IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,313,281
Granted Patent B2
US 12,313,281 · App. 18/001,492 · Granted May 27, 2025

Heat exchanger and heat exchange ventilator

Inventors: Toshiaki Hayashi (Tokyo, JP); Hajime Sotokawa (Tokyo, JP); Shinya Morikawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
F24F12/006F24F7/08F24F13/20F28D21/0014F28F9/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,313,281
App. No.
18/001,492
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a supply air flow and an exhaust air flow includes: a heat exchange element in a prism shape; a plurality of frame bars, each of the plurality of frame bars being attached to a corresponding side of the heat exchange element, the corresponding side extending along an axial direction of the heat exchange element; and an end face plate at least partially covering an axial end face of the heat exchange element, the plurality of frame bars being joined to the end face plate. The frame bars are joined to the end face plate in such a way as to be movable in the axial direction of the heat exchange element.

Claims (19)

1. A heat exchanger adapted to perform heat exchange between a supply air flow and an exhaust air flow, the heat exchanger comprising:

a heat exchange element in a prism shape;

a plurality of frame bars, each of the plurality of frame bars being attached to a corresponding side of the heat exchange element, the corresponding side extending along an axial direction of the heat exchange element; and

an end face plate adapted to cover at least partially an axial end face of the heat exchange element, and the plurality of frame bars are joined to the end face plate, wherein

the frame bars are joined to the end face plate in such a way as to be movable relative to the end face plate in the axial direction of the heat exchange element.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein

a gap is provided in a joint where the frame bar and the end face plate are joined, the gap is adapted to allow the end face plate to move along the axial direction of the heat exchange element.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein

at the joint, a projection is provided on one of the frame bar and the end face plate, and an opening is provided in another of the frame bar and the end face plate,

the projection is fitted into the opening, and

a length of the projection along the axial direction is shorter than a length of the opening along the axial direction.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein

a pair of the projections are formed and arranged side by side in such a way as to leave a space between the projections, and a protrusion is formed between the projections.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein

the projection is formed in a snap-fit shape.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein

the joint allows the frame bar to move along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the heat exchange element.

7. A heat exchange ventilator comprising:

the heat exchanger according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2022
From: HAYASHI, TOSHIAKI; SOTOKAWA, HAJIME; MORIKAWA, SHINYA
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062051/0903 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230221034A1 · Jul 13, 2023
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