US 2022/0032358 A1 · PRESSURE EXPANSION METHODS FOR HEAT EXCHANGER MANUFACTURING

Abstract

Methods for expanding a tube to create a tight fit or an interference fit with one or more fins for the manufacture of a heat exchanger are disclosed. The methods can include providing an internal pressure to the tubes in a successive pulsing manner with each pulse having a short duration. The methods can include creating a temperature differential between the bend sections of the tubes and the straight sections of the tubes such that the bend section has a lower temperature than the straight sections. The methods can include creating an external pressure differential between the bend sections of the tubes and the straight sections of the tubes such that the external pressure acting on the bend sections is greater than the external pressure acting on the straight sections.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for expanding a tube for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising:

fluidly connecting a pressurizing device to the tube;
and
providing, by the pressurizing device, pulses of positive pressure to an interior of the tube, each of the pulses having a duration that is less than or approximately equal to 200 milliseconds and at least one of the pulses providing a pressure that is greater than or approximately equal to a maximum pressure threshold of the tube, the pulses causing a diameter of a wall of the tube to increase.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pressure expansion methods for heat exchanger manufacturing

Life of this patent

Pressure expansion methods for heat exchanger manufacturing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20