Cross-flow-type heat exchanger

Abstract

 A cross flow-type heat exchanger wherein the ridges of the heat exchange member in its laminated direction are cut off and the reinforcing plate is mounted along each cut-off portion to protect the corners from damage and to prevent the two sorts of air current from becoming mixed together.

Description

3. Background of the Invention:

[0001] The present invention relates to a cross flow-type heat exchanger and aims at preventing air currents from becoming mixed together as well as at preventing damages of the corners.

[0002] Fig. l(a) indicates a general example of cross flow-type heat exchanger wherein square corrugated plates 1 are laminated in a manner that alternate layers cross perpendicularly, adjacent layers being separated by partitions 2 respectively. When air currents A and B are passed through such a heat exchanger 3 in two perpendicular directions, it is convenient if the air currents do not become mixed inside. The reference numeral la denotes an air passage or a flute.

[0003] Said heat exchanger 3, however, is detrimental in that ridges 4 in laminated direction are easily broken as the heat exchanger 3 unavoidably assumes the form of a cuboid or a prism. If the ridges 4 are damaged, the air currents A and B will become mixed there. In practical use, such a heat exchanger 3 is housed in a rectangular casing 5 as shown in Fig. l(b). In order to prevent the air currents A and B-from becoming mixed together through voids between the casing 5 and the heat exchanger 3, and to protect the corners of the heat exchanger 3 from damages, it is necessary to insert two packing means 6 for each corner which double as cushions. Inserting job is rather difficult as the packing means 6 must be packed as close as possible to the corners in order to maximize the air passage and simultaneously must have a good air tightness. In other words, if the position of the packing means 6 -is not aligned correctly when the heat exchanger 5 is inserted into the casing 5, it is difficult to correct misalignment. In Fig. l(b) the reference numerals 7, 8, 9 and 10 denote inlets of the air currents while A', B' denote the currents going out of the heat exchanger 3.

[0004] The present invention was contrived to obviate said defects in prior art.

4. Summary of the Invention:

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a cross flow-type heat exchanger which can prevent the air currents from becoming mixed together and protect the corners from damages.

[0006] The object has been attained by the cross flow-type heat exchanger which is characterized in that the ridges of the heat exchanger member in its laminated direction are cut off and that a reinforcing plate is mounted along each cutt-off portion. It is desirable to insert a packing means between the reinforcing plate and the casing.

5. Brief Description of the Drawings:

[0007] Fig. l(a) is a perspective view of a conventional cross flow-type heat exchanger while Fig. l(b) a sectional view to show the state of housing the same into a casing.

[0008] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 2(a) is a plane view of the heat exchanger while Fig. 2(b) a perspective view of a reinforcing plate to be used therein.

[0009] Fig. 3 shows another embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 3(a) is a plane view of the heat exchanger while Fig. 3(b) a perspective view of a reinforcing plate to be used therein.

[0010] Fig. 4(a) is a perspective view of the heat exchanger using the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4(b) is a plane view to indicate the state that the heat exchanger above is mounted in a casing (a top plate thereof not shown). 6. Description of the Preferred Embodiments:

[0011] As stated before, the object of the present invention is achieved by cutting the corners and providing the reinforcing plates on the cut-off portions.

[0012] The present invention is now described referring to Figs. 2 to 4 in the attached drawings. Fig. 2(a) is a plane view of a heat exchanger 3 wherein the four corners or the ridges in the laminated direction 4 are truncated. The truncated portions 11 are reinforced with reinforcing plates 12 in the form of a flat sheet as shown in Fig. 2(b). The material of the reinforcing plates 12 is preferably the same as that of the heat exchanger 3. If high-temperature ceramic is used as the heat exchanger 3, ceramic reinforcing plates 12 are attached to the truncated portions 11 with a heat-resistant adhesive in an air-tight fashion.

[0013] Fig. 3(a) is a plane view of another embodiment wherein respective truncated portions 11 are provided with crenatures or indentations 13. In this case reinforcing plates are adapted to assume T-shaped sections as shown in Fig. 3(b) in order to conform to the shape of the truncated portions. The reinforcing plates 14 are easily but firmly mounted to the portions 11 simply by inserting the projections 14a of the reinforcing plates 14 into the crenatures 13, improving the preventive effects against mixing of the air currents. Fig. 4(a) shows an example of attaching the reinforcing plates 14.

[0014] As described above, by truncating the corners 4 of the heat exchanger 3 and attaching the reinforcing plates 12 or 14 to the truncated portions 11, the corners can be protected from damages and simultaneously the air currents can be prevented from becoming mixed.

[0015] Truncation of the corners 4 and crenatures or indentations in the portions 11 may be provided collectively after corrugated plates 1 and partitions 2 have been laminated or may be provided to each plate before they are laminated. In plates the case that the corrugated are cast mold products, they may be molded to have truncated portions 11 and crenated portions 13.

[0016] When the heat exchanger 3 mentioned above is housed in a casing as shown in _Fig. 4(b), packing means 6 are packed into the portions having a triangle cross section which are defined by the casing 5 and the reinforcing plates 14 (or 12) at the corners. As the portions to contain the packing members 6 are shaped triangular, there is no possibility of displacement at the time of attaching. Mounting of the heat exchanger 3 and the packing members 6 is thus extremely simple. As only one packing-member 6 suffices for each corner, manufacturing cost can also be reduced. Fig. 4(b) shows the top plate of the casing 5 being omitted.

[0017] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4(b), the casing 5 is of a collapsible type or a sectioned type, further facilitating mounting of the heat exchanger 3 and packing means 6. If the heat exchanger 3 is subjected to high temperatures, rock wool or other materials are used for packing means 6. Packing means are inserted above and underneath the heat exchanger 3 to act as cushion, although they are not shown in Fig. 4(b).

[0018] As described in the foregoing, the cross flow-type heat exchanger according to the present invention can protect the corners from damages and simultaneously can prevent the air currents from becoming mixed. Further, packing means can be simply and firmly mounted even when the heat exchanger must be housed in a casing.

Claims

(1) A cross flow-type heat exchanger wherein a casing is provided with a parallel sides heat exchange member having air passages oriented in such a manner that alternate layers cross each other perpendicularly, which is characterized in that the ridges of said heat exchanger member in the laminated direction are cut off and that a reinforcing plate is mounted along said each cut-off portion.

(2) The cross flow-type heat exchanger as claimed in Claim 1 which is characterized in that said heat exchange member is housed in a casing with a packing means inserted between the reinforcing plate mounted on said cut-off portion and said casing.

Drawing