| Heat exchanger -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Heat exchangerHeat exchanger description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070187080, Heat exchanger. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001]This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-37203 filed on Feb. 14, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates to a heat exchanger. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]A heat exchanger generally has a core constructed of a stack of tubes and a tank. For example, ends of the tubes are connected to a core plate, which is fixed to the tank, so as to make communication with the tank. Also, the tank is provided with an inlet pipe defining an inlet port for introducing an internal fluid into the heat exchanger. The inlet pipe is for example substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank. Such a heat exchanger is for example used as a radiator for cooling an engine cooling water. [0004]In the heat exchanger, the internal fluid flowing from the inlet pipe collides with an inner wall of the tank, and then flows in the longitudinal direction of the tank. Therefore, resistance of the internal fluid to flow is likely to increase due to the collision with the inner wall. [0005]Also, the internal fluid easily flows in the tubes that are located close to the inlet pipe, and is difficult to flow into the tubes that are located further from the inlet pipe. Therefore, flow speed distribution will be generated among the tubes. As a result, the core has a temperature distribution, causing deterioration of heat radiation efficiency and deterioration of durability due to thermal stress. [0006]In a case that the heat exchanger is used as the radiator, a space for mounting the radiator in an engine compartment is generally limited. Despite such a condition, it is required to increase a size of the core so as to improve a heat exchanging performance. Therefore, it is proposed to reduce a size (height H1) of the tank, as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C. [0007]In this example, however, an inlet pipe 111 partly projects from a tank 110 by a dimension of H2 in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank 110 with the size reduction of the tank 110. In this case, the amount of the internal fluid introduced into the tubes will be reduced with a distance from the inlet pipe 111. Thus, the flow speed distribution will be easily generated. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008]The present invention is made in view of the foregoing matter, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger capable of reducing resistance of a fluid to flow. Also, it is another object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger capable of reducing flow speed distribution of the fluid. [0009]According to an aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger has a tank defining a tank space, a core including a plurality of tubes, an inlet port disposed to the tank for introducing a fluid into the tank space, and a first projection disposed on an inner wall of the tank at a position where the fluid flowing from the inlet port hits on. The tubes are stacked in a longitudinal direction of the tank and in communication with the tank space. Further, the first projection is configured to change a flow direction of the fluid in the longitudinal direction of the tank. [0010]In this structure, a flow direction of the fluid flowing from the inlet port is changed in the longitudinal direction of the tank by the first projection. Therefore, resistance of the fluid when hitting on the inner wall of the tank, i.e., resistance of the fluid when entering the tank space, is reduced by the first projection. [0011]Further, the fluid is effectively introduced toward longitudinal ends of the tank by the first projection. As such, flow speed distribution of the fluid among the tubes reduces. Accordingly, the flow of the fluid improves in the heat exchanger. [0012]For example, the first projection has a wedge shape projecting from the inner wall of the tank toward the inlet port. Thus, the fluid flowing from the inlet port is divided in the longitudinal direction of the tank by an end of the first projection and further guided along side walls of the first projection, the side walls extending from the end. Alternatively, the first projection projects from the inner wall of the tank toward the inlet port and has a substantially triangular shape when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tank. The fluid flowing from the inlet port is divided in the longitudinal direction of the tank by an end of the triangular-shaped projection and further guided along side walls of the first projection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013]Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numbers and in which: [0014]FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0015]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a coupling portion of a core and a tank of the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment; [0016]FIG. 3A is a perspective plan view of the tank at a part adjacent to an inlet pipe according to the first embodiment; [0017]FIG. 3B is a front view of the tank at the part adjacent to the inlet pipe according to the first embodiment; [0018]FIG. 3C is a schematic bottom view of the tank at the part adjacent to the inlet pipe according to the first embodiment; [0019]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tank taken along a line IV-IV in FIG. 3B; Continue reading about Heat exchanger... Full patent description for Heat exchanger Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Heat exchanger patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Heat exchanger or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Baffle structure improving heat transfer efficiency of reactor or heat exchanger Next Patent Application: Heat exchanger Industry Class: Heat exchange ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Heat exchanger patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.10212 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
