Compliant b-tube for radiator applications
AssigneeHanon Systems
InventorsOrest Alexandru Dziubinschi, Brennan Sicks, James Smitterberg, Greg Whitlow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tube for use in a heat exchanger including a base portion, an upper portion spaced from and opposing the base portion, and a partitioning wall extending between the base portion and the upper portion to divide a hollow interior of the tube into a first flow channel and a second flow channel. The partitioning wall includes a plurality of windows spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the tube to provide fluid communication between the first flow channel and the second flow channel. At least one of the windows includes a tabbed portion of the partitioning wall bent to extend into one of the first flow channel or the second flow channel.
Claims18
A tube for a heat exchanger, the tube comprising:
- a base portion;
- an upper portion spaced from and opposing the base portion;
- and
- a partitioning wall extending between the base portion and the upper portion to divide a hollow interior of the tube into a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the partitioning wall including a plurality of windows spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the tube to provide fluid communication between the first flow channel and the second flow channel, wherein at least one of the windows includes a tabbed portion of the partitioning wall bent to extend into the first flow channel or the second flow channel, wherein a first one of the windows which is disposed proximate to an end of the tube extends further in the longitudinal direction of the tube than an adjacent one of the plurality of the windows.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a first header tank including a first tube opening formed therein;
- and
- a tube having a first end portion received in the first header tank through the first tube opening, the tube including a base portion, an upper portion spaced from and opposing the base portion, and a partitioning wall extending between the base portion and the upper portion to divide a hollow interior of the tube into a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the partitioning wall including a plurality of windows spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the tube to provide fluid communication between the first flow channel and the second flow channel, wherein a first one of the windows is disposed in alignment with a surface of the first header tank defining the first tube opening with respect to the longitudinal direction of the tube, wherein the first one of the windows extends further in the longitudinal direction of the tube than an adjacent one of the plurality of the windows.
A method of forming a tube for a heat exchanger comprising the steps of:
- providing a sheet of material;
- removing a portion of the sheet to form a first opening from a first portion of the sheet, wherein a portion of a perimeter of the first opening defines a first tabbed portion of the sheet;
- bending the first tabbed portion of the sheet about a first pivot portion connecting the first tabbed portion to the first portion of the sheet;
- removing a portion of the sheet to form a second opening from a second portion of the sheet;
- and
- bending the sheet into a tubular shape, wherein the second portion of the sheet cooperates with the first portion of the sheet to form a partitioning wall dividing a hollow interior of the tube into a first flow channel and a second flow channel, wherein the first opening and the second opening cooperate to form a plurality of windows spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the tube and provide fluid communication between the first flow channel and the second flow channel, wherein a first one of the plurality of windows which is disposed proximate to an end of the tube extends further in the longitudinal direction of the tube than an adjacent one of the plurality of the windows.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.