Patents by Inventor Donald F. Birkholz

Donald F. Birkholz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6823932
    Abstract: The added expense of providing fixtures for holding side pieces in heat exchangers in place during assembly is avoided in a heat exchanger having a core with at least one row of spaced, parallel, straight runs (12-20); (70-86) of flattened tubing (10) which includes first and last spaced side runs (12), (20); (70), (92) which define an associated side on opposite sides of the row. Fins (36), (62) bridge the spacing between each of the plurality of runs and extend oppositely from outwardly facing sides (42), (44); of the first and last runs (12), (20); (70), (92); and are bonded to the tubing (10). A pair of side pieces (46), one for each side of the row, are provided and are hooked on the associated ends of the first and last runs (12), (20); (70), (92). The side pieces (46) are self-fixturing by reason of being hooked on the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Donald F. Birkholz
  • Publication number: 20020174975
    Abstract: The added expense of providing fixtures for holding side pieces in heat exchangers in place during assembly is avoided in a heat exchanger having a core with at least one row of spaced, parallel, straight runs (12-20); (70-86) of flattened tubing (10) which includes first and last spaced side runs (12), (20); (70), (92) which define an associated side on opposite sides of the row. Fins (36), (62) bridge the spacing between each of the plurality of runs and extend oppositely from outwardly facing sides (42), (44); of the first and last runs (12), (20); (70), (92); and are bonded to the tubing (10). A pair of side pieces (46), one for each side of the row, are provided and are hooked on the associated ends of the first and last runs (12), (20); (70), (92). The side pieces (46) are self-fixturing by reason of being hooked on the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Donald F. Birkholz