Finned tube heat exchangers and methods for manufacturing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11835306-B2
Application number	US-202117190596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2021
Priority date	Mar 3, 2021
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A heat exchanger fin is disclosed. The fin can include a fin portion and a collar portion defining a fin aperture that has a central axis passing therethrough. The collar portion can include a nesting end including a nesting portion and a receiving end that (i) is located apart from the nesting end in an axial direction and (ii) comprises one or more bends to form an overhang portion that defines a gap located radially inward of the overhang portion. The gap can be dimensioned to at least partially receive the nesting portion. The collar portion can also include a contact portion extending between the nesting end and the receiving end, and the contact portion can be configured to abut an outer surface of a tube when the tube is at least partially inserted into the fin aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger fin comprising:
a fin portion; and
a collar portion defining a fin aperture having a central axis, the collar portion disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the fin portion, wherein the collar portion comprises:
a nesting end including a nesting portion, a bend, and an extending portion disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the fin portion, wherein the extending portion extends over the collar portion;
a receiving end that (i) is located apart from the nesting end in an axial direction and (ii) comprises one or more bends to form an overhang portion that defines a gap located radially inward of the overhang portion, the gap being dimensioned to at least partially receive the nesting portion; and
a contact portion extending between the nesting end and the receiving end, the contact portion configured to abut an outer surface of a tube when the tube is at least partially inserted into the fin aperture.

2. The heat exchanger fin of claim 1 , wherein when the tube is at least partially inserted into the fin aperture, the gap radially extends between the overhang portion and the outer surface of the tube.

3. The heat exchanger fin of claim 1 , wherein the receiving end comprises a single bend.

4. The heat exchanger fin of claim 1 , wherein:
the bend of the nesting end is less than approximately 180 degrees, and
the extending portion extends radially outward from the bend of the nesting end.

5. The heat exchanger fin of claim 1 , wherein:
the bend of the nesting end is between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 180 degrees, and
the extending portion extends at least partially in an axial direction.

6. The heat exchanger fin of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the nesting end or the receiving end is rounded.

7. A heat exchanger comprising:
a heat exchanger tube; and
a plurality of stacked heat exchanger fins, each comprising:
a fin portion; and
a collar portion defining a fin aperture having a central axis, wherein the collar portion is disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the fin portion, and wherein the heat exchanger tube passes through the fin aperture, the collar portion comprising:
a nesting end including a nesting portion, a bend, and an extending portion disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the fin portion, wherein the extending portion extends over the collar portion;
a receiving end that (i) is located apart from the nesting end in an axial direction and (ii) comprises one or more bends to form an overhang portion that defines a gap that radially extends between the overhang portion and an outer surface of the heat exchanger tube, the gap being dimensioned to at least partially receive the nesting portion of an adjacent heat exchanger fin; and
a contact portion extending between the nesting end and the receiving end, the contact portion abutting the outer surface of the heat exchanger tube.

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Zou Yang

Classifications

• F28F1/28 Primary

  the element being built-up from finned sections · CPC title

• F28F1/30 Primary

  the means being attachable to the element (F28F1/32 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B21D53/085

  with fins places on zig-zag tubes or parallel tubes · CPC title

• F28F2275/125

  by bringing elements together and expanding · CPC title