Heat exchange – With external support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-25
2001-07-24
Flanigan, Allen (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
With external support
C248S074100, C029S890030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263954
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to heat exchangers, and more particularly, to heat exchangers having an elongate manifold, such as a header, with a mount bracket attached to the manifold.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many known forms of heat exchangers that include a manifold that collects and/or distributes working fluid to and/or from other conduits of the heat exchanger. It is known to attach a mount bracket to such manifolds for mounting the heat exchanger to a support structure or for mounting another component to the heat exchanger. Commonly, the mount brackets are brazed to the manifold, with the brackets being held relative to the manifold during the brazing operation. This is typically done either with fixtures or by tack welding the bracket to the header. Clamp type mount brackets are also used on manifolds, with threaded fasteners that clamp the components of the bracket to the manifold. While these types of bracket to manifold assemblies may be acceptable for their intended purpose, their use is frequently labor intensive in terms of affixing the bracket to the header, alignment of the clamp type brackets with the header, machining of the clamp type brackets, and/or misalignment of the brackets before the brazing process can be completed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved mount bracket for an elongate manifold of a heat exchanger and a method for assembling the same.
According to one facet of the invention, a mount bracket is provided for an elongate manifold of a heat exchanger. The manifold has a longitudinal axis and a mount bracket receiving exterior surface extending over at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the manifold.
According to one facet of the invention, the mount bracket includes a body formed from a single piece of material. The body includes a mount tab, first and second opposed bands each of which have a first end segment spaced from a second-end segment, a first bridge segment connecting the first end segments of the first and second bands, and a second bridge segment connecting the second end segments of the first and second bands. The mount tab is configured to connect the mount bracket to a structure other than the manifold. The first and second opposed bands define a manifold receiving opening shaped to nominally conform to the mount bracket receiving exterior surface of the manifold. The first band is spaced longitudinally from the second band with the bracket mounted on the manifold. The first band defines a first portion of the opening, and the second band defines a second portion of the opening opposite the first portion. The body is permanently deformable from a first state wherein the bands will slidably receive the mount bracket receiving exterior surface in the manifold receiving opening with a slip-fit, and a second state wherein the bands will clamp the mount bracket receiving exterior surface in the manifold receiving opening.
According to another facet of the invention, the mount bracket includes a body formed from a single piece of material and a mount tab as before. First, second, and third bands define longitudinally spaced, coaxial manifold receiving openings shaped to nominally conform to the mount bracket receiving exterior surface of the manifold, with each of the first, second, and third bands having a first end segment spaced from a second end segment. A first bridge segment connects the first end segments of the first and second bands; a second bridge segment connects the second end segments of the first and second bands; a third bridge segment connects the first end segments of the third and second bands; and a fourth bridge segment connects the second end segments of the third and second bands. The first and seconds bands are spaced longitudinally from the second band on opposite sides of the second band with the bracket mounted on the manifold. The first and second bands define a first one of the openings, and the second and third bands define a second one of the openings spaced longitudinally from the first one of the openings. The body is permanently deformable from a first state wherein the bands will slidably receive the mount bracket receiving exterior surface in the manifold receiving opening with a slip fit, and a second state wherein the bands will clamp the mount bracket receiving exterior surface in the manifold receiving openings.
In accordance with still another facet of the invention, a manifold/mount bracket assembly for a heat exchanger is provided as before and additionally includes an outwardly extending projection formed on the mount bracket receiving exterior surface. Further included is at least one aperture in at least one of the bands. The aperture(s) receives the projections formed on the mount bracket receiving exterior surface.
In accordance with still a further facet of the invention, a method is provided for assembling a mount bracket to an elongate manifold of a heat exchanger. The method includes the steps of:
(a) inserting a manifold into an opening defined by first and second opposed bands of a mount bracket;
(b) permanently deforming the mount bracket to reduce a dimension of the opening to bring the first and second bands into clamping contact with the manifold; and
(c) permanently deforming the manifold to create a projection that is engaged in an aperture in one of the first and second opposed bands.
In accordance with still another facet of the invention, a method is provided for assembling a mount bracket to an elongate manifold of a heat exchanger. The method includes the steps of:
(a) inserting a manifold into an opening defined by first and second opposed bands of a mount bracket;
(b) permanently deforming the mount bracket to reduce a dimension of the opening to bring the first and second bands into contact with the manifold; and
(c) bonding at least one of the bands to the manifold after step (b).
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the above summary, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1246325 (1917-11-01), Rohmer
patent: 5069275 (1991-12-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 5183103 (1993-02-01), Tokutake
patent: 5407161 (1995-04-01), Mulkeran
patent: 5429182 (1995-07-01), Hanafusa
patent: 3-164694 (1991-07-01), None
Flanigan Allen
Modine Manufacturing Company
Wood Phillips VanSanten Clark & Mortimer
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