Abstract: A tubular manifold for an evaporator includes an integral baffle formed by deforming a wall section of a header tube onto an opposing wall section and crimping the two side walls inwardly at an axial point where the wall section is deformed. The internal baffle forms a U-shaped seal within the tube and is interposed between two side ports of the manifold.

Abstract: A method for fabricating metallic conduit and the like having exterior surface details such as beads, bulges and flares by inelastic flow of the metal of an extruded blank which does not exhibit the detail. The process comprises the steps of placing a blank in a high pressure die, injecting oil or other incompressible pressure-transmitting fluid into the blank, and using advancing core punches, pressurizing the fluid to cause the metal of the blank to flow into detail cavities of the die.

Abstract: A two wheel conform type aluminum extrusion machine and a die assembly and subassembly for extruding tubing and/or cladding a core material. The die subassembly permits lateral adjustment of a die ring relative to a mandrel to assure uniform wall thickness in the extruded tubing. A method of utilizing the die subassembly comprises assembly thereof and prefilling the subassembly with molten aluminum.

Abstract: An aluminum header tube having a plurality of integral and regularly spaced lateral extensions is formed according to a method which includes the steps of forming stubs for the extensions, inserting a tool through each stub and into the interior of the header tube, sizing each stub to reduce its inside and outside diameter and, while maintaining the clamp, withdrawing the tool through the stub to cause metal to flow outwardly, thus raising or lengthening the stub to the desired degree.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming intruded sleeves in extrudable metal tubing thereby to receive branch tubes which are brazed in place. The apparatus comprises a split mandrel and a punch which drives a punch head through the tube wall section and into a pocket in the upper section of the mandrel to form the intruded sleeve structure. Removal of the mandrel is accomplished by removing a lower section, dropping the upper section off of the intruded sleeves, and thereafter removing the upper section.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling unit for a refrigeration system includes a plurality of spaced, parallel metal heat exchanging fins provided with a plurality of openings receiving successive turns of a coiled tube adapted to carry refrigerant through the unit. The fins are further provided with snap-action cutouts extending from the periphery of the fins inwardly to a location between adjacent rows of the coil turns and a rod-like electric resistance heating element for periodicaly defrosting the unit is held in the cutouts. Each cutout includes an entry slot inwardly tapered to a throat defined by deformable edges spaced apart a distance marginally less than the diameter of the heating element to present resistance to the passage of the heating element through the throat and a notch communicating with the throat and within which the heating element is held.

Abstract: A method of joining tubular elements to provide fluid tight connections is disclosed in which the mating portions of the joined tubes are preformed so as to be able to be located with respect to each other prior to soldering, brazing, or other joining process. The preforming operations involve the punching or shearing of an opening in the sidewall of a body tube to which a branching tube is to be joined, in which shearing operation a pair of cusps or tabs are formed at opposite locations on either side of the sheared hole. The punching or shearing is carried out by a punch tool moved to intercept a segment of the body tube sidewall to form an opening, with portions of the tubing wall on either side of the opening formed remaining, these portions being displaced upwardly by the tool to provide the locating cusps or tabs at the periphery of the opening so-formed.

Abstract: An integral fin/tube combination of extruded aluminum wherein the fins are shredded into parallel radial strips which are bent into alternately upwardly and downwardly peaked configurations. Shredding may be accomplished by means of a die set.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of forming a header assembly in which a plurality of tubes transition into a single header passage. The method includes forming a blank extrusion comprised of a plurality of juxtaposed tube elements interconnected by web sections of a thickness approximately double the wall thickness of the individual tube members in the blank. The blank is placed in a female die and a wedge-shaped male forming tool is advanced into the blank for a portion of the length of the blank, the male forming tool being configured to split the interior of the blank along the center of the web sections as the tool advances thereinto, forcing the web sections and connected tube portions apart and into contact with the wall of the female die cavity to form the header section.