Radiator structure

• US 7,431,074 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rainwater Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rainwater Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Fellman, Michael L., Smith, Walton
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg; Teresa J
• Application Number:
  US11/384,997
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 165/173, 165/175, 165/181, 165/182, 165/905, 165/DIG.412, 165/DIG.416, 165/DIG.444, 165/DIG.500, 165/DIG.501
• US Class Current: 165/173
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/05366 Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/04 polygonal, e.g. rectangular F28F1/022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/32 the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 1/34 and extending obliquely F28F1/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 21/02 of carbon, e.g. graphite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 165/905 Materials of manufacture

Abstract

A radiator structure used with a hot fluid and cooling fluid having a carbon fiber tube. The carbon fiber tube includes a wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface. A passageway through the tube is used to conduct hot fluids. A second tube of similar construction is spaced form the first tube. A multiplicity of carbon fiber fins span and connect to the first and second tubes and are held thereto by a conductive adhesive.

Claims

1. A radiator structure used with a hot fluid and cooling fluid,

comprising:

a. a first carbon fiber tube having a wall portion, said wall portion forming a passageway including an entrance thereto and an exit therefrom for the hot fluid;

b. a second carbon fiber tube having a wall portion, said wall portion forming a passageway including an entrance thereto and an exit therefrom for the hot fluid;

c. at least a first carbon fiber fin having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate surface therebetween, said first carbon fiber fin contacting the cooling fluid;

d. a first heat conductive adhesive body positioned between and linking said first end of said first carbon fiber fin to said outer surface of said first carbon fiber tube; and

e. a second heat conductive adhesive body positioned between and linking said second end of said first carbon fiber fin to said second carbon fiber tube.

2. The structure of claim 1 which additionally comprises a second carbon fiber fin having a first end portion, a second portion, and an intermediate surface therebetween and further comprises a third heat conductive body positioned between and linking said first end of said second carbon fin to said first carbon fiber tube and a fourth heat conductive adhesive body positioned between and linking said second end of said second carbon fiber fin to said second carbon fiber tube.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said first and third heat conductive adhesive bodies comprise a unitary member.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said second and fourth heat conductive adhesive bodies comprise a unitary member.

5. The structure of claim 2 in which said intermediate portions of said first and second carbon fiber fins possess a substantially identical dimension between said first and second carbon fiber tubes.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which said first carbon fiber fin intermediate portion includes a roughened surface.

7. The structure of claim 2 in which said first and second carbon fiber fin intermediate portion includes a roughened surface.

8. The structure of claim 6 in which said first carbon fiber fin intermediate portion includes an edge portion of uneven configuration.

9. The structure of claim 6 in which said first and second carbon fiber fins intermediate portion include an edge portion of uneven configuration.

10. The structure of claim 2 in which said first carbon fiber tube and said second carbon fiber tube are substantially parallel to one another.

11. The structure of claim 2 which additionally comprises a housing having a chamber, said first and second carbon fiber tubes and said first and second carbon fiber fins being positioned within said chamber of said housing, and further comprising means for directing hot fluid through said first and second carbon fiber tubes and for directing cooling fluid along and in contact with said first and second carbon fiber fins.

12. The structure of claim 2 which further comprises a third carbon fiber fin and a fifth heat conductive adhesive body, said fifth heat conductive adhesive body linking said first end portion of said third carbon fiber fin to said first carbon fiber tube apart from said first and second adhesive bodies.

13. The structure of claim 12 in which said first and third heat conductive bodies comprise a unitary member.

14. The structure of claim 13 in which said second and fourth heat conductive adhesive bodies comprise a unitary member.

15. The structure of claim 12 in which said intermediate portions of said first and second carbon fiber fins possess a substantially identical dimension between said first and second carbon fiber tubes.

16. The structure of claim 12 in which said first carbon fiber fin intermediate portion includes a roughened surface.

17. The structure of claim 16 in which said second carbon fiber fin intermediate portion includes a roughened surface.

18. The structure of claim 17 in which said first carbon fiber fin intermediate portion includes an edge portion of uneven configuration.

19. The structure of claim 18 in which said second carbon fiber fin intermediate portion includes an edge portion of uneven configuration.

20. The structure of claim 12 in which said first carbon fiber tubes and said second carbon fibers are substantially parallel to one another.

21. A radiator structure used with a hot fluid and cooling fluid,

comprising:

a. a first carbon fiber tube having a wall portion, said wall portion forming a passageway including an entrance thereto and exit therefrom for the hot fluid;

b. a second carbon fiber tube having a wall portion, said wall portion forming a passageway including an entrance thereto and an exit therefrom for the hot fluid; and

c. at least a first carbon fiber fin having a first, end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion of said first carbon fiber fin being connected to said first carbon fiber tube at a non-orthogonal angle, said second end portion of said first carbon fiber fin being connected to said second carbon fiber tube at a non-orthogonal angle.

22. The structure of claim 21 which additionally comprises a second carbon fiber fin spaced from said one carbon fiber fin, said second carbon fiber fin including a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion of said second carbon fiber fin being connected to said first carbon fiber tube at a non-orthogonal angle, said second end portion of said second carbon fiber fin being connected to said second carbon fiber tube at a non-orthogonal angle.

23. The structure of claim 22 in which said first carbon fiber fin is substantially parallel to said second carbon fiber fin.

24. The structure of claim 21 which additionally comprises a first heat conductive adhesive interposed said connection between said first end portion of said first fin and said first tube, and a second heat conductive adhesive interposed said connection between said second end portion of said first fin and said first tube.