Tank for heat exchanger

Abstract

A base member has crimped portions each being bent along a lateral side of a tank member and crimped on the lateral side. The crimped portions are configured to be latched on recesses of the lateral side or protrusions of the lateral side, respectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tank for a heat exchanger, the tank comprising:
 a tank member; and   a base member having a plurality of crimped portions each being bent along a lateral side of the tank member and crimped on the lateral side, wherein   the crimped portions are configured to be latched on at least one of a plurality of recesses of the lateral side or a plurality of protrusions of the lateral side, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The tank according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the crimped portions has a base-side latch surface,   each of the at least one of the recesses or protrusions has a tank-side latch surface, and   the base-side latch surface is in contact with the tank-side latch surface.   
     
     
         3 . The tank according to  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the crimped portions is substantially in a T-shape and has a crimped body and crimped tabs,   the crimped tabs extend from an end of the crimped body in opposite directions, and   each of the crimped tabs defines the base-side latch surface.   
     
     
         4 . The tank according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the lateral side has a crimped surface on which the end of the crimped body is crimped,   the tank member has the recesses in the crimped surface,   each of the recesses is dented inward from the crimped surface to define the tank-side latch surface, and   the crimped tabs are bent relative to the crimped body and crimped into the recesses, respectively.   
     
     
         5 . The tank according to  claim 4 , wherein the tank-side latch surface is recessed relative to the crimped surface and is substantially at a right angle relative to the crimped surface. 
     
     
         6 . The tank according to  claim 5 , wherein
 each of the recesses is a rectangular dent defined by the tank-side latch surface, a first flat surface, a second flat surface, and a third flat surface,   the first flat surface is opposed to the tank-side latch surface,   the second flat surface and the third flat surface are perpendicular to the tank-side latch surface and opposed to each other,   each of the second flat surface and the third flat surface is substantially perpendicular to the crimped surface, and   the crimped tabs are crimped on the second flat surface and the third flat surface, respectively.   
     
     
         7 . The tank according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the crimped tabs is bent at a right angle relative to the crimped body. 
     
     
         8 . The tank according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the lateral side has a crimped surface on which the end of the crimped body is crimped,   the tank member has the protrusions on the lateral side, and   each of the protrusions is projected outward from the crimped surface to define the tank-side latch surface.   
     
     
         9 . The tank according to  claim 8 , wherein the tank-side latch surface is raised substantially at a right angle relative to the crimped surface. 
     
     
         10 . The tank according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the protrusions has a slant surface on an opposite side from the tank-side latch surface. 
     
     
         11 . The tank according to  claim 10 , wherein
 each of the protrusions has a top surface between the slant surface and the tank-side latch surface, and   the top surface is substantially flat and substantially in parallel with the crimped surface.   
     
     
         12 . A tank for a heat exchanger, the tank comprising:
 a tank member having a lateral side; and   a base member having a crimped portion being bent circumferentially along the lateral side and crimped on the lateral side, wherein   the crimped portion is substantially in a T-shape and has a crimped body and crimped tabs,   the crimped tabs extend from an end of the crimped body in opposite directions,   the lateral side has a plurality of recesses each defining a tank-side latch surface, which is substantially flat, and   each of the crimped tabs has a base-side latch surface, which is substantially flat and faced to the tank-side latch surface.   
     
     
         13 . The tank according to  claim 12 , wherein the tank-side latch surface is configured to restrict the base-side latch surface from moving outward when in contact with the base-side latch surface. 
     
     
         14 . A tank for a heat exchanger, the tank comprising:
 a tank member having a lateral side; and   a base member having a crimped portion being bent circumferentially along the lateral side and crimped on the lateral side, wherein   the crimped portion is substantially in a T-shape and has a crimped body and crimped tabs,   the crimped tabs extend from an end of the crimped body in opposite directions,   the lateral side has a plurality of protrusions each defining a tank-side latch surface, which is substantially flat, and   each of the crimped tabs has a base-side latch surface, which is substantially flat and faced to the tank-side latch surface.   
     
     
         15 . The tank according to  claim 14 , wherein the tank-side latch surface is configured to restrict the base-side latch surface from moving outward when in contact with the base-side latch surface.