Heat exchanger with integrated flexible baffle

Abstract

A heat exchanger of the type having a tube assembly made up of a number of tubes through which a first medium flows and around and between which a second medium flows to accept heat from, or transfer heat to, the first medium. The first media is constrained by a baffle to follow a path through the heat exchanger. According to the disclosure, the baffle is flexible and acts as a flapper valve permitting the baffle to allow bypass flow of the first media to bypass the tube assembly of the heat exchanger. The baffle self-adjusts based on a pressure balance of the first medium, with the result that heat exchangers according to the invention are more versatile than conventional heat exchangers where the baffles are fixed to the tubes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid comprising:
 a first tank;   a second tank;   a plurality of tubes fluidly joining the first tank and the second tank,   a flexible baffle which is provided within first tank, dividing the first tank into a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein the flexible baffle is a bypass valve that fluidly connects the first chamber and second chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible baffle is generally circular in form having a plurality of diametric cuts therethrough intersecting at the center of the flexible baffle to provide a plurality of pie-shaped portions joined at the periphery of the flexible baffle. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of pie-shaped portions are adapted to be deflected into the second chamber when the liquid is flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible baffle further comprises a single slit linearly spanning across the center of the flexible baffle. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid according to  claim 4 , wherein the single slit has a first end and a second end;
 a plurality of slits extending from the first end and the second end;   wherein the plurality of slits form pie shaped portions.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid according to  claim 1 , further comprising a screen member disposed adjacent the flexible baffle to maintain a generally flat configuration of the flexible baffle and restrict the flow of liquid from only from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible baffle perimeter is surrounded by a rigid frame member, the rigid frame member is attached to an interior surface of the first tank. 
     
     
         8 . An automotive heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes through which flows a heat exchange medium,   at least two tank portions which connect a multiplicity of the tubes and through which the heat exchange medium flows in and out;   a resilient baffle for dividing one of the tank portions into a plurality of independent tank chambers, wherein the flexible baffle is circular in form and having a plurality of slits therethrough intersecting at the center of the flexible.   
     
     
         9 . An automotive heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the slits provide a plurality of pie-shaped portions joined at the perimeter of the resilient baffle the pie-shaped portions act as a flapper valve fluidly connecting the independent tank chambers. 
     
     
         10 . An automotive heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the resilient baffle perimeter is surrounded by a rigid frame member, the rigid frame member is attached to an interior surface of the tank portion. 
     
     
         11 . An automotive heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein a resilient baffle, divides one of the tank portions into a first chamber and a second chamber. 
     
     
         12 . An automotive heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the slits provide a plurality of pie-shaped portions joined at the perimeter of the resilient baffle; the plurality of pie-shaped portions are adapted to be deflected into the second chamber when the liquid is flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         13 . An automotive heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , further comprising a screen member disposed adjacent resilient baffle to maintain a generally flat configuration of the resilient baffle and restrict the flow of liquid from only from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         14 . An automotive heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein one of the tank portion chambers contains an inlet and another tank portion chamber contains an outlet. 
     
     
         15 . An automotive heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein the resilient baffle separates the tank portion chamber with the inlet and tank portion chamber with the outlet. 
     
     
         16 . An oil cooler for a vehicle, comprising:
 a first tank divided into a first portion and a second portion by a flexible baffle;   a plurality of a first tubes in fluid communication with the first portion of the first tank, the plurality of first tubes configured to have a fluid flow there-through to a second tank;   a plurality of second tubes in fluid communication with the second tank and the second portion of the first tank; wherein the flexible baffle further comprises a flapper valve and is adapted to restrict flow of oil through the valve during normal operation, and to open and allow oil directly from the first portion to the second portion of the first tank during a high pressure operation.   
     
     
         17 . An oil cooler for a vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the flexible baffle partial bypass opening is determined by the pressure inside the first portion of the first tank. 
     
     
         18 . An oil cooler for a vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the flexible baffle is made of a synthetic material. 
     
     
         19 . An oil cooler for a vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the flexible baffle has a plurality of slits spanning radially from the center forming a plurality of pie-shaped portions; the pie-shaped portions are deflected into the second chamber when the liquid is flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber. 
     
     
         20 . An oil cooler for a vehicle according to  claim 19 , wherein a screen member is disposed adjacent to the flexible baffle only allowing flow of the fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber.