Header plate for a heat exchanger, especially for a motor vehicle
AssigneeValeo Thermique Moteur
InventorsFrederic Letrange, Carlos Martins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A header plate has a central portion in which at least one row of holes are formed. The heat exchanger includes tubes which are fitted in these holes, and each hole is made in a press-formed element which comprises at least two raised elements aligned with each other. The respective dimensions of these raised elements are predetermined, and they are adapted to be pierced individually or in combination by means of perforating tools having different characteristic dimensions in at least the direction in which the raised elements are aligned with each other. Tubes of different dimensions in at least this alignment direction can be introduced into the holes.
Claims6
A header plate pierced by tool elements having different dimensions for a motor vehicle heat exchanger which includes the header plate and a plurality of tubes with different dimensions, each of the tubes having ends fitted in the header plate, the header plate comprising a central portion defining at least one row of through holes therein for receiving the ends of the tubes, press-formed elements in said central portion, each of said press formed elements has at least two raised elements defining an alignment direction in which said raised elements are aligned with each other, said raised elements having respective predetermined dimensions, said raised elements being pierced individually and together by the tool elements having different dimensions in at least said alignment direction to provide holes in the header plate of different dimensions in said alignment direction and to enable the tubes, having different dimension in at least said alignment direction, to pass through said holes.
A header plate pierced by tool elements having different dimensions for a motor vehicle heat exchanger which includes the header plate and a plurality of tubes with different dimensions, each of the tubes having ends fitted in the header plate, the header plate comprising a central portion defining at least one row of through holes therein for receiving the ends of the tubes, press-formed elements in said central portion, each of said press-formed elements having at least two raised elements defining an alignment direction in which said raised elements are aligned with each other, said raised elements having respective predetermined dimensions, said raised elements being pierced individually and together by the tool elements having different dimensions in at least said alignment direction to enable the tubes, having different dimensions in at least said alignment direction to pass through said holes, wherein, in at least one said raised element, the dimension in the alignment direction is different from that of at least one other said raised element in the alignment direction.
A method of making a header plate for a motor vehicle heat exchanger, comprising the steps of:
- providing a workpiece having a flat central portion;
- press-forming said central portion to form a plurality of press-formed elements parallel to each other to define, in each said press-formed element, at least two raised elements aligned with each other in an alignment direction and having respective selected dimensions;
- piercing at least one of said raised elements of each said press-formed element, whereby to form holes to enable the ends of tubes of different dimensions in at least said alignment direction to be passed through said holes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.