A side member for a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger and a method

摘要

A side member / plate 1 for a heat exchanger 10 includes a line of weakening 2 from one side of the side member 1 to the other. The line of weakening comprises a thinned section 4 or at least one aperture 3 and at least one thinned section 4. The length of the thinned section 4 or the total length of all of the thinned sections 4 is half or more of the distance W from one side of the member 1 to the other side of the member. The thinned section is suitable for breaking during normal use of the heat exchanger where fatigue from thermal stress is encountered. The thinned sections may extend the full width of the member, may not lie on a common straight line with one section offset from at least two other sections, may be perpendicular to the elongate direction of the member and may be coined, sheared or swaged (fig 6). The aperture(s) may be straight and elongate in the same direction as the elongate direction of the member. The member may be made from aluminium or aluminium alloy. The thinned section may include a notched fracture initiation promoter 5.