Abstract: An aluminum alloy fluid heat exchanger comprises first and second elongate, generally flat, aluminum alloy fluid heat exchanger tubes, each having an upper and a lower surface and having a fluid port inlet and a fluid port outlet. The first tube has a series of small protrusions formed at its lower surface and the second tube has a matching series of protrusions formed at its upper surface, the first tube being stacked on top of the second tube with the protrusions on the first tube in contact with the protrusions on the second tube. A thin sheet of a dissimilar metal, preferably cold rolled steel having a thickness of about 0.3 millimeters is installed between the protrusions on the first and second tubes. The protrusions provide a spacing of at least about 0.42 millimeters between major portions of the first and second heat exchanger tubes. A corresponding method of constructing an aluminum alloy heat exchanger is described.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (10) includes a pair of tanks (16, 18) with a plurality of flat-sided fluid tubes (20) extending between the tanks (16, 18). Fins (22) may be located externally between adjacent fluid tubes (20), and may be located internally within each fluid tube (20) for increasing heat exchange. The fins (22) are formed by a plurality of undulations (32) establishing lengths of walls (34) between peaks (36) of the undulations (32). The walls (34) include a plurality of slits (44) therein forming panels (42) between adjacent slits (44). The panels (42) are "randomly" deformed of various contours to extend at various distances from the walls (34) to increase heat exchange.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) includes a pair of spaced manifolds (12, 14) with a plurality of fluid tubes (16) extending therebetween in fluid communication. Fins (18) are connected between the fluid tubes (16) for enhancing heat exchanger with air passed thereover. Side support members (22) are connected between the ends of the manifolds (12, 14) to provide support of the fluid tubes (16) and fins (18) between the manifolds (12, 14). The side support members (22) include passageways (40) therethrough in a fluid communication with the manifolds (12, 14) to allow fluid to freely pass therethrough with the fluid passing through the fluid tubes (16) to thermally effect both members in a similar manner.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (10) includes a pair of tanks (16, 18) with a plurality of flat-sided fluid tubes (20) extending between the tanks (16, 18). Fins (22) may be located externally between adjacent fluid tubes (20), and may be located internally within each fluid tube (20) for increasing heat exchange. The fins (22) are formed by a plurality of undulations (32) establishing lengths of walls (34) between peaks (36) of the undulations (32). The walls (34) include a plurality of slits (44) therein forming panels (42) between adjacent slits (44). The panels (42) are "randomly" deformed of various contours to extend at various distances from the walls (34) to increase heat exchange.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) is comprised of a pair of manifolds (12, 14) with a heat exchanger core (20) therebetween, and an upper side support (22) and a lower side support (44) along the outer sides of the core (20) connected between the manifolds (12, 14). The upper side support (22) includes mounting brackets (40). The lower side support (44) comprises the mounting bracket. A pair of loading members (52) are connected between the lower mounting bracket (44) and the manifolds (12, 14) in angular relationship thereto to allow additional support and loading through the manifolds (12, 14), and to allow thermal expansion of the exchanger (10) with minimal restriction.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) includes a pair of manifolds (12, 14) interconnected by a core member having a plurality of fluid tubes (20) extending between manifolds (12, 14) and fins (22) connected between adjacent fluid tubes (20). The fin (22) is comprised of a corrugated sheet of material forming peaks connected to the tubes (20) with fin walls (34) extending between peaks. Alternating walls (34) of the fin (22) are comprised of an uninterrupted section (40) and a louvered section (42). The uninterrupted section (40) is defined by either a sinusoidal wave of continuous sheet or straight section deformed into the wall (34). The louvered section (42) is defined by a plurality of louvers (46) interrupting and cut into the sheet formed in the wall (34) providing air gaps.

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (10) includes a pair of manifolds (12, 14) with a core member (20) connected therebetween. The core member (20) includes a plurality of fluid tubes (16) extending between the manifolds (12, 14) in fluid communication therewith, a plurality of air fins (18) connected between the fluid tubes (16), and a pair of side support members (22) are joined to the manifolds (12, 14) at the outermost sides thereof. Reinforcement straps (50) are connected at each corner of the assembly (10) between the side support members (22) and the manifolds (12, 14) to reinforce the joints of the assembly (10).

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a joint (26) for joining the end (28) of a coolant tube (12) to a header (14). The header (14) includes an aperture (22) extending therethrough with a ferrule (24) circumferentially disposed thereabout. At least one tab (32) extends upward from the ferrule (24) for providing attachment to the end (28) of the coolant tube (12).

Abstract: A heat exchanger of the tube-fin type comprising a tank (10) having first (14) and second (16) ends, a plurality of tubes (34), a plurality of baffles (38) and a plurality of fins (42). A cap (50, 52) is connected to each end (14, 16) of the tank (10) and includes a fluid coupler (60, 61). Each cap (50, 52) comprises a female member (74) disposed therein including a plurality of interior passageways (88), first (90) and second (92) annular channels intersecting with opposite ends of the passageways (88), and a plurality of islands (94) bounded by the passageways (88) and first (90) and second (92) channels. The tank (10) further comprises a male member (72) extending from each end (14, 16) and including a plurality of outwardly extending tabs (76), an annular extending rim (82), and an annular resilient seal (84).

Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly (10) of the tube-fin type comprises a housing (12), a plurality of tubes (24), and a plurality of fins (26). The fins (26) comprise a generally flat plate (27) and have a plurality of holes (28) therethrough. The tubes (24) extend through the holes (28). The fins (26) further include a plurality of undulations (30). The undulations project outwardly from the plate (27) and are arranged in a plurality of engaging rows (32, 34, 36). The undulations (30) are offset between the rows (32, 34, 36) so that the crests (40) of the undulations (30) are not linear in the direction parallel to the width of the plate (27).

Abstract: An improved louver pattern for fins of a tube and fin type heat exchanger, in which groups of louvers are formed radially with respect to the tubes, extending from each tube to adjacent tubes. Each louver group consists of a plurality of parallel slits in the fin extending in the radial direction, and defining elongate rectangular portions of the fin therebetween, which are twisted at an angle to form inclined louvers in an otherwise generally planar fin. The louver groups thus formed provide improved turbulence and mixing to break up the viscous or boundary layer of flow across the fin, and to create turbulence and vorticity to further improve mixing of the fluid and heat transfer.

Abstract: Embossed patterns on fins for the tubes of a shell and tube type heat exchanger for increased efficiency and heat transfer rate, with minimum additional pressure drop. The fins extend transversely across most of the tubes in the tube bundle and have apertures through which the tubes pass. The embossed patterns, which have a "bow tie" configuration are spaced between adjacent tubes and have a generally convex or concave shape with respect to the planar surface of the fin. Each embossed area has a crest and a pair of opposite sides which slope from the crest down to the planar fin surface, and a pair of opposite arcuately shaped sides which slope from the crest to the planar fin surface, and which have arcs that conform to the arcs of the adjacent tubes. An array of such embossed areas are provided on the fin, and a plurality of fins are placed side by side in the heat exchanger to provide a large surface area for fluid contact.