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  Heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning systemUSPTO Application #: 20070023172Title: Heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning system Abstract: In an air/refrigerant heat exchanger, particularly for a motor vehicle air conditioning system, including a plurality of flat tubes arranged in closely spaced relationship so that a narrow flow passage for air is formed therebetween, the flat tubes include passages through which refrigerant is conducted in the longitudinal direction of the flat tubes and are provided on their outer surfaces with longitudinal parallel recesses and projections such that the flat tubes are wave-shaped the recesses and projections flattening out toward the narrow ends of the flat tubes and provide for narrow flat rectangular end sections. (end of abstract) Agent: Klaus J. Bach - Murrysville, PA, US Inventors: Frank Obrist, Norbert Tessendorf, Peter Kuhn, Martin Graz USPTO Applicaton #: 20070023172 - Class: 165153000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Heat Exchange, Radiator Core Type, Deformed Sheet Forms Passages Between Side-by-side Tube Means, With Tube Manifold The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070023172. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This is a Continuation-In-Part Application of International Application PCT/EP2005/002537 filed 10 Mar. 2005 and claiming the priority of German application 10 2004 011 608.3 filed 18 Mar. 2004. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to an air/refrigerant heat exchanger, particularly for a motor vehicle air conditioning system, with several flat tubes which extend parallel to one another and are exposed to an air flow while refrigerant is conducted through the tubes. Opposite wall areas of adjacent flat tubes form therebetween flow channels for the air and several flat tubes are connected at their ends to a refrigerant distributor which is provided with a tube connector for connection to a circuit system. [0003] Heat exchangers of this type are known in many configurations as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,303 and the relevant state of the art listed therein. This publication as well as DE 103 06 786 are concerned essentially with the configuration of the connection distributor and the possible flow guide structures for the medium to be conducted through the numerous tubes. All these tubes connected to the connection distributor are provided with wave-like profiled ribs for increasing their outer, that is, air-side, surface area since the air-side heat transfer is multiple times smaller than that of the internal tube surfaces which are in contact with the operating medium of the air conditioning system. [0004] Although, in the figures of U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,303, the wave-shaped ribs are not depicted in order to simplify the drawings, the second paragraph of the detailed description states that such ribs are considered to be necessary. It is stated that without such ribs, in a similarly compact design as it is needed for use in motor vehicles, the heat transfer surface area obtainable would be insufficient to obtain the heat transfer needed for an air conditioning system. [0005] The provision of ribs on the tubes including their soldering to the tubes is time-consuming and expensive and furthermore, the solder connections are often faulty as a result of incomplete soldering contact areas along the relatively long length of the solder joint. Furthermore, the corner areas formed between the ribs and the tubes form collecting structures for partially organic contamination particles precipitated from the air with the result of hygienic loading and odor generation in the air conducted from the heat exchanger to the passenger compartment. Furthermore, the surfaces of the corrugated ribs and the corner areas form extensive collection spaces for moisture which is formed during cooling operation of the air conditioning system by condensation from the cooled air and which will not flow out of the heat exchanger. A changeover of such a heat exchanger to a selective heating operation of the air conditioning system would result in a sudden vaporization of the moisture and its condensation at the windshield of the motor vehicle. To avoid this, it would be necessary to provide a second parallel heat exchanger for heating the air which is space-consuming and expensive. [0006] It is the object of the present invention to provide a heat-exchanger of the type as referred to above, wherein however the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air is improved. Furthermore, the heat exchanger should be compact and it should also be relatively insensitive to soiling and wetting so that it is usable for cooling as well as heating, particularly in a CO.sub.2 air conditioning system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In an air/refrigerant heat exchanger particularly for a motor vehicle air conditioning system including a plurality of flat tubes arranged in closely spaced relationship so that a narrow flow passage for air is formed therebetween, the flat tubes include passages through which refrigerant is conducted in the longitudinal direction of the flat tubes and on their outer surfaces longitudinal parallel recesses and projections are provided such that the flat tubes are wave-shaped the recesses and projections flattening out toward the narrow ends of the flat tube and forming narrow flat rectangular end sections. [0008] Preferably, the surface ratio between the inner refrigerant-side surface and the outer air-side surface of the flat tubes is between 0.7 and 1.5 and, particularly, 1. [0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention will be described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a planar view of the heat exchanger seen in the direction of the airflow to the heat exchanger, [0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1 shown in an inclined mounting position, [0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a corrugated flat tube of the heat exchanger, which flat tube is formed by stamping, [0013] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the front side of the heat exchanger via which air is supplied to the front entrance area of the heat exchanger, [0014] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section through a wave-shaped air channel, [0015] FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a part of a bottom end connection distributor with paired flat tubes, [0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of the connection distributor of FIG. 6, [0017] FIG. 8 is a vertical, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the connection side area of a triple flat tube arrangement, [0018] FIG. 9 shows a vertical longitudinal cross-section through the connection area of not bundled flat tubes, [0019] FIG. 10 shows in a horizontal cross-sectional view the top end connection distributor, [0020] FIG. 11 shows in a horizontal cross-sectional view the bottom end connection distributor, [0021] FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a top end connection distributor, Continue reading... Full patent description for Heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning system 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 for a motor vehicle air conditioning system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Tube/plate condenser for refrigerators and/or freezers Next Patent Application: Heat exchanger Industry Class: Heat exchange ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Heat exchanger for a motor vehicle air conditioning system patent info. 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