U-shaped housing and cover concept for plate fin heat exchangers

Abstract

A housing for a heat exchanger comprising includes a first housing portion having and a second housing portion. The first housing portion has a U-shaped cross-section. The second housing portion cooperates with the first housing portion to define a chamber. The chamber receives a heat exchange assembly. The second housing portion is configured as a plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A housing for a heat exchanger comprising:
 a first housing portion having a U-shaped cross-section; and   a second housing portion cooperating with the first housing portion to define a chamber receiving a heat exchange assembly, the second housing portion configured as a plate.   
     
     
         2 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion has a flange extending outwardly from an outer surface of each of opposing ends thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The housing of  claim 2 , wherein the second housing portion has a lip extending outwardly from a surface of each of opposing ends thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The housing of  claim 3 , wherein the flanges of the first housing portion and the lips of the second housing portion cooperate to define a frame configured for coupling to at least one of a header and a tank. 
     
     
         5 . The housing of  claim 4 , wherein a tab extends outwardly from an engagement surface of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are formed from one of aluminum and plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The housing of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion is coupled to the second housing portion by one of a brazing process, a welding process, and a crimping process. 
     
     
         8 . A core assembly for a heat exchanger comprising:
 a two-component housing including a first housing portion and a second housing portion cooperating to define a chamber with a first open end and a second open end; and   a heat exchange assembly received in the chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The core assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the heat exchange assembly includes a plurality of plate assemblies interposed between a plurality of fins. 
     
     
         10 . The core assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first housing portion has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . The core assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second housing portion is substantially planar. 
     
     
         12 . The core assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first housing portion has a flange extending outwardly from a surface thereof at an end of the first housing portion. 
     
     
         13 . The core assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the second housing portion has a lip extending outwardly from a surface thereof, the lip cooperating with the flange to define a frame configured for coupling to one of a header and a tank of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         14 . The core assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first housing portion has a tab extending outwardly from an engagement surface of the flange, the tab configured to align one of a header and a tank of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . The core assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are formed from one of aluminum and plastic. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger for a vehicle comprising:
 a core assembly having a first open end and a second open end, the core assembly including a housing receiving a heat exchange assembly, the housing formed from a substantially U-shaped first housing portion and a substantially planar second housing portion;   a first tank coupled to the first open end of the core assembly; and   a second tank coupled to the second open end of the core assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , further comprising a header disposed intermediate each of the first tank and the core assembly and the second tank and the core assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the header, the first tank, and the second tank is one of welded, brazed, and crimped to the core assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the first housing portion has a flange disposed at each end thereof, the flange extending outwardly from an outer surface thereof, wherein the second housing portion has a lip disposed at each end thereof, the lip at each end extending outwardly from a surface of the second housing portion, and wherein the flange at each end respectively cooperates with the lip at each end to form a frame configured to engage one of the first tank, the second tank, and a header. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of tabs extends outwardly from an engagement surface of the flange, the tabs configured to align one of the first tank, the second tank, and the header to the housing.