Heat exchanger with thermal stress-relief areas

Abstract

A heat exchanger with a front group of heat exchange conduits extending between a front inlet tank and a front outlet tank. A rear group of heat exchange conduits extend between a rear inlet tank and a rear outlet tank. A reinforcing plate is adjacent to the front group of heat exchange conduits and the rear group of heat exchange conduits to restrict twisting thereof. A first stress-relief area of the reinforcing plate is proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front inlet tank and the rear inlet tank. A second stress-relief area of the reinforcing plate is proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front outlet tank and the rear outlet tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a front group of heat exchange conduits extending between a front inlet tank and a front outlet tank;   a rear group of heat exchange conduits extending between a rear inlet tank and a rear outlet tank;   a reinforcing plate adjacent to the front group of heat exchange conduits and the rear group of heat exchange conduits to restrict twisting thereof;   a first stress-relief area of the reinforcing plate proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front inlet tank and the rear inlet tank; and   a second stress-relief area of the reinforcing plate proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front outlet tank and the rear outlet tank.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing plate extends from the front inlet tank to the front outlet tank, and from the rear inlet tank to the rear outlet tank. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area are configured to promote twisting of portions of the front group of heat exchange conduits and the rear group of heat exchange conduits that are aligned with the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area of the reinforcing plate are less rigid than portions of the reinforcing plate adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area each include openings in the reinforcing plate. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area each include openings in the reinforcing plate extending across a mid-line of the reinforcing plate. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area each include openings in the reinforcing plate on opposite sides of a mid-line of the reinforcing plate. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area each include openings in the reinforcing plate that are most narrow at a mid-line of the reinforcing plate. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area each include hourglass-shaped openings. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area each include t-shaped openings. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing plate includes side flanges extending along a length of the reinforcing plate; and
 wherein each of the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area include openings at the side flanges.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first stress-relief area and the second stress-relief area include at least one additional opening inboard of the side flanges. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing plate further includes a center flange between the side flanges at a mid-line of the reinforcing plate. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing plate is a top reinforcing plate at a top of both the front group of heat exchange conduits and the rear group of heat exchange conduits, the heat exchanger further including a bottom reinforcing plate at a bottom of both the front group of heat exchange conduits and the rear group of heat exchange conduits, the bottom reinforcing plate includes:
 a third stress-relief area defined by the bottom reinforcing plate proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front inlet tank and the rear inlet tank; and   a fourth stress-relief area defined by the bottom reinforcing plate proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front outlet tank and the rear outlet tank.   
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a front group of heat exchange conduits extending between a front inlet tank and a front outlet tank;   a rear group of heat exchange conduits extending between a rear inlet tank and a rear outlet tank;   a top reinforcing plate at a top of both the front group of heat exchange conduits and the rear group of heat exchange conduits;   a first top stress-relief opening defined by the top reinforcing plate proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front inlet tank and the rear inlet tank;   a second top stress-relief opening defined by the top reinforcing plate proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front outlet tank and the rear outlet tank;   a bottom reinforcing plate at a bottom of both the front group of heat exchange conduits and the rear group of heat exchange conduits;   a first bottom stress-relief opening defined by the bottom reinforcing plate proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front inlet tank and the rear inlet tank; and   a second bottom stress-relief opening defined by the bottom reinforcing plate proximate to, and spaced apart from, both the front outlet tank and the rear outlet tank;   wherein the first top stress-relief opening, the second top stress-relief opening, the first bottom stress-relief opening, and the second bottom stress-relief opening are configured to promote twisting of portions of the front group of heat exchange conduits and the rear group of heat exchange conduits at areas spaced apart from the front inlet tank, the rear inlet tank, the front outlet tank, and the rear outlet tank.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the top reinforcing plate and the bottom reinforcing plate both extend from the front inlet tank to the front outlet tank, and from the rear inlet tank to the rear outlet tank. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first top stress-relief opening and the second top stress-relief opening extend across a mid-line of the top reinforcing plate. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first top stress-relief opening and the second top stress-relief opening is most narrow at a mid-line of the reinforcing plate. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the top reinforcing plate and the bottom reinforcing plate each include side flanges with side openings proximate to the first top stress-relief opening, the second top stress-relief opening, the first bottom stress-relief opening, and the second bottom stress-relief opening. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein both the top reinforcing plate and the bottom reinforcing plate include a center flange between the side flanges.