Metallic strip and methods and structures incorporating the same

A flexible cable comprising:

• a flexible conduit comprising an elongated metallic shaped strip, said elongated metallic shaped strip including a central portion disposed between a first and a second end portion extending generally outwardly from said central, said first and said second end portions including first and second planar outer surfaces, respectively, wherein at least a portion of said central portion includes a cross-sectional thickness TC which is less than a maximum cross-sectional thickness TM of said elongated shaped strip, said elongated shaped strip being helically wound around itself and configured to form a generally tubular body having at least one interior passageway;
• and
• at least one conductor at least partially disposed within said least one interior passageway of said generally tubular body;
• said central portion including a top and a bottom surface extending from said first and said second planar outer surfaces of said strip, at least a portion of at least one of said top and said bottom surfaces including a generally concaved region having said cross-sectional thickness TC, wherein said generally concaved region includes a first and a second section extending from one of said first and said second planar outer surfaces of said strip at a first and a second acute angle α1 and α2, respectively, and wherein said first and said second sections converge together at a point between said first and said second planar outer surfaces.

A heat exchanger tube assembly comprising:

• a tube having a length, an inner surface defining a passageway and an outer surface;
• and
• an elongated metallic shaped strip helically coupled to said outer surface of said tube along at least a portion of said length of said tube, said elongated metallic shaped strip including a central portion disposed between a first and a second end portion, said first and said second end portions extending generally outwardly from said central portion on generally opposite sides of said central portion and including first and second planar outer surfaces of said strip, respectively, wherein said central portion includes a top and a bottom surface extending from said first and said second planar outer surfaces of said strip, and wherein at least a portion of at least one of said top and said bottom surfaces includes a generally concaved region, said concaved region including a first and a second section extending from one of said first and said second planar outer surfaces of said strip at a first and a second acute angle α1 and α2, respectively, and wherein said first and said second sections converge together at a point between said first and said second planar outer surfaces such that at least a portion of said central portion includes a cross-sectional thickness TC which is less than a maximum cross-sectional thickness TM of said elongated shaped strip.