Integrated receiver dryer sleeve

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a vehicle is provided having a core with a set of flow tubes connected to a header. The header includes a receiver/dryer housing in fluid communication with the flow tubes. An insert assembly is received in an end of the receiver/dryer housing and includes a sleeve having a substantially smooth outer surface, a filter portion received within the sleeve, and a plug portion configured to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with the sleeve. The inner diameter of the receiver/dryer housing and the outer diameter of the sleeve are substantially equal to each other.

1 . A heat exchanger for a vehicle comprising: 
 a core having a set of flow tubes through which fluid may flow; and    a header connected to the set of flow tubes to be in fluid communication therewith, the header including: 
 a receiver/dryer housing in fluid communication with the set of flow tubes, the receiver/dryer housing enclosing a dryer element and having an inner surface defining a receiver/dryer inner diameter; and  
 an insert assembly received within the receiver/dryer housing, the insert assembly including: 
 a sleeve having a substantially smooth outer surface defining a sleeve outer diameter;  
 a filter portion received within the sleeve so as to be in fluid communication with the receiver/dryer housing; and  
 a plug portion configured to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with the sleeve;  
 wherein the receiver/dryer inner diameter and the sleeve outer diameter are substantially equal to each other.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve further includes a threaded inner surface configured to engage a threaded outer surface of the plug portion of the insert assembly.  
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is a stamped sleeve.  
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve further includes a sleeve first portion having a sleeve first inner diameter and a sleeve second portion having a sleeve second inner diameter, wherein the sleeve second inner diameter is greater than the sleeve first inner diameter.  
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve includes an inserted end and an outer end and the first portion is adjacent to the inserted end.  
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 5 , wherein the filter portion defines a filter outer diameter being substantially equal to the sleeve first inner diameter.  
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 6 , wherein the sleeve first inner diameter is a varying diameter along a sleeve central axis.  
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 7 , wherein the varying diameter includes an arcuate shape.  
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a shoulder portion having a sleeve second outer diameter being greater than the sleeve outer diameter.  
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 9 , wherein the shoulder portion abuts the receiver/dryer housing.  
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the filter portion and the plug portion includes a standoff portion engaging the dryer element.  
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 11 , wherein the filter portion and the plug portion form a filter/plug assembly.  
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 12 , wherein the filter/plug assembly is constructed of Nylon 66.  
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 13 , wherein the filter/plug assembly is a unitary, single component.  
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 12 , wherein the filter/plug assembly includes a sealing ring forming a second substantially fluid-tight seal with the sleeve.  
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 15 , wherein the sealing ring includes an arcuate outer surface.  
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the receiver/dryer housing and the insert assembly are connected by a brazed connection.  
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is a stamped component.  
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger as in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is constructed of 3000 Series aluminum.  
     
     
         20 . A method of assembly of a heat exchanger for a vehicle, the method comprising: 
 providing a core having a set of flow tubes; and    connecting a header to the set of flow tubes, the header having a receiver/dryer housing in fluid communication with the set of flow tubes, the receiver/dryer housing receiving a dryer element and having an inner surface defining a receiver/dryer inner diameter;    inserting a sleeve within the receiver/dryer housing so as to form a press-fit engagement between the sleeve and the receiver/dryer housing, the sleeve having a substantially smooth outer surface defining a sleeve outer diameter;    inserting a filter portion within the sleeve such that the filter portion is in fluid communication with the receiver/dryer housing;    inserting a plug portion within the sleeve such as to form a substantially fluid-tight seal with the sleeve; and    brazing the sleeve to the receiver/dryer housing.    
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 20 , further comprising the step of stamp-forming the sleeve.  
     
     
         22 . A method as in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 forming internal threads on an inner surface of the sleeve; and    forming external threads on an outer surface of the plug portion such that the internal threads and the external threads form a threaded engagement.    
     
     
         23 . A method as in  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the internal threads and the external threads is roll-formed.