Heat Exchanger Plates with Integral Bypass Blocking Tabs

Abstract

A heat exchanger containing a plurality of spaced-apart plate pairs, where each plate pair defines a flow passage for the flow of a first fluid. In addition, one or more fins are thermally coupled and sandwiched by the spaced-apart plate pairs for flow of a second fluid. And, a fluid manifold that is fluidly coupled to the spaced-apart plate pairs at a manifold end of the spaced-apart plate pairs is provided. Further, a tab that extends from a flange end of a first plate of the first plate pair and in contact with a second tab extending from a flange end of a second plate of a second plate pair for providing a fluid flow blocker. Also, provided is a heat exchanger assembly containing a housing and the heat exchanger described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of spaced-apart plate pairs, where each plate pair defines a flow passage for the flow of a first fluid;   one or more fins thermally coupled and sandwiched by the spaced-apart plate pairs for flow of a second fluid;   a fluid manifold being fluidly coupled to the spaced-apart plate pairs at a manifold end of the spaced-apart plate pairs; and   a tab extending from a flange end of a first plate of a first plate pair and being in contact with a second tab extending from a flange end of a second plate of a second plate pair for providing a fluid flow blocker.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a single tab extends from the flange end of each plate. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein two or more tabs extend from the flange end of each plate. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the tab is centrally positioned at the flange end of each plate. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the tab is positioned at a corner of the flange end, proximate to the front face or back face of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the tab projects nearly perpendicularly from the plates. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the tabs have a bent neck for aligning the tabs. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the contacting tabs are brazed together for blocking air bypass. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a cavity in communication with an opening; and   a heat exchanger receivable in the cavity of the housing, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of spaced-apart plate pairs, where each plate pair defines a flow passage for the flow of a first fluid; 
 one or more fins thermally coupled and sandwiched by the spaced-apart plate pairs for flow of a second fluid; 
 a fluid manifold being fluidly coupled to the spaced-apart plate pairs at a manifold end of the spaced-apart plate pairs; and 
 a tab extending from a flange end of a first plate of a first plate pair and being in contact with a second tab extending from a flange end of a second plate of a second plate pair for providing a fluid flow blocker. 
   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein a single tab extends from the flange end of each plate. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein two or more tabs extend from the flange end of each plate. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the tab is centrally positioned at the flange end of each plate. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the tab is positioned at a corner of the flange end, proximate to the front face or back face of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the tab projects nearly perpendicularly from the plates. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the tabs have a bent neck for aligning the tabs. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the contacting tabs are brazed together for blocking air bypass. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of spaced-apart plate pairs, where each plate pair defines a flow passage for the flow of a first fluid;   one or more fins thermally coupled and sandwiched by the spaced-apart plate pairs for flow of a second fluid;   a fluid manifold being fluidly coupled to the spaced-apart plate pairs at a manifold end of the spaced-apart plate pairs; and   a tab extending from a flange end of a first plate of the first plate pair and being in contact with a second plate of a second plate pair for providing a fluid flow blocker.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein each plate of the first plate pair has a tab extending from the plates and in contact with a plate of an adjacent plate pair. 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger assembly, comprising:
 a housing having a cavity in communication with an opening; and   a heat exchanger receivable in the cavity of the housing, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of spaced-apart plate pairs, where each plate pair defines a flow passage for the flow of a first fluid; 
 one or more fins thermally coupled and sandwiched by the spaced-apart plate pairs for flow of a second fluid; 
 a fluid manifold being fluidly coupled to the spaced-apart plate pairs at a manifold end of the spaced-apart plate pairs; and 
 a tab extending from a flange end of a first plate of the first plate pair and being in contact with a second plate of a second plate pair for providing a fluid flow blocker. 
   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein each plate of the first plate pair has a tab extending from the plates and in contact with a plate of an adjacent plate pair.