Louvered air center for compact heat exchanger

Abstract

A louvered fin of a heat exchanger assembly includes a louvered portion having a plurality of first louvers each extending along a first louver centerline as well as a plurality of second louvers each extending along a second louver centerline. Each set of louver centerlines are parallel to one another and disposed side by side along a respective axis extending transversely to the centerlines. The first louvers are disposed at a first angle and the second louvers are disposed at a second angle relative to the respective axes. The two axes extend parallel to one another and are spaced from one another in a length direction transverse to the centerlines and the axes.

1 . A heat exchanger assembly for dissipating heat comprising:
 a plurality of tubes each extending between ends in a length direction and between sides in a width direction transverse to said length direction and parallel to and spaced from one another in a height direction transverse to said length direction and said width direction for transferring heat from a refrigerant flowing through said tubes;   a plurality of fins each being zigzagged back and forth between adjacent ones of said tubes in said height direction and disposed along said length direction between said ends of said tubes to define an air channel extending between said sides in said width direction for receiving heat from said tubes;   each of said fins defining at least one louvered portion to divert some of the air flowing through each of said air channels through said fin and into an adjacent one of said air channels;   said louvered portion having a plurality of first louvers each extending in said height direction along a first louver centerline;   said first louver centerlines being parallel to one another and disposed side by side along a first axis extending in said transverse width direction;   said first louvers disposed at a first angle relative to said transverse width direction;   said louvered portion having a plurality of second louvers each extending in said height direction along a second louver centerline;   said second louver centerlines being parallel to one another and disposed side by side along a second axis extending in said transverse width direction;   said second louvers disposed at a second angle relative to said transverse width direction; and   said second axis extending parallel to said first axis and spaced from said first axis in said length direction.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said second louver centerlines are spaced from corresponding ones of said first louver centerlines in said length direction by a first distance and are offset from corresponding ones of said first louver centerlines in said width direction by a second distance. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said length direction is perpendicular to said height direction and said width direction is perpendicular to said height direction and said length direction. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said first distance and said second distance and said first angle are interrelated according to a first relationship defined as 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 tan 
                 
                   - 
                   1 
                 
               
                
               
                 ( 
                 
                   a 
                   b 
                 
                 ) 
               
             
             ≠ 
             
               
                 θ 
                 1 
               
               . 
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
       5 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said first distance and said second distance and said first angle are interrelated according to a second relationship defined as 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 tan 
                 
                   - 
                   1 
                 
               
                
               
                 ( 
                 
                   a 
                   b 
                 
                 ) 
               
             
             < 
             
               θ 
               1 
             
           
         
       
     
     and said first angle and said second angle are interrelated according to a third relationship defined as θ 1 <θ 2 . 
   
   
       6 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first angle is equal to said second angle. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first angle is different than said second angle. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said first louver centerlines of said first louvers each are spaced equidistant from one another and second louvers are each spaced equidistant from one another. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein a difference between said first angle and said second angle is in a range of 0 to 50% of said first angle. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said louvered portion has a plurality of third louvers each extending in said height direction along a third louver centerline. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said third louver centerlines extend parallel to and spaced equidistant from one another and said third louvers are angled at a third angle relative to said transverse width direction;
 each of said third louvers being disposed side by side along and perpendicular to a third axis extending parallel to and spaced from said second axis in said length direction.   
   
   
       12 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 11  wherein each of said third louver centerlines are spaced from corresponding ones of said second louver centerlines in said length direction by said first distance and are offset from corresponding ones of said second louver centerlines in said width direction by said second distance. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said angles are equal to one another. 
   
   
       14 . A heat exchanger assembly for dissipating heat comprising:
 a plurality of tubes each extending between ends in a length direction and between sides in a width direction and parallel to and spaced from one another in a height direction for transferring heat from a refrigerant flowing through said tubes;   a plurality of fins each being zigzagged back and forth between adjacent ones of said tubes in a height direction transverse to said length direction and disposed along said length direction between said ends of said tubes to define air channels in said width direction transverse to said length direction and height direction for receiving heat from said tubes;   each of said fins defining at least one louvered portion to divert some of the air flowing through each of said channels through said fin and into an adjacent one of said air channels;   each louvered portion having a plurality of first louvers each extending in said height direction along a first louver centerline;   said first louver centerlines being parallel to and spaced equidistant from one another and disposed at a first angle relative to said transverse width direction;   said first louver centerlines being disposed side by side along and perpendicular to a first axis extending transversely to said tubes in said width direction;   said louvered portion having a plurality of second louvers each extending in said height direction along a second louver centerline;   said second louver centerlines being parallel to and spaced equidistant from one another and angled at a second angle relative to said transverse width direction;   said second louver centerlines being disposed side by side along and perpendicular to a second axis extending parallel to said first axis and spaced from said first axis in said length direction;   said louvered portion having a plurality of third louvers each extending in said height direction along a third louver centerline;   said third louver centerlines being parallel to and spaced equidistant from one another and angled at a third angle relative to said transverse width direction;   said third louvers each being disposed side by side along and perpendicular to a third axis extending parallel to and spaced from said second axis in said length direction;   each of said second louver centerlines being spaced from corresponding ones of said first louver centerlines in said length direction by a first distance and being offset from corresponding ones of said first louver centerlines in a width direction by a second distance;   each of said third louver centerlines being spaced from corresponding ones of said second louver centerlines in said length direction by said first distance and being offset from corresponding ones of said second louver centerlines in a width direction by said second distance;   said first distance and said second distance and said first angle being interrelated according to a first relationship defined as   
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   tan 
                   
                     - 
                     1 
                   
                 
                  
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     b 
                     a 
                   
                   ) 
                 
               
               ≠ 
               
                 θ 
                 1 
               
             
             ; 
           
         
       
     
     and
 said angles being equal to one another.