Manifold for a heat exchanger

Abstract

A manifold for a heat exchanger includes a first tubular manifold part and a second tubular manifold part. The ends of the first and second manifold parts are connected through a baffle which is arranged to block tubular openings of the ends. The baffle substantially separates the ends of the first and second manifold parts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manifold for a heat exchanger with more than one core, the manifold comprising a first tubular manifold part and a second tubular manifold part, ends of the first and second manifold parts being connected through a baffle which is arranged to block tubular openings of the ends, the baffle substantially separating the ends of the first and second manifold parts, wherein
 the cross-section of the baffle is larger than the end of the first manifold part to which the baffle is connected and larger than the cross-section of the end of the second manifold part to which the baffle is connected,   the baffle includes an axially extending rim in each axial direction which extends over the end of the manifold part,   the baffle includes a shoulder to lie inside the bore of the first manifold part and includes a second shoulder to lie inside the bore of the second manifold part, and   the shoulder and rim define a channel therebetween, the channel receiving the end of the manifold part.   
     
     
         2 . The manifold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder extends around at least a quarter of the periphery of the baffle, or wherein the shoulder extends around at least a third of the periphery of the baffle. 
     
     
         3 . The manifold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder extends over no more than two thirds of the periphery of the baffle, or wherein the shoulder extends over a half or less of the periphery. 
     
     
         4 . The manifold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is attached to each of the tubular manifold parts through braze paste applied to one of the contact surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The manifold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the manifold is a manifold for a tube and fin heat exchanger core and each manifold part includes a series of slots to receive tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The manifold as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the slots are equally spaced along the length of the manifold. 
     
     
         7 . The manifold as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the baffle defines a tube receiving slot. 
     
     
         8 . The manifold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a body of the baffle between the ends of the first and second manifold parts is solid, particularly wherein the baffle is forged and/or wherein the manifold includes a third tubular manifold part, the ends of the second manifold part and third manifold part being connected through a baffle which is arranged to block the tubular openings, the baffle substantially separating the ends of the second and third manifold parts. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger assembly including two heat exchange cores and the manifold as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein, where the baffle defines a tube receiving slot, the walls of the tube receiving slot are brazed to an end of the tube, or wherein, where the baffle defines a tube receiving slot, the tube receiving slot is sufficiently wide that the tube does not touch or braze to the walls of the baffle slot, or wherein, where a body of the baffle between the ends of the first and second manifold parts is solid, a blanking plate or a tube which is shorter than the other tubes of the core is positioned opposite the baffle. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each manifold part is double clad, so that it includes braze cladding on both its inner and outer surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . A method of assembling a heat exchanger for assembly for brazing, the method comprising:
 arranging tubes and fins in a build machine jig, assembling the manifold as claimed in  claim 1  by attaching the first manifold part to the baffle and attaching the second manifold part to the baffle;   offering up the manifold to the tubes and fins so that the tubes are received in slots in the manifold parts; and   heating the assembly to braze the tubes and fins and the manifold together.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the baffle is attached to the manifold parts by the baffle being an interference fit in the end of each manifold part, or wherein the baffle is attached to the manifold parts by tack welding the baffle to the manifold parts. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the method includes inserting a braze ring between the baffle and each manifold part. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the method includes the step of applying braze paste to each shoulder prior to attaching the manifold parts to the baffle so that the braze paste is sandwiched between the shoulder and the manifold part and creates a brazed joint between the shoulder and manifold parts after heating and/or wherein in the step of offering up the manifold to the tubes, the tubes are inserted into the slots to a limited distance such that a gap is left between ends of the tubes and the shoulders of the baffle.