A heat exchanger assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger assemblies with receiver-drier bottles face difficulties in removal due to space constraints, particularly when the fluid connecting means are attached to the top, making it challenging to pull the bottle out vertically for servicing purposes.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger assembly featuring a hinge joint and a releasable fixing arrangement that allows the bottle to move in a hinging motion, enabling easier removal by allowing the bottle to be angled or moved parallel to the core, reducing obstruction from fluid connection components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fluid connecting means are attached to the top of the bottle, then the fluid connection between the core and the bottle is established, but the bottle cannot be easily removed vertically due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting means incorporates a hinge joint that allows the bottle to be rotated from a vertical position to a horizontal or angled position during removal. This dynamic movement capability enables the bottle to be detached without requiring sufficient vertical clearance, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable fluid connection and enabling easy removal in constrained spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge joint introduces rotational movement, transforming the removal operation from a purely vertical linear motion to a multi-dimensional operation involving rotation and translation. This allows the bottle to clear obstructions by moving through a different spatial path, maintaining both connection reliability and removal ease
2Ease of manufacture
If the bottle is positioned vertically in the vehicle, then packaging requirements and gas-fluid separation are optimized, but the connecting means obstructs vertical removal of the bottle
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge joint enables the bottle to dynamically change its orientation from vertical (during operation) to horizontal or angled (during removal). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to optimize for packaging efficiency during normal operation while enabling easy removal when servicing is needed, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing efficiency and operational ease
3Strength
If the connecting means are fixed rigidly to the top of the bottle, then structural strength is maintained, but the bottle cannot be removed in restricted spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge joint provides a mechanically strong connection that maintains structural integrity during operation while allowing controlled rotational movement during removal. The hinge mechanism itself can be designed with sufficient strength to handle the forces involved, resolving the contradiction between maintaining connection strength and enabling removal in restricted spaces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4c
Figure 5a~5b
AI summary
A heat exchanger assembly, comprising a core (10) and a bottle (20) connected releasably to the core (10) through a first connection (30) configured for fluid communication, wherein the bottle (20) is further connected to the core (10) through a second connection (40), which is configured to enable movement between the bottle (20) and the core (10) when the first connection (30) is released.