Finned tube heat exchangers and methods for manufacturing same
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorYang Zou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat exchanger fin is disclosed. The fin can include a fin portion and a collar portion defining a fin aperture that has a central axis passing therethrough. The collar portion can include a nesting end including a nesting portion and a receiving end that (i) is located apart from the nesting end in an axial direction and (ii) comprises one or more bends to form an overhang portion that defines a gap located radially inward of the overhang portion. The gap can be dimensioned to at least partially receive the nesting portion. The collar portion can also include a contact portion extending between the nesting end and the receiving end, and the contact portion can be configured to abut an outer surface of a tube when the tube is at least partially inserted into the fin aperture.
Claims7
A heat exchanger fin comprising:
- a fin portion;
- and
- a collar portion defining a fin aperture having a central axis, the collar portion disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the fin portion, wherein the collar portion comprises:
- a nesting end including a nesting portion, a bend, and an extending portion disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the fin portion, wherein the extending portion extends over the collar portion;
- a receiving end that (i) is located apart from the nesting end in an axial direction and (ii) comprises one or more bends to form an overhang portion that defines a gap located radially inward of the overhang portion, the gap being dimensioned to at least partially receive the nesting portion;
- and
- a contact portion extending between the nesting end and the receiving end, the contact portion configured to abut an outer surface of a tube when the tube is at least partially inserted into the fin aperture.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a heat exchanger tube;
- and
- a plurality of stacked heat exchanger fins, each comprising:
- a fin portion;
- and
- a collar portion defining a fin aperture having a central axis, wherein the collar portion is disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the fin portion, and wherein the heat exchanger tube passes through the fin aperture, the collar portion comprising:
- a nesting end including a nesting portion, a bend, and an extending portion disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the fin portion, wherein the extending portion extends over the collar portion;
- a receiving end that (i) is located apart from the nesting end in an axial direction and (ii) comprises one or more bends to form an overhang portion that defines a gap that radially extends between the overhang portion and an outer surface of the heat exchanger tube, the gap being dimensioned to at least partially receive the nesting portion of an adjacent heat exchanger fin;
- and
- a contact portion extending between the nesting end and the receiving end, the contact portion abutting the outer surface of the heat exchanger tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.