Thermal expansion feature for an exhaust gas cooler

Abstract

An exhaust gas cooler and a method of manufacturing an exhaust gas cooler comprising providing a shell, disposing within the shell a tube bundle/core through which exhaust gas passes, and situating a seal or gasket assembly providing a liquid-tight seal between the shell and the tube bundle/core and between each tube of the tube/bundle core.

1 . An exhaust gas cooler comprising:
 a shell;   a tube bundle/core through which exhaust gas passes; and   a seal or gasket assembly providing a liquid-tight seal between said shell and said tube bundle/core and between each tube of said tube/bundle core.   
   
   
       2 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 1  wherein said seal or gasket assembly is located proximate an end of said tube bundle/core. 
   
   
       3 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 2  wherein said seal or gasket assembly is located proximate the cold end of said tube bundle/core. 
   
   
       4 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 1  wherein said seal or gasket assembly comprises a seal or gasket comprising one or more of the group consisting of rubber, silicone, and a polymer. 
   
   
       5 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 4  wherein said seal or gasket assembly comprises a header between said shell and said seal or gasket. 
   
   
       6 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 5  wherein said seal or gasket comprises a notch accepting said header. 
   
   
       7 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 4  wherein said seal or gasket comprises a rounded interior profile. 
   
   
       8 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 1  wherein said tube bundle/core comprises tubes with unbrazed ends. 
   
   
       9 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 1  wherein said tube bundle/core comprises tubes with flared ends. 
   
   
       10 . The exhaust gas cooler of  claim 9  wherein said tube bundle/core comprises one or more tubes with fins recessed to accommodate said flared ends. 
   
   
       11 . A method of manufacturing an exhaust gas cooler, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a shell;   disposing within the shell a tube bundle/core through which exhaust gas passes; and   situating a seal or gasket assembly providing a liquid-tight seal between the shell and the tube bundle/core and between each tube of the tube/bundle core.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein in the situating step the seal or gasket assembly is situated proximate an end of the tube bundle/core. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein in the situating step the seal or gasket assembly is situated proximate the cold end of the tube bundle/core. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein in the situating step the seal or gasket assembly comprises a seal or gasket comprising one or more of the group consisting of rubber, silicone, and a polymer. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the situating step the seal or gasket assembly comprises a header between the shell and the seal or gasket. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein in the situating step the seal or gasket comprises a notch accepting the header. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein in the situating step the seal or gasket comprises a rounded interior profile. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein in the disposing step the tube bundle/core comprises tubes with unbrazed ends. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein in the disposing step the tube bundle/core comprises tubes with flared ends. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein in the disposing step the tube bundle/core comprises one or more tubes with fins recessed to accommodate the flared ends.