Evaporator having folded baffles

Abstract

A evaporator provides an evaporator that includes an evaporator core, an evaporator tank attached to the evaporator core, and at least one single-piece and folded baffle having raised surfaces incorporated into the evaporator tank. The baffle has opposed sides having a pair of opposed raised surfaces. The baffle further includes a top edge and a side edge. The pair of opposed raised surfaces is provided adjacent one of the edges and includes two pairs of opposed raised surfaces. The raised surface can be a flat-sided ramp, a curve-sided ramp, or a dimple.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An evaporator for use with a refrigerant, the evaporator comprising:
 an evaporator core;   an evaporator tank attached to said core;   a baffle incorporated into said evaporator tank, said baffle comprising a single folded sheet and having at least one raised surface.   
     
     
         2 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein said evaporator tank includes an interior wall and wherein said raise surface has a wall-contacting portion, said wall-contacting portion being in contact with said interior wall. 
     
     
         3 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein said baffle has two opposed sides and wherein each of said opposed side has a raised surface defined by a pair of opposed raised surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant of  claim 3 , wherein said baffle has a top edge and a side edge, said pair of opposed raised surfaces being provided adjacent one of said edges. 
     
     
         5 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant of  claim 4 , including two pairs of opposed raised surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant of  claim 5 , wherein one of said two pairs of opposed surfaces is provided adjacent said top edge of said baffle and the other of said two pairs of opposed surfaces is provided adjacent said side edge of said baffle. 
     
     
         7 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant of  claim 1 , wherein said raised surface is selected from the group consisting of a flat-sided ramp, a curve-sided ramp, and a dimple. 
     
     
         8 . A baffle for use in an evaporator tank, the baffle comprising:
 a single folded plate;   a first sided;   a second side;   a pair of opposed raised surfaces, one of said raise surfaces being formed on said first outer side and the other of said pair of surfaces being formed on said second outer side.   
     
     
         9 . The baffle for use in an evaporator tank of  claim 8 , wherein said raise surface has a wall-contacting portion. 
     
     
         10 . The baffle for use in an evaporator tank of  claim 8 , wherein said baffle has two opposed sides and wherein each of said opposed side has a raised surface defined by a pair of opposed raised surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The baffle for use in an evaporator tank of  claim 10 , wherein said baffle has a top edge and a side edge, said pair of opposed raised surfaces being provided adjacent one of said edges. 
     
     
         12 . The baffle for use in an evaporator tank of  claim 11 , including two pairs of opposed raised surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The baffle for use in an evaporator tank of  claim 12 , wherein one of said two pairs of opposed surfaces is provided adjacent said top edge of said baffle and the other of said two pairs of opposed surfaces is provided adjacent said side edge of said baffle. 
     
     
         14 . The baffle for use in an evaporator tank of  claim 8 , wherein said raised surface is selected from the group consisting of a flat-sided ramp, a curve-sided ramp, and a dimple. 
     
     
         15 . An evaporator for use with a refrigerant, the evaporator comprising:
 an evaporator core;   an evaporator tank attached to said core, said tank having an inner wall;   a baffle incorporated into said tank, said baffle having opposed outer walls, each of said walls having a raise surface, each raised surface having a core inner wall-contacting surface positioned against said inner wall of said tank.   
     
     
         16 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant of  claim 15 , wherein said baffle is a single piece of folded metal. 
     
     
         17 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant of  claim 15 , wherein said raised surface is selected from the group consisting of a flat-sided ramp, a curve-sided ramp, and a dimple. 
     
     
         18 . An evaporator for use with a refrigerant, the evaporator comprising:
 a liquid-passing grill;   a liquid-holding tank fluidly attached to said grill, said tank having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of spaced-apart side walls;   a one-piece, folded baffle having an upper portion, a bottom portion, a pair of spaced-apart side portions, a first outer wall and a second outer wall, said top portion being attached to said top wall, said bottom portion being attached to said bottom wall, and said side portions being attached to said side walls, said baffle further including a surface elevated from at least one of said outer walls, said surface having an edge, said edge being attached to one of said walls of said tank.   
     
     
         19 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant according to  claim 18  in which said elevated surface is selected from the group consisting of ramps, semi-circles and dimples. 
     
     
         20 . The evaporator for use with a refrigerant according to  claim 18  in which said baffle is cladded.