Heat Exchanger Structure Patents (Class 228/183)
  • Patent number: 8113414
    Abstract: A method of brazing an aluminum alloy material, which is a Nocolok brazing method of the aluminum alloy material, in which the method satisfies the condition: Ts?Tf?Ts+15° C. in which Tf represents an incipient fluidization temperature of a filler material, and Ts represents an incipient fluidization temperature of flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Furukawa-Sky Alumnum Corp.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8079508
    Abstract: A brazed aluminum counter-flow heat exchanger particularly suited for use in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion is produced by assembling and welding subassemblies of corrugated fins that were previously vacuumed brazed in a stacked group. After the brazing operation, the stacked group of subassemblies are later separated and rearranged to create a subsequent stack of alternating layers of corrugated layers and layers having wide open saltwater passageways. To complete the unit, a friction stir welding process provides final exterior weld seams that penetrate to the internal saltwater passageways in the heat exchanger. The full weld penetration eliminates corrosion-conducive crevices at the welded joints, thus making the aluminum heat exchanger suitable for saltwater use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Harry D. Foust
  • Patent number: 8074356
    Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment, an improved method and apparatus for the manufacturing of an aluminum tube and aluminum fin heat exchanger that includes steps for pneumatic cleaning, thermal cleaning, and uncontrolled-atmosphere open-flame autobrazing of hairpins to return bend fittings. The method uses a tube lubrication system that is adjustable to control amount of lubrication applied to the tube prior to final expansion. The method uses a pneumatic coil cleaning station that is adjusted to reduce the residual oil particulate from the expansion process required to be thermally cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Goodman Global, Inc.
    Inventors: James Branyon, Rodney Catlett, Sean Mosser, Lawrence Walker, Ronald Wenger
  • Patent number: 8056230
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing plate stacks for the production of coolers, cooler elements or heat sinks made of at least one plate stack for cooling electric or opto-electric components. The process includes the manufacture of plates or boards of metal, stacking the plates to form a plate stack, joining of the plates with the application of heat and pressure to form a stack, and post-treatment of the plate stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Curamik Electronics GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Schulz-Harder
  • Patent number: 8033018
    Abstract: According to a preferred embodiment, an improved method and apparatus for manufacturing tube and fin heat exchangers that includes a step for reducing the outer diameter of stock tubing to a value well below nominal prior to bending the tubing into hairpins. The reduced diameter increases the stiffness of the resultant hairpins and allows for efficient lacing of the heat exchanger fins and end plates. The method uses pre-size rollers that are adjustable for reducing the diameter of the tubing. The invention also includes a hairpin and heat exchanger manufactured according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Goodman Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Dees, Eric Garza, Stephen Merschat, Sean Mosser, Andrew Overturff, Dale Stetson, William Topper
  • Patent number: 7989087
    Abstract: A brazing fin material for heat exchangers includes a core material and a filler metal clad on each side of the core material, wherein the core material is an aluminum alloy including manganese, the filler metal is an aluminum alloy including 6 to 9.5 mass % of silicon, silicon particles in the filler metal have an average circle equivalent diameter of 3 ?m or less, and the brazing fin material has a thickness of 0.06 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Sumitomo Light Metal Industries, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Suzuki, Yuji Hisatomi, Yoshiharu Hasegawa, Taketoshi Toyama, Masahiro Shimoya
  • Patent number: 7978473
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method of fabrication are provided for facilitating removal of heat from a heat-generating electronic device. The method of fabrication includes: obtaining a solder material; disposing the solder material on a surface to be cooled; and reflowing and shaping the solder material disposed on the surface to be cooled to configure the solder material as a base with a plurality of fins extending therefrom. In addition to being in situ-configured on the surface to be cooled, the base is simultaneously metallurgically bonded to the surface to be cooled. The solder material, configured as the base with a plurality of fins extending therefrom, is a single, monolithic structure thermally attached to the surface to be cooled via the metallurgical bonding thereof to the surface to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Bruce K. Furman, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Paul A. Lauro, Roger R. Schmidt, Da-Yuan Shih, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 7926556
    Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a heat exchanger, in particular an evaporator, comprising the preparation, assembling and brazing of components of the heat exchanger, the brazing being carried out under given temperature conditions. Prior to the assembling and to the brazing, a surface treatment operation is carried out that includes applying a coating to a chosen component, the coating including a support, at least one active agent suitable for giving the heat exchanger chosen properties during its operation, and at least one thermal protection agent suitable for enabling the coating to withstand the brazing temperature conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Christian Casenave, Frederic Meslin
  • Patent number: 7922065
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a part for an article of equipment includes a fluid conducting first region including a corrosion resistant first material, and a fluid conducting second region including a second material. The first region and the second region are either directly or indirectly joined by solid state welding to form a unitary fluid conducting part. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for replacing at least one fluid conducting part of an article of equipment is disclosed wherein a replacement part is provided that includes a fluid conducting first region including a corrosion resistant first material, and a fluid conducting second region including a second material. The second material is substantially identical to the material of a region of the equipment on which the replacement part is mounted. The first and second regions are either directly or indirectly joined by solid state welding to form a unitary fluid conducting replacement part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: ATI Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Sutherlin, Brett J. Herb, Ronald A. Graham
  • Patent number: 7900969
    Abstract: Connector between a reaction pipe and a cooling pipe and method for connecting a reaction pipe to a cooling pipe. The cooling pipe is a double pipe having an inner pipe, disposed in the extension of the reaction pipe, and an outer pipe that surrounds the inner pipe to form an intermediate cooling space between them. A supply chamber is connected to the cooling space for supplying coolant thereto. A transition piece, connected to the reaction pipe, has a fork-shaped end portion composed of an inner portion and an outer portion with heat-insulating material between them. The outer portion is secured to the base of the supply chamber coaxially relative to the longitudinal axis of the cooling pipe. The supply chamber, transition piece and half shells form a prefabricated unit. An inner tube section is welded to, and extends out of, the supply chamber and is aligned with the inner portion of the transition piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Borsig GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Birk
  • Patent number: 7896220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for repairing at least one connecting area between a partition plate (8) and a tube plate (5) of a water chamber (7) of a heat exchanger (1), in which process the area of weld requiring repair is identified, at least one rail (11) is inserted into the water chamber, the said rail (11) is attached below the tube plate (5), a robot arm (20) is inserted, the robot arm is hoisted within the water chamber, the robot arm is remotely controlled, the connecting area requiring repair is machined and a check is made to ensure that cracks have been eliminated from the repaired area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignees: Areva NP, Electricite de France-French Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Blocquel, Jean-Claude Ferlay, Olivier Theallier
  • Patent number: 7886810
    Abstract: A heat exchange device includes a first flow path for a first fluid and a second flow path for a second fluid, and the components of the inventive heat exchanger are interconnected by a connection material. Connections that are substantially directly exposed to the flow of the first fluid are formed of a first connection material and connections that are not directly exposed to the flow of the first fluid are formed of a second connection material. The composition of the first and the second connection material is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans-Heinrich Angermann
  • Publication number: 20110005726
    Abstract: A heat dissipation device includes a heat pipe and a heat sink. The heat pipe includes a condenser section and an evaporator section. The condenser section has a planar outer surface. The heat sink includes a supporting surface for contacting the outer surface of the condenser section. A guiding line is defined in the supporting surface for spreading a solder therealong. The guiding line has a width smaller than a width of the outer surface of the condenser section. The condenser section of the heat pipe is mounted on the supporting surface of the heat sink along the guiding line and firmly connected to the heat sink by the solder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicants: FURUI PRECISE COMPONENT (KUNSHAN) CO., LTD., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: MING-TANG ZHANG, WEI-HSIANG CHANG, NIEN-TIEN CHENG
  • Patent number: 7850061
    Abstract: A method for making a component including fluid flow channels formed by making a plurality of grooves (12), in at least one face (21) of a base plate (10); having opposite ends so that the grooves have open top sides; scalably blocking the open top side of each groove and diffusion-welding a lid by hot isostatic compression onto the face (21) of the base plate (10) to cover each of the strips leaving open the fluid flow channels at one or both opposite ends of the base plate for allowing pressurized gas to penetrate into the flow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Emmanuel Rigal, Guillaume De Dinechin, Philippe Bucci, Philippe Aubert
  • Publication number: 20100270361
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for the preferably uneven application of flux to a material surface, in particular to the finned side of a plate of a plate-type radiator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: BEHR GMBH & CO.,
    Inventors: Peter Englert, Ingo Trautwein, Joan Ferrer, Vincenzo Sabetta
  • Patent number: 7802716
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger tube in which a tube for a heat exchanger formed by brazing is manufactured using a sheet material, wherein a filler metal melted during brazing can be prevented from entering an opening formed in an opposing portion or a parallel portion formed when bending a sheet material into a tube shape or an opening facing toward the outside of the tube. The opposing portion, the parallel portion, or the opening facing toward the outside of the tube is sealed. As the sealing means, friction welding is preferable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Sumitomo Light Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishikawa, Kenta Gotyo, Takashi Hattori, Masaki Kumagai, Yasunaga Itoh
  • Patent number: 7793710
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosed heat exchanger have flat tubes, corrugated ribs, collection tubes, connection pieces, and a connection plate used (for example) for the attachment of the heat exchanger in a casing through which charge air flows, whereby the individual components of the heat exchanger can be manufactured from aluminum and can be soldered together. In some embodiments, at least four collecting tubes define coolant collection chambers, whereby coolant follows at least one outgoing route lying between first and the second collection tubes, and at least one return route proceeding in an opposite direction lying between third and fourth collecting tubes. The outgoing route can be provided in at least one flat tube-corrugated rib series, while the return route can be provided in at least another flat tube-corrugated rib series, arranged downstream of the first flat tube-corrugated rib series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bernhard Lamich, Denis Bazika
  • Patent number: 7784530
    Abstract: In manufacture of a heat exchanger, heat exchange tubes, fins, and header section bodies are arrange in an assembled condition. Projection pieces provided on caps of header sections are fitted into corresponding slits formed in side plates, thereby engaging end portions of the side plates with the caps. In this condition, the caps are arranged in such a manner as to bridge end portions of the header section bodies, and the side plates are arranged on the outer sides of the leftmost and rightmost fins. The heat exchange tubes and the fins, the heat exchange tubes and the header section bodies, the header section bodies and the caps, the side plates and the caps, and the side plates and the fins are respectively brazed together simultaneously. This method enables the side plates to be accurately arranged at respectively predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Hideo Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7784672
    Abstract: An apparatus for brazing a heat exchanger, in particular a flat-tube heat exchanger, comprising a block of flat tubes and corrugated fins. The apparatus comprises a brazing frame that accommodates a tube-fin block within itself and which has two brazing bars arranged parallel to each other which are connected by tie rods. The brazing bars have a plurality of openings that are open toward one side, e.g., notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Behr France Hambach
    Inventors: Pascal Haffner, Johann Simon, Phillippe Raynal
  • Patent number: 7735718
    Abstract: A brazing product for fluxless brazing comprises a substrate and a filler metal-forming composition applied to the substrate. The substrate preferably comprises aluminum, an aluminum alloy or another metal and may include at least one layer of a ceramic, carbide or nitride. The filler metal-forming composition comprises a liquid-forming layer comprising silicon and a braze-promoting layer comprising one or more metals selected from the group comprising nickel, cobalt, palladium and iron. The liquid-forming layer comprises one or more material layers. Where the liquid-forming layer comprises a plurality of layers, it may include at least one layer consisting essentially of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Graham, Richard A. Hoffman, Margaret Anna Hoffman, legal representative, Brian E. Cheadle, Kostas F. Dockus, Stefanija Kisielius, legal representative, Robert H. Krueger
  • Patent number: 7690113
    Abstract: A process for producing a high temperature-resistant structure provides at least one at least partially structured metallic layer. A smooth metallic layer is deformed by a rolling process, in which oil at least partially wets the at least one layer. The oil is at least partially removed. Lubricant is fed onto at least one subsection of the at least one layer. A structure is at least partially shaped. Technical joining connections are produced for fixing the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Kait Althöfer
  • Patent number: 7669327
    Abstract: Methods of applying an ozone-depleting catalytic coating to a heat exchanging device for producing a durable surface with optimal ozone depletion characteristics are provided. An adhesively coated metallic substrate is exposed to a concentration of ozone-depleting catalytic particles, wherein the receptive surface of the coated substrate binds the ozone-depleting catalytic coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: JW Aluminum Company
    Inventor: Mark Thompson
  • Patent number: 7641101
    Abstract: A cooling system assembly method including: providing a support fixture having a multi-level support surface and multiple positioning dowels extending therefrom; positioning multiple liquid-cooled cold plates on the support surface employing the multiple dowels, the dowels providing relative positioning and alignment of the cold plates for facilitating subsequent coupling thereof to electronic components to be cooled; sealing multiple coolant-carrying tubes in fluid communication with the cold plates; and sealing a header subassembly to the coolant-carrying tubes to provide an assembled liquid-based cooling system. In operation, the support fixture facilitates shipping of the assembled cooling system by maintaining the components in fixed relation. A transfer fixture is employed in removing the cooling system from the support fixture and placing the cooling system in engagement with the electronics system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Patent number: 7608345
    Abstract: A method of producing an aluminium alloy brazing sheet for the manufacturing of light brazed assemblies, wherein said brazing sheet has good formability, combined with a low susceptibility to core penetration in the end annealed as-produced condition after stretching, forming and/or shaping and brazing are disclosed. Assemblies made according to the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Aleris Aluminum Koblenz GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Bürger, Scott W. Haller, Guy Laliberté
  • Publication number: 20090260794
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger in which a Zn thermally sprayed layer is formed on a surface of an aluminum flat tube 2 and then the Zn thermally sprayed tube is combined with an aluminum corrugated fin and brazed to the fin. The Zn thermally sprayed tube 2 is subjected to a Zn diffusion treatment by heating the tube before the brazing to diffuse the Zn in the tube surface, and thereafter the brazing is performed. The heat exchanger manufactured in this way can assuredly have a stable sacrifice corrosion layer and is excellent in corrosion resistance. The heat exchanger can be manufactured efficiently without major facility changes at low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Minami, Tomoaki Yamanoi, Masahiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 7559454
    Abstract: A braze material and method of brazing titanium metals. The material may consist of Ti, Ni, Cu Zr, PM and M where PM is a precious metal and M may be Fe, V, Cr, Co, Mo, Nb, Mn, Si, Sn, Al, B, Gd, Ge or combinations thereof, with the (Cu+PM)/Ni ratio around 0.9. Optionally, a second brazing may be performed to rebraze any braze joint that did not braze successfully. The second brazing material has a lower braze temperature than the first and may consist of a mixture of Ti, Ni, Cu, Zr PM and M with from 1-20 wt % more Zr, PM, M or combinations thereof than the first braze. The braze material may be placed on a base material, in a vacuum furnace, and heated to form a braze joint between the braze and base material. The heating step may occur from about 800-975° C. and over 3 to 15 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Raybould, Paul Chipko, Matthew Pohlman
  • Patent number: 7543733
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of protecting equipment intended to operate at high temperature in the presence of a fluid containing at least one hydrocarbon and/or carbon monoxide against corrosion by metal dusting, method in which pieces of the equipment are made from an alloy containing nickel, iron, chromium and/or aluminum, and in which said pieces of the equipment are protected from said corrosion by a protective coating. This method is characterized in that said equipment pieces protected in this way are connected to each other by means of joining pieces, said joining pieces being protected beforehand by a protective coating over at least part of their surface intended to be brought into contact with said fluid at high temperature, and in that each of the connections intended to be subjected to said corrosion is produced by external welding of the ends of the joining piece with said pieces of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Sophie Wastiaux, Michel Poteau
  • Patent number: 7500513
    Abstract: A heat-pipe type heat sink (100) includes a plurality of fins (10), at least a heat pipe (20) extending through the fins, and soldering material (40) disposed between the heat pipe and the fins. Each of the fins defines therein a through hole (12) and a cutout (13) adjacent to the through hole. A sidewall of the through hole forms a collar (122) contacting with the heat pipe, whilst a sidewall of the cutout forms at least a fringe (132) connecting with the collar. The fringe guides the soldering material in molten state to flow from the cutout towards the collar to fill in a gap formed between the heat pipe and the fins to bond the heat pipe and the fins together after the molten soldering material is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jing Zhang, Yeu-Lih Lin, Chin-Lung Chen, Ming-Liang Hao, Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 7487589
    Abstract: The present invention relates to automotive heat exchanger assemblies that can withstand high environmental temperature and pressures conditions. By providing a tube strengthener inserted into the tubes at the areas of highest stress, the heat exchanger assembly is strengthened to be efficient under typical operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Smith, Kellie M. Irish, Sam J. Lamancuso, Kevin L. Freestone, David S. Johnson, Terrence P. Lynch
  • Patent number: 7451908
    Abstract: A furnace brazing process for metal parts of which at least one part is tubular, includes positioning of the filler metal, preferably as a pre-formed member inside said tubular part, and successive reheating inside the furnace to induce the melting of the filler metal and the accomplishment of the joint. The process is particularly suited to the construction of towel-rack type radiators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Consulnet Italia S.r.l.
    Inventor: Francesco Gropallo
  • Publication number: 20080277455
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for joining components made of a high-strength aluminum material, whereby at least two components of high-strength aluminum alloys are joined by soldering, both components separated from each other by at least one aluminum layer with a lower magnesium content compared with the contact surfaces before joining is carried out, and a heat exchanger produced according to this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Hanskarl Hoffmann, Rahul Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 7438121
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an aluminum heat exchanger includes the steps of: obtaining a heat exchanger tube 2 by forming a Zn thermally sprayed layer on a surface of an aluminum flat tube core so as to adjust Zn adhesion amount to 1 to 10 g/m2; obtaining a heat exchanger core by alternatively arranging the heat exchanger tube 2 and an aluminum fin 3 and brazing the heat exchanger tube and the fin with end portions of the heat exchanger tube connected to aluminum headers in fluid communication; and forming a chemical conversion treatment coat (corrosion resistance coat) on a surface of the heat exchanger core by subjecting the surface of the heat exchanger core to chemical conversion treatment using at least one chemical conversion treatment agent selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid chromate, chromic acid chromate, phosphoric acid zirconium series, phosphoric acid titanium series, fluoridation zirconium series, and fluoridation titanium series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Minami, Daishi Tanaka, Shintaro Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7438123
    Abstract: The provision of a pipe-type heat exchange device wherein solder can be reliably filled between pipes attached together, resulting in a high heat transfer efficiency, comprising two pipes attached to each other through which fluids with differing temperatures are passed respectively, wherein a bar is attached to the pipes and wherein the pipes and the bar are subjected to brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Sanoh Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tadokoro
  • Publication number: 20080237311
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plant and a method for the production of soldered components, in particular of heat exchangers, from light metal, in particular from aluminum materials, under protective gas, with a continuous soldering furnace or a chamber soldering furnace, which is designed as a muffle which is formed from a muffle material. In order to simplify and to improve the production of soldered components, the muffle is formed at least partially from a special muffle material which reacts with oxygen or with oxygen-containing compounds or binds oxygen or oxygen-containing compounds, in order to solder components consisting of light metal, in particular of aluminum materials, in a materially integral manner without the use of fluxes or with markedly reduced flux quantities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Wolfgang Knodler, Wolfgang Heeb, Cord Volker, Bernd Grunenwald
  • Publication number: 20080237312
    Abstract: In a brazing method, tubes for a heat exchanger, in which an inner fluid flows and exchanges heat with an outer fluid, are bonded to fins for expanding a heat exchange area at a time of exchanging the heat, by using a brazing material of paste form. The method includes a mounting step of stacking the tubes and the fins alternately in layers to form an assembly, a coating step of coating portions near outside abutting portions where the tubes abut on the fins with the brazing material after the mounting step, and a brazing step of carrying the assembly coated with the brazing material in the coating step into a brazing furnace and of brazing the tubes to the fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhiko Watanabe, Sumio Susa, Masaki Harada, Toshifumi Kamo
  • Patent number: 7425765
    Abstract: A high melting point solder alloy superior in oxidation resistance, in particular a solder alloy provided with both a high oxidation resistance and high melting point suitable for filling fine through holes of tens of microns in diameter and high aspect ratios and forming through hole filling materials, comprising a zinc-aluminum solder alloy containing 0.001 wt % to 1 wt % of aluminum and the balance of zinc and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Kitajima, Tadaaki Shono, Ryoji Matsuyama
  • Publication number: 20080216989
    Abstract: A fracture-resistant charge air cooler header is provided. The internal side of the header includes, at select locations most likely to sustain a fracture, a reinforcing weld bead or “nugget” of sufficient height to create a section modulus change. The weld bead is preferably formed from a highly ductile alloy, such as AA 1100 aluminum alloy, and may surround either a portion of the header component associated with a tube or its entire perimeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Behr America Inc.
    Inventor: Harold A. Grajzl
  • Publication number: 20080190595
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for connecting a first surface (20) to a second surface in a soldering process by use of a solder containing melting point reducer. The invention also relates to a device having a first surface (20) and a second surface, which surfaces are connected to one another by soldering with a solder containing melting point reducer. The first surface (20) borders on a structure (15a-f), part of which is brought into communication with the solder in order to transfer solder to the first surface. The structure (15a-f) is partly in communication with the solder, which solder is connected to the first surface (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Per Sjodin, Jens Rassmus
  • Patent number: 7399321
    Abstract: In a method of reflow soldering, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is discharged to a first discharge voltage different from a second discharge voltage at an inflection point in a discharge curve of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an axis of abscissa representing discharge capacity and an axis of ordinate representing discharge voltage. The discharged non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is placed on a substrate which is then exposed to a reflow soldering temperature to reflow solder the non-aqueous secondary battery to the substrate. The first discharge voltage is higher than the second discharge voltage to prevent degradation of characteristics of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery resulting from decomposition of the non-aqueous electrolyte due to reaction of the non-aqueous electrolyte with excessive lithium ions in the cathode active material when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is exposed to the reflow soldering temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshimi Kanno, Agasa Egashira, Hiroaki Ishikawa, Shunji Watanabe, Tsugio Sakai
  • Patent number: 7392930
    Abstract: Brazing filler metal compositions have excellent wettability to nickel/cobalt/iron-based base metals and produce braze joints with high strength and heat/corrosion resistance. The iron-based braze filler metal includes chromium in amounts between about 20 to 35 percent by weight, silicon in amounts between about 3 to 12 percent by weight, phosphorus in amounts between about 3 to 12 percent by weight; and 0 to about 0.2 weight percent of one or more of calcium, yttrium and misch metal, the balance being iron. These filler metals are suitable for the manufacture of several different types of heat exchangers and catalytic converters at a significantly lower cost compared to currently known braze filler metal compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sulzer Metco (US), Inc.
    Inventors: Subramaniam Rangaswamy, Dientje J. Fortuna
  • Publication number: 20080135603
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for soldering an all-aluminum heat exchanger, particularly a coolant radiator (1) for motor vehicles with a collecting reservoir (2) inside of which an additional heat exchanger (4), particularly a transmission oil cooler is placed. The invention also relates to a heat exchanger produced according to this method. The invention provides that the additinal heat exchanger (4) is, according to the so-called Nocolok® method, firstly soldered separately in a vacuum before being soldered together with the all-aluminum heat exchanger (1). The additional heat exchanger (4) is attached to the collecting reservoir (2) only via connecting sleeves (5) and soldered nuts (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: BEHR GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Geiger, Karl-Heinz Staffa
  • Publication number: 20080127494
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method of brazing together thin heat exchanging plates of an iron based base material provided with port holes and a pressing pattern of elevations and depressions over the heat exchanging area of the plates and, if present, also over the distribution area to a plate heat exchanger. The plates are coated with brazing material and are arranged such that contact between elevations and depressions in adjacent plates is obtained prior to the brazing together. The plates are then brazed together at the resultant contact points. Only 5-40%, preferably 10-30%, of the heat exchanging area and the distribution area are coated with brazing material prior to the brazing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
    Inventors: Jens Erik Johannes Rassmus, Per Erik Sjodin
  • Publication number: 20070284083
    Abstract: A heat dissipating device comprises a heat tube; one end of the heat tube being a heated end and another end thereof being a cooling end; at least one side of the cooling end being formed with a plane; each plane being coated with tin glue; and a fin set being formed by a plurality of fins; each fin being formed with a through hole; each through hole having an upper cambered edge, a lower cambered edge, a left side, and a right side; the left and right edges being as correcting edges; one side of the through hole being formed with a flange. In assembly; the plane of the cooling end of the heat tube is coated with tin glue. The cooling end of the heat tube is inserted into the through holes of the fins of the fin set; and the upper and lower edges of the through holes have the effect of correcting the heat tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventor: Min-Hsien Sung
  • Patent number: 7299967
    Abstract: The invention relates to an innovative method for manufacturing plate stacks, particularly for manufacturing coolers or cooler elements or heat sinks at least one plate stack, with at least two plate-shaped elements made of metal, for example copper, and provided with passages or openings, wherein the stacked elements are joined with each other using bonding on joining surfaces formed by surface sides of said elements by heating to a process temperature to form the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Electrovac AG
    Inventor: Jurgen Schulz-Harder
  • Patent number: 7260893
    Abstract: A secondary heat exchanger subassembly, such as a transmission oil cooler, is disposed in a metal tank of a radiator and has a pair of metal fluid fittings. Either a connector ring engages a fitting extending through the opening in the tank or a connector nut extends into the opening to threadedly engage the fitting whereby the metal fittings are held to the metal tank and inserted into a furnace for being brazed into sealed relationship with the metal tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A. Calhoun, Terry Joseph Hunt, David A. Southwick, Karl Paul Kroetsch, Krzysztof Wawrocki, Khalid El Moutamid, Yusuke Matsunaga, Laurent Art
  • Patent number: 7258263
    Abstract: A method for making a current collector plate includes providing a first sheet of material having a first bonding face and a first outer face. A second sheet of material is provided having a second bonding face and a second outer face. A work area is defined on at least one of the first bonding face and the second bonding face. The first and second sheets are bonded together at a bonding area which is different from the work area. The bonded first and second sheet is placed into a die having a pattern defining at least one flow channel. Fluid is injected between the first and second sheets thereby causing at least one of the first and second sheets to project outward at the work area causing at least one flow channel to be formed in the work area as defined by the die pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R Sigler, Yen-Lung Chen, Xiaohong Gayden
  • Patent number: 7254888
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a heat sink includes preparing a surface of a graphite-based substrate and removing particulate matter generated from the preparation of the surface of the substrate. A metal-based coating is applied at the surface of the prepared substrate. The prepared substrate having the metal-based coating is arranged to form a heat sink structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Egidio Marotta, Prabjit Singh
  • Patent number: 7252218
    Abstract: An anti-bonding material is placed in a desired pattern onto a first sheet of conductive material. A second sheet of conductive material is roll bonded with the first sheet of material. Fluid is injected between the bonded first and second sheets of material to expand the sheets of material at the desired pattern. A flow channel is formed at the desired pattern between the first and second sheet during fluid injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaohong Gayden, Yen-Lung Chen, David R Sigler
  • Publication number: 20070175620
    Abstract: A heat exchanger has a core including tubes and a core plate coupled to the core. The core plate has a coupling wall on which tube insertion holes are formed for receiving ends of the tubes. The coupling wall has an end portion and a clearance portion both coupled to the tubes. The clearance portion is integrally connected to the end portion and spaced from an imaginary plane, on which the end portion is located. A paste brazing material is applied to a joining portion between the core plate and each tube by a brazing material applying device through a space provided between the clearance portion and the imaginary plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhiko Watanabe, Sumio Susa, Masaki Harada
  • Patent number: 7247392
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy heat exchanger having a tube composed of a thin aluminum alloy clad material, wherein, in the clad material, one face of an aluminum alloy core material containing Si 0.05–1.0 mass % is clad with an Al—Si-series filler material containing Si 5–20 mass %, and the other face is clad with a sacrificial material containing Zn 2–10 mass % and/or Mg 1–5 mass %, and wherein an element diffusion profile of the clad material by EPMA satisfies (1) and/or (2): L-LSi-LZn?40(?m) ??(1) L-LSi-LMg?5(?m) ??(2) wherein L is a tube wall thickness (?m); LSi is a position (?m) indicating an amount of Si diffused from the filler material; and LZn and LMg each represent a region (?m) indicating an amount of Zn or Mg diffused from the sacrificial material, respectively; and a method of producing the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: Furukawa-Sky Aluminum Corp., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumitsu Sugano, Noriyuki Yamada, Akio Niikura, Yoshiaki Ogiwara, Masaki Shimizu, Kenji Negura, Sunao Fukuda, Yoshihiko Kamiya