Modine Manufacturing Company

Rodney A Struss

Gregory G Hughes

Dennis C Granetzke

Norman F Costello

C James Rogers

John E Munch, Jr

Michael J Boero

The core depth of a heat exchanger having parallel, tube-like headers (10, 12; 62, 64) may be reduced through the use of a plurality of second heat exchange fluid conduits (26, 126) located in side by side relation and each having a first port (30, 60, 178) in fluid communication with one of the headers (12, 62) and a second port (32, 168, 174) in fluid commuication with the other of the headers (10, 64) and each defining a serpentine fluid flow path between the ports (30, 32, 166, 168, 174, 178) having a plurality of passes (36, 38, 40, 42, 44; 140, 142, 144, 146; 184, 186, 188) in side by side relation together with fins 28 embracing and bonded to the conduits (26, 126).

Heat exchanger with reduced core depth

Inefficiency in heat exchange in an evaporator for a refrigeration system due to maldistribution of incoming refrigerant may be reduced in a structure wherein a plurality of hydraulically parallel flow paths are defined by tubes (20) having ends (84) in the interior of a header (10). Refrigerant inlets (70, 72) are provided for the header (10) at opposite ends (62, 64) thereof to generate streams (78, 80) of incoming refrigerant which impinge upon one another to dissipate the kinetic energy and/or momentum of the streams (78 and 80) which in turn results in an improved distribution of the refrigerant within the header (10). Refrigerant outlets are provided for a header. The outlets are at opposite ends thereof to generate two streams of outgoing refrigerant which reduces outlet resistance and thus provides for more uniform flow of the refrigerant.

Evaporator

An easily assembled and readily serviceable heat exchanger module particularly suited for vehicular application includes at least two adjacent heat exchangers. At least one of the heat exchangers has a side defined by an outwardly opening channel which in turn receives a plastic bar or strip. The bar is provided with a plurality of relatively deep recesses which are alignable with holes in the channel. The bottoms of the recesses are sufficiently thin as to be easily penetrable by a threaded fastener extending through the holes in the channel and into the recesses for securing components of the module together and yet are sufficiently thick as to prevent the flow of fluid through the recesses to thereby assure that heat exchange fluid will pass through the heat exchangers.

Growing community of inventors

Racine, WI, United States of America

Rodney A Struss