Patent ID: 7640971
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: B21D,F28F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A heat exchanger manifold comprising: a heat exchanger tank having an inner wall, an opening for mating with a header and a lip extending substantially around a periphery of the opening, the lip having an inner surface extending straight from the tank inner wall, an outer surface and an upper surface extending outward of the tank opening, and a ridge extending upward from a portion of the upper surface extending substantially around the tank, the tank lip having a height and a width, and a lip height to width ratio of at least about 1.5:1; and a heat exchanger header adapted to connect to a heat exchanger core, the header having a groove around the periphery thereof receiving the tank lip, the groove having a depth and a width between opposite groove walls, and a groove depth to width ratio of at least about 1.5:1, the header groove width being substantially equal to the tank lip width to create a sliding fit between the tank lip and the groove walls, and at least one plastically deformable tab extending from an edge of the groove, the at least one plastically deformable tab being bent inward and contacting the ridge on the tank lip to secure the tank to the header, the at least one plastically deformable header tab being free of contact with the lip upper surface inward of the ridge.