Heat exchanger with separators and improved strength

Abstract

A heat exchanger with improved strength is provided. Strength improvement features on the heat exchanger separators provide for a more robust heat exchanger. Automotive applications, such as radiator and charge air cooler applications, with patterned strength improvement features, such as dimples, elevations, folds, depressions or deformations, or the like, are provided.

1 . A heat exchanger for automotive applications having: 
 at least one tube;    at least one tank;    at least one row of tubes;    at least one separator formed from an uniform thickness separator stock;    at least one strength improvement feature on the at least one separator;    wherein the mechanical strength of the heat exchanger is reinforced.    
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , having at least one louver and at least one strength improvement features on the separator.  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , having a plurality of strength improvement features, the strength improvement features having a thickness of less than or equal to 80 microns.  
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a radiator having a separator assembly comprising a plurality of separators and at least one strengthening feature on each separator.  
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the strength improvement feature is a dimple, elevation, fold, depression or deformation, or the like.  
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the strength improvement feature is a dimple, elevation, fold, depression, deformation or the like, and is in the form of a U or V, and wherein the strength improvement feature has a point or apex.  
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one separator is a fin.  
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the radiator is a folded tube type radiator and orientation of the plurality of strength improvement features within a separator assembly align or point in generally the same direction.  
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger has a plurality of tubes and the separators are situated along a centerline in the plurality of tubes.  
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the dimple, elevation, fold, depression, deformation or the like is formed from material of a thickness less than that of the separator stock.  
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the radiator is a folded tube type radiator and orientation of the plurality of strength improvement features within a separator assembly align or point in generally the same direction.  
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the dimple, fold, deformation or the like is formed from material of a thickness greater than or equal to that of the separator stock.  
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , having a plurality of fins, wherein the at least one fin has at least one louver.  
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the strength improvement feature is the same or greater in length than the length of the louver of the at least one fin when measured in the same direction as the strength improvement feature.  
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the separator is a turbulator.  
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of fins have strength improvement features, and wherein the fins having strength improvement features are located near or at the center of the fin and at the outer edge of the fin to increase resistance to compression.  
   
   
       17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger is an oil cooler, condenser, radiator or charge air cooler.  
   
   
       18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger is an oil cooler, condenser, radiator or charge air cooler.  
   
   
       19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the heat exchanger is a brazed charge air cooler.  
   
   
       20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger is a brazed radiator.