Abstract: A side plate for use in a heat exchanger having a width dimension and a first and a second row of parallel arranged tubes extending in the direction of the width dimension. A first and a second header are arranged at one common end of the width dimension to receive the ends of the tubes in the first and second rows, respectively. The side plate includes a first body section joined to and extending from the first header, the first body section defining a first outer periphery. The side plate includes a second body section joined to and extending from the second header, the second body section defining a second outer periphery. The second outer periphery is spaced apart from the first outer periphery such that each one of the first and second body sections is allowed to more relative to the other in the direction of the width dimension.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a collection tank having an internal chamber and a header connected to the collection tank and receiving a number of flat tubes through apertures in the header. A reinforcing member received within the collection tank and/or the header functions to reinforce the header and/or the collection tank in applications where these elements are subject to internal pressures that would otherwise deform the header and/or collection tank to an unacceptable extent. The heat exchanger may include a curved gasket on each flat tube to match the shape of the flat tubes and a curved header. Also, another gasket can be located between a metal or plastic collection tank and a plastic or metal header, respectively, to prevent leakage therebetween.

Abstract: A side plate for use in a heat exchanger having a width dimension and a first and a second row of parallel arranged tubes extending in the direction of the width dimension. A first and a second header are arranged at one common end of the width dimension to receive the ends of the tubes in the first and second rows, respectively. The side plate includes a first body section joined to and extending from the first header, the first body section defining a first outer periphery. The side plate includes a second body section joined to and extending from the second header, the second body section defining a second outer periphery. The second outer periphery is spaced apart from the first outer periphery such that each one of the first and second body sections is allowed to more relative to the other in the direction of the width dimension.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes, a collection tank having an inlet port and an internal chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of tubes, a header coupled to the collection tank and having a plurality of apertures each dimensioned to receive a corresponding tube, a gasket separating the header from the collection tank and sealing a gap between the header and the collection tank, and a reinforcement retaining the gasket in position between the header and the collection tank. The reinforcement includes a first web extending across the internal chamber and a second web spaced apart from the first web and extending across the internal chamber. The heat exchanger also includes a baffle coupled to and extending between the first web and the second web. The baffle extends across at least a portion of the internal chamber between the inlet port and the plurality of tubes.

Abstract: A tube for use in a heat exchanger tube assembly is made by forming a round tube, reducing the diameter of an end section of the round tube, and flattening another section of the round tube. A transition zone is partially created by reducing of the diameter, and is further created by flattening the tube.

Abstract: A header plate for a heat exchanger includes a first side flange, a second side flange spaced apart from and opposing the first flange, and a generally planar surface located between and connecting the first and second flanges. The generally planar surface and the first and second side flanges together at least partially define an internal volume of the heat exchanger. The header plate also includes a bead formed into the generally planar surface to locally deform the surface in a direction away from the internal volume, the bead extending to and blending into the first side flange. The header plate also includes a tube receiving opening extending through the generally planar surface into the internal volume, the tube receiving opening extending through the bead.

Abstract: A housing for transporting a generally cylindrical canister configured to store at least one of a pressurized gas and a pressurized liquid. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section that is movable with respect to the first housing section from a first operating condition to a second operating condition. A heat transfer element is coupled to at least one of the first and the second housing sections to define at least a portion of a boundary of a generally cylindrical volume. The canister is generally fixed from movement with respect to the first and the second housing sections when the second housing section is in the first operating condition, and the canister is movable with respect to the first and the second housing sections and configured to be removed from the generally cylindrical volume when the second housing section is in the second operating condition.

Abstract: A tube assembly for use in a heat exchanger includes a flat section with broad and flat opposing tube sides. Fin structures are bonded to the broad and flat tube sides in the flat section, and side sheets are bonded to the opposite ends of the fin structures. The flat section of the tube is located between cylindrical end sections adapted to be inserted into grommets. The construction of the tube assembly provides a stiff structure to survive insertion and removal of tube assemblies to and from a heat exchanger, for example, a radiator for heavy duty equipment.

Abstract: A tube for use in a heat exchanger tube assembly is made by forming a round tube, reducing the diameter of an end section of the round tube, and flattening another section of the round tube. A transition zone is partially created by reducing of the diameter, and is further created by flattening the tube.

Abstract: A header plate for a heat exchanger includes a first side flange, a second side flange spaced apart from and opposing the first flange, and a generally planar surface located between and connecting the first and second flanges. The generally planar surface and the first and second side flanges together at least partially define an internal volume of the heat exchanger. The header plate also includes a bead formed into the generally planar surface to locally deform the surface in a direction away from the internal volume, the bead extending to and blending into the first side flange. The header plate also includes a tube receiving opening extending through the generally planar surface into the internal volume, the tube receiving opening extending through the bead.

Abstract: A housing for transporting a generally cylindrical canister configured to store at least one of a pressurized gas and a pressurized liquid. The housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section that is movable with respect to the first housing section from a first operating condition to a second operating condition. A heat transfer element is coupled to at least one of the first and the second housing sections to define at least a portion of a boundary of a generally cylindrical volume. The canister is generally fixed from movement with respect to the first and the second housing sections when the second housing section is in the first operating condition, and the canister is movable with respect to the first and the second housing sections and configured to be removed from the generally cylindrical volume when the second housing section is in the second operating condition.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of tubes, a collection tank having an inlet port and an internal chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of tubes, a header coupled to the collection tank and having a plurality of apertures each dimensioned to receive a corresponding tube, a gasket separating the header from the collection tank and sealing a gap between the header and the collection tank, and a reinforcement retaining the gasket in position between the header and the collection tank. The reinforcement includes a first web extending across the internal chamber and a second web spaced apart from the first web and extending across the internal chamber. The heat exchanger also includes a baffle coupled to and extending between the first web and the second web. The baffle extends across at least a portion of the internal chamber between the inlet port and the plurality of tubes.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide a heat exchanger having a collection tank having an internal chamber, and a header connected to the collection tank and receiving a number of flat tubes through apertures in the header. In some embodiments, a reinforcing member received within the collection tank and/or the header functions to reinforce the header and/or the collection tank in applications where these elements are subject to internal pressures that would otherwise deform the header and/or collection tank to an unacceptable extent. Also, some heat exchanger embodiments utilized a curved gasket on each flat tube to match the shape of the flat tubes and a curved header. Also, another gasket can be located between a metal or plastic collection tank and a plastic or metal header, respectively, to prevent leakage therebetween.

Abstract: A reduction in tube to header joint failures in a heat exchanger having spaced headers (12,14), elongated, side-by-side parallel spaced tube slots (22) in the headers (12,14) along the length thereof and a plurality of flattened tubes (26) having ends (24) received in the tube slots (22) and metallurgically bonded to the header (12,14) thereat was achieved through the use of a reinforcing structure (38) having at least two projections (40) having a cross sectional shape complimentary to at least a part of the surface of the tubes (26) at their ends (24) and a length sufficient to extend along the tube ends (24) to a location past the metallurgical bonds between the tube ends (24) and a header (12,14), and a spine (44) extending transverse to the projection. Also disclosed is a reinforcing structure (38) and a method of reinforcing the tube to header joints in a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A gasket well/gasket combination (30) is provided, and may be particularly useful for use in a header/tank assembly (12) for a heat exchanger (10). The combination (30) includes a gasket well (32) defined by a base wall (36) and a side wall (38) extending upwardly from the base wall (36), with the side wall (38) including an upwardly opening slot (40) having a width W. The combination further includes an elastomeric gasket (34) shaped to be received in the gasket well (32) and compressed between the base wall (36) and a mating part to form a sealed connection. The gasket (34) includes a seal bead (50) and a locating feature (52) having a tab (62) extending outwardly from the seal bead (50) to a terminal end (64) of the tab (62), with the tab (62) having a transverse width that does not increase from the seal bead (50) to the terminal end (64). The transverse width is larger than the slot width W with the tab (62) in an undeformed state.

Abstract: A reduction in tube to header joint failures in a heat exchanger having spaced headers (12,14), elongated, side-by-side parallel spaced tube slots (22) in the headers (12,14) along the length thereof and a plurality of flattened tubes (26) having ends (24) received in the tube slots (22) and metallurgically bonded to the header (12,14) thereat was achieved through the use of a reinforcing structure (38) having at least two projections (40) having a cross sectional shape complimentary to at least a part of the surface of the tubes (26) at their ends (24) and a length sufficient to extend along the tube ends (24) to a location past the metallurgical bonds between the tube ends (24) and a header (12,14), and a spine (44) extending transverse to the projection. Also disclosed is a reinforcing structure (38) and a method of reinforcing the tube to header joints in a heat exchanger.

Abstract: Thermally induced failures at the tank/header joint of a charge air cooler are reduced by applying a body of elastomer 42,54, to the side 38,53 of the inlet side header 18 to which inlet tank 10 is welded. As a consequence, the elastomer 42 causes the header 18 to operate at a lower temperature than would otherwise be the case so that its thermal expansion approximates that of the tank 10 eliminating thermal stresses at their interface.