Heat exchanger of the tube bank type, in particular for an automotive vehicle

Claim 1

A tube-bank heat exchanger, in particular for an automotive vehicle, including a pair of headers with multiple tubes therebetween, said tubes having substantially coextensive first ends and substantially coextensive second ends, said headers having multiple holes defined therethrough, the first and second tube ends being received through and extending beyond the corresponding headers and being mounted in a fluid-tight manner in the holes of the headers, the first and second ends of each tube being substantially identical, selected ones of said tubes having their tube ends outwardly enlarged solely beyond the corresponding headers and defining abutment shoulders retaining the selected tubes within the holes of the headers against outward withdrawal of the headers therefrom, the remainder of said tubes being outwardly enlarged solely inward of the hole-received ends thereof and inward of the corresponding headers to define bulges retaining the headers against inward movement of said headers relative to the tubes, said bulges and said abutment shoulders being located immediately adjacent the opposed sides of the corresponding headers and preventing any displacement of said headers with respect to said tubes.