Folded, bent and re-expanded heat exchanger tube and assemblies
OwnerRoger Paulman, A. Todd Mckayinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat exchanger assembly of the side-entry type includes at least one fin set and an elongated heat exchanger tube having a collapsed sidewall extending substantially the length of the tube which permits the bending of the elongated heat exchanger tube at the return bend portions and permits expansion of the elongated tube to engage the fin set. Method and apparatus for making the elongated heat exchanger tube having the collapsed sidewall substantially extending the length of the tube as well as methods of making heat exchanger assemblies are
Claims48
For use in a heat exchanger assembly of the side-entry type having at least one fin set, an elongated heat exchanger tube having a collapsed sidewall extending substantially the length of said tube which permits the bending of the elongated heat exchanger tube at the return bend portion and permits expansion of said elongated tube to engage the at least one fin set.
For use in a heat exchanger assembly of the side-entry type having at least one fin set, an elongated heat exchanger tube having substantially circular end portions and a collapsed sidewall portion extending substantially the length of said tube between said end portion which permits the bending of the elongated heat exchanger tube at the return bend portion and permits expansion of said elongated tube to engage the at least one fin set.
A method of making an elongated tube for use in a heat exchanger assembly of the side-entry type, including the steps of:
- extruding an elongated tube having a substantially circular cross-section;
- cutting the extruded elongated tube to the desired length of the finished heat exchanger assembly;
- and
- passing the cut extruded tube through a folding mechanism to provide an elongated tube having a collapsed sidewall extending substantially the length of the elongated tube.
A method of making a heat exchanger assembly including a thin-walled heat exchanger tube and at least one fin set having fin holes, including in combination:
- passing the thin-walled heat exchanger tube through a folding mechanism to provide an elongated tube having a collapsed sidewall portion extending substantially the length of the tube;
- rotating the elongated collapsed heat exchanger tube about a forming mandrel having a mandrel outer surface while maintaining and positioning said collapsed portion opposite said mandrel outer surface to provide a spirally wrapped serpentine heat exchanger tube;
- aligning said spirally wrapped serpentine with the fine holes of said at least one fin set;
- and
- expanding said collapsed sidewall portion of the heat exchanger tube to secure the fin set to the expanded thin-walled heat exchanger tube to provide the heat exchanger assembly.
A method of making a heat exchanger assembly including a thin-walled heat exchanger tube and at least one fin set having fin holes therein, including in combination:
- passing the thin-walled heat exchanger tube through a folding mechanism to provide an elongate tube having a collapsed sidewall portion extending substantially the length of the tube;
- inserting said thin-walled heat exchanger tube having a collapsed sidewall portion through said holes of said at least one fin set, to position said at least one fin set on said tube;
- rotating the elongated collapsed heat exchanger tube and said associated at least one fin set about a forming mandrel outer surface to provide a spirally wrapped serpentine heat exchanger tube and associated fin set;
- and
- expanding said collapsed sidewall portion of the heat exchanger tube to secure the at least one fin set to the expanded thin-walled heat exchanger tube to provide the heat exchanger assembly.
A method of making a heat exchanger assembly including a thin-walled heat exchanger tube and at least one fin set having fin holes therein, including in combination:
- passing the thin-walled heat exchanger tube through a folding mechanism to provide an elongated tube having a collapsed sidewall portion extending substantially the length of the tube;
- inserting said tube having a collapsed sidewall portion within an outer substantially circular heat exchanger tube;
- positioning said thin-walled heat exchanger tube having a collapsed sidewall portion and said outer tube through said holes of said at least one fin set, to position said at least one fin set on said outer tube;
- rotating the elongated collapsed heat exchanger tube, the outer tube and said associated at least one fin set about a forming mandrel outer surface to provide a spirally wrapped serpentine heat exchanger tube and associated fin set;
- and
- expanding said collapsed sidewall portion of the heat exchanger tube within said outer tube to form a bond between the tubes and to secure the at least one fin set to the tubes to provide the heat exchanger assembly.
A method of making a heat exchanger assembly including a thin-walled heat exchanger tube and at least one fin set wherein the at least one fin set is an accordion-like sheet of heat radiating material folded back and forth upon itself and having fin slots at the junction of each fold, including in combination:
- passing the thin-walled heat exchanger tube through a folding mechanism to provide an elongated tube having a collapsed sidewall portion extending substantially the length of the tube;
- spiral wrapping the elongated collapsed heat exchanger tube about a forming mandrel and said at least one fin set to engage said spirally wrapped serpentine heat exchanger tube with said slots of said at least one fin set;
- and
- expanding said collapsed sidewall portion of the heat exchanger tube to secure the fin set to the expanded spiral wrapped thin-walled heat exchanger tube to complete the heat exchanger assembly.
A method of making a heat exchanger assembly including a thin-walled heat exchanger tube and at least one fin set wherein the at least one fin set is an accordion-like sheet of heat radiating material folded back and forth upon itself and having fin slots at the junction of each fold, including in combination:
- passing the thin-walled heat exchanger tube through a folding mechanism to provide an elongated tube having a collapsed sidewall portion extending substantially the length of the tube;
- inserting said tube having a collapsed sidewall portion within an outer substantially circular heat exchanger tube;
- wrapping the elongated collapsed heat exchanger tube and said outer tube about a forming mandrel and said at least one fin set to engage said spirally wrapped serpentine heat exchanger tubes with said slots of said at least one fin set;
- and
- expanding said collapsed sidewall portion of the heat exchanger tube within said outer tube to secure the at least one fin set to the serpentine heat exchanger tubes to complete the heat exchanger assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.