Heat exchanger tube and method of making
OwnerLoren D. Hoffman, Jason Michael Thomas +4inventors
InventorsLoren D. Hoffman, Jason Michael Thomas, Eric Konkle, Jeffrey L. Jones, Luis Felipe Avila, Bruce J. Poplawski
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Abstract
A method of forming a tube for a heat exchanger includes advancing an expansion tool into a tube a first time and engaging the expansion tool with the tube to expand the tube diametrically at least partially along a length of the tube. The expansion tool is at least partially retracted from the tube. The expansion tool is advanced into the tube one or more subsequent times thereby engaging the expansion tool with the tube one or more subsequent times to further expand the tube at least partially along the length of the tube.
Claims14
A method of forming a tube for a heat exchanger comprising:
- advancing an expansion tool into a tube a first time;
- engaging the expansion tool with the tube to expand the tube diametrically at least partially along a length of the tube;
- at least partially retracting the expansion tool from the tube;
- advancing the expansion tool into the tube one or more subsequent times;
- and
- engaging the expansion tool with the tube one or more subsequent times to further expand the tube at least partially along the length of the tube.
A method of assembling a heat exchanger comprising:
- providing a plurality of fins;
- locating one or more tubes in proximity to the plurality of fins;
- advancing an expansion tool into the one or more tubes a first time;
- engaging the expansion tool with the one or more tubes to expand the one or more tubes diametrically at least partially along a length of the one or more tubes resulting in an interference fit between the fins and the one or more tubes;
- at least partially retracting the expansion tool from the one or more tubes;
- advancing the expansion tool into the one or more tubes one or more subsequent times;
- and
- engaging the expansion tool with the one or more tubes one or more subsequent times to further expand the one or more tubes at least partially along the length of the one or more tubes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.