Header for heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10852074-B2
Application number	US-201615155395-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle comprises a fluid reservoir having at least one continuous sidewall. A plurality of first coupling features are formed in a base of the sidewall, wherein the first coupling features are outward extending protrusions. The heat exchanger further comprises a header configured to receive a portion of the fluid reservoir therein. The header includes a mounting tab having a plurality of second coupling features and a plurality of reinforcing features alternately formed therein. Each of the second coupling features are cavities configured to receive a portion of a corresponding one of the first coupling features therein. A receiving surface of each of the second coupling features cooperates with an engaging surface of the corresponding one of the first coupling features.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger comprising:
a fluid reservoir having a plurality of first coupling features; and
a header including a plurality of second coupling features and a plurality of reinforcing features formed intermediate adjacent ones of the second coupling features, the second coupling features configured to engage the first coupling features, wherein each of the reinforcing features is formed of a sidewall and a shoulder, wherein the sidewall of each of the reinforcing features spans a distance between the adjacent ones of the second coupling features and wherein the shoulder of each of the reinforcing features spans the distance between the adjacent ones of the second coupling features, wherein the shoulder of each of the reinforcing features is inwardly inclined relative to the corresponding sidewall of each of the reinforcing features, wherein each of the second coupling features are enclosed cavities formed from an end wall and a sidewall, and wherein each of the second coupling features have a triangular cross sectional shape.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling features are protrusions.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the cavities are configured to receive the protrusions.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive a portion of the fluid reservoir therein.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 4 , wherein the header includes a recess circumscribing a perimeter of the header.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of mounting tabs extends from the recess.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein the second coupling features are formed in the mounting tabs.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each of the first coupling features includes an engaging surface and each of the second coupling features includes a receiving surface, and wherein the engaging surface is configured to cooperate with the receiving surface to secure the fluid reservoir to the header.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 8 , wherein the engaging surface of each of the first coupling features and the receiving surface of each of the second coupling features are inclined.

10. A heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, the heat exchanger comprising:
a core having an open end;
a header coupled to the core adjacent the open end, the header including a plurality of cavities, wherein each of the cavities is defined by a concave portion of an inner surface of the header; and
a fluid reservoir including a sidewall having an outer surface, a base, and a terminal end depending from the base and defining an opening of the fluid reservoir, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof, wherein each of the protrusions is defined by a convex portion of an outer surface of the fluid reservoir, wherein each of the protrusions is received in and enclosed by one of the cavities of the header, and wherein each of the cavities has a shape corresponding to a shape of one of the protrusions received therein, wherein a lip is formed on the sidewall adjacent the terminal end of the fluid reservoir and is outwardly offset from and parallel to a lower portion of the sidewall, wherein each of the protrusions includes an engaging surface and the inner surface forming the concave portion of the inner surface of the header includes a receiving surface engaging the engaging surface, wherein each of the engaging surfaces is formed opposite the terminal end, wherein each of the engaging surfaces is inclined with respect to an axis along which a force is applied to assemble the fluid reservoir to the header, wherein a distance from the terminal end to each of the engaging surfaces increases as the distance from the base increases.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 10 , wherein the cavities are formed on a mounting tab of the header.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 10 , wherein the protrusions are formed on the base of the fluid reservoir.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 10 , wherein a distal end of each of the protrusions is tapered outwardly.

Assignees

• Hanon Systems

Inventors

• Somhorst Leo
• Fabian Petr
• Joyce Stephen
• Coleberd Adam

Classifications

• F28F2275/12

  by methods involving deformation of the elements · CPC title

• F28F9/0226 Primary

  with resilient gaskets · CPC title

• F28F2275/085

  with snap connection · CPC title

• F28F2225/08

  for header boxes · CPC title