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Heat recovery apparatusHeat recovery apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070187071, Heat recovery apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001]This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-33429 filed on Feb. 10, 2006, the disclosures of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates to a heat recovery apparatus, which is for example used in a vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]It is known to use a principle of heat pipe in a heat exchanger as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-45393, for example. In this heat exchanger, an evaporating part and a condensing part are disposed on an enclosed circulation passage. The enclosed circulation passage forms a closed loop. An evaporable and condensable heat transfer fluid is enclosed in the enclosed circulation passage. [0004]The evaporating part performs heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and an external fluid, thereby evaporating the heat transfer fluid. The condensing part is arranged at a position higher than the evaporating part. The condensing part performs heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid that has been evaporated in the evaporating part and an external fluid, thereby condensing the heat transfer fluid. [0005]Also, it is proposed to use such a looped heat pipe heat exchanger as a heat recovery apparatus in a vehicle. For example, an evaporating part is disposed in an exhaust pipe of an engine for recovering heat of an exhaust gas, and the heat may be used for a warm-up operation. FIG. 7 shows an example of the heat recovery apparatus used in a vehicle. The heat recovery apparatus has an evaporating part J1 and a condensing part J2 both including heat pipes J3. Longitudinal ends of the heat pipes J3 are coupled to headers (communication portions) J6. This heat recovery device is for example manufactured in a following manner. [0006]First, components J3, J4, J6 are assembled. For example, ends of the heat pipes J3 are inserted to slit holes of the headers J6 and fins J4a, J4b are interposed between the heat pipes J3. Then, this assembly is preliminarily fixed with fixing means such as jigs by applying loads in two directions. Specifically, the loads are applied in a direction perpendicular to the heat pipes J3 for fixing the heat pipes J3 and the fins J4a, J4b and in a direction parallel to the heat pipes J3 for fixing the headers J6 to the heat pipes J3. In this condition, the assembly is heated by heating means, so the components J3, J4, J6 are integrally brazed. [0007]The above components are for example made of stainless having high-corrosion resistance. Because the evaporating part J1 is subjected to high temperature in the exhaust pipe, nickel alloy is used as a brazing material for brazing. However, because a melting point of the nickel alloy is high, high brazing temperature is required. Therefore, it will be difficult to apply the loads in two directions under such a high brazing temperature during brazing. [0008]Further, the evaporating part J1 thermally expands due to the high temperature in the exhaust pipe. In this construction, thermal stress due to thermal expansion and contraction of the heat pipes J3 (arrows X) and thermal expansion and contraction of the headers J6 (arrows Y) is concentrated to joining portions between the heat pipes J3 and the headers J6. This will cause breakages of the joining portions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009]The present invention is made in view of the foregoing matter, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a heat recovery apparatus with improved manufacturability. It is another object of the present invention to provide a heat recovery apparatus capable of reducing thermal stress. [0010]According to an aspect of the present invention, a heat recovery apparatus has an evaporating part and a condensing part. The evaporating part and the condensing part are disposed on a looped passage through which an internal fluid circulates. The evaporating part performs heat exchange between the internal fluid and a first fluid, thereby to evaporate the internal fluid. The condensing part performs heat exchange between the internal fluid evaporated in the evaporating part and a second fluid having a temperature lower than a temperature of the first fluid, thereby to condense the internal fluid. [0011]The evaporating part has a plurality of evaporating heat pipes and evaporating fins. Each of the evaporating heat pipes has flange portions projecting from its longitudinal ends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the evaporating heat pipe. Each flange portion has a tubular shape. The evaporating heat pipes and the evaporating fins are alternately stacked and brazed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the evaporating heat pipes, and the flange portions of the adjacent evaporating heat pipes are coupled to and brazed to each other such that evaporating communication portions are provided by the flange portions and the longitudinal ends of the evaporating heat pipes. [0012]In this construction, since the communication portions are formed by coupling the flange portions of the evaporating heat pipes, the heat recovery apparatus is brazed in a condition being held in one direction, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the evaporating heat pipes. Therefore, the heat recovery apparatus is easily assembled and brazed [0013]According to a second aspect of the present invention, the evaporating part and the condensing part are disposed close to each other and coupled through coupling members. Thus, a compact heat recovery apparatus is provided. For example, the evaporating part and the condensing part are coupled such that the evaporating heat pipes and condensing heat pipes are parallel to each other. In this case, the evaporating part and the condensing part are integrally brazed. Thus, manufacturability improves. [0014]According to a third aspect of the present invention, the evaporating part has stress absorbing portions in communication portions. Because the evaporating part is placed in the flow of the first fluid having high temperature, it causes thermal expansion. Since the thermal expansion in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the evaporating heat pipes is absorbed by the stress absorbing portion, thermal stress is reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015]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: [0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heat recovery apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0017]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an evaporating heat pipe of the heat recovery apparatus according to the first embodiment; [0018]FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heat recovery apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an evaporating communication portion of a heat recovery apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Continue reading about Heat recovery apparatus... Full patent description for Heat recovery apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Heat recovery apparatus 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 recovery apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Heat pipe heat sink Next Patent Application: Type of loop heat conducting device Industry Class: Heat exchange ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Heat recovery apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11575 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
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