EP1065466A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Flat turbulator for a tube and method of making same
Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2000-06-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2020-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A tube and turbulator and method of making the same for a heat exchanger including a base (24), a top (26) spaced from and opposing the base (24), a first side (28) interposed between the base (24) and the top (26) along one side thereof, and a second side (30) interposed between the base (24) and the top (26) along another side thereof. The base (24), top (26), first side (28) and second side (30) form a channel (32). The second side (30) is triple hemmed such that ends of the base (24) and the top (26) are disposed within the channel (32). A flat turbulator (54) may be disposed inside the tube and includes a base extending laterally and longitudinally in a strip. The flat turbulator also includes a plurality of corrugations (58) spaced laterally along a base (56) and extending longitudinally and generally perpendicular to the base (56) in an alternating manner. The corrugations (58) are formed by rolling a generally planar strip.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene E. Rhodes
- 👤 Greg Whitlow
- 👤 Wen F. Yu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:36
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D1/00; F28D1/02; F28D1/04; F28D1/053; F28F; F28F13/00; F28F13/06; F28F13/12; B; B21; B21D; B21D13/00; B21D13/04; B21D13/045; B21D5/00; B21D5/06; B21D5/10; B21D5/12; F28D1/03; F28D1/0391; F28F3/00; F28F3/02; F28F3/025; F28F3/027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S138/00; Y10S138/11; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49377; Y10T29/49378; Y10T29/49384; Y10T29/49391; Y10T29/49393
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A tube for a heat exchanger (10) comprising: a base (24); a top (26) spaced from and opposing said base (24); a first side (28) interposed between said base (24) and
said top (26) along one side thereof; a second side (30) interposed between said base (24)
and said top (26) along another side thereof, said base (24)
and said top (26) and said first side and said second side
forming a channel (32); and said second side (30) being triple hemmed such that
ends (34,36) of said base and said top are disposed within
said channel (32).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tube as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base
(24) has an end (34) with a first transition portion (38)
extending from said base (34), a first flange portion (40)
extending inwardly from and generally parallel to said base
(24), a second transition portion (42) extending from said
first flange portion (40) and a second flange portion (42)
extending from said second transition portion (42) and
disposed between said first flange portion (40) and said
base (34).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A tube as set forth in either claim 1 or claim 2
wherein said top (26) has an end (36) with a first
transition portion (46) extending from said top (26), a
first flange portion (48) extending inwardly from and
generally parallel to said top (26), a second transition
portion (50) extending from said first flange portion (48)
and a second flange portion (52) extending from said second
transition portion (50) and disposed between said first
flange portion (48) and said top (26).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tube as set forth in any preceding claim
including a turbulator (54) disposed in said channel (32).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A tube as set forth in claim 4 wherein said
turbulator (54) is flat having a generally planar base (56)
extending longitudinally and a plurality of corrugations
(58) spaced laterally and extending longitudinally and
generally perpendicular to said base (56).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A flat turbulator (54) for a heat exchanger
comprising: a base (56) extending laterally and longitudinally in a
strip; and a plurality of corrugations (58) spaced laterally along
said base (56) and extending longitudinally and generally
perpendicular to said base (56) in an alternating manner,
said corrugations being rolled in a direction parallel to a
longitudinal axis of said strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A flat turbulator as set forth in claim 6 wherein
said corrugations (58) extend longitudinally a predetermined
distance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flat turbulator as set forth in either claims 6
or 7 wherein said corrugations (58) are spaced laterally a
predetermined distance along said base (56).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A flat turbulator as set forth in any one of
claims 6 to 8 wherein said corrugations (58) extend
generally perpendicular to said base (56) a predetermined
distance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A flat turbulator as set forth in any one of
claims 6 to 9 wherein said corrugations (58) have a
generally arcuate cross-sectional shape.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of making a flat turbulator (54) for a
heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing a generally planar strip having a base (56)
extending laterally and longitudinally; forming a plurality of corrugations (58) spaced
laterally along said base (56) and extending generally
perpendicular to said base (56) in an alternating manner
such that the corrugations (58) extend in a direction
parallel to a longitudinal axis of the strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
step of forming comprises roll forming.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 11 including the
step of providing a pair of rollers (78,80) and feeding the
strip in a direction of rotation of the rollers (78,80) to
form the corrugations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
step of forming comprises forming a flat portion laterally
between the corrugations (58).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said
step of forming comprises forming the corrugations (58) with
a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of making a tube for a heat exchanger
comprising the steps of: providing a planar sheet (92) having a generally planar
base and a pair of terminal ends (34,36) along a
longitudinal length thereof; folding each of the terminal ends (34,36) of the sheet
to form a triple hem flange; folding each of the terminal ends (34,36) of the sheet
toward one another until they meet to form a base (24), a
top (26) opposing the base (24), a first side (28)
interposed between the top (26) and base (24) and a second
side (30) interposed between said top (26) and said base
(24) to form a channel (32) with free ends of the triple hem
flange on each terminal end being disposed in the channel
(32).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 16 including the
step of opening the channel and inserting a turbulator in
the channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said
step of folding comprises folding each of the terminal ends
in a vertical direction and moving the turbulator from a
generally horizontal position to a generally vertical
position and inserting the turbulator in the channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as set forth in claim 17 including the
step of closing the channel after inserting the turbulator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as set forth in claim 17 including the
step of brazing the tube and turbulator together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5560425A
Cited
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