Contra-tapered tank design for cross-counterflow radiator

Abstract

The invention relates to a cross-counterflow heat exchanger, such as a cross-counterflow radiator for a motor vehicle, having an improved inlet/outlet tank wherein the inlet and outlet chambers are laterally off-set allowing the inlet and outlet ports to be oriented in the same general direction toward the fluid source; more particularly, the inlet and outlet chambers are tapered thereby providing improved flow distribution and pressure drop for fluid flow; still more particularly, the return tank inlet and outlet chambers are contra-tapered allowing the inlet and outlet ports to be substantially aligned resulting in a laterally compact heat exchanger.

1 . In a cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger with a pair of opposed faces having:
 a heat exchanger core with a plurality of liquid flow tubes, wherein said tubes have a lengthwise partition defining a first fluid passageway along one face and a second fluid passageway along the opposed face; and in which said heat exchanger is supplied with fluid from a source located spaced from one of said opposed faces, the improvement comprising,   an inlet/outlet tank on one end of said core having:
 a first chamber hydraulically communicating with said first fluid passageway; 
 a second chamber hydraulically communicating with said second fluid passageway; 
 a first chamber lateral exterior surface facing said fluid source; 
 a second chamber lateral exterior surface facing said fluid source, wherein one of said chamber lateral exterior surfaces extends beyond the other; 
 a first inlet/outlet port through said first chamber lateral exterior surface and extending generally toward said fluid source; and 
 a second inlet/outlet port through said second chamber lateral exterior surface and also extending generally toward said fluid source. 
   
   
   
       2 . A cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said first chamber lateral exterior surface and said second chamber lateral exterior surface are on off-set substantially parallel planes. 
   
   
       3 . A cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein at least one of said chamber lateral exterior surfaces is tapered. 
   
   
       4 . A cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein said first chamber lateral exterior surface and said second chamber lateral exterior surface are contra-tapered. 
   
   
       5 . A cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein at least one of said chambers is tapered. 
   
   
       6 . A cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are contra-tapered. 
   
   
       7 . A cross-counter flow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein:
 said heat exchanger core further comprises a first support member and a second support member bounding either side of said core, wherein said support members are substantially parallel with said flow tubes; and   said inlet/outlet tank further comprising of:
 an elongated cavity having an interior surface and an exterior perimeter edge along open face of cavity, 
 a longitudinal axis along length of cavity; 
 a partition along longitudinal axis together with said interior surface defining said first chamber and said second chamber; 
 a first chamber exterior edge connected to said first chamber exterior surface; and 
 a second chamber exterior edge connected to said second chamber exterior surface;
 wherein the distance W between said first chamber exterior edge and said exterior perimeter edge by said first support member is greater than the distance Z between said first chamber exterior edge and said exterior perimeter edge by said second support member end; and 
 wherein the distance Y between said second chamber exterior edge and said exterior perimeter edge by said first support member is less than the distance X between said second chamber exterior end edge and said exterior perimeter edge near second support member. 
 
   
   
   
       8 . A cross-counter flow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 7  wherein said first chamber lateral exterior surface and second chamber lateral exterior surface are substantially triangular in shape. 
   
   
       9 . A cross-counter flow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said fluid source is an internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       10 . In a cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger with a pair of opposed faces for an internal combustion engine having:
 a heat exchanger core with a plurality of liquid flow tubes, wherein said tubes have a lengthwise partition defining a first fluid passageway along one face and a second fluid passageway along the opposed face; and in which said heat exchanger is supplied with fluid from a source located spaced from one of said opposed faces, the improvement comprising:   an inlet/outlet tank on one end of said core having:
 a first chamber hydraulically communicating with said first fluid passageway; 
 a second chamber hydraulically communicating with said second fluid passageway; 
 a first chamber lateral exterior surface facing said engine; 
 a second chamber lateral exterior surface facing said engine, wherein one of said chamber lateral exterior surfaces extends beyond the other; 
 a first inlet/outlet port through said first chamber lateral exterior surface and extending generally toward said engine; and 
 a second inlet/outlet port through said second chamber lateral exterior surface and also extending generally toward said engine. 
   
   
   
       11 . A cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 10  wherein said first chamber lateral exterior surface and said a second chamber lateral exterior surface are on off-set substantially parallel planes. 
   
   
       12 . A cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 11  wherein at least one of said chambers is tapered. 
   
   
       13 . A cross-counterflow fluid heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are contra-tapered.