Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Clasp – clip – support-clamp – or required component thereof – Including track or way guided and retained gripping member
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-24
2001-07-03
Brittain, James R. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
Including track or way guided and retained gripping member
C024S535000, C024S556000, C029S890031
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253426
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to motor vehicle radiators and methods and apparatus for repairing them when they leak.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Vehicular radiators of the prior art were made entirely of metal with the various components welded, brazed, or soldered together. When they developed a leak, they were repaired by brazing the leak closed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,045 issued Apr. 2, 1991 to Gauyer discloses a method of clamping and brazing automotive radiators with a clamping fixture. The method is not applicable to many modem vehicular radiators that have plastic top and bottom portions that are sealed to a metallic heat exchanger core. The core portion has top and bottom flanges that mate with flanges on the plastic top and bottom portions. Interposed therebetween is a resilient gasket or O ring. The metal flanges are folded over the plastic flanges and crimped to compress the sealing gasket or O ring. It is common for the crimp to loosen enough to leak after a period of use. This generally results in the replacement of the entire radiator. The cost of the new radiator, the labor costs of replacement, and the loss of vehicle use are a real hardship. It would be useful to provide apparatus and method that could overcome most of these losses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus that will enable the leak to be sealed without removing the radiator and without requiring great skills or special tools. The apparatus of the invention comprises a special clamp that fits over the crimped portion of the flange that is leaking. Closing the clamp compresses the O ring between the metal and plastic flanges where the crimp had loosened and restores the seal. The clamp is left in place. The method can generally be applied without removing the radiator. In some cases some shrouds may limit access. They may be cut away or bent aside without serious degradation of function. The method may be applied by the vehicle owner or the mechanic without special training or tools. The clamp of the invention may provide screws operable by a standard screwdriver or thumbscrews that require no tools.
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Miller Charles
Miller Roger
Blum Alvin S.
Brittain James R.
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