Modine Manufacturing Company

Caterpillar Inc.

James T Haasch

James J Cavalluzzi

Robert Barfknecht

Charles James Rogers

Frank M Grippe

Daniel J Bosch

Robert F Poehlman, Jr

Thomas E Lefeber

Raymond D Stratton

Brian P Gilner

Ajay K Dalmia

Stanley F Meizelis, Jr

Wayne N Mueller

A turbulator ( A- K) is provided for use in the heat exchange units ( ) of heat exchangers. The turbulator ( A- K) includes a sheet ( A, C) of material. The sheet ( A, C) includes a plurality of strand-like rows ( A, C) of alternating crests ( A, C) and valleys ( A, C). The crests ( A, C) and valleys ( A, C) in each row ( A, C) are offset with respect to the crests ( A, C) and valleys ( A, C) in any immediately adjacent row ( A, C). Each of the rows ( A, C) has an interface with any immediately adjacent row ( A, C). The interfaces are perforated so that valleys ( A, C) in each row ( A, C) are in fluid communication with immediately adjacent crests ( A, C) in any immediately adjacent row ( A, C) and crests ( A, C) in each row ( A, C) are in fluid communication with any immediately adjacent valleys ( A, C) in any immediately adjacent row ( A, C). In some preferred embodiments ( A, C, D, E, F, H, J, K), the plurality of rows ( A, C) are divided into at least two groups ( A, C, J; A, C, J) which together define a herringbone pattern of the crests ( A, C) and valleys ( A, C).

Angled turbulator for use in heat exchangers

A heat exchanger ( B, C, D) usable as an oil cooler is provided for exchanging heat between first and second fluids. The heat exchanger has an outer periphery ( ) spaced from a central axis ( ). The heat exchange includes an inlet ( ) and an outlet ( ) for flow of the first fluid, a pair of juxtaposed tube segments ( ) coiled about the central axis ( ) to form a plurality of alternating concentric coils ( ), an inlet ( ) for flow of the second fluid into heat exchanger ( A, B, C, D), an outlet ( ) for flow of the second fluid from the heat exchanger ( A, B, C, D), and structure ( ) for encapsulating the pair of tube segments ( ) to retain the second fluid within the heat exchanger ( A, B, C, D) as it flows from the inlet ( ) to the outlet ( ). The tube segment ( ) has an end ( ) connected to the inlet ( ) to receive flow of the first fluid therefrom. The tube segment ( ) has an end ( ) connected to the outlet ( ) to deliver flow of the first fluid thereto. The pair of tube segments ( ) are connected adjacent the central axis ( ) to transfer flow of the fluid between the tube segments ( ). The inlet and outlet ( ) for the first fluid are located adjacent the outer periphery ( ).

Spiral fin/tube heat exchanger

In an oil cooling system including an oil cooler housing (26) adapted to be face-sealed against a mating surface (46) including a port (47) connected to the high pressure side of a pressurized oil circulating system. The oil cooling system includes a base wall (60) on the housing (26) in a parallel relation to the mating surface (46), and an annular flange (52) extending from the base wall (60) and defining a radially-opening annular groove (54) that faces the port (47). An annular gasket (44) is located in the groove (54) between the flange (52) and the port (47) and has a flange-facing surface (68) that is complementary with the flange (52) on the side thereof defining the groove (54). The annular gasket (44), on the side thereof opposite the flange-facing surface (68), has a pressure-responsive surface (70) facing the port (47) so that, when the system is operating, oil under pressure from the port (47) will act against the pressure-responsive surface (70) to urge the gasket (44) into the groove (54) against the flange (52).

Oil cooler with a retained, blow-out proof, and extrusion resistant

An oil cooler (16) including an oil cooler housing (22) and a coolant hose connection (24) for transferring a coolant flow between a coolant hose (28) and the oil cooler housing (22), wherein the hose connection (24) changes the direction of the coolant flow through a predetermined angle after the coolant flow has entered the hose connection (24). The hose connection (24) includes a first opening (60) in the oil cooler housing (22) and a unitary piece of tubing (30) having first and second ends (32) and (34), a coolant opening (38) formed intermediate the ends (32) and (34) to transfer a coolant flow therethrough. The second end (34) is adapted for connection with the coolant hose (28) to transfer a coolant flow therewith. A flange (42) is formed around one of the coolant opening (38) and the first opening (60) and received in the other of the coolant opening (38) and the first opening (60).

Oil cooler with improved coolant hose connection

A simple, reliable bypass valve construction (50) is provided for use in conjunction with a donut oil cooler (16) having a flat, solid filter plate (36), whereby the bypass valve (52) will be self-located and self-retained to the oil cooler (16) during shipping. The bypass valve construction (50) is easily accessible and readily replaceable so as to lend itself to serviceability. The invention is incorporated in an oil cooler (16) having a housing (28) with a surface (26) adapted to be sealed against an oil filter (14). The oil cooler (16) includes a plurality of interconnected heat exchange units (21) located inside the housing (28), with an oil inlet to one of the units (21) and an oil outlet from another of the units (21). There is a centrally located opening (39) in the surface (26) of the oil cooler (16) to allow a connector (18) to pass through the oil cooler (16). A bypass valve (52) is provided and includes an inner ring (54) carrying a sheet-like resilient flapper (56) having a valve element (62) thereon sized to close a bypass outlet (64) in the housing surface (26). Tabs (80), (82), and (74) and slots (70), (72) and (76) are provided for loosely mounting the inner ring (54) to the housing surface (26) to retain the bypass valve (52) during shipment and prior to installation of the oil cooler (16).

Oil cooler with a self-retaining, self-orienting pressure relief valve

Difficulty in heat exchanger module replacement and the cost of plural manifolds in a modular heat exchanger useful in heavy duty vehicles or the like is avoided in a construction that includes an elongated manifold (20) having spaced interior inlet and outlet channels (84, 86) along with a plurality of spaced inlet and outlet ports (68, 70) in fluid communication with respective ones of the inlet and outlet channels (84, 86). An elongated frame member (14) is spaced from and parallel to the manifold (22) and has a plurality of spaced retaining formations (42). A plurality of heat exchanger modules (12) are mounted between the frame member (14) and the manifold (20) in side by side relation and each module has spaced tanks (34, 36; 50, 52) with a plurality of finned tubes (30, 32) extending between and in fluid communication therewith. One tank (34, 36) has a mating retaining formation (40) for receipt within the retaining formation (42) in the frame member (14) while the other tank (50, 52) has inlet and outlet ports (62, 64) aligned with and in fluid communication with corresponding inlet and outlet ports (68 and 70) in the manifold (20). A baffle (60) is disposed in the tank (50, 52) between the inlet and outlet ports (62, 64) thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Bay View, WI, United States of America

James T Haasch