IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,638,241
Granted Patent B2
US 12,638,241 · App. 18/330,350 · Granted May 26, 2026

Double-tube heat exchanger and manufacturing method therefor

Inventor: Eiichi Daikai (Aichi, JP)
Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
F28D7/106F28F1/16F28F1/22
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,638,241
App. No.
18/330,350
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The double-tube heat exchanger has an outer tube and an inner tube inserted into the outer tube, is provided with an inside channel within the inner tube and an outside channel between the inner tube and the outer tube, and is configured to exchange heat between the fluid flowing in the inside channel and the fluid flowing in the outside channel. The inner tube has an uneven portion having unevenness on the outer peripheral surface. A large-diameter sealing portion is interposed between one axial end of the outer tube and the inner tube. A small-diameter sealing portion, which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter sealing portion, is interposed between the other axial end of the outer tube and the inner tube. The outside channel and the uneven portion are arranged using the difference in axial position and diameter between the large-diameter sealing portion and the small-diameter sealing portion.

Claims (52)

1 . A double-tube heat exchanger, comprising:

an outer tube; and

an inner tube inserted into the outer tube,

the double-tube heat exchanger being provided with an inside channel inside the inner tube and provided with an outside channel between the inner tube and the outer tube, and the double-tube heat exchanger being configured to exchange heat between a fluid flowing through the inside channel and a fluid flowing through the outside channel,

wherein the inner tube includes an inner tube large-diameter portion, an inner tube first small-diameter portion, an uneven portion arranged between the inner tube large-diameter portion and the inner tube first small-diameter portion, and an inner tube second small-diameter portion that has a same outer diameter as the inner tube first small-diameter portion, wherein the uneven portion comprises a concave portion and a convex portion, a rear end of the uneven portion is connected to the inner tube large-diameter portion by the convex portion, a front end of the uneven portion is connected to the inner tube first small-diameter portion by the concave portion, and the inner tube second small-diameter portion and the inner tube first small diameter portion are at opposite axial end sides of the inner tube large-diameter portion,

a large-diameter sealing portion is interposed between one axial end of the outer tube and the inner tube,

a small-diameter sealing portion having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter sealing portion is interposed between the other axial end of the outer tube and the inner tube, and

the outside channel and the uneven portion are arranged by using a difference in axial position and a difference in diameter between the large-diameter sealing portion and the small-diameter sealing portion.

2 . The double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the outer tube includes an outer tube intermediate-diameter portion that is the one axial end of the outer tube, and an outer tube small-diameter portion that is the other axial end of the outer tube,

the inner tube large-diameter portion arranged radially inside the outer tube intermediate-diameter portion, and the inner tube first small-diameter portion arranged radially inside the outer tube small-diameter portion,

the large-diameter sealing portion is interposed between the outer tube intermediate-diameter portion and the inner tube large-diameter portion, and fluid-tightly seals one axial end of the outside channel,

the small-diameter sealing portion is interposed between the outer tube small-diameter portion and the inner tube first small-diameter portion, and fluid-tightly seals the other axial end of the outside channel, and

according to an inner diameter of the outer tube intermediate-diameter portion being D 1 , an inner diameter of the outer tube small-diameter portion being D 2 , an outer diameter of the inner tube large-diameter portion being d 1 , the outer diameter of the inner tube first small-diameter portion being d 2 , and a maximum outer diameter of the uneven portion being d 3 , the following formulas (1) to (3) are all established:

D 1> D 2  (1)

d 1≥ d 3> d 2  (2)

D 1> d 2  (3).

3 . The double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the outer tube intermediate-diameter portion is an outer tube first intermediate-diameter portion,

the outer tube includes (i) an outer tube large-diameter portion that has a larger inner diameter than the outer tube first intermediate-diameter portion, and (ii) an outer tube second intermediate-diameter portion that has the same inner diameter as the outer tube first intermediate-diameter portion, from one axial end side to the other axial end side between the outer tube first intermediate-diameter portion and the outer tube small-diameter portion,

the outer tube large-diameter portion is provided with a first opening that communicates with the outside channel, and

the outer tube second intermediate-diameter portion is provided with a second opening that communicates with the outside channel.

4 . The double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein one axial end of the uneven portion is arranged on the other axial end side with respect to one axial end of the outer tube large-diameter portion.

5 . The double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein the other axial end of the uneven portion is arranged on one axial end side with respect to one axial end of the second opening.

6 . The double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the outer tube is integrally formed of the same material, and

the inner tube is integrally formed of the same material.

7 . The double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the uneven portion is a spiral portion having spiral unevenness that goes around along an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube.

8 . A manufacturing method for a double-tube heat exchanger, the doble-tube heat exchanger including:

an outer tube; and

an inner tube inserted into the outer tube,

the double-tube heat exchanger being provided with an inside channel inside the inner tube and provided with an outside channel between the inner tube and the outer tube, and the double-tube heat exchanger being configured to exchange heat between a fluid flowing through the inside channel and a fluid flowing through the outside channel,

wherein according to an insertion direction front side being a front side and an insertion direction rear side being a rear side, when the inner tube is inserted into the outer tube,

the inner tube includes an inner tube large-diameter portion, an inner tube first small-diameter portion, an uneven portion arranged between the inner tube large-diameter portion and the inner tube first small-diameter portion, and an inner tube second small-diameter portion that has a same outer diameter as the inner tube first small-diameter portion, wherein the uneven portion comprises a concave portion and a convex portion, a rear end of the uneven portion is connected to the inner tube large-diameter portion by the convex portion, a front end of the uneven portion is connected to the inner tube first small-diameter portion by the concave portion, and the inner tube second small-diameter portion and the inner tube first small diameter portion are at opposite axial end sides of the inner tube large-diameter portion,

a large-diameter sealing portion is interposed between a rear end portion of the outer tube and the inner tube, a small-diameter sealing portion having a smaller diameter than the large-diameter sealing portion is interposed between a front end portion of the outer tube and the inner tube, and

the outside channel and the uneven portion are arranged by using a difference in axial position and a difference in diameter between the large-diameter sealing portion and the small-diameter sealing portion,

the manufacturing method comprising:

inserting a front end of the inner tube into a rear end of the outer tube;

positioning the inner tube and the outer tube by moving the inner tube forward relative to the outer tube after insertion; and

forming the large-diameter sealing portion by connecting the rear end portion of the outer tube and the inner tube after positioning, and forming the small-diameter sealing portion by connecting the front end portion of the outer tube and the inner tube after positioning.

9 . The manufacturing method for the double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 8 , wherein the outer tube includes an outer tube intermediate-diameter portion that is the rear end portion of the outer tube, and an outer tube small-diameter portion that is the front end portion of the outer tube,

the inner tube large-diameter portion arranged radially inside the outer tube intermediate-diameter portion, and the inner tube first small-diameter portion arranged radially inside the outer tube small-diameter portion,

the large-diameter sealing portion is interposed between the outer tube intermediate-diameter portion and the inner tube large-diameter portion, and fluid-tightly seals a rear end of the outside channel,

the small-diameter sealing portion is interposed between the outer tube small-diameter portion and the inner tube first small-diameter portion, and fluid-tightly seals a front end of the outside channel, and

according to an inner diameter of the outer tube intermediate-diameter portion being D 1 , an inner diameter of the outer tube small-diameter portion being D 2 , an outer diameter of the inner tube large-diameter portion being d 1 , the outer diameter of the inner tube first small-diameter portion being d 2 , and a maximum outer diameter of the uneven portion being d 3 , the following formulas (1) to (3) are all established:

D 1> D 2  (1)

d 1≥ d 3> d 2  (2)

D 1> d 2  (3).

10 . The manufacturing method for the double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 9 , further comprising, before the inserting, setting a tubular inner tube material in a mold, supplying a fluid into the inner tube material, expanding the inner tube material by a pressure of the fluid, and deforming the inner tube material along a mold surface of the mold, so as to expand and deform the inner tube large-diameter portion and the uneven portion with respect to the inner tube first small-diameter portion that has the same outer diameter as the inner tube material, and mold the inner tube.

11 . The manufacturing method for the double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 9 , wherein the outer tube intermediate-diameter portion is an outer tube first intermediate-diameter portion,

the outer tube includes (i) an outer tube large-diameter portion that has a larger inner diameter than the outer tube first intermediate-diameter portion, and (ii) an outer tube second intermediate-diameter portion that has the same inner diameter as the outer tube first intermediate-diameter portion, from the rear side to the front side between the outer tube first intermediate-diameter portion and the outer tube small-diameter portion, and

before the inserting, the manufacturing method further comprising:

molding the outer tube by deforming a tubular outer tube material; and

forming a first opening that communicates with the outside channel in the outer tube large-diameter portion after molding, and forming a second opening that communicates with the outside channel in the outer tube second intermediate-diameter portion after molding.

12 . The manufacturing method for the double-tube heat exchanger according to claim 11 , further comprising, before the inserting or after the sealing, connecting a first pipe to the first opening and connecting a second pipe to the second opening.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2023
From: DAIKAI, EIICHI
To: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 063889/0747 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-124294 · Jul 29, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2022027442 · Jul 12, 2022
Related Publication 20230341188A1 · Oct 26, 2023
References Cited (22)
US 1005441A · Lovekin · 1911 [cited by examiner]
US 20110174469A1 · Kim · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20180045467A1 · Lee et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200248845A1 · Cho · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 85832275 · 1983 [cited by applicant]
JP H1038491 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
JP 2000130964A · 2000 [cited by examiner]
JP 2002318015 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006162238 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014009831 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018025374 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020109329 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020531789 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 20090029891A · 2009 [cited by examiner]
KR 20110084720A · 2011 [cited by examiner]
KR 1020130001544 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020140054864 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
“Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority (Form PCT/ISA/237) of PCT/JP2022/027442”, mailed on Sep. 20, 2022, with English translation thereof, pp. 1-11. [cited by applicant]
“International Search Report (Form PCT/ISA/210) of PCT/JP2022/027442”, mailed on Sep. 20, 2022, with English translation thereof, pp. 1-6. [cited by applicant]
“Search Report of Europe Counterpart Application”, issued on Jul. 26, 2024, pp. 1-7. [cited by applicant]
“Office Action of Europe Counterpart Application”, issued on Apr. 15, 2025, p. 1-p. 5. [cited by applicant]
“Notice of Reasons for Refusal of Japan Counterpart Application”, issued on Jun. 17, 2025, with English translation thereof, p. 1-p. 11. [cited by applicant]