HEAT EXCHANGER

• US 20090266105A1
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bundy Refrigeration International Holdings BV
• Original Assignee: Bundy Refrigeration International Holdings BV
• Inventors: Berggren, Gote Gunnar, Liengard, Niels, Viklund, Bengt Ake
• Application Number:
  US11/722,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20090266105A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/498
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/085 with fins places on zig-zag tubes or parallel tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/04 Steel or steel alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/10 Aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/22 Spot welding
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2339/023 Evaporators consisting of one or several sheets on one face of which is fixed a refrigerant carrying coil
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 39/00 Evaporators; Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/006 for mounting refrigerating machinery components
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/22 the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2275/067 by laser welding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49364 Tube joined to flat sheet longitudinally, i.e., tube sheet

Abstract

A heat exchanger (102) for use in a refrigeration unit (101), comprising a metal plate (201) and a metal tube (202) for containing refrigerant (203). The metal plate (201) has a first face (204) and a second face (205), and the tube (202) is attached to said first face (204) of the metal plate by a plurality of spot welds (405,406). The spot welds are laser spot welds and said welds extend through only a portion of the thickness of the plate (201), such that the second face (205) of the plate is undisturbed by the welds.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for use in a refrigeration unit, said heat exchanger comprising:

a metal plate having a first face and a second face; and

a metal tube for containing refrigerant attached to said first face of said metal plate by a plurality of spot welds,

wherein said spot welds are laser spot welds and said welds extend through only a portion of the thickness of said plate.

2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the length of said tube has a substantially flat face positioned against said first face of said plate.

3. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said tube has a second substantially flat face parallel to the substantially flat face positioned against the plate.

4. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said tube has portions adjacent to each of its ends which have a circular cross-section for connecting to other tubes in the refrigeration unit.

5. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a circular cross-section.

6. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube and said plate comprise of aluminium or aluminium alloy.

7. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube is positioned against said plate to provide a tube/plate interface and said spot welds are spaced along said tube on either side of said interface.

8. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the length of said tube has a substantially flat face positioned against said first face of said plate to provide a tube/plate interface and said spot welds are spaced along said tube on either side of said interface.

9. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger has a protective layer extending over said first face of said plate and a portion of said tube welded to said plate, whereby said protective layer provides a barrier against water entering a gap between said tube and said plate.

10. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a plurality of bends separated by substantially straight portions, and said spot welds extend along said straight portions only.

11. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a plurality of bends separated by substantially straight portions, and said spot welds extend along said straight portions and along said bends.

12. A refrigeration unit comprising a heat exchanger according to claim 1 and a refrigeration cavity for storing items, wherein said heat exchanger is an evaporator located within said refrigeration cavity.

13. A refrigeration unit comprising a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said heat exchanger is a condenser mounted on the outside of the refrigeration unit.

14. A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger for a refrigeration unit, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a metal plate having a first face and a second face; and

attaching a metal tube for containing refrigerant to said first face of said metal plate by a plurality of spot welds,

wherein said spot welds are made by a laser and said welds extend through only a portion of the thickness of said plate.

15. A refrigeration unit having a heat exchanger, said heat exchanger comprising:

a metal plate having a first face and a second face; and

a metal tube for containing refrigerant attached to said first face of said metal plate by a plurality of laser spot welds.

16. A refrigeration unit according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the length of said tube has a substantially flat face positioned against said first face of said plate.

17. A refrigeration unit according to claim 16, wherein said tube has a second substantially flat face parallel to the substantially flat face positioned against the plate.

18. A refrigeration unit according to claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the length of said tube has a substantially flat face positioned against said first face of said plate to provide a tube/plate interface and said spot welds are spaced along said tube on either side of said interface.

19. A refrigeration unit according to claim 15, wherein said tube and said plate comprise of aluminium or aluminium alloy.

20. A refrigeration unit according to claim 15, wherein said refrigeration unit comprises a refrigeration cavity for storing items and said heat exchanger is configured as an evaporator for cooling said refrigeration cavity.