that good 76 heat transfer characteristics will be attained.

2,011,084 β

Moreover, th*· fluid flow passages being comparatively thin a high velocity of flow would be obtained, which of course is desirable for effective heat transfer.

In the modification shown in Fig. 12 the fluid entering the inlet conduit 18 would pass to the lowermost core unit 17 below the baffle 31, flowing to the edges of the same and up through the port 34 to the adjacent unit whereupon the flow would continue until it had Anally reached the outlet port 19.

In the modification shown in Fig. 13 the fluid flow would pass through the tube 62 to the con, duit section 49 whence it would enter the registering core units, the same as in the case with the modification shown in Fig. 2. From the units communicating with the chamber &lt;9 of the inlet i conduit 18 the oil would flow into and through the section 54 of the outlet conduit 19 into the core units 17 above those in communication with the chamber 49 of the inlet conduit 18. From there the oil would flow into the chamber 51 of the inlet conduit 18, from whence it would flow through the upper core units 17 into the chamber 55 of the outlet conduit 19. Such a path of oil flow is clearly shown by the arrows in said figure.

It will also be noted, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 13, that the oil entering the lower portion of the core units, in communication with the chamber 47 of the inlet conduit 18, will have a tendency to pass through the bleed holes 44 in the baffle 31 into that part of the core directly above the baffle. This will facilitate the warm-up and accelerate the flow of the fluid in the upper portions of these units.

Other variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of the appended claims.