Heat Exchanger With End Seal For Blocking Off Air Bypass Flow

Abstract

A heat exchanger having 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 are thermally coupled and sandwiched by the spaced-apart plate pairs for flow of a second fluid. A fluid manifold being fluidly coupled to the flow passages of the spaced-apart plate pairs is also provided. The heat exchanger has a front face and side faces defined by at least the plurality of spaced-apart plate pairs and the one or more fins. And, a bypass seal complementary to the front face or one of the side faces and engagingly coupled to the front face or one of the side faces for blocking a gap between the heat exchanger and a housing for receiving the heat exchanger. Also disclosed is a heat exchanger assembly having the heat exchanger disclosed.

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 flow passages of the spaced-apart plate pairs;   the heat exchanger having a front face and side faces defined by at least the plurality of spaced-apart plate pairs and the one or more fins; and   a bypass seal complementary to the front face or one of the side faces and engagingly coupled to the front face or one of the side faces for blocking a gap between the heat exchanger and a housing for receiving the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the bypass seal is complementary to one of the side faces and engagingly couples to the one of the side faces of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the bypass seal is present on both side faces of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal has a heat exchanger engaging face and a sealing face, the heat exchanger engaging face having notches for receiving ends of the plurality of the spaced-apart plate pairs. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the sealing face permits mounting of the heat exchanger in the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the sealing face is tapered for slidingly mounting into a recess in the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the bypass seal is complementary to the front face and engagingly couples to the front face of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the bypass seal is complementary to the front face and positioned at an edge of the front face adjacent to one of the side faces of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tab for coupling the seal to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal is clipped-on the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal is brazed, bolted or brazed and bolted on the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . 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 flow passages of the spaced-apart plate pairs; 
 the heat exchanger having a front face and side faces defined by at least the plurality of spaced-apart plate pairs and the one or more fins; and 
 a bypass seal complementary to the front face or one of the side faces and engagingly coupled to the front face or one of the side faces for blocking a gap between the heat exchanger and the housing. 
   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the bypass seal is complementary to one of the side faces and engagingly couples to the one of the side faces of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the seal has a heat exchanger engaging face and a sealing face, the heat exchanger engaging face having notches for receiving ends of the plurality of the spaced-apart plate pairs. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the sealing face permits mounting of the heat exchanger in the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the sealing face is tapered for slidingly mounting into a recess in the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the bypass seal is complementary to the front face and engagingly couples to the front face of the heat exchanger at an edge of the front face adjacent to one of the side faces of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , further comprising a tab for coupling the seal to the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the seal is clipped-on the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the seal is brazed, bolted or brazed and bolted on the heat exchanger.