Cac header with reduced overhang

Abstract

A head collecting tank for a tubular heat exchanger of a motor vehicle having an inner end in the form of a right parallelogram, on which is secured across a sealing element, a tube panel for mounting and securing of one of the lengthwise ends of a bundle of tubes of the heat exchanger. The tube panel is formed by a frame part with a set of mutually parallel braces having in cross section the shape of the letter U and passing into the frame part, which also has in cross section the shape of the letter U with an elongated arm on the side away from the braces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tube panel of a head collecting tank for a tubular heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a frame part having an inner wall, an outer peripheral wall, and a bottom; and   a plurality of braces integrally formed with the frame part and having a pair of walls extending laterally outwardly therefrom, the plurality of braces and the frame part cooperating to form a plurality of spaces configured to secure a plurality of tubes of the tubular heat exchanger therein, and wherein a thickness of the pair of walls of the braces is greater than a thickness of the inner wall of the frame part bounding the plurality of spaces.   
     
     
         2 . The tube panel of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall, the outer peripheral wall, and the bottom of the frame part form a substantially u-shaped cross-section of the frame part. 
     
     
         3 . The tube panel of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom of the frame part has an arcuate shape and further comprises a transition formed intermediate the inner wall and the bottom of the frame part. 
     
     
         4 . The tube panel of  claim 1 , wherein the frame part is rectangular and the plurality of braces extends between opposing sides of the frame part and are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The tube panel of  claim 1 , wherein the braces have a substantially u-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         6 . The tube panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing element having a circular cross-section disposed adjacent the bottom of the frame part. 
     
     
         7 . The tube panel of  claim 6 , wherein a distance between the inner wall and the outer peripheral wall of the frame part is substantially equal to a diameter of the sealing element and a height of the inner wall bounding each of the plurality of spaces is greater than one half of the diameter of the sealing element. 
     
     
         8 . The tube panel of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the frame part has at least two creases forming at least one rib, the at least one rib configured to facilitate joining the tubular heat exchanger to the frame part of the tube panel. 
     
     
         9 . The tube panel of  claim 1 , wherein the outer peripheral wall has a plurality of openings formed thereon, the plurality of openings facilitating clamping the tube panel to the head collecting tank. 
     
     
         10 . A head collecting tank for a tubular heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 an inner end configured to be joined with the tubular heat exchanger;   a tube panel disposed on the inner end and having a frame part with an inner wall, an outer peripheral wall, and a bottom, a plurality of braces integrally formed with the frame part and having a pair of walls extending laterally outwardly therefrom, the plurality of braces and the frame part cooperating to form a plurality of spaces configured to secure a plurality of tubes of the tubular heat exchanger therein;   a sealing element disposed intermediate the frame part and the inner end; and   a projection disposed on the inner end and extending outwardly therefrom, the projection configured to facilitate stabilization of the sealing element.   
     
     
         11 . The head collecting tank of  claim 10 , wherein the sealing element has a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The head collecting tank of  claim 11 , wherein a distance between the inner wall and the outer peripheral wall of the frame part is substantially equal to a diameter of the sealing element and a height of the inner wall bounding each of the plurality of spaces is greater than one half of the diameter of the sealing element. 
     
     
         13 . The head collecting tank of  claim 10 , wherein the inner wall, the outer peripheral wall, and the bottom of the frame part form a substantially u-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The head collecting tank of  claim 10 , wherein the frame part is rectangular and the plurality of braces extends between opposing sides of the frame part and are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         15 . The head collecting tank of  claim 10 , wherein the inner wall of the frame part has at least two creases forming at least one rib, the at least one rib configured to facilitate joining the tubular heat exchanger to the frame part of the tube panel. 
     
     
         16 . The head collecting tank of  claim 10 , wherein the outer peripheral wall has a plurality of openings formed thereon, the plurality of openings facilitating clamping the tube panel to the head collecting tank. 
     
     
         17 . The head collecting tank of  claim 10 , wherein the inner end has a shoulder integrally formed thereon, the shoulder is configured to facilitate stabilization of the sealing element. 
     
     
         18 . The head collecting tank of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom of the frame part has an arcuate shape and further comprises a transition formed intermediate the inner wall and the bottom of the frame part. 
     
     
         19 . The head collecting tank of  claim 10 , wherein a thickness of the pair of walls of the braces is greater than a thickness of the inner wall of the frame part bounding the plurality of spaces.