The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 24, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1994
Toshihiro Tsutsui, Wako, JP;
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A heat exchanger has heat exchange members for performing heat exchanging with a fluid to flow along surfaces thereof. Fins are fixed, at only one end thereof in the direction of flow of the fluid, to the respective heat exchange members in a cantilevered manner. Each of the fins has a piezoelectric material layer laminated on at least one of the surfaces of each fin. Vibrations are given to the fins, with the fixed end thereof operating as a fulcrum, by applying an alternating voltage to the piezoelectric material layer such that the fins are extended and contracted in the direction of the flow of the fluid. As a modified example, each fin may be provided at its rear end with a weight. Piezoelectric actuators are disposed inside a frame in which the heat exchanger is contained, in a manner to pinch the heat exchanger in a vertical direction. By causing the actuators to vibrate, the fins are also vibrated.