US1907033A - Oil cooler - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1933. J AsKlN 1,907,033

OIL COOLER Filed Jan. 17, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jwuentmn Joseph mm,

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J w W Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH ASKIN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO FEDDERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC BUFFALO, NEW YORK OIL COOLER Application filed January 17, 1931. Serial 1T0. 509,452.

This invention relates to an oil cooling system for internal combustion engines and par ticularly for water cooled engines such as are used in motor vehicles.

In internal combustion engines it is desirableto maintain the temperature of. the lubricating oil in the -crank case substantially constant about the degree at which it is most eflicient. Due to the various atmospheric conditions under which such engines are operated, however, the oil may be cold and inefficient for a considerable time after starting, particularly in cold weather, and may in warm weather, become overheated, causing it to break down and to burn. As the water in the cooling system of an engine rapidly be-' comes heated to a normal temperature, and is maintained at this temperature by the water cooling radiator, devices have, heretofore, been interposed in the water cooling systems to exchange heat from the cooling water to the oil and vice versa.

Certain of these devices have comprised. cellular, or other type, core elements, similar to the conventional vehicle radiator for en gine cooling, and have had the passages in communication with the engine crank case for passing oil. The core elements have been interposed in the water cooling system of the engine so that heat might be exchanged between the engine oil and the cooling water. Due to the high viscosity of the oil and the pressure placedupon it by the pumps, which have been utilized to circulate the oil through the core elements, the oil has, in some instances, ruptured the core elements.

The present invention contemplates an improved means for eii'ecting the heat transfer between the engine oil and the cooling water, including a plurality of heavy tubes disposed within a casing, the tubes communicating with the oil containing crank case and the casing being interposed in the circulatory water cooling system. Radiating fins are provided upon the tubes which serve to maintain them in fixed relation to one another and to the casing. Distributing headers in communication with oil inlet and outlet lines are connected to the oil tubes and serve to unify and strengthen the assembly.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine having a water cooling system,

and showing an oil cooling system, in accordance with this invention, installed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the heat transfer device;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 4;.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the heat transfer device, portions thereof being broken away and shown in cross section; and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view.

As shown in Fig. 1, the internal combustion engine 10 has a water jacket 11 surrounding the cylinders and a conduit 12 connecting an upper portion of the jacket to a water cooling radiator 13. Conduits 14 and 15 connect the lower portion of the radiator 13 to a lower portion of the water jacket so that water may be. circulated from the jacket through the radiator in the manner indicated by the arrows. A water pump 16 may be interposed along the conduit 15 to positively provide for the circulation of the engine cooling water. Lubricating oil in the engine crank case 17 may be forced, by an oil pump 18,

through oil lines 19 and 21 to the oil distributing system which may carry the oil, under pressure if desired, to the bearings and cylinder walls, from where it returns by gravity to the crank case.

The heat exchange unit 22 comprises a unitary casing section 23 having water inlet and outlet nipples 24 and 25 extending from its opposite sides, the inlet nipple being connected to the conduit 14 and the outlet nipple 25 being connected to the conduit 15. 'As shown in Fig. 1, the outlet nipple may be disposed at a higher level than the inlet nipple. A flanged casing section26 may be fitted onto the open end of the section 23 and secured thereto in a water tight manner as by soldering.

Oil inlet and outlet headers 27 and 28 extend through one side of the casing and may be soldered to the casing along adjacent corners thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. Threaded nipples 29 form a part of the headers, being crimped and soldered or otherwise secured to the open ends of the headers. The nipples serve to receive fittings 31 which join the oil line 19 to the header 27 and the line 21 to the header 28. A plurality of juxtaposed oil cooling tubes 32 connect the headers, the ends of the tubes being fitted and secured into flanged openings 33 which are formed in the headers. The tubes are preferably of serpentine form in order that they may be of comparatively great length and yet fit within the confines of the comparatively small easing. As depicted in Fig. 2 the bonds of the tubes may abut, and may if desired be secured to, opposite walls of the casing.

Heat radiating fins 34 of corrugated or undulated sheet metal may be secured to opposite sides of the straight sections of the cooling tubes. The fins may each comprise a continuous strip as illustrated and may extend substantially the length of the tube convolutions. Opposite side edges of the fins may be in abutment, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, with the edges of adjacent fins. and the outer fins 34 on each tube may have portions in abutment with the walls of the casing, thereby preventing relative movement of the tubes and headers with the casing walls.

In building up the assembly the tubes 32 may be joined to the headers, the fins beingattached to the tubes either before or after this operation. The cooling tube and header assembly may then be secured in the casing section 23, and the flanged casing section 26 may then be applied, completing the unitary element 22, which may then be installed on the engine. In operation water heated in the jacket 11 of the engine will be cooled by ciroulating through the radiator 13, and will be drawn inwardly through the nipple 24 around the fins 34 and tubes 32, through the nipple 25 to the pump 16. Oil may circulate, being pumped under pressure if desired, from the crank case 17 through the line 19 to the header 27, and through the tubes 32 to the header 28. From the latter it will be conducted through the line 21 to the oil distributing system of the engine.

It will be understood that the oil in passing through the tubes 32 will be cooled to substantially the temperature of the water passing through the casing 23 so that cool and efficient lubricating oil will be delivered to the engine. Should the engine be operated in cold weather so that the crank case is unduly cooled, the process of heat transfer may be reversed and the water, heated in the engine jacket, may be utilized to heat the oil. It will further be understood that the heatexchange unit will be efficient in operation due to the large heat transfer surfaces provided by the tubes 32 and fins 34 for contact with the water. The oil cooling elements may be rigidly supported as a umtary element, the fins 34 and tubes 32 being adapted for abutment with the casing walls and the headers 27 and 28 being joined to the walls. The headers and tubes may be assembled as a unit and thereafter inserted in the casing, adapting the device to simple and economical manufacture. Ample surface of contact is provided for making all connections of the oil passageways, enabling the device to with stand such pressure as may be imposed upon the oil by an oil circulating pump.

It will still further be understood that the device described and illustrated is merely a typical embodiment of the principles of the invention and that other devices may be constructed utilizing these principles. It is therefore intended that the invention be considered of scope commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat transfer device for exchanging heat between the water of an engine cooling system and the oil of the engine lubricating system, comprising a casing having water inlet and outlet openings at opposite sides thereof, a pair of oil conducting headers extending through a wall of the casing and secured in corners of said casing, a plurality of oil tubes each joined to and in communication with each of said headers, said tubes be ing of serpentine form and comprising bend portions abutting the walls of the casing and substantially straight portions connecting the bend portions, said straight portions being provided-on opposite sides with heat radiating and conducting fins, the fins of adjacent tubes abutting and the fins of the tube portions adjacent to the casing walls abutting the latter, and the fins of each tube being spaced from the otherfins of each tube whereby water passageways are provided about the tubes and fins between said water inlet and outlet openings.

2. A heat transfer device comprising a casing, a pair of fluid conducting headers disposed within said casing, a plurality of tubes connecting said headers, each tube being of serpentine form comprising substantially straight portions joined by bend portions, heat radiating and conducting fins disposed along the straight portions, the fins of adjacent tubes being in abutment and the fins of each tube being spaced to provide water passages therebetween, and said casing having fluid inlet and outlet openings at sides thereof which are adjacent said bend portions of the tubes.

3. A heat transfer device comprising a casing, a pair of fluid conducting headers secured to the wallsof said casing, a plurality of similar tubes connecting said headers and being arranged therealong in tandem, portions of said tubes abutting the walls of said casing for reinforcing the assembly, and said casing having fluid inlet and outlet openings,

whereby fluid may be circulated through the Casing to exchange heat with fluid in said tubes.

4. A heat transfer device comprising a casing having fluid inlet and outlet openings, a pair of fluid conducting headers secured to said casing and a plurality of tubes joined to said headers in tandem and providing for fluid passage from one to the other of said headers within said casing, and corrugated v fins on each of said tubes abutting the fins of adj acenttubes for reinforcing the device and for providing a large area of contact between the tubes and fluid Within the casing.

5. A heat transfer device comprising a casing having fluid inlet and outlet openings, a pair of fluid conducting headers secured to 29 said casing and a plurality of tubes joined to said headers in tandem and providing for fluid passage from one to the other of said headers within said casing, and corrugated fins on each of said tubes abutting the fins of adjacent tubes for reinforcing the device and for providing a large area of contact between the tubes and fluid Within the casing, the corrugations of adjacent fins being staggered to provide for positive abutment of adjacent 6. A heat transfer device comprising a casing having fluid inlet and outlet openings, said casing being composed of a plurality of sections, at least one of said sections having openings formed therein for receiving fluid inlet and outlet headers, a unit comprising a pair of headers, a plurality of tubes connecting said headers, and heat transferring fins on said tubes, the fins on adj acent tubes abutting, and said unit being adapted to be insorted and secured in said casin with portions of the headers extending t rough the openings provided therefor in the casing.

JOSEPH ASKIN.

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