Heat exchanger assembly with integral fin unit
First Claim
1. In a heat exchanger assembly, the combination comprising:
- a heat transfer array including at least one heat transfer member generally rectangular in shape and having a forward surface and a rearward surface, said forward surface defining a plurality of fins each extending transversely of said member, said plurality of fins being disposed in a parallel spaced relationship along the longitudinal extent of said member, each fin including a pair of strips of a heat transfer material with first web portions interconnecting the pair of strips along first edges thereof, and second web portions interconnecting strips of adjacent fins along second edges thereof defining a unitary structure for said heat transfer member, each fin having a plurality of notches therein spaced apart transversely of the fin, the notches in said fins being aligned in sets longitudinally of said heat transfer member, defining a plurality of longitudinally extending pathways along the forward surface of said heat transfer member,and a single length of heat exchange tubing wrapped around said heat transfer member longitudinally thereof in a generally helical form defining alternate forward and rearward pass portions along the length of said tubing with a return bend portion between each forward and rearward pass portion, said forward pass portions extending generally parallel to one another longitudinally along the forward surface of said array and each threading a different set of aligned notches and said rearward pass portions extending generally parallel to one another longitudinally along the rearward surface of said array with said return bend portions interconnecting said forward and rearward pass portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat exchanger assembly of the side-entry cross-fin type includes first and second integral fin units, each comprising a single sheet of material provided with a plurality of aligned apertures, the sheet of material being folded in accordian-fashion such that the apertures define a plurality of notches arranged in rows which extend longitudinally of the fin unit. Two of the fin units are assembled together with a single length of heat exchange tube which threads the notches of the fin units, the tube extending over an oval-shaped helical path through the two fin units. In another embodiment, a single folded fin unit is provided with notches in fins on its upper and lower surface, a single length of tube being wrapped around the single fin unit threading the apertures therein, the tube extending in a generally oval-shaped helix path.
47 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a heat exchanger assembly, the combination comprising:
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a heat transfer array including at least one heat transfer member generally rectangular in shape and having a forward surface and a rearward surface, said forward surface defining a plurality of fins each extending transversely of said member, said plurality of fins being disposed in a parallel spaced relationship along the longitudinal extent of said member, each fin including a pair of strips of a heat transfer material with first web portions interconnecting the pair of strips along first edges thereof, and second web portions interconnecting strips of adjacent fins along second edges thereof defining a unitary structure for said heat transfer member, each fin having a plurality of notches therein spaced apart transversely of the fin, the notches in said fins being aligned in sets longitudinally of said heat transfer member, defining a plurality of longitudinally extending pathways along the forward surface of said heat transfer member, and a single length of heat exchange tubing wrapped around said heat transfer member longitudinally thereof in a generally helical form defining alternate forward and rearward pass portions along the length of said tubing with a return bend portion between each forward and rearward pass portion, said forward pass portions extending generally parallel to one another longitudinally along the forward surface of said array and each threading a different set of aligned notches and said rearward pass portions extending generally parallel to one another longitudinally along the rearward surface of said array with said return bend portions interconnecting said forward and rearward pass portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a heat exchanger assembly, the combination comprising:
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a heat transfer array generally rectangular in shape and having a forward surface and a rearward surface, said array including a flat sheet of a heat radiating material folded back and forth upon itself in accordion-like fashion defining a plurality of fins on the forward surface of said array, each fin extending transversely of said array with said plurality of fins being disposed in a parallel spaced relationship along the longitudinal extent of said array;
each fin having a plurality of notches therein spaced apart transversely of the fin, the notches in said fins being aligned in sets longitudinally of said array defining a plurality of longitudinally extending pathways along the forward surface of said array;and a single length of heat exchange tubing wrapped around said heat transfer array longitudinally thereof in a generally helical form, defining alternate forward and rearward pass portions along the length of said tubing with a return bend portion between each forward and rearward pass portion, said forward pass portions extending generally parallel to one another longitudinally along the forward surface of said array and each threading a different set of aligned notches and said rearward pass portions extending generally parallel to one another longitudinally along the rearward surface of said array with said return bend portions interconnecting said forward and rearward pass portions.
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8. In a heat exchanger assembly, the combination comprising:
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a first fin unit; a second fin unit; each of said fin units being of a unitary construction and having a forward surface and a rearward surface, each fin unit defining a plurality of fins arranged on its forward surface in rows which extend longitudinally of the fin unit each fin having a plurality of notches therein spaced apart transversely of the fin and the notches in said fins being aligned in sets extending longitudinally of the fin unit, defining parallel pathways extending along the forward surfaces of said fin units; and a single length of heat exchange tubing; said first and second fin units being assembled together with rearward surfaces adjacent to one another, and said heat exchange tubing being wrapped around the thus assembled fin units longitudinally thereof threading said notches thereof. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a heat exchanger assembly, the combination comprising:
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a heat transfer fin array having first and second parallel surfaces with a plurality of fins arranged on its first and second surfaces in rows which extend longitudinally of said fin array and each fin having a plurality of notches therein spaced apart transversely of the fin, the notches in said fins being aligned in sets longitudinally of said fin array, defining a plurality of longitudinally extending passageways on the parallel opposed surfaces of said fin array; and a single length of heat exchange tubing, said heat exchange tubing being wrapped around the fin array longitudinally thereof and threading said notches thereof on the parallel surfaces, and extending through said fin array along a path in the form of an oval-shaped helix. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification