Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of connecting at least one straight metal tube to a flat metal sheet along a predetermined axis, comprising the steps of: slotting the sheet by a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel cuts symmetrical in respect of, and perpendicular to, the said axis, said cuts being of a length not less than the outside diameter of the tube, deforming the sheet by pressing the areas between each two consecutive cuts so as to form semicylindrical bulges along the axis alternately projecting out of the sheet plane in opposite directions, said bulges having a concave semicircular cross-section slightly larger than the outer diameter of the said tube, inserting said tube into the space formed by said alternate bulges, and expanding the tube toward the inner bulge surfaces, the expanding force being dimensioned to stress the tube material beyond its yield point and to stress the surrounding sheet material below its elastic limit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of connecting at least one straight metal tube to a flat metal sheet along a predetermined axis, comprising the steps of: slotting the sheet by a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel cuts symmetrical in respect of, and perpendicular to, the said axis, said cuts being of a length not less than the outside diameter of the tube, deforming the sheet by pressing the areas between each two consecutive cuts so as to form semicylindrical bulges along the axis alternately projecting out of the sheet plane in opposite directions, said bulges having a concave semicircular cross-section slightly larger than the outer diameter of the said tube, inserting said tube into the space formed by said alternate bulges, and expanding the tube toward the inner bulge surfaces, the expanding force being dimensioned to stress the tube material beyond its yield point and to stress the surrounding sheet material below its elastic limit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of connecting a tube to a sheet as defined in claim 1 where the said cuts are evenly spaced along the said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of connecting a tube to a sheet as defined in claim 1 comprising the expansion of the tube by means of a mandrel drawn through it from end to end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of connecting a tube to a sheet as defined in claim 1 comprising the expansion of the tube by hydraulic pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method of connecting a straight metal tube to a metal sheet as defined in claim 1 adapted to the fabrication of an absorption plate for a solar collector by connecting a predetermined number of tubes to one rectangular sheet in parallel alignment, the length of the tubes being greater than the length of the sheet, and the ends of said tubes projecting beyond the edges of the sheet by a substantially equal length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of fabricating an absorption plate for a solar collector as defined in claim 5 comprising connecting the projecting ends of the tubes to one common header at each edge of the sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of fabricating an absorption plate for a solar collector as defined in claim 5, in which the projecting ends of each two adjoining tubes are connected by a 180° tube bend.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of connecting a tube to a sheet as defined in claim 1 wherein one straight tube is connected to one strip-shaped metal sheet.