Automotive heat exchangers having strengthened fins and methods of making the same

Abstract

Automotive heat exchanger assemblies that can withstand high environmental temperature and pressures conditions are described. By providing for a strengthened fin in contact with the tubes at the areas of highest stress, the heat exchanger assembly is strengthened to be efficient under actual operating conditions.

Description

[0001] This patent application claims priority of Provisional application No. 60 / 752, 577 filed Dec. 21, 2005FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to automotive heat exchangers, and, in particular, brazed heat exchangers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Various types of heat exchangers are used in automotive applications. For example, WO03093751, published on Nov. 13, 2003, assigned to Behr, relates to a radiator with an internal fin section, and a short section of tube inside the primary tube. In various evaporator applications, as for example illustrated in W0 2004 / 005831, PCT / JP2003 / 008018, evaporators are shown to be provided with a fin that fits against the tube radius for the full length of the tube. [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,540 issued on Apr. 21, 1992, to Ford Motor Company shows a tube with an internal liner stock for increasing the interior fluid turbulation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,321 issued on Feb. 26, 1985, to Blackstone Corporation shows a two pi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] Turbo out temperatures approaching 315° C. can cause thermal fatigue failures n Water Cooled Charge Air Cooler (WCCAC) and Charge Air Precoolers (CAP) for example. In aspects of the present invention, increase thermal durability is provided, particularly for heat exchangers in applications where turbo out temperatures are greater than or equal to 220° C.

[0035] In embodiments of the present invention, the strengthened fin is positioned at high stress areas or areas of stress concentration to eliminate the potential of outer fin fracture near or at the core inlet, and subsequent or associated propagation of fracture through the tube wall.

Problems solved by technology

For heat exchangers for motorized vehicles, and, specifically, for example, turbo charged vehicles, such as those with water cooled charge air coolers or charge air pre-coolers, thermal fatigue failures can occur.

Such failures are often due to the use of thin gage aluminum material, and, particularly, fin gage aluminum fin material that does not adequately withstand high temperature or thermal environmental conditions now required on vehicles for emission standard reasons.

Turbo out temperatures approaching 315° C. can cause thermal fatigue failures n Water Cooled Charge Air Cooler (WCCAC) and Charge Air Precoolers (CAP) for example.

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