Heat Exchanger with heat exchange chambers and plate members utilizing respective medium directing members and method of making same

Abstract

A heat exchange unit having a plurality of chamber assembly coupled to a plate member, said chamber assembly including an inlet flow tube, an outlet flow tube, and a plurality of walls defining a chamber interior. Disposed within the chamber interior is a medium-directing member, having an inclined surface, diverting the heat exchange medium from the initial flow direction so that it disperses within the chamber interior, in to at least two distinct flow patterns. The heat exchange medium exits the chamber, via the outlet, in the initial line of flow. The chambers are interconnected by tubes to form assemblies. A plurality of plate member having plurality of chamber assembly is arranged on a spaced relation between manifolds to complete the medium flow.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising of plurality of plate members, said plate members having:
 a plurality of chambers having:   a tube member as an inlet for receiving a heat exchange medium flowing in;   walls defining a chamber interior which is in fluid communication with the inlet;   a medium directing member, having an inclined surface facing the inlet, said medium directing member diverting the flow of medium from the initial axis of line of flow to at least two distinct flow patterns within the chamber;   a tube member as an outlet for flowing out the heat exchange medium;   said plurality of chambers having tube like segment connecting first chamber to second chamber, creating a fluid communication between first chamber to second chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the medium directing member diverts flow of the medium to a second flow direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first flow direction. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the chamber is configured to cause the medium, subsequently to flowing in the second flow direction, to flow within the chamber interior in a generally semi-circular flow path which travels at least partially around the axis of the first flow direction and which lies in a plane perpendicular to the first flow direction. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the chamber is configured to cause the medium, subsequently to flowing in the second flow direction, to flow within the chamber interior in first and second generally semi-circular flow paths, each of which travels at least partially around the axis of the first flow direction and lies in the axis perpendicular to the first flow direction, the first and second flow paths originating from a same region within the chamber interior and flowing in opposing generally semi-circular routes at least partially around the axis of the first flow direction. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the chamber interior has a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2  further including at least one redirection member, disposed within the chamber interior, for assisting dispersion of the medium within the chamber interior. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange chamber is realized by a plate, the chamber interior being formed by a cavity within the plate and the inlet being formed by a hole in the plate, the cavity being centered on the hole and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the hole. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the medium directing member diverts flow of the medium into a plurality of second flow directions having direction of travel components in the first flow direction. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8  wherein the medium flowing in the plurality of second flow directions passes through at least one opening between the medium directing member and at least one of the chamber walls. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2  wherein plurality of chambers are coupled on a single sheet of material. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2  wherein the medium directing member is coupled with medium directing channels, said medium directing channels formed on an interior of the chamber, wherein said medium directing channels are arranged within the chamber to facilitate directional flow of heat exchange medium within the chamber, first medium directing channel receiving the heat exchange medium flowing in the chamber from the inlet, directed in said flow direction by the heat exchange medium-directing member, second medium directing channel working in conjunction with the medium redirecting member to facilitate flow of heat exchange medium out the outlet of the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10  wherein a first free end of said plurality of chambers is coupled to a first manifold member, a second free end of said plurality of chambers is coupled to a second manifold member. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a tube member as an inlet for receiving a heat exchange medium flowing in;   walls defining a chamber interior which is in fluid communication with the inlet;   a medium directing member, having an inclined surface facing the inlet, said medium directing member diverting the flow of medium from the initial line of flow to at least two distinct flow patterns within the chamber;   a tube member as an outlet for flowing out the heat exchange medium;   said plurality of chambers having tube like segment connecting first chamber to second chamber, creating a fluid communication between first chamber to second chamber;   wherein plurality of said chambers are coupled to a generally planar plate member.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchange chamber according to  claim 13  wherein the chamber is configured to cause the medium, subsequently to flowing in the second flow direction, to flow within the chamber interior in first and second generally semi-circular flow paths, each of which travels at least partially around the line segment and lies in the plane perpendicular to the first flow direction, the first and second flow paths originating from a same region within the chamber interior and flowing in opposing generally semi-circular routes at least partially around the line segment. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13  wherein a first free end of said plurality of chambers is coupled to a first manifold member, a second free end of said plurality of chambers is coupled to a second manifold member. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a heat exchanger comprising:
 stamping a generally planar material, forming plurality of indentations, said indentations protruding away from below the base plane of the planar material, indentations terminating at a second plane, generally parallel to the base plane;   providing a second planar material, formed into first half of a chamber, stamping a tubular member on first side of said planar material, said tubular member extending outwardly from said first side of the second planar material;   providing a third planar material, formed into second half of a chamber, stamping a tubular member on first side of said planar material, said tubular member extending outwardly from said first side of the third planar material;   couple the first half of the formed second planar material comprising the first half of the chamber and the formed third planar material comprising the second half of the chamber on respective second side of said materials, forming a chamber assembly, said chamber assembly having a fluid flowing chamber between the walls comprising the second side of the first half of the chamber assembly and the second side of the second half of the chamber assembly;   couple a medium-directing member in the chamber assembly, said medium-directing member positioned within the chamber assembly to divert the flow of heat exchange medium flowing from first line of flow through the tube to two semi-circular flow pattern within the chamber, said medium-directing member redirecting flow of heat exchange medium to first line of flow out the chamber assembly;   couple said chamber assembly to plurality of indentations formed on the first planar material;   wherein plurality of planar material with chamber assembly coupled to indentations on said planar material are coupled together.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein progressive stamping die is utilized. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the planar materials are cladded aluminum. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein plurality of planar material with respective chamber assemblies are coupled together, then brazed together with a pair of manifolds. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the entire assembly is brazed together.