Patent ID: 7946036
Filing Date: 2011-05-24
Classification: F28D,F28F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a manifold for a heat exchanger of the type including a header having a cross sectional periphery extending axially and radially surrounding an axially extending distributor conduit having a cross sectional periphery, said method comprising; bending at least a first portion of the cross sectional periphery of the distributor conduit along a leading edge of a sheet of material having a trailing edge, bending the sheet about an axis in radially spaced relationship to the distributor conduit to form the header, forming a leading shoulder axially along the sheet in spaced relationship to the leading edge, folding a first section of the sheet into a first fold of a substantially “U”-shape as viewed in cross section, folding a second section of the sheet into a second fold of substantially “U”-shape and abutting the first fold with the second fold, bending a second part of the sheet between the second fold and the trailing edge and engaging the trailing edge with the leading edge to complete the cross sectional periphery of the distributor conduit, and sealing the edges to the sheet axially therealong, wherein the bending the sheet is further defined as abutting the leading shoulder with the sheet to complete the cross sectional periphery of the header, wherein the bending of at least the first portion of the cross sectional periphery of the distributor conduit is further defined as bending a first part of the sheet between the first fold and the leading edge to define at least a segment of the cross sectional periphery of the distributor conduit, wherein the folding of the first fold includes forming the leading shoulder, and wherein the engaging is further defined as abutting the trailing edge against the leading edge.