Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Heat exchanger or boiler making
Utility Patent
1999-05-11
2001-01-02
Echols, P. W. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Heat exchanger or boiler making
C029S890047, C029S726000
Utility Patent
active
06167620
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to heat exchangers, and, more particularly, to a method for manufacturing heat exchanger core subassemblies with varying fin and plate counts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Each vehicle has requirements for heat exchangers of a given size and fin count. In manufacturing a heat exchanger subassembly, an automated assembly machine is used. Associated with the machine are a fin tray line and a core line. Each heat exchanger subassembly model has its own fin trays so that models requiring 20 fins, for example, have a fin tray that holds 20 fins, while models requiring only 16 fins have a fin tray that holds only 16 fins. To change from a 20-fin model to a 16 fin model, the 20-fin tray must be removed and replaced with a 16-fin tray because a fin tray designed for one model will not accommodate fins for another model. Also, a cut off device must be shifted and adjusted to properly accommodate the 16-fin subassembly. While one assembly line can produce heat exchanger subassemblies of different requirements, doing so requires stopping the line while changes are made. The removing and replacing of trays and shifting of the cut off device increases manufacturing time thereby increasing manufacturing cost. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to manufacture heat exchangers of different requirements in a continuous manufacturing operation without the removing, replacing and shifting of components and equipment now required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, a method for transporting heat exchanger fins and forming a core subassembly for a heat exchanger uses fin trays capable of holding fins for heat exchanger core subasemblies requiring different numbers of fins. The method includes indexing core forward under a stationary fin stuffing box, loading fins into the fin tray, indexing the loaded fins forward one at a time corresponding to the number of fins required, pushing required fins into the fin stuffing box when indexing reaches number required for the core subassembly, and pushing fins out of the fin stuffing box into the plates forming the core subassembly. A common fin tray size, a stationary fin box, and a stationary cut off are used for all core sizes.
While one assembly line can produce heat exchanger subassemblies of different requirements, doing so requires stopping the line while changes are made. The removing and replacing of trays and shifting of the cut off device increases the time required for manufacturing which increases manufacturing cost. Using a common fin tray and stationary cut off facilitate manufacturing heat exchangers of different requirements in an efficient, continuous manufacturing operation. Eliminating the removing, replacing and shifting of heretofore required also reduces risk of manufacturing thereby reducing waste and improving quality.
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Schornhorst Carl Eckardt
Selm Gerald Joseph
Wise Kevin Bennett
Coppiellie Hammond
Echols P. W.
Ford Motor Company
Green Anthony L.
May Roger L.
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