US4877083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Brazed heat exchanger and method of making the same
Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1989-01-09
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Granted: 1989-10-31
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Expires: 2009-01-09
Abstract
Abstract Poor brazed joints in a heat exchange caused by improper venting during the brazing process are eliminated through the use of a baffle for disposition in a slot 32 in a tubular header 10, 12 which is formed of a plate-like metal piece having first and second peripheral sections 36, 40 of approximately the same extent. The first section 36 has a size at least as large as the outer dimension of the tubular header 10, 12 while the second section 40 has a size and shape approximately equal to a corresponding interior section of the tubular header 10, 12 and a notch 46 is disposed in the first section 36 and extends inwardly a distance 2t greater than the wall thickness t of the tubular header. The notch 46 provides a vent path during the brazing process which is subsequently filled by the capillary flow of molten braze metal 52 into the bottom 50 of the notch.
Inventors
- 👤 Z. Philip Saperstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:40
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K1/00; B23K1/0008; B23K1/0012; F; F28; F28F; F28F9/00; F28F9/02; F28F9/0202; F28F9/0204; F28F9/0209; F28F9/0212; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/454; Y10S165/471; Y10S165/481; Y10S165/482
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A baffle for a tubular header comprising a plate like metal piece having first and second peripheral sections of approximately the same extent, the first section having a size generally at least a large as the outer dimension of the tubular header, the second section having a size and shape approximately equal to a corresponding interior section of the tubular header, and a notch in said first section extending inwardly a distance greater than the wall thickness of the tubular header.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A baffle for a tubular header comprising a plate like metal piece having first and second peripheral sections of approximately the same extent, the first section having a size generally at least a large as the outer dimension of the tubular header, the second section having a size and shape approximately equal to a corresponding interior section of the tubular header, and a notch in said first section extending inwardly a distance greater than the wall thickness of the tubular header.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The baffle of claim 1 wherein both of said sections are semicircular and of different radii.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The baffle of claim 1 wherein said notch is triangular in shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The baffle of claim 1 wherein said notch extends through said baffle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The baffle of claim 1 wherein said notch extends only partially through said baffle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The baffle of claim 1 wherein a web extends across said notch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
A heat exchanger comprising: a pair of elongated spaced, parallel generally cylindrical headers; a plurality of tubes extending between said headers and in fluid communication with the interior thereof; slots in said headers generally transverse to the elongated dimension of said headers and extending at least about half way through the corresponding header; baffles brazed in said slots, each baffle having an interior semicircular shaped peripheral section sized to embrace the interior wall of the corresponding header and an exterior, semicircular shaped peripheral section of larger radius than said interior section, and a notch in said exterior section of sufficient depth as to extend inwardly of said interior wall; and braze metal filling at least that portion of said notch inwardly of said interior wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A heat exchanger comprising: a pair of elongated spaced, parallel generally cylindrical headers; a plurality of tubes extending between said headers and in fluid communication with the interior thereof; slots in said headers generally transverse to the elongated dimension of said headers and extending at least about half way through the corresponding header; baffles brazed in said slots, each baffle having an interior semicircular shaped peripheral section sized to embrace the interior wall of the corresponding header and an exterior, semicircular shaped peripheral section of larger radius than said interior section, and a notch in said exterior section of sufficient depth as to extend inwardly of said interior wall; and braze metal filling at least that portion of said notch inwardly of said interior wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heat exchanger of claim 7 wherein part of said notch is sized and shaped to be a capillary to molten braze metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heat exchanger of claim 8 wherein there are at least two of said slots and baffles in at least one of said headers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The heat exchanger of claim 9 wherein said exterior section has an arc length of at least about 180° and a radius approximately equal to that of the header.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of brazing a metal baffle in a slot in a tubular metal header comprising the step of forming a capillary vent passage in the baffle with sufficient depth to establish a path of fluid communication in the baffle between the interior and the exterior of the header that is sufficiently small in size that molten braze metal will block the path.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of brazing a metal baffle in a slot in a tubular metal header comprising the step of forming a capillary vent passage in the baffle with sufficient depth to establish a path of fluid communication in the baffle between the interior and the exterior of the header that is sufficiently small in size that molten braze metal will block the path.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of fabricating a heat exchanger formed of metal parts with brazed metal cladding comprising the steps of: assembling the heat exchanger components, including at least one tubular header having at least one transverse slot, together; forming a baffle of a metal piece about the width of the slot so as to have an inwardly directed notch of sufficient depth as to have its end located inwardly of the interior surface of the tubular header; inserting a baffle in each said slot; and heating the assembled components to a brazing temperature whereby vaporous materials resulting from the heating within the assembly may vent through said notches, whereafter molten braze metal may flow at least partially into said notch to block the same.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of fabricating a heat exchanger formed of metal parts with brazed metal cladding comprising the steps of: assembling the heat exchanger components, including at least one tubular header having at least one transverse slot, together; forming a baffle of a metal piece about the width of the slot so as to have an inwardly directed notch of sufficient depth as to have its end located inwardly of the interior surface of the tubular header; inserting a baffle in each said slot; and heating the assembled components to a brazing temperature whereby vaporous materials resulting from the heating within the assembly may vent through said notches, whereafter molten braze metal may flow at least partially into said notch to block the same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 12 wherein a step of applying flux is included as part of assembling the components together.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of claims 12 wherein the step of heating is preceded by the step of purging the heat exchanger and filling the same with an inert gas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4825941A
Cited
US4825941B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-30 | 1993-05-01 | 1993-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-30 | 1997-05-01 | 1997-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-30 | 2001-05-01 | 2001-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |