Plate type heat exchanger

Abstract

A plate type heat exchanger of the present invention includes a heat exchange assembly formed by a plurality of interconnected heat exchange plates in stacked relationship. Each of the heat exchange plates includes longitudinal side webs terminating in seating rims extending toward a longitudinal center axis of the heat exchange plate. The heat exchange plates are disposed between a bottom cover and a top cover of the exchanger. The top cover is provided with couplings at opposite ends for an inlet and an outlet of refrigerant. Each end of the heat exchange assembly, with longitudinal openings of passageways formed between the heat exchange plates, is provided with a manifold having an aperture for a passage of cooled air therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plate type heat exchanger, comprising:
 a heat exchange assembly formed by a plurality of heat exchange plates in stacked relationship, wherein each of the heat exchange plates includes a web extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the heat exchange plate, the web terminating in a seating rim extending toward a longitudinal center axis of the heat exchange plate.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange plates are substantially identical. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange plates are disposed between a first cover and a second cover of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange plates are joined at the seating rims. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a manifold coupled to at least one end of the heat exchange assembly, wherein the manifold includes an aperture formed therein to permit a fluid to be received into the heat exchange assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the manifold has a height corresponding to a spacing between an edge of the heat exchanger and another opposite edge of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the manifold is provided with at least one attachment mechanism configured to cooperate with at least one of a first cover and a second cover of the heat exchanger for attachment to the at least one of the first cover and the second cover of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the manifold has a generally multilateral truncated pyramid shape. 
     
     
         9 . A plate type heat exchanger, comprising:
 a first cover having an outwardly extending peripheral rim;   a second cover having an outwardly extending peripheral rim; and   a heat exchange assembly disposed between the first cover and the second cover, the heat exchange assembly formed by a plurality of heat exchange plates in stacked relationship and configured to receive a first fluid therein, wherein each of the heat exchange plates includes a web extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the heat exchange plate, the web terminating in a seating rim extending toward a longitudinal center axis of the heat exchange plate, and wherein one of the heat exchange plates is joined to an adjacent one of the heat exchange plates along the seating rims thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchange plates are substantially identical. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first cover and the second cover has a width greater than a width of the heat exchange assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first cover and the second cover adjacent an end of the heat exchange assembly has a width substantially equal to a width of the heat exchange assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first cover and the second cover is provided with at least one coupling to permit the first fluid to be received into the heat exchange assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , further comprising a manifold coupled to at least one end of the heat exchange assembly, wherein the manifold includes an aperture formed therein to permit a second fluid to be received into the heat exchange assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the manifold has a height corresponding to a spacing between a free edge of the peripheral rim of the first cover and a free edge of the peripheral rim of the second cover of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the manifold is provided with at least one attachment mechanism configured to cooperate with at least one of the peripheral rim of the first cover and the peripheral rim of the second cover for attachment to the at least one of the peripheral rim of the first cover and the peripheral rim of the second cover. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the manifold has a generally multilateral truncated pyramid shape. 
     
     
         18 . A plate type heat exchanger, comprising:
 a first cover having an outwardly extending peripheral rim;   a second cover having an outwardly extending peripheral rim, wherein at least one of the first cover and the second cover is provided with at least one coupling to permit a first fluid to be received into the heat exchanger;   a heat exchange assembly disposed between the first cover and the second cover, the heat exchange assembly formed by a plurality of heat exchange plates in stacked relationship, wherein each of the heat exchange plates includes a web extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the heat exchange plate, the web terminating in a seating rim extending toward a longitudinal center axis of the heat exchange plate, and wherein one of the heat exchange plates is joined to an adjacent one of the heat exchange plates along the seating rims thereof; and   a manifold coupled to at least one of a first end and a second end of the heat exchange assembly, the manifold including an aperture formed therein to permit a second fluid to be received into the heat exchange assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first cover and the second cover has a width greater than a width of the heat exchange assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first cover and the second cover adjacent at least one of the first end and the second end of the heat exchange assembly has a width substantially equal to a width of the heat exchange assembly.