Panel heat exchangers formed from thermoplastic polymers
First Claim
1. A panel heat exchanger comprised of two sheets formed from a thermoplastic polyamide, each sheet having a thickness of 0.07 to 0.7 mm and a plurality of elongated grooves extending across the width of each sheet with the ends of said grooves being spaced apart from an edge of the sheet, said sheets further having a plurality of projections on at least one groove thereof, each of said sheets having a recess located at at least one end of the sheet;
- said sheets being superimposed in face to face relationship and bonded together in a fluid-tight bond around the edges thereof such that (i) the recesses form portions of inlet and outlet header means at opposite ends of the panel, (ii) the grooves form a plurality of fluid-flow channels between the inlet and outlet header means, the end of each groove on one sheet overlaying the end of a groove in the other sheet, and (iii) the projections are on at least the surface of the sheets opposed to the surface in face-to-face contact.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A panel heat exchanger formed from two sheets of thermoplastic polymer is disclosed. Each sheet has a thickness of 0.07-0.7 mm and a plurality of grooves extending at least partially across the width of the sheet. Each sheet has a recess located at at least one end. The sheets are superimposed in face to face relationship and bonded together in a fluid tight bond such that (i) the recesses form portions of inlet and outlet header means at opposite ends of the panel, and (ii) the grooves form a plurality of fluid-flow channels between the inlet and outlet header means. The end of each groove of one sheet of the panel heat exchanger overlays the end of a groove of the other sheet. The panel heat exchangers are readily fabricated by simple means, preferably from polyamide compositions. The heat exchangers may be used in a variety of end-uses, including automotive oil coolers, automotive comfort heaters, refrigerators and industrial uses.
52 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A panel heat exchanger comprised of two sheets formed from a thermoplastic polyamide, each sheet having a thickness of 0.07 to 0.7 mm and a plurality of elongated grooves extending across the width of each sheet with the ends of said grooves being spaced apart from an edge of the sheet, said sheets further having a plurality of projections on at least one groove thereof, each of said sheets having a recess located at at least one end of the sheet;
- said sheets being superimposed in face to face relationship and bonded together in a fluid-tight bond around the edges thereof such that (i) the recesses form portions of inlet and outlet header means at opposite ends of the panel, (ii) the grooves form a plurality of fluid-flow channels between the inlet and outlet header means, the end of each groove on one sheet overlaying the end of a groove in the other sheet, and (iii) the projections are on at least the surface of the sheets opposed to the surface in face-to-face contact.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
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8. The panel heat exchanger of claim 8 in which the grooves are linear.
- 10. A sheet formed from a thermoplastic polyamide, said sheet having a thickness of 0.07 to 0.7 mm and a plurality of spaced apart elongated grooves extending across the width of said sheet with the ends of said grooves being spaced apart from an edge of the sheet, said sheet further having a plurality of projections on at least one groove, said sheet having a recess located at at least one end thereof that is in fluid-flow communication with at least one groove.
Specification