Heat exchanger assembly

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat across a wall of a housing is disclosed. The assembly comprises an outer heat exchanger having an outer ring disposed outside the housing and having an interior surface in contact with an exterior surface of the wall; an inner support disposed inside the housing and having an exterior surface; and a plurality of inner heat fins connecting the exterior surface of the inner support to an interior surface of the wall of the housing.

1 . A heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat across a wall of a housing, the assembly comprising:
 an outer heat exchanger comprising an outer ring disposed outside the housing and having an interior surface in contact with an exterior surface of the wall;   an inner support disposed inside the housing and having an exterior surface; and   a plurality of inner heat fins connecting the exterior surface of the inner support to an interior surface of the wall of the housing, at least a portion of the outer ring and at least a portion of the inner heat fins sandwiching at least a portion of the housing wall.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the inner heat fins are integral with the inner support. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the outer ring is shrink-fitted on the housing and the inner support and inner heat fins are shrink-fitted in the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the outer ring, inner support and inner heat fins are made of a material having a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the wall. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the outer ring, inner support and inner heat fins are made of aluminum. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the outer heat exchanger further comprises a plurality of outer heat fins outwardly projecting from the outer ring. 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the outer heat fins are welded, soldered or bonded by a thermo-conductive adhesive to the outer ring. 
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the inner support further comprises an interior surface. 
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the interior surface of the inner support is adapted to form a gas bearing or a seal portion, or both, with a sliding member movably disposed through interior surface of the inner support. 
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a solid annular ring portion connected to the inner support or the inner fins and having an outer surface configured to be in contact with the interior surface of the wall of the housing when the annular ring portion is installed in the housing. 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the annular ring portion is integral with the inner support or the inner heat fins, or both. 
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising a sealant on the outer surface of the annular ring portion. 
   
   
       13 . A component of a Stirling cycle machine, comprising:
 a housing comprising a wall defining an interior volume and adapted to seal within the interior volume a working gas, the interior volume comprising a compression region where the working gas is subject to intermittent compression and expansion;   an outer heat exchanger comprising an outer ring disposed outside the housing and having an interior surface in contact with an exterior surface of the wall;   a plurality of outer heat fins connected to the outer ring;   an inner support disposed inside the housing and having an exterior surface; and   a plurality of inner heat fins connecting the exterior surface of the inner support to an interior surface of the wall of the housing, at least a portion of the outer ring and at least a portion of the inner heat fins sandwiching at least a portion of the housing wall.   
   
   
       14 . The component as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the inner heat fins are integral with the inner support. 
   
   
       15 . The component as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the outer ring is shrink-fitted on the housing and the inner support and inner heat fins are shrink-fitted in the housing. 
   
   
       16 . The component as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the outer ring, inner support or inner heat fins are made of a material having a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the wall. 
   
   
       17 . The component as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a sealant between the outer ring and the housing. 
   
   
       18 . The component of  claim 16 , wherein the outer ring, inner support or inner heat fins are made of aluminum, and wherein the housing wall is made of stainless steel at least in portions in contact with the outer ring and plurality of inner heat fins. 
   
   
       19 . The component as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the inner support comprises an interior surface. 
   
   
       20 . The component as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the interior surface of the inner support is adapted to form a gas bearing or a seal portion, or both, with a sliding member movably disposed through interior surface of the inner support. 
   
   
       21 . A heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat across a wall of a housing, the assembly comprising:
 an outer ring disposed outside the housing and having an interior surface in contact with an exterior surface of the wall;   a plurality of outer heat fins outwardly projecting from the outer ring; and   a plurality of inner heat fins extending inwardly from the interior surface of the wall, at least a portion of the outer ring and at least a portion of the inner heat fins sandwiching at least a portion of the housing wall.   
   
   
       22 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the inner heat fins are brazed, soldered or bonded with a thermo-conductive adhesive to the interior surface of the wall. 
   
   
       23 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the inner heat fins are shrink-fitted to the housing. 
   
   
       24 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the outer heat fins are shrink-fitted to the outer ring. 
   
   
       25 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising a solid annular ring portion connected to the inner fins and having an outer surface configured to be in contact with the interior surface of the wall of the housing when the annular ring portion is installed in the housing. 
   
   
       26 . The heat exchanger assembly as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the annular ring portion is integral with the inner heat fins. 
   
   
       27 . A method for making a heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat across a wall of a housing, the method comprising:
 positioning an outer heat exchanger comprising an outer ring outside the housing such that an interior surface of the outer ring is in contact with an exterior surface of the wall;   positioning a plurality of outer heat fins on the outer ring;   positioning an inner support inside the housing; and   connecting an interior surface of the wall and an exterior surface of the inner support using a plurality of inner heat fins such that at least a portion of the inner heat fins and at least a portion of the outer ring sandwich at least a portion of the housing wall.   
   
   
       28 . The method as set forth in  claim 27 , further comprising constructing the inner support and the plurality of inner heat fins from the same piece of material. 
   
   
       29 . The method as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein constructing comprises forming an integral body comprising the inner support and inner heat fins by removing material from the piece. 
   
   
       30 . The method as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein removing comprises machining. 
   
   
       31 . The method as set forth in  claim 27 , further comprising forming an aperture through the inner support. 
   
   
       32 . The method as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein positioning the outer ring comprises shrink-fitting the outer ring on the housing; and connecting the interior surface of the wall and the exterior surface of the inner support using the inner heat fins comprises shrink-fitting the inner heat fins and the inner support inside and against the housing wall. 
   
   
       33 . The method as set forth in  claim 32 , wherein shrink-fitting the outer ring on the housing comprises subjecting the outer ring to a higher temperature than the housing, and subjecting the inner heat fins and inner support to a lower temperature than the housing. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising shrink-fitting a plurality of outer heat fins to the outer ring. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising applying a sealant between the outer ring and the housing wall. 
   
   
       36 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer heat exchanger further comprises a heat-transfer structure in thermal contact with the outer ring and adapted to transfer heat from or to the outer ring. 
   
   
       37 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the heat-transfer structure comprises a tubing or channel adapted to carry a heat-transfer fluid. 
   
   
       38 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer ring comprises a mounting structure adapted to affix a heat-transfer structure to the outer ring. 
   
   
       39 . A heat exchanger assembly for transferring heat across a wall of a housing, the assembly comprising:
 an inner support disposed inside the housing and having an exterior surface; and   a plurality of inner heat fins connecting the exterior surface of the inner support to an interior surface of the wall of the housing.   
   
   
       40 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 39 , further comprising an outer heat transfer structure in thermal contact with an exterior surface of the housing wall, at least a portion of the outer heat-transfer structure and at least a portion of the inner heat fins sandwiching at least a portion of the housing wall. 
   
   
       41 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the heat-transfer structure comprises a tubing or channel adapted to carry a heat-transfer fluid. 
   
   
       42 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 39 , further comprises a mounting structure adapted to affix a heat-transfer structure to the housing wall.