Patent ID: 7328740
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: B63B,B63H,F01P,F28D,F28F

Abstract:
1. A one-piece multiple-pass heat exchanger comprising: a first set of parallel coolant/heating flow tubes extending in a longitudinal direction for carrying coolant fluid cooling medium from a heat source in one direction for transferring heat from the coolant fluid cooling medium, said first set of coolant/heating flow tubes having a first outermost side tube and a first separator tube, said first separator tube having a pair of parallel opposing side walls with a first solid outer side wall and a first inner side wall, said first solid outer side wall having an interior surface facing the interior of said first inner side wall, said first inner side wall having an exterior surface being parallel to and facing said first outermost side tube, said first separator tube having a first end portion with an opening in said first inner side wall in said first end portion giving access to the interior of said first separator tube, said first outermost side tube having a first solid outer side wall and a first inner side wall, said latter first solid outer side wall having an interior surface facing the interior of said latter first inner side wall, said latter first inner side wall being parallel to and having an interior surface facing said first separator tube, said first outermost side tube having a first end portion with an opening in said latter first inner side wall in said latter first end portion giving access to the interior of said first outermost side tube and an opposite second end portion with an opening in said latter first inner side wall in said latter second end portion giving access to the interior of said first outermost side tube, and from none to a number of first inner tubes located between said first outermost side tube and said first separator tube, said first inner tubes having first open ports proximate other first open ports of said first inner tubes for receiving coolant fluid from the heat source and opposite second open ports proximate other second open ports of other first inner tubes for discharging coolant fluid from said first inner tubes; said first separator tube having a second open port proximate to said second open ports of said first inner tubes; a second set of parallel coolant/heating flow tubes extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to said first set of coolant/heating flow tubes for carrying coolant fluid cooling medium discharged by said first set of cooling/heating flow tubes in a second direction opposite to said first direction for transferring heat from the coolant fluid cooling medium, said second set of coolant/heating flow tubes having a second outermost side tube and a second separator tube, said second separator tube having a pair of parallel opposing side walls with a second solid outer side wall and a second inner side wall, said second solid outer side wall having an interior surface wall facing the interior of said second inner side wall, said second inner side wall having an exterior surface being parallel to and facing said second outermost side tube, said second separator tube having a first end portion with an opening in said second inner side wall in said first end portion of said second separator tube giving access to the interior of said second separator tube, said second outermost side tube having a second solid outer side wall and a second inner side wall, said latter second solid outer side wall having an interior surface facing the interior of said latter second inner side wall, said latter second inner side wall being parallel to and having an exterior surface facing said second separator tube, said second outermost side tube having a first end portion with an opening in said latter second inner side wall in said latter first end portion giving access to the interior of said second outermost side tube, and an opposite second end portion with an opening in said latter second inner side wall in said latter second end portion giving access to the interior of said second outermost side tube, and from none to a number of second inner tubes located between said second outermost side tube and said second separator tube, said second inner tubes having first open ports proximate other first open ports of said second inner tubes, said first open ports of said second inner tubes being adjacent to said second open ports of said first inner tubes, for receiving coolant fluid discharged by said second open ports of said first inner tubes, said second inner tubes further having second open ports proximate other second open ports of other second inner tubes for discharging coolant fluid from said second inner tubes, said second separator tube having a second open port proximate to said second open ports of said first inner tubes and to said first open ports of said second inner tubes; a flow conduit holding header connected to said first outermost side tube, to said first inner tubes, to said first end portion of said first separator tube, to said second end portion of said second separator tube, to said second open ports of said second inner tubes, and to said second outermost side tube, said flow conduit holding header being divided by said first solid outer side wall of said first separator tube and said second solid outer side wall of said second separator tube; said flow conduit holding header comprising: