US4441241A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger unit
Assignee: MERCANTILE TEXAS CREDIT Corp
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Filing: 1981-08-21
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Granted: 1984-04-10
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Expires: 2001-08-21
Abstract
Abstract The sides of a heat exchanger unit are joined with perimeter flanges which are folded one over the other and then crimped tightly in such fashion as to cause adjacent portions of the perimeter to extend at different angles in different planes resulting in a scissor action therebetween effective to securely clamp the heat exchanger sides together and form a leak-proof chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell W. Hoeffken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:14
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F3/00; F28F3/08; F28F3/10; F24; F24H; F24H3/00; F24H3/02; F24H3/06; F24H3/10; F24H3/105; F28F9/00; F28F9/02; F28F9/0219; F28F9/0224; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49893; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49915; Y10T29/49936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of joining complementary sides of a heat exchanger unit, said heat exchanger unit comprising a pair of opposed sheet metal heat exchanger sides, each of said sides including a planar flange extending in a longitudinal plane when said sides are placed adjacent each other along said flanges, said method comprising: placing said sides adjacent each other with the respective flanges of each side extending in said longitudinal plane and contiguous with each other; folding the flange on one of said sides over the flange on the other of said sides; and crimping said flanges together to form a plurality of first planar edge portions of both of said flanges spaced apart lengthwise along said flanges and extending in a first plane, and a plurality of second planar edge portions of both of said flanges extending between said first planar edge portions and extending in a second plane to securely clamp and seal said sides to each other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of joining complementary sides of a heat exchanger unit, said heat exchanger unit comprising a pair of opposed sheet metal heat exchanger sides, each of said sides including a planar flange extending in a longitudinal plane when said sides are placed adjacent each other along said flanges, said method comprising: placing said sides adjacent each other with the respective flanges of each side extending in said longitudinal plane and contiguous with each other; folding the flange on one of said sides over the flange on the other of said sides; and crimping said flanges together to form a plurality of first planar edge portions of both of said flanges spaced apart lengthwise along said flanges and extending in a first plane, and a plurality of second planar edge portions of both of said flanges extending between said first planar edge portions and extending in a second plane to securely clamp and seal said sides to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: the steps of folding and crimping are carried out as a substantially continuous process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first planar edge portions are formed to extend at an angle with respect to said longitudinal plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method set forth in claim 3 wherein: said second planar edge portions extend parallel to said longitudinal plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method set forth in claim 3 wherein: the step of crimping said flanges together includes the formation of small edge portions at the juncture of said first planar edge portions with said second planar edge portions, said small edge portions extending at an angle with respect to said first and second planar edge portions, respectively.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of joining complementary sides of a heat exchanger unit, said heat exchanger unit comprising a pair of opposed sheet metal heat exchanger sides, each of said sides including a planar flange extending along respective top, bottom, front and rear edges, each of said flanges extending in a longitudinal plane when said sides are placed adjacent each other along said flanges, said method comprising: placing said sides adjacent each other with the respective flanges of each edge of each side extending in said longitudinal plane and contiguous with the corresponding flange of the other side; folding the flanges of each edge on one of said sides over the corresponding flanges of each edge on the other of said sides; and crimping said flanges together to form a plurality of first planar edge portions of both flanges of each edge spaced apart lengthwise along said top, bottom, front and rear edges, respectively, and extending in a first plane, and a plurality of second planar edge portions of both flanges of each edge extending between said first planar edge portions and extending in a second plane to securely clamp and seal said sides to each other along said edges.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of joining complementary sides of a heat exchanger unit, said heat exchanger unit comprising a pair of opposed sheet metal heat exchanger sides, each of said sides including a planar flange extending along respective top, bottom, front and rear edges, each of said flanges extending in a longitudinal plane when said sides are placed adjacent each other along said flanges, said method comprising: placing said sides adjacent each other with the respective flanges of each edge of each side extending in said longitudinal plane and contiguous with the corresponding flange of the other side; folding the flanges of each edge on one of said sides over the corresponding flanges of each edge on the other of said sides; and crimping said flanges together to form a plurality of first planar edge portions of both flanges of each edge spaced apart lengthwise along said top, bottom, front and rear edges, respectively, and extending in a first plane, and a plurality of second planar edge portions of both flanges of each edge extending between said first planar edge portions and extending in a second plane to securely clamp and seal said sides to each other along said edges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method set forth in claim 6 wherein: the joining operations are performed simultaneously along the top edge, bottom edge, front edge and rear edge of the heat exchanger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method set forth in claim 6 wherein: the folded flanges are caused to meet along mitered edges at corners of the heat exchanger formed by intersections of adjacent ones of the respective top, bottom, front and rear edges, respectively, and flange material is squeezed between said adjacent edges to form a leakproof corner joint.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-10 | 1987-10-10 | 1988-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-10 | 1991-10-10 | 1992-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-10 | 1995-10-10 | 1996-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |