FIN DEVICE FOR HEAT EXCHANGER

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to fin assemblies that are used in heat exchangers, such as in HVAC systems, to aid with transferring heat between two flow paths. The application relates to a fin assembly and a method of constructing a fin assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first representative embodiment of the disclosure is provided. The embodiment includes a fin device configured to be used within a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy. The fin device includes a first elongated strip of material, and a second elongated strip of material, the first and second elongated strips of material extend in parallel to each other, and are disposed adjacent to each other, wherein a longitudinal axis extends parallel to both the first elongated strip of material and the second elongated strip of material. The first elongated strip of material comprises a plurality of rise portions and a plurality of fall portions, that are disposed in alternating fashion with a trailing portion of a respective rise portion extending to a leading portion of a first adjacent fall portion to establish a first transition, and a trailing portion of the first adjacent fall portion extending to a leading portion of a second rise portion to establish a second transition. The second elongated strip of material comprises a plurality of rise portions and a plurality of fall portions, that are disposed in alternating fashion with a trailing portion of a respective rise portion extending to a leading portion of a first adjacent fall portion to establish a third transition, and a trailing portion of the first adjacent fall portion extending to a leading portion of a second rise portion to establish a fourth transition, wherein the respective rise portions of the first and second elongated strips are aligned in a staggered fashion. A bridge portion extends from the first transition of the first elongated strip to a neighboring third transition of the second elongated strip. A space is provided between the first and second elongated strips of metal that extends between adjacent inner edges of the first and second elongated strips at positions other than were the bridge portion extends.

Another representative embodiment of the disclosure is provided. The embodiment includes a fin device configured to be used within a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy. The fin device includes a first elongated strip of material, and a second elongated strip of material, the first and second elongated strips of material extend in parallel to each other, and are disposed adjacent to each other, wherein a longitudinal axis extends parallel to both the first elongated strip of material and the second elongated strip of material. The first elongated strip of material comprises a plurality of rise portions and a plurality of fall portions, that are disposed in alternating fashion with a trailing portion of a respective rise portion extending to a leading portion of a first adjacent fall portion to establish a first transition, and a trailing portion of the first adjacent fall portion extending to a leading portion of a second rise portion to establish a second transition, wherein the first elongated strip comprises a plurality of spaced first transitions and a plurality of spaced second transitions. The longitudinal axis is spaced evenly between an outer edge of the first elongate strip and an outer edge of the second elongate strip. The second elongated strip of material comprises a plurality of rise portions and a plurality of fall portions, that are disposed in alternating fashion with a trailing portion of a respective rise portion extending to a leading portion of a first adjacent fall portion to establish a third transition, and a trailing portion of the first adjacent fall portion extending to a leading portion of a second rise portion to establish a fourth transition, wherein the respective rise portions of the first and second elongated strips are aligned in a staggered fashion, such that the second elongate strip comprises a plurality of spaced third transitions and plurality of spaced fourth transitions. A first bridge portion extends from a first of the first plurality of first transitions of the first elongated strip to a neighboring first of the plurality of fourth transitions of the second elongated strip, and a second bridge portion that extends from the fourth transition of the second elongated strip to a neighboring second of the first plurality of transitions of the first elongated strip that is disposed adjacent to and rearwardly of the neighboring first of the first plurality of transitions. A space is provided between the first and second elongated strips of metal that extends between adjacent inner edges of the first and second elongated strips at positions other than were the bridge portion extends.

Advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosure that have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the disclosed subject matter is capable of other and different embodiments, and its details are capable of modification in various respects. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a formed fin device that includes a plurality of bridges that connect adjacent upper transition portions and adjacent lower transition portions.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the formed fin device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of an endless blank that has been cut to form the fin device of FIG. 1 but before the blank has been bent to form a pattern with rising and falling portions with transitions between upon adjacent first and second elongate strips.

FIG. 3A is an alternative top view of the blank that has been cut to form the fin device of FIG. 1, with the angled portions at a different acute angle than the view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3B is another alternative top view of the blank that has cuts with different proportions of the length of the leading and trailing portions than the center portion to form longer length and steeper bridge portions than FIGS. 3 and 3A.

FIG. 3C is yet another alternative embodiment of the blank that has cuts that are entirely at an acute angle with respect to the center longitudinal axis of the blank.

FIG. 4 is a portion of an alternative endless blank that has been cut to form an alternate fin device with a plurality of bridges that connect adjacent transition portions from the opposite first and second elongate strips.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the alternative endless blank that has been bent to form the rising and falling portions and the transition portions therebetween.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to FIGS. 1-5, a fin device 10, 500, 600, 700 is provided as well as method of manufacturing the fin device. The fin device 10, 500, 600, 700 is configured to be used in a heat exchanger that aids in the transfer of heat between a working fluid and another working fluid (e.g. a cross-flow heat exchanger) or that aids in the transfer of heat from a working fluid to the environment surrounding the heat exchanger, such as forced air or natural convection air. Heat exchangers frequently include fins that extend from or between different portions of a heat exchanger where fluid flows, and includes a large surface area for flow thereacross, either by the second working fluid flowing across, or by air from the environment flowing across the fins. The term fluid as used herein may be a liquid or a gas, or a combination of the two. The fin device 100, 500 discussed herein is described herein as used in combination with a heat exchanger where a refrigerant flows through a pipe that the fins are connected to, with air flowing across the fin device. The air may flow with forced flow or with natural flow. In some embodiments, the fin device 10, 500, 600, 700 may extend between two pipes of the heat exchanger, such that heat flows between the fin device 100, 500, 600, 700 and two pipes, such as in opposite directions from the fin device 100, 500, 600, 700.

The fin device 10, 500, 600, 700 may be manufactured from an elongated volume of material, such as from a strip of material that is rolled out of a spool. The fin device may be made from aluminum, stainless steel, or other materials that are suitable for forming and include appropriate heat transfer coefficients to functionally satisfy the heat transfer needs of fins.

The fin device 10, 500, 600, 700 may be formed as an endless length of material, that is cut into desired lengths for the particular heat exchanger. The term endless is defined herein to mean a length significantly longer than the length of the fin that is to be used in a heat exchanger, such that a plurality of fin components can be formed and cut from the endless length. The endless length can be up to the length of elongate materials that is connected to the machine that forms the fin device 100, 500, 600, 700.

As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the fin device 100 may include first and second elongated strips of material 120, 220 (FIGS. 1 and 3) that extend in parallel to each other and are adjacent to each other. The first elongated strip 120 and the second elongated strip 220 are formed from the same endless length within the forming machine, which provides a plurality of repeated cuts, as discussed below, into the material and then bends the material to form the desired shapes and dimensions for the features of the first and second elongated strips of material 120, 220. In other embodiments, the strip of material may form three or more elongated strips from the same endless length of material that are each parallel to each other and connected to each other. This specification discusses in detail a fin device with first and second elongated strips. A fin device with three (or more) elongated strips that are parallel with each other can be formed in the same manner as the embodiment discussed herein with two elongated strips, with two sets of repeating cuts (e.g. 96, 97, 98) being provided along the length of the strip (with a center portion, e.g. 96b, 97b, etc.) of a first cuts provided at a position that is one third of the total width of the material, and the second cuts with a center portion (e.g. 96b, 97b, etc.) provided at a position that is two thirds of the total width of the material.

The cuts (e.g. the cuts at one-third and at two-thirds of the width of the material) may be staggered along the length of the strip so that the upward transitions (discussed below) of the adjacent first and second elongated strips (similar to 120, 220 discussed herein) will be connected with an angled bridge portion (e.g. 326) and the adjacent second and third elongated strips (the strip 220 is connected to another strip to the right of it-so that the connection between the second and third strips is similar or the same as the connection between the first and second strips 120, 220, as discussed below) will be connected with an angled bridge portion (like 326) at the same (or potentially a different) angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, as discussed below with respect to the embodiment with first and second elongated strips of material 120, 220. The downward transitions (similar to 138, 238, discussed below) may also be similar aligned with a bridge (similar to 338) between the first and elongated strips of material 120, 220, and the downward transitions of the second and third strips may also be connected with a bridge (similar to 338). In other embodiments with three or more elongated strips, only the upward transitions of the three elongated strips may be connected with a bridge (i.e. a bridge between the first and the second strip (the second is the middle strip) and another bridge between the second and the third elongated strip). In other embodiments, a bridge may be provided between a first set of neighboring upward and downward transitions (e.g. neighboring 126/226 and 138/238 with no bridge provided between the next adjacent neighboring upward and downward transitions (e.g. 136/236 and 148/248) such that bridges are provided and then not provided in an alternating manner.

Each of the first elongate strip 120 and the second elongate strip 220 are formed from the same endless blank. After the cuts (discussed below) are made, the blank is bent to form a plurality of rise portions (e.g. 124, 134, 144 for the first elongated strip; 224, 234, 244 for the second elongated strip) and a plurality of fall portions (e.g. 122, 132, 142 for the first elongated strip; 222, 232, 242 for the second elongated strip), with the rising and falling portions in each strip formed in an alternating fashion. Each strip 120, 220 has a plurality of first (i.e. upward) transitions (126, 136, 146, etc.; 226, 236, 246, etc.) where a trailing portion of a respective rise portion (e.g. 124; 224) transitions to a leading portion of the adjacent and behind fall portion (e.g. 122; 222). Each of the first transitions are convex upward (i.e. from the perspective of the fin device 100 from the view of FIG. 1) or may be formed with an edge, wherein an end of the trailing portion of the rise portion meets a beginning of the adjacent and behind fall portion at an edge. The first transitions may in the alternative be formed with a curve that extends between the rise portion and the adjacent and behind fall portion. The curve may be a constant curve (i.e. with the same radius of curvature throughout the curve) (between a trailing portion of the rising portion and a leading portion of the adjacent behind fall portion) or may be with an inconsistent curve, such as with the smallest radius of curvature at the geometric center of the transition portion.

In some embodiments a portion of each rise portion and a portion of each fall portion (e.g. 122, 124; 222, 224) are substantially planar for a portion between the various transitions, as discussed herein. Alternatively the rise and fall portions may be entirely curved along their length, with a changing curvature along their length to allow the elongate strips 120, 220 to transition from the upper transitions that are convex up (if not an edge) to the lower transitions that are concave up (if not an edge). The nominal fin device 100 may be formed with substantially planar portions within the rise and fall portions, but the formed fin device 100 may be bent after formation to be positioned as desired upon a heat exchanger, which may cause some or all of the rising and falling portions to no longer be substantially planar. The term substantially planar is defined herein to include exactly planar, as well as very close to planar, such as with no portions that make more than 5-10 degree angle with other portions of the same rise or fall portion.

Each elongate strip 120, 220 also has a plurality of second (i.e. downward) transitions (138, 148, 158, etc.; 238, 248, 258, etc.) where a trailing portion of a respective falling portion (122; 222) transitions to a leading portion of an adjacent rising portion (e.g. 134; 234). Each of the second transitions are concave upward (i.e. from the perspective of the fin device 100 from the view of FIG. 1) or may be formed with an edge, wherein an end of the trailing portion of the falling portion meets a beginning of the adjacent and behind rising portion at an edge. The second transitions may in the alternative be formed with a curve that extends between the falling portion and the adjacent and behind rising portion. The curve may be a constant curve (i.e. with the same radius of curvature throughout the curve) (between a trailing portion of the falling portion and a leading portion of the adjacent behind rising portion) or may be an inconsistent curve, such as with the smallest radius of curvature at the geometric center of the transition portion.

Each of the first and second elongate strips 120, 220 are formed with a pattern that includes a rising portion (e.g. 124) with a first transition (e.g. 126) to a falling portion (e.g. 122). The falling portion extends to a second transition (e.g. 138) to a next rising portion (e.g. 134) and the pattern repeats in this arrangement for the length of the first elongate strip 120. The second elongate strip 220 is formed in the same manner. A bridge (e.g. 326) connects adjacent and neighboring first transitions (e.g. 126 and 226) and a bridge (e.g. 338) connects adjacent and neighboring second transitions (e.g. 138, 238). As discussed above, in some embodiments, each first transition of the first elongate strip 120 is connected to an adjacent and neighboring first transition of the second elongate strip 220, and each second transition of the first elongate strip 120 is connected to an adjacent and neighboring second transition of the second elongate strip. In other embodiments, every other first transition of the first elongate strip 120 is connected to an adjacent and neighboring first transition of the second elongate strip 220, and every other second transition of the first elongate strip is connected to an adjacent and neighboring second transition of the second elongate strip 220.

Before the blank is bent to form the various rising portions, falling portions and transitions of each of the first and second elongate strips 120, 220, a plurality of spaced cuts (96, 97, 98, 99, FIG. 1) are provided on the blank to separate the material that forms that first and second elongate strips 120, 220. FIG. 3 depicts a portion of the blank that has been cut before the blank has been bent to form the various rising, falling, and transition portions. Each cut includes a center portion, a leading angled portion, and a trailing angled portion. For example, a first cut 96 (for the leading portion of the blank depicted in FIG. 3) includes a center portion 96b, a leading portion 96a that extends from a front end (96b1) of the center portion, and a trailing portion 96c that extends from a rear end (96b2) of the center portion 96b. The center portion 96b extends along a center axis 1001 of the blank that is positioned with equal distances between the right edge 12 of the blank and the left edge 22 of the blank. The leading portion 96a extends at an acute angle α from the longitudinal axis 1001. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, the leading portion 96a extends from the center portion 96b in a direction toward about 2 o'clock on a clock face (the exact time between 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock on the clock face is a function of the value of the acute angle α). The acute angle α may be between about 20 and about 50 degrees, or between about 20 to 40 degrees, and in some embodiments about 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the angle α may be in a range of about 20 degrees to about 30 degrees, and more preferred within a range of about 22.5 to about 30 degrees.

The trailing portion 96c extends from the center portion 96b at the acute angle a, but in the opposite direction from the direction that the leading portion extends from the center portion 96b. For example, in some embodiments, the trailing portion 96c extends from the center portion 96b in a direction toward about 8 o'clock on a clock face (the exact time between 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock on the clock face is a function of the value of the acute angle α). In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the leading portion 96a and the trailing portion 96c extend at the same acute angle α, while in other embodiments, the leading portion 96a and the trailing portion 96c may extend at different acute angles.

In a preferred embodiment, and as depicted in FIG. 3, at least a majority of the length of a trailing portion (e.g. 96c) is horizontally aligned with at least a majority of the leading portion 97a of the cut 97 that is adjacent to and just behind the cut 96. In some embodiments, at least 80% of the length of the trailing portion (e.g. 96c) and the corresponding leading portion (e.g. 97a) are horizontally aligned. In this embodiment, the portion of the trailing portion 96c that just leaves the center portion 96b is not horizontally aligned with the leading portion 97a of the adjacent and behind slot 97. Similarly, the portion of the leading portion 97a that just leaves the center portion 97b (97aa) is not horizontally aligned with the trailing portion 96c. The leading portion 97a and the trailing portion 96c are spaced apart from each other a distance (X) that results in the width of the bridge portion that is formed between the leading portion 97a and the trailing portion 96c (forming bridge portion 338). The bridge portion 338 connects second (downward) transitions 138 (from the first elongate strip 120) and 238 (from the second elongate strip 220). As depicted in FIG. 3, the trailing portion 97c of cut 97 is horizontally aligned with the leading portion 98a of cut 98 to form bridge portion 336 that connects first (upward) transitions 136 (from the first elongate strip 120) and 236 (from the second elongate strip 220). Other cuts are aligned with the adjacent cuts in the same manner (e.g. trailing portion 95c is horizontally aligned with leading portion 96a of cut 96 to form bridge 326 (connecting upward transitions 126, 226).

As described above, in some other embodiments, cuts may be formed without a leading portion (e.g. the cut portion that extends at the angle α toward about the 2 o'clock position on the clock face) and or a trailing portion (e.g. the cut portion that extends at the angle α toward about the 8 o'clock position on the clock face). In embodiments without the leading or trailing portions, a cut is provided between the first and second elongate strip portions 120, 220, which allows those portions to be bent in a different orientation along a horizontal portion at the cut, by maintaining those portions along the horizontal cut separated. In embodiments, where a bridge does not extend between every adjacent first (upper) transition and/or every adjacent second (lower) transition, the cut extends past (and along the longitudinal axis 1001) the location where the leading portion or trailing portion of the cut would have extended.

As best understood with respect to FIGS. 1 and 3, after the blank is cut (with the cuts (e.g. 96, 97, 98) discussed above, and with the plurality of cuts provided to establish the louvers within a specific portion (e.g. the falling portion 122 of the first elongate strip portion 120—(cuts 401-409)), the blank extends to a portion of the machine that bends the strip to form the desired geometry of the strip, e.g. the alternating rising and falling portions with the transitions therebetween, as discussed above. In other embodiments, the cutters that form the longitudinal cuts (e.g. 96, 97, 98) as well as the louver cuts (e.g. 401-409) may form the cuts simultaneously with bending the blank into the desired geometry. The louver cuts may be provided upon every rising and falling portion of each of the first and second strip portions 120, 220, or on alternating rising and falling portions, or in a specific pattern that is optimized to allow air flow through the louver slots within the finishes fin portions 100 in order to provide the desired flow through the louvers. The louver cuts (e.g. 401 to 409) are depicted in the FIG. 3 as straight cuts within minimal thickness, but in other embodiments the louver cuts may be curved, with two portions per cut, and/or with a wider thickness than a minimal thickness. One of ordinary skill with a thorough review and understanding of the subject specification will be able to optimize the number, the position, the geometry, and the size of the louver cuts to establish the desired louvers for the operation of the heat exchanger 10 that receives the fin portions 100 with merely routine optimization.

The cut and bent blank then extends from the cutting and bending portion of the machine and may be cut to the desired length within the machine, or by a cutter that is provided outside of the machine. The bent blanks that form the fin device 100 that are cut to length are then installed within the heat exchanger 10 as desired.

As understood with reference to FIGS. 1-3, the first and second elongate strips 120, 220 are preferably formed where the closest adjacent first transitions in the first and second elongate strip portions 120, 220 are staggered, with the position and the stagger being a function of the position (e.g. the angle) of the bridge that extends between the connected first transitions.

In some embodiments, the first and/or second strip 120, 220 is formed after or in conjunction with forming the cuts (e.g. 96, 97, 98) such that the adjacent first (upward) transitions along the first elongate strip 120 are at a consistent distance from each other (distance Y-measured in parallel to the longitudinal axis 1001), with the adjacent second (downward) transitions along the first elongate strip 120 are at a consistent distance from each other (distance W). Similarly, the adjacent upward transitions of along the second strip 220 are at a consistent distance from each other (distance YY) and the adjacent downward transitions are at a consistent distance from each other (distance W W)—all distances Y, W, V V, ZZ are measured in parallel to the longitudinal axis 1001. In a preferred embodiment, the distance Y is the same as the distance YY, and the distance W is the same as the distance WW.

The distance ZZ is a distance (measured parallel to the longitudinal axis 1001) between the position of the upward transition (e.g. 136) in the first elongate strip portion 120 and the upward transition (236) that is closely adjacent to the upward transition (136). In some embodiments, the closest adjacent transition of the same time (e.g. two upward transitions) is provided with the bridge (e.g. 336), as discussed above.

In a preferred embodiment, the distance ZZ between the adjacent closest upward transitions is between 20-55% of the distance between adjacent upward transitions within the same strip (e.g. distance Y between upward transitions (e.g. 136, 146) and distance YY between upward transitions (e.g. 236, 246). In some embodiments, the distance ZZ may be about 20% or about 22.5% or about 25%, or about 27.5%, or about 30%, or about 32.5%, or about 35%, or about 37.5%, or about 40%, or about 42.5%, or about 45%, or about 47.5% of the distance Y or YY. Similarly, the distance V V between the closest adjacent downward transitions (e.g. 148, 248) may be between 20-55% of the distance W or WW, as discussed above. In some embodiments, the distance V V may be about 20% or about 22.5% or about 25%, or about 27.5%, or about 30%, or about 32.5%, or about 35%, or about 37.5%, or about 40%, or about 42.5%, or about 45%, or about 47.5% of the distance W or W W.

An upper transition (e.g. 136) of the first elongate strip 120 that is connected by a bridge (336) to an upper transition 236 of the second elongate strip 220 is spaced at a distance (ZZ). As can be readily understood by one of ordinary skill with a thorough review and understanding of this specification, the distance ZZ or the distance V V is a function of the angle α, and the distance ZZ/V V and the angle α can be optimized by one of ordinary skill in the art to lead to a desired separation of the horizontal flow paths between the bent first and second elongate portions 120, 220, i.e. flow path into our out of the page that FIG. 2 is printed upon. The staggered nature adjacent rising and falling portions across the first and second elongate strip portions 120, 220 provides for the heat transfer fluid that crosses the fins 100 at these locations to contact a greater surface area of fin area as it flows, as well as increases the possibility of turbulent flow across the fin surface area which may increase the heat transfer to or from the fins 100 as desired by the functionality of the heat exchanger.

FIG. 1 depicts a distance between a first (upward) transition to the adjacent second (downward transition) along the first and second elongate strips 120, 220 (distances TT and SS, respectively). In a preferred embodiment the distance TT is half of each of the distance Y and the distance W, and the distance SS is half of the each of the distance YY and the distance WW. In other embodiments, where the rising and falling portions are arranged at different angles (β—rising portions (e.g. 134) and Δ—falling portions (e.g. 132) with respect to a horizontal plane 1002, and is parallel to longitudinal axis 1001 (that extends through the blank before it is bent—see FIG. 2).

FIG. 3A depicts a cut blank where the acute angle α is significantly smaller than the acute angle α depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3B depicts an alternative cut blank to form a fin assembly 600 where the center portions 296b, 297b etc. are relatively short compared to the length of the leading portions (296a, 297a) and the trailing portions (296c, 297c). This different ratio of the lengths of the center and leading portions and trailing portions results in the bridges (e.g. 726, 738, 736) that are formed between the horizontally adjacent portions (e.g. the trailing portion 296c horizontally adjacent to the leading portion 297a) that are much longer than the bridges in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 3 and 3A. This also allows the acute angle α (between the center longitudinal axis 1007 and the angles of the leading and trailing portions) to be much smaller than the acute angles that are possible with the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 3A.

FIG. 3C depicts yet another cut blank to form a fin assembly 700 where the cuts 895, 896 are entirely extending along the acute angle α with respect to the center longitudinal axis 1008. The adjacent cuts, e.g. 895, 896 include respective trailing and leading portions (895c, 896a) that are horizontally aligned (see portions R, FIG. 3C) to form the bridges (926, 927) between portions of the first and second elongate strip portions 120, 220, which are similar in function to the bridges of the other embodiments discussed herein. As can be appreciated with review of FIG. 3C, this embodiment with the entirely straight (angled with respect to longitudinal axis 1008) cuts, the angle α can be much smaller than the acute angles associated with the other embodiments (e.g. 100, 500, 600). In this embodiment, for example, the acute angle α may within a range of about 10 degrees to about 25 degrees, inclusive of all angles therein such as about 5 degrees, about 7.5 degrees, about 10 degrees, about 12.5 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 17.5 degrees, about 10 degrees, about 22.5 degrees, and about 25 degrees.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-5, another embodiment for a fin device 500 for forming first and second elongate strips 120, 220 that are formed from a single blank and connected by a plurality of bridge members is provided. In the embodiment, the bridge members (e.g. 602, 603, 604) connect adjacent transition portions from the neighboring first and second elongate strips 120, 220, with a bridge extending from (for example) an upper transition 136 of the first elongate strip 120 (e.g. a rising surface connects to a falling surface, either at an edge or a convex upward curve) to a lower transition 248 of the second elongate strip 220 (e.g. a falling surface connects to a rising surface, either at an edge or a concave upward curve). In other embodiments (not shown, but opposite that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5), the bridges connect the opposite, a lower transition 138 connects to an upper transition 236 on the second elongate strip 220.

The bridge members 602, 603, 604, 605 are formed by a series of slots 595, 596, 597, 598 that are formed, as best depicted in FIG. 4. The slots 595, 596, etc. each extend parallel to a longitudinal axis 1003 along the blank, with each of the slots provided in an alternating fashion outboard of the longitudinal axis 1003 and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 1003, i.e. slots 596 and 598 are formed outboard of the longitudinal axis and upon the first elongate strip 120 (distance BB from the longitudinal axis 1003) and slots 595 and 597 are formed outboard of the longitudinal axis 1003 and upon the second elongate strip 220 (distance AA from the longitudinal axis 1003). Slots may be formed the same distance outboard of the longitudinal axis (distances AA and BB).

The slots may be each be the same length and formed with a portion where portions of the two slots are horizontally aligned (e.g. portions CC), and portions where only one slot is horizontally aligned (portions DD and EE). As can be understood with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the portions DD and EE cause the bridge portion to connect to the respective first or second elongate strip 120, 220, e.g. the bridges 602 and 603 each connect to the second elongate strip 220 at position DD, and the bridges 601 and 601 connect to the first elongate strip 120 at position EE.

In some embodiments, each slot is the same length (or at least each slot upon the first elongate strip 120 is the same length and each slot upon the second elongate strip 220 is the same length. In some embodiments, the space (e.g. EE, DD between adjacent aligned slots (e.g. slots 595 and 597 separated by space DD and slots 596 and 598 separated by space EE. Specifically a rear tip of a forward slot (e.g. 596b is separated from a front tip 598a of the next slot along the same line (596, 598) are separated by the same distance in space EE, and the rear tip 595b of the slot 595 is separated from the front tip 597a of the next slot 597 by the distance in space DD.

As depicted in FIG. 5, once the slots (e.g. 595, 596, etc.) are provided, the first and second elongate strips 120, 220 can be bent as desired to form the various rising and falling portions and the various upper and lower transitions (similar to the fin 100 discussed above and depicted in FIGS. 1-3A) with the bridges 601, 602, 603, 604 etc. maintaining the connections between the first and second elongate strips 120, 220. In some embodiments, the first and second elongate strips 120, 220 maybe pulled apart in the horizontal direction (FIG. 5, opposite arrows G and H) to establish a horizontal space between the formed inner edges 12a and 22a (FIG. 5) of the first and second elongate strips 120, 220, which may assist with the process of bending the blank after the slots (595, 596 etc. are cut-or at the same time that the slots are cut).

The term “about” is specifically defined herein to include a range that includes the reference value and plus or minus 5% of the reference value. The term “substantially the same” is when the item under comparison is within 5% of the aspect of the reference value of the item.

Naturally, in view of the teachings and disclosures herein, persons having ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that alternate designs and/or embodiments of the invention may be possible (e.g., with substitution of one or more components for others, with alternate configurations of components, etc.). Although some of the components, relations, configurations, and/or steps according to the invention are not specifically referenced and/or depicted in association with one another, they may be used, and/or adapted for use, in association therewith. All of the aforementioned and various other structures, configurations, relationships, utilities, any which may be depicted and/or based hereon, and the like may be, but are not necessarily, incorporated into and/or achieved by the invention. Any one or more of the aforementioned and/or depicted structures, configurations, relationships, utilities and the like may be implemented in and/or by the invention, on their own, and/or without reference, regard or likewise implementation of any of the other aforementioned structures, configurations, relationships, utilities and the like, in various permutations and combinations, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the pith, marrow, and spirit of the disclosed invention

While the preferred embodiments of the disclosed have been described, it should be understood that the invention is not so limited and modifications may be made without departing from the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and all devices that come within the meaning of the claims, either literally or by equivalence, are intended to be embraced therein.

The specification can be readily understood with reference to the following Representative Paragraphs:

The specification can be readily understood with reference to the following Representative Paragraphs:

Representative Paragraph 1: A fin device configured to be used within a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy, comprising:

• • a first elongated strip of material, and a second elongated strip of material, the first and second elongated strips of material extend in parallel to each other, and are disposed adjacent to each other, wherein a longitudinal axis extends parallel to both the first elongated strip of material and the second elongated strip of material;
  • the first elongated strip of material comprises a plurality of rise portions and a plurality of fall portions, that are disposed in alternating fashion with a trailing portion of a respective rise portion extending to a leading portion of a first adjacent fall portion to establish a first transition, and a trailing portion of the first adjacent fall portion extending to a leading portion of a second rise portion to establish a second transition;
  • the second elongated strip of material comprises a plurality of rise portions and a plurality of fall portions, that are disposed in alternating fashion with a trailing portion of a respective rise portion extending to a leading portion of a first adjacent fall portion to establish a third transition, and a trailing portion of the first adjacent fall portion extending to a leading portion of a second rise portion to establish a fourth transition, wherein the respective rise portions of the first and second elongated strips are aligned in a staggered fashion;
  • a bridge portion that extends from the first transition of the first elongated strip to a neighboring third transition of the second elongated strip; and
  • a space between the first and second elongated strips of metal that extends between adjacent inner edges of the first and second elongated strips at positions other than were the bridge portion extends.

Representative Paragraph 2: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 1, further comprising a second bridge portion that extends from the second transition of the first elongated strip to a neighboring fourth transition of the second elongated strip.

Representative Paragraph 3: The fin device of either of Representative Paragraph 1 or Representative Paragraph 2, wherein the bridge portion extends from the first transition of the first elongated strip to a closest neighboring third transition of the second elongated strip.

Representative Paragraph 4: The fin device of any of Representative Paragraphs 1-3, wherein the second bridge portion extends from the second transition of the first elongated strip to a closest neighboring fourth transition of the second elongated strip.

Representative Paragraph 5: The fin device of any of Representative Paragraphs 1-4, wherein a bridge portion extends between adjacent first and third transitions, and a second bridge portion extends between adjacent second and fourth transitions along the first and second elongated strips.

Representative Paragraph 6: The fin device of any one of Representative Paragraphs 1-5, wherein the bridge portion and the second bridge portion each extend at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Representative Paragraph 7: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 6, wherein the acute angle is between about 20 and 50 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Representative Paragraph 8: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 7, wherein the acute angle is between about 22.5 to about 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Representative Paragraph 9: The fin device of any one of Representative Paragraphs 1-8, wherein each of the plurality of rise portions and the plurality of fall portions of the first elongated strip comprise one or more louvers formed therein, wherein each of the one or more louvers extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Representative Paragraph 10: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 9, wherein each of the plurality of rise portions and the plurality of fall portions of the second elongated strip comprise one or more louvers formed therein, wherein each of the one or more louvers extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Representative Paragraph 11: The fin device of any one of Representative Paragraphs 1-10, wherein the adjacent first transitions within the first elongated strip are disposed at a first distance apart from each other along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the adjacent second transitions are disposed at the first distance apart from each other, wherein a second distance measured in parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first transition and an adjacent third transition is between about 10% to 30% of the first distance.

Representative Paragraph 12: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 11, wherein a distance from the first transition to the second transition is about half of the first distance along the longitudinal axis.

Representative Paragraph 13: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 11, wherein the second distance is about 50% of the first distance along the longitudinal axis.

Representative Paragraph 14: The fin device of any one of Representative Paragraphs 1-13, wherein a portion of the plurality of rise portions and fall portions away from the first and second transitions are substantially planar, and a portion of the plurality of rise portions and fall portions of the second elongated strip of material away from the third and fourth transitions are substantially planar.

Representative Paragraph 15: The fin device of any one of Representative Paragraphs 1-14, wherein the first bridge portion is formed with two parallel sides between the first and third transitions.

Representative Paragraph 16: The fin device of any one of Representative Paragraphs 1-15, wherein the second bridge portion is formed with two parallel sides between the second and fourth transitions.

Representative Paragraph 17: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 1, wherein a bridge extends from the first transition of the first elongated strip to the closest neighboring third transition of the second elongated strip, wherein the first and the second elongated strips are arranged such that a bridge extends from every other first transition to a neighboring every other third transition, and the adjacent first and third transitions to the every other first and third transitions do not have a bridge that connects them.

Representative Paragraph 18: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 17, further comprising a second bridge portion that extends from the second transition of the first elongated strip to a closest neighboring fourth transition of the second elongated strip, wherein the first and second elongated strips are arranged such that a second bridge extends from every other second transition to a neighboring fourth transitions, and the adjacent second and fourth transitions to the every other second and fourth transitions do not have a bridge that connects them.

Representative Paragraph 19: The fin device of any one of Representative Paragraphs 1-18, wherein portions of the first and second elongate strips of material are separated by elongate cuts, wherein each elongate cut includes a center portion that extends along the longitudinal axis, and each elongate cut includes a front portion that extends from a front end of the center portion at the acute angle toward the second elongate portion, and each elongate cut includes a rear portion that extends from a rear end of the center portion at the acute angle toward the first elongate portion.

Representative Paragraph 20: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 19, wherein at least a majority of the rear portion of a first elongate cut of the plurality of elongate cuts is horizontally aligned with at least a majority of the front portion of the adjacent second elongate cut that is rearward of the first elongate cut, wherein the horizontally aligned front portion of the second elongate cut and the rear portion of the first elongate cut establishes one of the plurality of bridges.

Representative Paragraph 21: A fin device configured to be used within a heat exchanger for transferring heat energy, comprising:

• • a first elongated strip of material, and a second elongated strip of material, the first and second elongated strips of material extend in parallel to each other, and are disposed adjacent to each other, wherein a longitudinal axis extends parallel to both the first elongated strip of material and the second elongated strip of material;
  • the first elongated strip of material comprises a plurality of rise portions and a plurality of fall portions, that are disposed in alternating fashion with a trailing portion of a respective rise portion extending to a leading portion of a first adjacent fall portion to establish a first transition, and a trailing portion of the first adjacent fall portion extending to a leading portion of a second rise portion to establish a second transition, wherein the first elongated strip comprises a plurality of spaced first transitions and a plurality of spaced second transitions;
  • wherein the longitudinal axis is spaced evenly between an outer edge of the first elongate strip and an outer edge of the second elongate strip;
  • the second elongated strip of material comprises a plurality of rise portions and a plurality of fall portions, that are disposed in alternating fashion with a trailing portion of a respective rise portion extending to a leading portion of a first adjacent fall portion to establish a third transition, and a trailing portion of the first adjacent fall portion extending to a leading portion of a second rise portion to establish a fourth transition, wherein the respective rise portions of the first and second elongated strips are aligned in a staggered fashion, such that the second elongate strip comprises a plurality of spaced third transitions and plurality of spaced fourth transitions;
  • a first bridge portion that extends from a first of the first plurality of first transitions of the first elongated strip to a neighboring first of the plurality of fourth transitions of the second elongated strip, and a second bridge portion that extends from the fourth transition of the second elongated strip to a neighboring second of the first plurality of transitions of the first elongated strip that is disposed adjacent to and rearwardly of the neighboring first of the first plurality of transitions; and
  • a space between the first and second elongated strips of metal that extends between adjacent inner edges of the first and second elongated strips at positions other than were the bridge portion extends.

Representative Paragraph 22: The fin device configured to be used within a heat exchanger of Representative Paragraph 21 further comprising a third bridge portion that extends from the second of the first transitions of the first elongated strip and to a second of the plurality of fourth transitions within the second elongated strip, with the second of the fourth transitions disposed rearwardly of the first of the fourth transitions along the second elongate strip.

Representative Paragraph 23: The fin device configured to be used within a heat exchanger of either of Representative Paragraphs 21 or 22, wherein the plurality of second transitions within the first elongate strip and the plurality of third transitions within the second elongate strip do not connect with any bridge portions.

Representative Paragraph 24: The fin device configured to be used within a heat exchanger of any one of Representative Paragraphs 21-23, wherein a plurality of first elongate slots are provided that are each parallel to the longitudinal axis and at a first space on a same side of the longitudinal axis as the first elongate strip,

• • wherein a plurality of second elongate slots are provided that are each parallel to the longitudinal axis at a second space on a same side of the longitudinal axis as the second elongate strip,
  • wherein, the plurality of first slots are aligned with a first space between a trailing tip of a first slot of the plurality of first slots and a leading tip of a second slot of the plurality of first slots, wherein each first space between the plurality of first slots is aligned with the location of a first transition of the plurality of first transitions along the first elongate strip, and
  • wherein the plurality of second slots are aligned with a second space between a trailing tip of a first slot of the plurality of second slots and a leading tip of a second slot of the plurality of second slots, wherein each second space between the plurality of second slots is aligned with the location of a fourth transition within the plurality of fourth transitions along the second elongate strip.

Representative Paragraph 25: The fin device of Representative Paragraph 24, wherein a portion of the plurality of first slots from the leading tip of each first slot extends horizontally aligned with a portion of an horizontally adjacent second slot until the trailing tip of the second slot.