Multi-row heat exchanger
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsCarlo Mantegazza, Alfonso Citarella, Massimo Assi, Roberto Cazzaniga
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-row heat exchanger includes tube holding devices positioned at the ends of the rows of heat exchange elements in the multi-row heat exchanger. One of the tube holding devices is fixedly secured to the tubes of each row of heat exchange elements. The other tube holding device is secured to the tubes of only one row of heat exchange elements. The latter tube holding device includes a slotted opening for receiving unsecured ends of the tubes in the other row of heat exchange elements. A process for forming the above multi-row heat exchanger is also disclosed.
Claims15
A process for forming a multi-row heat exchanger comprising the steps of:
- inserting a first set of U-shaped tubes into predefined holes within a first tube holding device and further inserting the U-shaped tubes through a plurality of heat exchange fins so as to form a first row of heat exchange elements;
- inserting a second set of shorter length U-shaped tubes through holes in a plurality of heat exchange fins so as to form a second row of heat exchange elements;
- positioning the second row of heat exchange elements with respect to the first row of heat exchange elements whereby a set of end portions of the shorter length U-shaped tubes are at a predefined distance from a corresponding set of end portions of the U-shaped tubes in the first row of heat exchange elements;
- inserting a second tube holding device onto the U-shaped tubes in both the first and second row of heat exchange elements;
- securing the heat exchange fins and the second tube holding device to the U-shaped tubes in the first and second rows of heat exchange elements;
- securing the first tube holding device to only the U-shaped tubes in the first row of heat exchange elements;
- and
- bending the first and second rows of heat exchange elements at least once whereby the set of end portions of the U-shaped tubes in the second row of heat exchanger element moves closer to the corresponding set of end portions of the U-shaped tubes in the first row of heat exchange elements during each bending operation and wherein the set of end portions of the U-shaped tubes in the second row of heat exchange elements moves into a slotted opening within the first U-shaped tube holding device during the final bending operation.
Heat exchanger apparatus comprising:
- a first row of heat exchange elements having a first set of a plurality of U-shaped tubes therein secured to a device for holding first end portions of the first set of U-shaped tubes in place relative to each other;
- a second row of heat exchange elements having a second set of U-shaped tubes therein, said second set of U-shaped tubes having first end portions which freely extend through a slotted opening in the device for holding the first end portions of the first set of U-shaped tubes in place relative to each other;
- and
- a holding device, secured to second end portions of said first set of U-shaped tubes and furthermore secured to second end portions of said second set of U-shaped tubes, whereby the second end portions of both said first set of U-shaped tubes and said second set of U-shaped tubes are held rigidly in place with respect to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.