Reinforcement plate for multiple row heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a pair of manifolds each extending between manifold ends and defining a plurality of slits disposed in a plurality of parallel slit rows and each slit having a center axis. The center axes of the slits in each of the slit rows are aligned in a row plane. Reinforcement members extend between reinforcement ends each of which have at least one tab for connection thereof to one of the manifold ends. Each of the manifolds has at least one retainer for clamping one of the reinforcement members thereto. Each of the tabs include at least one connector extending toward the adjacent manifold end. One of the connectors is centered on each of the row planes to define row isolating openings between adjacent connectors to isolate each of the row planes from differential forces of adjacent row planes.

1 . A heat exchanger having multiple rows of tubes comprising:
 a pair of manifolds in spaced relationship to each other,   each of said manifolds extending between opposite manifold ends,   each of said manifolds defining a plurality of slits each having a centrally disposed center axis,   said slits being disposed in a plurality of slit rows disposed in a side by side relationship and each extending between said manifold ends,   said center axes of said slits in each of said slit rows being aligned in a row plane,   a plurality of tubes for carrying fluid between said manifolds and each of said tubes extends between said manifolds and has tube ends disposed in said slits,   said tubes creating differential forces between said row planes,   at least one reinforcement member interconnecting said manifolds and extending between reinforcement ends disposed adjacent said manifolds,   each of said manifolds having at least one retainer for clamping the adjacent one of said reinforcement members thereto,   each of said reinforcement ends defining at least one tab for connection thereof to at least one of said retainers at the adjacent one of said manifold ends,   each of said tabs including a lip being clamped by the adjacent one of said retainers and at least one connector extending between said reinforcement end and said lip thereof, and   characterized by   one of said connectors being centered on each of said row planes to define row isolating openings between adjacent of said connectors to isolate each of said row planes from differential forces of adjacent of said row planes.   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  having two of said slit rows and two of said reinforcement members and each of said manifold ends having one of said retainers and each of said reinforcement ends having one of said tabs and each of said tabs having two of said connectors. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  having four of said slit rows and two of said reinforcement members and each of said manifold ends having one of said retainers and each of said reinforcement ends having one of said tabs and each of said tabs having four of said connectors. 
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  having four of said slit rows and two of said reinforcement members and each of said manifold ends having two of said retainers and said retainers side by side and spaced from each other and each of said reinforcement ends including two of said tabs and each of said tabs being in alignment with a different one of said retainers and having two of said connectors. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said retainers extends from each of said manifold ends and each of said retainers are L-shaped including a first leg extending perpendicularly away from said manifold end and a clamp leg extending from said first leg in a direction parallel the adjacent one of said reinforcement members. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said connectors extend outwardly from and between said reinforcement end and said lip thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 6  wherein each of said lips extend arcuately outward from between the adjacent one of said manifold ends and the adjacent one of said clamp legs and over the adjacent one of said manifold ends. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 7  wherein each of said lips define a notch in alignment with the adjacent one of said retainers for securing said tab laterally therein. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said manifolds have a D-shaped cross-section to define a pair of edges extending between said manifold ends and parallel to each other and a flat wall extending between said edges and a curved wall being arcuate and extending between said edges. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 9  wherein a pair of said reinforcement members each have a U-shaped cross-section and said reinforcement ends are disposed adjacent said flat walls and inwardly from said manifold ends. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 9  wherein each of said flat walls of each of said manifolds defining said slits. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1  wherein fins extend between said tubes for transferring heat between said tubes and air passing said fins. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger having multiple rows of tubes comprising:
 a pair of manifolds in parallel and spaced relationship to each other,   each of said manifolds extending between opposite manifold ends and having a D-shaped cross-section to define a pair of edges extending between said manifold ends and parallel to each other and a flat wall extending between said edges and a curved wall being arcuate and extending between said edges,   each of said flat walls of each of said manifolds defining a plurality of slits each having a centrally disposed center axis,   said slits being disposed in a plurality of parallel slit rows disposed in side by side relationship and each of said slit rows extending between said manifold ends,   said center axes of said slits in each of said slit rows being aligned in a row plane,   a plurality of tubes for carrying fluid between said manifolds and each of said tubes extends between said manifolds and has tube ends disposed in said slits,   said tubes creating differential forces between said row planes,   fins extending between said tubes for transferring heat between said tubes and air passing said fins,   a pair of reinforcement members each having a U-shaped cross-section interconnecting said manifolds and extending between reinforcement ends disposed adjacent said flat walls of said manifolds and inwardly from said manifold ends,   each of said manifolds having at least one retainer extending from each of said manifold ends for clamping the adjacent one of said reinforcement members thereto,   each of said retainers being L-shaped including a first leg extending perpendicularly away from said manifold end and a clamp leg extending from said first leg in a direction parallel the adjacent one of said reinforcement members,   each of said reinforcement ends defining at least one tab for connection thereof to at least one of said retainers at the adjacent one of said manifold ends,   each of said tabs including a lip being clamped by the adjacent one of said retainers between the adjacent one of said manifold ends and the adjacent one of said clamp legs and extending arcuately outward therefrom and over the adjacent one of said manifold ends and at least one said connector extending outwardly from and between said reinforcement end and said lip thereof,   each of said lips defining a notch in alignment with the adjacent one of said retainers for securing said tab laterally therein, and   characterized by   one of said connectors being centered on each of said row planes to define row isolating openings between adjacent of said connectors to isolate each of said row planes from differential forces of adjacent said row planes.   
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 13  having two of said slit rows and each of said manifold ends having one of said retainers and each of said reinforcement ends having one of said tabs and each of said tabs having two of said connectors. 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 13  having four of said slit rows and each of said manifold ends having one of said retainers and each of said reinforcement ends having one of said tabs and each of said tabs having four of said connectors. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 13  having four of said slit rows and each of said manifold ends having two of said retainers side by side and spaced from each other and each of said reinforcement ends including two of said tabs and each of said tabs being in alignment with a different one of said retainers and having two of said connectors.