Folded tube for a heat exchanger and method of making same
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsEugene E. Rhodes, Greg Whitlow, Wen F Yu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A folded tube and method of making the same for a heat exchanger includes a base, a top spaced from and opposing the base, a first side interposed between the base and the top along one side thereof, and a second side interposed between the base and the top along another side thereof. The folded tube includes at least one of the base and the top having at least one internal web having an initial web height and being compressed to extend the at least one internal web to a final web height greater than the initial web height and defining a plurality of fluid ports.
Claims20
A folded tube for a heat exchanger comprising:
- a base;
- a top spaced from and opposing said base;
- a first side interposed between said base and said top along one side thereof;
- a second side interposed between said base and said top along another side thereof;
- and
- at least one of said base and said top having at least one internal web having an initial web height and being compressed to extend said at least one internal web to a final web height greater than said initial web height and defining a plurality of fluid ports, said at least one internal web having a first fold portion and a second fold portion adjacent said first fold portion and being formed from one of said base and said top, said at least one internal web having a web base and a web peak formed from said first fold portion and said second fold portion and said web base having a width greater than said web peak.
A folded tube for a heat exchanger comprising:
- a base;
- a top spaced from and opposing said base;
- a first side interposed between said base and said top along one side thereof;
- a second side interposed between said base and said top along another side thereof;
- and
- said base and said top each having at least one internal web spaced laterally from each other and having an initial web height and being compressed to extend said at least one internal web to a final web height greater than said initial web height and defining a plurality of fluid ports, said at least one internal web having a first fold portion and a second fold portion adjacent said first fold portion and being formed from one of said base and said top, said at least one internal web having a web base and a web peak formed from said first fold portion and said second fold portion and said web base having a lateral width greater than a lateral width of said web peak, said base and said top and said first side and said second side and said at least one internal web being integral, unitary, and one-piece.
A method of making a folded tube for a heat exchanger comprising the steps of:
- providing a generally planar sheet;
- folding the sheet and forming at least one internal web having a first fold portion and a second fold portion;
- compressing the at least one internal web to extend a height of the at least one internal web;
- and
- folding the sheet and forming a base and a top opposing the base and a first side interposed between the top and the base and a second side interposed between the top and the base such that the at least one internal web contacts either one of the top or the base to provide a plurality of fluid ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.