HEAT EXCHANGER WITH INTEGRATED FLEXIBLE BAFFLE
First Claim
1. A heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid comprising:
- a first tank;
a second tank;
a plurality of tubes fluidly joining the first tank and the second tank,a flexible baffle which is provided within first tank, dividing the first tank into a first chamber and a second chamber;
wherein the flexible baffle is a bypass valve that fluidly connects the first chamber and second chamber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat exchanger of the type having a tube assembly made up of a number of tubes through which a first medium flows and around and between which a second medium flows to accept heat from, or transfer heat to, the first medium. The first media is constrained by a baffle to follow a path through the heat exchanger. According to the disclosure, the baffle is flexible and acts as a flapper valve permitting the baffle to allow bypass flow of the first media to bypass the tube assembly of the heat exchanger. The baffle self-adjusts based on a pressure balance of the first medium, with the result that heat exchangers according to the invention are more versatile than conventional heat exchangers where the baffles are fixed to the tubes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A heat exchanger for transferring heat from a liquid comprising:
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a first tank; a second tank; a plurality of tubes fluidly joining the first tank and the second tank, a flexible baffle which is provided within first tank, dividing the first tank into a first chamber and a second chamber;
wherein the flexible baffle is a bypass valve that fluidly connects the first chamber and second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15)
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8. An automotive heat exchanger comprising:
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a plurality of tubes through which flows a heat exchange medium, at least two tank portions which connect a multiplicity of the tubes and through which the heat exchange medium flows in and out; a resilient baffle for dividing one of the tank portions into a plurality of independent tank chambers, wherein the flexible baffle is circular in form and having a plurality of slits therethrough intersecting at the center of the flexible. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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16. An oil cooler for a vehicle, comprising:
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a first tank divided into a first portion and a second portion by a flexible baffle; a plurality of a first tubes in fluid communication with the first portion of the first tank, the plurality of first tubes configured to have a fluid flow there-through to a second tank; a plurality of second tubes in fluid communication with the second tank and the second portion of the first tank;
wherein the flexible baffle further comprises a flapper valve and is adapted to restrict flow of oil through the valve during normal operation, and to open and allow oil directly from the first portion to the second portion of the first tank during a high pressure operation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification