US 12,083,855 B2
Plate IHX as mounting plate for refrigerant module
Lawrence Wei, Royal Oak, MI (US); Mandar Ahir, Shelby Township, MI (US); and Thomas Bruder, Rochester Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to MAHLE International GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
Filed by MAHLE International GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/543,828.
Prior Publication US 2023/0173874 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00328 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00278 (2013.01); B60H 1/00392 (2013.01); B60H 1/00521 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An internal heat exchanger assembly for use in a vehicle, the internal heat exchanger assembly comprising at least three plates joined together to form a first compartment or channel, a separate second compartment or channel, and one or more flat structures on an external surface of the internal heat exchanger assembly;
wherein the first compartment or channel contains a high pressure fluid and the second compartment or channel contains a low pressure fluid; the first compartment or channel containing the high pressure fluid is in thermal communication with the second compartment or channel containing the low pressure fluid, such that heat is transferred from the high pressure fluid to the low pressure fluid;
wherein one or more refrigeration system components are mounted onto the one or more flat structures;
wherein the at least three plates are arranged in succession from top to bottom as follows:
a low pressure flow plate that forms a portion of the second compartment or channel that contains the low pressure fluid;
a heat spreader plate; the heat spreader plate forming a portion of the first and second compartments or channels, such that the heat spreader plate conducts the heat transferred from the high pressure fluid to the low pressure fluid; and
a high pressure flow plate that forms a portion of the first compartment or channel that contains the high pressure fluid.
 
13. A vehicle with a refrigeration system that includes an internal heat exchanger assembly comprising at least three plates joined together to form a first compartment or channel, a separate second compartment or channel, and one or more flat structures on an external surface of the internal heat exchanger assembly;
wherein the first compartment or channel contains a high pressure fluid and the second compartment or channel contains a low pressure fluid; the first compartment containing the high pressure fluid is in thermal communication with the second compartment or channel containing the low pressure fluid, such that heat is transferred from the high pressure fluid to the low pressure fluid;
wherein one or more refrigeration system components are mounted onto the one or more flat structures;
wherein the at least three plates in the internal heat exchanger assembly are arranged in succession from top to bottom as follows:
a low pressure flow plate that forms a portion of the second compartment or channel that contains the low pressure fluid;
a heat spreader plate; the heat spreading plate forming a portion of the first and second chambers, such that the heat spreading plate conducts the heat transferred from the high pressure fluid to the low pressure fluid; and
a high pressure flow plate that forms a portion of the compartment or channel that contains the high pressure fluid.