Heat exchanger assembly having multiple heat exchangers

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly having first and second heat exchangers having a tube-fin construction. The first heat exchanger is configured to cool a first fluid. The second heat exchanger has a first portion for cooling the first fluid and a second portion for cooling a second fluid. Cooling air passes through the first heat exchanger before passing through the second heat exchanger.

1 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 a first heat exchanger having a tube-fin construction that is configured to cool a first fluid; and   a second heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger having tube-fin construction that includes a first portion for cooling the first fluid and a second portion for cooling a second fluid;   wherein cooling air passes through the first heat exchanger before passing through the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid is cooled by the first heat exchanger after being cooled by the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second portion of the second heat exchanger is spaced apart from the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first fluid is a refrigerant and the first heat exchanger and the first portion of the second heat exchanger is a condenser. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second heat exchanger is a transmission oil cooler. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a header disposed at an end of the first heat exchanger and at an end of the second heat exchanger for fluidly connecting the first heat exchanger and the first portion of the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second heat exchanger includes first and second headers disposed at first and second ends of the second heat exchanger, wherein the first fluid flows from the first header to the second header and the second fluid flows from the second header to the first header. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 7  wherein the second portion includes an enlarged return tube that permits the second fluid to flow from the first header to the second header after the second fluid flows from the second header to the first header. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 a first heat exchanger having a first core having a tube-fin construction for cooling a refrigerant; and   a second heat exchanger having a second core having a tube-fin construction, the second core including a first portion fluidly coupled to the first core and a second portion disposed below the first portion for cooling a second fluid;   wherein the first core is spaced apart from the second core, cooling air passes through the first core before passing through the second core, and the refrigerant is cooled by the second heat exchanger before being cooled by the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9  further comprising first and second headers disposed at opposite ends of the first heat exchanger that are configured to direct the refrigerant along a flow path that includes a plurality of passes between the first and second headers. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 10  wherein the second heat exchanger includes first and second headers disposed at opposite ends of the second heat exchanger, wherein the first header includes an inlet for receiving the refrigerant and the second header includes an outlet that is fluidly coupled to the second header of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 11  wherein the first header of the first heat exchanger is spaced apart from the first header of the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 11  wherein the second header of the second heat exchanger includes an inlet for receiving the second fluid and an outlet for expelling the second fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 10  wherein the second header engages a second end of the first core and a second end of the second core and routes refrigerant from the first portion of the second heat exchanger to the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 14  wherein the second header includes a receiver-dryer. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 14  wherein the first header engages but does not fluidly connect the first and second cores. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9  wherein tubes in the second portion have a larger hydraulic diameter that tubes of the first portion. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 9  wherein the first portion includes a first tube, the second portion includes a second tube, wherein the first and second tubes engage a common fin, wherein refrigerant in the first tube flows in the opposite direction as the second fluid flows through the second tube. 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
 a first heat exchanger having a first core having a tube-fin construction for cooling a refrigerant; and   a second heat exchanger disposed substantially parallel to the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger having a second core having a tube-fin construction that is spaced apart from the first core;   wherein the first and second heat exchangers are fluidly coupled such that the first heat exchanger receives refrigerant that has been cooled by the second heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger is disposed upstream of the second heat exchanger such that cooling air passes through the first core before passing through the second core;   wherein the first heat exchanger has more refrigerant cooling passes than the second heat exchanger.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger assembly of  claim 19  wherein the second heat exchanger includes a single cooling pass in which refrigerant travels in a first direction through the first core, and the first heat exchanger includes a plurality of cooling passes in which refrigerant travels in a second direction disposed opposite the first direction through the second core.