Radiator Tank Static Hydraulic Flow Diverter

Abstract

A radiator including a tank, an inlet port extending from the tank through which coolant is introduced into the tank, and a static fluid generator at a wall of the tank opposite to the inlet port. The static fluid generator is configured to generate a static fluid dome from coolant flowing into contact with the static fluid generator from the inlet port. Subsequent coolant flowing through the inlet port deflects off of the static fluid dome and is diverted throughout the tank and to a core of the radiator.

Claims

1. A radiator comprising: a tank; an inlet port extending from the tank through which coolant is introduced into the tank; and a static fluid generator at a wall of the tank opposite to the inlet port, the static fluid generator configured to generate a static fluid dome from coolant flowing into contact with the static fluid generator from the inlet port, subsequent coolant flowing through the inlet port deflects off of the static fluid dome and is diverted throughout the tank and to a core of the radiator.

2. The radiator of claim 1, wherein a maximum length of the static fluid generator extends perpendicular to a direction of coolant flow into the tank through the inlet port.

3. The radiator of claim 1, wherein a maximum length of the static fluid generator extends perpendicular to a maximum length of the tank.

4. The radiator of claim 1, wherein the static fluid generator includes a concave surface that is concave relative to the inlet port.

5. The radiator of claim 4, wherein the concave surface is circular.

6. The radiator of claim 4, wherein the concave surface is rectangular.

7. The radiator of claim 4, wherein the concave surface is defined by a rim having a first curved end, a second curved end opposite to the first curved end, and a pair of spaced apart linear sides extending between the first curved end and the second curved end.

8. The radiator of claim 4, wherein: the concave surface is defined by a rim; and an outer sloped surface extends from a side of the rim opposite to the concave surface.

9. The radiator of claim 1, wherein a vertex of a concave surface of the static fluid generator is aligned with a longitudinal axis extending through an axial center of the inlet port.

10. The radiator of claim 1, wherein the static fluid generator includes a first concave surface spaced apart from a second concave surface; and wherein a first axis extending along a first maximum length of the first concave surface extends parallel to a second axis extending along a second maximum length of the second concave surface.

11. A radiator comprising: a tank; an inlet port extending from the tank through which coolant is introduced into the tank; and a static fluid generator at a wall of the tank opposite to the inlet port, the static fluid generator including: a concave surface that is concave relative to the inlet port; a rim extending around at least a portion of the concave surface; and a sloped surface extending from a side of the rim opposite to the concave surface; wherein the concave surface is configured to generate a static fluid dome from coolant flowing into contact with the concave surface from the inlet port, subsequent coolant flowing through the inlet port deflects off of the static fluid dome and the sloped surface, and is diverted throughout the tank and to a core of the radiator.

12. The radiator of claim 11, wherein a maximum length of the static fluid generator extends perpendicular to a direction of coolant flow through the inlet port and into the tank.

13. The radiator of claim 11, wherein a maximum length of the static fluid generator extends perpendicular to a maximum length of the tank.

14. The radiator of claim 11, wherein the concave surface is circular.

15. The radiator of claim 11, wherein the concave surface is rectangular.

16. The radiator of claim 11, wherein the rim has a first curved end, a second curved end opposite to the first curved end, and a pair of spaced apart linear sides extending between the first curved end and the second curved end.

17. The radiator of claim 11, wherein a vertex of the concave surface is aligned with a longitudinal axis extending through an axial center of the inlet port.

18. The radiator of claim 11, wherein the concave surface is a first concave surface, the static fluid generator further including a second concave surface spaced apart from the first concave surface: and wherein a first axis extending along a first maximum length of the first concave surface extends parallel to a second axis extending along a second maximum length of the second concave surface.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0008] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a radiator in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates an inlet port of a tank of the radiator of FIG. 1, the tank including a static fluid generator;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the static fluid generator of FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a plan view of another static fluid generator in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a plan view of an additional static fluid generator in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0016] FIG. 8 is a plan view of yet another static fluid generator in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0017] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary radiator 10 including a core 12. The core 12 has a plurality of tubes extending between a first tank 20 and a second tank 22. In the example illustrated, the first tank 20 is an inlet tank including an inlet port 24. The second tank 22 is an outlet tank including an outlet port 26. Although the outlet port 26 is illustrated as being included with the second tank 22, in some applications the outlet port 26 may be included with the first tank 20.

[0020] The radiator 10 is a heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy between fluid circulated through the radiator 10 and the surrounding atmosphere. The radiator 10 may be configured for use in any suitable application, such as in a vehicle to cool engine coolant. The engine coolant is introduced into the first tank 20 through the inlet port 24. From the first tank 20 the coolant flows through tubes of the core 12 to the second tank 22. As the coolant flows through the core 12, heat is transferred from the coolant to the surrounding atmosphere to cool the coolant. Coolant flows out of the second tank 22 through the outlet port 26 back to the engine.

[0021] With additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first tank 20 has a wall 30 opposite to the inlet port 24. With current radiators, coolant flowing through the inlet port 24 abruptly impacts the wall 30, leading to violent turbulence of the coolant. This turbulence undesirably increases pressure drop because the coolant molecules scatter in different directions from one another, and the coolant flow often develops into a tornado swirling motion along a length L (see FIG. 1) of the first tank 20. The present disclosure advantageously includes static fluid generators 40A-40D, each of which reduces (or eliminates) such turbulence and the tornado effect.

[0022] The static fluid generator 40A of FIGS. 2-5 is at the wall 30 and is opposite to the inlet port 24. The static fluid generator 40A is configured to generate a static fluid dome 110 (see FIG. 5) from coolant flowing into contact with the static fluid generator 40A from the inlet port 24. Subsequent coolant flowing through the inlet port 24 deflects off of the static fluid dome 110, and is diverted throughout the first tank 20 to the core 12.

[0023] The static fluid generator 40A includes a concave surface 42A, which is concave relative to the inlet port 24. A longitudinal axis Y of the static fluid generator 40A extends along a vertex V (see FIG. 5) of the concave surface 42A. The longitudinal axis Y also extends along a maximum length of the static fluid generator 40A, which extends perpendicular to a direction of coolant flow through the inlet port 24. The direction of coolant flow through the inlet port 24 is generally along an axis X extending through an axial center of the inlet port 24 (see FIG. 3). The longitudinal axis Y of the static fluid generator 40A also extends perpendicular to a length L (see FIG. 1) of the first tank 20. The axis X is generally aligned with the vertex V of the concave surface 42A, and intersects the axis Y at a right angle (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Coolant flowing along the axis X contacts the concave surface 42A at or near the vertex V, and flows up along the concave surface 42A to form the static fluid dome 110.

[0024] With particular reference to FIG. 4, the static fluid generator 40A includes a rim 44A. The rim 44A has a first curved end 46A and a second curved end 48A, which is opposite to the first curved end 46A. Extending between the first curved end 46A and the second curved end 48A is a first linear side 50A and a second linear side 52A of the rim 44A. An outer sloped surface 60A extends from a side of the rim 44A opposite to the concave surface 42A. Coolant deflects off of the static fluid dome 110 and the outer sloped surface 60A, which diverts coolant throughout the first tank 20.

[0025] With additional reference to FIG. 6, the static fluid generator in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated in another configuration at reference numeral 40B. The static fluid generator 40B is similar to the static fluid generator 40A, except that the rim 44B has linear or planar ends 46B and 48B instead of the curved ends 46A and 48A. The remaining portions of the static fluid generator 40B are substantially similar to, or the same as, the static fluid generator 40A, and thus the similar/same features are illustrated in FIG. 6 using the same reference numerals, but with the suffix B instead of A. The description of the common features included with the description of the static fluid generator 40A also applies to the static fluid generator 40B.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 7, an additional static fluid generator in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated at reference numeral 40C. The static fluid generator 40C includes a circular concave surface 42C, which has a vertex V. The vertex V is aligned with the axis X extending through the axial center of the inlet port 24. The rim 44C and the outer sloped surface 60C are also circular. Coolant entering the first tank 20 through the inlet port 24 contacts, and rides upward along, the circular concave surface 42C to form the static fluid dome 110. Subsequent coolant flowing through the inlet port 24 contacts the static fluid dome 110 and the outer sloped surface 60C, which diverts coolant throughout the first tank 20.

[0027] FIG. 8 illustrates another static fluid generator in accordance with the present disclosure at reference numeral 40D. The static fluid generator 40D includes a first concave surface 42D and a second concave surface 42D, which are spaced apart from one another and are on opposite sides of the axis X extending through the axial center of the inlet port 24. A longitudinal axis Y of the concave surface 42D extends parallel to a longitudinal axis Y of the concave surface 42D. The longitudinal axis Y extends along a maximum length, and a vertex of, the concave surface 42D. Likewise, the longitudinal axis Y of the concave surface 42D extends along a maximum length, and a vertex of, the concave surface 42D. A rim 44D extends about the first concave surface 42D, and has a first curved end 46D and a second curved end 48D. First and second linear sides 50D and 52D of the rim 44D extend between the curved ends 46D and 48D. Similarly, a rim 44D extends about the concave surface 42D. The rim 44D has curved ends 46D and 48D. Linear sides 50D and 52D extend between the curved ends 46D and 48D. An outer sloped surface 60D extends from a side of the rim 44D opposite to the concave surface 42D, and an outer sloped surface 60D extends from a side of the rim 44D opposite to the concave surface 42D.

[0028] Coolant flowing into contact with the concave surface 42D generates the static fluid dome over the concave surface 42D, and coolant flowing into contact with the concave surface 42D generates another static fluid dome over the concave surface 42D. The static fluid domes at the concave surfaces 42D and 42D are each similar to the static fluid dome 110 of FIG. 5. Subsequent coolant flowing through the inlet port 24 deflects off of the static fluid domes and the sloped surfaces 60D and 60D, and is diverted throughout the tank 20 with little or no turbulence, which reduces or eliminates any tornado effect.

[0029] The present disclosure provides numerous advantages over the art. For example, the static fluid generators 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40D create a static fluid dome 110 (or two domes 110 in the case of static fluid generator 40D), which promotes a smooth transition for incoming coolant from the inlet port 24. The static fluid generators 40A-40D have no moving parts and there is no potential for cavitation erosion to the first tank 20 because the incoming coolant contacts the static fluid dome 110 and the outer sloped surfaces 60A-60D, and does not initially impact the wall 30. Instead, the incoming coolant impacts its own static fluid, which creates a smooth transition for incoming coolant from the inlet port 24 into the first tank 20 to divert the coolant along the length L of the first tank 20.

[0030] The static fluid generators 40A-40D advantageously reduce pressure drop as much as 1.2% at 200 liters per minute. Furthermore, the static fluid generators 40A-40D reduce or eliminate reverse coolant flow by reducing negative pressure formations where the inlet port 24 meets the first tank 20. Vortex formations often caused by random scatter and acceleration of coolant upon impact with the wall 30 are also reduced due to the presence of the static fluid generators 40A-40D. Improved flow distribution provides reduced maximum coolant velocities through individual tubes of the core 12, thus improving erosion durability. In other words, the static fluid generators 40A-40D distribute coolant more evenly along the length L of the first tank 20, which distributes coolant more evenly throughout the core 12.

[0031] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

[0032] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

[0033] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms comprises, comprising, including, and having, are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0034] When an element or layer is referred to as being on, engaged to, connected to, or coupled to another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly on, directly engaged to, directly connected to, or directly coupled to another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., between versus directly between, adjacent versus directly adjacent, etc.). As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0035] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0036] Spatially relative terms, such as inner, outer, beneath, below, lower, above, upper, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as below or beneath other elements or features would then be oriented above the other elements or features. Thus, the example term below can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.