Heat exchanger assembly

Abstract

In order to eliminate components and fixtures, facilitate assembly, avoid leaks, and reduce cost in a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between two fluids such as a coolant and oil, the heat exchanger includes a header plate having a central opening defined by a column integrally formed with the header plate together with a radial opening. A plurality of heat exchange units are stacked on the header plate. The heat exchange units each comprise a pair of plates joined together at inner and outer peripheral edges to thereby sealingly define a plurality of first chambers for the flow of one of the fluids wherein a column-receiving opening is provided radially inwardly of the first chambers thereof. The heat exchange units further include aligned first openings and aligned second openings on opposite sides of the column-receiving openings for joining the first chambers in a first fluid flow path, and the radial opening in the header plate comprises a first fluid inlet for directing the first fluid through one of the first openings into the first fluid flow path where it flows until it reaches a first fluid outlet therefor. The heat exchange units are stacked on the header plate about the column where they are arranged in a spaced series by spacers which serve to define a plurality of second chambers for the flow of the second fluid between each pair of the spaced series of heat exchange units.