Heat exchanger manifolds with retention tabs
OwnerMichael V. Powers, Jonathan T. Fitzgerald +1inventors
InventorsMichael V. Powers, Jonathan T. Fitzgerald, LaVoyce G. Dey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Heat exchanger assemblies, and in particular, heat exchanger assemblies for automotive vehicle applications are disclosed. The heat exchangers have manifolds with retention tabs for brackets, caps and other components, such as attachment elements.
Claims23
An automotive heat exchanger, comprising:
- a core having a plurality of tubes substantially parallel to each other;
- a first header attached to one end of the core and at one end of the plurality of tubes;
- a second header attached to the second end of the core and at the opposite end of the plurality of tubes;
- a first flanged manifold cap;
- a second flanged manifold cap;
- a manifold sidewall or manifold sidewall portion attached to the first header to form, with the first manifold cap, a first manifold;
- a second manifold sidewall or manifold sidewall portion attached to the second header to form, with the second manifold cap, a second manifold;
- at least one alignment tab on each manifold sidewall;
- and
- at least one retention tab on each manifold cap;
- wherein the first and second headers of the manifolds have the first and second manifold sidewalls extending away from the core and parallel to the core face, and wherein the first and second flanged manifold caps have at least one flange situated in a position opposite and adjacent to an end edge of their respective manifold sidewalls, and wherein the flanges have an outer edge profile that approximately matches the first and second outer end edge profiles of the first and second manifold sidewalls.
A process for producing a brazed heat exchanger, comprising the steps of:
- assembling a core comprising tubes and fins;
- attaching headers, and caps or parts of caps to the ends of the core to form manifolds;
- providing for at least one inlet and outlet to the manifolds;
- affixing mounting features and components such as attachments, outlets, inlets, and connections;
- and
- brazing the core, manifold, inlet manifold, outlets, mounting features and components simultaneously.
An automotive heat exchanger comprising at least one of attachments or mounting features affixed to the heat exchanger prior to brazing, wherein the heat exchanger assembly has a heat exchanger manifold assembly, the manifold assembly including components formed from chemically similar material compositions such that the core, manifold components and mounting brackets can be recycled without requiring disassembly and selective separation at reclamation of components for environmental recycling of discarded assemblies.
An automotive vehicle having an engine compartment and an automotive heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one of attachments or mounting features affixed to the heat exchanger prior to brazing;
- and
- wherein the attachment is a bracket, and the bracket is cut or bent after braze to substantially avoid interference with the engine compartment.
An automotive heat exchanger manifold assembly, comprising:
- a header plate configured to have attached thereto a plurality of tubes of the heat exchanger;
- a flanged manifold cap;
- a manifold sidewall or manifold sidewall portion attached to the header plate to form, with the manifold cap, a manifold;
- at least one alignment tab on each manifold sidewall;
- and
- at least one retention tab on each manifold cap;
- wherein the manifold sidewalls extend away from and substantially perpendicular to the header plate, and wherein the flanged manifold caps have at least one flange situated in a position opposite and adjacent to an end edge of the manifold sidewalls, and wherein the flanges have an outer edge profile that approximately matches the end edge profiles of the manifold sidewalls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.