Heat exchanger with dimpled manifold

Abstract

A heat exchanger for containing pressurized refrigerant includes a manifold, a first opening, and a dimple. The manifold is configured to receive and fixedly attach a plurality of tubes. The manifold defines the first opening which is configured to receive a first tube. The manifold also defines the dimple which is located proximate to the first opening. The dimple is configured to reduce stress on the first tube imparted thereon by the manifold when the first tube is fixedly attached to the manifold. Multiple dimples may be distributed about the manifold to reduce stress imparted on each of the tubes by the manifold.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for containing pressurized refrigerant, said heat exchanger comprising:
 a manifold configured to receive and fixedly attach a plurality of tubes, wherein the manifold defines   a first opening configured to receive a first tube, and   a dimple located proximate to the first opening, wherein the dimple is configured to reduce stress on the first tube imparted thereon by the manifold when the first tube is fixedly attached to the manifold.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger defines a manifold axis parallel to the manifold, and a tube axis parallel to the first tube and substantially perpendicular to the manifold axis, wherein the dimple is located a radial offset angle about the manifold axis that is less than ninety degrees from the tube axis. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the radial offset angle is such that a center of the dimple is substantially aligned with a tube edge relative to the manifold axis. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the manifold further defines a second opening is configured to receive a second tube spaced apart from the first tube, wherein the dimple is located substantially equidistant from the first opening and the second opening. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the dimple defines a height characterized as a distance along the manifold axis, and a width characterized as a distance perpendicular to the height, wherein the height is less than the width. 
     
     
         6 . A manifold for a heat exchanger for containing pressurized refrigerant, said manifold comprising:
 a first opening configured to receive and fixedly attach a first tube, and   a dimple located proximate to the first opening, wherein the dimple is configured to reduce stress on the first tube imparted thereon by the manifold when the first tube is fixedly attached to the manifold.