Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger assembly having a sheet metal distributor/collector tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016363392-A1
Application number	US-201514735561-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2015
Priority date	Jun 10, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly having a manifold, a partition member inserted into the interior cavity of the manifold through an open end such that the partition member cooperates with the interior surface of the manifold to partition the interior cavity into a manifold chamber and a distributor/collector chamber. The partition member and distributor/collector chamber functions together as a distributor/collector tube within the manifold. The partition member includes a plurality of orifices along a length of the partition member, two opposite facing flange portions along the length of the partition member, a bulkhead panel extending from an end of the partition member adjacent the open end of the manifold, and a spring locator tab panel extending from an end of the partition member opposite of the bulk head panel, wherein the spring locator tab panel is biased against the closed end.

First claim

Having described the invention, it is claimed:

1 . A heat exchanger assembly comprising;
a manifold having an open end, a closed end opposite of said open end, and an interior surface defining an interior cavity; a end cap configured to seal said open end; a partition member defining a plurality of orifices along a length of said partition member; said partition member is configured to be inserted in said interior cavity through said open end such that said partition member abuts said interior surface and said closed end, thereby partitioning said interior cavity into a manifold chamber and a distributor/collector chamber.

2 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein said partition member includes two opposite facing flange portions along said length of said partition member, wherein said flange portions are configured to engage said interior surface.

3 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein said partition member includes a bulkhead panel extending from an end of said partition member adjacent said open end of said manifold.

4 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein said partition member includes a spring locator tab panel extending from an end of said partition member opposite of said bulk head panel, wherein said spring locator tab panel is biased against said closed end.

5 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 2 , wherein said partition member includes a bulkhead panel extending from an end of said partition member adjacent said open end of said manifold.

6 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 5 , wherein said partition member includes a spring locator tab panel extending from an end of said partition member opposite of said bulk head panel, wherein said spring locator tab panel is biased against said closed end.

7 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 6 , wherein said interior surface includes a protrusion located between open end and said bulkhead panel, wherein said protrusion is configured to engage said bulkhead panel to biased said spring locator tab panel against said closed end.

8 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
said partition member includes a living hinge between said central portion and said bulkhead panel, and said bulkhead panel is folded at living hinge at an angle approximately 90 degrees relative to said central portion.

9 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
said partition member includes a living hinge between said central portion and said locator tab panel, and said locator tab panel is folded at living hinge at an angle of 45 degrees or greater relative to said central portion.

10 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 9 , wherein said end cap includes a refrigerant port in direct hydraulic communication with said distributor/collector chamber.

11 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 9 , where a side of said manifold includes a refrigerant port in direct hydraulic communication with said distributor/collector chamber.

12 . The heat exchanger assembly of claim 6 , wherein said partition member includes a trough defining said plurality of orifices.

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Inc

Inventors

• Winterstten Douglas C
• Pautler Donald R
• Dittly Bruce W
• Walkowski Neil A
• Li Longhu
• Goma Silas G

Classifications

• F28F9/0217 Primary

  the partitions being separate elements attached to header boxes · CPC title

• F28D1/05366

  Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators · CPC title

• F28F9/02 Primary

  Header boxes; End plates · CPC title