Patent ID: 6470570
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B21C,B23K,B23P,F28D,F28F,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for making a tube for a heat exchanger comprising:forming, with a first set of rolls, a continuous metal shell from a metal strip, the metal shell having a closed longitudinal edge and a pair of partially open longitudinal edges; placing a continuous fin insert into the continuous metal shell, said fin insert being placed into the metal shell at a location intermediate said closed longitudinal edge and said pair of partially open longitudinal edges, the fin insert having a high density of convolutions extending in a direction transverse to the closed and partially open longitudinal edges; and closing the pair of partially open longitudinal edges of the continuous metal shell around the fin insert with a set of closing rolls to seal the metal shell, the closing of the pair of partially open longitudinal edges forming a sealed longitudinal edge, the sealed metal shell having a first internal longitudinal channel formed between the fin insert and the closed longitudinal edge and a second internal longitudinal channel formed between the fin insert and the sealed longitudinal edge.