US 6,615,488 B2Granted

Method of forming heat exchanger tube

AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.

InventorsJames Anders, Henry Earl Beamer, Gerald A. Machajewski

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Abstract

An improved method for producing a basic B tube configuration for a folded heat exchanger tube (26). A braze clad metal strip (10) having inner (1) and outer (0) surfaces and a opposed edges (12) is progressively formed over and in by a series of progressive roller stations (14A, 16A-14J, 16J) until the lower edges (12) on a pair of central abutting flanges 18 centrally engage the strip inner surface (1). Between two of the roller stations (G and H), a powered dispense valve (20) with nozzle (22) continuously dispenses a bead (24) of material containing flux or, alternatively, flux and braze material. Bead (24), rather than being a thin stripe, is a thick semi cylindrical shape, with substantial viscosity. As the flanges (18) move into abutment and the downstream roller stations, the flange edges (12) are forced down into the bead (24), some of which is pumped up between the outer surfaces (0) of the abutted flanges (18), yielding a good, solid braze joint between the two.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A method of forming a heat exchanger tube (26), comprising the steps of;

progressively forming a strip (10) of metal stock having an outer surface (O) and inner surface (I) at a series of stations (A-J) so as to initially form a pair of substantially flat, substantially perpendicular integral flanges (18) with edges (12) on opposite sides of said strip (10),
continually dispensing a bead (24) of flux material directly along the center of the strip inner surface (I), said bead (24) having a predetermined thicknesses,
progressively forming said flanges (18) downwardly and toward each other as the edges outer surfaces (O) of said flanges (18) move into a substantially abutting interface and the lower edges (12) of said flanges(18) move down into said bead (24) and into contact with the strip interior surface (I), said bead (24) thickness being sufficient to allow material therefrom to be forced up and into the interface between said flanges (18) as the flanges (18) move into abutment and
brazing said strip (10) so as to complete said heat exchanger tube (26).

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/066,995Filed 4 Feb 2002
Published: US 2003/0145465 A17 Aug 2003
Granted: 9 Sep 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B23P 15/26
Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass: heat exchangers or the like
B21C 37/0803
Making tubes with welded or soldered seams: the tubes having a special shape, e.g. polygonal tubes
B21C 37/151
Making tubes of special shape; Making tube fittings: making tubes with multiple passages
B23K 1/0012
Specially adapted for particular articles or work: brazing of heat exchangers