# US 2014/0196877 A1 · Tube for heat exchanger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196877 A1 - Document ID: US20140196877A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/153,476 - Filed: 2014-01-13 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14 - Assignees: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp. - Applicants: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp. - Inventors: Keith Wilkins; Richard Armsden; Nigel Seeds - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196877A1 ## CPC - F28F 1/006: {with variable shape, e.g. with modified tube ends, with different geometrical features (F28F1/025, F28F1/06, F28F1/08, F28F9/16, F28F9/18 take precedence)} - F28D 1/0391: {a single plate being bent to form one or more conduits} - F28F 1/022: {with multiple channels} - F28F 1/025: {with variable shape, e.g. with modified tube ends, with different geometrical features (F28F1/06, F28F1/08, F28F9/16, F28F9/18 take precedence)} - F28F 9/16: by permanent joints, e.g. by rolling (metal-working procedures in general B21, B32; particularly B21D39/06, B23K) - B21C 37/151: {Making tubes with multiple passages} - B21C 37/155: {Making tubes with non-circular section (B21C37/151, B21C37/154 take precedence)} - B21D 41/026: {by means of mandrels} - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - B21C: MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES, PROFILES OR LIKE SEMI-MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) ## Abstract A folded tube for a heat exchanger is disclosed. The tube includes first and second ends for connection to first and second headers of the heat exchanger. An outer wall of the tube provides at least two channels for carrying a heat exchange fluid between the first and second headers. At least one seam is formed in the outer wall extending the length of the tube, the seam including a pair of opposed flanges extending into the tube to form the two channels, the outer wall joined together along the seam. The tube further includes a first end region and a second end region, and an intermediate region. The tube flattened along its length to form at least two flattened lobes, each lobe including one of the channels, and the lobes in the intermediate region being flatter than the lobes in at least one of the end regions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elongate tube for a heat exchanger, the tube comprising: a first end and a second end for connection to, respectively, a first header and a second header of the heat exchanger; an outer wall encompassing an internal volume, the internal volume providing at least two channels for carrying a heat exchange fluid a length of the tube between the first header and the second header; and at least one seam in the outer wall extending the length of the tube, the at least one seam including a pair of opposed flanges, the flanges extending into the internal volume to divide the internal volume into the at least two channel, the outer wall joined together along the at least one seam, wherein the tube has proximate the first end a first end region and proximate the second end a second end region, and between the first end region and the second end region an intermediate region, the tube being flattened along substantially all of the length such that the flanges divide the internal volume into at least two flattened lobes, each of the at least two lobes including one of the at least two channels and each of the at least two lobes extending laterally away from the flanges relative to the length of the tube, and the at least two lobes flatter in the intermediate region than the the at least two lobes in at least one of the first end region and the second end region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall has opposite broad portions, the broad portions flared outwards between the intermediate region and the first end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall has opposite broad portions, the broad portions flared outwards between the intermediate region and the second end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall has opposite narrow portions, the narrow portions flared inwards between the intermediate region and the first end. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall has opposite narrow portions, the narrow portions flared inwards between the intermediate region and the second end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the flanges is joined along a length thereof to a portion of the outer wall opposite the at least one seam, so adjacent ones of the at least two channels are not in fluid communication with each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein the at least two lobes in the intermediate region of the tube extend further from the flanges than the at least two lobes in the at least one end region of the tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein the outer wall has a substantially constant thickness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein a length of a perimeter of the tube in a plane perpendicular to the length of the tube is substantially the same in the intermediate region of the tube and the first end region and the second end region of the tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein the at least two lobes are substantially symmetric in respect of the flanges. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tube according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least two lobes is flatter in a portion proximate the flanges than in a portion further from the flanges in a lateral direction relative to the length of the tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A heat exchanger including the tube recited in claim 1, the heat exchanger comprising: a header including an aperture, one of the first end region and the second end region of the tube extending through the aperture to connect the tube to the header. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the header further comprises a flanged edge extending around at least part of a perimeter of the aperture, the one of the first end region and the second end region of the tube connected to the flanged edge.