Fin structure, heat-transfer tube having the fin structure housed therein, and heat exchanger having the heat-transfer tube assembled therein

• US 20060048921A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
• Original Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
• Inventors: Usui, Shoichiro, Goto, Tadahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,303,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/109.100
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0082 Charged air coolers cooling of air intake supply F02B29/04
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 21/0003 the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases F28D21/0014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/1684 the conduits having a non-circular cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/04 Communication passages between channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/025 the means being corrugated, plate-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/027 with openings, e.g. louvered corrugated fins; Assemblies of corrugated strips

Abstract

A fin structure, a heat-transfer tube and a heat exchanger are formed of plate fins housed in a heat-transfer tube and have an excellent cooling efficiency by making the distribution and flow velocity of a flow uniform and by promoting an efficient heat-exchanging action. The fin structure includes plate fins housed in a heat-transfer tube and having a square section and a free shape in the longitudinal direction for dividing a passage for a fluid composed of a cooled medium or a cooling medium to flow in the heat-transfer tube, into a plurality of small passages. In the fin structure, notches, through holes, raised portions, ridges and/or troughs are formed in the sides or the upper or lower walls of the plate fins. The heat-transfer tube has the fin structure housed therein. The heat exchanger has the heat-transfer tube assembled therein.

Claims

1. A fin structure comprising plate fins housed in a heat-transfer tube and having a square section and a free shape in the longitudinal direction for dividing a passage for a fluid composed of a cooled medium or a cooling medium to flow in said heat-transfer tube, into a plurality of small passages, characterized in that at least one of notches, through holes, raised portions, ridges and troughs, and so on is formed in the sides or the upper or lower walls of said plate fins.

2. The fin structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said heat-transfer tube is a flat tube, and in that said plural small passages formed by the plate fins housed in said flat heat-transfer tube and having a square section and a free shape in the longitudinal direction are curved or straight in the longitudinal direction.

3. The fins structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plate fins housed in said heat-transfer tube are individually made of a plate material of one metal thin sheet, and in that the means for forming the notches, through holes, raised portions, ridges and troughs and so on in said plate material is either a mechanical working method such as a press working or a chemical working method such as an etching.

4. The fins structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plate fins housed in said heat-transfer tube are individually made of a plate material of one metal thin sheet, and in that the means for forming the notches, through holes, raised portions, ridges and troughs and so on in said plate material is either a mechanical working method such as a press working or a chemical working method such as an etching.

5. The fin structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein means for housing said plate fins in the heat-transfer tube is suitably selected from the welding, soldering or other jointing means and the plate fins are integrally jointed to the heat-transfer tube.

6. A heat-transfer tube characterized in that a fin structure, which includes plate fins housed in a heat-transfer tube and having a square section and a free shape in the longitudinal direction for dividing a passage for a fluid composed of a cooled medium or a cooling medium to flow in said heat-transfer tube, into a plurality of small passages and in which at least one of notches, through holes, raised portions, ridges and troughs, and so on is formed in the sides or the upper or lower walls of said plate fins, is housed in the tube.

7. The heat-transfer tube as set forth in claim 6, wherein said ridges and troughs are provided through an entire area of the side surface of the plate fins.

8. The heat-transfer tube as set forth in claim 6, wherein said heat-transfer tube is a flat tube, and in that said plural small passages formed by the fin structure housed in said flat heat-transfer tube and having a square section and a free shape in the longitudinal direction are curved or straight in the longitudinal direction.

9. The heat-transfer tube as set forth in claim 6, wherein the fin structures housed in said heat-transfer tube are individually made of a plate material of one metal thin sheet, and in that the means for forming the notches, through holes, raised portions, ridges and troughs and so on in said plate material is either a mechanical working method such as a press working or a chemical working method such as an etching.

10. The heat-transfer tube as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means for housing said fin structure in the heat-transfer tube is suitably selected from the welding, soldering or other jointing means and the fin structure is integrally jointed to the heat-transfer tube.

11. A heat exchanger characterized by comprising at least one heat-transfer tube as set forth in claim 6 assembled therein.