Tube end adapter

Abstract

A tube end adapter for a fluid, including a first end, a primary second end and a fluid channel extending therebetween along an extension axis so that the fluid can flow between the first end and the primary second end. The first end has a first opening and a non-circular shape cross-section and is adapted to receive a flat tube of a corresponding cross-section shape, with the primary second end having a primary second opening and a rounded shape cross-section.

1 . A tube end adapter for a fluid, comprising
 a first end, a primary second end and a fluid channel extending therebetween along an extension axis so that the fluid can flow between the first end and the primary second end, the first end having a first opening and a non-circular shape cross-section and being adapted to receive a flat tube of a corresponding cross-section shape, with the primary second end having a primary second opening and a rounded shape cross-section.   
     
     
         2 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end extends from the first opening towards the primary second opening, with the tube end adapter maintaining the non-circular shape cross-section throughout the first end. 
     
     
         3 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary second end extends from the primary second opening towards the first opening, with the tube end adapter maintaining the rounded shape cross-section throughout the primary second end. 
     
     
         4 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary second end has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-circular shape cross-section of the first end has two oppositely arranged short sides and two oppositely arranged long sides, wherein the primary second opening of the primary second end is shifted towards one of the short sides of the first end in a direction perpendicular to the extension axis. 
     
     
         6 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel includes an intermediate section configured to transition the tube end adapter between the non-circular shape cross-section of the first end and the rounded shape cross-section of the primary second end. 
     
     
         7 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary second end includes an annular snap joint. 
     
     
         8 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary second end is upset. 
     
     
         9 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , made of metal. 
     
     
         10 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , made of plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , made of elastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary second end having a secondary second opening with a rounded shape cross-section, the tube end adapter extending additionally between the first end and the secondary second end to enable fluid flow therebetween. 
     
     
         13 . The tube end adapter according to  claim 12 , further comprising an intermediate section configured to transition the tube end adapter between the non-circular shape cross-section of the first end and the rounded shape cross-sections of the primary second end and the secondary second end. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of flat tubes for a fluid;   a plurality of tube end adapters for a fluid, each including   a first end, a primary second end and a fluid channel extending therebetween so that the fluid can flow between the first end and the primary second end, the first end having a first opening and a non-circular shape cross-section and being adapted to receive a flat tube of a corresponding cross-section shape, with the primary second end having a primary second opening and a rounded shape cross-section;   a tube header with a plurality of header openings of rounded shape corresponding to the rounded shape cross-sections of the primary second ends of the plurality of tube end adapters;   wherein each of the plurality of flat tubes is inserted into the first end of one of the plurality of the tube end adapters through the first opening, while the primary second end of the one of the plurality of the flat tube adapters is inserted into the header.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , further comprising fins between the plurality of flat tubes, wherein the fins are adjacent to the first ends of the plurality of tube end adapters. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein the non-circular shape cross-sections of the first ends each have two oppositely arranged short sides and two oppositely arranged long sides, wherein the primary second openings of the primary second ends are shifted towards one of the short sides of the respective first ends in a direction perpendicular to the extension axis, wherein the primary second openings of the primary second ends of the subsequent flat tubes of the plurality of flat tubes are shifted in opposite directions.