Combined Heater And Accumulator Assemblies

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are provided of combined heater and accumulator assemblies. In an exemplary embodiment, an assembly generally includes an enclosure including a first portion, a second portion, and a divider between the first and second portions. The assembly also includes an inlet through which coolant may enter an interior of the second portion, and an outlet through which the coolant may exit the interior of the second portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly comprising:
 an enclosure including a first portion, a second portion, and a divider between the first and second portions;   an inlet through which a coolant may enter an interior of the second portion;   an outlet through which the coolant may exit the interior of the second portion; and   a baffle having one or more bleed holes, wherein the baffle is positioned generally between the divider and the second portion of the enclosure, the baffle configured to be operable for at least reducing application of pressure on the divider from the coolant flowing within the interior of the second portion;   wherein the assembly includes first and second ports and a symmetric design such that either the first port and the second port are usable as the inlet or the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises a plate having the one or more bleed holes, the plate configured to resist deforming due to force or pressure exerted by flowing coolant within the second portion, whereby the plate is operable for at least reducing application of pressure on the divider from the coolant flowing within the interior of the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the divider is flexible, movable, and/or deformable in a direction away from the first portion towards the second portion for causing the coolant within the interior of the second portion to exit the interior of the second portion via the outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the baffle comprises a plate having the one or more bleed holes, the plate configured to resist deforming due to force or pressure exerted by flowing coolant within the second portion and to resist the force or pressure caused by flexing, moving, and/or deforming of the divider, whereby the plate is operable for at least reducing application of pressure on the divider from the coolant flowing within the interior of the second portion. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the assembly is configured to allow pressurizing of an interior of the first portion to thereby cause the divider to flex, move, and/or deform in the direction away from the first portion towards the second portion for causing coolant to exit the interior of the second portion via the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more bleed holes are configured to enable pressure changes due to flexing, moving, and/or deforming of the divider to be transmitted throughout the second portion while the baffle at least inhibits the divider from being directly affected by the flow of coolant through the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat source operable for supplying heat for heating the coolant within the interior of the second portion. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the assembly is a single integrated unit for a closed liquid circuit and configured such that:
 the first portion and the divider are operable as an accumulator for mitigating volume changes of the coolant due to temperature changes of the coolant; and   the heat source and the second portion are operable as a heater for the coolant.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 a plurality of fins inwardly protrude from an inner surface of the enclosure along the second portion into the interior of the second portion;   the fins are spaced apart around a perimeter of the inner surface of the enclosure of the second portion; and   the heat source is disposed along and thermally coupled to an exterior surface of the enclosure along the second portion, the heat source configured to be operable for supplying heat for heating the exterior surface of the enclosure and the plurality of fins, which heat is transferrable to the coolant as the coolant flows across the plurality of fins.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the divider comprises a diaphragm such that the diaphragm and the first portion of the enclosure are operable as a diaphragm accumulator; and/or   the assembly further comprises one or more surfaces that protrude inwardly from an inner surface of the enclosure along the second portion into the interior of the second portion such that heat is transferrable from the one or more surfaces to the coolant within the interior of the second portion; and/or   the assembly includes a mechanism operable for applying a mechanical force to the divider to flex, move, and/or deform the divider in a direction away from the first portion and towards the second portion and cause coolant within the interior of the second portion to exit the interior of the second portion via the outlet.   
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the assembly is configured for multiple pass flow of the coolant through the second portion to enable the coolant to traverse a length of the interior of the second portion at least three times including a first pass, a second pass, and a third pass of the coolant flow within the second portion; and   the assembly further comprises an insert within the second portion that prevents pass cross talk and that channels the coolant flow between the first, second, and third passes.   
     
     
         12 . An assembly comprising:
 an enclosure including a first portion, a second portion, and a divider between the first and second portions;   an inlet through which a coolant may enter an interior of the second portion;   an outlet through which the coolant may exit the interior of the second portion;   a heat source operable for supplying heat for heating the coolant within the interior of the second portion; and   a baffle comprising a plate having one or more bleed holes positioned generally between the divider and the second portion of the enclosure, the baffle configured to be operable for at least reducing application of pressure on the divider from the coolant flowing within the interior of the second portion.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the assembly includes first and second ports and a symmetric design such that either the first port and the second port are usable as the inlet or the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plate is configured to resist deforming due to force or pressure exerted by flowing coolant within the second portion, whereby the plate is operable for at least reducing application of pressure on the divider from the coolant flowing within the interior of the second portion. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the divider is flexible, movable, and/or deformable in a direction away from the first portion towards the second portion for causing the coolant within the interior of the second portion to exit the interior of the second portion via the outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plate is configured to resist deforming due to force or pressure exerted by flowing coolant within the second portion and to resist the force or pressure caused by flexing, moving, and/or deforming of the divider, whereby the plate is operable for at least reducing application of pressure on the divider from the coolant flowing within the interior of the second portion. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the assembly is configured to allow pressurizing of an interior of the first portion to thereby cause the divider to flex, move, and/or deform in the direction away from the first portion towards the second portion for causing coolant to exit the interior of the second portion via the outlet. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more bleed holes are configured to enable pressure changes due to flexing, moving, and/or deforming of the divider to be transmitted throughout the second portion while the baffle at least inhibits the divider from being directly affected by the flow of coolant through the second portion. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a heat source operable for supplying heat for heating the coolant within the interior of the second portion. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the assembly is a single integrated unit for a closed liquid circuit and configured such that:
 the first portion and the divider are operable as an accumulator for mitigating volume changes of the coolant due to temperature changes of the coolant; and   the heat source and the second portion are operable as a heater for the coolant.