Abstract: The heat exchanger of the invention comprises a header plate which has a wall in which there are holes suitable for receiving the ends of tubes in a bank, the wall of the header plate forming collars around holes and having a localised thinning (A) in a chosen area surrounding each collar to allow an axial movement of the collar with respect to the rest of the header plate under the effect of variations in the length of the tube arising from differences in thermal expansion. Application notably to exchangers for booster air for turbocharged engines in motor vehicles.

Abstract: A charge air cooler is provided in which, in use, the charge air enters a finned tube block at very high temperatures creating a problem in that the lamella-type corrugated fins heat up abruptly and expand in the transverse direction. In order to eliminate the resulting risks of damage, the finned tube block on the air inlet side is provided with expansion joints extending in parallel to the tubes. The expansion joints extend only to a selected depth into the finned tube block in the air flow direction, which depth is selected such that the temperature of the charge air has already dropped there to such an extent that damage as a result of thermal expansions is no longer a concern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separately supporting and sealing a heat pipe within a heat exchanger. For support, the heat pipe with fins thereon passes through a support grid which consists of a series of rings secured or interconnected together. The fins of the heat pipe rest upon these rings of the support grid thereby supporting this region of the heat pipe. To seal these heat pipes in order to prevent any gas escape from the heat exchanger, a tubesheet with openings therein is placed over the ends of the heat pipe. These openings are oversized thus a considerable gap exists between the tubesheet and the heat pipe. This gap is covered or sealed by use of a cover disk which tightly fits around the heat pipe and spans across this gap before it is removably secured to the tubesheet. By this fashion, once the cover disk is removed from the tubesheet, it is a relatively easy task to then remove the tubesheet and the heat pipe from the heat exchanger for maintenance or repair purposes.

Abstract: A radiator assembly for use in a motor vehicle, comprising a frame attached to a chassis of a motor vehicle and a radiator disposed within the frame. The radiator includes a core and first and second lateral end portions attached to opposite ends of the core. The first lateral end portion is rigidly mounted to the frame so as to position the radiator relative to the frame, while the second lateral end portion is resiliently mounted to the frame so as to accommodate lateral thermal growth of the radiator relative to the frame. The second lateral end portion is resiliently mounted to the frame by coupling a pair of vertically spaced spring members, each comprising a leaf spring, to the second lateral end portion and to the frame. A pair of multi-pronged mount brackets are attached to the frame, with each of the leaf springs having a first end attached to one of the brackets and a second end attached to the second lateral end portion of the radiator.

Abstract: A cooling system sub-assembly for use in a motor vehicle comprising a charge air cooler mounted to a support structure attached to a chassis of the motor vehicle and a condenser mounted to the charge air cooler so as to accommodate at least differential thermal growth between the condenser and the charge air cooler and so as to dispose the condenser in series flow relationship with the charge air cooler. A first lateral end of the condenser is fixed relative to the charge air cooler, while a pair of generally horizontally extending pins are connected to the other lateral end of the condenser and slidingly engage compressible grommet assemblies disposed within holes formed in each of a pair of vertically spaced mount brackets attached to the charge air cooler. Alternatively, a pair of vertically spaced mount flanges may be cast as an integral unit with one of the end manifolds of the charge air cooler, with each of the flanges receiving one of the condenser pins.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having tube elements, each of which is provided with a pair of tanks on one side and a U-shaped passage that communicates between the pair of tanks, laminated alternately with fins over a plurality of levels. Two tank groups that extend along the direction of lamination are formed. Intake/outlet portions, through which heat exchanging medium flows, are provided on one end along the direction of lamination. One of the intake/outlet portions communicates with one of the tank groups via a communicating pipe. One end of the communicating pipe is inserted into a fitting hole formed in an end plate or in a cylindrical portion extending from the periphery of the insertion hole in anticipation of contraction of the heat exchanger. This construction allows one end of the communication to move relative to the insertion hole, while the other end of the communicating pipe is secured in a mounting hole of a specific tank.