Thermal cycling resistant tube to header joint for heat exchangers
US7461689B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 9, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49373
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A reduction in tube to header joint failures in a heat exchanger having spaced headers (12,14), elongated, side-by-side parallel spaced tube slots (22) in the headers (12,14) along the length thereof and a plurality of flattened tubes (26) having ends (24) received in the tube slots (22) and metallurgically bonded to the header (12,14) thereat was achieved through the use of a reinforcing structure (38) having at least two projections (40) having a cross sectional shape complimentary to at least a part of the surface of the tubes (26) at their ends (24) and a length sufficient to extend along the tube ends (24) to a location past the metallurgical bonds between the tube ends (24) and a header (12,14), and a spine (44) extending transverse to the projection. Also disclosed is a reinforcing structure (38) and a method of reinforcing the tube to header joints in a heat exchanger.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.