York International Corporation

Inter-city Products Corporation (usa)

International Comfort Products Corporation (usa)

Charles B Obosu

Alexander T Lim

Craig B Woodard

Mallikarjuna Sarma Chitti

A high efficiency, low-noise fan ring for use with a heat exchanger having an annular fan ring body attached to a coaxial mounting ring. The fan ring body extends in a substantially perpendicular direction from an inner periphery of the mounting ring. The annular body has a circumferential periphery profile defined by a plane coincident the center axis and an inner surface of the fan ring body. The periphery profile includes a transition portion and a curved portion. The transition portion extends in a substantially perpendicular direction from the mounting ring and attaches to an end of the curved portion. In order to reduce noise and increase uniformity of airflow, the length of the curved portion of the periphery profile is sufficient long to reduce recirculation of air entering the fan ring body.

Extended venturi fan ring

Heat exchanger fin with efficient material utilization

A heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes for circulating a refrigerant fluid and a plurality of fins in heat exchange contact with the plurality of tubes. Each of the fins includes a plurality of aligned collars defining at least one row of longitudinally spaced apertures, the plurality of tubes extending through the apertures and engaged by the collars. A pair of reinforcing ribs extend longitudinally of the fin, one of the pair on each side of the at least one row of apertures. A plurality of longitudinally spaced flat portions, lying in a common plane, and extend transversely between the ribs, one of the flat portions circumscribing each of the collars. A plurality of central corrugated portions transversely spaced from the ribs, extend longitudinally, one of the corrugated portions lying between each two of the flat portions. At least two sets of longitudinally extending louvers are located transversely between the central corrugated portion and the ribs and longitudinally between the flat portions.

Heat exchanger fin structure

A heat exchanger including a heat exchanger conduit and fins arranged on the conduit tubes to further heat transfer between the external fluid flowing over the fins and the fluid flowing within the conduit. The fins include a row of apertures through which tubes of the heat exchanger conduit extend. The leading and trailing edges of the fins are contoured to substantially conform to isotherms around the circulating fluid flowing within the tubes. To achieve this edge configuration while also allowing for a dense packing of fins and tubes in a multi-row heat exchanger, the leading and trailing edges are wave shaped such that adjacent fins can interfit together. Suitable wave shapes include a sinusoidal wave as well as a trapezoidal wave. The isothermally contoured leading and trailing edges result in a fin configuration which efficiently utilizes the materials of its construction as well as results in minimal wastage during construction with a minimal impact on heat transfer.

The present invention involves a flat fin heat exchanger configuration with a plurality of louvers and a rib raised above the plane of the fin connecting adjacent tube collars. The raised rib configuration enhances the heat transfer characteristics of the fin, and allows for the use of thinner materials to lower cost without diminishing performance. The exterior fin surface 'scoops' and redirects air flow from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the fin. This 'scooping' effect directs the air flow over and in between the interrupted surfaces, thus breaking up air boundary layer around the fin. The louvers of the fin are oriented relative to the air flow in such a manner that each louver in effect creates another leading edge contributing to a higher heat transfer coefficient. Also, the location of the raised rib also enhances the heat transfer between the fin and the circulated air. The fin collars are also surrounded by a raised portion so that one raised rib and its two adjacent raised portions bordering the collar form a 'dog bone' type shape. The leading and trailing edges are serrated to improve the structural rigidity and create turbulence in the air flow. Also, the leading and trailing edges are oriented at a slight angle, e.g., 12.degree., relative to the plane of the fin. The louvers are oriented at a slightly greater angle than the leading and trailing edges, e.g., 20.degree.-35.degree..

Growing community of inventors

Oklahoma City, OK, United States of America

Charles B Obosu