Turbulator with offset louvers and method of making same

Abstract

A turbulator with offset louvers and method of making the same for a heat exchanger includes a plurality of corrugated fins each having a base extending laterally and longitudinally in a strip. The turbulator also includes a plurality of louvers spaced along the base and extending longitudinally and generally perpendicular to the base in an alternating manner, the louvers being rolled in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the strip.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A turbulator with offset louvers for a heat exchanger comprising: 
 a plurality of corrugated fins each having a base extending laterally and longitudinally in a strip; and    a plurality of offset louvers spaced along said base and extending longitudinally and generally perpendicular to said base in an alternating manner, said offset louvers being rolled in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said strip.    
     
     
         2 . A turbulator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said offset louvers extend longitudinally a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         3 . A turbulator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said offset louvers are spaced laterally a predetermined distance along said base.  
     
     
         4 . A turbulator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said louvers extend generally perpendicular to said base a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         5 . A turbulator as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said offset louvers have a generally inverted “U” cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first manifold;    a second manifold spaced from and opposing said first manifold;    a plurality of tubes extending laterally between and in fluid communication with said first manifold and said second manifold; and    a plurality of turbulators, each of said turbulators having a plurality of louvers spaced laterally and extending longitudinally in an alternating manner, said louvers being rolled in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, one of said turbulators being disposed in one of said tubes.    
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said tube comprises a base, a top spaced from and opposing said base, a first side interposed between said base and said top along one side thereof, and a second side interposed between said base and said top along another side thereof, said base and said top and said first side and said second side forming a channel.  
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said turbulator is disposed in said channel.  
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said turbulator comprises a plurality of corrugated fins each having a generally planar base extending longitudinally and said louvers spaced laterally and extending longitudinally along said base.  
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said louvers extend generally perpendicular to said base a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         11 . A method of making a turbulator with offset louvers for a heat exchanger comprising the steps of: 
 providing a generally planar strip having a base extending laterally and longitudinally;    forming a plurality of corrugated fins each having having a plurality of offset louvers spaced along the base and extending generally perpendicular to the base in an alternating manner such that the offset louvers extend in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the strip.    
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said step of forming comprises roll forming.  
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  including the step of providing a pair of rollers and feeding the strip in a direction of rotation of the rollers to form the louvers.  
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said step of forming comprises forming a planar portion laterally between the louvers.  
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said step of forming comprises forming the louvers with a generally inverted “U” cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
         16 . A method of making a heat exchanger comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of tubes;    providing a generally planar strip having a base extending laterally and longitudinally;    forming a plurality of turbulators each having a plurality of corrugated fins with a plurality of louvers spaced laterally and extending generally perpendicular in an alternating manner such that the louvers extend in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the strip;    disposing the turbulator in the tube; and    brazing the tube and the turbulator together.    
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said step of forming comprises roll forming.  
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  including the step of providing a pair of rollers and feeding the strip in a direction of rotation of the rollers to form the louvers.  
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said step of forming comprises forming a planar portion laterally between the louvers.  
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said step of forming comprises forming the louvers with a generally inverted “U” cross-sectional shape.