Patent ID: 7293603
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: F28D,F28F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A heat exchanger for transferring heat between a primary fluid coolant and a secondary fluid coolant, supplied by a primary fluid coolant system and a secondary fluid coolant system respectively, the heat exchanger comprising: a housing, the housing having opposite housing front and housing rear aspects extending between opposite housing first and housing second ends, the housing having a transverse housing plane with upper and lower surfaces, the housing having a longitudinal central axis lying within the housing plane, the housing having a bottom wall with a concave inner surface facing upward and extending along the central axis between the housing first and housing second ends, the bottom wall extending in a circular arc around the central axis, the housing having a plurality of lower sector fins spaced apart along the central axis on the bottom wall inner surface, the lower sector fins each extending in a helical arc around the central axis, the bottom wall and the lower sector fins extending arcuately from the housing plane lower surface adjacent the housing front aspect to the housing plane lower surface adjacent the housing rear aspect; a cover, the cover having opposite cover front and cover rear aspects extending between opposite cover first and cover second ends, the cover having a transverse cover plane with upper and lower surfaces, the cover having a longitudinal central axis lying within the cover plane, the cover having a top wall with a concave inner surface facing downward and extending along the central axis between the cover first and cover second ends, the top wall extending in a circular arc around the central axis, the cover having a plurality of upper sector fins spaced apart along the central axis on the top wall inner surface, the upper sector fins each extending in a helical arc around the central axis, the top wall and the upper sector fins extending arcuately from the cover plane upper surface adjacent the cover front aspect to the cover plane upper surface adjacent the cover rear aspect, the cover being adapted for assembly into the housing in a direction transverse to the housing central axis; a tube, the tube being a circular cylinder and having a central axis, the tube having inner and outer surfaces extending along the central axis between opposite first and second ends, the tube being adapted for assembly into the housing in a direction transverse to the housing central axis; first sealing means for sealing the tube first end to the housing; second sealing means for sealing the tube second end to the housing; the tube and the first and second sealing means being received in the housing with the tube closely adjacent the lower sector fins, and with the tube central axis being substantially collinear with the housing central axis; the cover being received in the housing with the cover plane closely adjacent the housing plane, the cover first and cover second ends adjacent the housing first and housing second ends respectively, the upper sector fins closely adjacent the tube, the upper sector fins being substantially aligned with the lower sector fins, and the cover central axis being substantially collinear with the housing central axis; the upper sector fins, the top wall, the lower sector fins, the bottom wall, and the tube outer surface defining a helical passageway around the tube outer surface from a helical passageway first end adjacent the housing first end to a helical passageway second end adjacent the housing second end; first primary connecting means for connecting the primary fluid coolant system to the tube first end; second primary connecting means for connecting the primary fluid coolant system to the tube second end, so as to allow a flow of primary fluid coolant between the primary fluid coolant system and the tube; first secondary connecting means for connecting the secondary fluid coolant system to the helical passageway first end; and second secondary connecting means for connecting the secondary fluid coolant system to the helical passageway second end, so as to allow a flow of secondary fluid coolant between the secondary fluid coolant system and the helical passageway; whereby the tube, the first and second sealing means, and the cover, will be quickly and easily assembled into the housing.