Vehicle radiator

Abstract

A vehicle radiator with a plurality of flat tubes, fins, two tube plates having an upright continuous edge and collars around tube plate openings soldered to tube ends, and two collecting tanks. The tanks have a continuous edge protrusion with a recess, the upright edge of the tube plates being bent into the edge protrusion. A continuous seal protrusion on the edge protrusion of the collecting tanks and supported on the flat tube plates define a space between the collecting tanks and the tube plates about their periphery or, alternatively, an insert is provided in the tube plates and includes an edge strip soldered on one side to the tube plate upright edge and a member supporting the inside of the edge protrusion. A seal is between the tube plate and the collecting tank.

1 . A vehicle radiator comprising: 
 a plurality of flat tubes with fins therebetween;    two tube plates having an upright continuous edge;    collars in said tube plates around tube plate openings, said collars being soldered to ends of said flat tubes;    two plastic collecting tanks having a continuous edge protrusion with a recess therein, said upright edge of the tube plates being bent into the edge protrusion recess to mechanically fastened the collecting tanks to the tube plates;    a continuous seal protrusion on the edge protrusion of the collecting tanks and supported on the flat tube plates to define a space between the collecting tanks and the tube plates about their periphery; and    a seal in said defined space between said tube plate upright edge and said collecting tank edge protrusion.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 1 , wherein said edge protrusion recess is substantially continuous and reinforced with connectors arranged at intervals defining a series of compartments.  
   
   
       3 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 2 , further comprising flanges at intervals about the upright edge of the tube plates, said intervals corresponding to said connector intervals.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising tabs on the continuous edge protrusion adapted to position said seal in said recess.  
   
   
       5 . A device for clamping the collecting tank to the tube plate to produce a vehicle radiator according to  claim 1 , wherein said tube plates include protrusions, said device comprising: 
 first punches adapted to engage said edge protrusion recess of said tank to hold down said tank on said tube plate; and    second punches between said first punches and adapted to bend said tube plate protrusions into the recess.    
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said first and second punches engage said recess and said plate protrusions respectively from a direction perpendicular to tube plate.  
   
   
       7 . A vehicle radiator comprising: 
 a plurality of flat tubes with fins therebetween;    two tube plates having a continuous upright edge;    collars in said tube plates around tube plate openings, said collars being soldered to ends of said flat tubes;    two plastic collecting tanks having a continuous edge protrusion with a recess therein, said upright edge of the tube plates being bent into the edge protrusion recess to mechanically fasten the collecting tanks to the tube plates;    inserts in said tube plates, said inserts including an edge strip soldered on one side to the tube plate upright edge and a member supporting the inside of said edge protrusion; and    a seal between said tube plate and said collecting tank.    
   
   
       8 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 7 , further comprising stops on said insert supporting said collecting tank edge protrusion.  
   
   
       9 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 7 , further comprising cross connectors between sides of said insert, said cross connectors supporting said collecting tank edge protrusion.  
   
   
       10 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 7 , further deformed edge strips on said insert, said deformed edge strips supporting said collecting tank edge protrusion.  
   
   
       11 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 7 , further comprising a groove in said tank edge protrusion, wherein said other side of said insert edge strip is received in said groove.  
   
   
       12 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 7 , wherein said tank edge protrusion is supported in a groove in said insert edge strip.  
   
   
       13 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 12 , wherein said insert edge strip groove has an inner wall and an outer wall, and said outer wall is secured to the tube plate upright edge.  
   
   
       14 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 7 , further comprising protrusions on the other side of the insert edge strip, said protrusions engaging tube plate openings to secure the insert part in the tube plate.  
   
   
       15 . The vehicle radiator of  claim 7 , wherein said collars are aligned in the direction of the flat tubes and the tube plates are flat.