Tube-to-tube heat exchanger assembly

Abstract

A tube-to-tube heat exchanger for use in an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle has a unitary tube, which is internally longitudinally divided into a first passage and a second passage by a heat conductive primary web. One warm fluid line is directly connected to each end of the first passage, without the need for a separate connector. One cold fluid return line is directly connected to each end of the second passage, without the need for a separate connector. The fluid lines are connected to the heat exchanger by brazing. In one embodiment, the web is substantially planar and the cross-section of each of the first passage and the second passage is substantially D-shaped. The heat exchanger may further include a support web, extending perpendicularly from approximately mid-way along the primary web. In another embodiment, the cross-sections of the first and second passages may be substantially circular, with the primary web being shaped accordingly. In a further embodiment, the first passage may be substantially circular in cross-section and the second section may be substantially crescent-shaped, with the primary web being shaped accordingly.

1 . A tube-to-tube heat exchanger assembly especially for use in an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising 
 a unitary heat exchanger comprising a tube internally longitudinally divided into a first passage and a second passage by a primary web, the primary web being heat conductive;    a first pair of fluid lines; and    a second pair of fluid lines;    wherein one line of the first pair of fluid lines is directly connected to one end of the first passage and the other line of the first pair of fluid lines is directly connected to the other end of the first passage and one line of the second pair of fluid lines is directly connected to one end of the second passage and the other line of the second pair of fluid lines is directly connected to the other end of the second passage.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of fluid lines are warm fluid supply lines and the second pair of fluid lines are cold fluid return lines.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the primary web is substantially planar.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an extrusion.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is made of aluminum.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first passage and the second passage, in end view, is substantially “D” shaped.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein an end of each of the warm fluid supply lines and the cold fluid return lines is substantially “D” shaped in end view.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first passage and the second passage, in end view, is substantially circular.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the warm fluid supply lines and the cold fluid return lines is directly connected to the heat exchanger by brazing.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a longitudinal support web extending from the primary web to the tube.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein, in an end view, the primary web and the support web together appear substantially T-shaped.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the primary web extends longitudinally substantially the entire length of the tube.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the support web terminates a distance from each end of the tube to allow for insertion of the warm liquid supply lines or the cold vapor supply lines into the tube.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the primary web, in end view, is substantially arc-shaped, with ends of the primary web terminating at positions on an inner circumference of the tube, thereby creating the first passage having a substantially crescent-shape and the second passage having a substantially circular shape.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a support web, being substantially planar, and in an end view, the support web extending from approximately mid-way along the primary web, away from the primary web, to the inner circumference of the tube.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each line of the first pair of fluid lines, in an end view, is shaped to conform to the cross-section of the second passage, and each line of the second pair of fluid lines, in an end view, is shaped to conform to the cross-section of the first passage.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the primary web extends substantially the entire length of the tube.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the support web terminates a distance from each end of the heat exchanger to allow for insertion of the warm liquid supply lines or the cold vapor supply lines into the tube.