Spiral Heat Exchanger Bracket and Case for Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to attach a spiral heat exchanger to a vehicle while reducing its weight, as thin metal plates used in the exchanger are prone to damage from external impacts and deformation, making it difficult to maintain the desired shape and ensure effective heat exchange performance.
Innovation Solution
A spiral heat exchanger design that includes a spiral unit with thin metal plates, a case member attached to the vehicle, and a bracket that holds the spiral unit in place, preventing deformation and protecting it from impacts by fixing the thin metal plates within the case member, which maintains the desired shape and enhances heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If thin metal plates are used in the spiral unit, then weight is reduced, but the metal plates become prone to damage and deformation from external impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a case member that surrounds and protects the spiral unit containing thin metal plates. The case member acts as a protective barrier that absorbs and distributes external impacts before they can reach the fragile thin metal plates, preventing damage and deformation while allowing the use of lightweight thin plates for weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a case member that functions as a protective shell surrounding the spiral unit. This shell structure provides mechanical protection to the thin metal plates against external impacts and deformation forces, enabling the use of thin plates without compromising structural integrity or reliability.
2Weight of moving object
If thin metal plates are used to reduce weight, then vehicle weight is reduced, but it becomes difficult to maintain the desired shape of the spiral unit
Solution Approach 1:
The case member provides beforehand protection against forces that could cause shape deviation. By surrounding the spiral unit, it maintains the desired shape of thin metal plates under various operating conditions and external influences, eliminating the need for thicker, heavier plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The case member acts as an intermediary between external environmental factors and the thin metal plates of the spiral unit. It mediates the interaction by providing a protective barrier that preserves the shape of thin plates without requiring the plates themselves to be thicker or more rigid.
3Reliability
If the spiral unit is protected from external impacts, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional protective structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function with the housing structure by integrating the case member as part of the overall heat exchanger assembly. This combination approach provides impact protection while avoiding the need for separate, additional protective components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The case member serves multiple functions: it protects the spiral unit from external impacts, maintains the shape of thin metal plates, and provides structural support for the entire assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective components, balancing reliability improvement with controlled complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for the effective attachment of the spiral heat exchanger to a vehicle, reducing weight and protecting the unit from external impacts, while maintaining heat exchange performance and preventing coolant leakage.
Implementation Method 1
The thin metal plates define two or more flow paths. A portion or all of the flow paths are provided with a coolant flowing in the corresponding portion or all of the flow paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A spiral heat exchanger includes a spiral unit, a case member, and a bracket. The spiral unit includes thin metal plates. The thin metal plates are spaced away from each other and spirally wound. The thin metal plates define flow paths. A portion or all of the flow paths are provided with a coolant flowing therein. The case member is attached to a vehicle and contains the spiral unit. The bracket is fixed to the case member and holds the spiral unit. The bracket includes a holding portion and a fixed portion. The holding portion holds a first end, a second end, or both of the spiral unit in an axial direction. The fixed portion is disposed between an outer peripheral surface of the spiral unit and an inner peripheral surface of the case member. The fixed portion is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the case member.