HEAT EXCHANGER FOR VEHICLE

• US 20130126149A1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: KIM, Jae Yeon
• Granted Patent: US 9,322,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/297
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/08 Arrangements of lubricant coolers in lubrication apparatus F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/045 for transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2060/08 Cabin heater
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 3/18 Arrangements or mounting of liquid-to-air heat-exchangers such arrangements on cylinders or cylinder heads F01P3/04; relative to vehicles B60K11/04
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0089 Oil coolers heating or cooling lubricants in vehicles F01M5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/005 the plates having openings therein for both heat-exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0093 Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/06 Derivation channels, e.g. bypass
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2255/04 comprising shape memory alloys or bimetallic elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/02 for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a vehicle may include a heat radiating portion provided with first, second and third connecting lines and receiving first, second, and third operating fluids respectively and a bifurcating portion connecting one of inflow holes formed to the heat radiating portion for flowing one operating fluid of the first, second, and third operating fluids with one of exhaust holes formed to the heat radiating portion for exhausting the one operating fluid, wherein the bifurcating portion may be mounted at an exterior of the heat radiating portion, and wherein the bifurcating portion bypasses the one operating fluid from the heat radiating portion according to a temperature of the one operating fluid.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for a vehicle, comprising:

a heat radiating portion provided with a first connecting line and second and third connecting lines formed alternately by stacking a plurality of plates, and receiving first, second, and third operating fluids respectively into the first, second, and third connecting lines, the first, second, and third operating fluids heat-exchanging with each other during passing through the first, second, and third connecting lines respectively and the first, second, and third operating fluids supplying into the first, second, and third connecting lines not being mixed with each other and being circulated; and

a bifurcating portion connecting one of inflow holes formed to the heat radiating portion for flowing one operating fluid of the first, second, and third operating fluids with one of exhaust holes formed to the heat radiating portion for exhausting the one operating fluid,

wherein the bifurcating portion is mounted at an exterior of the heat radiating portion, and

wherein the bifurcating portion bypasses the one operating fluid from the heat radiating portion according to a temperature of the one operating fluid.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1,

wherein the inflow holes include first, second and third inflow holes and the exhaust holes include first, second and third exhaust holes,

wherein the first operating fluid flows into the heat radiating portion through the first inflow hole and flows out from the heat radiating portion through the first exhaust hole, and the first inflow hole is connected to the first exhaust hole through the first connecting line,

wherein the second operating fluid flows into the heat radiating portion through the second inflow hole and flows out from the heat radiating portion through the second exhaust hole, and the second inflow hole is connected to the second exhaust hole through the second connecting line,

wherein the third operating fluid flows into the heat radiating portion through the third inflow hole and flows out from the heat radiating portion through the third exhaust hole, and the third inflow hole is connected to the third exhaust hole through the third connecting line,

wherein the first, second, and third inflow holes are formed at both sides of a surface of the heat radiating portion along a length direction, and

wherein the first, second, and third exhaust holes are distanced from the first, second, and third inflow holes and are formed at the both sides of the surface of the heat radiating portion along the length direction.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the first inflow hole and the first exhaust hole are formed at corner portions of the surface of the heat radiating portion facing diagonally with each other.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the second inflow hole and the second exhaust hole are formed on an oblique line at a side portion of the surface of the heat radiating portion where the first inflow hole is formed, and the oblique line connecting the second inflow hole and the second exhaust hole crosses a line connecting the first inflow hole and the first exhaust hole.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the third inflow hole and the third exhaust hole are formed on an oblique line at the other side portion of the surface of the heat radiating portion where the first exhaust hole is formed, and the oblique line connecting the third inflow hole and the third exhaust hole crosses a line connecting the first inflow hole and the first exhaust hole.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the bifurcating portion includes:

a connecting pipe connecting the first inflow hole with the first exhaust hole at the exterior of the heat radiating portion and having an inflow port formed at a position close to the first inflow hole and an exhaust port confronting the inflow port and formed at a position close to the first exhaust hole; and

a valve unit mounted at one end portion of the connecting pipe between the first inflow hole and the inflow port, wherein the valve unit extends or contracts according to the temperature of the one operating fluid such that the one operating fluid flowing in through the inflow port flows directly to the exhaust port or flows into the heat radiating portion.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 6, wherein the valve unit includes:

a mounting cap fixedly mounted to the one end portion of the connecting pipe; and

a deformable member having one end portion connected to the mounting cap inserted in the connecting pipe, wherein the deformable member extends or contracts according to the temperature of the one operating fluid.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 6, wherein the one operating fluid is a transmission oil flowing from an automatic transmission.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein the deformable member is made from shape memory alloy adapted to extend or contract according to the temperature of one operating fluid.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein the deformable member is formed by overlapping and contacting a plurality of ring members with each other in a coil spring shape.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein the deformable member includes:

a pair of fixed portions positioned at both distal sides thereof in a length direction and adapted not to being deformed according to the temperature; and

a deformable portion disposed between the pair of fixed portions and extending or contracting according to the temperature of the one operating fluid.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein the mounting cap includes:

an inserting portion having one end portion inserted in and fixed to the deformable member; and

a mounting portion having one end integrally connected to the other end of the inserting portion, and mounted at an interior circumference of the connecting pipe.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein a screw is formed at an exterior circumference of the mounting portion so as to be threaded to the interior circumference of the connecting pipe.

14. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein a blocking portion for being blocked by an end portion of the connecting pipe is integrally formed with the other end of the mounting portion.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein a tool hole is formed at an interior circumference of the blocking portion.

16. The heat exchanger of claim 12, further including a sealing for preventing the one operating fluid from leaking from the connecting pipe,

wherein the sealing is mounted between the mounting portion and the inserting portion.

17. The heat exchanger of claim 7, further including an end cap mounted at the other end of the deformable member.

18. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein the end cap is provided with a penetration hole for coping with a pressure changing according to flowing amount of the one operating fluid flowing in through the inflow port and flowing the one operating fluid in the deformable member so as to improve temperature responsiveness of the deformable member.

19. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the first operating fluid is a coolant flowing from a radiator, the second operating fluid is a transmission oil flowing from an automatic transmission, and the third operating fluid is an engine oil flowing from an engine.

20. The heat exchanger of claim 19, wherein the coolant circulates through the first inflow hole, the first connecting line, and the first exhaust hole, the transmission oil circulates through the second inflow hole, the second connecting line, and the second exhaust hole, and the engine oil circulates through the third inflow hole, the third connecting line, and the third exhaust hole, and

wherein the second and third connecting lines alternately formed with the first connecting line are separated by a rib.

21. The heat exchanger of claim 20, wherein the rib is formed at a middle portion of the heat radiating portion in the length direction so as to prevent the transmission oil and the engine oil flowing respectively through the second connecting line and the third connecting line from being mixed with each other.

22. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat radiating portion causes the first operating fluid to exchange heat with the second and third operating fluids by counterflow of the first operating fluid and the second and third operating fluids.

23. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat radiating portion is a heat radiating portion of plate type where a plurality of plates is stacked.