US2008163489A1PendingUtilityA1

Method of forming a heater core connector

47
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 15, 2006Filed: Mar 25, 2008Published: Jul 10, 2008
Est. expirySep 15, 2026(~0.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David L. GrimesRichard Kenneth HarrisSteven White
F16L 43/001Y10T29/49391
47
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A small bend radius connector for a heater core is shown, wherein a first end of the connector has a rectangular cross section, a second end of the connector has a circular cross section, and wherein a size, a weight, and a cost of production of the connector are minimized.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of forming a tube for a heat exchanger comprising the steps of:
 providing a hollow conduit;   cutting the conduit to a desired length; and   forming a bend in the conduit, wherein the bend has a bend radius that is less than the diameter of the tube.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of forming a first end of the conduit into one of a substantially rectangular cross section, a substantially oval cross section, and a substantially circular cross section. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of forming a second end of the conduit into one of a substantially rectangular cross section, a substantially oval cross section, and a substantially circular cross section. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of expanding the first end of the conduit to form a flange thereon. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of disposing the conduit into a first die and crushing the conduit into a substantially Z-shape. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of disposing the conduit into a second die, causing a fluid to be contained in the conduit, and compressing the fluid to cause the conduit to be expanded to a desired shape. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is formed from a metal. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is formed from one of aluminum and an aluminum alloy. 
   
   
       9 . A method of forming a tube for a heat exchanger comprising the steps of:
 providing a hollow conduit;   cutting the conduit to a desired length to form a first end and a second end on the conduit;   pressurizing an interior of the conduit; and   forming a bend in the conduit during a pressurization thereof, wherein the bend has a bend radius that is less than the diameter of the tube.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of forming the first end of the conduit into one of a substantially rectangular cross section, a substantially oval cross section, and a substantially circular cross section. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of forming the second end of the conduit into one of a substantially rectangular cross section, a substantially oval cross section, and a substantially circular cross section. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising the step of expanding the first end of the conduit to form a flange thereon. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of placing the conduit into a first die and crushing the conduit into a substantially Z-shape. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of placing the conduit into a second die, causing a fluid to be contained in the conduit, and compressing the fluid to cause the conduit to be expanded to a desired shape. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the conduit is formed from a metal. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the conduit is formed from one of aluminum and an aluminum alloy. 
   
   
       17 . A method of forming a tube for a heat exchanger comprising the steps of:
 providing a hollow conduit;   cutting the conduit to a desired length to form a first end and a second end on the conduit;   pressurizing an interior of the conduit;   crushing at least a portion of the conduit;   plugging the first end of the first conduit;   forming a bend in the conduit, wherein the bend has a bend radius that is less than the diameter of the tube.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of forming each of the first end of the conduit and the second end of the conduit into one of a substantially rectangular cross section, a substantially oval cross section, and a substantially circular cross section. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of expanding the first end of the conduit to form a flange thereon. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the conduit is formed from a metal.

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