Heat Exchanger Having Stand-Offs to Maintain Fin Spacing

Abstract

A fin for a heat exchanger that includes a fin body formed from a sheet of material; a plurality of openings formed in the fin body, each of the plurality of openings having a pair of rounded end portions connected by an elongated central portion; and at least one stand-off attached to the fin body along the elongated central portion of the opening, wherein the at least one stand-off includes a leg having a proximal end connected to and that extends outward from the fin body and a distal end, and the at least one stand-off includes a footing connected to the distal end of the leg that extends outward from the distal end in a direction away from the central portion of the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fin for a heat exchanger, comprising:
 a fin body formed from a sheet of material;   a plurality of openings formed in the fin body, each of the plurality of openings having a pair of rounded end portions connected by an elongated central portion; and   at least one stand-off attached to the fin body along the elongated central portion of the opening,   wherein the at least one stand-off includes a leg having a proximal end connected to and that extends outward from the fin body and a distal end, and the at least one stand-off includes a footing connected to the distal end of the leg that extends outward from the distal end in a direction away from the central portion of the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stand-off includes a first stand-off along a first end of the elongated central opening at a position proximate one of the pair of rounded end portions and a second stand-off along a second and opposite end of the elongated central opening a position proximate another of the pair of rounded end portions. 
     
     
         3 . The fin according to  claim 2 , wherein the first stand-off is attached to a first edge of the elongated central opening and the second stand-off is attached to an opposite second edge of the elongated central opening. 
     
     
         4 . The fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the footing includes a curved profile in a shape of a semi-circle. 
     
     
         5 . The fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stand-off has a length that is about equal to a length of the elongated central opening. 
     
     
         6 . The fin according to  claim 5 , wherein the leg includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. 
     
     
         7 . The fin according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the rounded end portions includes a collar extending outward from the fin body. 
     
     
         8 . The fin according to  claim 1 , wherein the fin body includes a plurality of fluid flow enhancement features positioned between the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         9 . The fin according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the fluid flow enhancement features includes an elongated slat that is bent outward relative to the fin body. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of the fins according to  claim 1 ; and   a tube section mated with the plurality of openings.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein a fin density of the heat exchanger is greater than twelve fins per inch. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of fins that are spaced apart from each other; and   a serpentine tube section that is mated with the plurality of fins,   wherein each of the fins includes:
 a fin body formed from a sheet of material; 
 a plurality of openings formed in the fin body, each of the plurality of openings having a pair of rounded end portions connected by an elongated central portion; and 
 at least one stand-off attached to the fin body along the elongated central portion of the opening, 
 wherein the at least one stand-off includes a leg having a proximal end connected to and that extends outward from the fin body and a distal end, and the at least one stand-off includes a footing connected to the distal end of the leg that extends outward from the distal end in a direction away from the central portion of the opening, and 
 wherein the footing is configured to abut an adjacent fin and maintain a spacing between the fin body and the adjacent fin. 
   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one stand-off includes a first stand-off along a first end of the elongated central opening at a position proximate one of the pair of rounded end portions and a second stand-off along a second and opposite end of the elongated central opening a position proximate another of the pair of rounded end portions. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the first stand-off is attached to a first edge of the elongated central opening and the second stand-off is attached to an opposite second edge of the elongated central opening. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the footing includes a curved profile in a shape of a semi-circle. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one stand-off has a length that is about equal to a length of the elongated central opening. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the leg includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the rounded end portions includes a collar extending outward from the fin body. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the fin body includes a plurality of fluid flow enhancement features positioned between the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the fluid flow enhancement features includes an elongated slat that is bent outward relative to the fin body.