Receiver dryer mounting bracket for a condenser system

A condenser system comprising:

• two spaced apart headers;
• a plurality of parallel tubes extending between said headers for passing refrigerant between said headers;
• a receiver dryer;
• an inlet pipe coupled to one of said headers and an inlet port of said receiver dryer for passing said refrigerant from a first section of said condenser system to said receiver dryer, said inlet pipe including a first flange proximate an outlet end of said inlet pipe;
• an outlet pipe coupled to said one of said headers and an outlet port of said receiver dryer for passing said refrigerant from said receiver dryer to a sub-cooler section of said condenser system, said outlet pipe including a second flange proximate an inlet end of said outlet pipe;
• and
• a bracket for retaining said inlet and outlet pipes in fixed relation with said one of said headers, said bracket comprising:
• a body including a first surface, a second surface, and a side spanning a width of said body from said first surface to said second surface, said body having an opening extending through said body configured for passage of said inlet and outlet pipes, said first surface having first and second seat sections at said opening, said first seat section being configured for retention of said first flange of said inlet pipe, said second seat section being configured for retention of said second flange of said outlet pipe, and said body having an attachment hole for passage of a fastener adapted to couple said bracket to said receiver dryer;
• and
• an arm coupled to and extending from said side of said body, said arm having a concave surface coupled to said one of said headers.

A method of securing a receiver dryer to a sub-cooled condenser, said sub-cooled condenser having two spaced apart headers and a plurality of parallel tubes extending between said headers for passing refrigerant between said headers, said method comprising:

• providing a bracket including a body having a first surface, a second surface, and a side spanning a width of said body from said first surface to said second surface, said body having an oblong opening extending through said body, said first surface having first and second seat sections at opposing ends of a length of said oblong opening, said body further having an arcuate crimp section extending from said side of said body and approximately aligned with a midpoint of said length of said oblong opening, said arcuate crimp section causing a mid-section span of said oblong opening to be wider than an end-section span of said oblong opening, and said bracket further including an arm coupled to and extending from said side of said body, said arm having a concave surface;
• directing an inlet pipe through said mid-section span of said oblong opening;
• moving said inlet pipe laterally to seat a first flange of said inlet pipe in said first seat section;
• directing an outlet pipe through said mid-section span of said oblong opening;
• moving said outlet pipe laterally to seat a second flange of said outlet pipe in said second seat section;
• compressing said arcuate crimp section to secure said inlet and outlet pipes in said first and second seat sections to form a pipe assembly;
• positioning header attachment ends of said inlet and outlet pipes inside respective holes in one of said headers;
• tack welding said concave surface of said arm to said one of said headers to attach said pipe assembly to said sub-cooled condenser;
• passing said sub-cooled condenser and said attached pipe assembly through a brazing furnace to braze said pipe assembly to said one of said headers;
• coupling an outlet of said inlet pipe with an inlet port of said receiver dryer;
• coupling an inlet of said outlet pipe with an outlet port of said receiver dryer;
• and
• fastening said receiver dryer to said body of said bracket to secure said receiver dryer to said sub-cooled condenser.

In a condenser system having two spaced apart headers, a plurality of parallel tubes extending between said headers for passing refrigerant between said headers, a receiver dryer, an inlet pipe coupled to one of said headers and an inlet port of said receiver dryer, and an outlet pipe coupled to said one of said headers and an outlet port of said receiver dryer, said inlet pipe having a first flange, and said outlet pipe having a second flange, a bracket for retaining said inlet and outlet pipes in fixed relation with said one of said headers, said bracket comprising:

• a body including:
• a first surface having a first seat section configured for retention of said first flange of said inlet pipe, and a second seat section configured for retention of said second flange of said outlet pipe, said first seat section having bend relief slots radiating outwardly from a first inner edge of said first seat section, and said second seat section having said bend relief slots radiating outwardly from a second inner edge of said second seat section;
• a second surface;
• a side spanning a width of said body from said first surface to said second surface, said body having an oblong opening extending through said body for passage of said inlet and outlet pipes, said first and second seat sections being located at said oblong opening and positioned at opposing ends of a length of said oblong opening;
• and
• an arcuate crimp section extending from said side of said body and approximately aligned with a midpoint of said length of said oblong opening, wherein compression of said arcuate crimp section causes said bend relief slots to wrap around and secure said inlet and outlet pipes in respective ones of said first and second seat sections;
• and
• an arm coupled to and extending from said side of said body, said arm having a concave surface for mating engagement with said one of said headers.