Low stress heat exchanger and method of making the same
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorsAlexander Goloff, George B. Grim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low stress heat exchanger (50) and method for making the same is provided wherein thin heat exchange members (18, 20, 64, 66) are joined to thicker support members (44, 84) by causing the thin members (18, 20, 64, 66) to extend tangentially from a radiused surface (84) of the support member (44, 84). The thin members (18, 20, 64, 66) are then secured to the support member (44, 84) in an area (42, 88) remote from the area (46, 48) where the thin members (18, 20, 64, 66) extend tangentially from the support member (44, 84). The heat exchanger (50) includes closure tabs (14, 16) for bridging a space at the ends of fluid passages (36) defined by spaced wall members (18, 20).
Claims9
A heat exchanger core unit (50) comprising
- (a) a unitary pleated sheet (10) having a plurality of walls with (18, 20) interconnecting, alternating first and second crest portions (34) extending between adjacent walls (18, 20) on opposite sides thereof, said first crest portions each interconnecting a first (18) and second (20) wall along a first side thereof and said second crest portions each interconnecting said second (20) and the next adjacent first wall (18) along a second side thereof opposite to said first side and
- (b) closure means (38,40) to define alternating fluid flow passages (36) between said walls (18,20) by closing at least a portion of the space between adjacent walls (18,20) at each end thereof, said closure means (38,40) including
- (c) tab means (14,16) extending along the ends of each wall (18,20) formed to engage tab means (14,16) on the next adjacent wall (18,20) to bridge a space between the ends of said walls (18,20), said tab means (14,16) being arcuate in cross section and including a first tab (16) extending from a first wall (18) and a second tab (14) extending from a second wall (20) adjacent said first wall (18), said second tab (14) engaging and overlying said first tab (16) when said sheet (10) is pleated, said first (18) and second (20) walls extending tangentially away from spaced points (46,48) on the juncture formed by said first (16) and second (14) tabs, said second tab (14) terminating at a terminal edge which is between and spaced from said spaced points (46,48), the second tab (14) being secured to the first tab (16) at said terminal edge (42).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.