Header for heat exchanger

Abstract

A header for a heat exchanger includes an elongate header plate having a pair of substantially parallel long edges. The header plate includes an elongate slot extending in a first direction across the header plate and a pair of ridges extending in a second direction along the header plate. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Edge regions of the header plate are formed on sides of the ridges adjacent the long edges. At least one of the edge regions lie in a first plane and crests of the ridges lie in a second plane. The first plane is substantially parallel to and offset from the second plane.

1 . A header for a heat exchanger, comprising:
 a header plate having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and substantially parallel edges, the header plate including:
 at least one slot formed in the header plate and extending in a first direction across the header plate; 
 a plurality of ridges extending in a second direction along the header plate, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and 
 a plurality of edge regions adjacent the edges, wherein the at least one slot extends across the ridges, and wherein at least one of the edge regions of the header plate lie in a first plane and at least one crest of at least one of the ridges lies in a second plane, and wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to and offset from the second plane, the second plane disposed further from the second surface of the header plate than the first plane. 
   
     
     
         2 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein the edges of the header plate extend in the second direction. 
     
     
         3 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein the edge regions are of substantially equal width such that a first distance between one of the edges of the header plate and the crest of one of the ridges, and a second distance between another one of the edges of the header plate and the crest of another one of the ridges are substantially equal. 
     
     
         4 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein the header plate includes at least one trough formed between the ridges, the at least one trough having a base which lies in the first plane. 
     
     
         5 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein the header plate includes at least one trough formed between the ridges, the at least one trough having a base which lies in a third plane substantially parallel to the first plane and the second plane. 
     
     
         6 . The header according to  claim 5 , wherein the third plane is located between the first plane and the second plane. 
     
     
         7 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one crest is formed by a substantially planar section of the header plate extending substantially parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         8 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one crest is formed by a curved section of the heater plate. 
     
     
         9 . The header according to  claim 8 , wherein the curved section has a generally convex curvature in respect of the first plane. 
     
     
         10 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein sides of at least one of the ridges is formed from a substantially planar section of the header plate. 
     
     
         11 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein sides of at least one of the ridges is from from a curved section of the header plate. 
     
     
         12 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein the header plate includes at least one trough formed from a substantially planar section of the header plate. 
     
     
         13 . The header according to  claim 1 , wherein the header plate includes at least one trough formed from a curved section of the header plate. 
     
     
         14 . The header according to  claim 13 , wherein the curved section has a generally concave curvature in respect of the second plane. 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 at least one tube including a seam extending along a central region of the at least one tube; and   a header including a header plate having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and substantially parallel edges, the header plate including:
 at least one slot having a first end and a second end, the slot extending in a first direction across the header plate; 
 a plurality of ridges extending in a second direction along the header plate, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and 
 a plurality of edge regions formed on sides of the ridges adjacent the edges of the header plate, wherein at least one of the ends of the at least one slot is located within the edge regions, and wherein the at least one slot extends across the ridges, and wherein the edge regions of the header plate lie in a first plane and at least one of a plurality of crests of the ridges lie in a second plane, and wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to and offset from the second plane, the second plane located further from the second surface of the header plate than the first plane, and wherein an end of the at least one tube is received within the at least one slot and the seam of the at least one tube is substantially aligned with a central region of the header plate, and wherein at least one of the crests of at least one of the ridges intersects the at least one tube further from the end of the at least one tube than the edge regions of the header plate. 
   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein the header plate includes at least one trough formed between the ridges, and the seam of the tube coincides with a base of the at least one trough. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein the edge regions are of substantially equal width such that a first distance between one of the edges of the header plate and the crest of one of the ridges, and a second distance between another one of the edges of the header plate and the crest of another one of the ridges are substantially equal. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein the header plate includes at least one trough formed between the ridges, and a base of the at least one trough lies in the first plane. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein the header plate includes at least one trough formed between the ridges, the at least one trough having a base which lies in a third plane substantially parallel to and located between the first plane and the second plane. 
     
     
         20 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 at least one tube; and   a header including a header plate having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and substantially parallel edges, the header plate including:
 at least one slot extending in a first direction across the header plate; 
 a plurality of ridges extending in a second direction along the header plate, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction; 
 a plurality of edge regions formed on sides of the ridges adjacent the edges of the header plate, wherein the edge regions of the header plate lie in a first plane and at least one of a plurality of crests of the ridges lie in a second plane, and wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to and offset from the second plane, the second plane located further from the second surface of the header plate than the first plane; and 
 at least one trough formed between the ridges.