Mounting boss for a brazed heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger ( 10 ) includes a mount boss ( 12 ) fixed between a pair of adjacent tube runs ( 16 ) extending from a header ( 14 ). The mount boss ( 12 ) includes a pair of oppositely facing contoured surfaces ( 40 ) that are shaped to conform to the exterior surfaces of the adjacent tube runs ( 16 ).

1 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a header;    a pair of tube runs extending from the header along a longitudinal tube axis to direct a fluid through the heat exchanger; and    a mount boss fixed between the pair of tube runs, the mount boss having a pair of oppositely facing contoured surfaces, each of the contoured surfaces bonded to a mating surface of a corresponding one of the tube runs and shaped to conform to the mating surface.    
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the mount boss is located adjacent the header and further includes a surface bonded to a mating surface of the header.  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2  wherein the surface bonded to the mating surface of the header is shaped to conform to the mating surface of the header.  
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3  wherein the mating surface of the header is cylindrical.  
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the mount boss further includes an opening adapted to receive a fastener.  
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5  wherein the opening is threaded.  
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5  wherein the opening extends completely through the mount boss.  
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5  wherein the opening extends perpendicular to the longitudinal tube axis.  
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein each of the tube runs is a flattened tube having a transverse cross section defined by a pair of spaced, broad side walls connected by a pair of shorter end walls, and each of the contoured surfaces of the mount boss is bonded one of the broad side wall of one of the pair of tube runs.  
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  further comprising fins extending between the pair of tube runs.  
   
   
       11 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a header;    a pair of tube runs extending from the header along a longitudinal tube axis to direct a fluid through the heat exchanger; and    a mount boss fixed between the pair of tube runs, the mount boss having a pair of shoulders, the shoulders abutting opposite sides of a corresponding one of the tube runs to locate the mount boss during a bonding process.    
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11  wherein the mount boss is located adjacent the header and further includes a surface bonded to a mating surface of the header.  
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein the surface bonded to the mating surface of the header is shaped to conform to the mating surface of the header.  
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein the mating surface of the header is cylindrical.  
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11  wherein the mount boss further includes an opening adapted to receive a fastener.  
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15  wherein the opening is threaded.  
   
   
       17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15  wherein the opening extends completely through the mount boss.  
   
   
       18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 15  wherein the opening extends perpendicular to the longitudinal tube axis.  
   
   
       19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11  wherein each of the tube runs is a flattened tube having a transverse cross section defined by a pair of spaced, broad side walls connected by a pair of shorter end walls, and the mount boss has a pair of opposite sides, each of the opposite sides bonded to one of the broad side wall of one of the pair of tube runs.  
   
   
       20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11  further comprising fins extending between the pair of tube runs.  
   
   
       21 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a pair of spaced headers;    a plurality of tube runs extending between the headers along a longitudinal tube axis to direct a fluid through the heat exchanger;    fins extending between the tube runs; and    a mount boss fixed between an adjacent pair of the tube runs, the mount boss having a pair of oppositely facing contoured surfaces, each of the contoured surfaces bonded to a mating surface of a corresponding one of the tube runs and shaped to conform to the mating surface.    
   
   
       22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21  wherein the mount boss is located adjacent the header and further includes a surface bonded to a mating surface of the header.  
   
   
       23 . The heat exchanger of  claim 22  wherein the surface bonded to the mating surface of the header is shaped to conform to the mating surface of the header.  
   
   
       24 . The heat exchanger of  claim 23  wherein the mating surface of the header is cylindrical.  
   
   
       25 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21  wherein the mount boss further includes an opening adapted to receive a fastener.  
   
   
       26 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21  wherein each of the tube runs is a flattened tube having a transverse cross section defined by a pair of spaced, broad side walls connected by a pair of shorter end walls, and each of the contoured surfaces of the mount boss is bonded one of the broad side wall of one of the pair of tube runs.  
   
   
       27 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a pair of spaced headers;    a plurality of tube runs extending between the headers along a longitudinal tube axis to direct a fluid through the heat exchanger;    fins extending between the tube runs; and    a mount boss fixed between an adjacent pair of tube runs, the mount boss having a pair of shoulders, the shoulders abutting opposite sides of a corresponding one of the tube runs to locate the mount boss during a bonding process.    
   
   
       28 . The heat exchanger of  claim 27  wherein the mount boss is located adjacent the header and further includes a surface bonded to a mating surface of the header.  
   
   
       29 . The heat exchanger of  claim 28  wherein the surface bonded to the mating surface of the header is shaped to conform to the mating surface of the header.  
   
   
       30 . The heat exchanger of  claim 29  wherein the mating surface of the header is cylindrical.  
   
   
       31 . The heat exchanger of  claim 27  wherein the mount boss further includes an opening adapted to receive a fastener.  
   
   
       32 . The heat exchanger of  claim 28  wherein each of the tube runs is a flattened tube having a transverse cross section defined by a pair of spaced, broad side walls connected by a pair of shorter end walls, and the mount boss has a pair of opposite sides, each of the opposite sides bonded to one of the broad side wall of one of the pair of tube runs.