Radiator Tube

Abstract

A radiator tube ( 111 ) having a portion at each end which is adapted to be received in a header tank of a radiator and an intermediate portion between the ends, said intermediate portion having a cross section defined by a pair of side walls ( 121 ) and a pair of end walls ( 123 ), the side walls are generally parallel and have a spacing between them which is less than the spacing between the end walls, the side walls supporting a set of generally parallel fins ( 113 ), each fin extending laterally from the tube, each fin having an inner side edge thermally communicating with the respective side wall of the tube and an outer side edge ( 119 ) in a substantially spaced parallel relationship with the inner side edge, a forward edge ( 115 ) and a rear edge ( 117 ), said forward edge having an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve extending from the forward most edge of the fin to the outer side edge.

1 . A radiator tube having a portion at each end which is adapted to be received in a header tank of a radiator and an intermediate portion between the ends, said intermediate portion having a cross section defined by a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, the side walls are generally parallel and have a spacing between them which is less than the spacing between the end walls, each side wall of the tube supporting a set of fins, the fins being generally parallel and positioned at spaced intervals along each side to extend across each side wall between the end walls, each fin extending laterally from the tube, each fin having an inner side edge thermally communicating with the respective side wall of the tube and an outer side edge, the outer side edge being substantially parallel with the inner side edge and side wall, each fin having a forward edge and a rear edge, the forward edges and rear edges being of the fins to opposed sides of the tube being spaced from each other by the tube, the forward edge of each fin having an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve extending from the forward most edge of the fin to the outer side edge.  
   
   
       2 . A radiator tube as claimed at  claim 1  wherein the rear edge of each fin has an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve from the rearmost edge to the outer side edge.  
   
   
       3 . A radiator tube as claimed at  claim 2  the curvature of the rear edge is part circular.  
   
   
       4 . A radiator tube as claimed at  claim 1  or  2  or  3  wherein the curvature of the forward edge is part circular.  
   
   
       5 . A radiator tube as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the profile of the front edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.  
   
   
       6 . A radiator tube as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the profile of the rear edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.  
   
   
       7 . A radiator tube as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the fins are individually bonded to the tube.  
   
   
       8 . A radiator tube as claimed at any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the fins are formed integrally with the tube.  
   
   
       9 . A radiator tube as claimed at any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the fins are formed from a folded length of material having a series of inner folds and a series of outer folds with the fins defined between the inner and outer folds wherein the inner fold is bonded to the tube and defines the inner side edge of the fins extending therefrom and the outer fold defines the outer side edge.  
   
   
       10 . A radiator tube substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
   
   
       11 . A radiator core comprising a set of radiator tubes wherein each radiator tube has a portion at each end which is adapted to be received in a header tank of a radiator and an intermediate portion between the ends, said intermediate portion having a cross section defined by a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, the side walls are generally parallel and have a spacing between them which is less than the spacing between the end walls, each side wall of the tube supporting a set of fins, the fins being generally parallel and positioned at spaced intervals along each side to extend across each side wall between the end walls, each fin extending laterally from the tube, each fin having an inner side edge thermally communicating with the respective side wall of the tube and an outer side edge, the outer side edge being substantially parallel with the inner side edge and side wall, each fin having a forward edge and a rear edge, the forward edges and rear edges being of the fins to opposed sides of the tube being spaced from each other by the tube, the forward edge of each fin having an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve extending from the forward most edge of the fin to the outer side edge, said tubes being arrayed to define at least two substantially parallel rows of tube wherein each tube of is located to be substantially equidistant form adjacent tubes and the fins of each tube are spaced from the fins of adjacent tubes.  
   
   
       12 . A radiator core as claimed at  claim 11  wherein the rear edge of each fin has an arcuate configuration taking the form of a continuous curve from the rearmost edge to the outer side edge.  
   
   
       13 . A radiator core as claimed at claim  22  the curvature of the rear edge is part circular.  
   
   
       14 . A radiator core as claimed at  claim 1  or  12  or  13  wherein the curvature of the forward edge is part circular.  
   
   
       15 . A radiator core as claimed at any one of  claims 11  to  14  wherein the profile of the front edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.  
   
   
       16 . A radiator core as claimed at any one of  claims 11  to  15  wherein the profile of the rear edge of the fins define the quadrant of circle.  
   
   
       17 . A radiator core as claimed at any one of  claims 11  to  16  wherein the fins are individually bonded to the tube.  
   
   
       18 . A radiator core as claimed at any one of  claims 11  to  17  wherein the fins are formed integrally with the tube.  
   
   
       19 . A radiator core as claimed at any one of  claims 11  to  17  wherein the fins are formed from a folded length of material having a series of inner folds and a series of outer folds with the fins defined between the inner and outer folds wherein the inner fold is bonded to the tube and defines the inner side edge of the fins extending therefrom and the outer fold defines the outer side edge.  
   
   
       20 . A radiator core substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.