Heat exchanger having snap-on bracket

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a pair of manifolds, each of which has a plurality of axially spaced oblong slots, and each of which has at least two detents formed therein. A plurality of generally flat tubes extends between the manifolds and individually through the slots for providing fluid communication between the manifolds. A plurality of radiation fins extends between adjacent flat tubes. A plurality of brackets is provided for mounting the heat exchanger. Each of the brackets has a curved portion, a flange portion and a mounting portion. The curved portion extends circumferentially around a portion of the manifold. The curved portion has opposite ends and has means located midway between the ends for allowing the ends of the curved portion to move resiliently relative to each other to widen the distance between the ends. The curved portion also has at least one protrusion adjacent to each end. Each of the protrusions extends into one of the detents in the manifold. The flange portion is connected to the curved portion, and the mounting portion is connected to the flange portion for mounting the heat exchanger.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a pair of manifolds, each of the manifolds having a plurality of axially spaced oblong slots, at least one of the manifolds also having at least two detents formed therein;    a plurality of generally flat tubes extending between the manifolds and individually through the slots for providing fluid communication between the manifolds;    a plurality of radiation fins extending between adjacent flat tubes; and    a plurality of brackets for mounting the heat exchanger, each of the brackets comprising 
 a curved portion extending circumferentially around a portion of the manifold, the curved portion having opposite ends, the curved portion having means located midway between the ends for allowing the ends of the curved portion to move resiliently relative to each other to widen the distance between the ends, the curved portion having at least one protrusion adjacent to each end, each of the protrusions extending into one of the detents in the manifold,  
 a flange portion connected to the curved portion, and  
 a mounting portion connected to the flange portion for mounting the heat exchanger.  
   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 1   , wherein the means for allowing the ends of the curved portion to move resiliently relative to each other to widen the distance between the ends is a groove formed across the width of the curved portion.  
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 2   , wherein the flange portion is connected at one end of the curved portion.  
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 1   , wherein the means for allowing the ends of the curved portion to move resiliently relative to each other to widen the distance between the ends is a gap formed across the width of the curved portion separating the curved portion into two pieces.  
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 4   , wherein the flange portion is connected to the two pieces of the curved portion at the gap.  
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 4   , wherein the flange portion and the mounting portion form a generally U shape.  
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 4   , wherein the flange portion and the mounting portion provide a spring like action to the two piece curved portion.  
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a pair of manifolds, each of the manifolds having a plurality of axially spaced oblong slots, at least one of the manifolds also having at least two detents formed therein;    a plurality of generally flat tubes extending between the manifolds and individually through the slots for providing fluid communication between the manifolds;    a plurality of radiation fins extending between adjacent flat tubes; and    a plurality of brackets for mounting the heat exchanger, each of the brackets comprising 
 a curved portion extending circumferentially around a portion of the manifold, the curved portion having opposite ends, the curved portion having a groove extending across the width of the curved portion about midway between the ends, the groove allowing the ends of the curved portion to move resiliently relative to each other to widen the distance between the ends, the curved portion having a plurality of protrusions with at least one protrusion adjacent to each end, each of the protrusions extending into one of the detents in the manifold,  
 a flange portion connected to one of the ends of the curved portion, and  
 a mounting portion connected to the flange portion for mounting the heat exchanger.  
   
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 8   , wherein the flange portion extends generally radially from one end of the curved portion.  
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 8   , wherein the mounting portion extends orthogonally from the flange portion.  
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a pair of manifolds, each of the manifolds having a plurality of axially spaced oblong slots, at least one of the manifolds also having at least two detents formed therein;    a plurality of generally flat tubes extending between the manifolds and individually through the slots for providing fluid communication between the manifolds;    a plurality of radiation fins extending between adjacent flat tubes; and    a plurality of brackets for mounting the heat exchanger, each of the brackets comprising 
 a two-piece curved portion extending circumferentially around a portion of the manifold, the curved portion having opposite ends, one of said ends located at an end of each piece of the curved portion, each piece of the curved portion having at least one protrusion adjacent its end, each of the protrusions extending into one of the detents in the manifold, the two pieces of the curved portion being separated by a gap allowing the ends of the curved portion to move resiliently relative to each other to widen the distance between the ends,  
 a flange portion connected to the curved portion near the gap, and  
 a mounting portion for mounting the heat exchanger.  
   
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 11   , wherein the flange member comprises two pieces, each piece extending from one of the pieces of the curved member adjacent to the gap.  
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 12   , wherein the mounting portion connects the two pieces of the flange portion.  
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 12   , wherein the two pieces of the flange portion and mounting portion together form a U shape.  
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger as defined in    claim 11   , wherein the flange portion and the mounting portion provide a spring like action to the two piece curved portion.