RADIATOR

Abstract

A radiator includes a supporting part including a plurality of through openings formed therein and a plurality of cooling tubes, each of the cooling tubes received in at least one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, each of the cooling tubes having a generally U-shaped configuration, wherein a first one of the cooling tubes includes a first helical portion having a first pre-determined depth and a second one of the cooling tubes includes a second helical portion having a second pre-determined depth different from the first pre-determined depth.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority to Czech Republic Patent Application Serial Number PV 2010-249 filed Feb. 4, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to a radiator intended especially for motor vehicles. In particular, the invention is directed to a radiator including a plurality of cooling tubes arranged in a U-shaped, wherein each of the cooling tubes has a helical portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Radiators in the art often include tube bundles for passing a medium therethrough. An example of a conventional tube bundle is described in Chinese Utility Model Pat. Pub. No. CN 201221907Y, in which a radiator includes a plurality of U-shaped tubes, each of the tubes including a helical groove with a constant pitch and a constant depth. Another similar example is described in German Pat. Appl. Pub. No. DE 102007013302, in which a radiator includes a plurality of U-shaped tubes, each of the tubes including a smooth surface.

[0004] A flow of a fluid in a conventional tube bundle including a plurality of cooling tubes arranged in a U-shaped configuration is unevenly distributed in the tubes. The uneven distribution of the fluid leads to less than optimal operation and a drop in the pressure value in the radiator.

[0005] It would be desirable to develop a radiator having a plurality of cooling tubes arranged to provide a substantially uniform distribution of fluid in the tubes without a drop in a pressure value in the radiator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Concordant and consistent with the present invention, a radiator having a plurality of cooling tubes arranged to provide a substantially uniform distribution of fluid in the tubes without a drop in a pressure value in the radiator, has surprisingly been discovered.

[0007] In one embodiment a radiator comprises: a supporting part including a plurality of through openings formed therein; and a plurality of cooling tubes, each of the cooling tubes received in at least one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, each of the cooling tubes having a generally U-shaped configuration, wherein a first one of the cooling tubes includes a first helical portion having a first pre-determined depth and a second one of the cooling tubes includes a second helical portion having a second pre-determined depth different from the first pre-determined depth.

[0008] In another embodiment, a radiator comprises: a supporting part including a plurality of through openings formed therein; a first cooling tube received in at least a first one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the first cooling tube having a first helical portion with a first pre-determined depth; and a second cooling tube received in at least a second one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the second cooling tube having a second helical portion with a second pre-determined depth, wherein the second pre-determined depth is greater than the first pre-determined depth.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, a radiator comprises: a supporting part including a plurality of through openings formed therein; a first cooling tube received in at least a first one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the first cooling tube having a helical portion with a first pre-determined depth; a second cooling tube received in at least a second one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the second cooling tube having a helical portion with a second pre-determined depth, wherein the second pre-determined depth is greater than the first pre-determined depth; and a third cooling tube received in at least a third one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the third cooling tube having a helical portion with a third pre-determined depth, wherein the third pre-determined depth is greater than the second pre-determined depth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the accompanying drawing which is a schematic side view a radiator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. In respect of the methods disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical.

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a radiator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The radiator includes a supporting part 1, which is provided with an even number of through openings arranged one above the other (i.e. in a linear configuration). In the present sample embodiment, six openings are arranged in the supporting part 1 for securing the ends of a plurality of U-shaped cooling tubes 2. The U-shaped portion of the cooling tubes 2 are concentrically arranged to substantially align the ends of each of the cooling tubes. In other words, each of the cooling tubes 2 is arranged adjacent each other along a single plane. However, it is understood that any number (e.g. eight, ten, or more) of paired openings can be formed in the supporting part 1.

[0013] In the embodiment shown, each of the cooling tubes 2 includes a helical portion/design 3 (e.g. groove). As a non-limiting example, a depth h2 of the helical portion 3 created on an intermediate cooling tube 2a of the radiator is less than a depth h1 of the helical portion 3 created on the one of the cooling tubes 2 adjacent the intermediate cooling tube 2a on an inside of the "U" shaped configuration. As a further non-limiting example, the depth h2 of the helical portion 3 created on the intermediate cooling tube 2a of the radiator is more than a depth h3 of the helical portion 3 created on the one of the cooling tubes 2 adjacent the intermediate cooling tube 2a on an outside of the "U" shaped configuration. Each of the cooling tubes 2, 2a has a substantially constant diameter along its entire length.

[0014] The radiator according to the present invention provides a substantially uniform distribution of fluid in the cooling tubes 2 to optimize operation of the radiator without a drop in a pressure value in the radiator.

[0015] From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

Claims

1. A radiator comprising: a supporting part including a plurality of through openings formed therein; and a plurality of cooling tubes, each of the cooling tubes received in at least one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, each of the cooling tubes having a generally U-shaped configuration, wherein a first one of the cooling tubes includes a first helical portion having a first pre-determined depth and a second one of the cooling tubes includes a second helical portion having a second pre-determined depth different from the first pre-determined depth.

2. The radiator according to claim 1, wherein the supporting part includes an even number of through openings to receive both ends of each of the cooling tubes.

3. The radiator according to claim 1, wherein the cooling tubes are concentrically arranged to substantially align each of the cooling tubes along a single plane.

4. The radiator according to claim 1, wherein the first helical portion is a helical groove formed in a wall of the first one of the cooling tubes.

5. The radiator according to claim 1, wherein the second helical portion is a helical groove formed in a wall of the second one of the cooling tubes.

6. The radiator according to claim 1, wherein the through openings are arranged in a linear configuration.

7. A radiator comprising: a supporting part including a plurality of through openings formed therein; a first cooling tube received in at least a first one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the first cooling tube having a first helical portion with a first pre-determined depth; and a second cooling tube received in at least a second one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the second cooling tube having a second helical portion with a second pre-determined depth, wherein the second pre-determined depth is greater than the first pre-determined depth.

8. The radiator according to claim 7, wherein the supporting part includes an even number of through openings to receive both ends of each of the cooling tubes.

9. The radiator according to claim 7, wherein the cooling tubes are concentrically arranged to substantially align each of the cooling tubes along a single plane.

10. The radiator according to claim 7, wherein the second cooling tube is disposed adjacent the first cooling tube and arranged inside a U-shaped configuration of the first cooling tube.

11. The radiator according to claim 7, wherein the first helical portion is a helical groove formed in a wall of the first cooling tube.

12. The radiator according to claim 7, wherein the second helical portion is a helical groove formed in a wall of the second cooling tube.

13. The radiator according to claim 7, wherein the through openings are arranged in a linear configuration.

14. A radiator comprising: a supporting part including a plurality of through openings formed therein; a first cooling tube received in at least a first one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the first cooling tube having a helical portion with a first pre-determined depth; a second cooling tube received in at least a second one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the second cooling tube having a helical portion with a second pre-determined depth, wherein the second pre-determined depth is greater than the first pre-determined depth; and a third cooling tube received in at least a third one of the through openings formed in the supporting part, the third cooling tube having a helical portion with a third pre-determined depth, wherein the third pre-determined depth is greater than the second pre-determined depth.

15. The radiator according to claim 14, wherein the supporting part includes an even number of through openings to receive both ends of each of the cooling tubes.

16. The radiator according to claim 14, wherein the cooling tubes are concentrically arranged to substantially align each of the cooling tubes along a single plane.

17. The radiator according to claim 14, wherein the second cooling tube is disposed adjacent the first cooling tube and arranged inside a U-shaped configuration of the first cooling tube.

18. The radiator according to claim 14, wherein the third cooling tube is disposed adjacent the second cooling tube and arranged inside a U-shaped configuration of the second cooling tube.

19. The radiator according to claim 14, wherein the first helical portion is a helical groove formed in a wall of the first cooling tube and wherein the second helical portion is a helical groove formed in a wall of the second cooling tube.

20. The radiator according to claim 14, wherein through openings are arranged in a linear configuration.

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