Patent ID: 8839518
Filing Date: 2014-09-23
Classification: B23P,F02M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of refurbishing a salvaged Exhaust Gas Recirculation cooler having a housing with internal heat exchange elements, an exhaust gas inlet fitting at a first end, an exhaust gas outlet fitting at a second end, a coolant intake and a coolant outlet, the method comprising: (a) providing the salvaged cooler removed from an engine; (b) cutting the exhaust gas inlet fitting and the exhaust gas outlet fitting from the cooler housing; (c) removing the existing heat exchange elements from within the housing; (d) cleaning the housing; (e) providing first and second heat exchange tube sub-assemblies, each tube sub-assembly comprising an end plate having a selected number of tubes attached thereto, each of the tubes extending away from the end plate in a cantilevered configuration and terminating in a free end, the first tube sub-assembly further comprising a selected number of bores adapted to slidingly engage the outer surfaces of the tubes attached to the second tube sub-assembly, the second tube sub-assembly further comprising a selected number of bores adapted to slidingly engage the outer surfaces of the tubes attached to the first tube sub-assembly; (f) assembling the first and second tube sub-assemblies together by inserting the free ends of the tubes of the first tube sub-assembly into the bores of the second tube sub-assembly while inserting the free ends of the tubes of the second tube sub-assembly into the bores of the first tube sub-assembly; (g) welding the tubes in place; (h) welding the end plates to the housing; and (i) welding an inlet fitting and an outlet fitting to the housing to establish an exhaust gas flow path from the first end to the second end through the tubes in a heat exchange relationship with coolant flowing in the housing.