Crimped tube joint-shoulder ribs

Abstract

A solderless crimped joint and method for forming same for a heat exchanger (10) of the type having a heat transfer core (12) including a plurality of fins (14) in parallel stacked relationship for defining heat transfer surfaces and a plurality of fluid-carrying tubes (16, 18) extending transversely through the fins (14) for defining a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit includes at least one solderless tube-to-tube joint wherein a first tube (18) includes an end having an annular outwardly extending shoulder (20) followed by an inwardly tapered open frustroconical portion (22). A second tube (16) forming the joint includes an end having an outwardly flared portion (24) in mating engagement with the frustroconical portion (22) and an inwardly extending flange (26) crimped over the shoulder (20) for forcing the tapered portion (22) into the flared portion (24). The assembly is characterized by including a plurality of raised portions (28) or gullets extending from the shoulder (20) in the direction away from the tapered frustroconical portion (22) and extending outwardly of the first tube (18) whereby the flared portion (24) is crimped into engagement about the raised portions (28) and the first tube (18) without any substantial gathering of material in the crimped flared portion (26).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.