Retained strong header for heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11566846-B2
Application number	US-201916691878-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2019
Priority date	Nov 22, 2019
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a fluid reservoir having a peripherally extending foot, a header having a mounting tab bent to engage the foot of the fluid reservoir to couple the header to the fluid reservoir, and a retaining feature configured to prevent disengagement of the mounting tab of the header from the foot of the fluid reservoir. The retaining feature overlays at least a portion of an outer surface of the mounting tab while otherwise restrained by a portion of the fluid reservoir in order to prevent the disengagement of the mounting tab from the foot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a fluid reservoir having a peripherally extending foot;
a header having a mounting tab bent to engage the foot of the fluid reservoir to couple the header to the fluid reservoir; and
a retaining feature configured to prevent disengagement of the mounting tab of the header from the foot of the fluid reservoir, wherein the retaining feature is formed by deforming a portion of the fluid reservoir to overlay a portion of the mounting tab after the mounting tab is bent to engage the foot of the fluid reservoir, and wherein the deformed portion of the fluid reservoir is provided on a rib projecting from an outer surface of the fluid reservoir, wherein the rib is disposed adjacent a distal surface of the mounting tab, and wherein the deforming of the portion of the fluid reservoir includes the formation of a projection in the rib for preventing movement of the distal surface of the mounting tab, and wherein the rib projects laterally outwardly from the outer surface of the fluid reservoir and away from the foot of the fluid reservoir.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the deforming of the portion of the fluid reservoir includes one of electrical resistance heating the portion of the fluid reservoir or ultrasonic heating the portion of the fluid reservoir.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the deformed portion of the fluid reservoir is an end portion of the rib, wherein the end portion of the rib is received into an opening formed in the mounting tab when the mounting tab is bent to engage the foot of the fluid reservoir.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the foot of the fluid reservoir is received within a peripherally extending base portion of the header, wherein the mounting tab extends from and bends relative to the base portion of the header.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir includes a first coupling feature projecting from the foot thereof and wherein the mounting tab of the header includes a second coupling feature forming a cavity on an inner surface of the mounting tab, wherein the second coupling feature is received within the first coupling feature when the mounting tab is bent to engage the foot of the fluid reservoir.

6. A heat exchanger comprising:
a fluid reservoir having a peripherally extending foot;
a header having a mounting tab bent to engage the foot of the fluid reservoir to couple the header to the fluid reservoir; and
a retaining feature configured to prevent disengagement of the mounting tab of the header from the foot of the fluid reservoir, wherein the retaining feature is formed by deforming a portion of the fluid reservoir to overlay a portion of the mounting tab after the mounting tab is bent to engage the foot of the fluid reservoir, and wherein the deformed portion of the fluid reservoir is provided on a rib projecting from an outer surface of the fluid reservoir, wherein the rib is disposed adjacent a distal surface of the mounting tab, and wherein the deforming of the portion of the fluid reservoir includes the formation of a projection in the rib for preventing movement of the distal surface of the mounting tab, and wherein the rib is formed generally perpendicular to the foot of the fluid reservoir.

Assignees

• Hanon Systems

Inventors

• Grainger James
• Somhorst Leo
• Bowring David
• Zormpas Sotirios
• Stansfield Jonathan

Classifications

• F28D1/0233 Primary

  with air flow channels · CPC title

• F28F9/0219

  Arrangements for sealing end plates into casing or header box; Header box sub-elements (F28F9/0236 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F2275/085

  with snap connection · CPC title

• B23P15/26 Primary

  heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)} · CPC title

• F28D1/05316

  Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators (F28D1/05366 takes precedence) · CPC title