Metal heat exchanger tank and method of forming same
OwnerWilliam Curtindale JR.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat exchanger (10), such as a radiator, includes a metal tank (12) having a foot (28) that is integrally formed therewith. The heat exchanger (10) also includes a header (14) having a plurality of crimping tabs (44) extending therefrom. The integral foot (28) of the metal tank (12) has an upper surface (30) and a lower surface (32) with the lower surface (32) intended to rest within an internal channel (46) formed in the header (14). The crimping tabs (44) are folded around the footer (28) so as to lie above and generally parallel to the footer upper surface (30) in order to retain the metal tank (12) in proper alignment with the header (14). After the metal tank (12) and the header (14) are physically assembled, they are sealed to form a leak-free joint.
Claims20
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a metal tank having an upper portion and a lower portion;
- an integral foot formed around a periphery of said lower portion of said metal tank;
- said integral foot having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- and
- a header having a plurality of crimping tabs formed about its periphery, each of said plurality of crimping tabs foldable so as to lie above and generally parallel to said upper surface of said integral foot to retain said metal tank.
The heat exchanger as recited in claim 8, further comprising a sealant disposed between said lower surface of said integral foot and said internal channel.
A method of forming a heat exchanger comprising:
- forming a metal end tank with an integral foot portion, said foot portion having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- forming a header with a plurality of crimping tabs;
- locating said metal end tank in said header;
- folding said crimping tabs around said integral foot portion to secure said metal end tank to said header;
- and
- joining said crimping tabs to said integral foot portion.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a metal tank having an integral foot portion disposed about aT least a portion of the periphery thereof;
- a header having a plurality of crimping tabs for engagement with said foot portion, said header having a channel formed therein for receipt of said foot portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.