Modular heat exchanger with pivotal cores

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided with pivotally mounted, angularly disposed, cooling modules or cores so as to increase the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger and, at the same time, to have a self-cleaning capability for the modules or cores. The angular disposition of the modules or cores results in a larger effective frontal area to the heat exchanger thereby increasing the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger. The angular orientation of adjacent modules or cores slightly compresses the oncoming air which provides an increased level of cooling for the cores. Each module or core can be pivoted about an axis a sufficient amount such that the opposite surface of each module or core is swept by the oncoming air which passes around and through the modules or cores in a direction opposite to an initial pass of said air whereby the modules or cores are cleaned by the reverse flow of air.

I claim: 
     
       1. A heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine comprising a top tank connected to said engine for receiving heated coolant, a bottom tank connected to said engine for returning cooled coolant to said engine, a plurality of cooling cores extending between said top tank and said bottom tank, means for pivotally mounting each said cooling core about an axis extending between said top tank and said bottom tank, each said core having a front surface and a rear surface, means for limiting the amount of pivoting of each core about said axis so as to expose first the front surface and then the rear surface of each core to oncoming air whereby air flowing past said cores will clean accumulated foreign matter from said cores upon reversal of the surfaces of said cores. 
     
     
       2. In the heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cores are angularly disposed with respect to each other and with respect to a plane lying perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said engine. 
     
     
       3. In the heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surfaces of each adjacent pair of cores define an angle therebetween in which oncoming air is slightly compressed thereby increasing the cooling capacity of the cores. 
     
     
       4. In the heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for pivotally mounting said cores is a hollow member through which the coolant flows to and from said cores. 
     
     
       5. In the heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for pivotally mounting said cores is a pivot and socket member and wherein a flexible tube is connected between the top tank and each core and a second flexible tube is connected between each core and the bottom tank whereby the coolant flows to and from each core. 
     
     
       6. In the heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for limiting the amount of pivoting of each core holds the adjacent edges of said cores spaced apart to permit loose debris to pass therebetween. 
     
     
       7. In the heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein holding means engage between each core and said means for limiting the amount of pivoting of each core for holding said core against said means for limiting the amount of pivoting of said core. 
     
     
       8. In the heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second heat exchanger is provided in parallel with said first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger has at least two pivoted angularly disposed cores. 
     
     
       9. An internal combustion engine having a heat exchanger with a top tank and a bottom tank, said top tank being connected to said engine for receiving heated coolant, said bottom tank being connected to said engine for returning cooled coolant to said engine, a plurality of cooling cores extending between said top tank and said bottom tank, means for .Iadd.pivotally .Iaddend.mounting each said cooling core at an angle with respect to each other and at an angle to the plane lying perpendicular to the axis of the engine whereby increased cooling core surface is exposed to oncoming air passing through said heat exchanger. 
     
     
       10. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9 wherein each core has a front surface and a rear surface and wherein each core is pivotally mounted between said top tank and bottom tank so as to be selectively positioned with either the front surface or the rear surface of the core exposed to oncoming air. 
     
     
       11. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 10 wherein the surfaces of each adjacent pair of cores define an angle therebetween in which oncoming air is slightly compressed thereby increasing the cooling capacity of the cores. 
     
     
       12. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for pivotally mounting said cores is a hollow member through which the coolant flows to and from said cores. 
     
     
       13. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for pivotally mounting said cores is a pivot and socket member and wherein a flexible tube is connected between the top tank and each core and a second flexible tube is connected between each core and the bottom tank whereby the coolant flows to and from each core. 
     
     
       14. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for limiting the amount of pivoting of each core holds the adjacent edges of said cores spaced apart to permit loose debris to pass therebetween. 
     
     
       15. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 10 wherein holding means engage between each core and said means for limiting the amount of pivoting of each core for holding said core against said means for limiting the amount of pivoting of said core. 
     
     
       16. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9 wherein a second heat exchanger is provided in parallel with said first heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger having at least two angularly disposed cores, a top tank of said heat exchanger receiving heated coolant from said engine, said top tank of said second heat exchanger being connected to and communicating with the top tank of said first heat exchanger for transporting heated coolant from said engine to said first heat exchanger, and means for returning cooled coolant from a bottom tank of said second heat exchanger directly back to said engine. 
     
     
       17. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 16 wherein said cores are pivotally mounted for exposing opposite surfaces to oncoming air. 
     
     
       18. A heat exchanger, comprising: a plurality of cooling cores each having first and second opposed outer surfaces and first and second opposed edges, said cooling cores being generally positioned in side by side relationship and movable between a first position at which the first edges of adjacent cores are in close proximity and oriented for passing cooling fluid through the cores in a direction from the first surface to the second surface and a second position at which the second edge of adjacent cores are in close proximity and oriented for passing cooling fluid through the cores in a direction from the second surface to the first surface;   means for pivotally mounting said cores for pivotal movement of the cores less than 180° during movement between the first and second positions.   
     
     
       19. A heat exchanger, as set forth in claim 18, including means for synchronously pivoting said cores.