Plate type heat exchanger, an oil cooling system and a method for cooling oil

Abstract

A heat exchanger for an oil cooler having at least two heat exchanger members, each enclosing a respective first channel, wherein a second channel is formed between the at least two heat exchanger members. At least one of the heat exchanger members presents a through hole providing access from outside the heat exchanger to the second channel.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A plate type heat exchanger for an oil cooler, comprising:
 at least two heat exchanger members each enclosing a respective first channel;   an inlet port, for feeding a medium to the first channels, and   an outlet port, for extracting the medium from the first channels,   wherein a second channel is formed between the at least two heat exchanger members, a medium present in the second channel being isolated from a medium present in the first channel, and   the second channel being arranged to communicate with a space in which the heat exchanger is enclosed;   wherein at least one of the heat exchanger members presents a through hole or through recess extending from one face of the heat exchanger member, through the first channel, to a second, opposite face of the heat exchanger member and providing access from outside the heat exchanger to the second channel,   wherein   the through hole is spaced from all peripheral edges of the heat exchanger member.   
     
     
         31 . A plate type heat exchanger for an oil cooler, comprising:
 at least two heat exchanger members each enclosing a respective first channel;   an inlet port, for feeding a medium to the first channels, and   an outlet port, for extracting the medium from the first channels,   wherein a second channel is formed between the at least two heat exchanger members, a medium present in the second channel being isolated from a medium present in the first channel, and   the second channel being arranged to communicate with a space in which the heat exchanger is enclosed;   wherein at least one of the heat exchanger members presents a through hole or through recess extending from one face of the heat exchanger member, through the first channel, to a second, opposite face of the heat exchanger member and providing access from outside the heat exchanger to the second channel,   wherein   an edge defining the through hole or through recess intersects an edge of the heat exchanger at a respective point of intersection,   the through hole presents a central angle, the legs of which presenting a respective tangent point at the respective point of intersection, and   the central angle is less than about 180 degrees, less than about 135 degrees or less than about 90 degrees.   
     
     
         32 . The heat exchanger as claimed  claim 30 , wherein heat exchanger plates of two separate heat exchanger members, which heat exchanger plates face each other, present at least one respective protrusion arranged in the immediate vicinity of the through hole and/or of an oil port, and wherein the protrusions abut each other. 
     
     
         33 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises:
 a third heat exchanger member, arranged adjacent one of the two heat exchanger members, and having a through hole or through recess which is aligned with the other through holes or through recesses along a normal of a main plane of the heat exchanger members,   wherein at least one washer is arranged between the third heat exchanger member and said one of the two heat exchanger members.   
     
     
         34 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising a mounting flange which presents a recess positioned so as to receive at least one of the protrusions. 
     
     
         35 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein at least two heat exchanger members present a respective through hole or through recess, and wherein said respective through holes or through recesses at least partially overlap each other, thus forming a set of overlapping through holes or through recesses. 
     
     
         36 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 30 , further comprising at least one mounting member presenting a mounting hole which is accessible through the overlapping through holes or through recesses. 
     
     
         37 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein less than all heat exchanger members of the heat exchanger present a respective through hole or through recess. 
     
     
         38 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein a through hole or through recess of one of the heat exchanger members is smaller than an overlapping through hole or through recess of another one of the heat exchanger members. 
     
     
         39 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the through holes or through recesses are substantially aligned with each other along a normal of a main plane of the heat exchanger members, thus forming a set of aligned through holes or through recesses. 
     
     
         40 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein
 a first set of aligned through holes or through recesses is arranged at a first angle relative to a longitudinal centre line through centers of oil ports of the heat exchanger and a first distance from the centre of a first oil port, and   a second set of aligned through holes or through recesses is arranged at a second angle relative to the longitudinal centre line and a second distance from the centre of the first oil port.   
     
     
         41 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the first and second distances are substantially equal. 
     
     
         42 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein the first and second angles differ by: about 180 degrees, less than 180 degrees, less than about 135 degrees or less than about 90 degrees or more than 180 degrees, more than about 225 degrees or more than about 270 degrees. 
     
     
         43 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein a first set of aligned through holes or through recesses is arranged on a first side of a longitudinal centre line through centers of oil ports of the heat exchanger and a second set of aligned through holes or through recesses is arranged on a second side of the longitudinal centre line. 
     
     
         44 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein a transversal line running through the centers of both sets of aligned through holes is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centre line. 
     
     
         45 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 40 , wherein a transversal line running through the centers of both sets of aligned through holes or through recesses presents an angle of less than about 90 degrees to the longitudinal centre line, or less than about 75 degrees, or less than about 60 degrees or less than about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         46 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 44 , wherein the transversal line intersects an oil port. 
     
     
         47 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein at least one of the heat exchanger members presents at least two through holes or through recesses providing access from outside the heat exchanger to the second channel. 
     
     
         48 . A heat exchanger for an oil cooler, comprising:
 at least three stacked heat exchanger members each enclosing a respective first channel;   wherein a respective second channel is formed between two adjacent ones of said heat exchanger members;   wherein an oil port extends through the heat exchanger members and connects the respective first channels;   wherein surfaces of a first pair of adjacent heat exchanger members, which surfaces face each other and form an associated second channel, present at least one respective protrusion arranged in the immediate vicinity of the oil port, and wherein the protrusions abut each other; and   wherein a second pair of adjacent heat exchanger members is separated by at least one substantially planar member, such as a washer, extending about a substantial part of a circumference of the oil port.   
     
     
         49 . An oil cooling system, comprising:
 a cavity having a liquid cooling medium inlet and a liquid cooling medium outlet;   an oil inlet for oil to be cooled and an oil outlet for cooled oil; and   a heat exchanger, as claimed in  claim 30 , said heat exchanger being substantially enclosed in said cavity,   wherein the second channel is at least partially formed by the cavity.