Abstract:
A support for tube-and-fin assemblies in a radiator comprising a single support which is securable to multiple tube-and-fin assemblies in a single row and which is interlockable with respect to similar supports interconnected with rows of tube-and-fin assemblies in front of and/or behind that row.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to tube-and-fin style heat exchangers. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a support structure for a tube-and-fin style assembly arranged in a radiator for use in a combustion engine. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Heavy duty construction machines such as track-type tractors, loaders, off-highway trucks and excavators and the like often require large radiators for engine cooling. One common radiator design is a heat exchanger arrangement comprised of a multiplicity of tube-and-fin assemblies. The tube-and-fin assemblies in such an arrangement are generally mounted in headers, arranged in columns and rows, and interconnected to receive and pass the radiator fluid therethrough. One known assembly of this type may include a generally elliptical tube having flat or flattened sides and heat-dissipating fins secured along the flat sides of the tube. In another similar type of assembly, the tube configuration may be substantially circular in cross-section. Regardless of the utilized tube geometry, the general operation of the assembly for the radiator is the same, namely the use of the fins on the tubes to dissipate heat from the radiator fluid to the air passing through the radiator and into the environment. 
         [0003]    Given the large scale cooling requirements for some applications, the tube-and-fin assemblies discussed herein may be of considerable size. Furthermore, for some larger applications, multiple rows of tube and fin assemblies mounted in close proximity may be necessary. However, in order to achieve the desired heat exchange, it can be critical to maintain the spacing between tube-and-fin assemblies within a fairly tight tolerance interconnection is provided by permanent connections, it makes the ready removal and repair or replacement of any single damaged assembly very difficult. Further, rigid connections, such as welding, may be too rigid for certain applications, leading to breakage or damage during usage in difficult terrain or when subjected to other harsh environmental conditions. 
         [0004]    In accordance therewith, it has been found that binding or strapping the tubes together utilizing a clip, preferably formed from an at least somewhat elastic and/or deformable material may be useful. In particular, while for use purposes, it is also important to maintain some aspects of give and flexibility for the respective tube-and-fin assemblies. Additionally, in order to facilitate maintenance, it is generally desired that each tube-and-fin assembly be removable from the headers for repair and/or replacement. 
         [0005]    In accordance therewith, it has been found that some of the desired rigidity may be achieved by interconnecting the rows and/or columns of tube-and-fin assemblies, thereby increasing the overall strength and rigidity of the heat exchanger. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,513 to L&amp;M Radiator, Inc. discloses the use of a support that is designed to be removably fastened to individual tube-and-fin assemblies of the heat exchanger. Specifically, each individual support is shaped to engage a single tube-and-fin assembly while also being shaped to slidably engage like adjacent supports so as to maintain the tube spacing and to enhance the strength and rigidity of the overall heat exchanger assembly. Each of the supports disclosed in the &#39;513 patent are shaped and sized to fit around and engage a single tube-and-fin assembly at a time. Each support is then designed to slidably interconnect with another corresponding support resulting in a “grid” of individually connected, but separate supports. 
         [0006]    However, while connectors such as those disclosed above and in the prior art have been found to be useful in some applications, refinement of such connectors that allow entire rows of fin and tubes to be attached to each other and be attached to complementary rows in front and/or behind may be desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The disclosure provides a support for use with the tube-and-fin assemblies of a radiator. In accordance therewith, the support has an interconnecting capacity to increase the strength and rigidity of the radiator for both staggered and in-line tube-and-fin radiator configurations. 
         [0008]    The disclosure further provides a support for tube-and-fin assemblies in a radiator comprising a single support which is securable to multiple tube-and-fin assemblies in a single row and which is interlockable with respect to similar supports interconnected with rows of tube-and-fin assemblies in front of and/or behind that row. The disclosure also provides an interlocking support according to the foregoing that controls and minimizes movement and vibration of the tube-and-fin assemblies during operation while still maintaining the ability to remove the individual tube-and-fin assemblies for repair or replacement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a radiator utilizing a multitude of tube-and-fin assemblies in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial side perspective view of interconnected supports engaging multiple tube-and-fin assemblies in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the supports shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the supports shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top cutaway perspective view of the supports shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top cutaway plan view of the supports shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a single support in accordance with the embodiment of the disclosure as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a partial side perspective view of interconnected supports engaging multiple tube-and-fin assemblies in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of the supports shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an alternate side perspective view of the supports shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a top cutaway perspective view of the supports shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a top cutaway plan view of the supports shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a single support in accordance with the embodiment of the disclosure as shown in  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is an alternate top perspective view of the single support shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    While a support for a tube-and-fin assembly according to this disclosure may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments of a single support structure for tube-and-fin assemblies in a radiator capable of simultaneously engaging and supporting multiple tube-and-fin assemblies at a time, with the understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles disclosed herein and is not intended to be limited to merely the illustrated and discussed embodiments. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the present disclosure, a support structure  20  for use in connection with a radiator  10 , such as those found in a combustion engine (not shown), utilized by track-type tractors, loaders, off-highway trucks and excavators and the like, is provided. 
         [0025]    Specifically, as shown best in  FIGS. 2-6 and 8-12 , a support structure  20  for use in providing flexible support to multiple tube-and-fin assemblies  22  is provided. As discussed above, the tube-and-fin assemblies  22  form a part of the radiator  10  and are arranged in rows and columns and interconnected between upper and lower headers (not shown). The rows extend longitudinally across the radiator  10 , substantially perpendicular to the direction of air flow, and the columns are substantially perpendicular to the rows. The columns may be “in-line” in some embodiments or may be “staggered” as best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 12  in order to provide a desired air flow through the radiator. 
         [0026]    As best shown in  FIGS. 2-6 and 8-12 , the tube-and-fin assemblies  22  may be comprised of generally elliptical tubes  24  having flat sides  26  and heat dissipating fins  28  secured along the flat sides  26 . It is to be understood, however, that the tubes  24  may have virtually any cross-sectional configuration, including circular, square, rectangular, etc. as desired or required for a particular application. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the support  20  may be integrally formed from a single piece of plastic material such as nylon. In accordance with other embodiments of the disclosure, the support may be made of a metal, such as aluminum. One of the advantages of using a metal such as aluminum for the support  20  is that it aids in the dissipation of heat from the tubes  24 . 
         [0027]    As can be seen best in  FIGS. 7 and 13-14 , the support  20  may preferably formed in a comb-type configuration having a central spine  30  having female connectors  32  on one side thereof and corresponding male connectors  34  on the opposite side thereof. It is to be understood that, depending on the application, the width of the respective connectors  32 ,  34  and central spine  30  can be varied to achieve the desired spacing between the tube-and-fin assemblies  22  in each individual row, as well as the spacing between the rows themselves. For example, for larger desired spacing between tube-and-fin assemblies  22  in each row, wider connectors  32 ,  34  should be specified. Conversely, the larger the desired spacing between each row of tube-and-fin assemblies, a wider central spine  30  should be specified. 
         [0028]    In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure, the female connectors  32  may include laterally extending wings  36  that are shaped and sized to slide between adjacent fins  28  on the tube-and-fin assemblies  22 , thereby aiding in the securement of the comb-type support  20  to the tube-and-fin assemblies and increasing the rigidity thereof. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the wings  36  may be broadest closest to the base of the female connectors  32  and taper nearer the ends  40  thereof. 
         [0029]    As shown best in  FIGS. 8-14 , in some embodiments of the disclosure, the female connectors  32  may also include longitudinally extending sidewalls  42 . The longitudinally extending sidewalls  42  may be provided on both sides of the female connectors  32  for the interior connectors but left open on the end portions  44  to allow for sliding interconnection with additional supports  20  if desired and/or required. The sidewalls  42  may be provided in connection with all of the female connectors  32  or only some, and may comprise complete or partial walls, depending on the lateral support desired. 
         [0030]    In accordance with the disclosure, the male connectors  34  may be provided with a lobed head  46  corresponding to a lobed recess  48  provided in the female connectors  32 . The lobed head  46  and corresponding lobed recess  48  provide a snap-type engagement between the respective connectors  32 ,  34  thereby adding strength and rigidity to the interconnection of the tube-and-fin assemblies  22 . As is known in the art, the size and shapes of the respective lobes  46 ,  48  may be varied to provide desired strength and rigidity to the interconnection. For example, a larger lobe  46  on the male connector  34  vis-à-vis the corresponding lobe  48  on the female connector  32  will add strength and rigidity to the interconnection of the supports  20  (while making interconnection more difficult). Conversely, a smaller lobe  46  on the male connector  34  vis-à-vis the corresponding lobe  48  on the female connector  32  will lessen strength and rigidity to the interconnection of the supports  20  (while making interconnection easier). 
         [0031]    The embodiments of the comb-type support  20  disclosed herein provides an engaging interconnection between individual tube-and-fin assemblies  22  in each row as well as simultaneous interconnection between each row of tube-and-fin assemblies  22  in the radiator  10 . The interconnection thereby provides a distribution and dissipation of the forces that may be experienced by the tube-and-fin assemblies  22  of the radiator  10  thereby improving the strength of the radiator  10  and helping to prevent failure of the tube-and-fin assemblies  22 . 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that while these descriptions are exemplary in nature of the embodiments shown and discussed herein, they are no-limiting in nature. For example, the length of the support  20  may vary and is dependent upon the number of tube-and-fin assemblies  22  utilized in any particular radiator  10  application. In some applications, the central spine  30  of the comb-type support  20  may extend the entire width of the radiator  10  thereby supporting all of the tube-and-fin assemblies  22  in each row. Conversely, in other applications, the central spine  30  of the comb-type support  20  may only extend the partial width of the radiator  10  and may be shaped and sized on ends thereof to connect with another similarly shaped support  20  as discussed above. 
         [0033]    Further, it is to be understood that while the embodiments of the support  20  disclosed herein disclose female connectors  32  exclusively on one side of the central spine  30  and male connectors  34  exclusively on the opposite side thereof, deviations from this arrangement (such as alternating placement on the central spine  30  every other connector  32 ,  34 , every third connector  32 ,  34 , etc.) would be considered within scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, while the pictured embodiment discloses the wings  36  in connection with the female connectors  32 , they may also be used in connection with the male connectors  34  as is understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the wings  36  may be alternated between association with the female connectors  32  and the male connectors  34 , as well as a multitude of other variations of such embodiments. 
         [0034]    Further to the foregoing, while an integrally formed support  20  made from a plastic material is disclosed and considered useful due to the ability thereof to deform and “give” without breaking, other base materials and non-integrally formed construction techniques for making the supports  20  would be considered operable and within the scope of the disclosure. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0035]    The present disclosure advantageously provides a support system for use in a radiator  10  of the type utilized for cooling combustion engines for heavy duty construction machines such as track-type tractors, loaders, off-highway trucks and excavators and the like. Specifically, the comb-type support  20  disclosed herein enhances the strength and overall performance of the radiator  10 . Additionally, the support  20  helps to prevent damage to the individual tube-and-fin assemblies  22  while still maintaining the ability to individually remove a single tube-and-fin assembly  22  for maintenance or replacement, if required, without requiring dismantling of the entire radiator  10  structure. 
         [0036]    More specifically, the present disclosure provides a comb-type support  20  that provides interconnection between adjacent tube-and-fin assemblies  22  within the radiator  10  that substantially improves stress distribution and resistance to distortion. Further, the comb-type support  20  disclosed herein provides the aforementioned attributes without significant fin  28  area loss thereby maintaining or improving overall cooling efficiency. Additionally, the variability of the widths of the connectors  32 ,  34  as discussed herein may provide desired spacing between individual tube-and-fin assemblies  22  in each row while the variability of the width of the central spine  30  may provide desired spacing between the rows of the individual rows of the tube-and-fin assemblies  22  thereby allowing desired cooling efficiency to be maintained. 
         [0037]    The many features and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the detailed specification, and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the disclosure which fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the disclosure.