US6668916B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flat tube block heat exchanger
Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 2002-09-23
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Granted: 2003-12-30
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Expires: 2022-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A flat tube block heat exchanger with a plurality of flat tubes with deformed ends. The deformed ends have broad sides that have been deformed to expose the inner surface of the flat tubes. The exposed inner surfaces of the flat tubes are bonded to the exposed inner surface of an adjacent flat tube. The bonded inner surfaces of the adjacent flat tubes form a fluid barrier with tanks located at opposite ends of the flat tubes.
Inventors
- 👤 Wemer Zobel
- 👤 Jorg Soldner
- 👤 Herbert Marschner
- 👤 Harald Schatz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:14
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F9/00; F28F9/02; F28F9/0219; F28F9/0221; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49352; Y10T29/49391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A heat exchanger comprising: a pair of tanks spaced opposite each other, and a plurality of spaced apart flat tubes to provide flow paths between the tanks; each flat tube having opposing ends corresponding to one of the tanks, each end having a first broad side, a second broad side, and two narrow sides, each broad side having an inner surface and an outer surface; each first broad side being deformed to expose the inner surface of the first broad side; and each of the exposed inner surfaces of each first broad side is bonded to the outer surface of any adjacent second broad side to define a fluid barrier with the corresponding tank; and each of the bonded first and second broad sides are curved to expose the inner surface with a cross-section that is semicircular or semielliptical.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A heat exchanger comprising: a pair of tanks spaced opposite each other, and a plurality of spaced apart flat tubes to provide flow paths between the tanks; each flat tube having opposing ends corresponding to one of the tanks, each end having a first broad side, a second broad side, and two narrow sides, each broad side having an inner surface and an outer surface; each first broad side being deformed to expose the inner surface of the first broad side; and each of the exposed inner surfaces of each first broad side is bonded to the outer surface of any adjacent second broad side to define a fluid barrier with the corresponding tank; and each of the bonded first and second broad sides are curved to expose the inner surface with a cross-section that is semicircular or semielliptical.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
146 words
A heat exchanger comprising: a pair of tanks spaced opposite each other, and a plurality of spaced apart flat tubes to provide flow paths between the tanks; each flat tube having opposing ends corresponding to one of the tanks, each end having a first broad side, a second broad side, and two narrow sides, each broad side having an inner surface and an outer surface; each first broad side being deformed to expose the inner surface of the first broad side; and each of the exposed inner surfaces of each first broad side is bonded to the outer surface of any adjacent second broad side to define a fluid barrier with the corresponding tank; and the each of the narrow sides of each flat tube include two cuts therein, the cuts separating the broad sides of tube ends and defining a tab in each narrow side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
A heat exchanger comprising: a pair of tanks spaced opposite each other, and a plurality of spaced apart flat tubes to provide flow paths between the tanks; each flat tube having opposing ends corresponding to one of the tanks, each end having a first broad side, a second broad side, and two narrow sides, each broad side having an inner surface and an outer surface; each first broad side being deformed to expose the inner surface of the first broad side; and each of the exposed inner surfaces of each first broad side is bonded to the outer surface of any adjacent second broad side to define a fluid barrier with the corresponding tank; and the each of the narrow sides of each flat tube include two cuts therein, the cuts separating the broad sides of tube ends and defining a tab in each narrow side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein the tabs are bent inward into the flat tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
A heat exchanger, comprising: a pair of collection tanks spaced opposite each other; and a plurality of spaced apart flat tubes to provide flow paths between the tanks; each flat tube having opposing ends corresponding to one of the tanks, each end having two broad sides and two narrow sides; each broad side having an inner surface deformed to expose the inner surface of the broad side; each of the exposed inner surfaces of each flat tube being bonded to the exposed inner surface of any adjacent flat tube to define a fluid barrier with the corresponding tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
A heat exchanger, comprising: a pair of collection tanks spaced opposite each other; and a plurality of spaced apart flat tubes to provide flow paths between the tanks; each flat tube having opposing ends corresponding to one of the tanks, each end having two broad sides and two narrow sides; each broad side having an inner surface deformed to expose the inner surface of the broad side; each of the exposed inner surfaces of each flat tube being bonded to the exposed inner surface of any adjacent flat tube to define a fluid barrier with the corresponding tank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein each of the narrow sides is connected to an edge of the corresponding tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein each of the deformed broad sides of the flat tube ends has two bends of about 90°, with the bonded inner surface arranged in parallel orientation to the broad sides of any adjacent flat tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein the bonded inner surfaces of the flat tubes are arranged in oblique orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the flat tubes, and the broad sides have a first bend of about 90° and a second bend corresponding to the angle of the oblique orientation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein each of the deformed broad sides is curved to expose the inner surface with a cross-section that is semicircular or semielliptical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein the bonded broad sides of the flat tubes define a plurality of fluid inflow funnels to the flat tubes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein the flat tubes are formed from two half-shells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein each of the narrow sides includes a cut therein extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the flat tube, the cut separating the broad sides at the tube end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The heat exchanger of claim 4 wherein each of the narrow sides includes two cuts therein, the cuts separating the broad sides at the tube ends and defining a tab in each of the narrow sides.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heat exchanger of claim 12 wherein the tabs are bent inward into the flat tube.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of: cutting a plurality of flat tube ends to separate each tube end into a pair of broad sides; deforming each of the broad sides to expose an inner surface of the broad side; abutting the exposed inner surface of each of the broad sides to an exposed inner surface of an adjacent broad side of another tube; affixing a tank on the flat tube ends; and bonding the adjacent broad sides to each other and the flat tube ends to the tanks.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of: cutting a plurality of flat tube ends to separate each tube end into a pair of broad sides; deforming each of the broad sides to expose an inner surface of the broad side; abutting the exposed inner surface of each of the broad sides to an exposed inner surface of an adjacent broad side of another tube; affixing a tank on the flat tube ends; and bonding the adjacent broad sides to each other and the flat tube ends to the tanks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 wherein each flat tube end includes a pair of narrow sides; and wherein the bonding step includes bonding the narrow sides of the flat tube ends to the tank.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of: cutting a plurality of flat tube ends to separate each tube end into a pair of broad sides; deforming each of the broad sides to expose an inner surface of the broad side; abutting the exposed inner surface of one of the broad sides to an outer surface of an adjacent broad side; affixing a tank on the flat tube ends; and bonding the adjacent broad sides to each other and the flat tubes with the tanks.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of: cutting a plurality of flat tube ends to separate each tube end into a pair of broad sides; deforming each of the broad sides to expose an inner surface of the broad side; abutting the exposed inner surface of one of the broad sides to an outer surface of an adjacent broad side; affixing a tank on the flat tube ends; and bonding the adjacent broad sides to each other and the flat tubes with the tanks.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16 wherein each flat tube end includes a pair of narrow sides; and wherein the bonding step includes bonding the narrow ends of the flat tube ends to the tank.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-29 | 2007-06-30 | 2007-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-29 | 2011-06-30 | 2011-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-29 | 2015-06-30 | 2015-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |