Patent ID: 8656988
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: F28D,F28F

Abstract:
1. A reinforcement ribbon element for reinforcing connections between a tank and a plurality of tubes of a heat exchanger, the ribbon element comprising: an elongated base strip for positioning against a header of the tank, the base strip including a plurality of intermediate portions, the intermediate portions being substantially coplanar with each other in a first plane for abutting an outward surface of the header; and a plurality of reinforcing collars for each receiving a portion of one of the tubes of the plurality of tubes, each reinforcing collar extending from one of the intermediate portions of the base strip; wherein each of the reinforcing collars defines a throat and comprises a pair of ear portions defining sides of the throat for extending along a portion of the exterior surface on side sections of the tube and a bridge portion extending between the ear portions and defining a closed end to the throat for positioning adjacent to an end section of the tube between the side sections, the bridge portion being connected to the base strip; wherein the ear portions of a said reinforcing collar have inner surfaces oriented substantially perpendicular to the first plane of the base strip and positioned in opposition to each other to form a gap therebetween, the inner surfaces extending from the bridge portion to a mouth defined by free end edges of the ear portions located opposite of the bridge portion, the inner surfaces extending in planes oriented substantially parallel to each other so that the throat has a substantially uniform width from the mouth to the bridge portion; wherein the base strip includes an arched portion curved about a first axis and wherein the bridge portion of a said reinforcing collar curves about a second axis, and wherein the first and second axes are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other.