Method and apparatus for coupling panel boards and tubing to a header pipe
US6038768A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49373
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for coupling heat exchange tubing to header pipes which include flanges are disclosed. Heat exchange tubing may generally be coupled, or bonded, to header pipe arrangements in order to produce heat exchanging devices which may be used in solar heating systems and thermal energy storage (TES) devices. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for forming a heat exchanging device includes pretreating the ends of the heat exchange tubes used in the device. The pretreated ends are then heated to at least partially melt the pretreated ends. At the same time, heat is also applied to the header pipe arrangement included in the device to at least partially melt a flange arrangement which is a part of the overall header pipe arrangement. The pretreated ends of the heat exchange tubes are then sealed against the header pipe arrangement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.