Patent Publication Number: US-4546824-A

Title: Heat exchanger

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to heat exchangers and, more particularly, to the tube-to-header connection therefor. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     It is known to use an oval or flat sided tube which is formed to have round ends for mounting in openings in the headers at the upper and lower ends of a radiator. Such round end mounting arrangements are known to provide a strong tube-to-header joint. The larger the diameter of the ends, the more the area of contact between the two components and, hence, the stronger the joint. However, the diameter becomes limited when it is realized that predetermined minimum spaces must be maintained between adjacent openings in the headers, thus limiting the advantages of the round tube-to-header joints. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a general object of the invention is to provide an improved tube-to-header joint in a heat exchanger. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cylindrical tube-to-header joint. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a cylindrical tube end which is offset from the center of an oblong, oval or flat sided tube body to enable the area of interconnection between each cylindrical end header opening to be as large as possible, while maintaining a desired minimum distance between adjacent openings in the upper and lower headers. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a heat exchanger tube-to-header joint arrangement; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 2--2 of FIG. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 3--3 of FIG. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows. 
    
    
     BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a heat exchanger 10 including top and bottom tanks, represented at 12, and having side channels 14, top and bottom headers 16 and an intermediate core assembly 18. The core assembly includes a plurality of vertically oriented tubes 20 and intermediate serpentine fins 22. In some applications, transversely oriented flat sheet metal fins may be used in lieu of the serpentine fins. Each tube 20 is formed to include a body section 24 having flattened, parallel sides 26 and rounded interconnecting edges 28 and 30, axially aligned cylindrical end sections 32, and a transition section 34 between the body portion 24 and each of the cylindrical end sections 32. The cylindrical ends are extended through outwardly extending collars 36 formed around openings 38 in each header 16, and secured therein in any convenient manner, such as by soldering. As shown in FIG. 2, the openings in each row are equally spaced, while alternate rows are staggered with respect to each adjacent row. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flat-sided, oblong bodies 24 are off-set to one side, such that the rounded edge 28 thereof is axially aligned with the outer periphery of the cylindrical ends 32, while the rounded edge 30 is radially outward of the outer periphery of the round ends. As seen from the side in FIG. 3, the rounded edge 30 assumes an &#34;S&#34; shape along the length of the transition section 34 as it blends from the oblong or flat-sided body 24 configuration into the cylindrical end 32 configuration. 
     Suitable retainer means, such as an annular collar 40 (FIG. 3), or a plurality of equally spaced protrusions may be formed around the cylindrical end 32, just inside the header 16 in the vicinity of the juncture between the cylindrical end and the adjacent transition section 34. Once installed, the outer edge of each cylindrical end 32 may be formed to include an outwardly extending flare 42 engaging the outer edge of the adjacent collar 36. Thus, the tube collars 40 and flares 42 serve to mechanically lock the header 16 and its collars 36 therebetween so as to be better able to withstand the forces resulting from thermal expansion and normal operational stresses. 
     As may be noted in FIG. 2, with the off-set rounded edges 30 pointing in one direction along alternate rows of openings 38, and in the opposite direction along adjacent alternate rows of openings 38, the adjacent rows of openings 38 may be staggered and, hence, a predetermined minimum distance may be maintained between adjacent collars 36, with less tendency for the header to fatigue or fail than if the rows of openings 38 were aligned laterally in FIG. 2. This also serves to accommodate a larger diameter opening 38 and cylindrical end 32 than if the openings 38 were aligned both longitudinally and laterally in FIG. 2, providing a greater area of contact therebetween for more secure interconnection between the tubes and the headers. 
     If desired, the tubes 20 may be formed so as to have the longitudinal edges which meet at the rounded edge 28 interconnected as a lock seam 44 (FIG. 2), i.e., bent so as to become interlocked with one another. Other suitable connection means may be utilized in lieu of the lock seam 44, if desired, without interfering with the invention. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     It should be apparent that the invention provides an improved tube-to-header joint in that maximum header distance may be maintained between the collars around the header openings, and the circumferential contact area headers and tubes may be increased. 
     While but one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, other modifications thereof are possible.