Dupont Canada Inc.

Canadian Fram Limited

Tiong Hap Kho

Eldon Lawrence Fletcher

Kevin L Belore

A heat exchanger, especially a heat exchanger in the form of a comfort heat exchanger, includes two manifold elements adapted to receive and discharge fluid, and a plurality of tube units transversely located between the manifolds, each tube unit being integrally connected to substantially rigid end elements that fit into the manifolds. The tubes are preferably oriented and expanded to about their original diameter. The heat exchanger is intended to be fabricated from polymer, especially polyamide compositions. The tube units are intended to be manufactured using injection moulding techniques, and then subjected to orientation and expansion steps. Parts fabricated during manufacture of the heat exchangers are also included. The heat exchangers are particularly intended for use as comfort heat exchangers in automobiles.

Method for the manufacture of a comfort heat exchanger

A heat exchanger, especially a heat exchanger in the form of a comfort heat exchanger, is disclosed. The heat exchanger is comprised of two manifold elements adapted to receive and discharge fluid, and a plurality of tube units transversely located between the manifolds, each tube unit being integrally connected to substantially rigid end elements that fit into the manifolds. The tubes are preferably oriented and expanded to about their original diameter. The heat exchanger is intended to be fabricated from polymer, especially polyamide compositions. The tube units are intended to be manufactured using injection moulding techniques, and then subjected to orientation and expansion steps. Parts fabricated during manufacture of the heat exchangers are also disclosed. The heat exchangers are particularly intended for use as comfort heat exchangers in automobiles.

Comfort heat exchanger

An air filter for filtering combustion air for an internal combustion engine includes a housing holding a filter element and an inlet snorkel tube connected to the housing. A 'trap door' valve mechanism is located in the snorkel tube and includes a valve seat mounted on a support which circumscribes the inner wall of the snorkel tube and a valve element pivotally mounted on the support which is yieldably urged into sealing engagement with the valve seat when the engine is turned off. The valve mechanism presents a surface substantially transverse to the direction of air flow through the snorkel tube, so that combustion air communicated through the snorkel tube when the engine is running acts against the transverse surface urging the valve element to an opened position. The valve element is 'cracked open' by a solenoid when the engine is to be started in order to permit initial air flow through the air cleaner to facilitate starting. Accordingly, when the vehicle engine is turned off, the valve element closes, thereby preventing the escape of gasoline vapors to the ambient atmosphere. The filter element inside the air cleaner housing includes a charcoal impregnated pleated paper element in series with the conventional pleated paper filter element. The charcoal impregnated element adsorbs the vapors trapped in the housing by closure of the valve mechanism when the engine is turned off. The charcoal impregnated paper is purged by the normal air flow through the air cleaner when the engine is started again.

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Chatham, Canada

Tiong Hap Kho