Heat exchanger apparatus with integrated supply/return tube

Abstract

A heat exchanger apparatus includes a first and second coolant tanks spaced apart from each other, a plurality of heat exchanging tubes extending between the tanks for enabling coolant to flow from the first coolant tank to the second coolant tank and to be cooled in said tubes, and a coolant supply/return tube for enabling coolant to flow from the second coolant tank to the first coolant tank. The supply/return tube has a substantially circular cross-section. The supply/return tube has opposite end portions inserted into complementary openings in the inlet coolant reservoir and the first tank. In order to provide the proper, predetermined orientation of the supply/return tube in the heat exchanger apparatus, the supply/return tube has opposite locating members each adjacent to the end portions of the supply/return tube, so that a small, predetermined length of the end portions of the supply/return tube protrudes inside the supply/return tube.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger apparatus comprising: 
 a first coolant tank;    a second coolant tank spaced apart from said first coolant tank, said second tank includes an inlet reservoir and an outlet reservoir; and    a heat exchanger core extending between said tanks, said heat exchanger core including: 
 a plurality of heat exchanging tubes fluidly interconnecting said first coolant tank and said outlet reservoir of said second coolant tank for cooling a coolant in said tubes; and  
 at least one coolant supply/return tube for fluidly interconnecting said inlet reservoir of said second coolant tank and said first coolant tank and for enabling coolant to flow between said coolant tanks in the direction opposite to flow of said coolant in said heat exchanging tubes.  
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said inlet reservoir includes an inlet port, and said outlet reservoir includes an outlet port.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said supply/return tube has substantially circular cross-section.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein each of said heat exchanging tubes has substantially non-circular cross-section.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said supply/return tube has locating members each provided adjacent to opposite end portions of said supply/return tube so that a predetermined length of one of said end portions of said supply/return tube extends within said first tank and a predetermined length of another of said end portions of said supply/return tube extends within said inlet reservoir of said second tank.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said locating members are in the form of substantially annular flanges integrally formed on said supply/return tube.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said locating members are in the form of substantially semi-cylindrical flanges integrally formed on said supply/return tube.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , wherein each said first coolant tank and said second coolant tank has substantially circular cross-section complementary to said semi-cylindrical flanges of said supply/return tube.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , wherein each of said locating members is in the form of a seat member formed by reducing diameter of said end portion of said supply/return tube relative to a central portion thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said supply/return tube is made of aluminum.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said supply/return tube is secured to said coolant tanks by brazing.