Stacked plate heat exchanger with integrated connector

Abstract

A stacked plate heat exchanger is provided. The stacked plate heat exchanger includes a first end plate having an integrated connector. The connector has a first cross sectional plane at a first port and a second cross sectional plane at a second port with the first and second cross sectional planes forming an acute angle with respect to each other.

1 . A stacked plate heat exchanger for transferring heat between at least a first fluid and a second fluid, the heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end plate having at least one fluid connector drawn from and arranged on the first end plate, 
 the connector having a first cross sectional plane located at a first port of the connector and a second cross sectional plane located at a second port of the connector, the first and second planes forming an acute angle relative to each other;  
   a second end plate located opposite the first end plate;    at least one intermediate plate sandwiched between the end plates to provide a surface area for transferring heat between the first and second fluids; and    a fluid line attached to the connector at the second port to direct one of the first and second fluids between the connector and a component other than the connector.    
     
     
         2 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the fluid line is located at least partially above and extends over the first end plate.  
     
     
         3 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein the fluid line is arranged roughly parallel to the first end plate.  
     
     
         4 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 2  further comprising an auxiliary support to secure the fluid line to the first end plate.  
     
     
         5 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 4  wherein said first end plate includes a deformation having a shape that conforms with at least part of said auxiliary support to position the auxiliary support on the first end plate.  
     
     
         6 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 4  wherein the auxiliary support is soldered to the first end plate and the fluid line.  
     
     
         7 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 4  wherein the auxiliary support is formed as an integral piece of the first end plate.  
     
     
         8 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the acute angle is preferably between 10 and 70 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the fluid line is received in the second port of the connector and soldered thereto.  
     
     
         10 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the fluid line surrounds the second port of the connector and soldered thereto.  
     
     
         11 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising a vent located on the first end plate for venting one of the fluids.  
     
     
         12 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising at least one fluid manifold defined by said at least one intermediate plate.  
     
     
         13 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein the connector is located above and concentric with the at least one fluid manifold.  
     
     
         14 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein the connector is located above and slightly offset from the at least one fluid manifold.  
     
     
         15 . A stacked plate heat exchanger for transferring heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, the heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end plate having at least one fluid connector drawn from and arranged on the first end plate, 
 the connector having a first cross sectional plane located at a first port of the connector and a second cross sectional plane located at a second port of the connector, the first and second planes forming an acute angle relative to each other;  
   a second end plate located opposite the first end plate;    at least one intermediate plate sandwiched between the end plates to provide a surface area for transferring heat between the first and second fluid; and    a fluid line attached to the connector at the second port located at least partially above and extending over the first end plate to direct one of the first and second fluids between the connector and a component other than the connector.    
     
     
         16 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 15  wherein the fluid line is located at least partially above and extends over the first end plate.  
     
     
         17 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 16  wherein the fluid line is arranged roughly parallel to the first end plate.  
     
     
         18 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 16  further comprising an auxiliary support to secure the fluid line to the first end plate.  
     
     
         19 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 18  wherein said first end plate includes a deformation having a shape that conforms with at least part of said auxiliary support to position the auxiliary support on the first end plate.  
     
     
         20 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 18  wherein the auxiliary support is soldered to the first end plate and the fluid line.  
     
     
         21 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 18  wherein the auxiliary support is formed as an integral piece of the first end plate.  
     
     
         22 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 15  wherein the acute angle is preferably between 10 and 70 degrees.  
     
     
         23 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 15  wherein the fluid line is received in the second port of the connector and soldered thereto.  
     
     
         24 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 15  wherein the fluid line surrounds the second port of the connector and soldered thereto.  
     
     
         25 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 15  further comprising a vent located on the first end plate for venting one of the fluids.  
     
     
         26 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 15  further comprising at least one fluid manifold defined by said at least one intermediate plate.  
     
     
         27 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 26  wherein the connector is located above and concentric with the at least one fluid manifold.  
     
     
         28 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 26  wherein the connector is located above and slightly offset from the at least one fluid manifold.  
     
     
         29 . A stacked plate heat exchanger for transferring heat between at least a first fluid and a second fluid, the heat exchanger comprising: 
 a first end plate having at least one fluid connector drawn from and arranged on the first end plate, 
 the connector having a first cross sectional plane located at a first port of the connector and a second cross sectional plane located at a second port of the connector, the first and second planes forming an acute angle relative to each other;  
   a second end plate located opposite the first end plate;    a stack of intermediate plates sandwiched between the end plates to provide surface areas for transferring heat between the first and second fluids;    a plurality of fluid manifolds in said intermediate plates to direct the first and second fluids to said surface areas; and    a fluid line attached to the connector at the second port to direct one of the first and second fluids between the heat exchanger and a component other than the heat exchanger.    
     
     
         30 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 29  wherein the fluid line is located at least partially above and extends over the first end plate.  
     
     
         31 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 30  wherein the fluid line is arranged roughly parallel to the first end plate.  
     
     
         32 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 30  further comprising an auxiliary support to secure the fluid line to the first end plate.  
     
     
         33 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 32  wherein said first end plate includes a deformation having a shape that conforms with at least part of said auxiliary support to position the auxiliary support on the first end plate.  
     
     
         34 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 32  wherein the auxiliary support is soldered to the first end plate and the fluid line.  
     
     
         35 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 32  wherein the auxiliary support is formed as an integral piece of the first end plate.  
     
     
         36 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 29  wherein the acute angle is preferably between 10 and 70 degrees.  
     
     
         37 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 29  wherein the fluid line is received in the second port of the connector and soldered thereto.  
     
     
         38 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 29  wherein the fluid line surrounds the second port of the connector and soldered thereto.  
     
     
         39 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 29  further comprising a vent located on the first end plate for venting one of the fluids.  
     
     
         40 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 29  further comprising at least one fluid manifold defined by said stack of intermediate plates.  
     
     
         41 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 40  wherein the connector is located above and concentric with the at least one fluid manifold.  
     
     
         42 . The stacked plate heat exchanger of  claim 40  wherein the connector is located above and slightly offset from the at least one fluid manifold.