VEHICLE HEAT EXCHANGERS HAVING SHIELDING CHANNELS
First Claim
1. A shielded heat exchanger for use in a vehicle comprising:
- a pair of spaced apart headers configured to contain a fluid flowing through the shielded heat exchanger; and
a shielded tube extending between the pair of headers and having a front edge, the shielded tube including a flowing channel that operatively engages the headers for fluid flow through the flowing channel between the headers, and a shielding channel extending parallel to the flowing channel between the headers along the front edge of the shielding tube, the shielding channel configured to prevent flow of the fluid from the headers into the shielding channel.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shielded heat exchanger and method of use in a vehicle is disclosed. The shielded heat exchanger may comprise a pair of spaced apart headers configured to contain a fluid flowing through the shielded heat exchanger, and a shielded tube. The shielded tube extends between the pair of headers and has a front edge. The shielded tube includes a flowing channel that operatively engages the headers for fluid flow through the flowing channel between the headers and a shielding channel extending parallel to the flowing channel between the headers along the front edge of the shielding tube, with the shielding channel configured to prevent flow of the fluid from the headers into the shielding channel.
21 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A shielded heat exchanger for use in a vehicle comprising:
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a pair of spaced apart headers configured to contain a fluid flowing through the shielded heat exchanger; and a shielded tube extending between the pair of headers and having a front edge, the shielded tube including a flowing channel that operatively engages the headers for fluid flow through the flowing channel between the headers, and a shielding channel extending parallel to the flowing channel between the headers along the front edge of the shielding tube, the shielding channel configured to prevent flow of the fluid from the headers into the shielding channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of protecting a tube of a heat exchanger mounted near a front of a vehicle from leakage due to impacts with objects, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a flowing channel in the tube in fluid communication between a pair of headers, and a shielding channel extending adjacent to the flowing channel along a front of the tube; (b) flowing a fluid through the flowing channel between the headers; and (c) blocking any flow of fluid from the headers into the shielding channel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification