HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE WITH CONCAVE-SHAPED END AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE WITH CONCAVE-SHAPED END

摘要

A heat exchanger tube has a tube end having two extended portions substantially opposite the other around the periphery of the tube end, and two shortened portions, each positioned between the two extended portions and substantially opposite the other around the periphery of the tube end. The tube end may be formed by removing opposite portions of the tube by cutting a disc-shaped portion with a generally smoothly curving periphery along a major portion of the width of the tube. Each tube is oriented within an opening in the header wall of a heat exchanger assembly having a header portion integral with a tank portion, such that the tube end two extended portions are oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow within the header and the tube end two shorter portions are oriented substantially in the direction of fluid flow in order to reduce interference with fluid flow.

主权项

1. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
an elongated header having at least one inlet for passage of fluid into the header and further having a wall and a length, with fluid flow direction along the length of the header; a plurality of openings in the wall of the header to receive tubes; and a plurality of tubes, each of said tubes having a tube end secured in an opening in the wall of the header to form a tube-to-header joint, said tube end having two extended portions, each extended portion substantially opposite the other around the periphery of said tube end, and two shorter portions, each shorter portion between said two extended portions and substantially opposite each other around the periphery of said tube end, said two extended portions oriented substantially perpendicular to said fluid flow direction and said two shorter portions oriented substantially in the direction of said fluid flow direction to reduce interference with fluid flow within the header.