Method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block, spacer means therefor, and heat exchanger block

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block, to a spacer means for use in the method, and to a heat exchanger block. The heat exchanger block comprises a number of tubes and a number of fins, the fins having a predetermined spacing determined by the spacer means. The method includes the steps of locating the fins in a carrier and pressing the fins onto the tubes, and providing spacer means for the fins, whereby the spacer means supports a fin during the pressing step and determines the spacing between the fins in the assembled heat exchanger. Each of the fins has apertures for the tubes, the apertures engaging the tubes. Each of the spacer means has openings for the tubes, the openings being larger than the apertures.

1 . A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block comprising a number of tubes and a number of fins, the fins having a predetermined spacing, the method including the steps of locating the fins in a carrier and pressing the fins onto the tubes, the method also including the step of providing spacer means for the fins, whereby the spacer means supports a fin during the pressing step and determines the spacing between the fins in the assembled heat exchanger. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising a combination spacer means and fin, in which the spacer means and fin are integral. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  in which the spacer means comprises a separate corrugated sheet of metallic material. 
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger block comprising a number of tubes and a number of fins, each fin engaging at least one of the tubes, the heat exchanger also comprising corrugated spacer means adapted to maintain the separation of adjacent fins, each of the fins having apertures for the tubes, the apertures engaging the tubes, each of the spacers having openings for the tubes, the openings being larger than the apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 4  in which each opening is larger than the tube in the direction of the corrugations. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 4  comprising a single row of tubes interconnected by the number of fins. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 4  in which the axis of the corrugations is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spacer means. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 4  in which the openings have a first dimension in the direction of the axis of the corrugations and a second dimension in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the corrugations, the first dimension being greater than the second dimension. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 8  in which the second dimension closely matches the dimension of the tube. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 4  in which the separation of adjacent fins is not uniform throughout the heat exchanger block. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 4  in which the material from which the fins are made is not uniform throughout the heat exchanger block. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 4  in which each corrugated spacer means comprises a separate component to the fins, and substantially matches the size and shape of the fins. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 4  in which the spacer means is integral with the fin, the combination spacer means and fin comprising an alternating series of substantially planar portions and corrugated portions. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 13  in which each aperture is located in a planar portion. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger block according to  claim 13  in which each opening is located in a corrugated portion. 
     
     
         16 . A forming machine for making a combination spacer means and fin for a heat exchanger, the combination spacer means and fin comprising an alternating sequence of corrugated portions and substantially planar portions, the forming machine having cooperating rollers, the rollers having peripheral regions adapted to press a metal sheet into a corrugated form, the rollers having additional regions between the peripheral regions, the additional regions being adapted to maintain a substantially flat form of the sheet. 
     
     
         17 . The forming machine according to  claim 16  in which the additional regions include recesses to accommodate a collar of the combination spacer means and fin. 
     
     
         18 . A combination spacer means and fin for a heat exchanger, having a number of openings and a number of apertures adapted to receive respective tubes in the assembled heat exchanger, and having corrugated portions separated by substantially planar portions, a respective aperture being located in a substantially planar portion and being sized to closely fit the tube, a respective opening being located in a corrugated portion and being larger than the opening.