Cross Flow Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a work vehicle is provided that comprises a tube layer ( 102 ) made of a plurality of elongate tubes ( 108 ) that are spaced apart by gaps ( 112 ) oriented parallel to each other in a first direction; a first fin layer ( 100 ) in the form of a corrugated sheet having a plurality of corrugations, wherein the plurality of corrugations of the first fin layer ( 100 ) facing the tube layer ( 102 ) define channels ( 106 ) for passing therethrough a fluid different from the first fluid; and a first fluid guide layer ( 200 ) formed of a planar sheet that extends across and encloses the plurality of corrugations of the first fin layer ( 100 ) over substantially an entire length of the plurality of corrugations.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for a work vehicle, comprising:
 a tube layer ( 102 ) comprised of a plurality of elongate tubes ( 108 ), wherein the plurality of elongate tubes ( 108 ) are spaced apart by gaps ( 112 ) and are oriented parallel to each other in a first direction, wherein each of the plurality of elongate tubes ( 108 ) defines a channel for passing a first fluid therethrough;   a first fin layer ( 100 ) in a form of a corrugated sheet having a plurality of corrugations, in which the plurality of corrugations of the first fin layer ( 100 ) extend in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and wherein the first fin layer ( 100 ) is disposed parallel to the tube layer ( 102 ) and on a first side of the tube layer ( 102 ), and wherein each of the plurality of corrugations of the first fin layer ( 100 ) facing the tube layer ( 102 ) define an enclosed channel ( 106 ) for passing therethrough a fluid different from the first fluid; and   a first fluid guide layer ( 200 ) formed of a continuous, generally planar sheet that extends across and encloses the plurality of corrugations of the first fin layer ( 100 ) over substantially an entire length of the plurality of corrugations.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a second fin layer ( 104 ) in a form of a corrugated sheet having a plurality of corrugations, in which the plurality of corrugations of the second fin layer ( 104 ) extend in the second direction, and wherein the second fin layer ( 104 ) is disposed parallel to the tube layer ( 102 ) and on a second side of the tube layer ( 102 ) that is opposite to the first side of the tube layer ( 102 ), and wherein the plurality of corrugations of the second fin layer ( 104 ) facing the tube layer ( 102 ) define channels ( 106 ) for passing therethrough a fluid different from the first fluid; and
 a second fluid guide layer ( 202 ) formed of a continuous, generally planar sheet that extends across and encloses the plurality of corrugations of the second fin layer ( 104 ) over substantially an entire length of the plurality of corrugations.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid guide layer ( 200 ) extends across and encloses the gaps ( 112 ) over substantially an entire length of the gaps ( 112 ). 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger  claim 1 , wherein the first fin layer ( 100 ) comprises metal and the first fluid guide layer ( 200 ) comprises metal, and wherein the first fin layer ( 100 ) is bonded to a first side of the first fluid guide layer ( 200 ) by a process selected from a group comprising soldering, brazing, and welding. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the tube layer ( 102 ) comprises metal and wherein the tube layer ( 102 ) is bonded to a second side of the first fluid guide layer ( 200 ) by a process selected from a group comprising soldering, brazing, and welding. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein none of the channels ( 106 ) has an interior region that is in fluid communication with an interior region of any of the plurality of elongate tubes ( 108 ). 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the channels ( 106 ) are rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the channels ( 106 ) are square in cross-section.