Modular heat exchanger

Claim 2

A modular heat exchanger comprising: a modular heat exchanger core having a plurality of substantially identical individual core elements; and a heat exchanger core case positioned around said core and having a first section and a second section, said second core case section detachably secured to said first core case section to removably support said core.

Claim 3

The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said individual core elements comprise: a first tube plate; a second tube plate substantially identical to said first tube plate, the outer periphery of said first tube plate joined to the outer periphery of said second tube plate to form an enclosure between said second tube plates; restricting means within said enclosure defining an inlet section and an outlet section within said enclosure; said inlet section of said enclosure having an inlet header at the one end thereof, said inlet header having an inlet on one side thereof and an outlet on he opposite side thereof; said outlet section of said enclosure having an outlet header at the one end thereof, said outlet header having an inlet on one side thereof and an outlet on the opposite side thereof; a first fin sheet positioned within said inlet section of said enclosure; and a second fin sheet positioned within said outlet section of said enclosure.

Claim 4

The modular heat exchanger of claim 2 and in addition a plurality of individual fin sheets, an individual fin sheet positioned between adjacent individual core elements.

Claim 5

The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said first section and said second section of said heat exchanger core case are boltably secured to each other.

Claim 6

The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 and in addition resilient material pads interposed between said heat exchanger core and said heat exchanger core case at points of support.

Claim 7

The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 and in addition a fluid cooled operably associated with said heat exchanger and wherein said first section of said heat exchanger core case is an integral part of said engine.

Claim 8

A modular heat exchanger for a congealable fluid comprising: a modular heat exchanger core having a plurality of substantially identical individual core elements, and individual core elements comprising: a first tube plate; a second tube plate substantially identical to said first tube plate, the outer periphery of said first tube plate joined at the outer periphery of said second tube plate to form an enclosure between said first and said second tube plate; restricting means disposed within said enclosure defining an inlet section extending the length of one side of said enclosure and an outlet section extending the length of the opposite side of said enclosure, said inlet section communicating with said outlet section at the bottom of said enclosure; said inlet section of said enclosure having an inlet header at the upper end thereof, said inlet header having an inlet on one side thereof and an outlet on the opposite side thereof, said inlet adapted to communicate with the outlet of the inlet header and an adjacent core element on one side of said inlet header and said outlet adapted to communicate with the inlet of the inlet header of an adjacent core element on the opposite side of said inlet header; said outlet section of said enclosure having an outlet header at the upper end thereof, said outlet header having an inlet on one side thereof and an outlet on the opposite side thereof, said inlet adapted to communicate with the outlet of the outlet header of an adjacent core element on one sidE of said outlet header and said outlet adapted to communicate with the inlet of the outlet header of an adjacent core element on the opposite side of said outlet header; a first fin sheet positioned within said inlet section of said enclosure, and a second fin sheet positioned within said outlet section of said enclosure; a plurality of individual fin sheets, an individual fin sheet positioned between adjacent individual core elements below said inlet and outlet headers; a heat exchanger core case positioned around said core and having a first section at one end of said core and a second section at the other end of said core and boltably attached to the first case section, said first case section having an inlet to provide a flow of congealable fluid to said core and two outlets to receive a flow of congealable fluid from said core; a warm up tube interposed between said first case section and said heat exchanger core; restricting means disposed within said warm up tube defining an inlet section extending the length of one side of said warm up tube and an outlet section extending the length of the other side of said tube, said inlet section communicating with said outlet section at the bottom of said tube; said inlet section of said warm up tube having an inlet to receive a flow of congealable fluid to the inlet section of said warm up tube from the inlet of said first section of said case and an outlet opposite said inlet to communicate with the inlet of the inlet header of the adjacent individual core element; said outlet section of said warm up tube having an outlet to permit a flow of congealable fluid from the outlet section of said warm up tube to the first outlet of said first section of said case and conduit means through said outlet section of said warm up tube to provide communication between the outlet of the outlet header of the adjacent individual core element and the second outlet of the first section of said case; a plurality of fins positioned within said inlet and said outlet sections of said warm up tube, said fins to provide less resistance to the flow of congealable fluid than said first and said second fin sheets in the inlet and outlet sections of the individual core elements; and heat responsive valve means in the first outlet of said first section of said case to permit the flow of cold congealable fluid and restrict the flow of warm congealable fluid.

Claim 9

A modular heat exchanger for a congealable fluid comprising: a modular heat exchanger core having a plurality of substantially identical individual core elements, and individual core elements comprising: a first tube plate; a second tube plate substantially identical to said first tube plate, the outer periphery of said first tube plate joined at the outer periphery of said second tube plate to form an enclosure between said first and said second tube plate; restricting means disposed within said enclosure defining an inlet section extending the length of one side of said enclosure and an outlet section extending the length of the opposite side of said enclosure, said inlet section communicating with said outlet section at the bottom of said enclosure; said inlet section of said enclosure having an inlet header at the upper end thereof, said inlet header having an inlet on one side thereof and an outlet on the opposite side thereof, said inlet adapted to communicate with the outlet of the inlet header and an adjacent core element on one side of said inlet header and said outlet adapted to communicate with the inlet of the inlet header of an adjacent core element on the opposite side of said inlet header; said outlet section of said enclosure having an outlet header at the upper end thereof, said outlet header having an inlet on one side thereof and an outlet on the opposite side thereof, said inlet adapted to communicate with the outlet of the outlet header of an adjacent core element on one sidE of said outlet header and said outlet adapted to communicate with the inlet of the outlet header of an adjacent core element on the opposite side of said outlet header; a first fin sheet positioned within said inlet section of said enclosure, and a second fin sheet positioned within said outlet section of said enclosure; a plurality of individual fin sheets, an individual fin sheet positioned between adjacent individual core elements below said inlet and outlet headers; a heat exchanger core case positioned around said core and having a first section at one end of said core and a second section at the other end of said core and boltably attached to the first case section, said first case section having an inlet to provide a flow of congealable fluid to said core and two outlets to receive a flow of congealable fluid from said core; a warm up tube interposed between said first case section and said heat exchanger core; restricting means disposed within said warm up tube defining an inlet section extending the length of one side of said warm up tube and an outlet section extending the length of the other side of said tube, said inlet section communicating with said outlet section at the bottom of said tube; said inlet section of said warm up tube having an inlet to receive a flow of congealable fluid to the inlet section of said warm up tube from the inlet of said first section of said case and an outlet opposite said inlet to communicate with the inlet of the inlet header of the adjacent individual core element; said outlet section of said warm up tube having an outlet to permit a flow of congealable fluid from the outlet section of said warm up tube to the first outlet of said first section of said case and conduit means through said outlet section of said warm up tube to provide communication between the outlet of the outlet header of the adjacent individual core element and the second outlet of the first section of said case; a plurality of fins positioned within said inlet and said outlet sections of said warm up tube, said fins to provide less resistance to the flow of congealable fluid than said first and said second fin sheets in the inlet and outlet sections of the individual core elements; and heat responsive valve means in the first outlet of said first section of said case to permit the flow of cold congealable fluid and restrict the flow of warm congealable fluid.

Claim 10

The modular heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said first and said second fin sheets positioned with the inlet and outlet sections of said individual core elements are offset rectangular fins positioned to provide maximum resistance to flow, said plurality of fins positioned within said inlet and outlet sections of said warm up tube are individual fins positioned across the flow in the warm up tube to provide minimum resistance to flow, said individual core elements are brazed together with said plurality of individual fin sheets between said core elements and with said warm up tube to form an integral heat exchanger core. 9, The modular heat exchanger of claim 7 and in addition resilient material pads interposed between said heat exchanger and said heat exchanger core and said heat exchanger core case at points of support.

Claim 11

The modular heat exchanger of claim 7 and in addition a source of congealable fluid to be cooled.

Claim 12

The modular heat exchanger of claim 10 wherein said source of congealable fluid to be cooled in a congealable fluid cooled engine and said first section of said case is integral with said engine.

Claim 13

The modular heat exchanger of claim 10 wherein said congealable fluid is a lubricating oil.