Heat exchange manifold connector

Abstract

A manifold kit for a solar heat exchanger of the type having a mat of tubes connected to inlet and outlet manifolds. Each manifold has at least one, preferably 5, groups of spigots tubes with three spigots in each group. Each group of spigots comprise a base fitted to the manifold a planar region on said base and a plurality of tubular spigots projecting from said planar region. A connector is adapted to receive a group of 3 heat exchanger tubes in one end and adapted at the other end to connect to a group of 3 spigot tubes on the manifold. This arrangement avoids the need for special tools during installation and the group of heat exchanger tubes can be easily fitted with the connectors and then snapped onto the manifold.

1 . A solar heat exchanger which includes a mat of parallel tubes in which groups of tubes are connected to one end of a connector and the opposite end of the connector is connected to a group of spigot tubes on a manifold said manifold having at least one group of spigots tubes and each group of spigots comprise a base fitted to the manifold and a planar region on said base and a plurality of tubular spigots projecting from said planar region.  
   
   
       2 . A solar heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  in which each mat of tubes has 15 tubes and each manifold has 5 groups of spigots with three spigots in each group.  
   
   
       3 . A manifold kit for a solar heat exchanger of the tube type which includes 
 d) a manifold having at least one group of spigots tubes    e) each group of spigots comprise a base fitted to the manifold a planar region on said base and a plurality of tubular spigots projecting from said planar region and    f) a connector adapted to receive a group of heat exchanger tubes in one end and adapted at the other end to connect to said group of spigot tubes on the manifold.    
   
   
       4 . A manifold kit as claimed in  claim 1  in which each manifold has 5 groups of spigots with three spigots in each group.  
   
   
       5 . A manifold kit as claimed in  claim 2  in which each group of spigots is arranged in a block and the connector is adapted to clip onto the block and enclose the spigot tubes.  
   
   
       6 . A manifold for a heat exchanger of the tube type which manifold includes at least one group of spigots wherein the group of spigots comprise a base fitted to the manifold a planar region on said base and a plurality of tubular spigots projecting from said planar region.