EP0286400A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Process for the manufacture of heat exchangers from polymers
Assignee: CESARONI, ANTHONY JOSEPH
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Filing: 1988-04-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A process for the manufacture of a heat exchanger from a thermoplastic polymer especially a polyamide, is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises two generally planar panels (11) formed from a composition of the polymer, bonded together to form a labyrinth of fluid passages (16,16A,16B) between the panels (11) that extend between inlet and outlet means (17,18). The labyrinth occupies a substantial proportion of the area of the panels. The process comprises coating a first panel with a first coating in a pattern corresponding to the fluid passages of the labyrinth, and coating the second panel with a second coating composition in at least those areas where a bond is to be formed with the first panel. The coating compositions are selected so that under the influence of heat, the second coating composition will bond to the polymer composition but not to the first coating; thus the first coating acts as a resist coating. The coated panels are brought into contact and heated so as to effect bonding, and then the passages are expanded e.g. by applying a pressure of a gas to the fluid passages between the panels. The expanded fluid passages should be heat set so as to reduce distortion during use of the resultant heat exchanger. Depending on the polyamide selected for fabrication of the heat exchanger, the heat exchangers may be used in a variety of end uses, including in automobiles.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Joseph Cesaroni
- 👤 Jerry Paul Shuster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:38
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D1/00; F28D1/02; F28D1/03; F28F; F28F21/00; F28F21/06; F28F21/065; B; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/02; B29C49/06905; B29C49/0691; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/40; B29C65/48; B29C66/00; B29C66/004; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/432; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/723; B29C66/73; B29C66/737; B29C66/7377; B29C66/73771; B29C66/73772; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; F28F3/00; F28F3/12; F28F3/14; B29C65/52; B29C65/526; B29C66/20; B29C66/71; B29C66/721; B29C66/7212; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A process for the manufacture of a heat exchanger from a thermoplastic polymer, said heat exchanger comprising a first panel and a second panel, each of said panels being generally planar and formed from said polymer, said panels being bonded together to define a labyrinth of fluid-flow passages extending between inlet and outlet header means, said labyrinth occupying a substantial proportion of the area of the panels, said process comprising the steps of: (a) coating the first panel with a first coating composition in a pattern corresponding to the fluid passages of the labyrinth; (b) coating the second panel with a second coating composition in at least those areas corresponding to the areas of the first and second panel that will be bonded together; and (c) contacting said first and second panels and applying heat and pressure thereto to effect bonding between said panels; said second coating composition being such that the composition adheres to the polymer of the first panel but not to the first coating composition under the influence of the heat and pressure applied in step (c).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A process for the manufacture of a heat exchanger from a thermoplastic polymer, said heat exchanger comprising a first panel and a second panel, each of said panels being generally planar and formed from said polymer, said panels being bonded together to define a labyrinth of fluid-flow passages extending between inlet and outlet header means, said labyrinth occupying a substantial proportion of the area of the panels, said process comprising the steps of: (a) coating the first panel with a first coating composition in a pattern corresponding to the fluid passages of the labyrinth; (b) coating the second panel with a second coating composition in at least those areas corresponding to the areas of the first and second panel that will be bonded together; and (c) contacting said first and second panels and applying heat and pressure thereto to effect bonding between said panels; said second coating composition being such that the composition adheres to the polymer of the first panel but not to the first coating composition under the influence of the heat and pressure applied in step (c).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of Claim 1 in which the coating on the second panel is a complementary image of the coating applied to the first panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of Claim 1 in which the coating applied to the second panel covers essentially all of the second panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of Claim 1 in which the second panel is coated to an extent that is greater than the complementary image on the first panel but less than a complete coating of the second panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of any of Claims 1 - 4 in which the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulphide, polyetherimide, polyetherester ketone, polyether ketone, polyimides, polyarylates and high performance engineering plastics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of any of Claims 1 - 4 in ʹwhich the thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of any of Claims 1 - 4 in which the thermoplastic polymer is a polycarbonate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of any preceding claim in which the first coating composition comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for the manufacture of a heat exchanger from a heat sealable thermoplastic polymer, said heat exchanger comprising a first panel and a second panel, each of said panels being generally planar and formed from said polymer, said panels being bonded together to define a labyrinth of fluid passages extending between inlet and outlet header means, said labyrinth occupying a substantial proportion of the area of the panels, said process comprising the steps of: (a) coating the first panel with a first coating composition in a pattern corresponding to the fluid passages of the labyrinth; and (b) contacting said first and second panels and applying heat thereto to effect bonding between said panels; said first coating composition being such that the composition does not adhere to the polymer of the first panel under the influence of the heat applied in step (b), said first coating being comprised of polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for the manufacture of a heat exchanger from a heat sealable thermoplastic polymer, said heat exchanger comprising a first panel and a second panel, each of said panels being generally planar and formed from said polymer, said panels being bonded together to define a labyrinth of fluid passages extending between inlet and outlet header means, said labyrinth occupying a substantial proportion of the area of the panels, said process comprising the steps of: (a) coating the first panel with a first coating composition in a pattern corresponding to the fluid passages of the labyrinth; and (b) contacting said first and second panels and applying heat thereto to effect bonding between said panels; said first coating composition being such that the composition does not adhere to the polymer of the first panel under the influence of the heat applied in step (b), said first coating being comprised of polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of Claim 9 in which the thermoplastic polymer is an amorphous polyamide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of Claim 9 in which the thermoplastic polymer is a polycarbonate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of any preceding claim in which the thickness of the sheet is in the range of 0.12 to 0.7 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of any preceding claim in which the fluid passages are subsequently expanded to facilitate the flow of fluid therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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