Heat exchanger with an integrated temperature control valve and side-flow tube assembly

Abstract

The heat exchanger with side-sited integrated temperature control valve and side-flow tube assembly is involved in a hydrodynamic torque converter. The heat exchanger includes a first liquid-collecting tube and a second liquid-collecting tube with flat tube. The integrated temperature control valve and side-flow tube assembly is mounted on the side of the heat exchanger, and includes a temperature control valve and a side-flow tube. The temperature control valve is mounted at the middle of the side-flow tube. The temperature control valve includes a valve body, a valve element, a piston rod, a piston rod seat and a spring, which are applied to the heat exchanger of automobile hydraulic torque converter.

1 . The heat exchanger comprising:
 side-sited integrated temperature control valve and side-flow tube assembly, the assembly having a temperature control valve and a side-flow tube;   a first liquid-collecting tube;   a second liquid-collecting tube forming a closed loop with the first liquid-collecting tube;   a flat tube mounted between the first liquid-collecting tube and the second liquid-collecting tube to form a liquid passageway;   a side-flow tube having a first section in fluid communication with the first liquid-collecting tube and a second section in fluid communication with the second liquid-collecting tube;   a separator in a middle section of the side-flow tube to define a first flow section and a second flow section on opposite sides of the separator;   a temperature control valve mounted in the middle section of the side-flow tube and comprising a valve body, a valve element having an inner chamber, a piston rod, a piston rod seat and a spring;   the valve body defining a hole that is divided into three sections with the piston rod seat mounted in the lower section of the hole, a lower section of the valve element mounted in a middle section of the hole, an upper section of the valve element mounted in an upper section of the hole and the spring mounted between the edge of the valve element and the upper end of the middle section of the hole to allow the valve element to radially slide in the hole;   a thermosensitive rubber in the inner chamber that changes expands as a function of temperature to shunt liquid through the flat tube upon the liquid having a pre-selected temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said thermosensitive rubber is one of styrene butadiene rubber, natural rubber, or silicone rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein one end of the piston rod is mounted on the piston rod seat a second end of the piston rod is mounted in the inner chamber of the valve element, an end face surface of the piston rod seat contacting an end face of the thermosensitive rubber such that the piston rod slides in the inner chamber of the valve element. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet connected to the valve body and also in fluid communication with a liquid outlet tube of a hydraulic torque converter and the first flow section of the side-flow tube; the outlet connected to the valve body and also in fluid communication with a hydraulic fluid inlet tube of the hydraulic torque converter and also in fluid communication with the second flow section of the side-flow tube.