Patent Publication Number: US-6338265-B1

Title: Device for straightening aluminum fins

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device for combing, straightening and cleaning the metal fins on heat exchangers that are used in condensers and evaporators for air conditioning and refrigeration systems. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The heat exchangers for condensers and evaporators for air conditioning and refrigeration systems are provided with numerous metal fins that increase the heat transfer from the cooling coils in the units to the atmosphere. The condensers for air conditioning systems are generally located in unprotected locations on the outside of a building. The metal fins on the condensers are often bent by impacts from hail or garden equipment such as lawn mowers. When the fins are bent, they become less efficient at transferring heat from the cooling coils in the units to the atmosphere. For this reason, it is desirable to straighten the fins back to their original configuration. 
     The prior method for straightening metal fins on heat exchangers involved the use of a stationary comb with teeth that were manually pulled down between the adjacent metal fins. Straightening metal fins with a stationary comb requires the use of considerable force and is a difficult and time-consuming task. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a new device for straightening metal fins with a vibrating comb. The vibrating comb moves easily between the adjacent fins and straightens them without requiring the force that is needed with a stationary, non-vibrating comb. 
     The vibration for the device is provided by a vibrator located in the base of the device. The vibrator is powered either by electric line current or a battery installed in the base of the device. The user may adjust the speed of vibration with a dial located on the base of the device. 
     The device is provided with several different sizes of interchangeable, detachable combs to accommodate different spacing between metal fins. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan of a device for straightening aluminum fins according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a left side view of the device of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan of a first alternate embodiment of the present invention having a handle for grasping the device. 
     FIG. 4 is a left side view of the first alternate embodiment of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention having internal batteries as a power source and showing detachable combs that may be inserted into the base of the device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Device for Straightening Aluminum Fins 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment  10  of a device for straightening aluminum fins is illustrated. The device  10  is comprised of a vibrator base  12  in which an electric-powered vibrator (not illustrated) is contained. The vibrator is not illustrated because it employs known technology similar to that found in hand held massages vibrators and hand held vibrating sanders. On a distal end  14  of a top surface  16  of said base  12  is a dial  18  for controlling the speed of the vibrator. A switch  20  for turning said device  10  on and off is provided on the top surface  16  of an opposite proximal end  28  of the base  12 . Extending from the distal end  14  of said base  12  is a fastener  22  to which a detachable comb  24  may be attached. The comb  24  consists of a number of spaced apart, parallel teeth  26 . Referring now to FIG. 5, three interchangeable detachable combs  24 ,  36 , and  38  are illustrated. The three combs  24 ,  36 , and  38  each have spaced apart, parallel teeth  26 , but the spacing of adjacent teeth  26  is further apart on comb  36  and closer together on comb  38 . Referring again to the device  10  of FIGS. 1 and 2, on the proximal end  28  of said base  12  is an electrical cord  30  through which electrical power is supplied to the vibrator. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a first alternate embodiment  10 A of a device for straightening aluminum fins is illustrated. The first alternate embodiment  10 A is identical to the previously described preferred embodiment  10  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the first alternate  10 A includes a handle  32  located on the top surface  16  of an alternate base  12 A for grasping said device  10 A. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a second alternate embodiment  10 B of a device for straightening aluminum fins  10 B is illustrated. The second alternate embodiment  10 B is identical to the previously described preferred embodiment  10 , illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the second alternate embodiment  10 B does not include the electrical power cord  30  on the proximal end  28  of the base  12 , but instead the base  12  contains a battery power source  34  to supply electrical power to the vibrator. 
     The above description refers specifically to a device for straightening aluminum fins, but the invention includes devices for straightening fins made from any type of metal as long as the fins are sufficiently malleable to be straightened using a comb. 
     While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for the purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.