Claims
- 1. A manifold assembly for use with an internal pressure heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel tubes, said manifold assembly comprising:
- a unitary tank having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel transverse slots formed therein, a pair of end edges extending between said inner and outer walls, and a pair of opposed parallel shelves formed in said inner wall inwardly of said end edges to define a pair of parallel longitudinally-extending flanges formed adjacent said end edges, said shelves having channels formed therein;
- a unitary header plate having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, a length substantially equal to the length of said tank, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel, transverse tube holes formed therein, a plurality of parallel, transverse slots formed therein opposite said slots in said tank, and a pair of end edges extending between said inner and outer walls, said header plate being joined to said tank to define an interior space, and said end edges of said header plate being upturned and received in said channels in said tank; and
- a plurality of baffles inserted into said interior space through said opposed slots in said tank and said header plate, and extending outwardly of said outer walls of said tank and said header plate through said opposed slots;
- said header plate and said tank being brazed together along substantially the entire lengths of their mating surfaces and said baffles being brazed to said tank and said header plate along the mating surfaces of said baffles and said inner and outer walls of said tank and said header plate; and
- said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being formed of aluminum and aluminum alloy materials suitable for furnace brazing, at least one of the mating surfaces of said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being fabricated with a lower temperature clad brazing material.
- 2. A manifold assembly for use with an internal pressure heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel tubes, said manifold assembly comprising:
- a unitary tank having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, said tank comprising an upper portion which in cross-section forms the base of the U, a pair of substantially straight opposed, parallel sides extending from the ends of said upper portion and which in cross-section form the arms of the U, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel, transverse slots formed in said upper portion, and a pair of end edges extending between said inner and outer walls at the free ends of said sides, said sides adjacent said end edges forming a pair of parallel, longitudinally-extending flanges;
- a unitary header plate having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and a length substantially equal to the length of said tank, said header plate comprising a lower portion which in cross-section forms the base of the U, a pair of substantially straight opposed, parallel sides extending from the ends of said lower portion and which in cross-section form the arms of the U, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel, transverse tube holes formed in said lower portion for receiving the tubes of the heat exchanger, a plurality of parallel, transverse slots formed in said lower portion opposite said slots in said tank, and a pair of end edges extending between said inner and outer walls at the free ends of said sides, said sides of said header plate being inserted in said tank inwardly of said end edges of said tank to define an interior space;
- a plurality of baffles inserted into said interior space through said opposed slots in said tank and said header plate, and extending outwardly of said outer walls of said tank and said header plate through said opposed slots; and
- a pair of opposed parallel shelves formed in said inner wall inwardly of said end edges to define said flanges, said flanges extending from said shelves and said header plate being inserted in said tank with at least a portion of said header plate abutting said shelves of said tank;
- said flanges of said tank being crimped inwardly to engage said header plate along at least the entire length thereof;
- said end edges of said header plate being upturned and said shelves having channels formed therein for receiving said end edges of said header plate;
- said header plate and said tank being brazed together along substantially the entire lengths of their mating surfaces and said baffles being brazed to said tank and said header plate along the mating surfaces of said baffles and said inner and outer walls of said tank and said header plate; and
- said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being formed of aluminum and aluminum alloy materials suitable for furnace brazing, at least one of the mating surfaces of said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being fabricated with a lower temperature clad brazing material.
- 3. The manifold assembly of claim 2, said header plate having lips formed therein around said tube holes.
- 4. A manifold assembly for use with an internal pressure heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel tubes, said manifold assembly comprising:
- a unitary tank having a pair of opposed sides having free ends and a plurality of parallel transverse slots formed therein, said sides having defined at said free ends thereof longitudinally-extending flanges and having channels formed therein inwardly of said free ends;
- a unitary header plate having a length substantially equal to the length of said tank and having a pair of opposed sides having free ends, a plurality of parallel transverse slots formed therein opposite said slots in said tank and a plurality of transverse tube holes formed therein for receiving the tubes of the heat exchanger, said sides being upturned at said free ends, and said free ends being inserted into said channels in said tank; and
- a plurality of baffles inserted between said tank and said header plate and extending outwardly of said tank and said header plate through said opposed slots;
- said header plate being inserted in said tank inwardly of said free ends of said sides of said tank;
- said flanges of said tank being crimped inwardly to engage said header plate along at least portions of the entire length thereof; and
- said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being formed of materials suitable for furnace brazing, at least one of said tank and said header plate being clad with brazing alloy, whereby when said tank and said header plate are brazed in a high temperature brazing furnace, the brazing alloy provides the material to braze said header plate to said tank and said header plate and said tank are brazed together along substantially the entire lengths of their mating surfaces.
- 5. A manifold assembly for use with an internal pressure heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel tubes, said manifold assembly comprising:
- a unitary tank having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel transverse slots formed therein, and a pair of opposed, longitudinally-extending horizontal ribs having a plurality of opposed slots therein;
- a unitary header plate having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, a length substantially equal to the length of said tank, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel, transverse tube holes formed therein, and a plurality of parallel, transverse slots formed therein opposite said slots in said tank, said header plate being joined to said tank to define an interior space; and
- a plurality of baffles inserted into said interior space through said opposed slots in said tank and said header plate, said baffles being received in said slots in said ribs and extending outwardly of said outer walls of said tank and said header plate through said opposed slots;
- said header plate and said tank being brazed together along substantially the entire lengths of their mating surfaces and said baffles being brazed to said tank and said header plate along the mating surfaces of said baffles and said inner and outer walls of said tank and said header plate; and
- said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being formed of aluminum and aluminum alloy materials suitable for furnace brazing, at least one of the mating surfaces of said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being fabricated with a lower temperature clad brazing material.
- 6. A manifold assembly for use with an internal pressure heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel tubes, said manifold assembly comprising:
- a unitary tank having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, said tank comprising an upper portion which in cross-section forms the base of the U, a pair of substantially straight opposed, parallel sides extending from the ends of said upper portion and which in cross-section form the arms of the U, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel, transverse slots formed in said upper portion, and a pair of end edges extending between said inner and outer walls at the free ends of said sides, said sides adjacent said end edges forming a pair of parallel, longitudinally-extending flanges;
- a unitary header plate having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and a length substantially equal to the length of said tank, said header plate comprising a lower portion which in cross-section forms the base of the U, a pair of substantially straight opposed, parallel sides extending from the ends of said lower portion and which in cross-section form the arms of the U, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel, transverse tube holes formed in said lower portion for receiving the tubes of the heat exchanger, a plurality of parallel, transverse slots formed in said lower portion opposite said slots in said tank, and a pair of end edges extending between said inner and outer walls at the free ends of said sides, said sides of said header plate being inserted in said tank inwardly of said end edges of said tank to define an interior space;
- a plurality of baffles inserted into said interior space through said opposed slots in said tank and said header plate, and extending outwardly of said outer walls of said tank and said header plate through said opposed slots; and
- a pair of opposed, longitudinally-extending horizontal ribs having a plurality of opposed slots therein for receiving said baffles;
- said flanges of said tank being crimped inwardly to engage said header plate along at least the entire length thereof;
- said header plate and said tank being brazed together along substantially the entire lengths of their mating surfaces and said baffles being brazed to said tank and said header plate along the mating surfaces of said baffles and said inner and outer walls of said tank and said header plate; and
- said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being formed of aluminum and aluminum alloy materials suitable for furnace brazing, at least one of the mating surfaces of said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being fabricated with a lower temperature clad brazing material.
- 7. A manifold assembly for use with an internal pressure heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel tubes, said manifold assembly comprising:
- a unitary tank having a pair of opposed sides having free ends and a plurality of parallel transverse slots formed therein, said sides having defined at the free ends thereof longitudinally-extending flanges, and a pair of opposed, longitudinally-extending horizontal ribs having a plurality of opposed slots therein;
- a unitary header plate having a length substantially equal to the length of said tank and having a plurality of parallel transverse slots formed therein opposite said slots in said tank and a plurality of transverse tube holes formed therein for receiving the tubes of the heat exchanger; and
- a plurality of baffles inserted between said tank and said header plate, said baffles being received in said slots in said ribs and extending outwardly of said tank and said header plate through said opposed slots;
- said header plate being inserted in said tank inwardly of said free ends of said sides of said tank;
- said flanges of said tank being crimped inwardly to engage said header plate along at least portions of the entire length thereof; and
- said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being formed of materials suitable for furnace brazing, at least one of said tank and said header plate being clad with brazing alloy, whereby when said tank and said header plate are brazed in a high temperature brazing furnace, the brazing alloy provides the material to braze said header plate to said tank and said header plate and said tank are brazed together along substantially the entire lengths of their mating surfaces.
- 8. A manifold assembly for use with an internal pressure heat exchanger comprising a plurality of parallel tubes, said manifold assembly comprising:
- a unitary tank having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, an inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of parallel transverse slots formed therein, said inner wall having parallel, substantially planar sides;
- a unitary header plate having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, a length substantially equal to the length of said tank, an inner wall, an outer wall, a plurality of parallel, transverse tube holes formed therein, and a plurality of parallel, transverse slots formed therein opposite said slots in said tank, said header plate being joined to said tank to define an interior space; and
- a plurality of baffles inserted into said interior space through said opposed slots in said tank and said header plate, said baffles having parallel, substantially planar side edges and a pair of opposed, curved, concave upper and lower edges of equal length connecting said side edges, said side edges being separated by a distance substantially equal to the distance between said parallel sides of said inner wall of said tank, and said end edges of said baffles extending outwardly of said outer walls of said tank and said header plate through said opposed slots;
- said header plate and said tank being brazed to said tank and said header plate along the mating surfaces of said baffles and said inner and outer walls of said tank and said header plate; and
- said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being formed of aluminum and aluminum alloy materials suitable for furnace brazing, at least one of the mating surfaces of said tank, said header plate, and said baffles being fabricated with a lower temperature clad brazing material.
- 9. The manifold assembly of claim 8, said header plate having end edges, and said inner wall of said tank having channels formed therein receiving said edges of said header plate.
- 10. The manifold assembly of claim 8, said inner wall of said tank including a pair of opposed, longitudinally-extending horizontal ribs having a plurality of opposed slots therein for receiving said baffles.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 503,798, filed Apr. 3, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,926.
US Referenced Citations (30)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
540404 |
May 1957 |
CAX |
55-112993 |
Sep 1980 |
JPX |
1-224163 |
Jul 1989 |
JPX |
944094 |
Dec 1963 |
GBX |
2049149A |
Dec 1980 |
GBX |
2090652A |
Jul 1982 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
503798 |
Apr 1990 |
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