# US 5,706,695 A · Method of forming fins for a heat exchanger

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- Number: US 5,706,695 A
- Document ID: US5706695A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/746,334
- Filed: 1996-11-08
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1994-02-16
- Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co.
- Inventors: Werner Helms; Roland Hemminger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706695A

## CPC

- F28F 1/32: the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
- F28F 1/325: {Fins with openings}
- F28F 2275/125: by bringing elements together and expanding
- Y10S 165/501: Plate fins penetrated by plural conduits
- Y10S 165/503: Angled louvers
- Y10T 29/4938: Common fin traverses plurality of tubes
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The fin for a heat exchanger which consists essentially of a matrix of tubes and of fins disposed transversely to the latter, the fin having pass-through elements to receive tubes which are to be joined mechanically, while a first, preferably liquid medium flows through the tubes and the fin is acted on by a second, preferably gaseous medium. Multiple fins are positioned in their fin pitch by integral spacers, wherein the spacers are in the form of noses stamped out of the pass-through elements and distributed over the periphery of the latter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the production of pass-through elements for a fin, the process comprising the steps of:
a) punching pass-through openings in a plane fin sheet and forming a plurality of tabs around each of the pass-through openings,
b) stamping convex surface protrusions having a pyramidal shape in the tabs by a stamping punch pressing in a pass-through direction,
c) drawing in and tilting, by a punch and a die, the tabs provided with each of the stamped convex surface protrusions, and
d) forming a collar together with the tabs for each of the convex surface protrusions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the pyramidal shape includes a first plane triangular surface and a second plane triangular surface, and
wherein the first and second plane triangular surfaces are inclined relative to each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the tabs formed around each of the pass-through openings are offset with respect to each other, such that each of the corresponding tabs around a particular one of the pass-through openings does not face any of the tabs around the particular one of the pass-through openings.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein each of the pass-through openings is punched at the same time and in a single operation during the step a).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein, after the step d), the tabs are disposed at a substantially different height with respect to the plane fin sheet than the collar is disposed with respect to the plane fin sheet.

### Claim 6

A process for the production of pass-through elements for a fin for a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger including a matrix of tubes and of fins disposed transversely to the tubes, said fin comprising:
pass-through elements to receive the tubes to be joined mechanically, while a first medium flows through the tubes and the fin is acted on by a second medium; and
a plurality of integral spacers for positioning an adjacent fin in a fin pitch;
wherein the integral spacers are in a form of convex surface protrusions stamped out of the pass-through elements and distributed over a periphery of the pass-through elements, the process comprising the steps of:
a) punching pass-through openings in a plane fin sheet and forming a plurality of tabs around each of the pass-through openings;
b) forming a pass-through element, including a collar together with the tabs, into a cylindrical shape; and
c) impressing convex surface protrusions having a pyramidal shape on the tabs by a stamping punch traveling from above into a free end of the pass-through element.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6, wherein the pyramidal shape includes a first plane triangular surface and a second plane triangular surface, and
wherein the first and second plane triangular surfaces are inclined relative to each other.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6, wherein the tabs formed around each of the pass-through openings are offset with respect to each other, such that each of the corresponding tabs around a particular one of the pass-through openings does not face any of the tabs around the particular one of the pass-through openings.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6, wherein, after the step c), the tabs are disposed at a substantially different height with respect to the plane fin sheet than the collar is disposed with respect to the plane fin sheet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6, wherein each of the pass-through openings are punched at the same time and in a single operation during the step a).